Posted originally on the Archive_of_Our_Own at https://archiveofourown.org/
works/5418344.
  Rating:
      Explicit
  Archive Warning:
      Graphic_Depictions_Of_Violence, Rape/Non-Con, Underage
  Category:
      F/M, Gen, M/M
  Fandom:
      Batman_(Movies_-_Nolan), Batman_-_All_Media_Types, Superman_-_All_Media
      Types, Iron_Man_(Movies), Man_of_Steel_(2013)
  Relationship:
      Clark_Kent/Bruce_Wayne, Pepper_Potts/Tony_Stark
  Character:
      Batman/Bruce_Wayne, Clark_Kent/Superman, Tony_Stark/Ironman, Diana/Wonder
      Woman, Oliver_Queen/Green_Arrow, Selina_Kyle/Catwoman, Alfred_Pennyworth,
      Joker, Dick_Grayson, Lucius_Fox, Jason_Todd, Pepper_Potts, Leslie
      Thompkins, Thomas_Elliot, Jonathan_Crane, OCs, Lex_Luthor, Darkseid,
      Loki, Lois_Lane, Martha_Kent, Harleen_Quinzel, Steve_Rogers/Captain
      America, Thor, Hugo_Strange, Bruno_Mannheim, Tony_Zucco, Hero_-_Character
  Additional Tags:
      Rape/Non-con_Elements, Swearing, Underage_Drinking, Underage_Smoking,
      Angst, Friendship, Canon-Typical_Violence, Alternate_Universe, Torture,
      Injury_Recovery, Anal_Sex, Explicit_Language, Explicit_Sexual_Content,
      Vaginal_Sex, Dubious_Consent, Oral_Sex
  Series:
      Part 3 of Black_Butterfly
  Stats:
      Published: 2015-12-13 Completed: 2017-10-07 Chapters: 91/91 Words: 825227
****** Deities' Chessboard ******
by abcd
Summary
     Bruce regarded the void on the other side of the bed; the mattress
     was cold. He was left alone long ago and though Bruce had his back
     turned then, Clark could have sensed he wasn’t sleeping. But Clark
     didn’t. He felt the weight of so many things circling him: a smug,
     enigmatic Oliver Queen, a sneering Princess, a Clown freed from his
     box, an orphan boy who hated him, the feeling of a looming menace and
     a disabled Batman who struggled with his friends’ help to catch up
     with time.
     Bruce gazed at the stormy night outside his bedroom’s window and
     wondered how his life became a weird rabble of humans, superheroes
     and gods…
***** Chapter 1 *****
The space was pitch black without any source of light but neither of them
needed light. Or oxygen.
Two shapeless shadows talking avidly, only the sparkles from their eyes
visible.
“What is it that you want?” the smaller shadow demanded and his roar was
clearly tired as much as he hid it under anger.
A hard croak answered him from the larger shadow; both of them were larger than
life, rippling intangible giants, but the one was even bigger.
“I liberated you so I demand your allegiance and obedience.”
“Very authentic that one!” the sarcasm vibrated his voice. “As if I believed
that you did it from ‘goodness of heart’… Spill it!”
The other grunted and steam left his nostrils.
“I think you already know what I want. You’re clever after all… though your
recent disgrace says otherwise” his chuckle was like thunder.
Teeth rattling were heard from the smaller shadow.
“Then why you want to associate with someone disgraced?”
“Because the fact I saved you from disgrace will make you loyal to your
benefactor and your thirst to wreak revenge on those who have disgraced you,
will make you an asset to my plans.”
The smaller shadow snorted.
“You wish to be the ruler of this planet  - throughout the ages, everyone like
you wants the same.”
“I’m not like the losers you mention…” he sniggered “I’m not like you and your
kind!”
“Of course you’re not” the arching of an eyebrow was almost audible.
“I give you the generous opportunity to be with me when the Kryptonian is
smashed” teeth rattled “he’s the one who has to fall for this planet to kneel
and you’ll get your revenge on the one who vanquished you.”
The second shadow’s voice was lower resembling a hiss.
“It wasn’t the Kryptonian who defeated me neither Thor…” and you’re stupid to
believe that Superman is the crucial protector of this shitty planet…
“Then?” for the first time interest hued the larger shadow’s nonchalant,
arrogant growl.
The smaller shadow stretched its posture.
“I’ll serve you to conquer this damn planet…” he avoided answering the
question.
“Vanish!” he corrected him.
“And smash the Kryptonian and the other superheroes” his voice filled with
contempt and then became dead serious. “But I want my reward.”
“Name it. I always gratify my loyal servants.”
The second shadow felt the pang from being called a servant.
“You’ll leave Batman unspoiled and… Bruce Wayne. For me…” he uttered and his
yellow irises flashed locking with the abyss of his ‘master’. His irises had
lost their red-blood quality since his recent defeat.
A roar-like laughter shook the void where their meeting was taking place.
“Two mortals? Two mere humans?” he inquired sarcastic. “What special two
mortals could have? I can erase them with my breath!”
“Don’t make the mistake to underestimate Batman and… the Kryptonian loves Bruce
Wayne” he retorted unfazed from the heavy jeering and kept his silence for a
couple of seconds.
The enormous shadow huffed.
“I’m aware that the Kryptonian loves the worthless mortal, which is…pathetic”
he spat “as it is your interest in him” his satisfaction for insulting the
other was more than clear. “Actually, I plan to have him killed so to break the
Kryptonian’s…” he laughed “heart!”
The second shadow jolted as if hit by an electric current.
“Bruce Wayne is important” he replied indifferent for the other’s jeer. “You
can’t squash Superman while the mortal is by his side. And you definitely can’t
kill Wayne!”
The larger of the two shadows bulked up from anger for his subordinate’s last
demanding expression.
“I’ll grant you Batman: he won’t be a problem in combat. But Superman’s lover
will be annihilated!”
 “I want Bruce Wayne!” he lowered his tone. “It’s my reward; the only reward I
care about… And you don’t want him killed either: If he is killed Superman will
be alarmed to your schemes and will come against you with his allies …” he knew
better than anyone that your mate’s death can be not only the greatest, deepest
wound but also the greatest motive.
Again an arrogant snort.
“Let them come! They’re specks, pests to be mashed…”
“You’ll need more than mere strength to triumph and Wayne’s death won’t help
your cause” his voice became serious. “You promised me a reward after all and I
promise you that you’ll get the Kryptonian.”
 
“Gotham is fuckin’ quiet, man – that’s kind ov creepy…” the younger of the boys
puffed the smoke from his cigarette.
“Are you scared?” the second turned to him smirking.
They were sprawled on the rooftop of a long abandoned building in the center of
the Narrows; the boy with the cigarette scrutinized the road underneath while
the second boy gazed at the cloudy October sky. The smoker sniggered.
“I don’t live near the City Hall with my granny and I’m not called ‘Dick’!” he
jeered.
Dick narrowed his eyes and his friend arched his eyebrows challenging; his
friend was younger than him but his body, posture and attitude made him look
the same age. Jason was born and raised in Narrows after all, living with his
alcoholic, drug addict mother.
“Yeah…” Dick shrugged “you’re called ‘Jason’ among other things and because you
live in Narrows and stick that thing to your mouth you think you’re a badass…”
his voice became as challenging.
Jason snorted and a sly, crooked grin engraved his child face that struggled to
look adult before its time.
“Sure… Littl’ Dickie can sniff at us now - Batman is his pal after all…” his
blue eyes glistened.
Dick jolted at this and gritted his teeth stilling his eyes on his friend.
“I’m here with you, you big mouth asshole! And I’m not Batman’s pal - he just
saved me from that motherfucker! But anyways Batman is dead…” he concluded
indifferent hiding his true emotions: fear on the memory of Joker threatening
him, anger because that sonovabitch killed his family and Brian, sorrow as he
re-watched the scenes from the old factory.
Jason with a jerk tossed his finished cigarette to the street under them.
“Horseshit! Ever’on’ knows that he isn’t a human - he can’t die. Ya pissed
yarself and don’t know what ya saw…”
Dick shook his head and looked at the younger boy who lit a second cigarette
with a smug expression as if he was doing the smartest thing in the world. He
cocked an eyebrow at the spectacle.
“I know what I saw! He pushed me away just before the whole damn floor fell on
him. He said to me to leave… but I didn’t and then a woman came and...and she
was desperate, tearful trying to save him...but he told her to take me and
leave...and she did though I was listening her sobbing as we ran away...and
when we were out the entire building collapsed.”
Jason was snorting all the time sipping from his beer bottle and hit his bottle
to Dick’s neglected one when his friend stopped his narration that left him
gazing at the sky with blank eyes as if the scenes were played there.
“Ya need to cut beer…” Jason burst into loud laughter and Dick clenched his
teeth, grabbed his bottle and drunk a large amount with his blazed eyes glaring
at his friend.
“That’s the truth!”
Jason tilted his head on the right in disbelief.
“People saw him, dude! After that night.”
Dick’s patience was over and he smashed his beer on the concrete.
“They’re assholes! He couldn’t have made it!” he shouted and Jason giggling
raised his palms in surrender.
“OK, dude, OK! Cool now… What yar granny gonna say if yar fine clothes are
drenched in beer?”
Dick huffed exasperated and crossed his arms pouting, his eyes looking at the
apartments building opposite them. Jason was a nice chap, a funny company but
sometimes was unbearable. Like now that he reminded him of his granny: he had
left her apartment after making sure she was fast asleep. He didn’t want her to
know about his nightly excursions neither about his...shady friend.
Suddenly, he took in what the TV in the opposing leaving room was showing:
Superman was landing at a rooftop carrying in his arms Bruce Wayne wrapped in
his cape. Another stupid, fucking TV gossip show making tales about those two.
Dick pointed with his index.
“You see? Only scums like Wayne worm out of troubles… Decent people like my
family and Brian never got a superhero save them…” he shook his head and spat
in contempt.
Jason stood up and approached him, looking at the same TV set.
“But ya did…” he retorted and Dick glared at him so the younger boy shrugged.
“Ya’re right, pal” he sighed “yar people’s death was unfair…” he patted him and
his eyes lost their sneering quality.
Dick nodded and looked again at the TV screen that still showed the same scene.
“Because of him…” he spat. “Look at him: Batman died trying to save people and
Superman ran to save that pussy…”
Jason whistled.
“Ya really uttered a bad word!”
Dick glared at him, his raven hair waving on the light breeze.
“He’s really a pussy, man…” Jason shook his head. “Look how Superman holds him…
It’s easy to figure why the Super freak ran behind him instead of being with
Batman savin’ those kids… Ever’on’ says it – mom says it.”
The older boy pouted appalled.
“Wayne is disgusting! Whining and crying so others feel sorry for him and save
his ass...”
Jason chuckled.
“He needs that ass, huh?”
Dick turned to his friend, his lips curled in disgust.
“He didn’t do anything to avenge his parents; he prefers to hide behind others
wiping his fake tears pretending the grief- stricken but I know that he just
cares for the money his parents left him…”
Jason sniggered putting his hands on his pockets.
“Don’t know, man... He gave work to mom an’ rehab. He gives her a big salary
and a fund ‘cause she’s a single mother and that gives us the rent and food…an’
cigarettes” he laughed “an’ mom is better now that goes to the Haven” he took
in Dick’s enraged eyes. “Not that I like the guy… He’s worse than the other
rich buffoons ‘cause he pretends to care… as if we’re stupid! But c’me on,
dude! How was he to avenge his parents? He was younger than ya” he cocked his
eyebrows sarcastic. “Ya can’t blame him when ya too don’t do anything to avenge
yars…”
Dick’s eyes flashed and he gritted his teeth: that was an insult and he felt
the urge to punch Jason. Yet his friend was right. Jason smirked reading his
expression.
“That’s gonna change…” he spat.
Jason narrowed his sly eyes and grinned.
“Yuuuup! Now that Batman is…dead we need a new hero, huh? Ya!” he chortled.
Dick’s face twisted in anger and Jason stared at him challenging waiting his
attack however the older boy looked at his wristwatch.
“I must go - I don’t want my granny to figure I left.”
Jason shrugged forgetting instantly his provoking attitude.
“I don’t have such problems…” and watching his friend leaving. “Where yar
granny finds the money for such clothes?”
Dick shrugged without turning and Jason snorted looking proudly at his worn
jeans and T- shirt. Although Wayne’s fund and salary was big enough he didn’t
want to wear fancy clothes like Dick’s – not that his mom was saving any money
for his attire except than those for the times the social worker visited them…
 
Bruce sat at the large balcony overlooking the wood covered mountain slope and
the glimmering blue endless horizon; it was over a month he has been in Tony’s
secluded villa in Thasos Island. Tony had built that house for the times he
wanted truly to be left alone – there weren’t many times he wanted that but
when he did he wished to be perfect, he had explained to him once sitting in
this balcony. Bahamas, Caribbean, Hawaii weren’t secure enough for Tony’s
reclusive part – razzi could discover him easily there. But here? In a small
Greek island so out of the limelight? Tony had pouted and shaken his head: no
way, little guy – they’re too stupid for me!
And every day at this time he’d come and watch the sun set in the sapphire
waters. Smell the pine trees and inhale the salty light breeze that brushed his
face, the only part of his body that felt normal…
He sighed; being in that round shaped balcony brought him tranquility. Although
nostalgia and worry for his city lurked underneath.
But the confinement of his throne-like, unbelievably comfy chair was always
there, hugging him, soothing him yet at the same time reminding him of his
disability. No, he wasn’t ungrateful: Clark’s creation was wondrous, another
token of his love and permitted him to move unassisted and without mechanisms
and wheels giving him the false impression that things were like before.
No, he wasn’t ungrateful! He should have died in that factory – every other
human would… and sometimes Bruce felt a horrible pang for the injustice: people
dying daily from lesser causes and he survived because a god-like being loved
him. That’s what he needed: more survivor’s guilt…
And it was his choice to save those children knowing that his body wouldn’t
last even without the building collapsing over him so he was really a spoiled
brat feeling like this… Selfish, ungrateful… He had all these things that no
other paraplegic in the world had: alien operations and treatments that saved
him, a gym with organs no eye had seen till now, high tech hydromassage pool,
this magnificent wheelchair… No, no wheelchair… Throne… Like the one Clark
granted him in his heart…
He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply feeling the breeze pleasantly cooling his
face.
“My mind and…my ears will be constantly with you…” Clark had sighed and kissed
him lightly on the lips before taking off for Metropolis.
Yesterday at 14.00 hours and now was 26 hours and 27 minutes since he left… He
pressed his lips: Clark had a job to maintain and the two weeks’ leave he took
to stay with him in this beautiful, peaceful island were too much and he had to
return.
“I’ll come back ASAP!” he had turned his head midair and cried to him but
instantly he changed his course and stormed to that same balcony to hug him and
suck his neck passionately. “I don’t wanna leave…” he had whined like an
oversized baby.
Bruce smiled remembering those super hot and soft lips nibbling his flesh
giving him goose bumps even now… well, to the percentage of his body that still
could feel.
The discreet clearing of throat startled him but only mentally; even though his
upper body hadn’t been as heavily damaged as his lower and was able to sense
and make movements, it wasn’t perfect. He turned flushed for being caught and
grinned to Alfred who had opened soundlessly the arch shaped door.
“Master Bruce, I’m sorry to interrupt your daydream” he stretched the woolen
black cardigan he carried and muffled his young master’s back.
“Alfred, we’re not in Gotham… Here the weather is too mild even in late
October; I don’t feel any cold…”
His butler however wasn’t persuaded.
“The locals are calling it ‘’the little summer’’ yet you overexerted yourself
in the gym and your body is still warm from the effort so even this sweet
breeze could easily bring you down with the flu.”
His voice was composed, business like but for Bruce was easy to discern
Alfred’s dread for his health; Alfred knew – even better than Bruce - how
sensitive his organism was at this phase. He took his butler’s hand in his and
shook it though his hand was a bit shaky from the exercise.
“You’re right, Alfred.”
But Alfred cocked an eyebrow.
“Thank God for that promise…” he mumbled and Bruce chuckled – indeed, the night
he left Leslie’s clinic to find Joker at the factory had promised Alfred and
Leslie to surrender to their treatment afterwards. “Sir, if I may… perhaps you
should take it easy with the exercises?”
Bruce pressed his lips.
“I just want to feel something, Alfred” he looked at his butler’s eyes. “Below
the waist … not that my upper torso feels entirely normal…” Alfred bit his
inner lip. “Even now my lower body feels only Clark’s touch…”
Alfred cocked an eyebrow.
“It seems that Master Kent has magical fingers” he remarked shrewdly.
“That and he knows the few neurons that survived and focuses his efforts on
stimulating them in hopes that they will develop synapses to cover the lost
neurons’ functionality. Or their overstimulation will fasten the regeneration
process.”
“Then, maybe you should let him and Master Anthony with Lucius do their work
and just follow Jor El’s instructions? Since you don’t want any human doctors
examine you…”
Bruce stared at him and blinked.
“Leslie examines me” he smiled “actually, she did it daily all these days she
was here. And you know that if another doctor sees my body will realize that I
was treated with alien technology.”
Alfred cleared his throat.
“Dr. Eliot calls every day to learn your news despite the fact you rarely speak
with him” he arched his eyebrows in emphasis. “And as Master Kent mentioned
several times Dr. Elliot has worked with Superman again so the “alien
treatment” won’t be a surprise to him. Especially when Miss Vale’s footage has
been all this time – what you youths call it? – viral.”
The younger man struggled to hide a grin on the word and casted him an
exasperated stare that made Alfred sigh.
“If I may, sir: It’s a very long time since little Thomas Elliot bullied you,
Master Bruce…”
“Alfred, please…You know it’s not that…” he licked his lips and didn’t
elaborate on the subject. “And it’s not like I do anything, Alfred: the
machines work my legs and I just train my arms so to not depend on you even to
move my body” he arched his eyebrows. “And if I manage to feel some pain it
will be better than feeling nothing” he took in Alfred’s shadowed eyes. “While
under Falcone’s captivity my right arm was crippled, I couldn’t do any movement
with it but” he inhaled deeply and his stare became more intense “it ached all
the time… and the pain was horrible, unbearable and I hated it but now I
realize…”
“You know, Bruce” Ra’s’ voice returned to his ears “pain reminds us that we’re
alive…”
“What is it that you realize, Master Bruce?” Alfred squatted to his side, his
voice low.
Bruce turned to him.
“That pain indicates that something is still alive…”
Alfred felt his young Master’s agony and the same pang pierced his guts. But
Bruce upon seeing that touched his butler’s upper arm and pressed his lips.
“I don’t regret what I did that night, Alfred: I’ll do it again if I must” he
shook his head. “And I’m not whining…even if I stay paraplegic all my life.”
Alfred cupped Bruce’s hand that held his upper arm.
“You won’t, Master Bruce” he widened his eyes in emphasis. “You’ll walk again
and I’ll be the one whining as I’ll chase you trying to persuade you to stop
climbing on rooftops…” he chuckled and Bruce laughed lighthearted. “But you
need to be patient and careful because it’s too soon and in your current
condition the slightest pain you may feel could be caused from a grave injury
that will delay your recovering more.”
“I’m sorry, master” he said to Ra’s in the training room panting and covered
with sweat “I just wanted to do some more to… to become better…”
 “But if you don’t listen to your trainer, you’ll injure yourself” the Demon’s
Head replied benevolently. “Your arm is almost healed, do you want that to be
thwarted by a new injury, caused by your own stupidity?” he yanked gently his
small head with a finger under his jaw.
“You’re right, Alfred” he smiled “as always…”
Alfred grinned, patted Bruce’s hand and stood up.
“May I ask what would you like for dinner?”
Bruce looked flabbergasted.
“I just finished the pancakes and the milk” he gestured to the small round
glass table where a book lay forgotten “I don’t think that I’ll need any
dinner…”
He was ready to say that he wasn’t hungry at evenings but Alfred scowled at
him. He had many drugs to take.
“You promised, sir.”
Bruce closed his eyes amused.
“I did, right?” he chuckled. “Let’s leave it to Selina’s choice – she has a
great taste…”
Alfred shook his head.
“If cat food could be concerned suit for humans too…Because your lady friend
indulges Hero’s choices more than her own.”
Bruce laughed.
“She’s going to spoil the kitten, huh?” he asked and his eyes filled with love.
The butler cocked his eyebrow.
“As you do. However you are not going to evade the important subject of your
dinner” Bruce shook his head. “All these days we are here you get Master
Anthony or Master Clark to choose the meals.”
Bruce’s melancholy reached his eyes.
“And now both of them are not here…”
Alfred understood his young master’s feelings; this last fifteen days Bruce had
all his friends around him filling his days and dragging his thoughts away from
his temporary – Alfred was adamant about this – disability. Not that Miss Kyle
or Hero didn’t do the same now but still he missed his old friend and the man
he loved as he would have missed Miss Kyle and Hero. His young Master had lived
almost all his life without his family and now that he got a family back he
wanted its members always there.
He placed his hand on Bruce’s shoulder and was happy that the youth felt it
immediately.
“They’ll come again, sir; it won’t be long. They can’t last much away from
you.”
Bruce smiled and nodded, a white fur ball catching his eyes as Hero crossed the
glistening tiled surface, his small feet slipping every now and then. The chair
floated on his thought and brought him to meet the kitten. Yet he couldn’t bend
to take him; while he was in the Fortress he could make such movements but that
stopped as soon as he left the place since Fortress’ power didn’t flow inside
him.
He still could move the damaged part of his body and even stand and walk using
his other mental abilities but after there was a high toll to pay: pain, a
killing exhaustion and days of wasted effort as his body’s condition
deteriorated. So he decided to not do that since there wasn’t a critical
situation.
“How did you manage to escape Selina?” he chuckled hiding his sadness.
Alfred’s lips became a tight line in bitterness sensing his young master’s
craving to take the kitten and the crushing disappointment of his inability to
do so. He walked there.
“And I had closed the door, young Master Hero” Bruce laughed on the pompous
title “how did you come out?”
The kitten raised his head as if listening to Alfred and meowed as if replying
and the butler nodded.
“Of course…You’re Batman’s kitten…” however his smart, perusing eyes didn’t
miss an imperceptible shadow passing Bruce’s eyes on the mention of Batman –
the young man inescapably faced with the comparison of his current disability,
though he always hid it from the others.
But Hero as if understanding Bruce’s difficulty, jumped and fast climbed on his
lap clinging on the quilt blanket that muffled his legs. Bruce’s eyes flashed
happy and he beamed to Alfred who grinned relieved.
The young man petted tenderly the kitten’s small head and Hero purring stared
at him with his big eyes.
“You smell exactly as the old Hero and your fur has the same feeling, buddy…”
he smiled at him. “He is the most beautiful kitten in the world, don’t you
think, Alfred?”
Alfred was absorbed in removing the few hairs that had fallen on the blanket
and Bruce rolled his eyes making the kind butler grin.
“Can I say otherwise?” Bruce tilted his head looking pointedly and Alfred
chuckled: young master Bruce as a child always wanted a pet but Ms. Wayne’s
allergies didn’t allow it – and Hero although not the old kitten was more than
a pet. “He is indeed the most beautiful kitten I ever saw…but I haven’t seen
many, sir…” he teased his young master because he loved how this bickering made
him relax.
“Alfred…” Bruce protested pouting and Alfred patted his shoulder laughing.
“You’re spoiling him…”
“And you spoil me” Bruce answered stubbornly “but you don’t have any problem
with that!” he caressed the kitten that stretched on his master’s lap nuzzling
Bruce’s chin to urge his friend to pet him more.
“Oh! He is a charmer, Master Bruce!” Alfred shook his head and relished the
scene before him.
The kitten that now was almost three months old closed his eyes enjoying the
caress and purred louder.
“You know, cat’s purring is actually healing for the cat and the human…”
Bruce raised his head to see Selina who leaned on the wall, her arms crossed.
She was smiling fondly.
The kitten felt his friend’s distraction and annoyed jerked his small paw and
touched Bruce’s hand that had stopped petting him. Bruce though the kitten
never used his nails when playing with him twitched startled; it was something
almost imperceptible but it began from his pelvis and that was new and
pleasant. He resumed his brushes and Hero lay on his back showing his belly for
Bruce to tickle as he was doing with his old friend – not without sorrow on
remembering how unfairly that kitten had died…
“I guess, you know better, huh?” he winked to Selina.
Selina shrugged.
“Of course, sweetie…”
Alfred fixed the cardigan on Bruce’s back.
“If you’ll excuse me, sir and madam, I have to improvise with your dinner since
Master Bruce doesn’t want to ease my work.”
He turned to leave.
“Hmmm….Alfred…”
The kind butler stopped at his heels, his intrigued stare meeting Selina’s,
before turning to Bruce.
“Yes, Master Bruce?”
“I wonder” he laughed as he avoided playfully Hero’s paw and locked
mischievously his eyes with Alfred’s “if you could cook that delicious food we
ate at the restaurant Tony took us? At Chrisi Ammoudia?”
Alfred remembered that night: the restaurant was closed for the season but Tony
made arrangements to open for them and only for them. It was a great location;
the small outdoor restaurant was built on a hill invading the crystal sea and
overlooking the beach that stretched on a range of over one kilometer and the
mountains that circled the bay. The garden restaurant was decorated with trees
and plants and beautiful secret light that played with moon’s shine exactly as
the soft yet enchanting music played with the sound of the sea waves.
Master Anthony had no problem creating a portable ramp to the hill’s peak where
the restaurant was. He understood that as much as they loved to carry Master
Bruce in their arms, this was embarrassing for him who was used to do things
himself. And although Clark’s throne-like chair could take Bruce wherever he
wanted, they wouldn’t like for the staff to suspect the alien technology. So
the ramp offered the best cover.
 It was a splendid night, Leslie still with them and also Lucius who had come
for the weekend. The moon was full and Master Bruce couldn’t stop going to the
edge of the balcony to gaze at the view, Master Kent watching him hungry;
sometimes followed unable to stay away from him and other times seeing Master
Anthony’s disapproving stare stayed grudgingly at his seat.
“And which dish is that you desire the most, Master Bruce?”
The young man seemed unable to decide and then with widened eyes like an
enthusiastic kid looked at Alfred.
“Mmm… ‘Pastitsio’ and some trigono dessert with ice cream?”
Selina giggled at his lusting expression and Alfred though an esteemed butler
couldn’t avoid doing the same.
“What?” Bruce asked confused letting Hero mouth his finger and lick it like a
lollypop.
They couldn’t say that his child-like greedy sparkle in his eyes were the best
gift after those torturing last months and Alfred had his excuse ready.
“You don’t ask things often but when you do it compensates for all the times
you don’t, sir” he mock grumbled. “Thank Goodness it’s still early and I’ll
manage till dinner time…”
Bruce blushed.
“Alfred, I…”
Alfred smiled and patted him.
“I’m teasing you, Master Bruce…Miss Kyle, since Hero will accompany Master
Bruce, would you care to help me with preparing the dinner?” he took the tray
with the empty plate and glass and then the business administration book that
rest on the small table. “I suppose you won’t need that, sir?”
But Bruce was busy communicating with glances and grimaces with Selina who
mouthed the question: “Me? Cook?”
“Ummm…Yes, Alfred, I don’t think I’ll read.”
The butler walked towards the arch shaped door to the interior pretending that
he didn’t notice the youths’ silent communication.
“Miss Kyle, are you coming?”
Selina widened her eyes… panicked, shaking her head to Bruce who just shrugged
reassuring her that the kitchen wouldn’t explode.
“Mmmm… Yeah, I’m coming, Alfred…” she said and followed rolling her eyes to
Bruce.
As he was left alone with Hero Bruce thought that things weren’t so bad and he
was happy to have Alfred, Selina and Hero with him. But Tony’s and Clark’s
absence was like a hole in his heart and he knew that Batman shouldn’t be like
that and that his disability had started to ruin his spirit as well…and all in
all he was acting like a spoiled rich brat…and that was unacceptable, shameful…
yet he missed Tony’s cheerfulness and Clark’s touch…
He was seeing in Clark’s eyes that he couldn’t yield his heart and leave so he
pressed his lips and formed a smile. He didn’t want Clark leave either and the
supper they just had, became a tight knot in his stomach. He caressed Clark’s
cheek.
“We know both that you have to go…” his voice wasn’t Batman’s growl but his
determination and command was there.
“As soon as my working hours end I’ll come to you…” his voice dropped to a
naughty whisper “to sleep with you…”
Bruce rolled his eyes; there wasn’t any need for the naughtiness since Clark
didn’t make a move to touch him…intimately since the night he saved his life.
He realized with awe that The Man of Steel was really scared that he could
smash him crossing the lines during his climax.
“What are you thinking?” Clark asked him.
Bruce smiled.
“That Perry will berate you….”
Clark nodded understanding that he had to go but before taking off he cupped
the back of Bruce’s head and captured his rosy, soft lips massaging, sucking
and moaning with closed eyes, Bruce’s lips dancing with his.
It must have been minutes because Bruce realized that he was using the
technique Ra’s taught him for lasting without air. Clark realized too and
hastened to part their lips – he had strained Bruce’s battered lung… He
scratched uncomfortably his nape blushing.
“Ugh! I’m sorry, I just wanted something to hold me till…” he sighed “…the next
time but I overdid it…”
Bruce immediately took in Clark’s eyes staring his chest and knew that it had
nothing to do with lust. The man was panicked trying to make sure that he
hadn’t provoked some deterioration to his healing lung. And Bruce was both
amused and upset.
“Off you go, Kent! The sooner you go the sooner you’ll be back…”
Clark nodded and touched gently his forehead to Bruce’s.
“You’ll listen to Alfred?”
Bruce shrugged and tilted his head helplessly.
“I promised, didn’t I?”
Clark’s loud laughter that made the world a better place erupted as he took
off, his head always turned to Bruce.
“You’re busted, kiddo!” he yelled.
Bruce shook his head.
“Mind the electricity pillars!” he snorted cocking an eyebrow. “And the cables!
And the planes!” – if you keep staring at me and not the sky, we’ll have
accidents…
Superman winked grinning widely.
“Point taken!”
And that was the last glimpse he got of his face. He had tried to follow his
body in the horizon but he soon lost him. He didn’t have a super vision after
all…
Bruce’s gaze was lost in the pine trees and the peaceful blue horizon that was
painted gold from the setting sun, some clouds glowed in mesmerizing shades of
pink and purple; he was running his fingers absentminded to Hero’s rich fur,
the kitten following his eyes. Clark didn’t return after his working hours –
Bruce had stayed wake in his bed waiting…
He remembered the night at the restaurant. His gaze was snatched by the dark
sea that reflected the silver moon’s glow and the sound of a small fishing
boat’s engine reached him from afar. And then a magic melody of a sad song
filled the warm night. It made a great impression to him drenching his soul in
sweet sorrow and the mesmerizing sound of the waves brushing the shore and
hitting the vessels that were bound to the small anchorage made the melody even
more charming.
He had asked the young woman who during the night was the head of their
service. She smiled.
“The verses are from a poem of the ancient poetess Sappho; they speak of a
woman who contemplates how fast the time with her lover has passed and her
bitterness that she lays alone and forlorn. Then she ponders on love that
spreads sufferings to people and concocts fairytales; she admits that love has
grabbed her soul and rocked it same as the wind that blows from the mountains
and surges and hits the oak trees blustering…”
He had asked from the girl to buy the CD and she gifted it to him. Bruce still
felt the same shiver recalling the ambient melody and the verses… He felt like
the ancient poetess as a rush of mountain wind shook the trees that surrounded
the house and brushed his flushed face… He shuddered…
Hero climbed to his shoulder swiftly, touching his head to Bruce’s neck. Bruce
giggled and took the animal in his hands.
“Batman in love…” he jeered himself and the kitten looked at him. “Even worse…”
he snorted “Bruce Wayne in love… it’s ridiculous, Hero” he sighed and put Hero
on his lap. “I mean it’s…beautiful but…unfitting for someone like
me…odd…foolish…inappropriate…and I feel…” he shook his head “It’s not right and
it can’t last for long. I can’t be happy for long, can I?”
The kitten meowed with his special way replying and Bruce took it from the
armpits and hugged it.
“Like old Hero you always try to make me feel better, huh?” suddenly his eyes
narrowed and darkened.
 He sensed it before hearing it but it was futile to try anything to avoid it
so he just cuddled protectively Hero and let the rush 0f air claim him…
***** Chapter 2 *****
Chapter Notes
     A big thanks for your warm welcome of the first chapter. Also, I'm
     sorry about the delay but the last days were crazy...
     Last but not least: Merry Christmas to all of you!
“Hey, hey…” Bruce chuckled wrapped in strong arms. He was holding tight Hero
who wasn’t used to flying. “I thought that boy scouts didn’t attack their
opponents when handicapped!”
He was looking at Clark’s beaming face but also gazed at the magnificent green
scenery that ran smoothly under him to end in breathtaking cliffs and then
crystal sapphire waters that sparkled under the golden orange rays of the
setting sun. And then Superman brought them on the blazing pink sky between
purple-blue clouds that crossed the burning yellow sun in its descent, blinding
rays scattered to the sky’s upper layers that were still azure.
“Mmmm...I wouldn’t consider handicapped someone who makes Superman drop every
other thing and run to him!”
Bruce brushed the kitten reassuringly to calm it.
“You make it sound as if I have a Kryptonite of a thousand miles range…” he
cocked an eyebrow.
Superman chuckled.
“It is proved that you’re my lucky Kryptonite” he captured Bruce’s lips.
“The latest events show that I’m the lucky one…” he deepened the kiss and then
looked at the landscape under them: the forest covered mountain had given its
place to a smooth golden beach. A very small bay with no access by foot. “Where
are you taking me? You know that this is called kidnapping…”
Superman nuzzled Bruce’s neck sucking the intoxicating perfume that he missed
so much.
“Not when the kidnapped enjoys it…” he whispered in a husky voice.
Bruce laughed and Hero as if imitating Clark nuzzled Bruce’s palm.
“Stockholm’s Syndrome…” Bruce retorted to Clark who grunted and landed gently
on the fine sand.
“I was thinking - mmm… better dreaming - about some swimming in a deserted
beautiful beach.”
Bruce frowned.
“You remember that even here is late October and the sun has almost set?”
“Don’t tell me that the mighty Batman is scared of cold water?” he smiled slyly
with a mischievous sparkle in his beautiful eyes.
Bruce narrowed his eyes glaring at him but Clark laughed with his melodic way.
“My baby is cranky? Hm… you missed me so much then?”
“You’re so arrogant, alien!”
The younger man touched his cheek to Clark’s with effort that although he hid
perfectly Clark sensed, his guts clenching. Despite the fact it was almost one
month and a half since his Star woke from the coma he still faced great
difficulties and hurdles in his mobility. Which was expected with the extremity
of his injuries that would have killed every other human and had almost claimed
Bruce’s life.
“The sea’s temperature is actually very pleasant” Clark said “if it was colder
I wouldn’t have suggested it.”
Bruce snorted.
“Suggested? You dragged me here…” his eyes wandered to the scenery “and I’m
glad you did: it’s so beautiful and quiet.”
The small bay was defined from a steep cape covered with dense trees and a bare
cliff where rocks were almost hovering over the transparent waters. Opposing
the open sea loomed the island’s inland with high mountains looking like giants
covered in dark green curls as in a nature contest between earth and water.
Seagulls’ cries sounded so relaxing in harmony with the waves’ soft melody as
they crawled on the seabed that turned to a sudden splash as they crushed on
the shore; along with the salty breeze the sensations made Bruce close his eyes
to savor the moment.
“And I don’t mind evening swimming” he tilted his head to the side and
shrugged, Hero stilling his eyes on his Master’s. “I doubt if I’d sense the
temperature…”
The smile vanished from Clark’s face because although Bruce’s voice was
indifferent he could discern the exhaustion and disappointment from the futile
effort of all these days.
“It’s still early” Bruce said nonchalant seeing Clark’s change of mood; “it’ll
take some time before you can threaten me with cold water.”
Superman kneeled on the sand and laid carefully Bruce down fixing the cardigan
on his shoulders. Bruce let Hero jump from his lap to the sand and the kitten
surged to the spot where two seagulls were standing causing the birds’ surprise
and hasty flight.
“I think we’ll have an issue with the bats in the cave…” he chuckled “and if
you consider that bats are mice as well as birds… Our fella is too lively…” he
said with pride. “Thank you for finding and giving him to me.”
But upon turning his eyes back to Clark found the man staring at him, their
faces too close. The Man of Steel was too serious and Bruce stopped smiling too
only for Clark to touch his lips.
“Don’t stop smiling, Star… You lighten my world…”
Bruce’s eyes flashed.
“How can dark bring light to sun’s life?”
Superman closed his eyes and caressed Bruce’s cheekbone.
“You’re the meaning of my life; I love you from the first time I laid eyes on
you. I still jolt in my sleep having nightmares that you died that damn night…”
Bruce felt a pang.
“I’m right here, you saved me.”
Hero returned to them nudging Bruce’s hand to pet him and Bruce obliged to
Clark’s amused sigh.
“Ugh! That kitten rivals me!”
“Don’t tell me Superman is jealous of a small kitten?” Bruce teased him and
Clark grabbed his upper arms and claimed his lips passionately.
“We’re here for swimming…” he snapped releasing Bruce’s lips and the younger
man looked him exasperated.
“But I’m not wearing my swimsuit!”
Clark tilted his head on the side regarding wickedly Bruce’s body, his eyebrow
arched.
“Actually… I was counting on that…”
He pushed the cardigan off of Bruce’s shoulders and moved to strip him from the
rest of his clothes but Bruce twitched causing Clark’s squinting.
“Not in front of Hero…”
Clark rolled his eyes.
“Because he’ll be traumatized?” he locked eyes with the kitten “Hero turn your
eyes on the other side.”
But the kitten kept staring at Bruce and purring making Clark sigh frustrated.
“Like his Master he is stubborn and don’t take orders, huh?” he said watching
Bruce caressing Hero’s head, the kitten closing his eyes clearly enjoying it –
Clark couldn’t blame Hero for not obeying. “Good thing I brought that…”
Bruce looked with an amused smile at Clark who took out of his cape a take-out
container. The Man of Steel grinned slyly to Bruce and opened the container
watching eagerly the kitten’s intense reaction: Hero sniffed frantically and
looked avidly to the source of the intoxicating smell – a fine piece of salmon
fillet grilled slowly.
Bruce’s eyes widened in exasperation as Clark took the container far from him
to a dry log washed there years or decades ago and lay dead on the beach. Hero
followed him and Bruce pinched the bridge of his nose shaking his head.
“C’me, Hero, c’me” Superman called sweetly.
“He’s a kitten not a puppy!” Bruce tilted his head.
“Right! Ps, ps, ps, ps…Here, kitten…”
He let the container there and the kitten surged heads on. Bruce crossed his
arms and glared at Clark that in a blink was again clung to him, grinning
smugly.
“You’re devious!” Bruce shook his head disapprovingly.
Clark erupted in laughter.
“I must eliminate the competition… even bribing!” he nibbled Bruce’s lower lip
and Bruce bit him softly.
“You’re going to make him obese; he has put much weight.”
It was Clark’s turn to shake his head disapproving.
“Unlike you…”
Bruce rubbed his forehead.
“If I put much weight my body will have more difficulties in managing some
mobility…” it was difficult for Clark to understand that he didn’t have much
appetite.
“But if you don’t regain the muscle mass that was damaged by the crushing your
muscles won’t be able to uphold your body. And with such exhausting training
you’re putting yourself through the lack of proper and enough food will lead to
your collapse…” his eyes locked with Bruce’s purring their worry.
Bruce sighed and turned his head towards Hero who feeling his Master’s eyes
turned to look at him licking with his small tongue the food that had stuck to
his muzzle. Bruce smiled fondly and looked at Clark who was watching  avidly
his eyes’ course to Hero and back to him.
“You talked with Alfred?”
Clark cocked an eyebrow.
“No… I just scan” Bruce rolled his eyes and nodded understanding “the levels of
lactic acid in your muscles.” Clark sensed his Star’s grim mood and he didn’t
want that to continue. “Now” he inhaled deeply “about that swimming…”
And in a second both Bruce and himself were bare naked: Clark took in Bruce’s
impressed stare on Superman’s broad chest with the bulked pectorals that were
covered with raven hair: Bruce had seen him naked again but every time was as
impressive as the first. Clark blushed and beamed because he was thrilled that
Bruce longed for him.
“You like what you see?” he smiled and caressed the pink shade over Bruce’s
cheekbones.
Bruce locked eyes with him and smiled shyly.
“You’re perfect…” his awe for the man’s flawless beauty and the awareness of
his own deformed legs and torso made his voice hoarse. Not that he ever
believed that he was nice looking or that he cared about his appearance…
But Clark cupped his cheeks and claimed Bruce’s lips sucking as if finding
water after days in the desert and caressing with his tongue the younger man’s
cavity. Without unlocking their lips he lifted gently Bruce in bridal style and
brought both of them in the water, he walked, his feet sinking in the soft sand
and reached the point where the waters deepened their light emerald color
becoming sapphire blue. He tested first the water’s temperature because even if
he had scanned it beforehand he wanted to be sure before putting Bruce in. He
knew how sensitive he was.
Bruce held Clark’s upper arms and released them as the Man of Steel lowered him
slowly flat in the golden-orange hued waters that his upper body sensed that
were pleasantly warm. His hands immediately stretched over his head to swim but
Clark was holding gently his back with one hand while the other touched the
younger man’s chest.
Bruce looked at him.
“Just relax, Star” he used his hand to stretch Bruce’s legs and held his body
flat on the water’s surface.
“Easy for you to say…” Bruce snorted and moved his arms gently in the water to
stay afloat but Clark touched his face and slowly lowered it more for the water
to rinse his hair and reach his ears.
He then smiled reassuringly to Bruce who kept his stare on his crystal blue
eyes.
“You trust me, right? Close your eyes and focus on the sound of the sea…”
Bruce huffed.
“Do I have a choice?”
Clark chuckled.
“You’re Bruce Wayne, Batman: you always have a choice and the means to assert
it but…” he kissed softly the place where Bruce’s heart beat so pleasantly
strong “I think that you will consent…”
Clark’s lips on his flesh sent shivers in the healthy part of his spine and he
closed his eyes though Clark felt still the tension in his body. Bruce breathed
the way Clark knew that it was a relaxation technique.
“Jor El misses so much your games…” he said grinning, his eyes relishing the
spectacle of the crystal waters on Bruce’s naked body. Despite the scars his
abdominals was as attractive as ever and he wanted so much to kiss that cute
belly button… yet he didn’t want to ruin Bruce’s relaxation.
“You don’t play with him?” Bruce inquired without opening his eyes.
The water was massaging softly his body and although he couldn’t feel anything
below the waist he knew that it was good for him. Maybe because he projected
the feeling from his upper body to the rest of his body.
Clark could sense his Star’s elation and resisted the urge to grab him and
share his elation adding more… Yet he was afraid of causing new injuries to the
slowly healing human body.
“Kryptonian chess is not my cup of tea…” he chuckled and his hungry eyes roamed
Bruce’s naked body taking advantage of the man’s closed eyes though he was sure
that Bruce knew.
“What a disappointment for Jor El…” a crooked smile sculpted Bruce’s face that
had lost all the tense from the sea’s liberating treatment.
Clark giggled.
“Believe it or not I have disappointed him many times.”
Bruce cocked an eyebrow: the sea’s sound was brushing his ears mingling with
Clark’s soft voice and established a really soothing feeling to his tired body
that stayed lax on the surface.
“And why not believing it?” he mock sneered “You seem the type to disappoint a
noble from Krypton…You’re a farm boy after all…”
Clark couldn’t stop himself with Bruce teasing him like this; playfully,
carefree. He wrapped his hands around his armpits, lifted him and kissed
roaring his abdominals as the salty sea water ran down. He had his eyes closed
devouring the sensation of the wet taut flesh and the sound of Bruce’s
heartbeat and giggles.
“So you can’t handle tickling, huh? Smart ass?” he growled unwilling to part
with Bruce’s flesh. He had almost lost the man and that had left a tight
feeling inside him that he fought all the time to ease.
Bruce took a deep breath to control his giggles.
“You wanted me to relax…” he chuckled “this doesn’t help, you know…” his eyes
regarded longingly Clark’s head on his belly as ascended to his chest.
The Man of Steel was feeling Bruce’s back with his strong hands soothing the
spots where it still hurt and then lower finding the paths where the neurons
had sustained their functionality and rubbed desperately. He had learnt by
heart those neurons and stimulated them with every chance because he wanted to
encourage Bruce that he’d feel again.
Of course, Jor El had warned that these areas were oversensitive – since they
were the only functional – and that made them highly erogenous so their arousal
would lead Bruce in deep need since more than half of his body was deprived of
any sensory stimulation.
Jor El hadn’t stated it clearly but Clark understood his hesitation if not
disapproval for that kind of “treatment”. His father didn’t approve it because
he read his son’s fear and unwillingness to engage the frail, healing human in
the intense action of having sex. Thus his father as Clark himself considered
the whole “procedure” cruel: lighting the fire inside Bruce’s body and then
letting him unsatisfied, melting slowly from the oppressed heat.
That killed Clark every time…He wanted to be inside Bruce’s body, he wanted to
give him pleasure and soothe his own body that cried after so much time to
savor the human’s body… But he couldn’t. He heard the shy moans leaving his
Star’s lungs as Clark’s lips sucked desperately his drenched breasts; he heard
the frantic beat of Bruce’s heart; he felt the gorgeous body convulsing needy…
Above the waist.
Bruce had wrapped his arms around Clark’s neck and nibbled slowly his strong
neck. Maybe this time the Man of Steel would make love to him, would see him
again as a normal human being and not a half alive thing. His hands slithered
to Clark’s back, relishing the sense of perfect bulky muscles breathing power…
His heart was beating crazily and his breaths became rasps from want but his
groin remained dead; yet it didn’t matter because that was the case the first
time Clark touched him and then Clark healed him. Maybe the same would happen
again.
He locked his sparkling eyes with Clark’s and claimed his lips, caressing the
endless layers of abdominals made of steel. He grinned mentally: if someone had
told him few months ago that he’d lust so much for a man that would initiate
their intercourse, he’d have snapped at him. But Clark was so beautiful and so
kind and loving that Bruce could forget his horrible past in his arms – at
least momentarily – and feel like normal people do.
Clark felt his oppressed length hardening and bit his inner lip. It was too
soon; he could see how fragile Bruce’s pelvis was…unfortunately.
Bruce could read the signs of arousal and Clark was aroused, his groin
twitching and his eyes dark with lust. But then Clark’s eyes lowered and his
arousal was gone like the flame of a candle and Bruce searched his eyes
frowning. And slowly unclenched his arms and let them touch Clark’s chest; he
pressed his lips forming a tight smile.
“I’m supposed to relax, right?” he said and Clark bit his lips.
“I just want it to be perfect for you as for me” Clark breathed staring at the
depths of the younger man’s eyes. “I want you to feel everything and be pleased
as you deserve…” he touched his forehead to Bruce’s.
“That doesn’t mean that you have to delay your pleasure” Bruce replied coolly.
“Your afterglow will be my pleasure as well” his eyes glowed solemnly.
Clark shook his head.
“I can wait, Bruce and, believe me: it’s my honor that you…” he inhaled deeply
“you accept and want me; I feel goose bumps right now… There’s nothing I’d want
more than make love to you right now” a sharp intake of air “but I want
everything to be perfect…”
“And not shatter me…” Bruce laughed though it didn’t feel funny. Actually his
guts felt a pang of shame realizing that he was literary pleading to be fucked.
“From the first time, you like it. But you force yourself to feel only the pain
because you don’t want to admit that you’re a little slut…”
His cheeks felt hot and he lowered his eyes, Clark immediately felt that
something was off and frowned.
“What?” he whispered and rubbed soothingly Bruce’s back.
“How’s Gotham?” he looked him in the eyes.
Clark cocked an eyebrow and gave a crooked smile.
“Don’t tell me you don’t watch the developments through the net and your
other…sources.”
“It’s not the same” his voice was cold but Clark knew how much love was hiding
inside him. “The last time I was in Gotham was that day almost forty days ago
when Jim took my testimony about my kidnapping by the League of Shadows and I
had remained all the time in the Manor.”
Clark smiled and caressed Bruce’s wet locks that glimmered in the last rays of
sun.
“Your city is unbelievably peaceful and quiet; the criminality rate has made an
incredible dive; people are hopeful...”
Bruce pressed his lips.
“But Harvey resigned and left; and that’s a blow: Gotham needed him. I can’t
believe the disaster that happened” he gritted his teeth. “I should have
predicted that!”
Clark didn’t like the trembling of Bruce’s body which was emotional and
physical; the water was warm but outside the light breeze, though pleasantly
cool, was able to bring down a recovering organism like his. So he lowered
smoothly the younger man in the warmth of the water.
“You predicted it, remember?” Bruce looked confused: Clark knew that Talia and
Crane messed with his memories and Bruce faced some minor lapses. “Rachel had
called and warned about Joker planning something and you put me guarding MCU.
Yet Joker had ordered one of his goons to abduct Harvey’s father and he
threatened to kill the man and blow up the Adam’s bridge if Harvey didn’t free
him.”
Bruce nodded listening eagerly.
“I rushed to the bridge, I stopped the goon but Joker was already out.”
Bruce shook his head furrowing his brows; something didn’t fit.
“You heard Joker blackmailing Harvey and you didn’t notify Tony to change the
codes Harvey knew?”
Clark chuckled on Bruce’s dark stare: Batman was still there. He tapped the
younger man’s nose.
“Of course I did and Tony changed the codes but the safety wasn’t stable and
when Stane broke down his armor, Tony’s cell dissolved and Harvey had already
unlocked the common cell.”
Bruce’s lips formed a tight line.
“And of course Joker found the footage from police’s cameras and broadcasted it
and Harvey’s dignity led him to resign…” he sighed.
“Exactly” Clark’s eyes were dead serious. “Bruce, please forget all these: you
need to relax…”
But he hadn’t finished his phrase and Bruce tensed more.
“His cell in Arkham is secure enough? I don’t want him to escape again and
threat Dick.”
Clark closed his eyes to calm himself because now he was tense too.
“You should ask Tony; the cell is his” he sighed “but I assure you that I
always keep an ear there…” the hand that held Bruce’s back flat clenched and
the younger man looked at him worried. “I almost wish he breaks out so I have
the chance to bust him and…”
Bruce’s eyes widened. Not kill, he thought. And Clark could read his eyes.
“He almost killed you” Clark shook his head, looking at the horizon but in
reality at nowhere “so I’d like very much to smash his bones like…” he stopped
abruptly; like what happened to you because of him…for him to feel the
excruciating pain you felt and still feel at times… but he couldn’t utter it.
Not that Bruce didn’t figure; he touched Clark’s upper arm and the Man of Steel
focused again on him.
“He is a psychopathic criminal; you are not!” he said sharply and Clark pressed
his lips trying to calm his enraged heart but in vain. “You don’t kill.”
On that Clark’s eyes darkened. Till Bruce began brushing his upper arm and
Clark’s face became again his usual kind face.
“I read on the net about Superman saving people in that French nuclear reactor
last night… It was a miracle that nobody died and thanks to you the radiation
didn’t manage to pass to the air or soil.”
Clark smiled; of course Bruce knew how to erase any trace of hatred from his
mind and remind him who he really was.
“You sneaky, sly… amazing man!” he kissed him passionately in the lips cupping
the back of his head to keep him afloat.
Bruce’s eyes flashed when Clark grudgingly detached his lips.
“It was the reason I didn’t come yesterday as I promised; it took many hours to
stabilize the reactor and contain the emission. When I finished I had to go to
the Fortress to clean myself from the radiation – I may be impervious but
humans around me aren’t… and then I had to go to the work…”
“So how come and you’re here so early? We’re still in your working hours…”
Clark leaned to his ear.
“I took the day off: I…got ill all of a sudden…” he whispered and winked.
Bruce widened his eyes in mock outrage.
“You lied?! The boy scout lied?!” he gaped.
Clark closed his eyes and nuzzled Bruce’s sharp cheekbone mumbling his pleasure
and nodding.
“I think I deserved it after so much radiation…But don’t tell, Perry…”
Bruce narrowed his eyes as Clark’s nuzzling was tickling him. Superman’s arm
was wrapped above his wet chest holding him afloat and bringing their breasts
to touch. But Bruce shut out this contact because it wouldn’t lead to anything.
Instead he chose to tease his “tormentor”.
“I believe I just found leverage on the Man of Steel” he growled and Clark
muffled it with his lips.
“Close your eyes, Star; let the peace of the nature fill your body…”
Clark’s urge almost brought back Ra’s’ smug voice telling almost the same
things but Bruce didn’t let the memory fully establish; instead he closed his
eyes, and let the sound of the seagulls and the waves fill his restless mind,
his heartbeat and breath following the calming rhythm; the injured muscles of
his lower body felt like…No, it wasn’t like before neither a miracle brought
back their sensory function but it was…different: like a soothing, numbing wave
began from there up to his torso and his head. It was beautiful, like leaving
the boundaries of his body and traveling out of time and space.
Clark was absorbed in Bruce’s body that glowed under the setting sun’s flaming
reddish soft hue; Bruce’s features’ beauty was irresistible every time and
under this light the younger man was transformed into a magical being – like
his ancestor, Lilith. The salty odor of the sea blended with Bruce’s unique
perfume turning Clark on again. But he shouldn’t… even if Bruce’s wet silky
locks seemed golden in the sapphire waters and his eyelids seemed made of
velvet and his lashes endless…
He swallowed hard following the course of the last intake of air in Bruce’s
body: the ethereal movement of his rosy lips, the slight rising of his throat,
the slithering vein in the dimple between the neck and the sternum, the slow,
seductive elevation of Bruce’s chest, his protruding rosy nipples calling him
to lick and suck them. And between his taut breasts lay happy the Black
Butterfly glimmering in its plain frame in a pendant made of rare black
platinum Clark had found and molded. For a moment Clark’s eyes were lost in the
multicolored sparkles the gem emanated as it was absorbing the sun’s energy.
His fingertips made gentle circles around Bruce’s cute belly button aware that
his Star couldn’t fill anything so mild there – his spine above the waist
wasn’t vastly destroyed like in his lower body but still it was considerably
injured to the level of the lower rib.
The Fortress had done everything that could be done setting of the process of
neurons’ regeneration but Jor El said that time and physical therapy would do
the rest since Bruce refused to take again the Immortality Water this time to
heal the severe damage in his lower body. His concern was that using the pure
form of Lazarus’ Pit would make him paranoid like Ra’s Al Ghul since his former
mentor did use the medicine too often: for Bruce once was enough.
Human surgery was forbidden and Bruce was adamant in not letting Dr. Elliot
examine him in hopes of using his method that utilized Superman’s super powers
– this time Clark didn’t dare to attempt anything on Bruce’s injuries to not
deteriorate them. The good thing was that Tony and Lucius were working fast to
adjust their bionic body parts tech into replacing damaged neurons and
manufacturing spinal parts.
He sighed because his eyes drove his mind out of the pain to focus on what he
had in front of him; so much beauty was overwhelming…
“Damn, Bruce! You’re beautiful!”
It was a hot iron spear piercing Bruce’s heart but he didn’t open his eyes.
“Stop saying that, Clark” he uttered dryly.
Clark furrowed his brows: his Star’s voice was indifferent yet the content
hinted something deep.
“Why?” he leaned over his face that was relaxed, the real turmoil deep inside.
“Because it’s not true! I mean, you flatter me and I’m happy you still say that
but… it’s not true.”
“I beg to differ!” Clark protested and instinctively tightened his one arm hug
around Bruce’s chest.
Hearing these things from a man who stirred insatiable passion to so many
people, from the League of Shadows’ powerful leader to a demon was unbelievable
but Clark could understand that someone who had been raped from his early
childhood couldn’t regard himself as beautiful. And… Clark had endless,
tormenting months to show to him how beautiful he was…
Bruce opened his eyes and moved gently his arms in the water to maintain his
flat position though he could feel Clark’s arm holding him.
“I know I’m not good looking and I have no problem with that and actually it’ll
be a huge relief when people stop being curious to discover the marks of abuse
on me and cease staring at me” Clark wanted to sigh: his Star really believed
that all these stares were due to the horrors of his past. He realized Bruce’s
x-raying eyes were on him. “I know that your…”
Say it, Star!Clark pleaded internally.
“Your love is true and has nothing to do with the substance…” he chuckled “you
got immunized after all. This love makes you see me pretty but… The fact I
don’t feel or move below the waist doesn’t mean that I can’t see…”
Clark licked his lips uncomfortable and Bruce smiled sympathetic.
“My body is covered with lacerations, bruises, scars and swellings – even
burnings and in some spots entire fragments of flesh are still missing. My
muscles are deformed and although the Fortress’ stitches are invisible to
humans I know that you can see them…” he widened his eyes. “I’m like
Frankenstein’s monster:: all seams and bad flesh. So don’t call me beautiful”
he stretched his hand and caressed Clark’s cheek, his eyes sparkling “you’re
beautiful” he pouted and shook his head “you’re perfect.”
Then he let his head sank in the water slowly keeping his eyes closed; the
embrace of the water so pleasant and mind clearing.
Clark pressed his lips and blushed: the realization that he was the first being
Bruce felt lust for made him shiver from delight and craving but unfortunately
there was the nasty biting in his guts because he must deny satisfaction to
this special being… And seeing Bruce’s face covered by glistening water
glowing, lax and silken…
He cupped the human’s face and dragged him out of the water.
 “First of all, I didn’t say you’re pretty but beautiful and for me the things
you mentioned as disfiguring stress out your beauty because they were made when
you saved people from certain death” he shook his head in denial ignoring
Bruce’s snort. “You have to accept it, Bruce: you’re beautiful and actually I’m
jealous every time someone looks at you…” he huffed and his face became too
serious. “I wish your beauty hadn’t caused so much pain to you because it’s
unfair…”
Clark’s eyes were heavy with emotion and frankly Bruce didn’t want for him to
feel sadness. So as Clark touched their foreheads together and nuzzled his
cheek Bruce turned his head to the shore and laughed on the spectacle trying to
carry Clark’s mood with his.
Clark followed Bruce’s gaze and grinned broadly.
“So much for your bribe” Bruce snorted “Hero wants to come to us…”
The black and white kitten stood right where the wave splashed and stared at
them. Clark smirked.
“But cats hate water!”
Bruce cocked an eyebrow.
“However, this cat fights it…”
Hero ran backwards when the waves hit the shore but instantly as the waters
ebbed chased them moving his paw aggressively. Only to retreat hastily when the
wave came back at him to charge again as the wave moved inwards.
Clark watched Bruce’s eyes fill with love and warmth as he laughed with his
kitten’s doings. Bruce realized and stopped abruptly stilling his eyes on
Clark’s solemn ones.
“Promise me that you won’t stop laughing like this…” Clark sighed.
Bruce tilted his head on the side and blinked.
“If I laugh like this all the time, I’d be facetious…”
“No, you’ll be happy…” he touched feathery the wet locks that had stuck on
Bruce’s eyes framing them; he leaned and captured the younger man’s lips almost
aggressively.
But Bruce’s insides clenched: not the same game again… He understood Clark’s
wariness of wounding him and he knew that Clark loved him and didn’t do it on
purpose and he wasn’t angry but being aroused and then left was exhausting for
his body even in this malfunctioning state – and his heart wasn’t very
appreciative of that either. Besides he knew that it was as much tormenting for
Clark. So he touched Clark’s jaw and softly turned away his own head to unlock
their lips.
Clark lowered his eyes and bit his lip.
“You’re right…” he huffed. “But the moment you’ll be healed, I swear to Rao
that you won’t get out of our greenhouse for two months!” he blushed. “Wait!
Did that sound like a threat?”
Bruce rolled his eyes.
“The sure thing is that it didn’t sound like a kind, moral boy scout as you
promote yourself to the masses…” he quirked an eyebrow and Clark suddenly
wrapped him in his broad chest.
“Did I tell you that your eyes are my lucky Kryptonite?”
“I think that Jor El would have used a different term but…yes, you did…at least
a hundred times…” he snorted. “I just hope your enemies won’t learn that small
detail – even if it’s more poetry than fact.”
Clark sensed that Bruce was shivering since the sun had almost vanished in the
water, the sky had taken a dark orange-pink color and the temperature dropped.
So he stood and took Bruce in his arms, the younger man slithered tenderly his
arms around Superman’s neck.
Hero was jerking and twitching his leg nervously annoyed because the water had
touched it and Bruce laughed resting his head on Clark’s hot chest, the
exhaustion of the day finally overwhelming his body. Clark felt goose bumps all
over because Bruce’s soft breath was brushing his wet flesh and foremost
because he sensed the human’s trusting surrender.
“You know of course that Alfred will be furious…” Bruce remarked warningly, a
yawn ending his phrase.
***** Chapter 3 *****
“What did you do to Bruce Wayne?” Jim calmly asked Jonathan Crane who sat
opposite him handcuffed.
The police Commissioner had come himself to Arkham Asylum to interrogate the
insane doctor who was staring at him with his faint blue eyes glimmering from
jeer. His lips were the entire time twitching in contempt but now stretched in
a full sneering smirk.
“Why?” he lolled his head on the side locking his eyes with Jim’s grim ones.
“The genius Iron smartass couldn’t figure?” sarcasm vibrated his voice.
Tony was watching behind the one-way mirror with his arms folded. His eyes were
sharp under the angry furrow of his brow and his lips were twitching nervously.
Bruce had told him with details the procedure Crane was following in every
session and he with Leslie had located the exact spots Crane penetrated his
friend’s skull. And Lucius had extracted from the tools the evil doctor used
the substances and then isolated and identified them: they were common
psychotropic drugs, artificial neurotransmitters mimicking the natural ones and
some unknown substances.
They consulted Leslie’s neurologists and the legendary Professor Hugo Strange
who was a master in human psychology and function of the human brain. The man
was inapproachable and unwilling to meet them at first but as soon as he learnt
that it was about Bruce Wayne and some weird things Crane did to his brain, he
agreed to meet them immediately and was very cooperative even friendly – well,
in his own way...
Despite the fact he was a professor at King George’s college in London his
interest was such that he offered to examine Bruce himself and Leslie had to
explain to him that Crane’s “treatment” to Bruce was kept secret from the
public and that the youth was too hesitant to trust psychiatrists after his
traumatic experience with Crane.
Well, to be honest, Tony didn’t blame Bruce. He was watching the professor sunk
in his big, Victorian type armchair in Strange’s office and the man might be
the world’s top psychiatrist but Tony definitely would never want to be treated
by him. He was Ironman and, well, he wasn’t afraid of anything and certainly
not this weird man but he felt his spine freeze thinking his patients…or
students – he was happy he hadn’t chosen psychiatry for his studies because as
a genius he’d have accepted only the best professor and with Tony’s…extravagant
history Strange would certainly have sent him to the loony bin…
Anyway, Strange told them with more details what Tony had figured without being
a psychiatrist: that Crane had tried to cause a major turbulence in Bruce’s
memory playing with the encephalic centers of memory and the neurotransmitters
that define the brain’s function. Tony had asked him whether this had damaged
Bruce’s stored memories and Strange turned his eyes on him benevolently
but…well, Tony would have preferred it without any eye contact.
“I wouldn’t assume that Dr. Crane’s target was to erase Mr. Wayne’s episodic
memory in its semantics; based on the list of substances you found in the tools
Dr. Crane used and the geography of his insertions, I’d be certain to say that
he targeted the emotional frame of these memories which combined with the
simultaneous intervention to the centers where the semantic content is stored
would have led to alienating Mr. Wayne’s memories either giving to them the
aspects Dr. Crane and the people who hired him wanted or to a decapacitating
confusion making the object – that is Mr. Wayne – extremely vulnerable to these
people’s manipulation. Especially, taking account Mr. Wayne’s troubled past,
this horrid confusion concerning the major events of his life would have made
him gullible to the people around him for a solid version of his life.
Consider, Mr. Stark” Tony didn’t like the sound of his name in this person’s
mouth and that made more intense his aversion whenever Strange uttered Bruce’s
name.
Strange cleared his throat, as if he had read Tony’s thoughts, though the
billionaire had kept his eyes blank.
“Consider, Mr. Stark that Mr. Wayne’s personality isn’t the most solid of
personalities since at the crucial period for the built of a healthy
personality he experienced traumatizing events and hideous abuse” this time
Tony with his fingers knitted in front of his tense face didn’t care to keep
down his eyebrow from jerking upwards in sarcasm: Bruce’s personality not
solid? He didn’t know a person with a stronger personality than his friend’s…
“And given” the doctor’s voice was indifferent though the shadow of a smirk
fell on his face “that at 26 years of age…”
“You know Bruce’s age?” Tony used his ‘studies’ with Bruce’s skill to hide his
dislike for Strange’s knowledge.
The professor smiled innocently but Tony saw Leslie frowning.
“Who doesn’t, my dear Mr. Stark? With all this hype? Well, as I was saying,
Bruce’s personality in this stage would have easily undergone some small but
crucial changes with the ingenious ministrations of Dr. Crane turning your
friend to whatever was dictated by his kidnappers.”
Now the bulky doctor knitted his fingers leaning towards his two guests. And
Tony hated the fact Strange insisted on praising Crane even indirectly.
“All in all, you and Mr. Wayne” Tony understood that Strange realized that his
use of Bruce’s first name was a slip revealing his weird interest to the youth
so he returned to the use of the surname “are lucky that Dr. Crane’s work
stopped at its initial stages.”
“Dr. Strange, do you believe that Crane’s treatment though short may have a
lingering effect on Bruce?” Leslie asked.
The doctor, whose eyes were like that golden android’s in Star Wars, - Tony
smirked inside -, looked Leslie in the eyes and Tony admired her even more for
not shuddering.
“I’m afraid, Dr. Thompkins, that I can’t answer that; you see, the procedure
Dr. Crane applied is pioneering.”
Tony furious leaned towards Strange and pierced him with his dead serious eyes.
“Pioneering?” his eyebrows shot upwards. “Nanotechnology is pioneering; Wayne-
Stark bionic body parts are pioneering; CERN project is pioneering. What that
lunatic did was just plain sick, hideous, disgusting, cruel perversity!” he
shook his head for the professor’s hidden acceptance to Crane’s methods – no
wonder, Crane was his student at Harvard before Strange left US for Britain.
But Dr. Strange smiled appeasingly.
“Believe me, Mr. Stark: I do understand your loathing” Tony snorted “using the
term ‘pioneering’ doesn’t mean I approve of this. What I wanted to underline is
that there is no precedent of such procedure for us to make assumptions as to
whether there will be a lingering effect or not; and if there is such lingering
effect, about its development, the weight and the quality. Mr. Wayne is the one
and only person who underwent such ministrations so we can only observe him” he
turned his odd eyes to Leslie. “I expect that you take daily samples from Mr.
Wayne’s cerebrospinal fluid and observe his brain’s activity.”
Tony tilted his head: well, that wasn’t so easy since Bruce as soon as reached
the clinic left to save some children and almost ended up dead and now was
under Superman’s Fortress’ ‘treatment’. That Fortress had saved his friend so
Tony trusted that Bruce’s brain was also in good hands.
Leslie nodded without of course giving any details. Strange answered with a
condescending grin which fought to hide his haughtiness.
“Of course, I could assume Mr. Wayne’s observation and psychological treatment
even if that means coming to Gotham, since Bruce’s physical state doesn’t
permit traveling.”
Tony wanted to kick, his entire existence shouting: IN YOUR DREAMS, PAL! Yet he
wanted to keep appearances.
“We wouldn’t want you to leave your admirable academic career” he smiled.
“Hardly, Mr. Stark: United States is not so distant especially in the era of
air transportation – as you know better than me. But even if it required stop
teaching, I’d gladly do that. I love challenges and Gotham is every mental
health professional’s dream.”
Tony cocked a sarcastic eyebrow.
“Try nightmare!”
Leslie sent him a scolding glare and turned to Strange.
“We surely appreciate your interest and kind offer, Dr. Strange” Tony rolled
his eyes “but in this stage Bruce isn’t in a position to accept an…unfamiliar
person’s close presence” especially his, Tony thought. “At the moment, I think
that his loved ones’ observation would be more useful” Tony discerned a shadow
in the doctor’s eyes; “and we’d be grateful if you could grant us again with
your precious advice in case we notice anything odd or worrying…”
Dr. Strange smiled again to Leslie.
“Of course, my dear; I’ll give you my personal numbers and email to communicate
with me for everything you want. However, I think that persuading Dr. Crane to
reveal everything considering his treatment will be very helpful. Not that if I
was granted the opportunity I wouldn’t decipher his doings…” he raised an
eyebrow.
“Thank you for everything, Dr. Strange” Leslie said and as soon as she took his
card followed Tony who hastily moved to the door.
“Mr. Stark” Dr. Strange stood up and smiled to the young man’s tense face “you
must not misunderstand my avid interest in your friend. Bruce Wayne is the Holy
Grail of every psychiatrist: he watched his parents being murdered, he lived
almost his entire life under the cruel enslavement of his parents’ murderer
suffering every kind of abuse there is; however, against all odds the youth not
only managed to keep his sanity but also to regain his father’s company
eliminating the hard competition” Strange gave a crook smile “it seems that
everyone who tries to threaten him ends up in ruins… And to culminate all
these, your friend is developing impressing entrepreneurial initiatives. And
that’s incredible.”
Tony crossed his arms: imagine his reaction if he knew about Bruce’s other
activities. He cocked an eyebrow.
“I know that: it was you who said that Bruce’s personality isn’t solid…” he
stressed every word and the doctor pressed his lips for his inconsistency.
“An admirable, dynamic personality can have rickety foundations.”
The billionaire jerked his head proudly and clenched his teeth.
“Not Bruce!” he spat and stormed out of the room.
“The subject matter is that Bruce is for a scientist of the human mind and
behavior a dream project. You’re a scientist, too, Mr. Stark: you can
understand the eagerness of a scientist to study such a remarkable, one of a
kind specimen.”
Tony crossed his arms and shook his head squinting at the man.
“Maybe dissecting his brain?” he asked sarcastic.
Dr. Strange laughed and Tony frowned.
“That isn’t necessary, Mr. Stark. Imagine the answers we would have taken by
studying Bruce: his defense mechanisms, his cognitive processing, his
reasoning, his emotional brain’s function, his subconscious…”
The bizarre doctor seemed lost in his thoughts and Leslie exchanged outrageous
glances with Tony.
“We could have helped thousands of people facing the same situations with Bruce
or trained our soldiers to withstand every kind of torture.”
Tony clenched his teeth.
“Or find ways to smash a human being’s resistance and personality!’’
Tony was boiling even when they left Dr. Strange’s office in the College.
“I feel like I have stripped Bruce bare naked in front of this perv’s eyes!” he
growled to Leslie and she stopped walking abruptly.
He could see in her eyes that she was unsettled too yet that woman had nerves
of steel and composure that could compete with Alfred’s or Bruce’s.
“Tony, Dr. Strange might be…strange” she said calmly “but don’t forget that he
isn’t a rapist but a psychiatrist.”
He cocked an eyebrow and nodded.
“Yeah! A mind rapist! You heard him, Leslie!” he stretched his hand. “And we
gave all this info about what Bruce was been through for what? He just repeated
the things we already knew and nothing more. Lucius and I will find everything
that madman did to Bruce’s brain. We shouldn’t have come here and given him
those data!” he slapped his thigh and kicked the air.
Leslie patted his back soothingly.
“Tony, your overprotectiveness leads you to paranoia: we just sought one
opinion more and the data we gave him aren’t so crucial.”
Tony rolled his eyes.
“He is the paranoid, not me! And he looked like the shark who tasted the blood
of a delicious pray…” his eyes became slits. “Don’t tell me you intend to send
him any new feedback…” his voice was almost threatening and Leslie’s eyes got
angry.
“Of course not” she answered scornful “though I don’t share your fears…” she
seemed to be thinking hard “…entirely” she added and he realized that Leslie
indeed didn’t trust the odd doctor.
“This is police investigation” Jim’s indifferent answer to his insult made the
former doctor smirk.
Crane lolled his head to the side.
“So…Stark isn’t watching us from the one-way mirror eager to take answers to
save his puppy friend?” he cocked a smug eyebrow. “He brags around in his silly
tin suit pretending the genius when in fact he is another ignorant, incompetent
idiot like the doctors that replaced me here…” he chortled.
Tony hardly restrained himself from smashing the window and surge at him not
for his insults against him nor for his arrogance but because he tortured Bruce
and now let with that “save his puppy” the threat looming over his friend.
However if he attacked he’d give him the satisfaction of being confirmed.
Jim stretched on the chair’s back and regarded him with squinted eyes.
“What makes you think that someone like him will waste his time watching the
interrogation of the man who dragged his friend and conducted illegal
experiments on him when he is deciphering what exactly you did to Mr. Wayne. To
be honest” he shook his head “I wouldn’t allow Mr. Stark near you… The look on
his face the last time I met him told me very clear that he found out what you
did and wants nothing more than show you his opinion about that.”
Tony smirked satisfied for Jim’s collected answer and the reaction it provoked
from Crane. The lean doctor flinched recollecting his encounter with Ironman in
the base they were holding Bruce. However something shook Crane out of his
cowardice and he smiled confidently.
“Then if he has already found out what are you doing here?” he inquired smugly,
his eyes glistening with sneer.
Jim leaned towards Crane, putting his hands on the table between them. His
solemn eyes were sincere when his eyebrows arched.
“Saving your ass. Giving you a last chance to confess everything about the
experiment you did on Mr. Wayne, so your allegation that you were also a
prisoner of the League of Shadows stands. If you cooperate and give every
detail of what these people forcedyou to do” he moved his eyebrows suggestively
“then the DA will be persuaded that you weren’t their accomplish or wanted to
put Mr. Wayne through illegal experimentation and you’ll be treated with
leniency.”
Leniency my ass! Tony jerked his head and pouted. He knew that this man enjoyed
putting Bruce through that torture.
A nasty crook half smile carved Crane’s pale face and he arched his eyebrows
arrogantly.
“Commissioner, do you really consider yourself smarter than me?’’
Jim narrowed his eyes.
“What your…leniency will be? Transfer to another sector of this loony bin? C’me
on, I know that you won’t get me out of here even if I told you everything –
inferior people like all of you are afraid of my genius. And frankly, even in
here I enjoy your fear.”
Jim stared at the man as if pitying him and Crane jerked towards him like an
attacking snake.
“These idiots really captured me and asked me to apply my genius to that brat:
they had even the audacity to use threats as if they could cause fear to the
master of fear!” Jim arched his eyebrows emptying his eyes from his emotions.
“Yet I… Ugh! I spit on your” he shook his head “leniency!” he hissed. “I did
what I did to that petty thing gladly, with my free choice because if I didn’t
want I’d have fooled those jerks using innocent, harmless substances and not
the real thing.”
He squinted his eyes in malice.
“But I wanted. I wanted to experiment with that lucky bastard’s brain! I wanted
to extract my power over him, to show him my superiority! I wanted to make him
pain physically and emotionally and cry revealing at last how scared and
ridiculous he is… and how worthless his mind is compared with mine!” he opened
his mouth and delayed speaking showing off his real satisfaction “and I enjoyed
every moment of his yielding to my ministrations: his childish ravings, his
moans, his sobs, his pleadings…” he shook his head. “There’s nothing better
than watching a mind disintegrating…”
Jim’s blank stare hid his disgust and aversion for the man but Tony from the
other side of the window clenched his fist and jaw.
“But those stupid super heroes came before I managed to finish my brilliant
work… Never mind…Even from this madhouse I enjoy your dread for the impact of
my ministrations on that worthless brain. And this satisfaction is more
important than any bargain you can offer me for saving the brat’s mind.”
Jim stood having enough of this shit.
“Have it your way” he spat and turned to leave. “After all, Mr. Wayne is
tougher than your tricks.”
Tony frowned seeing the smirk on Crane’s face.
“Exactly, Commissioner” he said slyly. “He manifested extraordinary resistance
to my fear toxin and other treatment…like…a hard trained man or a man of
uncommon skills.’’
Jim didn’t turn but had stopped on his heels and Crane though couldn’t see his
face smiled certain that the commissioner listened interested.
“Even under my toxin’s influence he talked to me calmly and too clever for what
someone would have expected from a victim like him.”
Tony’s nostrils flared; he could see that Jim was intrigued. Damn!
“You’re impressed” Jim turned to Crane.
The doctor shook his head laughing.
“No, not impressed…I’d have broken his mind if I had few days more. Just
curious…” he knitted his eyebrows. “As you – I mean, the police – should be:
why a powerful crime organization shows such zeal to capture a poor little
victim” Tony’s eyes were still, stabbing the evil doctor.
Jim arched his eyebrows.
“What else? Ransom and leverage on Tony Stark.”
Crane cackled and shook his head in contempt.
“Oh! Commissioner! I believed you slightly smarter!” Jim’s brow creased. “The
money they spent to organize Wayne’s abduction makes the ransom theory
ridiculous. Leverage on the Iron Buffoon is a probability…BUT” his eyes flashed
wickedly “the head of the organization was obsessed with getting back Wayne:
she claimed that he was her property AND she was insistent on controlling his
mind – she spent a small fortune to provide me the means to shatter and mend
Wayne’s mind structures according to her wishes.”
Crane protruded his lower lip.
“Isn’t that odd? Shouldn’t that have intrigued the Police?”
Tony’s eyes widened: that scum!
Jim regarded Crane indifferent.
“She shared the same sick mind as you, Crane; Bruce Wayne’s strength and
bravery drew the attention and the envy of deranged minds of villains such as
you so who’s better ally in her insanity than you” he cocked his eyebrows, his
eyes keeping their nonchalant and slightly indifferent hue. “So, as Mr. Stark
has already figured out, your ‘’treatment’’ aimed to control Mr. Wayne’s
remarkable brain by – I’m using your terms – “shattering and mending his mind’s
structures.” Crane’s face paled and his smirk vanished. “Thank you, Crane: you
might not be cooperative but still you helped us a lot!”
The Commissioner’s eyes flashed under his arched eyebrows and Tony’s face
beamed from satisfaction for Crane’s shitty expression. The billionaire watched
Jim leaving the room, calling to the orderlies to take Crane.
Tony liked Jim’s response that dismissed Crane’s sly remarks that aimed to
create suspicions about Bruce’s true character. However, he rubbed his chin
deep in thought: Jim was a very clever man.
The door to the side room from where Tony was watching opened and Jim entered.
His face was as calm and benevolent as ever.
“Mr. Stark, I don’t know if what you heard was of any significance…” he
shrugged. “Crane is deep in his insanity and arrogance so I doubt we can get
any more information than we did.”
Tony nodded.
“It was important, Jim: you drove him to admit and affirm our assumptions. To
tell you the truth, I didn’t count much on his info to decipher what he did and
the repercussions. And I think that he tries to terrorize us hinting that his
very short treatment will have detrimental effects – of course, Bruce faces
some difficulties but not what Crane implied.”
Jim pressed his lips.
“I’m glad to hear it, Mr. Stark; Mr. Wayne doesn’t deserve to suffer anymore.”
Tony lowered his eyes and nodded grinning at the man.
“Call me Tony, Jim” he said. “And thank you for everything you did.”
Jim shook his head and made a dismissive gesture.
“I only did my job, Tony…”
“Much more than this, Jim: much more…” he stretched his hand to a handshake
that felt one of the few truly important handshakes of his life.
Jim left and Tony sighed, his mind on his duties: unfortunately, S.H.I.E.L.D.’s
reshaping, the deciphering of Crane’s shit and the built of a new “spine” for
Bruce thwarted him from being with his slowly and painfully recovering friend.
 
“Alfred will be furious, huh? Then I must cover my tracks…” Clark answered with
a mischievous half smile as he came out of the sea, the water resistance
crushed from his steel legs.
Hero ran to them meowing and rubbing to Clark’s ankles, sending stares upwards
to Bruce who quirked an eyebrow to his lover.
“I hope that doesn’t mean you’ll dispose of my body…” he chuckled.
Clark’s eyes darted playfully to Bruce’s naked body in his arms and sighed.
“Believe me, Bruce” his eyes met with the younger man’s “your body is my whole
world” he shook his head “having you in my arms is my greatest feat so I don’t
think that disposing of it will ever pass my mind…”
Bruce’s eyes were solemn but then wanting to ease the mood snorted.
“Then you’re busted, buster!”
Clark mouthed the younger man’s lips to ‘punish’ him and Bruce moaned deepening
the kiss, caressing his jaw. Clark felt his spine going numb by these fingers
and without unlocking their lips kneeled on the spot where he had let their
clothes. He placed Bruce carefully on his red cape, the kitten catching up with
them rubbing on his master’s hand to get his attention and caress.
“Actually, I was thinking milder ways to…be spared from Alfred’s fury and save
you from a cold…” Clark lolled his head on the side.
Bruce looked at Hero, petting him.
“Really now? And what’s that?” he inquired indifferently without looking at
him.
Clark shrugged.
“Drying you…”
Bruce turned to him surprised and Clark laughing blew mild hot air to his face
causing Bruce’s eyes to close and then began blowing all over the human’s body
savoring the way Bruce’s closed eyelids trembled enjoying the feeling that made
his mind paralyze. Clark smirked and blew extra tenderly brushing with the air
the younger man’s left nipple. Bruce’s upper torso convulsed by the electric
current that spread goose bumps to his healthy body, so Clark did the same with
the right nipple smiling when the fair hair on the human’s breast erected.
Bruce’s fingers dag in the sand when the hot air lowered to his navel, a grunt
accompanying a new violent squirm that made him lose his balance although
seated.
Clark hastened to wrap him in his strong arms and their eyes locked. Bruce’s
eyes were a bit upset for losing his balance but immediately found again his
calm though his heart gave another kick. He touched Clark’s lips that were a
bit pressed; it was easy for him to figure that the Man of Steel felt guilty
thinking that he had overdone it again.
So Bruce smiled happily.
“You’re the best blow dryer of the market” he laughed “and the most
economical…”
Bruce’s eyes were sparkling and Clark knew that it was for his sake and he
couldn’t resist: his lips dived in Bruce’s soft cheek, his nose relishing as
well the velvet feeling of the wet cheek.
“I hope that doesn’t mean that I’m cheap…” he chuckled and Bruce closed his
eyes as Clark’s hot, strong lips trailed his neck nibbling.
The younger man cupped Clark’s slightly square jaw and looked him in the eyes,
careful to hide his bitterness for the absence of any arousal to his half body.
“I thought you were drying me?” he cocked an eyebrow.
Clark narrowed his eyes smugly.
“Maybe I prefer you wet…” he whispered in a husky voice.
Bruce bit his nose teasingly.
“Don’t make promises you can’t hold, naughty boy…”
Clark’s bulgy, stony breasts were brushing his aroused from the air nipples and
intensified Bruce’s torture from the contact with this perfect flesh. His hips
were already above Bruce’s unresponsive pelvis and he was ready to use his
mental control to make his injured body respond appropriately raising to rub
and welcome Clark’s body but the Man of Steel understanding, released Bruce’s
hips and kneeled on the sand keeping some distance.
He licked his lips uncomfortably and kissed Bruce’s forehead because the
human’s lips were pressed. There was no chance he’ll force his Star exhaust his
body to satisfy Superman’s whims.
“I must save my hide from Alfred…” he huffed and resumed his blow drying to the
lower half of Bruce’s body that didn’t “suffer” from his ministrations since it
was unable to feel.
Bruce frustrated turned to his kitten that was looking at him sympathetically.
A grim fog captured his mind however he didn’t want to form the thought and
began wearing his T-shirt and the cardigan the same time Clark was drying the
“dead” half of his body which he could acknowledge only through vision and not
sense.
Clark stretched softly Bruce’s legs that the constant machine training helped
them keep their fine shape despite the still deep scars, the burns and the
missing particles of flesh.
When the upper level of the factory collapsed, the metallic parts had developed
such a high temperature that they were red… Some of them pierced Bruce’s armor
and either stabbed his legs or caused him serious burns…
Clark’s body shuddered violently as his hand on its own accord brushed a spot
in Bruce’s thigh that carried both the mark of being pierced by a pipe and a
nasty third degree large burn. He continued blowing gently not wanting for
Bruce to understand his thoughts but his guts were clenched imagining the pain
– no, he couldn’t even imagine…
“It didn’t pain that much” Bruce answered nonchalant and Clark choked with his
own air causing a beautiful smile on the human’s face. “The damage to the
sensory neurons was almost simultaneous with the crash.”
Almost…Clark thought bitterly because he knew that this “almost” probably meant
much time in excruciating pain which his brave Star dismissed as not important.
He was ready to resume his work when he took in Bruce’s efforts to zip his
cardigan: his right arm always faced difficulties with fine movements but now
he couldn’t hide it. His both arms were badly broken and though they were
mended quite fast due to the Fortress’ med and the hypodermic Kryptonian casts
allowed Bruce a wide range of movements plus training, still the fine motor
skills needed time.
Clark pretended not seeing not wanting to worsen things for Bruce but he
noticed that the younger man simply abandoned the effort, petting Hero instead:
thank you, Hero! Clark thought and opened Bruce’s thighs to dry the flesh
inside, so embarrassed that his hands shook.
He sighed the air knowing that Bruce couldn’t enjoy the feeling; Clark knew the
few healthy neurons and was avoiding them not wanting to stimulate them… Though
Bruce’s flesh looked delicious and made him replay the moments of their first
time in the greenhouse when Bruce’s beautiful body trembled from pleasure glued
on his burning flesh. Clark’s body shuddered reliving the sensations Bruce’s
writhing brought to him.
Damn you Joker! The evil bastard managed to take from them what he failed to
snatch violently for himself…He pressed his eyes shut sending tender air to
Bruce’s wet pelvis; he wanted for the younger man to think that he was only
enjoying the moment and not boiling in hatred for the responsible for Bruce’s
suffering.
Clark was so easy to read…Bruce thought as he was stroking absentminded his
kitten. He could feel Superman’s emotions and figure his thoughts; he could
read his eyes even when the Man of Steel tried to act because his eyes were so
clear that he couldn’t fog them even if he tried. He felt a knot in his
stomach: Bruce was used to cause pity to others: actually, while in Falcone’s
clutches he struggled to be pitied but now… he hated it although enabled him to
keep his secret safe.
But Clark’s pity though not ill mannered was torment and made him agonize and
sweat out to be whole again. He loved the man so much that wasn’t angry… no…how
could he be angry with Clark for feeling sorry? He knew that it was his deep
love that made him so sad.
He cupped Clark’s hand as he was ready to put on him his black boxers; he
smiled and saw Clark’s eyes taking new life.
“I can do that: I need some privacy, thank you very much!” he chuckled and
Clark took a flaming red color so Bruce couldn’t do anything else than kissing
him. No, it wasn’t pity…it was…sorrow and frustration because he was sure that
Clark was as distressed as he for that disability. But Clark was happy too for
saving him.
Clark scratched his hair embarrassed and instead began drying Bruce’s locks,
combing them with his fingers relishing the softness. And then the distant echo
of the village’s church bell reached them towering the sound of the waves and
Clark felt like waking from a bad dream: he had Bruce alive in his arms,
breathing, speaking, smiling, kissing him. And he could caress his beautiful
body, comb his hair, smell his enchanting perfume; goggle at his eyes willingly
drowning in their seas…
How ungrateful he was! Bruce was a miracle in flesh and blood and against all
odds, this miracle survived and survived to gift him his love. So Clark berated
and scowled at himself.
“He is still here; with you…you were given the greatest present of all: he
almost died and then came back to you… Alive!”
His Ma’s eyes were sparkling that night seeing his sadness. It was ten days
after Bruce woke from the coma and they went to Gotham for Commissioner Gordon
to take his testimony. Clark was happy all these days his Star came back to him
and was flying – well, he always could fly but his heart’s flying was something
new; something that Bruce caused.
But that day, for the first time he registered Bruce’s paralysis, the fact that
this dynamic human being, the full of energy, the never stopping youth couldn’t
stand on his feet. Suddenly, the hundreds of cracks in Bruce’s bones flashed
menacingly sneering at him; the energy casts uniting the many little pieces of
his bones darkening his eyes.
And then the worst had happened: few minutes after Jim left and they were
enjoying Alfred’s infamous secret tea, Clark felt it though Bruce tried to hide
it: pain slowly flooding Bruce’s brain… And before he even formed the thought
that they were too hasty to take Bruce out of the Fortress, Clark’s eyes bulged
seeing Bruce slipping from the armchair and crushing to the floor, writhing
from thousands different centers of pain in his upper torso because his legs
were stubbornly dead.
The Man of Steel was paralyzed and Alfred, Leslie and Selina made it first to
Bruce who was gritting his teeth to not groan but his face was pale and sweaty;
his eyes tearful.
Leslie had painkillers and even sedatives with her but she was afraid to
combine them with whatever alien medicine he was on. And then Clark had
clenched his jaw realizing his inertia; rushed to Bruce, took him in his arms
and brought him back at the safety of the Fortress. He was unconscious when
they were there and Clark with his heart stopped from agony laid him gently on
the medical bay…
From then Clark was morose, sad – of course not in front of Bruce but he
couldn’t hide from his Ma.
“Imagine your life without him…The moments you lived together scratching your
insides, stabbing you with the cruel certainty that you won’t see him again and
won’t share your days, your petty humdrum routine…” she whispered and he jerked
as if a Kryptonite knife stabbed him, his stare leaving the clear, starry night
of Smallville to look panicked at his Ma.
Martha gave a tight lips smile and nodded.
“I know it’s not easy, honey; I know you’re burning with his pain, his agony
twisting your guts…” she inhaled deeply “but he is here, close to you and your
touch can offer him comfort; your smile can erase every hopelessness and give
him strength and courage to fight…”
Clark felt tears running his flushed cheeks.
“He is braver and stronger than me, Ma…”
She brushed his upper arm sighing and Clark could see her melancholy
remembering Jonathan, his father.
“With your love his bravery and strength multiplies… Together you can win every
battle… This hardship will galvanize your bond and will be soon a memory: a
nightmare that will make the rest of your life more beautiful. Remember, baby:
he was almost dead and feeling your love fought and came back to be with you…to
defeat every pain and disability with you.”
Clark nodded, feeling terrible for his cowardice.
“My Star almost settled to the sky among the other stars – the brightest of
them all” he pressed his lips. “You know, Ma: he loves the sky…” he sighed.
“And then took pity on me and came back…”
Martha smiled.
“And I’m stupid, Ma!” he stood from the staircase’s head step in the wooden
porch and hugged Martha. “Bruce is a miracle! And that miracle is beside me
and…and I…I can still hear his strong heartbeat, his breath, smell his body’s
aroma…and all these could have been lost…Bruce could have been dead…My God! And
he is only 26!”
The small tombstone beside the ones of Martha and Thomas Wayne terrified his
mind eyes. And then he saw again himself blasting the cursed thing.
“And he’ll live many many many years!” he laughed. “With me! And he’ll walk
again! I’m the luckiest man of the universe…” he mumbled.
Martha nodded and smiled with his happiness, her eyes having the deepest
knowledge of someone who had lost that gift: her life’s love.
Clark hugged Bruce as tight as he could and searched his delicious lips,
kissing and savoring. Only to realize that Bruce was…fast asleep. Clark
chuckled.
“That means I’m boring? Huh, Star?”
Hero meowed as if nodding and Clark mock glared at him.
“Traitor! Our Bruce is just exhausted… And I entrusted you into not letting him
exhaust himself…” the kitten rubbed his head on Bruce’s loose palm and purred
at Clark as if apologizing.
Clark shook his head amused.
“You’re a seducer, little one…” he caressed Bruce’s dry, silken locks “we must
return” his eyes regarded the sky that had taken a dark blue color, only a
narrow lane of bright pink-red reminding that the sun was rising to the other
hemisphere… “Alfred would be furious not to mention worried sick…”
Bruce had dressed the bottom half of his body before falling asleep.
“Hero, Bruce won’t be able to hold you so I’ll put you inside his cardigan and
you will be a nice kitten and not move, okay?”
The kitten meowed and Clark took it as “yes”. He placed carefully Bruce on the
soft sand and in a fraction of the second got dressed, tossed the empty food
container to a bin and returned to Bruce. He zipped his cardigan and put Hero
inside securing him by raising more the zipper.
Clark lifted Bruce in bridal style and his eyes were lost in his relaxed
features, their beauty enhanced by sleep’s hue. Then he stared at Hero safely
nestled in Bruce’s chest so calm that it was obvious he was enjoying it.
“I’m jealous, buddy!” he cocked an eyebrow and took off.
He tilted his head above Bruce’s face that was snuggled on the crook of his
neck; Clark smiled touched.
“You like that, huh, Star? Sleeping in my arms…” he settled Bruce deeper in his
chest.
And then the gratitude for having Bruce alive in his arms flooded him and the
Man of Steel remembered something they were discussing before.
“I’ve killed, Bruce…” he whispered with pressed lips what he hadn’t the courage
to admit then.
But then he felt hot, soft air brushing his neck.
“No, you didn’t…” Bruce answered him although he was fast asleep.
***** Chapter 4 *****
“Let’s talk about your life before the Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Jack.
You were referred there by the Boston police Department, which was the reason?”
Joker sat sprawled on the floor with his back touching his bed; there wasn’t
any makeup on his face and his scars were covered with gauzes which annoyed him
more than everything.
His psychiatrist was sat at a chair opposite him, a small journalistic recorder
in the table taping everything they were saying; she was watching him with her
cute honey colored eyes filled with honest interest – well, “ho-nest”, Joker
smirked, as they were taught from the school: accept the patient-client as it
is and show empathy keeping at the same time a safe distance so you can develop
an impartial view of the facts in order to help him…
“Hehehe!” his cackle shook the space between them and Joker observed that his
young therapist didn’t flinch just continued staring at him.
Joker could give that to her since there was no bars between them. He raised an
eyebrow: of course, that scum, Stark, had did something devious and whenever he
made a move to attack anyone he was knocked out without anyone needing to touch
him. However, even if his attack was unsuccessful the first time the elegant
psychiatrist stepped alone to his cell and he was out for 24 hours, still
anyone else would have been unwilling to be again in the same space with the
tiger. 
At least, his “therapist” was pretty with her long, blond hair that was always
tied in a ponytail, her oval glasses and the gym pants she wore under her white
doctor robe. Every time she entered his cell with confidence that made Joker
cock an eyebrow: he “fished” one of the orderlies and learnt that Dr. Quinzel
had great experience with criminals and at the present she was at her third
doctorate, this time on Criminology.
And he had felt so flattered…He was laughing with hysterics for hours thinking
that he was going to be the subject of such a scientific paper, that he will
help science’s progress. W-O-W!
“You’re toooooo young to be the Heeead of this fine estam-plishment” he
squinted his eyes regarding her behind his dirty blond curls.
Harleen pushed the rim of her glasses and looked at her patient.
“What do you think about that?”
Joker rolled his eyes: those shrinks were so easy to predict: you meet one, you
know all of them… And he had met so many psycho-something to get a doctoral
degree on… shrink-ology. Hehe!
“No-thing, su-sugar…” he quirked an eyebrow and shook his head. “Oh! There’re
ssssooo many delicious things iiiin my mind keeping myyyy palm buuuusy…” he
leaned towards her with his eyes stabbing her mischievously. “You’re a doctor –
you know how the energetic men are wheeeen in the joint and a-way from their
wife…” he waved his hand. “I can speak open-ly, huh?”
His cunning eyes caught the light pink in her lean cheeks when he mentioned his
palm but she looked at him unfazed.
“Of course, Jack.”
He turned his eyes to the ceiling frustrated by the constant use of that name
and Harleen hardly covered her surprise when his angry eyes nailed her.
“Stop calling me THAT!” he hissed.
The woman arched an eyebrow.
“But this is your name.”
Joker lifted his head and furrowed his lips making his scars quite obvious
despite the gauzes.
“I’m the Joker – that’s my name, you stupid broad!”
But the woman remained unfazed.
“If you tell me your surname, I’d use that adding ‘Mister’.”
Joker huffed and then giggled: so she was smart…like Bru-cey. He shook his
head: no, Bru-cey was way smarter than everyone else…A sly half smile carved
his face and he was lost for a minute: that little brat had fooled everyone
except than him.
Dr. Quinzel seeing that her patient was absorbed in something else cleared her
throat.
“Well, Jack?” maybe he was hallucinating and she wanted to drive him out of
that. “What’s your surname?”
He looked at her pouting.
“J-O-K-E-R.”
“Is this your surname?” Dr. Quinzel inquired calm.
Joker laughed and shook his head pointing with his index at her.
“You’re same age as Crane soooo no sur-prise you took his place: same age, same
loony bin, same…” he said slyly, his eyes with a jeering glint. “No offense for
the comparison…”
“I see you avoid answering my question.”
Joker arched an eyebrow and cackled. When his giggling fit stopped he lolled
his head to the side and regarded the psychiatrist with narrowed eyes.
“Surnames are overrated. The greatest people in history didn’t have a sur-name:
Nero, Caligula, Jokey…”
“Who is Jokey?”
Joker shrugged a shoulder and flapped his eyelashes to Dr. Quinzel with self-
pride.
“My dick: he is great, too…HEHEHEHAHA!”
The young psychiatrist stared at him poised.
“This is a common joke you can hear from every stand-up comedian” she commented
indifferently.
And Joker would have killed her instantly if he didn’t know that Stark’s tricks
would knock him out only with a fraction of aggressive movement. Also, he loved
games and didn’t end them prematurely.
He sobered and leaned his torso towards her, his hands dropped between his
legs.
“What a surname can offer? Huh?” he said as if conspiring. “What his surname
offered to my Bru-cey?” he saw Dr. Quinzel draw some air. “Because of his sur-
name Bru-cey was kidnapped in a tender age aaaand ‘cause of thaaat name watched
his parents murdered aaaaand was kept alive to be bruuuuutally humi-liated
aaaaand ab-used. Cause Falcon-i hated his sur-name aaaaand wanted to pu-nish
him for it.” He inhaled deeply “Phew! Good thing the hot stuff won’t have to
woooorry about that anymoooore…”
Dr. Quinzel nodded: and here we go again with his obsession…
“Meaning?” she inquired patiently.
Joker gave a broad Cheshire smile and opened his arms in the air.
“Isn’t it ob-vious?” he licked his lips. “He isn’t the Way-ne heir anymore
buuuuut the Joker’s spouse.”
“You know that the…marriage you conducted isn’t legit.”
Joker snorted and rolled his head.
“It’s legit for MEEEE! And that’s what counts!” he rattled his teeth. “Iiiif my
Bru-cey iiis at all…” he mumbled staring at his hands: Dent before leaving told
him that Batman was alive and implied that Bruce was alright yet as the time
went by and Batman’s appearances were obscure and Brucey’s nonexistent, Joker
got antsy.
Quinzel leaned towards him interested.
“…is at all?”
Joker was staring at her with blank eyes not speaking and Harleen felt like
being X-Rayed. Since he didn’t want to elaborate on what he meant she decided
to take the initiative.
“What is it that draws you to Bruce Wayne?”
But Joker’s mind was elsewhere and other things were occupying his spinning
brain.
“The last time I saw Bru-cey” he said with unfocused eyes “it was in a video
aaand he was wrapped in a red cape – baaaaare naked – aaaand held by that
Super-stalion in a way I didn’t like at all” his eyes suddenly flashed like he
was ready to kill. “I’m the pos-sessive type, you know…”
“This is the reason you asked for Bruce Wayne that night you kidnapped the
children from the Haven?” Joker hadn’t answered any of the questions police had
made him after his arrest; actually, the man was almost catatonic the first
hours because he learnt that the factory had collapsed with Batman possibly
still inside. Of course, they didn’t find any body yet Joker didn’t trust that
fox, Gordon: maybe he just hid the fact to prevent the criminals rioting.
Joker raised his sharp eyes on her amused.
“You’re the gossip type, huh?” he scratched his nose. “No, I hadn’t seen thaaat
fucking video then: I saw it here. Aaaand I didn’t ask only for Bru-cey…”
Harleen narrowed her eyes interested.
“Exactly. You asked for Batman as well; is Batman getting Bruce’s place?”
On that Joker erupted in hard, loud laughter; his body was convulsing from the
giggles and soon he was literally rolling on the floor from laughter.
Dr. Quinzel frowned but Joker couldn’t stop laughing: Batman getting Bruce’s
place… Nobody could suspect what he was almost sure of… The reason why he asked
for both of them aware that he’d get only the one…The reason why he had teeth
biting his guts all this time after his jerk goon blew the fucking factory – he
would definitely kill that bastard! He stopped laughing abruptly and sat
crossing his legs; he kept his head lolled to the side and regarded the
psychiatrist lopsided.
“Have you seen Bru-cey from the night that fucking factory collapsed?” he asked
with a low really creepy serious voice and the fact that he stopped stuttering
and playing with the words intrigued Harleen. “Really seen, not just heard
about his doings…”
Harleen stretched her head and heaved a resolute breath.
“You must get over your obsession for Mr. Wayne. So I won’t share any
information about him.”
Joker’s eyes darkened as became narrow as slits; the blue neon hue that was
lighting his cell became blood red and his legs were ready to send him on the
stupid shrink tearing her long neck apart. But then a soft half smirk loosened
his face: there was no reason for him to be knocked out – there were other
ways…
“Soooo…” he licked his lips “youuu haven’t seen him…sooooo: either he is
licking his wounds – which I could glaaaaadly do foooor him – or is cheating
ME! With that stuffed red and blue turkey” he made on his forehead with his
finger Superman’s trademark curl “ooooor…” on that his voice lowered to a
whisper only he could hear “he died that night…” he scratched his hair
uncomfortable. He had to find out.
Dr. Quinzel leaned towards him and she was ready to ask when Joker jerked his
head.
“I thiiiiink that socializing with the other kiiiids at the play-ground will
benefit me.” He cocked an eyebrow. “Huh?” he smiled like normal fools did.
Harleen considered it: keeping Joker all the time isolated might be safe but it
didn’t change anything. And Mr. Stark’s “safety measures” made it sure that her
patient wouldn’t hurt anyone. Also she wanted to observe him in other
environments and in his exchanges with other people in conditions where he
wouldn’t be his powerful murdering self.
Joker was watching her reading her inner pondering and estimations feeling the
urge to let free another giggling fit for the petty doctor’s naïve
calculations. But he decided against it: he didn’t want to raise her
suspicions.
“I suppose we could do that” she said blankly. “Actually, the fact you
expressed the wish to be with other human beings is a positive step…”
“Ow! How nnnnNICE of me!”
“And indicates an honest desire to change.”
Joker arched both eyebrows: or kill again… His laugh made his body jerk but no
sound came out of his mouth. He shook his head.
“Oh! I’m soooooo hard trying to beeeee a good boy again….”
But Harleen’s eyes hardened.
“However, in the sad case that you just try to fool your therapist and want to
cause problems to your co-inmates, Mr. Stark has taken extra care to prevent
any negative behavior” Joker turned his fingers to himself mouthing ‘me?’ with
puppy eyes. “And you’ll lose your right to be out of your cell. So, let’s say
that you’re in a trial stage and it’s up to you that privilege to continue.”
“Pri-vi-le-ge…” Joker mumbled.
And then jumped to his legs and gave her a deep bow.
“Thank you, Dr. Harlequin!” he sang and Harleen squinted.
“What?”
Joker made a gesture as if staring at an imaginary wristwatch and pouted.
“Iiiii think that ooooour time is uP!”
Harleen lolled her head to the side.
“That’s my line, Jack.”
Joker regarded her with narrowed eyes.
“You have the copy-right?” he cocked his eyebrows suggestively and made a
dismissive gesture. “Naaaah! I knew you didn’t! HEHEHEHEHEHEHE!”
Dr. Quinzel decided that imposing more time on him wouldn’t have any result;
she could discern that her patient would retreat to his usual nonsense. Besides
they had made quite the improvement. She rose from the chair and Joker smiled
like a really good boy hiding his smirk.
“Fine, Jack. Until tomorrow, think what we talked about today” she pressed the
stop button on his recorder and tossed it to her pocket.
He nodded.
“Good After-noooon, Dr. Harlequin” he said mimicking some schoolgirl.
 Harleen stopped at her heels and turned her head towards him just as a part of
the bars vanished creating a narrow corridor for her to exit. Joker knew that
trying to run out of that gap would lead to him being knocked out so he just
batted his eyelashes to her watching his therapist taking her stern expression
and crossing the temporary exit.
“You too, Jack” she said and began walking.
“Tell ya som’thin’, doc” her patient twisted his mouth like the cowboys in the
old westerns. “Youuuu don’t want to call me Jooooker an’ I get rrrrrrreally MAD
hearing how you utter that Jack; sooooo in oooorder to be…mmmm…” he rubbed his
finger to his chin “in speaking terms, I’ll propose a haaaappy medium: you
Harlequin, meeeee Mr. J! Huh?” he stretched his arms beaming.
Yet Dr. Quinzel just regarded him and left without answering.
Joker undeterred sank on his bed and huffed before a full laughing fit shook
him for a few minutes. He lay and tied his fingers under his head.
“Harl-e-quin!” he said. “Nice one! Aaaand fitting! Oh! Bru-cey…” his mood
darkened “only you know how to make games fascinating…What I’m going to do if
you died that night oooooor if you’re fuckin’ around with that ass-hole?”
 
Alfred all this time had struggled with the urge to just stand on the balcony
and wait because he didn’t want to upset Miss Kyle. Yet as the sun set and the
sky became darker he returned to the balcony taking Bruce’s empty chair to the
living room and stayed there so to be able to watch discreetly. And then when
his eager eyes discerned a flying form approaching the house he ran to the
balcony exactly at the moment Superman put his feet on the glistening tiles.
The loyal butler could see Bruce safely cuddled in Superman’s strong arms. His
young master’s hands were on Hero holding him in his chest but Alfred’s brow
creased as his eyes adjusted to the dim last light of the sunset. Bruce’s eyes
were closed!
Clark was absorbed in watching Bruce’s sleeping face when Alfred rushed there
and the Man of Steel could tell that the man was really worried, his heart
beating rather fast.
“He is alright, Alfred” he whispered “he is just sleeping” he tried to reassure
him but Alfred immediately touched his lips to the youth’s forehead to see if
he was running a fever. “His temperature is normal.”
As soon as Alfred made certain that Bruce was indeed alright, realized his
“misdemeanor” and looked at Clark unsettled.
“I beg your pardon, Master Kent, for my… rush and… welcome back” he had resumed
his composed demeanor yet his palm was still on Bruce’s forehead and upon
realizing that he hastened to remove them to take the kitten from inside
Bruce’s cardigan.
Clark smiled reassuringly to him but Hero having lost his very comfortable nest
meowed and jerked in Alfred’s hands.
“Master Hero, behave…” Alfred cast a stern glance at the kitten and the animal
silenced.
Clark chuckled but then the butler looked him the same way and gestured to him
to come inside.
“He is just tired…” Clark tried to earn again Alfred’s liking as he stepped
inside the enormous living room.
Alfred’s sympathizing but a bit disapproving eyes weren’t what Clark had
expected so the young man frowned.
“Master Kent, I quite understand that both of you are very young and the love
between you is flourishing so it’s entirely natural for you to…”
Clark was already hot all over his face and he couldn’t understand how Alfred
managed to say these things so calm yet Clark couldn’t let him finish his
phrase. He shook his head in denial.
“No, Alfred, no…you…you misunderstood…” he felt like a teen being caught naked
in his boyfriend’s room – at least he hadn’t uttered ‘it’s not what you think’;
he wanted to rub the sweat from his forehead but he had Bruce in his arms.
“We…we didn’t do anything” he lowered his voice to a guilty whisper “I’d never
touch him” well, that was a lie “I mean till he’s entirely fine… You can…you
can ask Hero.”
Alfred smiled and the kitten gave his own testimony for Clark’s innocence.
“Pardon me for my haste, Master Kent” he bowed slightly his head and led the
way to the spacious corner couch.
“We just had a turn…” Clark continued “you know how much Bruce likes flying…”
Alfred stopped before the dark blue couch that was made from a special mix of
velvet and silk that Tony created and released softly Hero on the floor but the
kitten just sat on his butt and watched. The butler took away the smaller
cushions and settled the big one into creating a nice nest for Bruce; Clark
noticed that a folded blanket was close.
“Master Kent, if you please…” he gestured to the couch for him to lay Bruce.
But Clark was unwilling to let go of his warm, beautiful armload; his eyes
caressed Bruce’s face which was nestled trustingly in the curve of his neck. He
couldn’t part with this body, lose that warm breath that tickled his neck…
“Maybe I should take him to his bedroom?” each second he could win was
precious.
 Alfred smiled as if reading his thoughts.
“He must eat, Master Kent; he must take his medicine” Clark shook his head; he
had memorized every single pill and substance along with its composition and
possible side effects. “The food he requested is cooking.”
Of course… Clark finally registered the delicious smell that discreetly hued
the house. So Bruce had food preferences apart from cinnamon cookies… He made
his mental note.
“He can sleep here till the dinner: Master Bruce likes sleeping here.”
Clark already knew that from the fifteen days he managed to spend here with
Bruce: every single hour, every precious minute, every unique second. He sighed
and lowered very slowly, very carefully his arms to lay Bruce tenderly on the
sofa under Alfred’s mock stern eyes. Clark fixed Bruce’s legs and then his head
on the soft pillow and hastened to make room for Alfred realizing that the man
was waiting patiently with the blanket.
He couldn’t get over his embarrassment and kept ruffling his hair watching
Alfred muffling softly his young master in the fluffy white velvet blanket,
taking carefully his arms and putting them under the blanket. Clark thought
that Bruce must be really exhausted to not wake up by now; on the other hand,
he felt very lucky for witnessing this tender moment.
Suddenly, he realized that Alfred was looking at him and Clark flashed
embarrassed for being caught.
“Leslie called twice during your absence.”
“You didn’t send her the report about Bruce’s vitals?” he knew from the time he
spent here that Leslie while here scrutinized twice a day the data from Bruce’s
condition and she continued that even when she returned to Gotham.
Alfred raised an eyebrow.
“Of course but Leslie is adamant about speaking herself with Master Bruce; she
has the belief that she can estimate some things better through hearing him.”
Clark scratched his nape feeling guilty.
“If by that you mean that you’re worried, I apologize, Alfred…” he looked him
in the eye with all his honesty “but seeing Bruce on the balcony…” he surely
couldn’t explain that to Alfred “I couldn’t resist.”
Alfred grinned sympathetically.
“I hope at least the sea water was splendid…” he said with a mischievous glint
in his eyes.
Clark was taken aback.
“Well, yeah…” he mumbled and ruffled his hair “but how you…?” he had dried
Bruce and himself.
Alfred winked.
“Master Bruce’s hair has salt” Clark let his head drop “and Master Hero’s paws
are wet and carry some sand.”
Clark’s eyes sparkled amused.
“Now I see where Bruce got his detective skills…” he chuckled.
“Finally!” both men turned to the entrance of the room to see Selina coming
towards them her hands on her hips and her eyes angry.
She squatted by the sofa and caressed Bruce’s locks.
“Is he alright? Where that irresponsible alien took him?”
Clark knew better than get irritated by Selina’s words and frankly at the
moment he could register only one thing: Catwoman wore an apron from the chest
to the knees with frills and lace. He just couldn’t hold back his chuckle and
she glared at him.
“What?” she spat. “Anything funny, handsome?”
He raised his palms in surrender and shook his head in denial pressing his
lips.
“Master Bruce is fine, Miss Kyle and after a nice, hot bath to wash the salt
he’ll be even better.”
Her eyes widened glaring at Clark.
“You put him in the sea in the evening?!”
“The sun was still up and the waters were very warm: I wouldn’t have done it
otherwise.”
Bruce writhed a little in his sleep and Alfred hurried to bring his index
finger on his lips to silence them and moved his palms showing the balcony to
the two youths.
Selina stood and grabbed Superman from the elbow dragging him outside but the
young man followed only reluctantly keeping all the time his face towards
Bruce. His eyebrows frowned seeing Hero after Alfred turned his back climb the
sofa and cuddle at his master’s chest.
He sighed and Selina turned to see what Clark was seeing. She laughed and
patted his back sympathetically. Clark looked at her and then gazed at the
scenery that was really breathtaking from the hovering round shaped balcony:
thick foliage and then dark blue sea stretching endlessly till mingled with the
still lighted dark blue of the sky.
“I’m jealous of a kitten!” he huffed shaking his head in disapproval and leaned
on the almost transparent glass and titanium railing that was already
illuminated by the prototype solar lamps Tony had engraved..
Selina supported her waist on the railing, crossed her arms and lolled her head
to the side pouting.
“Not an ordinary kitten…” she chuckled. “And you brought him to Bruce making
him the most beautiful present.
Clark laughed and closed his eyes.
“Sorry I made all of you worried…I guess I’m irresponsible…” he said.
“C’me on, tough guy…Was Bruce happy?”
Clark looked at her friendly eyes and pressed his lips.
“It’s a bit complicated but…yeah, I think he enjoyed it.”
She half closed her eyes and shrugged a shoulder.
“Like everything he does with you…” she remarked slyly winking.
Clark felt his cheeks burning and Selina rolled her eyes.
“Oh! Give me a break… You weren’t so shy when you made love to him in the
greenhouse…”
Clark’s eyes widened in panic and Selina giggled.
“He told you what we did there -…I mean, in detail?!”
Selina licked her red lips and raised her index finger.
“I could have tortured you…but…no, Bruce is shier than you to kiss and tell
even to me. However, he didn’t run away that night and still is with you…” she
nodded “so…you must be very good at this” she smiled seeing his eyes dropping
“and very sensitive to his needs.”
“I wouldn’t have done anything that would hurt him in any way…”
Selina pressed her lips and swallowed hard; her eyes sparkled.
“You healed him…and I wanted to tell you that I’m grateful.”
Clark shook his head because he didn’t deserve this.
“He was the one who fought the battle and won the demons…He is so brave!”
The admiration and love in his voice warmed Selina’s heart that was always
cautious when Bruce was concerned.
“You were the motive for him to fight the demons about…that. You inspired trust
to him and…love…” she blinked thinking if she should tell the next. “Bruce is
in love with you and that gave him the power to face the demons he just avoided
till then” she finally said because Clark’s eyes were those of an innocent
puppy and now the weight of her words made his shoulders of steel slump.
She cleared her throat breaking the silence.
“That doesn’t mean that you don’t need to be careful” she shook her index
finger warningly and touched it to his lips. “The fact he loves you…” she
closed her eyes “if you’re playing with his wounded heart, if you hurt him” she
stabbed him with her eyes “I’ll kill you.”
Clark nodded: he was aware of his responsibility…And frankly he preferred to
die than cause any pain to Bruce.
“I know…” he answered calmly without feeling any irritation for her threat. He
gazed at the sky that wasn’t neither dark nor light blue; the stars that had
already scattered everywhere. “When I carry him in my arms…” he smiled and his
smile had all the sweetness he was feeling “he seems to enjoy sleeping cuddled
in my chest nestling his head in my neck as if he wants to always listen to my
heartbeat and feel safe” he gulped “it feels like I’m cuddling a vulnerable
child…who trusts an adult to protect him from every danger, present and past…”
Selina’s features softened revealing her real caring self.
“I always feel like he’s my little brother though we have the same age…” she
chuckled “I think he doesn’t like that we are so protective of him or maybe he
does…subconsciously. But I think that under Batman’s muscle strength and Bruce
Wayne’s adamant personality, he is still the child who seeks someone to save
him and love him…”
Clark met her eyes and grinned.
“I guess it’s too complicated for him…” he turned abruptly his eyes away from
Selina to stare at the trees under them.
“What?” Selina frowned because she felt that something bothered him.
Clark didn’t look at her.
“That scum Bane…” he fisted his hands but he was unwilling to continue.
Selina grasped his upper arm and though it was just a touch he looked at her.
“What?” she demanded.
“Although he’s still at Blackgate’s hospital he already has told every creep of
Gotham what he and his mistress did to Bruce…Oh! He certainly would have liked
to brag that he…” Clark couldn’t even utter it “did all that to Batman but I
guess they don’t divulge their knowledge to strangers.”
Selina’s teeth rattled and her eyes snapped angry to the sky. Yet she looked
again at him and patted his arm.
“It’s not your fault…”
Superman pressed his lips and shook his head.
“I didn’t protect him then and I fail to protect him even now from the
humiliation…” he inhaled heavily “Bruce didn’t speak about Bane’s and Talia’s
deeds to me” he turned to her “did he to you?” and seeing Selina shake her head
in denial, nodded “and now Gotham’s scum will know everything in detail and
revile him! Damn!” the thought that he should have killed that evil bastard
crossed his mind: he had done it before and Bruce was worth it…
Selina licked her lips: she shared Superman’s wrath but he shouldn’t blame
himself.
“You saved his life; we have him here with us, thanks to you” she chased his
gaze and widened her eyes for emphasis. “I know we don’t show you our gratitude
as often as we should…”
Clark waved his hand in dismissal.
“But we all know that without you Bruce would have died.”
He closed his eyes and after some seconds looked at Selina’s glimmering ones.
“He did die, Selina…” he whispered and the young woman narrowed her eyes. “I
was holding him in my arms heading for the Fortress when he asked me to stop
for him to see the lights of aurora” Selina’s head dropped. “And then he…he
spoke to me…and closed softly his eyes as if he was falling asleep…and…and
calmly everything in his body stopped.”
Selina’s eyes were tearful but filled with awe watching the Man of Steel
trembling.
“It was pure horror…I never felt so scared in my life; I was floating to the
void, nothing around me…or inside me… The nightmarish void sucking me…I had
nothing in me except than pain, excruciating pain that I knew it won’t
stop…ever…” he clenched the railing and heaved his head. “And then I sensed it
and it was as if sun radiation flooded my cold body: Bruce’s brain was still
alive…You understand?” he turned to her. “He felt sorry for me and came back…”
“All of us…” she mumbled and wiped her tears that flowed unchecked as the
moments of the factory came to her mind. “But now he is alive and that’s what
counts!”
Clark saw the joy sparkling in her eyes and pressed his lips.
“I know and I’m an idiot for being like this but…my heart is still clenched.
When I’m with him it’s heaven but when I’m away the mortal grip returns and
along the terrifying coldness and the dark void…and I’m happy like a schoolboy
when I take the way back to him yet sometimes what he suffered occupies my mind
and ruins everything…and Bruce senses everything. You know?” he asked for her
understanding. “And it’s me that should give strength and encourage Bruce to
his difficult path not the other way around!”
Selina raised a shoulder regarding him with sympathy.
“This is love, handsome…” she smiled.
“Give me that young man!”
Superman suddenly realized that Alfred was speaking on the phone with Leslie
and the fierce doctor was pissed and demanded to speak with him.
Selina noticed his miserable expression.
“What?”
“Alfred is coming…He probably told Leslie about our excursion and now she is
going to chew me out…”
Selina chuckled seeing Alfred coming with the phone on the hand and a
commiserate expression. She bit her lip and just moved away from Clark.
Alfred offered the phone to Clark with a regretful expression.
“I’m sorry, Master Kent…”
Clark took the phone decisively hearing already Leslie’s uneven breath. He
wanted to feel affronted by the doctor’s mistrust yet the woman’s deep worry
for Bruce and the fact she believed him dead for 18 years didn’t let the
emotion form.
“Leslie, I’d never do anything even remotely dangerous for him…” but she didn’t
let him continue.
“Do you realize that the majority of his bones are cracked or multi-fractured
held together by casts, his lungs were pierced and the one of them was dead for
a considerable time and thus they are oversensitive…”
Clark inhaled and rolled his eyes but didn’t interrupt her because her voice
was so husky that made Clark feel the woman’s feelings of agony and panic.
“His spleen has been removed and that makes him extremely vulnerable to
bacteria, especially those who cause pneumonia” she stopped to draw a breath.
“Pneumonia in this stage when his lungs are still recovering can kill him” her
voice dropped and then rose to become reprimanding “young man! Not to mention
how sensitive all his organs are after almost smashed…”
Clark pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes.
“I know, Leslie, I know… since I have learnt all these by heart being
constantly by his side during the operations… I’m monitoring his vitals – no,
I’m living on his vitals - even from the other corner of the planet sweating
when a heartbeat or a breath is amiss…I realize all these, Leslie, since I’m
anxiously X-Raying him for any growth of his mangled bones…it’s a win and a
celebration every time a bone grows a millimeter…”
He heard Leslie’s sigh and it was as if seeing her regret.
“I’m sorry, young man” she said with her steady voice. “I know how much you
love Bruce and how much you suffered all this time not knowing if he was going
to live or…” an inhale “and I’m grateful to you for everything but when I heard
you took him to the sea…” Clark heard her rubbing her temple “Both of you are
so young and have suffered so much and of course you want and deserve to enjoy
every pleasure this planet has to offer…I admit I was scared, Clark, and I
overreacted taking it out on you…”
 But Clark was already sweating from a suffocating feeling and realization:
bacteria, pneumonia…
“It’s okay, Leslie, I’d have reacted the same way as you…or worse. I read that
sea water can help people with paraplegia and I assure you that the waters were
very warm and there were no harmful bacteria – I scanned the water. And Bruce
had a really lovely time but…” his voice shook a bit “do you believe that he
might have been infected?”
“Please, don’t panic, Clark and tell the others; Alfred gives him all the
antibiotics that are needed and he’s been vaccinated recently; besides with you
watching him so closely and Alfred sending me data twice the day I don’t think
that he is at risk. Now, please, forget my hysterics and enjoy your night. Give
a big kiss from me to the sleepyhead!”
Clark grinned.
“With pleasure… Good night, Leslie.”
Tony landed graciously on the living room from the roof that opened smoothly at
his approaching. He looked frowned around.
“No welcoming committee?” he saw the company on the balcony and shrugged. “That
alien showing off again!” he rolled his eyes and let the bags he was carrying
on the shining dark blue granite bench of his not-so-small bar.
He deactivated his armor and his eyes softened finding Bruce’s sleeping form
with Hero nestled comfortably in his chest; the kitten’s fluffy head was
touched in Bruce’s heart, the young man’s heartbeat lulling the cute animal
that was purring fast asleep. Tony smiled.
“Even better…” he whispered and walked gingerly to his friend.
He squatted and caressed some stray locks on Bruce’s forehead back to his hair,
his eyes glimmering with affection taking in the soft respiration.
“You need haircut, little guy… Looks like I finally caught you napping…” he
sing-songed and then his brow creased “I just hope this alien dude didn’t do
something to…”
“No, he didn’t…” all of a sudden Bruce’s eyes snapped opened and Tony was so
surprised that fell on his butt.
Tony saw Hero open his eyes lazily and it seemed to him that he was grinning.
He rose slowly brushing his butt and squinted at his friend who placed the
kitten on the sofa.
“Don’t tell me… Your training allows you to sense enemies even when you’re fast
asleep.”
Bruce’s grin was broad.
“And friends…”
“Damn that ninja training, again! You need to teach me…” he rose his eyebrows
“it can be very handy, you know, and lifesaving when you have the fascinating
love life of Tony Stark…” he winked but immediately rushed to help Bruce who
using his hands tried to sit.
Bruce locked his eyes with Tony’s which were too serious.
“You know, Tony” he gave a tight lips smile “every paraplegic in the world can
do that.”
But the Californian put carefully his one arm around Bruce’s back and the other
under his knees and softly raised his friend in sitting position hurrying to
place the big pillow behind his back for supporting. Bruce was rolling his eyes
and Tony pouted and widened his eyes in surprise.
“What? You don’t trust Ironman’s arms made of…well, iron? Or you prefer arms
made of steel?” he knitted his eyebrows.
Bruce sighed.
“I prefer arms of flesh and blood and specifically MY flesh and blood arms!”
Tony was looking down at his friend, one hand in his hips, the other ruffling
his hair uncomfortably; he understood Bruce’s frustration yet he just couldn’t
stop himself from helping him. As he was working on Bruce’s bionic spine part,
he daily had to study his friend’s skeleton and every time the condition
shocked him more.
Bruce pressed his lips understanding Tony’s feelings and decided to ease the
mood: it wasn’t Tony’s or Clark’s or anyone’s fault that he felt suffocating –
it wasn’t their help but his weakness that frustrated him.
“You run a multinational conglomerate” he cocked an eyebrow “how come and
you’re here?”
Tony lolled his head to the side widening his eyes.
“I’m the owner of the pet-shop, little guy” he shrugged.
Bruce nodded with a knowing half grin.
“And Miss Potts once again will have to do everything…” he remarked
disapprovingly with his arms crossed.
Tony raised his hands and jerked his head.
“I’m always misunderstood! She was given the day off and is with me.”
Bruce looked around.
“She’s coming with your helicopter?”
“No, she prefers Ironman’s lines: they’re not so comfy but the staff” he turned
his thumbs to his chest “is hell hot! And it’s a subtler way to come here.”
Bruce’s stare was full of questions pointing at the living room which was empty
of Pepper. Tony’s eyes bulged.
“Fuck!” he exclaimed.
“Master Anthony, mind your language” Alfred reprimanded him as he and the
others came in.
But Tony was thinking hard under Bruce’s exasperated stare.
“No, I didn’t dropped her over Hungary and I had her over Albania…Oh!” he said
and punched the air. “I stopped to the village here to buy souvlaki and gyros”
he gestured to the bags on the bar-bench. “I couldn’t resist the smell – by the
way, here smells delicious, too: Sel, dear, you cooked?” he regarded her apron
twitching his eyebrows in amusement and she glared “Good thing I brought food…”
he whispered cocking more his eyebrows and Clark chuckled.
“Tony, where’s Pepper?” Bruce asked.
Tony scratched his nape taking a guilty expression.
“It seems that…Hm…I forgot her at the village’s square…”
Bruce choked and his eyes narrowed.
“You forgot her?” his eyebrows almost reached his hair.
Tony shrugged.
“You know, I really like gyros” but seeing Bruce’s widened eyes “and it’s a
beautiful, hospitable, peaceful village not Syria!”
Bruce lolled his head.
“You’re kidding me, right?”
Tony slapped his thighs and shook his head defeated.
“Fine! I’m going get her…”
“Anthony Stark!” a wild Pepper Potts with disheveled hair marched the living
room barefoot because she held her stilettoes which used to hammer Tony’s head.
Bruce cringed and Clark who in the meantime had sneaked beside him wrapped his
arm around his shoulders.
“Ouch!” Tony huffed and began retreating through the vast living room to evade
the lethal shoes.
Selina who had tossed the insulting apron on a chair watched smirking and
Alfred crossed his arms unwilling to save his young master for a well-deserved
lesson.
“You took a cab, darling, right?” he arched his eyebrows “the village is near…”
Tony raising his hands in surrender tried to evade Pepper’s wrath. “I can pay…
Ouch!” he managed to slip the hit to the head and instead had his shoulder hit.
“Mind the head!”
“Because it’s already defective enough, ugh?!” she growled. “I’m sorry for the
turbulence, Bruce” she said mildly keeping her stabbing glare at Tony who made
her the puppy eyes. “How are you, dear?”
Bruce shrugged uncomfortable.
“Fine, thanks…I guess…”
Tony saw his opportunity and pointed with his eyes at Bruce.
“And he’ll be better if you stop abusing his best buddy…huh?” he flapped his
eyelashes. “Such violent scenes are traumatic for kids…”
Pepper kept her shoe in midair indecisive and turned to look at Bruce but Clark
cuddled his Star hiding his head in his shoulder and gave the thumbs up to
Pepper who resumed her attacking stance glaring at Tony who rolled his eyes.
“That traitor! OK, babe, I’m sorry…I’m a bastard, sorry…Ouch!” this time he
didn’t try to evade the hit. “I deserve that…but…wait! Wait! I’ll compensate
you!”
She frowned and groaned.
“Cross my heart!” he made the gesture. “Whatever you want, babe, huh?”
Pepper seemed thoughtful.
“Don’t believe him, Pepper!” Selina snapped looking at Tony challengingly and
playfully.
But Alfred uncrossed his arms and walked between them.
“I think he was enough punished, Miss Potts, although his…crime was grave” he
lolled his head to the side to look sternly at Tony who cowered behind him for
protection. “But we must have some dinner AND I’ll implement my extra
punishment along with whatever you chose for him.”
Pepper smiled, an evil sparkle in her eyes but Tony looked at her fleetingly
from Alfred’s shoulders, patting the butler.
“Washing the cutlery!” Alfred narrowed his eyes sternly.
“I know how the dishwasher works…”
“With your iron hands, Master Anthony!”
Pepper made a gesture with her elbow taken from the sport arenas and definitely
unusual for her.
“That serves him right!” Selina said.
Tony stretched his arms in surrender.
“Bruce, help me…”
But his buddy cuddled by Clark pressed his lips and shrugged in weakness to
help.
“It’s fair enough, buddy…” he huffed. “And better than a concussion, believe
me” he shook his head.
Tony sighed.
“Okay, okay, guilty as charged” and as soon as Alfred moved he hugged Pepper
kissing her lips. “Ouch!” she accepted the kiss but with a bite.
Alfred approached the sofa.
“Master Bruce, I think you need a nice bath to wash away the all this sea salt”
Bruce looked surprised at Clark who shrugged.
“Detective No. two…”
“Master Kent, you need the same cleaning too and I guess you could assist
Master Bruce?” he cocked a commanding eyebrow.
Bruce was ready to retort that he didn’t need help but Alfred had already
turned his back heading to the kitchen and Clark placed his palm softly on
Bruce’s mouth.
“Sure, Alfred! Thanks! I mean…” he blushed under everyone’s glances and Bruce
forgot his objections already plotting.
***** Chapter 5 *****
Luthor sat on his bed in the high security cell of Blackgate Prison smirking as
he recalled the things Bane was recounting to everyone with ears about his
nights with Bruce Wayne. That served right the spoiled brat! Even if he didn’t
have the chance to do all these himself.
Suddenly his cell was drenched in pitch black and Luthor frowned: he didn’t
hear any turbulence from outside so this…blackout – if it was a blackout – was
exclusively in his cell.
He didn’t like that: he had too much experience with scum to know how they
worked. Cold sweat slid to his back: he was stuck in a filthy joint in Gotham
and Gotham despite the frontage was always driven by criminals…Locals or not
since the local players were permanently out of the game.
And then as suddenly the lights were back and Luthor breathed easier only for a
second; his frown became deeper.
“How you got here?” he asked coldly; his anger surpassing his worry.
“Easily” a sarcastic voice answered indifferently and a huge shadow covered
Luthor who immediately stood to minimize the height difference impression.
Luthor’s eyes shone.
“You killed the guards?” he inquired slyly with a smirk.
His visitor quirked one corner of his lips; his thin mustache twitched.
“Bruno Mannheim doesn’t need to do such bullshit unless for his entertainment”
he barked and strutted inside the small cell.
Luthor thought that Mannheim’s enormous mass made the cell look even smaller,
suffocating, and this made him feel more outraged for his humiliation.
“You can get me out of here” he snapped though he hated having to resort to a
stranger’s help.
Mannheim moved his square neck and sniffed at Luthor and the billionaire felt
his face hot with rage: it was Wayne’s fault that he was humiliated before
every worthless shit.
“Now…now…Why I’d do that?” Mannheim lifted an arrogant eyebrow.
Luthor gritted his teeth.
“Then why you brought your filthy hide here?!”
Mannheim’s enormous mass was on him at no time and his big hand squeezed his
neck pushing him to the wall. Luthor felt his legs dangling and his air pipe
constricted; sweat drops popped all over his face.
“I want what you promised me” the fine dressed gangster hissed, his growl only
an undertone. “Your part of the deal!” he tightened more his grip and Luthor’s
eyes protruded from the lack of air. “I hate those who break a deal…” Luthor
could swear that Mannheim’s eyes became red.
The gangster’s fingers loosened a bit to let Luthor draw some air.
“I’d have given you your order” he said through clenched teeth “but LEXLABS
have passed under the control of Bruce Wayne.”
Luthor had an established co-operation with the League of Shadows but his moto
was never have all your eggs in one basket, so he was working with other not so
legitimate but highly profitable ‘organizations’: one of these was this
gangster’s bunch of outlaws. Of course Mannheim’s orders were very strange and
intriguing which persuaded Luthor that this wasn’t a common gang and their
plans weren’t mediocre. So naturally Luthor wanted to keep a key role to this
as well…
Mannheim narrowed his eyes.
“I do not care” he stressed every word. “I made the deal with you and you’re
obliged to deliver my order!”
Luthor drew a breath to calm his heartbeat and regain his undeterred demeanor.
“How can I?!” he yelled exasperated eyeing the cell. “I would, Mannheim! But he
changed the security system and staff immediately setting his people guarding
the premises in order to prevent any loss in the LABS’ material. The bastard
wants to steal any tech know-how!”
Mannheim’s eyes were two pieces of ice, estimating Luthor’s angry face.
“Don’t tell me that you had my…order in official premises…” his hiss was filled
with explosion.
Luthor showed his teeth.
“Of course not! Yet I was informed that the filthy brat knew already even the
secret premises and immediately set his control there too!”
Mannheim roared and released Luthor; the gangster’s eyes were narrowed and
dark, deep in thought under a crease. Luthor smirked and gathered his legs to
rose from the floor.
“So…Wayne again…” the huge man mumbled.
“Let me out of here and I’ll help you get him out of the way…” he said slyly,
his eyes gleeful.
Mannheim arched an eyebrow and cackled.
“I don’t need your help with Wayne” the man twisted his lips in disdain.
Luthor crossed his arms over his chest and straightened proudly his posture
eyeing the gangster sarcastic.
“He isn’t an easy target…” he snapped.
Mannheim turned towards him and regarded amused Luthor’s orange prisoner’s
outfit.
“I see that…” he cocked both eyebrows and let a snort finish the impression.
“But I’m not you…”
Luthor lolled his head to the side disregarding the insult with a wicked smile.
“Perhaps…” he dragged his words. “But if you get me out of here, I’ll give you
access to your…order…”
Mannheim’s narrowed eyes stabbed Luthor’s overconfident ones in a staring
contest.
But suddenly the cell was again in complete darkness and before Luthor even
looked around him the lights returned to reveal that he was again alone. He
knitted his eyebrows; he knew that the area around his cell was under
surveillance and even if Mannheim’s men had knocked out the guards the alarm
would be set off. And even if they managed to extinguish the alarm system the
central processor would have warned the authorities…and how this wretched
gangster managed to get inside and out so fast and so silently? Like a ghost…
He pouted his lips: what mattered was that he could manipulate Mannheim into
get him out of the prison and Wayne would be faced with him and everyone that
pissed the gangster ended dead or worse – except of course than Luthor. So
maybe that oaf would give him another satisfaction.
Mannheim’s enormous shadow strutted with ease the narrow corridors of the
prison’s high security sector; it was afternoon but in there with the
artificial lighting easily could be turned into night. As for the inmates who
like Luthor had returned to their cells…they weren’t aware of his presence.
At the corner before the exit he met another shadow bigger than himself.
“You took from Luthor what you wanted?” the second shadow’s eyes shone yellow.
Mannheim gritted his teeth and cursed causing a snort from the second shadow.
“I guess you didn’t…”
The gangster yanked his head and his eyes pierced the yellow. He suddenly
bulked till he became bigger, gigantic, towering the second shadow and his red
eyes scowled at him.
“Bruce Wayne gets again in my way…” he relished the uneasiness in his partner’s
face and chortled. “You finished off the guards?” mocked him even though
killing the guards wasn’t his will as well – for the time being…
“Of course not, there wasn’t any need for that and would have raised
suspicions.”
“I thought you are a demon with a thirst to kill humans, Bagdana…” the gangster
jeered him. “Or your craving for a human softened you towards them?”
Bagdana roared.
“We don’t want them suspect; I know you don’t wish that either, Darkseid…”
The presence that replaced Mannheim shook his head arrogantly sniffing at the
prison’s walls.
“I don’t care about them and their…suspicions. They’re just pests to be
extinguished. But it’s a specific pest that will be smashed first” he fisted
his stone-like hand. “His death will bring despair to the Kryptonian and clear
the path to my property.”
Bagdana’s face tensed.
“No!” he groaned and the holes he had for nostrils fumed. “He is mine…” but
then he smiled wickedly “yet we still set the wheels in motion.”
 
Dr. Thompkins in her comfy, modern but not extravagant office in the free
clinic was perusing the latest data about Bruce’s health that Alfred had sent
her. She fixed the rim of her glasses keeping her eyes focused on her PC
screen; she felt guilty about snapping at Clark and was glad she mollified the
impression she created yet her concern didn’t subside.
Only the recount of Bruce’s wounds’ extent and of the conditions that led to
them was enough to make her cringe: as a doctor working at the Narrows she was
used to horrid wounds however she was grateful she didn’t see Bruce immediately
after the incident. Yet the reports Clark gave them were very graphic.
Everything came down to one thing: they, she was given back Bruce just before a
couple of months and almost lost him again so the possibility of losing him
again on her fault haunted her.
Discreet knocks on her door cracked her isolation yet she answered without
looking. Maria, the head nurse, probably brought her the morning shift’s
report. Light steps approached her desk and then a gentle clearing of throat.
She raised her head with frowned eyebrows and hastily minimized the window with
the report on her PC. It wasn’t Maria but a young man impeccably dressed in a
tailor made suit and shining leather shoes – being the son of a rich family
added to his income allowing him the luxury.
He was around thirty and what made an impression to Leslie was that his haircut
was exactly the same with Bruce’s – unlike the last time she saw him in a
congress – and his cheekbones definitely were sharper than before. Or maybe it
was just her agitation messing with her senses.
“Dr. Elliot” she grinned and offered her hand for a handshake.
The young man smiled dashingly.
“Please, Leslie; you know me since I was a toddler” he cocked an eyebrow
“certainly we don’t need such formality. Call me Thomas.”
Leslie licked her lips thoughtful and nodded gesturing to the plain yet comfy
chair in front of her desk.
“Have a seat, Thomas.”
But his smile became broader.
“I was hoping to have your company in a light lunch before continuing our
shifts. Well?” he lolled his head.
Leslie shook her head.
“Gladly, Thomas, but I’ve so much work.”
Thomas pressed his lips, his eyes really sad yet Leslie had the feeling that
this was overacting.
“C’me on, Leslie, I was hoping for some briefing on Gotham’s life – I have
missed so much.”
Leslie took off her glasses and placed them on her desk.
“You’ll have plenty of time for that, Thomas, since you decided to return” her
voice was a bit critical and the young doctor frowned.
“I detect some displeasure for that?” he asked almost hurt.
Leslie rubbed the bridge of her nose.
“Certainly not, Thomas: you’re a brilliant young doctor and Gotham will benefit
from your presence here. Yet the last time you gave me the impression that your
position at Metropolis’ General Hospital and the Neurosurgery chair in
Metropolitan University was everything you ever dreamt.”
Thomas sat at the chair Leslie showed him and leaned towards her.
“People change, Leslie” and seeing her arching an eyebrow “well, you’re right…”
he shook his head. “It was Bruce who inspired me to come back: his effort to
offer to our city despite all the horrors he experienced made me rethink my
indifferent stance towards Gotham and her people’s suffering and decide to
attribute my tiniest to this valiant effort” he gave again his dashing but
empty smile.
“Not ‘tiniest’ I’m sure.”
“And the position Gotham General offered me along with the chair of the
Neuroscience in Gotham’s University is more than satisfying” he confessed and
locked eyes with Leslie. “Well, will you honor me with your company?”
Leslie pressed her lips and huffed.
“I’d like to, Thomas, I really do but I’m too busy: Narrows still pose many
demands.”
Thomas nodded knitting his fingers.
“You have data from Bruce’s condition on your screen, right?” he asked serious
and on her questioning look smiled “you hastened to minimize the window upon
seeing me. Can I have a look?”
Leslie bit her lip.
“Thomas, you know that I can’t.”
Thomas’ eyes darkened but he just pressed his lips and shook his head
disappointed.
“So…you share Bruce’s dislike and mistrust?” he inquired in a low, hurt voice.
Leslie made to answer but he interrupted her.
“I’d expect that those torturous eighteen years would have set childish
mischief in perspective for Bruce yet he seems to hold a grudge on me for” he
snorted “bullying him when I was eight or nine and destroying his Tao-Tao toy…”
Leslie stared at him calculating.
“You seem to remember every detail…”
“Brucie has contaminated you with his paranoia: I understand that you have a
soft spot for him and after believing him dead for so long it’s perfectly
logical…” his blue eyes manifested interest. “But, Leslie, really? I know that
all these horrid experiences have affected and distorted his cognitive
functions and personality and I understand even his feelings against me but
you? You agreeing with his unreasonable mistrust for the doings of a stupid
brat - me?” he shook his head and pinched the bridge of his nose. “I was a
spoiled, arrogant brat and I admit I was horrible to Brucie…and, yes, he was
too young and I hurt him but…but my father’s death and my mother’s suffering
after” he sighed “…changed me; I realized how dreadful I was to him and all my
life I wished to have a chance to show him my regret and knowing that this was
impossible since he was murdered was eating me alive. But now that we have him
back…” he smiled “I just want to help him…” he widened his eyes. “I matured,
Leslie: you should help him mature as well, not clung to childish rivalries.”
Leslie made her eyes softer and understanding however her stare became steely
when Thomas patronized her.
“Thank you for your offer, Thomas. But Bruce is more mature than all of us” she
regarded the young man’s flash of irony. “Wanting his personal data handled
only by me is not a matter of Bruce’s dislike or mistrust or…grudge, as you
think: he just feels better with his family, that means the people closest to
him. You should understand this, after everything he suffered.”
He huffed.
“I can offer my professional opinion, Leslie; and Bruce doesn’t need to know”
Leslie tensed on that and Thomas realized his blunder.
“I’m sorry, Thomas” she said sharply “isn’t a matter of personal dislike or
mistrust. It’s just patient-doctor confidentiality.”
Dr. Elliot realized that he had lost the game so he gave his most charming
smile and stood.
“Fine, Leslie; you’re right. I was wrong to insist but I share your worry about
Bruce. Two strange bullets in his spine are too dangerous even if removed: they
might have left lesions or disabilities given the malnourishment our poor
Brucie suffered. So if you need anything…don’t hesitate: you can always count
on me and my confidentiality” his stare became sly as his voice “Superman who
seems to be very intimate with Brucie can attest to that.”
He stretched his hand to Leslie and she shook it though she didn’t like his
tone.
“May at least have the pleasure to be accompanied by the most charming doctor
of Gotham tonight for a dinner?”
Leslie weighted the situation and nodded; Thomas Elliot was a brilliant
colleague after all and wanted to observe him more to find out if Bruce’s
feelings – and hers - had a solid base or they were wrong.
The young man smiled and left her office, Leslie watching him skeptical before
opening again on her PC the window with Bruce’s data.
 
The chair Clark had made for Bruce floated from the corner where Alfred had put
it to stop right before Bruce and Clark looked at him frowning. But Bruce
ignored his almost hurt look and grabbed the armrests of the chair sliding with
easiness into the chair.
Clark stood up.
“I can take you upstairs…” it was stupid, he realized as soon as he uttered it;
of course he could.
Bruce holding the armrests eyed him smugly and caressed Hero’s back since the
kitten had swiftly climbed on his lap.
Selina marched to Bruce and took softly the kitten grinning at Bruce.
“You’ll stay with me, Hero…”
Bruce turned to Clark.
“I know you can” he spat, winked and the chair floated to the lift Tony had
adjusted to the main stair.
Tony smirked satisfied for his friend’s reaction and Superman’s pout. Selina
was chuckling.
“Are you coming?” Bruce turned to Clark. “Or do you need my help to climb the
stairs?” he quirked a sarcastic eyebrow.
Now Tony laughed out loud and Pepper pinched him in the ribs.
“I don’t want to hear you laughing” she said through clenched teeth. “It gets
on my nerves…”
Tony shrugged.
“Okay, Peps; I’m officially in the corner standing on one foot…”
Clark narrowed his eyes locking them with Bruce’s sparkling ones: his Star
was…challenging him? He gritted his teeth and marched to meet him causing
Bruce’s satisfied smirk.
“Alfred…”
Alfred who was already on the frame leading to the corridor to the kitchen
stood and turned at his young master.
“Yes, Master Bruce?” he asked hiding his eagerness to do whatever Bruce asked
him.
Bruce pressed his lips.
“Is it easy to have dinner at the balcony? It’s a great evening…”
Everyone eyed him puzzled because it was the first time Bruce expressed a
desire. Clark’s eyes flashed and his joy turned his lips upwards in a big
smile.
Alfred mustered his composed demeanor but his eyes glint revealed his
contentment.
“Of course, Master Bruce; and if I may: it’s indeed a splendid evening.”
Bruce smiled to him knowing how happy his butler felt just by that small
request and Alfred just couldn’t resist mirroring that smile before bowing
slightly his head and leaving for the kitchen.
Bruce brushed the choice for ‘up’ in the lift’s rectangular screen and began
ascending. Of course, Clark followed him flying never leaving Bruce’s playful
eyes.
Selina sighed.
“You better be careful, Supes…” she whispered and headed to the balcony kissing
the head of Hero who had perched on her shoulder.
Pepper turned to Tony who made her the puppy eyes.
“Shower time for us too?” he grinned hopefully but Pepper cast him a cold glare
and sniffed at him.
“Shower for me: so much time holding on tin makes me smell like rust” she
arched an eyebrow, her green eyes poisonous and Tony protruded his lower lip
and narrowed his eyes hurt.
But Pepper smirked and stressed every word “you” her eyebrows arched “’re gonna
help Alfred with the dinner. Go!” Pepper pressed her palms on his chest pushing
him.
Tony stepped backwards towards the kitchen staring guiltily and pleadingly at
Pepper whose eyes were stern. He blew her a kiss and ran to the kitchen; Pepper
shook her head smiling.
“You’re not going to weasel out of this so easily, Mr. Stark…”
The door to Bruce’s bedroom opened on his approach and the same happened with
the bathroom’s door – Tony’s apps to ease his friend’s life; Clark was
following keeping one step distance.
The bathroom was spacious but not as vast as the one in the Manor’s bedroom;
everything was made of light blue granite tiles that sparkled under the lights
that were entirely powered by the stored solar energy. The bath tub was cream
colored porcelain with plain, gold colored details, oval shaped and large,
equipped with handles and supports on the wall and inside the tub.
Bruce turned his head to see behind him a serious Clark.
“Glad to see you managed to catch up…”
Clark covered their distance in one stride and held the younger man’s
shoulders.
“There’s no other place I would be!” his eyes were locked with Bruce’s and that
emerald sparkling star made his temperature blow. “I know you’re perfectly able
to do it yourself” he said wanting to appease him but Bruce cocked an eyebrow
“But am I allowed to…to strip you?” he felt his cheeks getting hot.
Bruce chuckled and smirked.
“You didn’t ask for permission at the beach…”
Clark’s mouth stayed agape.
“Well, I…I…”
Bruce rolled his eyes.
“OK, you have my permission!” and seeing Clark’s eyes glimmering hungrily “but
slower this time…”
Clark nodded and lifted him from the chair. He took off his clothes slowly
wrapping his torso with one arm having no problem to get rid of the clothes
with the other.
Bruce regarded the pile of his discarded clothes on the bathroom’s floor.
“This is the slowest you can?” he asked amused but as he turned his eyes Clark
was already naked.
Clark caressed the pink on Bruce’s cheeks.
“We’re supposed to get rid of that traitorous salt, right?” the Man of Steel
said and his eyes traveled Bruce’s body safely embraced by his hands. “And,
yes, this is the slowest I can when it concerns stripping you…- no clothe
serves you justice.”
Bruce pouted thoughtful.
“Don’t tell, Alfred: it’ll be a great insult to his fine clothing taste.”
Clark couldn’t drag this chat with Bruce bare naked in his arms…because at any
moment he would forget the purpose they were here and…He sighed internally:
things he shouldn’t do would be done.
Bruce felt the movement and next he was in the tub still held by Clark.
“You didn’t ask for permission” he scowled and Clark’s eyes widened until
Bruce’s glare loosened to amusement. “You’re such a kid…”
Clark touched his forehead to Bruce’s.
“Actually, you’re the kid here…”
The younger man snorted.
“Yeah, I’m…what? Six years younger?” he lolled his head. “When I’ll be eighty
and you are exactly as now, I’ll look like your grandfather.”
Clark almost choked before his smile lit his face and he tightened his two arms
hold on Bruce’s back, kissing Bruce’s hand that softly touched his shoulder.
“So you’re telling me that you intend on us being together for sixty years?!
That’s great! That’s…”
Yet Bruce sobered and his eyes darkened; some sweat drops appeared on his
forehead.
“I didn’t mean it that way…” he turned his head on the side to avoid Clark’s
elated eyes and his hands dropped from Superman’s shoulders. “It’s too
difficult to say something like this…”
Clark narrowed his eyes: of course, it was too difficult for Bruce to make such
long plans concerning love and he didn’t want to scare him. So he cupped his
face and smoothly brought it to meet his.
“You’re right, so we go one day at a time, huh?”
Bruce pressed his lips and nodded: he understood that what he said might have
disappointed Clark into believing that he didn’t want them being together for
years. But this was not the point: what he wanted was never the point… He
blinked and locked his eyes with Clark’s.
“With what I said I didn’t mean that I wouldn’t want that…but…”
Clark nibbled Bruce’s lips.
“Ssssss…I know; don’t worry about anything…” he kissed him again. “Now let’s
have that shower because I don’t want you catching a cold standing here naked.”
Bruce lolled his head on the side and regarded Clark.
“With the Man of Steel hugging me? I don’t think so…” he smiled “Leslie berated
you, huh?”
Clark blinked.
“How you know?”
He shrugged.
“She always calls at afternoon and today I wasn’t here at the time she usually
calls and she didn’t call since I woke up. So I gather that she called when I
was sleeping and…hm…talked with you after learning from Alfred that we spent
the afternoon at the beach.”
Clark pouted and nodded rolling his eyes.
“Of…course…But she was right and I’d have done the same thing in her place. I
was irresponsible…I forgot how vulnerable you’re to bacteria.”
Bruce twitched his lips annoyed and played with Clark’s curl on the forehead.
“Leslie is overprotective: people who had splenectomy are indeed more
vulnerable to bacteria but only the first months after the surgery;” he raised
his eyebrows “more than two months have passed. And if I continue living in a
bubble my organism’s defense will be very weak when faced with the real world.
It was my decision.”
Clark smiled and Bruce grabbed the handles of the special support Tony had
adjusted to the tub’s wall and led his back to rest to the titanium, leather
covered curve shaped railing that held him upright. He touched an indication at
the branches and pleasantly hot water began pouring on them from unseen heads.
Clark watched the water soaking Bruce’s locks and plastering them to his
forehead and cheeks; streams were already running the younger man’s chest and
Clark despite the fact he was also under the water felt getting hot. He took
gently the bath cream and the sponge from Bruce’s hands, his Star eyeing him
inquiringly but also playfully.
“Let me do that…” he breathed in a deep voice “please…”
Bruce just nodded and Clark tossed the sponge on the floor; he filled his palms
with the cream that every time its smell dazzled him: the same cream Martha
Wayne bathed her little Prince.
He applied the cream with gentle, round movements first at Bruce’s breasts, his
eyes constantly on the younger man’s sucking the slight changes that indicated
his pleasure. He brought his body closer to Bruce’s and lowered his palms
slowly, smoothly to spread the cream to Bruce’s abdomens.
Then he kneeled and gingerly spread the cream over Bruce’s pelvis willing
himself not get carried away and touch his thirsty lips on the younger man’s
groin though he was constantly licking his dry lips. He sighed only internally
casting a longing last glance before proceeding with Bruce’s hips, thighs,
knees, calves and feet always extremely slow for Clark’s standards wishing to
expand those moments.
Upon finishing his work, he stood sticking his body to Bruce’s and locking his
eyes with his; he could hear the younger man’s heartbeat speeding. He nibbled
Bruce’s lower lip, his hands resuming their round rubbing movements on his
breasts teasing the pink nipples.
Bruce closed his eyes sighing and then stabbed Clark with his eyes.
“If you continue like this you won’t clean me…”
Clark closed his eyes and grabbed Bruce’s waist sucking desperately his collar
bone.
“Maybe I like the taste of salt on your flesh…”
And then with a sudden but careful movement turned Bruce around, swallowing his
ear.
“I have to clean you up, huh?” he whispered letting his rasps wet Bruce’s ear.
He poured some more cream to Bruce’s back and smoothly with massaging movements
applied it first at his shoulders descending the length of his arms and then
his shoulder blades and lower…He could hear Bruce’s slightly uneven breath but
when his hands reached the younger man’s glutes he could hear only his own
rasps: applying cream to Bruce’s wet buttocks that regained their enticing
shape after the incident was…torture…and Clark was sweaty without the water
spraying him being of any help since immediately turned into stream.
Bruce chuckled obviously feeling Clark’s torment and his twitching groin over
his buttocks and Clark bit softly the crook of his neck causing a moan which
made the Man of Steel smile satisfied. Kneeling before Bruce’s back side was
demanding and Clark’s running sweat was more than the shower’s water – not to
mention how hot was in there… But Clark was responsible and would finish his
job whatever the cost.
He had a triumphant smile on his face as he stood and turned Bruce to be again
face to face. His Star was blushed too, his long eyelashes half covering his
orbs longingly.
During Bruce’s long stay on bed at the Fortress Clark never let the androids
wash him: he always washed his Star during his long sleep. And he kept doing
that after Bruce woke from the coma but with the younger man watching him awed
and uncomfortable but definitely not aroused.
Yet now things were different for Bruce…And for Clark who during the first days
of their ordeal that seemed too far way bathed the sleeping man feeling as
being in a thick cloud of sadness and weak hope, not able to acknowledge
anything from the naked body except than aggressive bruises, lacerations,
burnings and more that he didn’t want to remember. And even when Bruce woke
from the coma his enthusiasm, his gratitude, his happiness didn’t let him to
see beyond the miracle of this mangled body being alive – having returned to
him.
But now that the miracle became his everyday reality he began acknowledging
each and every single beauty this unique being had to offer especially since
Bruce’s hard work out rapidly was restoring the tortured muscles back to their
previous shape. So his struggle not touch him in order to not hurt him was
getting more and more difficult.
Bruce was sensing the changes in Clark’s attitude…and his. When he first woke
up the sedatives and painkillers were so many that reality seemed covered in a
thin mist: his thoughts, senses and reactions were numb so Clark’s touch even
to the unharmed areas of his body felt like a dream, pleasant, desirable but
unreal – plus, his body, the healthy part, couldn’t or wouldn’t react to that
touches. But now…as the fact that he was alive became his routine, his body
began realizing the reality of those months’ deprivation and was thirsty…
The younger man locked his lips with Clark’s claiming the super human soft
warmth of his body. But the Man of Steel detached to Bruce’s almost hurt frown
and Clark hastened to caress his lips with his thumb.
“Your hair have salt…Is how Alfred busted me.”
Bruce kissed Clark’s thumb and snorted.
“It’s an amateur’s error…” he sniffed at Clark.
Clark tightened his grip on Bruce’s waist bringing him closer; his eyes shining
fervently locked with Bruce’s.
“I had you naked in front of me…salt was connected with other things than
covering my tracks…”
Bruce brushed with both hands Clark’s broad shoulder blades and pressed his
lips.
“You’ve got me naked right now…What are you thinking?”
Clark felt that Bruce was trying to seduce him but…Rao! ... Bruce didn’t need
to seduce HIM. He was struggling every second to restrain himself and Bruce’s
desire that he had to deny made this nightmarish. He gulped: Bruce’s health was
above anything else.
“To wash your hair!”
Bruce’s eyelids almost covered his sparkling eyes and Clark’s heart clenched.
Yet he knew that it was for the better. He poured shampoo on Bruce’s locks and
began massaging smoothly staring all the time at his Star’s closed eyes and
feeling the younger man shaking a bit.
“We’re ready” he huffed.
Bruce’s eyes opened with a dark shine.
“No, we’re not” he growled and shook his head “your turn…”
Clark raised his hands almost panicked, shaking his head in denial.
“Oh, no, no, no…” he had retreated.
Bruce was looking him with the stare of a hunting wildcat and that stare
was…just…irresistible. Clark’s eyes widened seeing Bruce’s hands approaching
him.
“Please, Bruce…If…if your hands touch me I won’t be able to hold back…It’d be
too much…”
Bruce smirked, his stare always predatory, the wet locks stuck on his temples
framing his beautiful eyes.
“And I’ll shatter…”
Clark licked his lips and run his hand through his soaked hair which was a
mistake because Bruce used the handles of the special railing to push himself
on Clark’s chest. The surprise and his overall condition were such that Clark
lost his balance and terrorized realized that he was falling. Terrorized not
for himself – porcelain couldn’t hurt him – but Bruce was falling too. He
grabbed the younger man’s upper arms to make sure that he’d have Clark’s body
as a cushion.
The landing wasn’t too bad and Clark was happy because the oval shaped tube was
spacious enough to contain him and the porcelain hadn’t cracked. He turned to
look at Bruce, his body clang to Clark’s chest.
“What do you think you’re doing?!” he cried exasperated. “Are you OK?”
And then he noticed two things: Bruce’s amused, smug look and that the water
had stopped. Now Clark was pissed! He did it on purpose!
“You tripped me on purpose to fall!”
Bruce rolled his eyes and caressed the wet hair in his chest causing goose
bumbs to Clark’s spine more so when he focused on the feeling of Bruce’s pelvis
on his groin.
“Of course” he answered nonchalant “I think you forget that I’m Batman.”
Clark stretched his neck and sighed.
“I’m under a human so this human can only be Batman but…”
“No more buts” he retorted sharply and Clark felt with dread the thing he was
most afraid of: Bruce’s body slithering on his driving each of his cells crazy;
his bodily perfume enhanced by the fresh aroma of shampoo and cream mesmerizing
his brain into ordering full surrender.
And what was that? Bruce’s fingertips touching feathery and moving on his ribs
slowly finding his abdomens and brushing skillfully each layer which pushed his
hips to move upwards; motion that became a violent writhing when Bruce’s hot,
velvet lips touched his navel and then nibbled and sucked his rippled flesh. He
gasped and raised his torso though his head was heavy with flooding
stimulation.
“Wh…what you doing?!” he gasped almost panicked as much as his lungs.
Bruce was happy to see his agitation because he knew that unsettling the
‘’opponent’’ was the first step for the victory. He detached his eyes from
Superman’s abdomens and locked eyes with him completely calm and determined.
Clark shuddered from arousal under this stare and his face became all hot which
became even worse upon realization. And Bruce’s calm was so irritating.
“You’re afraid that you will shatter my paralyzed lower body…however my upper
body functions perfectly…” he said slyly and Clark was reminded of Selina:
those two could easily have been real siblings, he thought fleetingly.
“I doubt it!” he snapped. “Especially your brain!”
Bruce narrowed his eyes and – damn! - that look was a turn on…
“You’ve been suppressing your needs too long…and mine…” for the first time
Bruce’s sharp cheekbones were colored pink.
“You don’t have to do this…” he almost pleaded. “I know how horrid this was…”
Bruce’s eyes flashed angrily as he realized what Clark wanted to say: his past.
“Exactly: I don’t have to do it – I want to do it. So: shut up…” he pressed his
palms on Clark’s oversensitive breasts and pushed him down brushing his nipples
that traitorously had erected; the most powerful being on Earth unable to stay
up. “Let control to me!”
You always had it, Star… he thought and sighed. But immediately his eyes
protruded feeling feathery fingers trailing slowly and gently his pelvis’ V
downwards to open slightly his thighs. Bruce’s fingers caressed the soft flesh
at his inner thighs ascending to his hipbones sending electric currents to his
spine.
“This is the way you must do it, child!” Ra’s’ face was distorted from anger.
Ra’s was naked below the waist with a red faced Bruce kneeled between his legs.
His eyes were tearstained realizing the rage of his master which was justified
since they were half an hour here and Bruce wasn’t able to obey.
“I…” he mumbled lowering his eyes to the floor “I’m sorry, Master…I can’t…”
“I know you’re doing this all the time for Falcone!”
Ra’s’ tone gradually increased and Bruce was shaking; his shoulders were
slumped and his eyes tightly shut: his Master was right but it wasn’t the same
what they asked and what Ra’s asked…
A surprised moan burst out of Clark’s mouth before he could think about it and
then his torso arched: his own body rebelled against him… He grunted and his
heart gave a thud… Oh, my God! The softest sensation he ever had: lips made of
velvet, hot lips were planting small kisses following the V of his pelvis
making his groin twitch in hungry anticipation as the tender kisses approached
his length only to continue with his pelvis’ other side.
“I’ve never done…”
“Stop lying!” he roared and Bruce squeezed more his eyes cringing.
“I…I’m not…They just put…” he gulped a sob “it in my mouth and I just…” he
sniffed and his voice was drowned.
He felt his Master’s mass moving and his enormous hands grabbing his shoulders
and shaking him violently till Bruce opened his red, puffy eyes and looked
shyly at him. The lion-like man’s grey eyes stabbed his.
“You’re a whore, child, you always were; yet now I’ll make you a useful one. A
talented whore who will seduce his opponents with his beauty and skills” his
eyebrows jerked indicatively. “And you’ll learn, boy: whether you like it or
not!” he roared but seeing the boy crying he softened his tone and his thumb
rubbed Bruce’s chin “Do you understand?”
He nodded.
“Now use your fingers and lips on my inner thighs and hipbones to create
desire…” Bruce’s eyes widened in panic because he didn’t have a clue but Ra’s’
glare was eloquent “Now!”
“B…Bruce…” Clark really didn’t know what he wanted to say and those lips that
now kissed sucking tenderly his flesh cast his mind in a fog of pleasure and
his length in derangement throbbing more madly every time Bruce let a puff of
hot air from his lungs caress Clark’s hot flesh, denying the contact.
His loud whine wasn’t flattering for the Man of Steel but Bruce’s magic fingers
– as if his lips working his pelvis weren’t enough – brushed not very softly,
not very hard his testicles and then nibbling causing Clark’s eyes roll inwards
and his fists clench. He was already huffing and puffing without Bruce having
touched his impatient length; his slightly open legs trembled uncontrollably –
causing vibrations to the tub - and he was afraid of hitting the younger man.
“Oh…Bruce…Please…” his voice was too husky, too weak and he meant to ask Bruce
to stop so to not get hurt by his unchecked boiling body. But those rosy, soft
lips began trailing with pecks his throbbing length and new waves of hot sweat
ran his face, body and especially the inner of his thighs. “Ppplease, Star,
MORE!”
His Master’s moans and grunts of surrender filled the semi dark training room.
“Do it, child!” he roared. “Already!”
Bruce could hear Ra’s’ teeth rattling.
“Superman will be your total victim…” he huffed a bit relieved as the tip of
his length was engulfed by Bruce’s wet mouth.
Clark huffed and puffed supported in his forearms, his torso semi raised: how
much more Bruce was going to torture his hurting member by just making small
sucks and strolls through his throbbing length; he felt the big vein there
ready to explode when Bruce’s slightly rough tongue licked the entire length.
“Star…you’re killing me…” he whimpered; the fact that Bruce’s breaths were calm
as they burned his hot flesh pissed him.
Clark felt a smile on the soft flesh that tortured him and then his already
hard member was welcomed in Bruce’s hot mouth and the Man of Steel just slumped
on the hot porcelain, surrendering to his tormentor. His head lolled backwards
and his eyes were closed, he sighed satisfied.
But then he jerked upwards, his back making an arch as Bruce’s lips were
massaging in a steady rhythm strongly and then softly his sensitive member, the
beating vein there bombed as his heart and lungs. Bruce’s tongue took action
only rarely just to enhance the effect of his lips’ massaging moves; slowly
upwards causing new streaks of sweat in every pore of Clark’s body – his face
was stressed and his neck arched with its veins bulged giving loud rasps and
sobs that became cries when Bruce’s nails brushed a bit rough his swollen
testicles. Fire was breaking his bones…
Bruce’s heart was beating heavily; listening to Clark’s moans and cries was the
only satisfaction he needed because he knew that he was making that man happy.
He was hard trained to do this even without looking so he glimpsed at
Superman’s sweaty, red face that gave the impression of letting out steam; his
mouth was agape unable to close due to the waves of moans, sobs and saliva
breaking his defenses; his eyes were closed but Bruce could see them moving
under the eyelids; soaked locks had stuck on his face making him look even more
beautiful. Clark’s fisted hands had relaxed in abandonment as his member became
rock hard in his mouth.
And then Bruce felt it and as always dread flooded him: Clark’s hips were
jerking upwards, thrusting in his mouth and Bruce had to recruit his training
to not bite to escape. Clark couldn’t stop his hands from cupping Bruce’s hair
but thankfully he managed to restrain them from dragging Bruce’s mouth.
“It ain’t my fault yar lips are made for blowjobs, prince…”
New cold sweat drenched his back as Chill’s hands grabbed his head to thrust
deeper gagging him and that pleasant feeling of salty, delicious flesh was
replaced by acid. His heart lost many beats as Chill’s enormous length surged
deeper hurting his throat. He couldn’t draw a breath; he couldn’t escape, he
shouldn’t escape…his legs were dead. His respiration became frantic and his
fingers clenched sensitive swollen flesh on their own accord, causing a long
groan of pleasure: no, it wasn’t Chill… Bruce closed his eyes: Clark,
thankfully, couldn’t in his state sense his distress so he had to continue.
Bruce continued pumping with his lips the flaming flesh that boosted from the
powerful hips thrust faster and more frantically almost desperate. His
experience told him that soon his lover would reach his climax and braced
himself. But then Clark’s gentle hands caressed his locks and cupped his face
drawing him upwards to nestle in his safe chest just before Clark’s torso
arched more and the Man of Steel cried his explosion.
Clark’s chest was heaving following his frantic respiration and heartbeat and
he cuddled the younger man. Bruce clung to him still shaken from Chill’s scowl
and snigger but not wanting Clark to figure, kissed lightly the older man’s
broad chest, letting his cheek touch the bulged breast.
The first thing Clark saw as soon as he managed to persuade his eyes to connect
with the world leaving their pleasant mist was Bruce’s soaked messy locks. He
kissed the top of his head and tightened his one arm hold but Bruce didn’t lift
his eyes. Clark caressed Bruce’s sweaty, cold cheek tenderly and sparkling eyes
locked with his.
***** Chapter 6 *****
“Why you did that?!” Clark rasped out of breath.
Bruce’s eyes flashed and the healthy part of his body raised depriving Clark
from his sweet heat.
“You didn’t like it?”
Clark’s heart was still beating fast as his soft member and Clark still
remembered his moans, sobs and cries – thank goodness, that house was perfectly
soundproof.
“Are you kidding me, Star?” he rolled his eyes. “I’m still boneless…paralyzed”
really he didn’t have any strength to move except than for caressing or kissing
Bruce.
Bruce smirked and lolled his head.
“I’m glad now we’re two…”
Clark chuckled.
“So revenge was your motive?” he teased and twirled with his finger a stray
lock in Bruce’s cheek.
Bruce’s eyes narrowed playfully and his lips twitched slyly.
“Rendering Superman helpless is priceless…” he shrugged and placed his head on
Clark’s chest.
“You wanted to give me the enjoyment you believe I was deprived…and you did it.
But what about you?”
“I enjoyed it as much as you.”
“Star, you’re the bravest, strongest person in the entire universe…and I feel
so lucky you love me so much…”
He knew that only endless love could persuade Bruce do what he just did. Yet
his Star didn’t answer keeping his eyes closed.
They stayed silent, Clark caressed slowly Bruce’s locks wondering whether the
younger man really enjoyed it or did it only for him; he felt elated, revived
as every time they made love, however now he was calm pondering. Bruce’s breath
on his skin was so soothing yet he couldn’t stop himself from speaking.
“You never spoke to me about what Bane and Talia did to you…” he bit his lip as
soon as he uttered it realizing that he just ruined the moment.
Bruce opened his eyes but didn’t look at his face.
“You told me that you smelt it” he said dryly, indifferently.
Yes, he had…He closed his eyes and sighed.
“I know but you should talk about this.”
Bruce tensed and Clark felt it and rubbed soothingly his back wanting to calm
him yet at this very moment Bruce hated that.
“Any luck on finding Talia?” Bruce asked to change the subject.
Clark understood his effort.
“No but I hope she died…” his voice was dark. “She raped you and stole your
semen…”
Bruce jerked in his arms and Clark sensed even his Star’s lower body rising
which meant that Bruce’s mind ruled his body into moving. The younger man’s
eyes were widened, flashing menacing.
“Bane spilt everything! OK, I was expecting that from him but not you repeating
it!” he clenched his jaw.
Clark pressed his lips and brushed Bruce’s back willing him to lay again on him
and stop exhausting his body that wasn’t able to carry his mind’s power and
will.
“Easy, Bruce…Relax, please…Let your body lay down now…” but his Star was too
tense and Clark cupped his face planting soft kisses all over. “It’s OK…My
fault…I’m losing it every time I think again of everything he…they did to you.”
Bruce freed his own body and lay on the porcelain but Clark rolled his body and
met Bruce’s wild – so sexy – eyes with his puppy ones.
“Alfred would kill me if you get a cold while under my care…” he pouted.
Bruce shook his head.
“I don’t want him turned to a killer…”
He brought his body close to Clark’s and Superman lay flat on his back so that
Bruce’s body wouldn’t touch the cold material. However he was feeling the
younger man’s reluctance and hesitation so nuzzled his cheek like he saw Hero
doing.
Bruce realized Clark’s effort and smiled which gave Superman the courage to
lock their lips.
“Nice way I return the favor, huh?” Clark whispered.
“There’s nothing for you to return” Bruce almost snapped. “And it wasn’t your
fault: it was my decision.”
Clark sighed and his mouth dove in Bruce’s wet locks.
“You counted on me to be there on time and to find you immediately even if they
captured you but I failed you in both… I wasn’t there and they took you and
then Selina was who found you and you saved yourself and us all.”
Bruce pecked Clark’s throbbing heart.
“I know that Bagdana delayed you…” he said decisively.
Clark searched his eyes.
“How?”
“I saw it when he was talking to me…”
Clark felt fire exploding inside him.
“He tormented you while you were captive and vulnerable!”
“He couldn’t approach physically because Talia had Ubu set repellants all over
the place yet he was communicating with me spiritually. He offered to save me…”
Clark raised his head to eye better his Star but Bruce didn’t meet his eyes
keeping his head on Superman’s chest.
“And you preferred to be tortured than accept his help?” he asked awed.
Bruce mumbled indifferently but didn’t make a move and Clark kissed his
shoulder where the scar from a stab wound stood.
“I’m glad you sent him back in the Hell where he belongs!” Clark gritted his
teeth.
But then his stare became blank because he saw again the bed where Talia had
Bruce and then Bane’s words transformed into scenes. Bruce flat on the mattress
completely paralyzed below the neck due to Talia’s bullets. Bane bounding
crudely his hands on the headboard to make his suffering graver and then
stripped him violently and…Clark gulped the big knot in his throat that formed
again as he imagined that giant monster thrusting with malice, with all his
power to Bruce’s sensitive body; he shuddered imagining the pain, the hurt, the
humiliation, the despair of being unable to resist…
He returned hastily to the bathroom’s reality because those feelings were too
painful and he couldn’t bear them. Bruce’s narrowed eyes were there, watching
his and Clark touched his lips on Bruce’s forehead without managing to soften
the younger man’s angry eyes.
“It wasn’t your fault!” Bruce repeated and Clark just cupped the back of his
head and captured his lips kissing passionately to erase those images.
He stopped the kiss only to not exhaust Bruce’s lungs yet his hand continued
cupping Bruce’s head and Clark’s lips stayed a thread from the younger man’s.
“I should have killed Bane for what he did to you and to stop him from
bragging…” he whispered looking at Bruce’s sweetened eyes.
“No, this is not you!” Bruce breathed “You’re not a killer.”
Clark closed his eyes and shook his head; his hands touched Bruce’s neck and
then trailed tenderly his shoulders, upper arms to take his hands and kiss
them.
“You have idolized me, Star; I’m not a Saint” he inhaled. “I’ve killed” Bruce
made to protest but Clark silenced him with a peck on the lips. “I want you to
have the right impression of me; to know everything: when I had just started my
action to protect people, the last survivors of my planet tried to invade
Earth. They almost defeated me but I managed to overcome their superior forces
and fight back” Bruce’s sparkling eyes were watching him avidly and Clark
licked uncomfortably his lips blinking. “In the end, it was their leader,
General Zod and me… We fought for hours endangering the humans around us and
then I was able to overcome his resistance and subdue him…” Clark’s voice
cracked.
“Clark…”
But Clark kissed him again and shook his head.
“Let me finish, Bruce…I gripped his neck and tightened my arm hold…I knew that
I was choking him but I also knew that if he lived he’d attack again and
threaten innocent people…” Bruce’s eyes were so sympathizing that warmed him
and encouraged him to admit “And I tightened more and more…till he died in my
arms…by my hand…”
Bruce caressed Clark’s cheek and his stare became more decisive.
“Listen to me, Clark: you didn’t kill him. General Zod is alive” Clark closed
his eyes and shook his head exasperated. “Yes! You tightened your chokehold
enough to knock him out but you didn’t finish him off. You couldn’t kill him
off even if you decided to do it.”
Clark was shaking constantly his head and finally opened his eyes which were
almost angry.
“You don’t know anything!” he snapped but seeing the frown on Bruce’s brow
softened his tone. “And how would you know? When that happened you were – what?
– fourteen? Falcone was holding you prisoner: you don’t know the facts!”
Bruce took his hands from Clark’s face and that really hurt Clark but Bruce
inhaled.
“You took his ‘corpse’ to the Phantom Zone, right?” he asked confidently.
Clark’s eyes narrowed: nobody knew that.
“Have you ever checked after?” Bruce stressed every word.
The Man of Steel was speechless and his hands on their own accord cupped
Bruce’s cheeks.
“No, Bruce, I didn’t: my conscience was and is heavy for that deed so I didn’t
want to return to that” his blue crystal gaze became intense. “How you know all
these, Bruce?” Clark saw Bruce’s strong eyes tremble. “How do you know about
the Phantom Zone and that Zod wasn’t dead but only unconscious?”
Bruce turned his gaze elsewhere: he knew all these were true but he didn’t know
how he knew it.
“I…I don’t know…” he mumbled and looked at Clark’s knitted eyebrows. “I don’t
remember…maybe Ra’s told me…but I’m sure you didn’t kill him: you don’t have it
in you to take a life.”
Clark read Bruce’s uneasiness for being unable to remember and wrapped his arms
around him planting soft kisses to his locks.
“I’ll check it, Bruce…”
He nodded.
“Yes, because we should make sure that he won’t escape.”
Clark chuckled and cocked an eyebrow amused.
“Nobody can escape Phantom Zone, Bruce…”
Bruce tilted his head on the side and looked Clark challengingly.
“If Ra’s Al Ghul found a way to reach it, then someone else could achieve it
too…” his eyes darkened and Clark nodded.
“Point taken!” he didn’t know if he should feel relieved or worried from
Bruce’s revelation: if it was true… because the youth didn’t remember where he
learnt all this and Crane had tampered with his memory, so all these could just
be Bruce’s willful thoughts; Clark accepted it to not upset more Bruce but made
a mental note to check this out.
Bruce had settled his head on the crook of Clark’s neck and the Man of Steel
glued him more on his body because he felt him shivering; he rubbed his upper
arms and sucked the younger man’s aroma weighing a thought. The mention of Al
Ghul’s name brought something else in his mind.
“Star…” he finally decided to go ahead and Bruce murmured, his lips brushing
the crook of his neck. “When I entered the League’s hideout I scanned the place
and…I sensed something…strange.”
Bruce tensed and his eyes that until now were half closed widened staying
completely still as his hands that caressed Clark’s granite breasts. Clark
licked his lips sensing how uncomfortable the younger man was.
“It was a mummy…a mummifying corpse…” Bruce thrashed in his arms trying to
detach without looking at him but Clark cupped his face and brought their eyes
to lock. “You never talked about your captivity, Bruce…I mean, except some
general stuff and answering Jim’s questions…” Bruce’s face was stony and his
eyes frozen but Clark swallowed hard determined to continue. “This mummy was of
Ra’s Al Ghul…” Bruce tensed more and Clark’s gaze became piercing “and the
thing had your smell on it…” Bruce jerked his head away but Clark held him “and
you had that disturbing smell on you…”
Bruce convulsed again to escape that gaze but Superman’s grip was unyielding,
forcing him to meet his eyes.
“We must get cleaned…we’re late…” Bruce growled coldly and Clark sighed.
“What they did to you, Star?” he almost whispered, his voice deep. “What other
torture they made you suffer?”
Bruce’s heart froze on those words more than the memories. Clark saw his eyes
emptying from any emotion and his own watered because he wasn’t stupid; he
could imagine what they did to Bruce.
“Did you find the mummy?” Bruce asked throaty, his eyes still blank.
“No; when I returned to search the place it was gone…”
Bruce pressed his lips and nodded.
“Someone took it – maybe Talia…And Lucius told me he found strange things in
LEXLABS…”
“What did they do, Bruce?” Bruce’s underground pain hurt him as much but if he
took it out maybe it hurt less.
Bruce’s eyes flashed and glared at him.
“They strapped me in a coffin, Crane injected me with a highly hallucinogen
drug and put Ra’s’ mummy on top of me to make me feel as if he was using me
again” he snapped with steady but emotionless voice.
Clark’s breaths became uneven: that was preposterous, horrid! His eyes leaked
but upon seeing Bruce piercing him with cold, still eyes appraising his
reactions, sat on the tube and cuddled him on his lap tightly nestling his head
on his neck kissing his locks.
Bruce was tense in Clark’s arms and would have jerked away if didn’t feel
drained like Ra’s’ mummy. His eyes remained stubbornly open and unmovable; his
heart thudding tired. He knew that Clark was feeling sorry for him…again: he
didn’t want to make anyone miserable especially Clark; he had caused them so
much pain and now he wanted to give them only happiness…But it was pointless…
Clark felt Bruce completely lax in his arms and heard how strenuous his
heartbeat had become; he panicked. He cupped again Bruce’s face and looked at
his eyes smiling and kissing desperate.
“I’m stupid, Star! You know how stupid I am! And how weak; I mean, they call me
the man of steel but I’m shit” Bruce’s eyes began warming.
“No, you’re not!”
“They thought that they could break you with that shit” he laughed. “The
idiots! They didn’t know with whom they messed and you smashed them: Selina
told me that you sparred with Talia even though wounded and paralyzed” his eyes
were enflamed. “You realize how happy you make me?”
Bruce didn’t answer and Clark captured his lips passionately, desperately.
“All these months my heart is flying… my body is glowing with energy as if I
make love to the sun…” he pressed his lips. “You’re that sun! But I always do
the wrong things…”
Bruce hesitantly caressed his cheek meeting his eyes. He smiled shyly.
“You don’t…”
Clark relieved lolled his head and smiled.
“So… you forgive your jerk alien worshiper?” his cheeks were red.
“There’s nothing to forgive and you’re not a jerk” he replied matter-of-factly.
“Now, we must get clean, dress and go downstairs or else everyone will know
what we did…”
“I think that they know anyways…”
Bruce cocked an eyebrow.
“Yeah…I guess you don’t have to be a detective to figure this…”
It took only five minutes before Bruce found himself freshly washed, dried,
muffled in his dark blue bathrobe and sat on the bed; even his teeth were
brushed. He blinked to get over the…hurricane and saw Clark staring at his
closet’s inside with only a towel covering his wet body from the hips through
the calves.
Bruce followed the streaks of water that slithered slowly the perfect body to
get lost inside the pelvis’ V that he worshipped a couple of minutes ago. He
felt the urge to drink that water drop on Clark’s still erect dark nipple or
the other just above the slope to his groin…
Clark scratched his freshly washed hair and the broad grin in his face as he
turned to him told Bruce that the Man of Steel knew that his lover was
constantly gaping at his body.
“Huh…Bruce, what do you want to wear?”
“I thought that no clothing serves me justice?” he arched an eyebrow and
crossed his arms “or that was before you got what you wanted?” he added slyly.
But then a storm tackled him gently and he was under Clark’s half naked body,
his mock pissed eyes piercing Bruce’s.
“You…you…”
“Yeah?” Bruce challenged him narrowing his eyes and then chuckled.
Clark nuzzled softly his cheek supporting his body on his arms, Bruce’s body
trapped between them.
“I wish I could keep you naked all the time” he whispered in Bruce’s ear
grazing the soft earlobe with his teeth relishing the waves of goose bumps
shaking the younger man’s body. “Yet your naked body is only for me to admire…”
Bruce wrapped his arms around his neck and Clark plunged his lips in the crook
of Bruce’s neck sucking causing his Star’s moans.
“So…” Clark yanked his head, sweat already moisturizing his face, his heavy
eyelids betraying his inner desire; Bruce cupped his face. “What do you want to
wear?”
Bruce let his torso slump on the mattress keeping his arms locked around
Clark’s neck. He closed his eyes and sighed. Clark brushed with his thumps
Bruce’s cheeks.
“My black T-shirt and black jeans” he answered defeated.
Clark kissed softly his lips and tapped the tip of his nose.
“Too Batman-ish…try something lighter. And definitely something long
sleeved…The temperature outside has dropped – we’re in a mountain albeit on an
island” he was already in the closet searching.
“Yeah…” Bruce snorted remaining flat on the mattress with closed eyes. “Why not
a furry coat?” he added in a snarky tone.
“Someone is grumpy: you’re showing your emotions…” Clark teased him in a
singsong tone and then his eyes flashed. “Mmm! Nice…Alfred has made his
programming! There!” he said pulling it out and showing it to Bruce. “Nike ace
pullover, blue with red details!”
Bruce didn’t open his eyes.
“You’re joking!” he snapped. “Blue and red…”
Clark’s eyebrows frowned slightly, he pouted.
“Why? I wear red and blue…”
Bruce snorted.
“Exactly! You wear it! It’s better than walking around with your…RED underwear
in common view…” he sniggered and Clark realizing the teasing mood of his Star
squinted his eyes and lolled his head.
“No lady ever complained…” he arched his eyebrows suggestively and Bruce’s
swift opening of the eyes told him that he felt his grimace.
Bruce realized that his cheeks were hot and surely red; plus, without his
awareness he was supporting his torso on his forearms.
“I’m sure their focus wasn’t on the wrapper but on the candy…” his eyes were
narrow like a prowling cat’s and sparkling.
“Which candy you’re the lucky to unwrap!” Clark licked his lips and watched
with speeding heartbeat Bruce lolling his head backwards letting his neck
stretch begging to be kissed and sucked, his closed eyes urging Clark who was
ready.
“Someone is freakin’ cocky!” Bruce snorted but then smiled. “There’s a dark
brown Nike Ace pullover and dark blue jeans” Bruce’s indifferent voice reminded
Clark of his…difficult mission: dressing Bruce.
So despite his own words Clark began dressing himself in order to postpone
covering Bruce’s body. But the younger man to make Clark’s duty more difficult
relaxed his body flat on the mattress and untied the bathrobe’s belt to push
the fabric on his arms leaving his body completely exposed.
Clark sighed: Bruce’s even breath was making his breasts and abdominals move
slowly, sensually, the cute belly button dancing seductively dizzying the Man
of Steel. Ugh! This was the most demanding job for Superman…yet he had promised
Alfred. So the only way was getting it done as fast as possible.
His gratitude for his super speed was greater than ever when in just half a
minute Bruce was perfectly dressed and groomed without any incident.
Clark heaved him in his arms in bridal style and his nose and mouth were drawn
to Bruce’s neck to suck that intoxicating smell; he had his eyes closed, his
teeth grazing softly but a knock on his calves drove him out of his haze. He
turned surprised and then looked inquiringly at Bruce.
“My transportation...” he said quietly and Clark settled him feathery on the
chair aware that although Bruce liked being in his arms he didn’t want that due
to his disability.
 
Dick was heading to the building where his granny’s apartment was. He was
carrying his school bag and his face was morose: last year he was returning
home by bus with Brian sitting next to him and then held Brian’s hand as they
walked from the stop to their home, carrying his brother’s bag along with his –
Brian’s school bag was always too big and heavy for the eight year old.
His granny insisted on him taking the school bus and waited him at the pavement
under the building to pick him up: she was still scared that Joker would snatch
him again. Dick twitched his lips annoyed: the scum was rotting in Arkham and
he wasn’t afraid so every day returned on foot.
A bike was moving on the side of the road following him yet Dick had no mood to
acknowledge the asshole so kept his pace without raising his eyes.
The horn startled him and he turned ready to snap but upon seeing the driver
goggled.
“What’s up, man?!” Jason tittered. “Yar such a stroppy-ass! I’m followin’ ya
for half an hour and ya stare the cement: ya sniff at me?” a cigarette was
stuck in his mouth and Dick rolled his eyes.
“What are you doing here, Jason?” he asked exasperated.
“Getting’ ya to yar granny safe an’ sound!” he answered pompously. “Ya know
that a good boy like ya shouldna walk alone?”
Dick jerked his head annoyed and frowned.
“Give me a break, smartass! Your school is far from here…”
Jason patted the handles of the bike with pride.
“No problem, babe!”
Dick clenched his teeth.
“Stop playing the big guy! You’re only ten, for fuck’s sake!” Jason’s jubilant
face became grim and Dick regretted his words because when his friend laughed
he reminded him Brian… “You came to show off your bike” his frown became deeper
“your mother bought you a bike?” he inquired disbelievingly.
Jason lolled his head backwards and crossed his arms over the leather jacket he
wore.
“Naaaah! She has her own needs…I thought yar sayings about Batman being dead
an’… I played upon…” he grinned broadly with self-pride.
Dick widened his eyes in disapproval.
“You stole it?!”
Jason rolled his eyes.
“What a dork! And I’d been strollin’ with it in daylight?! I know Gotham’s pigs
aren’t the smartest but still… I worked hard to buy that babe! For months I’ve
been stealing tires an’ sellin’ them.”
Dick looked away and shook his head exasperated.
“And they sold a bike to a ten year old?”
Jason shrugged.
“I love Gotham, dude! Comin’?!” Jason asked impatient. “That bag looks too
heavy…”
Dick licked his lips for a second indecisive and then mounted the bike.
“You’re going to kill us…” the older boy said grudgingly.
“Naaaaah! I’m a responsible rider, babe” he wore the helmet he had hanged from
the handle. “There’s a spare in the case” and after Dick wore it started the
engine “hold on!”
Dick clutched Jason’s waist just a second before the bike gave a jolt and
surged forwards. He rolled his eyes: he was stupid for trusting the driving
skills of a littl’ punk who wanted to play the adult…creep. Yet it was a nice
feeling the world blurring around you giving the impression of escape…
“Stop! Stop!” he cried to his driver’s ear and pinched him in the ribs for
emphasis – something caught the corner of his eye.
Jason halted abruptly and Dick bumped into him holding the younger boy to not
fall.
“Wha’ the fuck?!” Jason snapped. “You want us killed? Ya stupid brat?!”
Dick pinched him harder in the same spot because the helmet thwarted him to
slap the back of Jason’s neck.
“Ouch!”
“I saw something, you dumbass!”
Jason lolled his head to the side.
“So what?”
Dick gritted his teeth and pulled off his helmet exasperated.
“I saw two guys with ski masks threat someone in the alley we passed!”
Jason took off his helmet too and smirked.
“It’s afternoon, man…Robbery at this hour?” he rolled his eyes.
Dick punched him in the shoulder.
“Gotham to Jay, remember! A briefcase always draws attention and crooks…”
“Who cares?” Jason pouted. “Yar granny waits!”
“I care! What if they kill the man?”
Jason crossed his arms.
“What if ya saw wrong?”
But Dick had already dismounted and hanged his school bag at the bike’s handle.
“I’m going to make sure whether you coming or not!”
Jason rolled his eyes and dismounted too.
“Wait!” he called at Dick’s back and he halted turning slowly to him. “Call the
police.”
“It’ll be too late! Come!”
He grabbed his pal’s hand and dragged him along.
“I don’ wanna ruin yar heroic fantasy but we’re kids; what we’re suppose do?”
Dick smirked at him.
“The grand thief is scared?” he jeered him and then made him a silencing
gesture as they reached the entrance of the alley.
Dick was right: two men in ski masks held a man at gunpoint barking to give
them the briefcase. Thankfully, they weren’t bulky and their voices indicated
teens.
He turned to Jason who was fuming.
“Put on your helmet and stay here” he whispered and wore his, grateful that the
helmet glass was dark.
The crooks didn’t have a clue on what hit them when Dick with two summersaults
reached them and kicked the gun from the hand of one tackling his leg into
tossing him on his partner; they formed a mass on the cement, their guns
clinging some feet away and Dick grabbed the victim’s hand.
“Let’s go, sir!”
The well-dressed man ran for it without looking back and Dick did the same but
suddenly his feet stuck on the cement dragging him down: one of the crooks had
grabbed him from the ankle and now was on him.
“Ya mess’d our job, asshole! Ya be sorry, bastard!” his hands grabbed the
helmet to remove it but a deafening click stopped him.
Dick rasping from his heart’s stampede saw Jason holding one of the guns, the
other on his waistband, and pointing at them; the helmet made him look strange
and threatening and Dick smiled more so since the crooks looked really scared.
“Get off, ya lousy horseass sonovabitch!” the younger boy changed his voice and
his usual slang made an impression.
The crook on Dick stood trembling, his hands as his partner’s on the air. Dick
kicked the crook that caught him on the balls and with an elegant jolt stood
next to his friend.
“Nice work, J! Let’s go now!”
Yet the younger boy seemed not listening brushing the gun in his hand, his
breaths swallow with excitement. Dick pulled his elbow gritting his teeth.
“LET’S GO!” he stressed every word and his eyes widened seeing Jason’s finger
hardening on the trigger. Dick felt sweat.
But then police sirens suddenly were fast approaching and Jason seemed to wake
which Dick took advantage of to pull his friend backwards till the exit of the
alley. But as the boys were walking backwards something stopped them.
“Give me the guns!” someone spat at them and the boys looked at the stranger
startled.
The man clenched his teeth impatient, snatched the gun from Jason’s hand and
the other from his belt, wiped their grips and threw the objects at the bags of
garbage that were piled there. He grabbed the boys from the collars and dragged
them towards Jason’s bike.
Dick turned his head and saw police officers swarm the alley. He raised his
eyes to the stranger’s face while Jason thrashed in his grip.
The man released them in front of the bike and Dick noticed that a small Ford
was clumsily halted there. Jason patted exasperated his leather jacket and
pulled his helmet fuming.
“Ya fucker!” he spat at the stranger who smirked at him.
“I get you’re the new Avengers? Gotham edition?” he jeered and Jason kicked him
in the calf. “Easy, boy, easy!” he cackled. “What you would have done, badass,
when cops arrived?” he shook his head seeing the two boys goggling. “Your
friend is a tough nut, huh, Dick?”
Dick frowned not only because the man knew his name but also because he seemed
familiar with his black a bit receding hair, his blue eyes and thick eyebrows.
“Are you both OK?” he asked concerned kneeling before the boys.
Jason cursed and spat at the cement but Dick was looking intensely at the man.
“You were watching us: who are you?” he demanded coldly.
The stranger licked his lips and nodded.
“You’re right; you don’t know me. Tony Zucco.”
Dick’s eyes widened.
“My father’s coach?!”
The man smiled and his eyes warmed.
“I’m glad you know this… I had the honor to work with your father… You look a
lot like him.”
Jason rolled his eyes: he didn’t like that man and Dick’s amazed look was
annoying.
“Ya got to be kiddin’ me!” the ten year old fumed.
Zucco stood up and walked to the car next to the bike and opened the door.
“C’me on, boys, I’ll drive you home.”
Jason put his foot on the cement, crossed his arms and set his jaw.
“I ainta go anywhere with ya, dude! C’me, Dick!” he mounted his bike.
Zucco cocked an eyebrow.
“Aren’t you a bit young to drive a bike?”
Jason showed him his middle finger and the adult laughed. He saw Dick ready to
wear his helmet.
“I’d like to see your granny again, Dick, and share memories from the days with
your father…If you want of course”
Dick lowered his helmet and gave it to Jason; then he took his school bag
determined despite the younger boy’s rage.
“Yar kiddin’, man! Ya don’t know that punk!”
But Dick was already in front of the open door.
“Jay, you know his name in case I get lost” he looked at the stranger’s smiling
face. “Which I don’t believe…See ya!”
Zucco grinned at Jason and waved at him as returned to the driver’s seat. Jason
shook his head disapprovingly.
“As if we’re sure this is his real name…” he wore his helmet determined to
follow them. “Jerk!”
Dick had his elbow on the car’s window and watched the street to their
apartment building; Zucco was casting glances at him smiling warmly.
“You know, Dick; I wanted to come earlier…” he huffed. “To the funeral…by the
way…I’m sorry for your family. It was horrible…” he shook his head.
Dick lowered his eyes and stared at his palms.
“Why you didn’t come?”
Zucco turned to him and gave a crooked smile but didn’t answer, just looked at
the side mirror.
“You know that your badass friend follows us?”
Dick nodded.
“To make sure you won’t do anything amiss.”
Zucco chuckled.
“I wouldn’t dare! With two blocks that fight criminals” he made his voice
grave. “One with impressive athletic moves and the other with his ease with
guns…” he shook his head. “I’d be completely stupid, huh?”
But Dick had stayed at the ‘impressive athletic moves’. He turned staring at
him eagerly.
“You mean that?”
“What?” Zucco asked pretending ignorance.
“You saw my movements and found them impressive?” the boy asked hungrily.
Zucco nodded.
“Uhu…You have your father’s style and I detect his talent…” he locked his
fervent eyes with Dick’s moved ones.
Jason seeing that the Ford was slowed to park in front of Dick’s building
remained a bit far but didn’t leave till he saw Zucco opening the door for Dick
and Ms. Turner approaching the car.
Dick saw puzzled his granny frowning at Zucco and grabbing her grandson from
the hand as if afraid of the man. Zucco half closed his eyes amused and
grinned.
“Hello, Ms. Turner! So glad to see you again after all these years.”
“What are you doing here?” she asked aggressively her grip on Dick’s hand
tightening.
Zucco blinked innocently and pouted.
“See my nephew, of course…My cousin’s boy” he smiled to the boy and shrugged as
if saying to him that this was the reason he didn’t come to the funeral. As
they turned to the building entrance, Zucco smirked at Ms. Turner back as she
dragged the boy inside. “It was a pleasure for me too!”
“What’s the matter?” Dick asked his granny as soon as the doors of the lift
closed.
Ms. Turner took some breaths and rubbed her forehead.
“I don’t want you near that man AND I told you to take the school bus” she
realized from Dick’s frown that she was yelling and closed her eyes; she cupped
her grandson’s cheeks. “I’m sorry, sweetie…”
“He’s my dad’s cousin?”
Ms. Turner rolled her eyes.
“Yes, he is” she huffed desperately.
The boy narrowed his eyes.
“And his trainer. He just wants to see me: why is that so wrong, granny?”
The lift clinked and the doors opened. Ms. Turner looked Dick in the eyes.
“After twelve years?” she pointed to him and led the way to their apartment.
 
The alarm clock on the nightstand read two in the morning.
Bruce was ‘trapped’ in Clark’s hot body in a tight cuddle, one arm of steel
wrapping his back and the other his chest, making his breast the pillow for
Bruce’s head.
Clark’s relaxed, slow breaths brushing Bruce’s lips as the younger man watched
his closed eyes in sleeping. He knew that Clark wouldn’t sleep unless he slept
first and lowered his vitals in sleeping mode and then Clark succumbed and fell
asleep. Bruce knew that Superman didn’t need much sleep but he cherished sleep
when happy; on the other hand, Bruce couldn’t sleep for the same reason…
Joy…Or anyway good mood, a flying feeling in his chest and…he liked to watch
the night sky from the large rectangular balcony door of his room. The sky was
covered with heavy clouds but Bruce loved it as much as the clear sky they
enjoyed during dinner and afterwards. He couldn’t sleep because he replayed
that evening.
The gathering of his friends around the square glass table on the great
balcony. Apart from the secret solar lighting in the titanium-glass railing
Tony had set floating rectangular lanterns of many colors.
Tony…Bruce hardly muffled a laugh seeing again Ironman – yes, Ironman, the red
and gold metallic armor – entering the balcony holding a large platter with
sternly positioned pieces of pastitsio and…an apron covering his torso through
his thighs.
“Ladies are suckers for DAT hot body in apron…” he winked to him. “Only apron…
And poor Tony thought that apron and super sexy Ironman would melt a cruel,
punishing heart…”
Pepper had arched her eyebrows.
“You’re in the right path, cowboy…keep trying”.
Alfred had served them and took Hero from Bruce’s lap to put him on the floor
where a bowl with cat food awaited him.
“No petting while eating, sir” he had pointed to him firmly and poured some
antiseptic to Bruce’s hands.
“You’ll eat with us, right?” he asked worried that Alfred’s butler training
would take him away but the kind man grinned.
“A good butler never disobeys his young master, right?”
The night was magic: the deep blue sky was cloudless and filled with cheerful
stars that surrounded the slim slice of the moon. A light breeze made
pleasantly cold the environment and more intense the scent of the pine wood
that covered slope. The tittering of birds and the distant sound of the sea
reached their balcony. Bruce closed his eyes rejoicing but returned hastily to
his surroundings when felt Selina’s sly eyes.
“I hope you enjoyed as much as he…” she winked.
Despite his training Bruce almost lost his fork.
“Wh…what?”
“You’re still flashed, kiddo and he glows…”
Bruce let his fork and brought his palms over his cheeks which indeed were
still hot. Selina chuckled.
“He always glows…” was the only remark Bruce made glancing at Clark who was
talking with Alfred hopefully about other things than that.
Selina twitched her lips and snorted.
“Yeah…” she raised an eyebrow smugly. “I sensed some vibrations earlier…” she
whispered slyly.
“Greece is a country of earthquakes…” Bruce answered nonchalant and Selina’s
eyebrow cocked more.
“Centered in your bathroom…” she stressed each word and Bruce gulped, his face
red hot, and his friend winked and nodded. “Go, kiddo: give the super-hunk a
run for his money…”
Bruce’s eyes remained widened in embarrassment and Selina grinned broadly
rubbing her friend’s back, Superman eyeing his Star as much flashed having
overheard.
When the food on the table was finished Alfred stood to bring the dessert when
Tony suggested have their dessert on the beach. During their stay almost every
night went to the beach to eat ice cream.
“I’ll take Bruce!” Clark hurried to stand beside Bruce.
Tony widened his eyes.
“Noooo kidding! That’s a surprise!”
“I’ll take Hero too!” Clark reddened and Bruce took Hero.
“No problem…I’ll have the two lovely ladies for myself…if I’m not stabbed on
the road…” he rolled his eyes.
“Or you ditch us on a tree branch…” Pepper snapped with her arms crossed.
As many nights as Bruce had spent on the beach always found them magical…
Tony gathered logs and Clark lit a nice fire with his heat vision. They savored
their triangle shaped desserts and then Tony did something to his wristwatch
and music played in crystal quality.
The sly billionaire took Pepper and began dancing, winking at him.
“Mr. Stark, I think you brought us here on purpose to avoid your punishment!”
Pepper remarked and Tony widened his eyes in mock hurt.
“What punishment? You mean the one including a pair of handcuffs and
blindfold?”
Pepper punched him in the shoulder.
Bruce chuckled and urged Clark to dance with Selina who was tickling Hero’s
belly trying to evade the kitten’s paws. For a couple of minutes he watched
them dancing but soon Hero bored of chasing Selina ran to him to resume his
game.
And then he heard it although Superman was floating to him. Selina took Hero in
her hands and Clark stretched his hand for Bruce to take. He wanted to dance
with him and Tony with Pepper had stopped their dance to see.
He had shaken his head smiling.
“I can’t walk, Clark…”
Clark pouted and cocked an eyebrow.
“I’m not walking either…” he gestured at his floating feet and Bruce gave him
his hand.
Clark pressed him on his body and twirled them in the melody; Bruce was staring
constantly in Clark’s adoring eyes, his smile making his eyes sparkle
cheerfully. But Bruce couldn’t relax his face because he didn’t want to lose
any detail from Clark’s beautiful face that the reflections of dancing flames
on it made him think of a powerful god whom every man and woman loved so
desperately that killed themselves for his sake.
Clark had frowned as if suspecting Bruce’s thoughts and Bruce hastened to
loosen his intense stare and smile, brushing Clark’s raven locks that the sea
salty breeze slowly waved. He felt Clark’s arms tighten more on his waist and
let his head lean on his shoulder as the sound of the splashing waves
accompanied ideally the song’s melody.
A lightning cracked the horizon followed by a faint thunder…the storm was on
the other side of the sea but would come to them soon…
Bruce looked at the sleeping man-god: so beautiful!
A sudden wind shocked the trees and Bruce saw the sky webbed by lightning. The
open window was already bringing the smell of rain in his nostrils before
sparse tap-tap announced the coming of the rain. Bruce loved the sound and
smell of rain; exactly like when it rained in the Manor.
The temperature dropped very fast and that woke Clark who pecked and nuzzled
Bruce’s cheek before hurrying to close the window.
“Leave it” he said and Clark complied: he knew other ways to keep his Star
warm.
Clark was very glad to return to the bed resuming his cuddling tighter this
time capturing Bruce’s lips.
“You love the rain, huh?” Clark smiled. “Me, too, I remember in Smallville when
I was a kid I loved to stand under the rain relishing the smell of wet grass;
my Ma was calling me inside despite the fact I couldn’t get sick…” he smiled.
Bruce remained silent looking at Clark’s face and the older man cupped his face
searching his eyes for answers.
“When I was under the debris in the factory” he said calm “when I knew that I
had only some seconds of life…”
Clark couldn’t listen to this, it pained so much and the rain raised so much
his spirits that he didn’t want anything to spoil it. He kissed Bruce’s
forehead.
“Don’t think about that, Bruce…”
“The only think I was regretting was that I wouldn’t have the chance to see my
loved ones again… You… see you a last time to explain…to tell you…”
“Sssss…”
“Clark” he whispered determined “I…I think…I love you…”
Clark nestled Bruce’s head in his chest caressing his locks. He knew how hard
was for Bruce to say that… and that was a feat for that man to open his
battered heart to a stranger, Clark, and break the chains into loving him.
Clark closed his eyes and sighed realizing the risk for Bruce: how disastrous
would be if his emotions were betrayed. No…Clark definitely, absolutely could
promise that he’d never betray that love.
 
“I think you should strike Bruce Wayne…” Bagdana said slyly approaching
Darkseid who was sitting at his throne having returned to his real appearance.
The dark god raised an eyebrow disbelievingly.
“You argued that attacking him wouldn’t serve my goal; you claimed that
revealing myself to Superman by killing his mate would lead to…” he cackled
“failure.”
Bagdana looked at him unfazed from his irony.
“This assault, believe me, will serve your goal perfectly…” his eyes glimmered
red for the first time since his fall and Darkseid sniffed intrigued clenching
his throne’s armrest.
***** Chapter 7 *****
“Oooooh! Haaaaalllooooo, my fine fellow loo-loonies!” Joker made a deep bow in
front of the cafeteria bench where a sturdy orderly gave the trays with the
inmates’ breakfast.
Most of the other inmates goggled at him with uninterested, blank eyes and just
continued their breakfast eating mechanically like robots. They were chronic
patients who didn’t know Joker.
Joker giggled.
“Uuuuuuu! I…LOVE an intelligent audience!” he winked to the Afro American
orderly and pouted his lips to the offered tray.
However there were some who knew him. Victor Zsasz who after his unfortunate
encounter with Batman was brought to Arkham, twitched his lips in disgust and
took his toast chewing it glaring at the clown. Jonathan Crane who had chosen
an isolated corner in the cafeteria frowned hearing Joker’s voice but didn’t
make any movement trying to stay unnoticed.
He knew that the insane criminal was in Arkham but he didn’t believe that there
would be an idiot who would let the mad dog out. He smirked: leave it to that
incompetent bitch, Quinzel, to do the blunder. His eyes rolled on their own:
where they found that cow? He cast some sideways glances at the jester: he
looked different without his make-up, more normal, yet Dr. Crane knew better.
Crane saw with the corner of his eyes some other psychos, Joker’s former goons
with history of mental illness, approach their boss and that was preposterous!
They couldn’t seriously permit Joker socializing with his goons preparing who
knows what!
Thankfully, the orderlies came and took the goons to another section of the
cafeteria and Crane was happy for Joker’s downcast lips.
“C’me oooon, good people! It’s a reeeeunion: have a heart!”
But the African Americal cafeteria employ glowered at him and without a word
stuck the tray on his hands. Joker giggled and lolled his head towards the man.
“That’s myyyyyy guy!”
He hopped and danced crossing the cafeteria holding the tray and sniffing the
air.
“Mmmm…the smell of freedom…” but then he pouted and frowned. “Naaah! That’s air
freshener, disinfectant aaaaaand loony deodorant!” he lolled his head to the
side. “Nice!”
Crane continued chewing his food indifferent yet cold sweat washed him as with
the corner of his eyes saw Joker’s asylum shoes approaching his table. He knew
about Joker’s nonsense with Wayne and the clown’s obsession – who didn’t learn
this shit? Also, he was aware of the way this madman reacted when someone
touched his “spouse” and he was the only one in here who did that…
He felt a cold shiver running his spine as the jester stopped right at his
table. Surely, they must watch that dangerous scum; they couldn’t have just
unleashed him and let him unchecked? Could they? Something inside him smirked
and snorted for his panic: you don’t have to fear that stupid clown, Jonathan;
you’re extraordinary after all – and even if you’re not I’m here…
“Is this seat taken?” Joker asked playfully and looked around; he raised his
eyebrows and jumped on the seat. “I hope I didn’t sat on your imaginary littl’
friend, huh?” he gave an innocent smile that didn’t fool Crane.
“Go away…” Crane hissed without looking at him. “You’re not wanted!”
Joker jerked to the back of the chair and barked.
“Dat’s a waaaarm welcoming!” and then though he was laughing his eyes glowed
menacingly. “Nooow…” he smacked his lips “cut the buuulshit, Craaany!” he began
chewing his toast nonchalant.
Joker knew that his cute shrink’s eyes were on him watching his every movement
from the one side mirror of the interior window – the stupid paintings there
were a really pathetic front. And Stark’s stupid tricks would knock him out as
soon as he stretched an aggressive finger on anyone. So he chewed noisily his
food – he needed to be sly as a viper.
Crane felt the hostility emanating from Joker’s body and shrank in his chair.
However Joker quite casually as if speaking with an old friend leaned on his
elbow and stabbed him with his icy cold eyes.
“I know you were with those motherfuckers who took Brucey” he addressed him,
his nasal voice in business matter and looked at the reinforced glass window
seeing at the yard. “Niiice view, huh?” he exclaimed cheerfully and lolled his
head to the side glaring at Crane. “Youuuuu” he took a forkful of scrambled
eggs “del-icious food, huh? Wayne reaaaaally cares fooor pooooor looooonies,
huh? Mmmm…” he squinted “one loooony” he pointed his plastic fork to himself.
“Youuuuu” he hissed suddenly though his lips were upwards in a broad smile
“helped them torture my babe: youuuu tortured him ‘n’ I knoooow you enjoyed it
…”
Crane’s eyes widened in fear, hearing the rapid changes of Joker’s tone and
sensing the imminent danger.
“You haaaad MY boy defenseless at youuuur whims…Mmmm…tied ‘n’ unable to move
‘n’ naked” he licked his lips, his eyes lost in a dreamy expression. “And that
del-ICIOUS spectacle is only for my charming eyes!”
Crane clenched the rim of his chair but the terror he was experiencing cast him
in a thick cloud from where something unfazed came out.
“I didn’t fuck your boy, if that’s what bothers you” he answered leaning
towards Joker with eyes filled with glee.
Joker giggled lolling his head backwards.
“I liiiiike good jokes, budyyy!” he yelled for the guards who were watching
clenching their guns; he smiled at Crane. “If you had, you’d have been already
dead meat” he twitched his eyebrows suggestively and Crane realized that
something sharp was pricking his groin under the table. “Youuuu see,
‘geeeenius’ Starky believes that he can stop me before killing by monitoring my
vitals – yeeeeet why on Earth should something change when I kill?! GOOD ONE,
huh?” he cackled aloud “Laugh before I rip your filthy guts out…” he whispered
and Crane obeyed. “I was sure you didn’t fuck him ‘cause you’re too pervert for
that…” he lolled his head to the side and rolled his eyes “you’re a shrink
after all!”
Crane frowned; after his initial shock from feeling the sharp object on his
groin he was calm, calculating the audacious mad worm who dared to ridicule
him.
Joker took his juice and sipped.
“Then what do you want?’’ Crane asked enraged.
Joker placed his foam cup on the table and tapped his fingers.
“Buuuuuut what else? Hmmm… I don’t have anything to lose anyways: hundred or
hundred one doesn’t make a difference, right?” he made a short council with
himself and shrugged “Kill you!” Crane opened his mouth to shout but Joker
hushed him. “If you scream you’ll die before they move a finger – look at
them…” he pouted gesturing at them with a lopsided glance and nodded with
sympathy “they’re worth-LESS.”
Crane got the message: they were indeed pathetic. And they letting Joker
approach people like this made it more evident. So he had to play it cleverly.
“You said that if I had fucked Wayne I’d been already dead” he pointed with his
serious voice drowning his trademark scorn. “I didn’t.”
Joker scratched his hair and leaned his head.
“Right” he nodded thoughtful. “But the other things you did to him are sicker
so…we end up to the same” he laughed. “Only I do sick things to Brucey…” his
eyes flashed.
Crane felt the sharp edge already ripping his skin yet the strong man inside
him stared nonchalant at Joker and smirked.
“Then you’re not interested to learn what I’ve learned about that curious boy-
toy…” he dragged his words arching his eyebrows suggestively.
Joker narrowed his eyes: of course he was interested. He was suspecting his
spouse’s big secret but he wanted to learn everything concerning Brucey’s
mystery to be sure: why that whacko lady, Morticia, did all these to get him?
Fine, the lady with the gravedigger style might have wanted ransom as Stark and
Freddy testified but this didn’t explain Crane’s part in all this… He wanted to
unravel the mystery, possess the knowledge and then gain control of the game
imposing his rules.
Crane smiled wryly even though the sharp object still grazed him; he could read
the madman’s interest: Joker wasn’t stupid after all. He definitely smelled
that something wasn’t right… Scarecrow yanked arrogantly his head as the
pricking feeling left his groin.
Joker took his tray and stood stabbing Crane’s smug eyes; he didn’t want anyone
to suspect from a prolonged stay with Crane. He had planned to gut him in a
blink of the eye yet…he was a man of improvisation not plans…
“We’ll talk soon, Cran-y…” he leaned to him. “Word to anyone about
our…neighborly chatting an’ my…boys” he gestured with his manic eyes to his
former goons “will tell you my newest jokes…” he winked and walked away.
Crane twitched his upper lip in disgust and contempt but he was elated: with
his genius could easily use both Joker and Wayne to his benefit.
 
“You know Alfred is watching us?” Selina mumbled to Bruce and he nodded.
“From the living room’s window…” he didn’t turn to not embarrass Alfred who
always taught him that it wasn’t kind to stare at people.
“He’d prefer to take you wherever you wanted with the jeep” she petted Hero who
lay on Bruce’s lap.
“I know but I needed to stroll” he shook his head “even with the chair: Clark
was to call him an hour ago but he didn’t and that worried him: maybe some
emergency occurred or…he forgot him or got fed up with him…no, that wasn’t a
possibility... He blushed from his arrogant thought and seeing Selina’s
suspicious stare added hastily: “And…Alfred needs some rest from taking care of
me and you too.”
Selina rolled her eyes.
“You’re kidding me, right? These are the best vacations I’ve ever had!”
Bruce smiled slyly.
“And the most boring…”
Selina narrowed her eyes and put her finger on her lips.
“Hm…I wouldn’t call Kostas or Argiris boring…” Bruce laughed and Selina
shrugged. “Handsome, cheerful boys eager to be hospitable to a lone
tourist…Though things got more interesting with Argiris…”
Bruce winked.
“That explains your sudden interest in fishing and beekeeping; the hours you
were spending cleaning the fishnets and beehives…”
Selina pouted and widened her eyes innocently.
“You know how much I like helping my fellow human beings…”
Bruce snorted.
“Especially the handsome ones of male gender…”
She twisted her lip.
“…and learning new things!” she added exasperated and then rolled her eyes.
“What’s a girl to do?” she shrugged as they followed the path inside the
forest. “You found your mate, now it’s us, singles’ turn…”
Bruce nodded and grabbed her hand.
“You’re right…” he smiled looking up at her. “Do you think Hero will start
looking too?” the kitten stared at him puzzled and Selina grabbed the animal
from the armpits and kissed him.
“He is too young for that!”
Bruce lolled his head at the side.
“Imagine Alfred having 3-4 little Heroes rubbing at his legs!” he chuckled and
Selina did the same returning Hero to his lap.
“Oh! That will drive him nuts! Not that he doesn’t love Hero…” the kitten
meowed his agreement.
Bruce closed his eyes and inhaled deeply the cool, clean air of the forest that
had the pleasant scent of the recent rain. It was so refreshing!
“It’s cold after the rain – it began looking like serious Fall… And just two
days ago we ate at the balcony…” Selina said and patted Bruce’s light jacket.
“Are you warm enough with this?”
Her friend tilted his head looking exasperated at her.
“Not you too, Sel… You know that I spent all my life in the cold in only a
shirt.”
She nodded with blank eyes.
“A ragged, dirty, bloodstained shirt…”
Bruce gave her a tight lips grin and took her hand in his.
“Exactly; so with that jacket I’m more than warm and Alfred wouldn’t have sent
me out unprotected, huh?” he slightly tightened his hold on her hand and
blinked. “Sel, why you hid it from me?”
She narrowed her eyes, truly surprised.
“I don’t understand.”
He shook his head and pressed his lips.
“When you were 10 years old a nice couple was to adopt you…”
Her eyes bulged and she jerked her hand away.
“You’re wrong!” she snapped but she knew that it was futile; Bruce always
double checked things. “How you know?” she demanded in a low voice but snorted.
“Of course…We should have taken your PC: you’re really dangerous with that!”
Bruce took again her hand and Hero rubbed his head at Selina’s palm purring;
Bruce looked at her encouraged by Hero’s help.
“The paperwork for your adoption was ready, they adored you but then you ruined
everything being aggressive to them and misbehaving and they adopted another
kid” he locked his eyes with hers despite her effort to avoid him.
“Why were you researching me?” she demanded coldly, really pissed with him. “Is
it again that stupid obsession to find my parents, right? I told you: I don’t
care! Why you don’t respect my wish? Stop poking your nose into things that
aren’t your business!” she withdrew her hand and turned her back really fuming.
Bruce closed his eyes; the ‘aren’t your business’ part really hurt but he
understood that Selina was trying to divert the discussion.
“Aren’t my business?” he asked calmly. “They lived in Metropolis and would have
taken you there so you misbehaved to fuck up your adoption…” his eyes pierced
her back taking in her head’s slight motion to turn to him. “Because if they
took you there you wouldn’t be able to see me…” he concluded softly.
His chair moved closer to her and he touched her forearm.
“They were really nice people: the girl they finally adopted has a perfect life
with them…” his voice was cracked “and the reports say that you as well were
happy in their company” he huffed and shook his head. “You could have had a
happy childhood, Sel” he lowered his eyes and petted Hero who was licking his
palm to prompt him. “A good, loving family…”
Selina let a growl and turned swiftly squatting before him; her eyes were
flashing angrily.
“You were the only family I ever needed and I need! And I wouldn’t ever choose
a childhood without you, even perfect as you imagine it! I’d never abandon
you…” her loud voice dropped “alone…to suffer alone…worse from my absence…”
Bruce closed his eyes and Selina cupped his face “everyone knows that you don’t
separate two siblings…” she pressed her lips.
Bruce opened his eyes and kissed her palm: they weren’t real siblings but their
bond was as good or better.
“I wouldn’t exchange a night behind our garbage bin watching you eating your
sandwich…smiling at me… with a life as their kid.”
He nodded: the truth was that he didn’t know how much he’d have lasted without
Selina there every night yet it was too big a sacrifice…
“Still…”
Selina placed her fingertips on his lips to silence him.
“I know you wouldn’t abandon me either…whatever the price.”
Bruce’s eyes sparkled: once he did, for two years – two horrible years.
“Only to protect me from that asshole, Al Ghul…” she answered to his thought
and widened her eyes “and I know it was painful for you too.”
“You’re more than I deserve, Sel…” he gazed at the green scenery “If I knew
then I’d have urged you to forget me and go with these people and live a
beautiful life because, honestly, what you did, what you sacrificed for my
sake, was too much…” he locked eyes with her and caressed her cheek “incredibly
great, unbelievable, remarkable, awe inspiring…” he kissed her cheek.
She gave a crooked grin and lolled her head.
“I didn’t want anything to change…I couldn’t imagine my life without you, I
couldn’t leave you behind because…it hurt” she squinted. “Only the thought
hurt…my chest…my mind” she bit her lips and huffed “I was bonded with you from
the first moment…”
Bruce closed his eyes and touched his forehead to hers; he inhaled because it
was difficult to say what he intended to.
“The alley behind the Opera House…The anniversary of my parents’ murders when I
sneaked out to lay that withered white rose…” he felt Selina’s eyes bulge: it
was her secret and till now he didn’t want to reveal that he knew. “You saw
what Chill did…and for that you killed him.”
Their eyes locked again.
“I thought you didn’t figure…” Selina whispered and laughed. “Stupid
girl…You’re a detective after all…”
Bruce hugged her and rubbed her back.
“At first I thought that you saw me at the alley behind Dolcetto but slowly I
connected the dots: we met a night after the incident and you knew who I was –
my face was known yet in the state I was then I wasn’t recognizable so only if
you had seen me in the alley you would realize. Also, your eyes when you were
looking at me…”
Selina coughed.
“I was too obvious, huh?”
Bruce shrugged.
“Or I was prone to attribute every sign to what Chill did since it haunted me…”
he pressed his lips and his stare became more intense. “I’m sorry you had to
see that…”
But Selina tightened her grip on Bruce’s cheeks.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t the Catwoman yet to break that sonovabitch’s bones and save
you…”
Bruce laughed and Selina followed.
“We’re still those helpless, stubborn, desperately-loving-each-other kids!” he
chuckled.
Selina closed her eyes and shook her head huffing.
“And I still love it, kiddo!” she exclaimed. “Mmm…and this year we’ll get the
best Christmas ever!”
“No…” Bruce replied serious. “No Christmas will be better than those you gave
me that year in your attic…”
Selina looked at him and kissed his cheek.
“Alone against the whole world…” she smiled; her heart beating heavily on the
memory. “And then the stars glowing after the miraculous black out…”
“Alfred’s food you brought me without knowing…”
Hero meowed and rubbed his head to their chins purring.
“Hero will be celebrating with us again…” Selina said tipping the kitten’s pink
nose.
Bruce caressed the animal’s head and the purring became louder.
“It’s like a friend came back… I know he’s not the same kitten…yet…”
Selina nodded.
“It’s like we started from where we left it…”
All of a sudden Hero jolted and upon landing on the dirt ran through the
bushes. Selina startled jerked up and Bruce turned his chair towards the bushes
worried.
“There might be foxes lurking…” he said and Selina ran at the same direction.
“I know!” she replied and seeing Bruce following: “stay here! I’ll be right
back with the fugitive!” her smile was radiant and Bruce reflected it though it
felt bad for staying behind.
He tried to follow her with the eyes but in an instant she was lost. He frowned
and punched the armrests huffing irritated. He growled and made his chair move
following the path to the glade opposite the way his friends went: Selina would
find him easily there or he would hear her returning and meet her.
It was beautiful there, so peaceful…Of course, it wasn’t the first afternoon he
was coming here with his friends. His entire body felt elated and calm; the
bushes, the trees with their intertwined branches, the loud birdsong, the humid
smell the rain had left over the nature…
He was happy and calm here but he knew he had to return to Gotham…He wanted to
return to his city. He yanked his head and gazed at the clear blue of the sky,
a few fluffy clouds lazily slithering to meet the sun that was still shining
though the evening wasn’t too far. He closed his eyes and let the sun caress
his face and the clean air strengthen his injured lung…
He heard the echo of Clark’s crystal laughter as he had taken him in his arms
and lifted him to a branch to see a nest fool with young birds. Bruce had
touched gingerly with the tip of his finger one of them and chuckled when the
bird bit him.
“Their mother will be scared seeing us here” he said to Clark and he arched an
eyebrow.
“Not to mention attacking us!” an angry bird flew frantically around them and
Clark covered him from the aggressive beak.
He had grabbed him again but hadn’t returned him to the ground but placed him
in another, uninhabited branch. Superman dressed in loose pants and a white T-
shirt captured his lips passionately, sucking and caressing his mouth with his
tongue. He was floating around him and Bruce couldn’t hold his laughter even
through the kiss because their spectacle was so funny…Like two bizarre,
oversized, ugly birds – literally, lovebirds…
He chuckled even now on the memory. It was far better than remembering that
video Vale had published almost three months ago and since was reposted
everywhere; everyone learning Superman’s soft spot for him. He wasn’t afraid of
facing the relentless gossip or Superman’s enemies but it could endanger the
people around him and jeopardize his secret: having to defend himself and
others might force him to reveal his true skills and identity.
He frowned without tensing visibly; he sensed a change at his surroundings. He
yanked his head supposedly to gaze at the trees but in reality to scan the
area.
Though Bruce already knew it, jolted from surprise seeing a lean man sprawled
on a tree branch. The stranger was dressed in forest green old style leather
leggings and a loose tunic of the same color; he lay on a thick branch
supporting his back on the tree trunk and having one leg upon another; he held
a pine needle and chewed it. His black eyed stare was on Bruce and a devilish
smile carved half his face.
Bruce held his heart and rasped trying to calm his breath from the supposed
surprise but inside he was calculating the sudden presence that felt so odd: it
was ridiculous but he felt like the nymph Daphne when she came across Apollo in
the forest; only the God of Sun was blond and this man had black greasy hair
that reached his shoulders reminding more of Pan and…
He mentally shook his head for his thoughts: he read too many ancient Greek
myths during his staying and…well…he was strolling an isolated Greek forest.
“Kalispera” he greeted the stranger who regarded him with a cocked eyebrow and
interest but without changing his lax demeanor.
“The Greek word for ‘good afternoon’…” the man frowned. “Mmm…how ‘bout sticking
to English?”
“So you’re not a local” Bruce remarked and the stranger gave a broad grin and
regarded him more interested.
“So you’re a clever boy, huh? Why asking directly when you can snatch your
answer, right? Of course, I wouldn’t consider it clever strolling alone in a
forest, especially with your history…” Bruce frowned. “Except if you hoped to
meet one of my Greek counterparts…” he chuckled.
“I’m not alone” Bruce answered.
The black haired man propped himself up with a swift movement and let his legs
dangle from the branch.
“Yeah! You had that hot stuff with you and your cute kitten but they left you
alone and that’s bad…”
Bruce pressed his lips not bothering to hide his concern: Clark had equipped
his chair with some defensive measures just in case and he could use them
without betraying the alien origin of the chair since Tony Stark, the inventor
was his friend.
“You know who I am and you’re watching me…” he narrowed his eyes giving a
slight worried and angry tremor in his voice – he wanted to appear frightened
but irritated as well.
The man shrugged his shoulders and looked around playfully.
“Don’t tell me you’re afraid of me, Bruce…” he huffed amused raising his
upturned palms to the air.
Bruce squinted, lolling his head to the side.
“Should I?”
The stranger pointed his index at him laughing and Bruce couldn’t help but
imagining him with white paint all over his face.
“Interesting specimen, you are…Ummm…I start understanding them now…”
Bruce on his part didn’t understand and that annoyed him, which had no problem
showing; he turned his chair towards the clearings’ exit using the control
screen to not betray the mind control aspect. Although he had his back turned
to the man, Bruce could sense his frowning and… He jolted startled as if he
hadn’t expected the man’s reappearance in front of him, again on a branch:
really odd things, Bruce frowned: a ninja assassin sent by Talia?
But then Bruce heard it before the branch crunched and the bizarre man fell on
a bush: he chuckled and saw the man’s lips twitching upwards.
“I’m glad I’m entertaining you…” the man spat in his strange accent that Bruce
could connect with only another one’s and with a thud his not-so-random
acquaintance vanished to reappear in another branch.
Although Bruce had already spotted him, looked around puzzled till the man
cleared his throat revealing where was he. He patted the branch where he sat.
“Better now…” he muttered and turned his eyes to Bruce. “Nice chair! Superman
made, huh?”
Bruce knitted his eyebrows and narrowed his eyes.
“Who are you and what do you want?”
The man scratched his nape and tilted his head to the side staring lopsided at
Bruce who sensed that the stranger was puzzled from something – maybe the odd
presence tried to do something because Bruce felt the Black Butterfly on his
chest slightly vibrating.
“I touched a sensitive spot, huh? Humans are so strange…” he hunched. “Sorry, I
didn’t think you’re keeping your affair with him a secret!”
The Black Butterfly vibrated again and Bruce discerned again a frustrated
grimace in the strange man’s face.
“Why I can’t penetrate your mind?” the man asked completely casual as if saying
the most common thing.
“What?!” Bruce exclaimed. “How dare you!”
The man tipped his lips puzzled.
“Ooops! The ‘penetrate’ was a wrong choice of word…” he raised his eyebrows
“understandably…” he shook his head “with your penetrationhistory…”
Bruce didn’t reply just pressed his lips, set his jaw and steered the chair to
move to the opposite direction.
“You know a relative of mine!” the stranger hastened to yell reemerging once
again in front of Bruce this time standing with his hands crossed, ‘startling’
him.
“Stop doing that!” Bruce exclaimed. “And I don’t know any relative of yours”
though he could think of someone…
The stranger was dead serious now piercing Bruce’s eyes with his, enhancing
Bruce’s awareness that he was trying again to read him.
“Because we aren’t truly relatives so we don’t have any resemblance.”
Bruce closed his eyes and rubbed the bridge of his nose shaking his head tired.
“I don’t have time or mood for this game, sir…I’ve got to return.”
“You know Thor!” the stranger said. “He is, let’s say, my brother.”
Bruce huffed: what was that now? He looked at him.
“I don’t know him” he stressed each word “I just happened to see him once or
twice with Tony – nothing else” he shrugged. “So, I don’t know why you came
here but I’m afraid that it was fruitless.”
The man walked casually to him and Bruce withdrew in his chair that reading his
will moved backwards. The man’s black eyes flashed focusing intensely on
Bruce’s face.
“If I wanted to hurt you, you wouldn’t have the chance even to blink…” he
hissed quite serious and Bruce snorted inwardly. “So don’t flinch! You say that
you met Thor once or twice yet my dear” his eyebrows arched sarcastically
“brother is fascinated with you as the entire Asgard – and I know it’s not due
only to your sex appeal…”
Bruce gritted his teeth.
“So why?” the man narrowed his eyes. “What is it that makes them so charmed by
you?”
Bruce rolled his eyes and ran his hands through his locks.
“You’re kidding me… I don’t understand what you’re saying but if you’re Thor’s
brother you can ask him” he shrugged.
The man smiled wryly.
“Let’s say that neither big ol’ Thor nor the other Asgardians trust me much…”
he chuckled. “Fancy that…my dear Bruce.”
Bruce nodded, pouting.
“So you came here to…” he squinted “how you said it? Penetrate my mind to solve
the mystery and then?” he frowned. “Do what?” he paled as a victim of so many
atrocities would have done.
The man crossed his arms and touched his lips thoughtful.
“I’m not a pure evil God…” the man answered and Bruce arched an eyebrow. “You
see” he smacked his lips “I like to cause…quality turbulence…stirring the
waters and spoiling the perfect lives of the bulgy and handsome Asgardians.”
Bruce could easily discern the grudge and the scoff of the strange man –
possibly because he was quite different from Thor and by extension the other
Asgardians; maybe he was mocked for his appearance?
“You’re Loki…” Bruce regarded his acquaintance with collected eyes. “The God of
mischief and fraud…”
Loki turned his eyes upwards huffing frustrated.
“Why not of cleverness, unconventional beauty, resourcefulness? Even Hermes
enjoys better handling and he stole his brother’s cattle when just an infant!
And I in fact was an adorable infant!” he arched his eyebrows.
Bruce shrugged and pouted.
“Sue the authors of Norwegian mythology…”
The sly God turned slowly his eyes to Bruce and cackled.
“Nice one, boy! Maybe I will…But where’s my manners?” he made a deep bow.
“Flattered you know me, after all I’m not a diva as my muscular, hunk
‘brother’.”
“Are we done with the ceremonies? Because, sorry, but I’ve got things to do…”
he looked eagerly to the exit of the clearing: Selina probably was looking for
him by now.
But Loki was rapidly on him grabbing his chair’s armrests and Bruce gasped.
“I don’t see anyone missing you…” he protruded his lips mockingly but Bruce
didn’t bite his bait to make him feel bad.
“What have you done to my friend?”
He shook his head and brought it closer to Bruce’s.
“Hmm…Nothing from all the fascinated things I thought when I saw her” Bruce
breathed easier. “Yet I… - you said that I have the fame of mischief – so…I
distorted somewhat this lovely forest into making her job difficult. But…” his
lips almost grazed Bruce’s “I was referring to your Kryptonian boyfriend and
your red and gold buddy…”
Bruce snapped his head on the opposite side to avoid Loki’s lips who grinned.
“It’s stupid and criminal of them to leave the littl’ red riding hood alone in
the forest while the big bad wolf…” Bruce gasped seeing the lean God
transforming into a big, black wolf that licked his cheek and returned to his
initial form “roams around. I was hoping to see him or Stark-y…”
Bruce swallowed.
“So you came for them not for me…they’re not here so you can…leave?”
But the cunning God in a blink took the form of Hero, nestling in his lap and
purring, his head rubbing at Bruce’s breast.
“Hmm…Nice boobs!” Hero remarked with Loki’s voice and Bruce grabbed him from
the nape of his neck and threw him on the forest floor, the God taking his
normal form before landing, giggling.
Bruce brushed the screen on the armrest, crossed his arms and his chair turned
in the other direction heading for the exit only to almost bump on Loki who
smirked.
“Stubborn mortal…And I thought we had a good time…”
Bruce huffed really pissed and rolled his eyes.
“Are you not going to threaten me with what Supes and IronStarky would do to me
for harassing you?”
Bruce let his head roll to his shoulder.
“What do you want, Mr. Loki?”
Loki cackled.
“I like that ‘Mister’…I’m having much fun with you, Mr. Wayne” he narrowed his
eyes and pouted his lips thoughtful. “Imagine the fuss if I took you with me…”
Bruce’s eyes widened but inside he was fuming. “Gods, semi-Gods, mortals
and…demons – am I right? - trying to find you…Mmmm…that has happened again,
huh?” he leaned to him. “But why, Bruce? What’s your secret?”
Bruce sensed that something wasn’t right – something new - but didn’t show any
sign although readied himself. He saw Loki frowning too regarding the sky
suspicious.
And then Bruce heard it coming before seeing it: he could drive the chair away
with his brain but with that man…God…whatever… he didn’t have much freedom to
act; it’d be very suspicious. He clenched his teeth: clumsiness wasn’t
suspicious…
Yet as soon as he tricked the chair towards the ground, Loki grabbed the chair
and jolted few feet away just a second before a yellow-blue beam hit the spot
where the chair just stood. Loki giggled seeing the white light that instantly
enveloped the chair to protect Bruce from the danger.
 
Lois walked to Clark’s desk with a cunning smile on her face.  She stood right
next to his chair leaning to see what had gotten Clark’s attention on the
computer screen.
“Hm…You’re one of the fans of my newest interview, huh?” she asked thoughtful
and a bit disappointed. “I had my fingers crossed for something more
interesting.”
Clark who had heard her coming turned to face her.
“You’re not a fan of your own interview?” he arched an eyebrow. “I thought you
always choose very carefully the people you interview.”
Lois crossed her arms staring lopsided at the pictures that accompanied her
interview.
“Of course and I’d be quite crazy, not to mention stupid, to not take that
interview…”
Clark smiled.
“But?” he prompted her understanding that there was a ‘but’ coming.
Lois tapped her lower lip with Clark’s pencil.
“I have the sense that this time I was used…you know? Chosen because I’m
Superman’s favorite journalist?”
Clark frowned.
“That’s good, right?”
Lois pouted.
“I don’t know: I’d prefer to be chosen for my worth as a fighting reporter and
not for my…connections or unknown reasons…” she shrugged. “Anyway. How’s
Bruce?”
Clark’s eyes bulged and Lois narrowed her eyes.
“Damn!” he exclaimed and some of their colleagues looked at him surprised, so
he lowered his voice, fumbling with his Smartphone. “I forgot to call him; I
should have called him” he eyed the clock at the bottom of his PC screen “two
hours ago! How could I?”
Lois placed her hand on his shoulder.
“I know you go to him every day; you were there – what? – four hours ago? And
you’ll see him again in a couple of hours.” she sighed. “Ow! Lovesick puppy…”
she shook her finger patronizingly. “Let him miss you a bit…”
Clark rolled his eyes at her and then his eyes widened in terror. Lois squatted
beside him so that nobody could hear them: her friend’s paleness and eagerness
to stand worried her.
“What?”
“The sensors from Bruce’s chair indicate danger” he grimaced “an attack”.
“Are you sure?” she whispered.
He shook his head and stood.
“Krypton’s technology it’s never wrong…I must leave immediately!”
She nodded and stood too.
“I’ll find an excuse for Perry” she said and Clark nodded already heading for
the exit.
“Tell him I had a lead on Intergang…”
 
Tony was supervising with evident pride the construction site in New York. He
wore a constructionist’s helmet and was listening to the head architect’s
report. He beamed as the man assured him that the skyscraper would be ready in
one month.
“The Avengers’ Tower!” a deep voice said and Tony turned to acknowledge Fury
who just approached him.
Tony dismissed the architect.
“My inspiration, my money, my tech! Avengers need headquarters, something to
reestablish the people’s trust to them after the revelations about S.H.I.E.L.D”
Fury shook his head with a thoughtful expression.
“You’re the director now so you decide. But open hours for public isn’t too
much?” he sneered.
Tony tilted his head on the side and locked eyes with Fury’s sole eye.
“Now that’s a good idea! Especially, female public with bikinis!” Fury shook
his head exasperated and Tony laughed. “C’me on, chum… We” he stressed the word
“decided to make moi the head director but you still are the stuff director
with our participation of course. We won’t let S.H.I.E.L.D. become again a
shady organization.”
Fury brought his hands behind his back and gazed at the impressive skyscraper.
“Really impressive and at New York’s center to advertise the honesty of the new
scheme…” Tony nodded, grinning satisfied. “I offered you my resignation when
old S.H.I.E.L.D. was uprooted: I still think that maybe it would have been
better for the new organization if you had accepted it.”
Tony patted him patronizingly on the back and Fury frowned at his hand.
“You still feel guilty for not suspecting S.H.I.E.L.D.’s true nature but who
could?” he shrugged. “Even I” he arched his eyebrows “THE genius didn’t smell
anything funny” Fury rolled his eyes and Tony nodded. “I know, I know…I don’t
like you either but I trust you and your skills…and…you know too much about us
to let you out of my sight!” he shrugged. “Keep your friends close and your
enemies closer?’’
“I’m not your enemy” the tough veteran grimaced but he frowned seeing Tony
staring at his StarkStell worried. “What?” he demanded so casually that nobody
would suspect anything.
“Bruce…”
Fury yanked slightly his head and Tony looked at him lopsided sensing the man’s
regret and inner question.
“I’ve got to go” Tony’s armor began enveloping his body.
“Want me to call reinforcements from our local agents?”
Tony winked and Fury could hear his thought: nice try, Fury, but I won’t bite
and reveal where Bruce is.
“I’ll do it myself if I need to” he answered as the face plate covered his smug
face.
“Of course…” Fury twitched his lips and watched him vanishing rapidly at the
horizon.
 
“How touching! He still protects you even when afar!”
Bruce glared at him but then frowned at the clearing seeing bizarre creatures
flooding the space; a fence of bushes kept them hidden but Bruce was sure that
the curious creatures would soon locate him because whoever sent them surely
had programmed them to follow his vitals.
He found the key deactivating the shield and crawled away from his chair to the
bushes to see them clearer: they were green, human sized with small wings and
their jaws were covered with hundreds of sharp, needle thin teeth. Bruce
frowned: they were probably androids of unregistered technology or… He inhaled
thinking of Bagdana: demons… But the demon was trapped in the depths of Earth
so he couldn’t be the culprit.
“I’d bet that this shield wasn’t supposed to disappear before the cavalry
came…” Loki whispered cunningly in his ear having crawled along.
“Good thing you didn’t bet…”
A new blast was launched towards Bruce as a creature turned his flashing green
eyes on him and Loki raised his palm in front of Bruce’s face and the beam
bounced hitting the one who sent it. Both he and Bruce saw that the thing just
stumbled.
“They don’t want to kill you” Loki cackled. “That’s good news! Huh?”
Bruce rolled his eyes wishing the irritating God left and indeed Loki
disappeared but before Bruce even considered moving he felt strong hands
grabbing and flying him under an avalanche of beams behind a wide fallen tree
trunk. As soon as he was placed on the soil Loki reemerged lying beside him.
“Sorry for the start but I’m incognito here…” the God chuckled and touched
Bruce’s lip that had a small bleeding scratch. “Seems like someone had the same
plan as me: great minds think alike…”
Bruce was fuming: damn! That idiot!
“I wouldn’t consider your mind great!” he bit Loki’s finger and the odd God
waved it laughing.
“Oh, boy! I didn’t imagine you so aggressive…” Bruce was looking at the
creatures which were fast approaching them. “I like it!” he smacked his lips.
“Mmmm…Superman surely has great hot times in his bed…” he blew at a creature
which made to override the trunk and sent it to crush between the thick,
intertwined branches of a treetop.
Bruce turned to him pissed.
“Can you just shut the fuck up and go to…Asgard?!” he spat gritting his teeth.
Loki laughed and raised his eyebrows.
“I’m on your side, babe” he turned swiftly and only his stare frozen a flying
green thing. “And it sounded like ‘go to Hell’…not that Asgard is nicer than
Hell!” he shrugged. “At least at Hell you have better company!”
Bruce huffed.
“Go wherever you want but leave me alone!” he used his elbows to drag his body
away from the tree as ten beams at once hit the trunk that immediately went
ablaze.
“You’re quite fast with your arms…” Loki followed him mimicking his moves with
difficulty. “I wonder if you’re as skilled with other members of your body…”
Bruce grunted, rolled his eyes and…rolled his body over a cluster of nettles to
avoid being punched by the hammer-like fist of a creature that dived on him
from the sky. Loki’s transparent head yanked and the creature was launched
again to the sky blowing up.
“Those nettles really got you!” the God said serious; he was again visible
since nobody was looking “not to mention those rocks…”
Indeed, his face hit on a couple of small rocks and now some blood dripped but
he didn’t have time for this as two creatures surged on him. Thankfully, the
forest was thick and as those two were ready to snatch him from opposite
directions he grabbed a tree trunk supposedly from panic, dragged his body
away, and the things hit each other.
Loki who was hitting the green guys from behind a bush heard the commotion and
made a rapid twirl sending power waves to the two who had attacked Bruce.
“Even I can’t abandon you defenseless…” he raised his eyebrows sarcastic. “What
Thor would say?!” he shook his head and Bruce squinted.
“Give me a break, will you?”
“You motherfuckers! You don’t like that, huh?”
Bruce looked to the spot where that voice came from. Selina was back kicking
one creature, punching another on the chest sending both to crush on the others
who surged. He gritted his teeth, the desire to stand up and fight burning
inside him…but that…God was there…
No, he wasn’t: obviously, the sneaky God left when he saw Selina. Bruce pressed
his lips and focused on his paralyzed legs exactly when his friend seeing three
green things heading to Bruce made an impressive somersault and catapulted them
with her glued together feet.
An impressed whistle stopped Bruce before getting on his feet and stared
upwards at a branch where a squirrel was staring at the fight and then at him.
“Fuck!” Bruce spat because now he couldn’t participate in the action and the
squirrel frowned disapprovingly; his black eyes sparkling.
Though Selina had engaged in battle with most of them thwarting their charge at
Bruce, five of them landed around him. Selina turned her eyes at the place
where their attackers landed; she was scared and determined.
“I’m coming, Bruce!”
But one of them grabbed his upper arms and heaved him in order to hold him to
be hit by the stunning beam of the opposing creature. Bruce frowned really
pissed hearing the squirrel snigger enjoying Selina’s frantic and desperate
effort to reach Bruce and save him.
“Some protection…” Bruce mumbled raising an eyebrow at the squirrel and let a
yelp of terror to make his thrashing in the creature’s grasp seem caused from
panic but in reality slipping just before the beam hit him. The thing that held
him staggered and tackled another one in his fall.
Bruce slumped on the soil having braced himself for minimizing the impact.
Selina gave him a bright grin and punched with the back of her palm a creature
that surged to catch her finishing it off with a kick launching it into a tree.
However Bruce couldn’t wait for Selina because the creatures that remained were
ready to attack him so he rasping scared crawled backwards stumbling one of
them with such camouflaged force that it collapsed.
Selina was now ready to engage the ones threatening him when new ones from the
sky blocked her path causing her frustrated curse.
Bruce maneuvered his body on his elbows dodging the stunning beams in such a
manner that some of them hit other creatures, his fuming eyes casting glances
at the sneering squirrel but suddenly it was Bruce’s turn to sneer: a black and
white fur ball climbed rapidly the tree and jumped with a wild hiss at the odd
rodent that squeaked and vanished.
“Well done, Hero!” he exclaimed really proud of his kitten but immediately he
was forced to roll on some fallen branches to avoid the beams ending up behind
a tree.
He was in pain though it would be much worse if someone else was in his place.
He was hearing the green things coming for him but now there was no Loki so he
could do what he wanted to help Selina who was pounding their attackers.
He frowned, hearing a new sound: someone was landing and simultaneously real
blasts not stunning beams shook the trees blowing up the creatures. Bruce
looked at the newcomer.
 
***** Chapter 8 *****
It wasn’t the first time Bruce saw the person who was floating at the middle of
the clearing hitting wrists together causing fire waves from her bracelets that
blasted the creatures swarming there. But obviously she preferred to smash them
with her bare fists because immediately began pounding them with a broad grin
that revealed pearl white teeth flashing more than her bracelets.
Bruce narrowed his eyes estimating, cuddling protectively Hero that ran back to
him after chasing away the odd squirrel. She was exactly as he saw her in the
pictures that accompanied Lois Lane’s latest interview: Princess Diana of
Themyscira, the leader of Amazons, the one that brought Oliver Queen back after
two years he had been stranded in an uncharted island.
She was tall, in his height, lean but strong built with rich curves and blue-
black waist length hair waving in the Fall’s light air. A gold tiara with a
ruby five-pointed star adorned her perfect locks advertising her royalty and
demigod nature. Her blue eyes glimmered resolute and…seductive. The setting sun
behind her back made the woman breathlessly impressive as the golden rays
highlighted her athletic body and her feminine beauty.
Bruce cocked an eyebrow: well, she didn’t need the sun to boast her beauty: her
clothes or better…the lack of them was enough. Her bulky breasts were dressed
in a shining red skin tight breastplate which pressed her breasts letting half
of them out of the golden rim in her long cleavage. The breastplate let her
taut, buff belly naked till the start of her pubis’ slope which was dressed in
blue bikini-like panties embroidered with golden stars. Skin tight red boots
covered her long calves leaving her bulky thighs naked and glistening.
Yet Bruce forgot all about her his concern for Selina surpassing his puzzlement
for the Princess’ presence. He looked at his friend who continued her battle
amongst a pack of charging creatures; Bruce cursed because now he couldn’t
stand and help her. His eyes widened as one of the things surged from behind at
Selina who was dodging her opponents’ punches.
Even if he called her to watch out it’d be too late so he grabbed a big stone
and threw it to the attacking creature, hitting it square on the chest and
sending it to crash on a tree.
Selina surprised looked at Bruce and grinned to him before resuming her fight.
But there wasn’t much to fight because the newcomer having ended with her
opponents turned to Selina’s blowing them of with beams launched from her
bracelets.
Selina’s wild face snapped to her ready to attack but the woman in front of her
smiled benevolently.
“I’m on your side, warrior” she raised her palm peacefully and Selina relaxed
her posture realizing that at last their enemies were defeated, slumped around
on the clearing, some knocked out and some blown apart.
Relieved Selina turned to see Bruce but to her ultimate horror two of the
creatures that have escaped jumped on him, the young man covering Hero with his
body and crawling behind the tree using his elbows.
“Bruce!” she cried and jolted to reach him already aware that she wouldn’t make
it on time.
However, Selina saw a glowing lasso jerking to the air wrapping both the
creatures at once. She turned surprised to the Amazon who flipped her lasso in
the air and once the creatures were away from Bruce she pointed her bracelets
and blew them up with such force that nothing was left. Her face was tense with
ire.
Bruce’s eyes widened and immediately frowned seeing the Princess pointing her
bracelets at the creatures that were dispersed around the clearing flashing her
flaming lasso to lift their bodies and hitting them with the beams of her
bracelets, wiping them out completely.
Bruce was outraged, on the verge of yelling at her: how was he to find who sent
the creatures when she destroyed all evidence? His hands clenched in fists and
Hero meowed confused, looking at his Master’s angry frown.
Selina couldn’t reach Bruce as she was forced to stay dodged to not be hit by
Diana’s firepower; however her eyes were on him reading his wrath and as soon
as the onslaught stopped jolted to her feet to run to him. But the Princess
landed before her and Selina stopped abruptly, huffing frustrated, her eyes
looking at Bruce above Diana’s shoulder.
“You could be an Amazon!” the Princess told her smiling broadly and Catwoman
rolled her eyes clutching her waist. “You’re a brilliant warrior and you could
have a prestigious position among my sisters in Themyscira.”
Selina tilted her head exasperated for the delay.
“What’s the fun in a world without boys?” she snapped slyly and passed her.
Bruce was already crawling towards his chair holding Hero and Selina bit her
lips because she should have been helping him instead of chatting with
that…Princess. But then a familiar whoosh waved slightly the peaceful now
clearing and Selina’s hair rose from the air wave.
Bruce knew that wave but didn’t look up; he pressed his lips to reach his chair
without anyone’s assistance but all of a sudden two arms of steel enveloped him
and a strong chest supported his torso stopping his movement. 
A second similar sound announced another arrival: Ironman who hovered over the
clearing. He noticed that there was no sign of attackers though the clearing
had the characteristics of a battlefield: half burned branches all over,
burnings on the tree trunks, dust twirling and the heavy smell of explosions;
on his way, he had spotted another presence in the clearing apart from Bruce
and Selina but the Amazon Princess in flesh and blood was a sight much more
stunning than in paper or electronic screen.
He frowned because she was staring with a strange smirk at Superman holding
Bruce, without sending even a glance at the newcomer – him - yet Tony’s ego
didn’t hurt because he was too worried to let this shit get to him. So he
rushed to Bruce deactivating the faceplate at landing beside Selina.
Bruce thrashed in Superman’s arms feeling totally embarrassed with all these
frightful stares at him. Clark pressed his lips, his agony making him angry.
“Damn, Bruce! Calm down, I want to scan you!”
But Bruce cuddled more Hero and raised his wild eyes to Clark who took in the
scratches and bruises covering Bruce’s face along with dirt.
“I’m alright, Superman! Selina was fighting them – she needs scanning: she
might be wounded or have broken something…” he rattled his teeth.
Selina squatted by his side and their eyes locked.
“I’m fine, Bruce: let Superman scan you.’’
Clark smiled at him.
“I’ve already scanned her: some bruises, nothing worrisome. Now…”
“I’m fine too; they didn’t touch me…”
Tony shook his head.
“They didn’t have to touch you…” he said gravely and Bruce glared at him.
“I don’t feel any pain…” but he followed their joint stares at his pelvis and
legs and realized huffing that his pants were torn and there was some blood
from lacerations.
“Understandably so, since under the waist you don’t feel anything anyways!”
Clark snapped.
“We’re not alone…” Selina whispered pointing with the edge of her eyes at Diana
who in the meantime had approached.
Tony floated ready to fly and Bruce narrowed his eyes at him inquiringly.
“I’m bringing Leslie…” the billionaire said grimly and Clark had to strengthen
his hold on Bruce who jerked towards his friend.
“There’s no need for that, Tony!”
Tony shook his head exasperated and rolled his eyes.
“You have a lung that is still healing” he made to say more but cast a sideways
glance to the Princess “…among other things” he raised his eyebrows
suggestively “and you just suffered an attack so I want to be sure! Thank you
very much!”
Bruce gave Hero to Selina and inhaled deeply.
“He scanned me and I know you did too without finding anything!” he cocked his
eyebrows. “And I’m not coughing so there’s nothing wrong with my lung…”
But Tony was already on the air, his worried eyes at Bruce.
“I want you monitored!” Ironman said behind his faceplate and was gone to
Bruce’s total disfavor.
Clark had had enough: Bruce in this sensitive condition had been attacked; he
obviously had avoided his attackers by rolling in a ragged terrain which led to
many bruises and scratches that Bruce under the effect of adrenalin
and…stubbornness didn’t feel. He couldn’t tolerate more delay to his Star’s
proper treatment so he rose holding him in bridal style already floating.
Selina followed his ascend sharing Superman’s concern but had her eyes locked
with Bruce’s wanting to calm her agitated friend. And that enabled her to
register what Bruce was seeing: Princess Diana’s odd smile.
“Let me sit on my chair, Superman!” Bruce said to Clark. “Please…” he hastened
to add because someone saved by Superman couldn’t just pose demands.
But Clark didn’t care about facades; his face was tight.
“We don’t have time for that” he said sternly looking straight ahead and not at
him. “I must get you somewhere comfier to be examined properly.”
Bruce narrowed his eyes pissed not only from Superman’s sharp denial but also
from the fact he didn’t look at him. He tensed and only then Clark turned to
him surprised by Bruce’s broody mood.
“I told you I’m fine…”
“Superman is right, Mr. Wayne” Princess Diana interrupted him rudely with an
eyebrow cocked. “You’re just a human after all…” she pointed out.
Selina’s eyes widened from surprise and irritation, Superman for the first time
acknowledging the Amazon Princess who smiled at him and he nodded respectfully.
But Bruce locked eyes with her and tilted his head to the side.
“Thanks for the info!” he spat raising an eyebrow, taking in her smile to Clark
which smile became a smirk when her eyes met Bruce’s.
“Princess Diana” Clark said kindly “I’d like to thank you for your lifesaving
intervention” he cleared his throat realizing Bruce’s scoff. “And I’m sure that
Mr. Wayne would like to invite you to come at his house for a tea but his
adventure has upset him so much that he failed to mention.”
Bruce didn’t let his outrage show but Clark felt how tense his body was: he
knew that if they were alone Bruce would have hit him.
“Oh, I’m sure” Diana grinned. “But I have some obligations demanding my
attention so we have to leave it for another time. And you don’t have to thank
me: it was my duty and pleasure to stop those bastards!” she clenched her fist
in the air and closed her eyes flapping her endless eyelashes. “I hate those
who attack weak, disabled humans.”
Selina was ready to say one or two things to that arrogant lady but Bruce cast
a calm glance at her communicating that this obviously was the Princess’
purpose.
“And I’m sorry this lack of tolerance urged me to blow them up in front of Mr.
Wayne’s terrorized, unhardened eyes…” she gave a hollow grin to Bruce and
another respectful to Clark and took off.
“You can let go off me now” Bruce told Clark when the Amazon was out of sight.
But Clark tightened more his grip.
“No freaking way!” he took off towards the villa, Bruce grinding his teeth;
Selina trying to appease him with her eyes.
“What happened, Master Kent?” Alfred hurried to meet them on the balcony, his
worried eyes searching Bruce’s battered face.
Bruce huffed.
“Nothing serious, Alfred; don’t worry. Superman exaggerates!”
Clark was angry because throughout the short way to the villa Bruce didn’t even
looked at him and continued that way even now – he so much wished that the
obstinate human had just wrapped his arm around his neck and nestled his head
on his shoulder as he was doing during their flights either at North Pole over
the icebergs or here over the endless sea. He wished that Bruce had let go
but…he guessed that it was too much for that man!
He knew that the younger man was pissed for his overprotective attitude in
front of Diana but that only made Clark’s vexation bigger: Bruce had a nerve to
be angry with Clark’s agony when he managed to be attacked once again!
“Yeah, Alfred…” the Man of Steel scoffed without looking to anyone but the
corridor in front of him, hurrying his steps to the med room. “Nothing
serious!” he mocked Bruce’s voice and the younger man fumed. “He was just
attacked in the forest and he fell from his chair, rolled his recovering body
on stones and branches and was hit…”
“I wasn’t!” Bruce jerked in Clark’s arms, his face hot.
Alfred who was following suit took in his young master’s rumpled and torn
clothes that were drenched from the last rain’s humidity and stained with dirt
and a little blood. He shared Master Kent’s worry and exasperation for the new
adventure of Master Bruce yet the clever man could sense the tension between
the two men and his Master was so agitated that Alfred feared for the
consequences on his healing organism: his uneven breaths weren’t the best for
his recovering lung and overall agitation was an aggravating factor.
So he decided to not address the matter of the blood on Bruce’s face nor worsen
the situation with questions about how he was feeling. The priority was on
restoring Master Bruce’s tranquility and Alfred though sympathetic towards the
man, couldn’t understand why Superman didn’t just drop the issue for now.
“Where are Miss Kyle and Hero?” Alfred asked composed as ever.
Bruce turned his flashed face at Alfred.
“They are fine, Alfred” he answered calmer realizing his butler’s effort to
restore peace. “But Superman here preferred to leave them back there…”
“They’re perfectly able to return” Clark decided to lower the tone but still
couldn’t look at Bruce, the bleeding wounds and the bruises on his face waking
up nightmares. And his eidetic memory repeated monotonously what the Amazon had
said “Mr. Wayne, you’re just a human, after all…”
The door to the med room opened automatically at their approach and Clark
entered, the sight of the room bringing him relief and eroding fatigue at the
same time.
“And I’m not?” Bruce demanded with his beautifully shaped eyebrows frowned
looking directly at him for the first time.
Clark was happy to lock again his eyes with his Star’s mesmerizingly sparkling
eyes; yet he didn’t change his set jaw neither softened his scowl.
“Why you deactivated the shield?” it was his turn to demand and Bruce’s eyes
narrowed. “Huh? Nothing can get you in there AND you wouldn’t have to roll on
the rough ground! Your elbows are skinned and bleeding!” he couldn’t yell
seeing Bruce’s beautiful, so fragile face but his voice was still cold from the
boiling wrath inside him. “What were you trying to prove?” shit! His voice got
loud again and he couldn’t stop it. “That you’re brave? Fearless? A self-
sacrificing fool?!”
Bruce’s eyes widened shocked: Clark couldn’t be saying those things, Clark
couldn’t believe those things…
“I have nothing to prove!” he retorted and his intense stare collided with
Clark’s angry one.
And suddenly Bruce’s arrhythmic heartbeat filled Clark’s mind and he cursed
himself for making his Star’s condition worse; his hand cupped tenderly Bruce’s
jaw and his lips almost on their own locked with the younger man’s that
immediately began sucking him desperately, fighting his lips either from anger
or love or both. Clark closed his eyes and left Bruce command him, feeling
goose bumps as Bruce’s arms at last wrapped his neck to gain more control over
the kiss.
Alfred was satisfied that the tension melted yet he also felt embarrassed, an
intruder to something very intimate so cleared his throat.
“Master Kent, the bed is ready” and blushed realizing how his saying could be
interpreted “the examination bed” he hastened to add and he heard Master Kent
laughing.
Clark didn’t want to part Bruce’s lips that – of course! were slightly burst! –
and touched his forehead to the younger man’s.
“Indeed…” he said softly “you have nothing to prove, Star…”
He laid Bruce carefully on the bed and stayed leaned above him, his eyes
unwilling to leave the star sapphires of Bruce’s orbs, his fingers touching
gingerly the bruises on his cheeks.
“Tony left to bring Leslie” he told Alfred to fight off his spell and Bruce
took his arms off his neck sinking Clark in icy water without this contact but
the message was clear: Alfred was there. 
Bruce raised his head to look at the doorstep where Selina riding his… chair
made a triumphant entrance. Hero jumped off her lap and ran to Bruce climbing
swiftly on the bed to take his caress. Selina stood yanking her head.
“Mmmm…This thing” she gestured to the chair “can be really entertaining! Soon,
when you won’t need it any more, can I take it for some rides?”
Bruce cocked an eyebrow.
“Be my guest!” he beamed at Selina and Clark felt jealous for her ability to
make Bruce smile like this so easily.
Yet the Man of Steel couldn’t share her certainty that Bruce would walk again
‘soon’ and that made his guts clench.
Hero was licking Bruce’s fingers while Alfred took off his young Master’s
battered jacket and pullover because staying with wet clothes would certainly
lead to a cold and also he wanted to assess the damage.
There were already formed bruises and Alfred was sure that some more would pop
gradually. Clark’s lips twitched to end up in a tight line as he felt the
previous irritation returning. He noticed Bruce eyeing him and Clark closed his
eyes and inhaled: it wasn’t Bruce’s fault, he reminded himself.
Alfred used to seeing his Master’s body injured continued opening Bruce’s jeans
causing the youth to support his torso on his elbows and yank his head.
“Alfred!” he brought his hand over his fly, blushing.
Alfred huffed and just put Bruce’s hand aside to lower his jeans.
“Sir, you managed to tear your jeans which are wet and dirty: if we don’t want
you down with a cold” or worse was the common unsaid thought of the three
bystanders “we must get them off you and dress you with something warm. Not
mentioning assessing your wounds…”
“I don’t have…WOUNDS” Bruce protested “only superficial scratches!”
Alfred understood that his young Master was feeling suffocated being again
under so much attention after things began normalizing. However he couldn’t
cherish his need for independency especially when Alfred’s serious stare began
regarding the gashes over his young master’s pelvis. 
Selina who in the meantime had approached, pressed gently Bruce flat on the
mattress and placed Hero over his chest. She wanted to keep her friend occupied
and calm.
“Hero, don’t let him move” she tapped the kitten’s pink nose. “As for you,
kiddo”, she arched her eyebrows, “no need to be shy on me: there’s a boy in the
room with his briefs at display so your boxer isn’t as exciting…”
Bruce chuckled and caressed the head of Hero who sat on his chest like a tiny
lion, his paw protectively resting on the glowing Black Butterfly.
Alfred was thankful to Miss Kyle for entertaining Master Bruce because he could
share glances with Master Kent who had his arms crossed and was inhaling deeply
as the jeans left Bruce’s body revealing more bruises to add to the healing old
wounds.
“Master Kent, do you know if the internal casts are intact?” he whispered.
Clark nodded grim.
“We were lucky…”
Alfred grinned tightly and went to the cabinet to take the stethoscope to
listen to Bruce’s heart and lungs; Leslie had instructed him on how to read the
signs but the kind butler felt better knowing that Master Anthony was bringing
Leslie.
“Miss Kyle, would you be so kind to get young Master Hero from Master Bruce’s
chest?”
Selina giggled as she always did upon hearing Alfred addressing the small
kitten with such a pompous title. She took him off Bruce.
“C’me, young Master Hero…” she teased the kitten and he licked her cheek;
Selina was worried as the rest but she knew that showing that only made matters
worse for Bruce.
Alfred touched the stethoscope’s edge to Bruce’s heart and the young man
sighed.
“Alfred, please… If something was wrong Clark would have seen it: you know he’s
monitoring me all the time…” but then closed his eyes defeated when he heard
the distinct sound of Ironman coming and then landing.
“A second examination never hurt anyone” Leslie replied with her firm voice and
upon landing marched to the bed to Bruce’s evident exasperation. “I take over
from here, Alfred” she took the stethoscope and sat.
She touched the spot where Bruce’s lip was torn and caressed his cheek causing
Bruce’s sigh: he enjoyed his loved ones’ tenderness yet he didn’t want that to
be due to unreasonable concern and tormenting agony.
“They upset you without a reason: Clark and Tony both scanned and X-Rayed me
and didn’t find anything” he sighed. “You didn’t have to be put under all this
trouble…”
Leslie pressed her lips and shook her index disapprovingly.
“No trouble at all and I’m happy they didn’t find anything yet I wanted to
examine you for some time now so this is a nice opportunity.”
Bruce frowned tilting his head to the side.
“How you returned so fast?” he asked suspiciously Tony who stared at the new
and old scars on Bruce’s legs rubbing his chin. “Even with your new double
sound speed it’d have taken you more time than you did.”
Tony yanked his head not wanting his friend caught him staring.
“As soon as I took off I called Captain America and he carried Leslie till we
met at midway.”
Bruce’s eyes widened and Leslie sighing stopped her effort to listen to his
heart.
“You’re kidding me, right?!” he demanded. “You rang the red alert and recruited
the Avengers for this?! You’re unbelievable, Tony!”
Despite Bruce’s very real irritation Tony just raised his eyebrows.
“Oh, yeah, little guy, your buddy is un-fucking-believable! Everyone says the
same…” he answered nonchalant and Bruce shook his head.
Yet Clark couldn’t be as calm as Tony; he couldn’t understand Bruce’s attitude
neither tolerate it.
“What’s your problem, anyway?!” he snapped at Bruce and his voice’s sharpness
made everyone look at him. “You almost exploded on Princess Diana!”
“He was just attacked, Master Kent” Alfred said smoothly trying to stop a new
quarrel.
Bruce shook his head and stared right at Clark’s once again pissed eyes.
“She blew up the creatures that attacked me literally erasing them completely
and simultaneously depriving us from any possibility to find out who sent
them.” He was puzzled on Clark’s indifference about learning the attack’s
details. “And I wanted to stay there in hopes of finding something despite this
woman’s efforts but you grabbed and dragged me here because you couldn’t
listen, could you?”
For some reason Clark felt obliged to defense Diana’s deeds rather than his
own.
“She explained that it was outraged by their cowardly act to attack someone
weak” Clark took in Bruce’s tiniest flinch on the word and couldn’t help it but
feel satisfied “she apologized, didn’t she?”
Bruce clenched his jaw.
“And you bite and…”
But Clark interrupted him approaching more the bed.
“Maybe because I felt the same and I’d have done the same thing!”
Leslie stood up with an annoyed frown on her face: her patient didn’t need that
right now. Bruce shook his head disapprovingly.
“Since when you approve of killing?” he inquired calmer.
Clark crossed his arms and stabbed the younger man with his cold stare: really
Bruce didn’t know? Really Bruce showed off his disapproval of him?
“Since I met you and you insist on challenging every scum on the planet to kill
you!” he snapped and Bruce narrowed his eyes; he was flabbergasted. “You cause
that, Mr. I-m-not-weak! Because every time you need to advertise that, you
almost get killed by a sonovabitch and we have to go through all this terror
and dread of losing you!” he inhaled deeply “killing them is the only way to
keep you alive!”
Bruce just shook his head.
“But you’re ungrateful!” Clark hissed and Bruce jerked as if hit by a whip.
Selina bit her lip enraged, Hero looking puzzled at her.
“Not only reprimand me in front of everyone but also you behaved like an ass to
that fine lady who saved you! You would have died there weren’t for the
Princess and you didn’t have the elemental politeness to thank her!” Clark
realized how harsh his words were yet he knew he was right and that Bruce
needed to hear that for once.
Bruce sensed that Clark’s concern had pushed him out of his usual calm, kind
self and tried to decrease the tension if not for the two of them for the
others’ sake. He pinched the bridge of his nose.
“Selina had the total control” he said tranquil and Clark felt the boiling
inside his body easing “and I was ready to assist her.”
Now the fire in Clark’s body spiked fiercer than before and he rubbed his
forehead in an effort to calm himself.
“Assist her?” he sneered. “How?” he asked quietly to not explode like a nuclear
bomb knowing the answer already.
Bruce opened his mouth to answer: he knew the hurricane of feelings raging
Clark and now he had the suspicious glares of the others presuming the answer
and taking Clark’s side on that. He let his head roll on the side for an
instance closing his eyes and turned again to them huffing and ready to reply
yet Clark’s eyes were above him.
Clark’s lips were almost touching his with a gleeful smirk and Bruce for the
first time wanted to bite and not kiss him.
“You meant to stretch your body’s limits into forcing it to stand and fight
under your brain’s power!” Bruce’s eyes were blank and Clark relished because
he was right and everyone was staring dumbfounded except from Selina who
clenched her teeth. “That’s the reason you were so mad at Diana because she
thwarted you from being again the hero! You’re mentally disordered in your
obsession of being a hero even if that kills you!” his enflamed eyes almost
touched Bruce’s blank ones and Clark jerked upright and took some distance.
After all, he had passed his message and now everyone justified him.
“I don’t want to be a hero” Bruce retorted solemnly and completely calm seeing
Tony ruffling his hair, Alfred staring at him poised, Leslie having her arms
crossed and Selina cuddling Hero. “I’m not a hero but I couldn’t let Selina
fight alone…Neither I can be indifferent to my city’s needs now that I’m
returning but this doesn’t mean that it will kill me…” Clark shook his head
exasperated and Tony pressed his hair on his head; yet Bruce continued unfazed.
“I’ve already thought of some adjustments to my armor that will enable me to
move efficiently without stretching my body’s limits.”
Clark slapped his fist on his thigh and raised his hands in the air.
“You’re insufferable! Tony is your friend and won’t assist you to commit
suicide! Huh?” he jerked his head towards the billionaire who didn’t answer but
locked eyes with Bruce, his disapproval evident.
“Not before the bionic structure for your spine is ready and definitely not
before your mobility is perfectly restored” he said grimly.
Bruce huffed.
“Fine!” he snapped.
Tony bit his lips and shook his head, clenching his waist with both hands.
“Bruce, it’s madness even considering the possibility before…”
Bruce turned his eyes to the other side: his chest was in turmoil.
“And neither Lucius will contribute to that” Tony added calmly. “C’me on,
little guy” he almost pleaded with his friend who didn’t look at him. “You’ll
have more interesting things to do with your spare time so you’ll forget all
about Batman…” he said grinning.
Everyone in the room looked at him interested except for Bruce who stared at
the wall fuming inside because even Tony didn’t want to understand him – he
didn’t like to admit it but it hurt.
Tony inhaled deeply gulping Bruce’s unwillingness to look at him and continued.
“It’s time you chased your dream!” he stated enthusiastic fighting the cold
feeling from Bruce’s stubborn indifference. “Princeton has arranged to examine
you in order to be enrolled in their undergraduate program” he saw Bruce’s
bulged eyes turning to him and thought it was awe. “Princeton is the best
university in the States and they have a Neuroscience Program!” he arched his
eyebrows beaming. “And is near Gotham and Wayne Enterprises and given that your
evenings and nights will be free, you’ll be well rest, able to attend the
courses and run the company…” he stretched his arms in the air under the
fascinated eyes of the others “it’s perfect, littl’ guy! Like your father…”
Yet Alfred, Leslie and Selina saw clearly Bruce’s dread. The young man inhaled
to calm his increased heartbeat and beginning headache.
“You arranged that…”
Tony nodded.
“Yeah, buddy!”
“Without asking me!” Bruce snapped and Tony’s smile froze. “Surely, you made a
huge donation to the university to make sure that they’ll enroll me.”
Tony knitted his eyebrows and shook his head in denial.
“No! I just showed them the official documents from your school and they were
interested…” Bruce was shaking his head rubbing his forehead. “They’ll examine
you as they do to their underage gifted students and if you succeed…Which is
certain with my lessons…” but Bruce’s pressed lips stopped him.
“I’m not underage, Tony” his voice was cold and bitter “and I’m not gifted”
Tony attempted to say something but Bruce didn’t let him. “And don’t know
anything to base college or university studies on.”
Tony’s shoulders were slumped and he just shook his head helplessly. However
Clark wasn’t put off but enraged from Bruce’s refusal.
“And of course they were interested in me: a way to be advertised having as
their student America’s most known ‘poor thing’, not to mention monitoring a
curious specimen. Plus they know that they’ll have Tony Stark’s gratitude and
funding.”
Leslie shared a look with Alfred and decided that it was enough and that Bruce
needed some rest.
“I think that discussion must be done another time” she remarked firmly but
calmly.
But Tony licked his lips and huffed; he just couldn’t accept the failure of
what he believed was the greatest opportunity and gift for Bruce, what he
expected to make his friend beam not brood.
“C’me on, littl’ guy…You sound as if you’re afraid…” he chuckled “and everyone
knows that fear doesn’t suit you” he blinked. “I understand you’re overwhelmed”
he continued soothingly “but I assure you that you’re already fully conversant
with most of their subjects due to your extraordinary activity and intelligence
– I tell you, buddy: you’ll amaze them! And I’ll help you with everything! We
have plenty of time till January, littl’ guy; you don’t need to worry…You’ll
see!”
Bruce closed his eyes: even Tony was plotting to deprive him of what it was so
important to him, what gave his life purpose – even he didn’t understand…
Selina as both Alfred and Leslie realized that he had had enough.
“Master Anthony, I would suggest…” Alfred interjected.
But Clark didn’t let him; he marched towards the bed with his eyes ablaze.
Hearing Bruce fighting off stubbornly every attempt of Stark to push him to
normality and salvation was enraging him.
“However enrolling to studies won’t let him the space to play the hero, right,
Bruce?” he cocked an eyebrow. “And if he doesn’t play the hero he’ll feel weak,
right? And he is scared of feeling weak because then he’ll feel exactly as when
he was enslaved to Falcone; he doesn’t want even to consider what you propose
because playing the hero offers him something to cover his weakness” Bruce’s
eyes narrowed spitting fires. “He can’t stand feeling weak and he is willing to
die instead of adjust to his nature! He thinks that pretending the strong fools
us into not seeing his weakness but the only one who fools is himself!”
Bruce felt his blood boil and his heart beat madly; all of a sudden his waist
hurt along with his ribs adding to his headache as if agreeing with Clark’s
rant. To make things worse Leslie’s eyes regarded him with the inner knowledge
of his suffering.
“I’m not feeling any weakness!” he retorted defiantly.
That was the last straw for Clark’s patience. This human was so stubborn! And
he was just a human, for fuck’s sake! He surged at him and grabbed his upper
arms pinning him chokingly to the mattress making the bystanders gasp from
shock. However Bruce locked his eyes with him defiant as ever.
“But you’re WEAK, damn it! Only your stupid stubbornness doesn’t let you admit
it!” Bruce’s eyes sparkled narrowed like an angry wildcat’s under a tight frown
and Clark grunted. “Your pigheadedness sends you every time to risk your life
while you know that you can’t cope; your idiocy to prove that you don’t need
anyone made you use that stupid suicidal technic to force your disabled body to
fight Joker…”
Bruce gritted his teeth.
“I couldn’t wait for you: he’d have killed the kids and it was me that he
wanted!” he tried to rise but Clark put more strength forcing him back to the
mattress.
“And you succeeded in almost dying!” he yelled having heard nothing seeing only
Bruce’s unyielding eyes not even flinch by his roaring.
“Nothing would have happened if Joker’s goon hadn’t shot…” he growled tensing
more the muscles of his arms. “Would you prefer it if those children had died
because of me while I was lying in my warm bed?!”
Clark couldn’t reply to that but still couldn’t accept Bruce’s recklessness; he
fumed.
“That stubbornness…You’ll never admit your mistakes, huh? Even though they make
all of us sick with agony and running desperate to save you! As when you
surrendered yourself to Talia…” that subject nudged Clark constantly.
“I didn’t!” Bruce growled and prepared himself though Superman’s grip was
bruising.
Clark’s lips were over his, as his eyes to mute him.
“If you weren’t so stubborn to admit your weakness and protected yourself
staying behind Bane and Talia wouldn’t have raped you!”
If Bruce’s eyes had Superman’s laser vision would have burned him: he hated the
word ‘rape’ and Superman spitting that before his loved ones was outrageous!
Not that they didn’t suspect but confirming it so crudely was preposterous!
Yet he just gritted his teeth, knowing that his calmness had a stronger effect
than any growl – his intense, flashing eyes hiding the cruel punch Clark’s
words delivered to his throbbing head.
The Man of Steel as if suspecting that he’d try to escape tightened more his
grip which would have caused the intervention of the others in the room if the
scene wasn’t so surreal that shocked them to numbness.
However Selina couldn’t tolerate anymore; she let Hero on the floor and rushed
to face Superman: she wouldn’t let this ass hurt Bruce.
“Stop it, you asshole! You’re hurting him!” she didn’t attempt to hit him but
her voice and her glare’s fierceness shook Clark.
“Exactly!” Clark said calmer. “That’s the point! He could be so easily harmed
because he is WEAK!”
But all of a sudden Clark didn’t feel the tensed muscles and the arousing
defiance under his grip. Along with the others he saw amazed Bruce standing on
the side of the bed, Hero staring at him feeling the vibe.
“The fact that you walk and I don’t doesn’t make me weak and you strong!” he
stressed every word deadly calm and resolute glowering at him.
Clark was staring agape unable to utter anything under the realization that he
achieved exactly what he wanted to condemn and thwart: Bruce using his brain’s
power to give mobility to his disabled body. He clenched his waist and licked
his lips knowing that everyone in the room made exactly the same thought:
instead of tending Bruce’s wounds all this time they were constantly,
relentlessly nettling him.
Leslie couldn’t stand watching Bruce doing what he shouldn’t.
“Both of you: OUT!” her strict and powerful voice cracked the awkward silence
and Bruce made a step towards the door to her dismay. “Not you, young man!
Tony, Superman!” she snapped her head towards the door.
Clark walked like a robot realizing with a pang that he messed things; he
turned his eyes guiltily to Bruce: seeing him standing was a blessing, his
deepest wish all these months but not like this: not abnormally. To intensify
his guilt and his words’ wrongness, the younger man even dressed only in his
black boxers and having lacerations all over his muscled body he was anything
but weak. He emanated strength and resolution, and Clark felt the familiar
ripple of desire in his heart till he caught the bruises in Bruce’s upper arms,
red and shaped after his fingers and his entire existence sank.
Tony yanked his head surprised and looked at Leslie hurt.
“But I didn’t do anything!” he protested but the doctor’s sharp look sent him
to the door following Superman.
“And close that door!” she added and Tony obliged. “Alfred, turn on the heat:
it’s cold in here.”
Tony ran his hands through his hair sighing.
“I don’t get why I’m exiled along with the bad boy?” he spat without getting an
answer from Clark. “Come…” he said sympathetic to the Man of Steel
understanding his turmoil and regret.
Clark followed him to the round shaped balcony, the breathtaking view of the
peaceful under the twilight Aegean sea, soothing a bit his throbbing head.
Tony inhaled deeply and looked at him.
“Sometimes I also lose control with Bruce…It’s not easy…” he shook his head
“…it’s damn hard! With which, I want to tell you that I’m the last to condemn
you…”
Clark clenched his teeth determined and made to go back inside: he needed to
explain, to apologize to everyone…to Bruce…to make sure that…
But Tony grabbed his upper arm and Clark looked him inquiringly.
“You better leave him some space” he said solemnly but understanding. “Let
Leslie and the others calm him down and…” he arched his eyebrows “and get a
grip yourself – I think” he shook his head, his sharp eyes never leaving
Superman’s “you should leave.”
Clark’s eyes bulged: Tony was exploiting what happened to get rid of him once
and for all. He fisted his hands and saw Stark twisting his lips.
“That’s exactly what I meant!” he said gesturing to Clark’s fists. “You’re
still ready to explode at the tiniest: you think that another rant will help
your position with Bruce?” he arched his eyebrows in emphasis and seeing the
realization in Superman’s eyes, nodded. “I suggest you should leave…for a bit,
…till things get normal again.”
Superman stared at the shut door of the med room fighting the urge to use his
super sight to see inside.
“If I leave now Bruce will believe that I don’t care…”
Tony patted his shoulder.
“I’m sure Bruce doesn’t believe that…even now. But staying here and continuing
the pressure would prove otherwise.”
Clark locked eyes with him and Tony nodded completely serious. Clark knew that
Stark was right: at this moment, he could only hurt Bruce and their
relationship and he didn’t want that. He stretched his fist in the air and took
off.
Tony pursed his lips shaking his head and sighed. It wasn’t supposed to go that
way: he felt his arc reactor thudding with disappointment for his failed
surprise.
Superman hovered over the forest where some bastards almost killed his
Star…again! And instead of manifesting his joy for Bruce being safe, he
stupidly quarreled with him…He turned his slumped head towards the blindingly
white villa that seemed small now…Leslie was examining Bruce now…Was everything
normal or Clark’s foolishness lost them valuable time? He wanted to rush back,
hold Bruce tide and kiss him in every wound, in every scratch… Apologizing…
“So… it’s true what they’re saying…”
***** Chapter 9 *****
“I hate failure…” the cold voice with the quality of screeching metal snapped
and a fist punched the air.
“Who doesn’t?” Bagdana answered almost amused looking at Bruno Mannheim. “I
didn’t imagine that you like so much the human form…” he raised an eyebrow.
The impeccably dressed sturdy gangster was descending the made of stone stair
leading to the great hall. Bruno Mannheim possessed an impressive, gargantuan
mansion at Metropolis’ outskirts yet the master of the house preferred the
underground facilities which were under the basement. It was the place where
Bagdana dwelled: a mammoth round site with ancient stones covering its floor
and pillars of fire at its perimeter. At the far end a plain throne made of
roaring granite waited the great God when his affairs with the mortals ended.
Darkseid grunted annoyed from Bagdana’s comment and immediately the prestige
clothes of the human gangster ripped as the human body bulged to be replaced by
the god’s bluish gargantuan form.
Bagdana who had settled to his bronze-colored, gigantic body watched the bigger
god marching to his throne to sat hitting his fists together in front of his
face. A smile carved Bagdana’s face and Darkseid’s red ablaze eyes stabbed him:
Bagdana was so much entertained by the terrifying dude’s easily manipulated
nature.
“You cost me an embarrassing defeat” Darkseid stressed every word menacingly
and Bagdana approached his throne, his bare feet echoing on the stone tiled
floor. His body was dressed in black leather leggings and black leather vest.
“Sometimes a defeat is necessary before a great victory” he replied slyly, his
spikes of hair glowing in the flames that danced in golden vessels shaping the
corridor that led to the great throne.
Darkseid punched the armrest, his gritted teeth sending sparkles.
“I don’t like procrastination! The Kryptonian’s whore should have been here now
to be mutilated before my enemy’s eyes!” Bagdana’s eyes narrowed and his
nostrils fumed.
“You keep ‘forgetting’ that Bruce is mine and for that he is to live…” he
rattled his teeth and stabbed him with his eyes.
“It was your idea to attack him!” he barked.
Bagdana gave a crooked smirk.
“Attack not kill him…”
Darkseid half rose threateningly.
“To humiliate me…” he hissed and his eyes became two flaming lines. “It seems
that you’re not here to serve me after all…That you’re also my enemy…” his
stone-like face filled with cracks of ire.
Yet Bagdana wasn’t intimidated; he yanked his face and his straight horns
glistened.
“Intimidation isn’t effective with me: I’d say it’s rather ridiculous” he
scoffed. “You know I’m not your enemy or else you’d have already tried to
dispose of me…”
Darkseid stood on his spread legs; his eyebrows in a deep frown.
“Not just tried; it’s easy for me to kill you!” he roared.
Bagdana smiled and nodded.
“As it is easy to kill the Kryptonian, huh?” he arched his eyebrows seeing his
partner’s fists clenched. “I’m your ally…”
“Minion!” he roared.
Bagdana crossed his column-like arms.
“Whatever brushes your egoism…What matters for me it’s that we have common
goals: you want the Kryptonian’s destruction” his eyes got lost and his voice
deepened “and I want Bruce…” he returned to his surroundings feeling Darseid’s
sneering stare. “Yet you know that direct approach isn’t the best method,
otherwise you wouldn’t have been scheming with Intergang, pretending the
businessman – gangster: a human, a life-form you hate above all…”
Darkseid sat again in his throne and clutched the armrests listening interested
and Bagdana’s cat-like pupils dilated with content.
“You could have had already your human-pet if this attack hadn’t failed.”
Bagdana shook his head.
“But you wouldn’t have exterminated the Kryptonian and that it’s important for
me as well: I don’t want acquiring Bruce and then him being taken from me
again. More importantly: Superman must be punished for claiming what’s mine!”
Darkseid rubbed his square chin thoughtful.
“What is it about that lame human?” he demanded from his minion but Bagdana
didn’t answer, just turned his back and stared into the blue fire fountain in
the middle of the hall. “He had protection even before his friend and the
flying woman came – parademons sent data before they were destroyed.”
Bagdana looked again at Darkseid.
“Bruce always has protection” he remarked dryly: he hadn’t any intention on
revealing to his partner that Bruce was able to protect himself since he was
Batman.
Darkseid’s eyes pierced him wanting answers.
“Divine protection…” he stressed. “The data I took from the parademons
indicated the presence of a God near the human before the Amazon intervened.
But that deity remained invisible.”
Bagdana cocked an eyebrow and smiled wryly: the pang of jealousy for the new
presence near Bruce smashed by the wave of admiration for his Lilith’s
irresistible charm.
Darkseid squinted, intrigued by the demon’s stupor on the human’s mention.
Every time he witnessed that he was more certain about Bagdana’s servitude:
he’d do everything to gain the human.
“You wanted this attack to fail…” he croaked and Bagdana nodded.
“The failure of this attack was necessary yet I didn’t imagine that Bruce would
get unknown divine protection.”
“It is why you settled the weapons into stunning not hurting or killing?”
“Exactly: I want Superman know that his mate is threatened but not from whom…Of
course” he cocked a thick eyebrow “I expected Bruce unconscious till help
reached him – it’d have made a more dramatic impression yet this human is full
of surprises…”
Darkseid furrowed his brow.
“His death or capture would have been very efficient since this annoying pest
stands between me and my machine, being the new owner of LEXLABS.”
Bagdana looked at him dead serious.
“His death wouldn’t have helped you gain access to the LEXLABS and neither his
capture.”
Darkseid yanked his head and cackled jeering his minion.
“My tortures would have made the pitiful being give me everything to stop his
misery of living!” the bigger God saw gleefully the drops of sweat on the
demon’s face: were the demons supposed to get sweaty?
He shook his head in expectance.
“I can’t wait making that bitch squeal begging for mercy and the Kryptonian
getting insane by his inability to save him – or he won’t be the only one?”
Bagdana rasped and fumed.
“Forget that! You won’t harm him!” he grunted and the hall echoed; the fires
flaring up. “And…” he lowered his voice under Darkseid’s cold stare “your
tortures wouldn’t have any result…”
Darkseid sniggered.  
“Your appreciation of that pest is ridiculous… as your own powers…So doubting
your success and assuming your failure Bruno Mannheim has set off his own means
of getting the machine..."
“What are you going to do?”
Darkseid smirked smugly.
“LEXLABS aren’t difficult to find… and with the right people in the job it’s
easy to get what you want” his eyes flashed. “What about that Amazon?”
“Are you afraid of her?” Bagdana chuckled and Darkseid snorted flames bursting
from his nostrils indicating his contempt and anger.
“You know that your pet apart from the deficiency of his human nature is also
gimpy?” he raised his eyebrow sarcastically, dragging his words satisfied for
the human’s disability and his minion’s displeasure.
Bagdana stared unfazed at his collaborator: he wouldn’t give Darkseid the
satisfaction of seeing his emotions.
“I got the same data from the parademons as you” he replied indifferently
burying his sadness causing Darkseid’s irritated growl.
“And that doesn’t disgust you?” he shook his head and twitched his fat lip.
“That human’s only worth is being killed to hurt the Kryptonian or tormented
for my court’s entertainment – his life is a waste of space!”
Bagdana’s eyes became red spitting fires and his already gigantic body bulged
more, impressing and intriguing Darkseid. The demon’s mind filled with the
images and the sensations from the burning factory and Bruce’s body being
smashed sliding towards death.
“Mind the plan and not Bruce…” he snarled and lowering his head left the vast
hall, the fire columns on the two sides of the room flaring up at his passing.
 
“So it’s true what they’re saying…” an amused voice called behind him and
Superman turned abruptly forgetting the white villa where the solar lights
began sparkling deem on the decreasing of the daylight.
A blinding smile greeted him as Clark’s eyes met the gorgeous face of the
Amazon who hovering approached him, her hands clenching her juicy hips.
“Princess…” he addressed her, a bit startled though he wasn’t sure if it was
because he didn’t except to see her there again or because of her staggering
beauty. “What it’s true?”
She focused her dazzling blue eyes towards the white villa and the wind waved
her locks which glowed like blue silk.
“That Superman, the mighty God of the Earth, fell for a human…” her rich, deep
red lips moved slowly.
Clark followed her gaze and shook his head flushed.
“Oh! No…” he chuckled uncomfortable because they didn’t want people know the
truth about him and Bruce.
The Amazon turned graciously her head and locked her eyes with Clark’s, cocking
an eyebrow.
“I watched that video the first day I came to the Man’s World” she lolled her
head to the side. “I admit that your glory had reached even my isolated island
and when I brought Oliver Queen back the mentioning of that video by various
people ignited my interest…” she sighed. “And it was rather informative!”
Clark licked his lips.
“Listen, Princess…That video is bullshit” he took in her sly smile and playful
eyes. “Mr. Wayne had been kidnapped, badly injured and…it just happened that I
found him first and brought him to the hospital” Diana had crossed her arms and
was nodding all the time amused and disbelieving. “I only did my duty to…”
Diana yanked her head and her eyes filled with seriousness and something else
Clark couldn’t discern.
“A poor, tortured human being who his only hope in surviving is through
cowering in the arms of powerful entities. He knows this is his only chance to
survive and exploits it…in every way he can” she smirked.
Clark felt a pang but he just couldn’t feel irritated with her. Diana smiled to
him.
“Though it didn’t seem like simply an act of duty…maybe it was your red cape
cuddling his naked body or the way you were looking at him or your
unwillingness to part with his body and place him on the hospital gurney…”
Clark felt sweat dripping his body as if he was embarrassed and ashamed (?)!
The Amazon Princess smiled.
“The video must have distorted the facts…” he stated solemnly.
She pouted.
“That’s what I thought: a mighty warrior like you can’t fall for a being like
him…” she shrugged. “But then I saw it with my own eyes just a few minutes ago
in the forest: the way you rushed there distraught, oblivious to everything
else except him; the way you cuddled him protectively, scared – someone like
you can’t get scared -, your eyes when you took in the blood on his face… The
way you heaved him in your arms, hasty to take him to safety…”
Clark crossed his arms and tilted his head looking her lopsided.
“Mr. Wayne has suffered some very serious injuries and as you saw he is a
magnet for villains due to his friendship with Stark” it was evident in the way
her eyes glimmered that she didn’t believe it. “So I keep an ear to him just in
case.”
She nodded.
“You mean that Ironman doesn’t have a system alerting him about his friend
being in danger and relies on your super hearing to keep his weak friend safe…”
Now Clark was pissed; he didn’t like being interrogated.
“Is it my impression or you watched the area waiting me? How did you know where
to find Bruce? I mean Mr. Wayne…” he asked frowning.
She shook her head and gazed at the sun’s disk that was slowly descending in
the sea.
“I won’t deny that I was eager to meet you yet I didn’t know that your…love
interest was in Thasos and even if I knew I wouldn’t have watched him to get a
chance to meet you – it’d be rather boring for me. An Amazon Princess has many
responsibilities that demand her full attention. One of them paying tribute to
the Gods’ of my people whose temples just happens to be in the area and as I
was heading there I heard the noise from the fight and I rushed to help.”
Clark bit his lip: he spoke as an arrogant fool.
“Of course…I’m sorry…” he smiled “I sounded like…”
She inclined her head towards him and grinned.
“No need to apologize; I understand…” she cocked an eyebrow and winked. “You’ve
been through a great agony: your boyfriend was just attacked and he is so
fragile and weak…”
“That’s the point! He could be so easily harmed because he is WEAK!” He heard
again his wild voice, his fingers feeling again Bruce’s taunt flesh sinking
under their pressure.
“He isn’t my boyfriend” he repeated again flatly.
At last, Princess Diana seemed convinced and nodded.
“Thank the Olympians! I’m glad he is only your charity case!” she said and
turned her eyes towards Stark’s villa.
Superman frowned and Diana realizing looked at him under stray glimmering
locks.
“I mean I never fell for that nonsense of Superman being in love with that
human; not because he is a human” she tilted her head and closed her eyes
grinning. “Well, that too…But even if a Warrior God like you chose a human
being” she clenched her waist and stabbed him with flared up eyes “I’d expect a
dynamic, fierce presence like Lois Lane and not that lame, pitiful existence”
her lips showed disgust.
Rage pierced Clark’s guts: he couldn’t listen to these things about Bruce. It
was unfair, it was preposterous! And Lois was right that the Princess asked for
her to do the interview because of her connection with Superman. But he just
couldn’t get mad at the Amazon Princess who gazed at him amused.
“Of course I admit that he is gorgeous and as even Almighty Zeus many times
copulated with mortals, you could be drawn to him to satisfy your bodies’
needs” she sniggered “though I doubt whether he’d even last taking you inside
him…” her eyebrow jerked up and her eyes shone gleefully.
Clark couldn’t help it but remember the dread he felt every time Bruce’s body
stirred desire in him, desperate lust and he had to struggle with himself to
not succumb and hurt the vulnerable human. Suddenly he realized that Diana was
appraising his body shamelessly and cleared his throat.
“Mr. Wayne isn’t lame; in fact, he is very brave.”
Her perfect lips twisted.
“Your kindness and generosity is surpassed only by your beauty and bravery!”
Clark could easily discern flattery and sycophancy and he detested these more
than anything but from Diana’s lustful mouth these words sounded honest and
made his insides squirm with pride.
“But, please Superman…” she snorted. “He crawls on the soil like a worm to save
his hide, he cowers behind the trees waiting better men and women to save him
risking their lives…” she huffed and shook her head disgusted. “When I reached
the clearing and saw him realizing that he was your supposed ‘mate’, I felt
awfully: Superman deserves more than this! But, thank Almighty Zeus, you didn’t
fell to the trap!”
Superman was hearing dumbfounded: somewhere inside he was aware that he should
be annoyed but it didn’t seem important enough.
“Trap?” he frowned.
She made an impressive dive to the sky and flew to stop and float surrounded by
the sun’s disk; Superman followed charmed by the spectacle of her perfect, hot
body illuminated by the golden orange disk.
“Your good heart’s trap: a benevolent God of the Light like you would certainly
be touched by that man’s past, his suffering, his beautiful eyes taking their
saddest and helpless sparkle…”
“You know his backstory?” he inquired puzzled.
She smiled and it was so beautiful.
“Who doesn’t?” she arched an eyebrow. “The poor child that grown up in the
hands of his parents’ murderer constantly tortured and sexually abused” she
sighed. “I can see why you’re so protective of him: pure mercy! But it’d be
disastrous if you mistook mercy for love.”
Clark crossed his arms and looked lopsided at her, his trademark curl waving
from the faint wind. He knew that what he felt for Bruce wasn’t mercy but deep
love yet the way Diana put things made him recount the first time he saw Bruce
at Falcone’s party and then apart from the attractiveness of the young man it
was his willingness to save him from his cruel fate that dragged him to the
young sex toy.
He took in the Amazon’s self-confident, smug smile and slapped himself
internally: how could he even think that it wasn’t love that immediately bonded
him with Bruce?
“You don’t like humans much, huh?’’ he asked coldly and her eyelashes trembled,
her eyes shining sad for his coldness.
Her rich lips upturned in an innocent shy grin.
“I’m afraid you misunderstood me, Superman. I like humans very much; I feel for
their pains and misery. If I didn’t care, I wouldn’t have bothered when I came
across a dying Oliver Queen after being attacked by a gang of smugglers – as
happened with you and Wayne - I wouldn’t have saved him from them and taken him
to Themyscira though men are not allowed there; we healed him and I brought him
back to his world deciding to not let evil people do again what they did to
Oliver. I already began stopping terrorists from killing innocent people.”
Superman knew that: he had covered with articles her feats and followed Lois’
work on the “Wonder Woman” as people already called her. "Beautiful as
Aphrodite, wise as Athena, stronger than Hercules, and swifter than
Mercury"…Clark pondered slithering her gorgeous body with his eyes – exactly,
as the Greek Mythology described her.
“Yet I’m fully realistic about humans” she knitted her eyebrows, hiding her
satisfaction from Superman’s gaze. “We love them, we protect them, we guide
them but they are inferior” she shook her head resolutely. “They aren’t for us:
even if someone of them got the attention of someone of us, he/she won’t be
enough for long – humans are good for one or two couplings, afterwards they
become boring, uninteresting.”
She pointed with the corner of her sneering eye towards the villa.
“Especially, when he is a defective, weak specimen as Bruce Wayne…”
Hearing again the word he also used just some minutes ago had a strange numbing
effect on him. Bruce was weak, truly… And then he saw again the human standing
beside the bed: proud, resolute, having evaded his bruising grip, his chiseled
body’s powerful aura causing Superman even now goose bumps… Bruce was stronger
than both of them. And that arrogant Princess not only insulted Bruce but also
Clark’s human parents! Humans might not have super powers like them but their
kindness, love, self sacrificing nature, their cleverness, their willpower made
them stronger than any God!
He took in her confused and inquiring stare for his silence and he was ready to
berate her…politely but then scared cries reached his ears accompanied by
nightmarish sounds of collapsing metal. He made a steep dive and flew in full
speed.
 
A teen girl just walked out of the examination room and Thomas was more than
happy that at last he would be able to think without any nuisance.
“Dr. Elliot, do you want me to stay and assist you?” the nurse, Kelly, asked
him.
“No, that won’t be necessary, dear, thank you” he treated her one of his
stunning smiles and the girl blushed causing his internal smirk. “You must be
tired after your shift so the sooner you get your rest the better…” he placed
his hands on her shoulders amused from her shiver.
Kelly looked him shyly.
“But you must be tired, too: working at Gotham General, teaching at the
University and volunteering here at the free clinic!” her voice was filled with
admiration.
Thomas rubbed her upper arms.
“It’s my duty as a doctor, Kelly and I assure you” he shook his head and raised
his eyebrows for emphasis “it’s more pleasing than tiresome, especially when I
collaborate with a dedicated girl like you” he hardly silenced his chuckle on
her deeper reddening.
He lolled his head on the shoulder brushing with his finger a brunette lock
that had escaped Kelly’s ponytail.
“It’s not like I am Bruce Wayne and people surround me eager to pamper me,
huh?” he grinned and the young nurse smiled. “Speaking of which, three months
have passed since the last time we saw him” he frowned. “It was here, at the
clinic, that he was last seen, right?” she nodded. “Did you happen to do your
shift then?”
He already knew that she was working that night yet he didn’t want to reveal
that he had made his research and that was the reason he cajoled that stupid
girl. She was so obviously flattered and enthralled with the supposed interest
of the young, rich doctor that Thomas wanted to snigger.
“Yeah, I was working that night – I remember it very vividly because it was a
night filled with events.”
Thomas’s eyes took a fake shine of fascination that made Kelly float: she liked
it when that important man goggled at her as if she was the most intriguing
person on Earth.
“Mmm…Definitely” he remarked. “Seeing Superman carrying in bridal style someone
wrapped in his red cape it’s a very rare spectacle…” he took off his medical
robe, enjoying the nurse’s appreciative gape at his expensive suit; he sat on
the stool right by the examination table.
Kelly hastened to follow him standing in front of him.
“Actually, I didn’t see that” and taking in Dr. Elliot’s disappointment hurried
to add “Dr. Thompkins didn’t let anyone on the rooftop with her: she and Mr.
Pennyworth dragged the gurney” Thomas narrowed his eyes. “I saw the video along
with the others in the nurse station – I had helped Dr. Thompkins take Mr.
Wayne to the MRI but then she dismissed me because another nurse came…” she
pouted her lips. “Actually I don’t remember having seen her before or after…”
A crook smile carved Thomas’ face: so mystery surrounding Brucie was amusing if
not annoying: superheroes, secrecy, strange people, Joker, he, the acclaimed
Dr. Elliot… – Brucie shouldn’t be so interesting. That pampered brat ought to
have died the night his parents did.
“He must have been really scared…” he looked her lopsided and Kelly shrugged.
“I don’t know…” she pressed her finger on her lip thoughtful “I guess he was in
a state of shock…but surely he was agitated especially when he saw the video
with Superman and then Joker threatening the children.”
Thomas beamed: that Kelly was precious! So stupid and so babbler that he didn’t
even have to try to get info.
“I imagine how terrifying was for him to see Joker after his kidnapping” he
cocked an eyebrow and his eyes widened with innocent pity.
Kelly put her hands in her robe’s pockets.
“Leslie took him to his room and nobody saw him after that; I heard that they
transferred him to his Manor for more safety and then Stark took him to a
special rehab center because his condition deteriorated.”
Thomas nodded, pouting: that’s how they explained his humiliating dismissal.
“Did Leslie speak at all about Bruce’s condition?” he asked concerned, sure
that the tough doctor wouldn’t have shared anything with the clinic’s personnel
but hoping that Kelly had heard something accidentally.
She shook her head in denial clearly distraught for not being able to be
helpful.
“No; I’m sorry, Dr. Elliot…”
Wanting to soothe her distress and win her over, he raised his palm.
“Call me “Tommy”, dear…”
The young nurse beamed, her cheeks turning a deep shade of red.
“Dr. Elliot” he mumbled “I couldn’t…”
Thomas rolled his eyes and fought the urge to snort but instead he widened his
eyes.
“You’ll make me very happy, Kelly…”
She smiled.
“OK, Tommy” he scoffed inside. “Well, no, Dr. Thompkins never mentioned
anything – of course, she certainly will have discussed matters with Dr. Smit
or some other doctors she trusts but all of them are very strict and careful
with patient info…”
“So honorable!” he sneered but the nurse didn’t understand it. “Ummm…Kelly, I
haven’t seen Leslie from the moment I started my shift” he squinted. “You know
if she is ill or something? I know how responsible and commited she is so her
absence worries me…”
Kelly waved her hand and giggled.
“No need to worry, Tommy: she is fine. Dr. Thompkins was here since really
early but Captain America came and took her with him. He was really cute and
very polite – I told him where to find Dr. Thompkins.”
But Thomas wasn’t listening to her foolish babbling: the arrival of Captain
America ringing several bells.
“When?” he demanded with a firm frown that surprised the young nurse.
“Mmm…I think around 11 o’ clock…”
Thomas’ icy eyes were blank staring at nowhere, occupied with his thoughts and
that frightened Kelly. Yet the young man realizing softened his stare and
smiled.
“Thank you, Kelly – I feel awful for keeping you from your rest” he stood up
announcing her dismissal. “See you tomorrow, dear!” he said hastily and watched
eagerly as she left the room closing the door.
Once left alone, he slumped on the stool and intertwined his fingers together
on the bench with the medical stuff. His eyebrows frowned deeply, covering his
narrowed sharp eyes.
It was the reason he volunteered to work at the clinic: he didn’t give a damn
about Narrows or Gothamites but this was the only way to be near his ‘friend’
and if this was impossible – as it was the case – be close to Leslie, gain her
trust and snatch information. Because his several attempts to hack the clinic’s
records to find Bruce’s file failed: It seems that Stark had established a very
complex and impenetrable firewall.
Well…Leslie wasn’t a fool and unwilling to trust anyone with info about Brucie
which served only to increase his determination and obsession. So he
volunteered to the clinic seeking access to patients’ handwritten files…
Frustratingly, no Bruce’s file there… But thankfully the clinic had many people
who weren’t as clever as Dr. Thompkins and could feed him with useful
intelligence.
Captain America came and took Leslie… Thomas smirked and brushed his tablet’s
screen browsing the latest news. No emergency around 11 o’ clock with Captain’s
or the Avengers’ intervention. And even if something had happened Thomas
doubted whether Leslie’s urgent transfer and presence was necessary even if she
was an esteemed doctor…
Which led Thomas’ reasoning to a much more interesting association: Captain
America was an Avenger; Tony Stark was also an Avenger and the team’s new
director; Bruce was Stark’s friend and Leslie’s favorite patient; so Captain
America taking Leslie meant only one thing: Leslie was needed to offer her
treatment because no other doctor was trusted and Stark asked from his
colleague to fetch the doctor because either he was far to come himself or he
wanted speed or both. In either case, that led to one conclusion:
“What new suffering you brought to yourself, Bruce?”
 
Alfred given the opportunity of the two men’s departure approached his young
master who seemed lost in his thoughts or self- concentration. He knew that the
youth would be very sad if he hurried to support him yet his legs dragged him
on Bruce’s side without even thinking about it.
“Can you sit down now, Bruce?” Leslie asked calmly patting the mattress.
Bruce looked at her as if he hadn’t heard, his mind relishing the triumph of
spirit over matter, muting Clark’s angry words…that stung. He was standing
again after three months and was a great feeling: during his staying at the
Fortress thanks to the pyramids mighty energy he could make some soft moves but
not stand. And now managing that without the assistance of a foreign energy
force was incredible! He knew he could do it all this time yet he hesitated to
try because the damage was too devastating and he believed that upon standing
his fragile, ragged bones would shatter… But they didn’t!
“Bruce…” Leslie muttered her widened eyes on him reading the youth’s internal
battle.
Selina had her palm over her mouth, numb.
But Alfred knew that this was bad. As much as seeing his young master standing
was a balsam to his heart and willing Bruce to sink again to his chair was
wrenching his guts, he bit his lips, as he had done so many times before, and
wrapped Bruce’s back with his arm.
“Master Bruce, if you please…”
Alfred’s trembling hand touching gingerly his back and the butler’s soothing
voice shook Bruce. He looked at Alfred who smiled affectionately: and then it
dawned that this was wrong and it scared his loved ones. He nodded and Alfred
slowly, carefully led his young master’s body flat on the mattress as the
physiotherapist taught him.
Bruce reluctantly let his body free of his mind’s powerful tyranny and weakness
returned along with immobility. Weakness…Alone the word with Clark’s snarly
tone uttering it could make his body more dead than it was now.
Leslie placed her palm on Bruce’s chest pressing her lips. Bruce raised his
eyes to her face.
“It’s better now?” she asked benignly.
He gave a tight lips smile.
“Yeah…I’m sorry…for that… for everything” he nodded. “Do what you want.”
Leslie wasn’t satisfied from the answer; she didn’t want Bruce blaming himself
for what happened or feeling bad. She was sensing the muscles of the healthy
part of his body very tense and turned her eyes at Alfred communicating without
words her need for help.
But Bruce taking in their uneasiness caught them on the act.
“You won’t examine me?”
Leslie cupped his face.
“I need you to calm down first …”
That felt as an insult for Bruce even though he knew that Leslie said it from
concern yet it was another blow to Bruce’s self-esteem hinting that a mild
stimulus as an argument made him lost his calm. He immediately willed his heart
and body – the part that still felt – to relax.
“I’m perfectly calm, Leslie – nothing happened” he grinned.
“I’m glad to hear that: now, tell me where it does hurt” and before Bruce
managed to utter his protest “I know you from the first minute you open your
eyes to this world so I can distinguish the signals of your pain as much as you
hide them. I’m your doctor, boy – you tell everything to your doctor” she
pressed her lips reprimanding.
Bruce blinked uncomfortable but then he felt a warm, rough tongue licking his
fingers and his face loosened immediately upon looking at Hero who had climbed
the bed. He caressed the kitten whose purring filled the room. Selina smiled
mirroring Bruce’s wide smile because it was obvious that little Hero was the
best tranquilizer for her friend.
“My ribs hurt a bit and…my arms” he added hesitantly because he didn’t want the
last pain being connected with Clark’s grip.
“And your head?”
“I didn’t hit my head; the scratches and bruises are superficially. I have a
mild headache but it’s nothing.”
Leslie nodded and began palpating Bruce’s torso carefully, not leaving an inch
and keeping her keen eyes on her patient’s face for any minuscule indication of
pain because she knew Bruce’s immense pain threshold and tolerance and didn’t
want to risk losing even the most insignificant looking symptom.
The fact that Bruce was occupied in petting his kitten and Selina had sat
beside the bed and participated to the game gave Leslie the asset of getting
honest reactions from him. Once or twice he grimaced slightly but it was
because she touched some bruises that fortunately weren’t connected with his
healing organs.
Alfred watched poised hiding his concern, his eyes meeting often with Leslie’s
for reassurance, not wanting to ask aloud to not ruin the mood of the two
youths who were chuckling tickling Hero’s belly and playing with his
‘attacking’ paws. His old friend had the stethoscope in her neck yet Alfred
understood that she wanted first to feel the organs and then listen to them.
Leslie was palpating calmly as ever the empty space in Bruce’s body where his
spleen used to be; the truth was that she was afraid because the lack of the
said organ could have implications on infections on the lungs especially the
one that had collapsed entirely. Thankfully, neither the empty space nor the
lungs were hit so no swellings or bleeding there: her eyes beamed to Alfred’s.
Alfred finally gulped the knot that had formed in his throat and watched
encouraged Leslie listening the young man’s heart and lungs with her
stethoscope.
“You see?” Bruce protested. “I told you I was alright.”
Leslie smirked and narrowed her eyes playfully, her relief having lifted her
mood.
“Mmm… However you don’t have a good record in the assessment of your body’s
injuries, do you?” she winked and began feeling each muscle of Bruce’s legs.
“Or better” she cleared her throat “minimizing your body’s injuries to achieve
your sneaky goals…”
Nothing menacing in those new bruises and no deterioration to the old, she
communicated to Alfred. But to Bruce’s sigh it wasn’t over because Leslie stood
and brought the portable ultrasound gadget to examine the organs and the state
of the internal casts. And even after that she had to bring the spirometer.
“C’me on, young man” she said looking sternly at her displeased patient. “You
know the procedure…” Bruce rolled his eyes to Selina and she shrugged
sympathetically. “Stop rolling your eyes…” Leslie mock berated him.
Bruce blew in the spirometer which was of course not a common spirometer doing
much more detailed examination than the usual Pulmonary Function Tests.
“I’m not feeling any discomfort during respiration and I’m not coughing” Bruce
remarked to Leslie who was perusing the gadget’s screen.
She grinned.
“I’m glad to hear that, Bruce, yet we must be sure, right?”
“I wasn’t hit on the chest and I protected it while on ground.”
“That’s good! But still your lungs need regular observation and since I’m
here…” she frowned. “Don’t tell me that you’re unhappy to see old Leslie
because of these petty exams?” she narrowed her eyes mocking angrily as she was
doing when Bruce was a toddler and the kid was giggling every time. “And…
should I suspect that you swear me inside?”
Bruce’s eyes widened and his cheeks reddened which made Selina laugh and Alfred
smile.
“Of course not!” the young man protested affronted and Leslie shook her head.
“I know how much you love me…though that hue of pink on your already rosy
cheeks” she brushed his cheeks “isn’t very convincing…”
“I’m embarrassed you thought this for me!”
But Leslie didn’t need Bruce’s words to know that. She kissed his cheek.
“The red color on your cheeks” she looked at Selina “of both of you shows that
your staying here has benefited you.”
Selina yanked her head.
“My cheeks were always rosy” she said smugly and Bruce cocked an eyebrow.
“With or without the tons of rouge?” he sniggered and Selina clenched her teeth
and pinched his nose causing a light hearted laugh. “Thasos was famous for her
healthy climate from the ancient times” he said to Leslie.
“I see you exercise your mind as much as your body, huh?” she arched an
eyebrow.
“And along with the climate, we have the fresh local butter, milk, eggs, olive
oil to thank…” Alfred added and Bruce looked at him grinning.
“Alfred has made his stock of local products for the Manor” Bruce commented and
the butler arched an eyebrow “and also I made a deal of supplying the Haven and
the clinic with local products as an addition to those from American farms.”
Leslie smiled.
“The businessman never rests, huh?”
“And, please, don’t forget my contribution on providing fresh fish” Selina
added “and honey I, myself, gathered from the hive rising my life…” upon that
Bruce choked from his chuckle.
“Yeah!” he remarked. “Selina took very special care in finding the best…looking
providers for that…” he laughed and Selina bared her teeth and heaved Hero from
the armpits bringing him to Bruce’s face.
“Eat him, Hero! Eat him!” she urged the animal but the kitten just nuzzled
Bruce’s cheek causing the young man’s giggles. “Ugh! Males always cover each
other’s ass!” Selina fumed and began ruffling her friend’s disheveled hair.
Leslie shook her head in mock disapproval and turned her eyes to Alfred who
struggled, like her, to hide his smile.
“I don’t know how you manage with these two…” she said walking to the cabinet
to take some needles.
“Neither do I, Leslie…” Alfred sighed but it was from delight not complaint.
Leslie sat again to the chair next to the bed and Alfred who grasped
immediately her intention brought her a chunk of cotton drenched in alcohol.
Bruce turned to her catching the smell.
“One last ordeal” Leslie told him. “I want a blood sample.”
He closed his eyes but stretched his arm.
“And all these because I crawled in the dirt?” he asked exasperated. “Alfred
sends you detailed reports on my health every day!”
But Leslie unfazed pierced the vein in the elbow, drew blood and filled the
small different vials Alfred gave her.
Suddenly knocks on the door made everyone look there except from Leslie who was
absorbed in putting the samples she took in the rectangular blood test machine
on the metallic table.
“Hmmm…” a clearing of throat “I was wondering if my detention is over now so I
could join the fun?” Tony said in a tone of the cat that spilt the milk. “Huh?
Little guy?” Bruce could see Tony’s puppy eyes and pout even behind the heavy
door.
“Come and save me!” Bruce said and Tony needed nothing more to enter beaming
with wide arms.
“Heeeere’s Toooony!”
Bruce smiled upon seeing his cheerful friend, happy that his bad reaction
before hadn’t ruined much Tony’s beautiful attitude. Yet his heart sank not
seeing Clark with him as he had hoped: so, Clark was pretty angry
and…disappointed with him. All this time, Bruce was hiding his bitterness and
upset from what happened yet a dull pain had settled over his chest.
Tony sniffed it and scratched his nape.
“Sorry, missy” he pushed gently Selina to take her place next to Bruce “but you
had him for yourself all this time…” Hero turned his round, glimmering eyes to
Tony’s and the billionaire twisted his lips. “OK, you can stay, fur buddy.”
Hero purred and brushed his head to Tony’s stomach.
“Listen, little guy, I told Clark to let you some space to calm down – both of
you. He wanted to stay…” he pressed his lips and locked eyes with Bruce. “I
made it again, huh?”
Bruce shook his head.
“It’s OK, Tony…”
Tony raised his eyes to Leslie who was holding gently Bruce’s elbow clearing
the grazed skin.
“It’s everything alright?” he asked.
“It seems so: in a couple of minutes I’ll have the results from the blood tests
and the PFT. And I’ll monitor him for 24 hours to have also a detailed
cardiograph for Dr. Attkins.”
Bruce snapped his eyes at Leslie.
“What? Don’t tell me I’m not welcome here?” she inquired teasingly.
“Yes but I know how reluctant you are to leave your clinic…”
Leslie took off her glasses and placed them on the table.
“That’s true but we’re not living in Falcone’s reign anymore so I can take a
leave, right?” she took his other elbow to treat; a suspicious frown on her
face. “Unless you’re afraid that with me here you won’t get Alfred’s indulgence
in your mischief… You know, endless hours of exercise…”
Alfred bit his lip and shared a complicit glance with his young master. Yet
Bruce pouted and widened his eyes in innocence.
“Without exercise I’d have gained too much weight… I’m just trying to stop my
muscles from degenerating and keep them in good shape. And I think that I can
start attempting small steps. Slowly, of course and with the physiotherapist’s
guidance” he took in how the others shared meaningful stares.
“You know it’s too early for that, Bruce” Leslie told him resisting the urge to
bite her lips for the disappointment she knew that was bringing to him. “Your
bones haven’t mended yet and your damaged neurons haven’t recovered – how on
Earth you expect to walk when your neurons are unable to carry motor orders
from your brain?!” she rubbed her eyebrow calming herself registering Bruce’s
blank eyes. “And even if we solve the mobility problem, you know how dangerous
it is to walk around unable to get sensory information from your body?’’ she
was speaking in professional matter but she wanted to sigh at the darkening of
Bruce’s eyes. “As a matter of fact” oh, this would be difficult “after what
happened, I suggest no exercise for three days.”
“What?! No, Leslie!” his eyes narrowed defensively and stubbornly. “It’s not
that I’ll force my body stand and run!” he protested and saw Tony’s eyes shut
in frustration. “That’s my punishment for even thinking to stand and move,
right? It happened only once: I’m not doing it all the time, do I?” he turned
to Alfred to confirm his argument. “I know that it’s bad to do it in my current
condition and I admit I was ready to do it for assisting Selina: I couldn’t
abandon her fighting alone while they were swarming from everywhere and had
weapons! But other than that I didn’t use this ability to dance or play or swim
or stroll around or whatever… All these months I just sit in my chair or lie on
the bed just watching, waiting others to take me in their arms… And I know that
you agree with Clark: that this is my fault, the result of my decisions and
deeds so…I asked for it” he inhaled deeply. “And I’m not complaining or
whining…I only want to try…”
He shook his head and rolled it to the other side without looking at anyone:
nobody understood anyways. They loved him, they took care of him without
complaining and even happy because he survived yet they couldn’t understand his
feelings, his wish to begin at least trying to walk again…
“Little guy…” Tony’s husky voice began saying reluctantly but he didn’t want to
hear words of consolation – as a matter of fact he was tired of all this
argument: he remembered Clark and something screamed inside him.
Bruce turned his eyes to Leslie who had remained inert from the punch of
Bruce’s outburst, resumed cleaning his wounds swallowing her deep compassion
for the youth.
“Actually, you should examine Sel too: she fought all alone and might have
taken nasty blows she didn’t admit. She is as stubborn as me.”
Selina cocked an eyebrow.
“So it’s my turn for punishment?” she said wryly.
Bruce stabbed her with his eyes.
“It’s time we stop neglecting you” his voice was tired and Selina pressed her
lips. “You gave a brave battle and we should make sure you didn’t get hurt” he
stretched his hand and took hers.
Tony cocked his eyebrows.
“Nice… Some girlish boobs at last!”
Selina punched his shoulder and Tony chuckled.
“What?! I can take off my T-shirt too if you’re shy…”
“The boys will go out” Leslie ordered.
“Damn!” Tony exclaimed.
“Master Bruce, your bath is ready” Alfred said consulting the control panel, no
bigger than a smart phone, from where he could inspect and start or shut every
appliance in the house.
Tony grinned smugly: his favorite Englishman was at first skeptical and
unwilling to use his high tech tricks but in the end he mastered them.
Alfred brought the chair, a fleece blanket resting at his forearm and gave Hero
to Selina. With Tony’s assistance he placed Bruce comfortably on the chair
tucking his young master with the blanket; the kind man felt with a pang his
young master’s buried dismay yet they just couldn’t stop themselves from
soothing things for him.
“Thank you” Bruce said softly to both of them in a hoarse voice and took again
Hero in his lap. “I’m grateful to all of you for everything…” Clark’s
accusation of him being ungrateful still biting his guts.
“You’re not ungrateful, Master Bruce” Alfred replied reading his thoughts “and
if I may utter my humble opinion: nothing from all these is your fault.”
Bruce locked his tired eyes with Alfred’s and gave a pressed grin.
 
***** Chapter 10 *****
Superman knew what was happening before he arrived: his super vision and
hearing had sketched already the scene. So he didn’t need to stand and think
what to do: in super speed he put his body in front of the high speed train
that had lost its rail and was heading to dive in the canyon. What Clark also
knew was that a second train was coming from the opposite direction.
The location was just a few miles outside the city of Zurich in Switzerland and
people on the train yelled ready for the dive to the canyon that surely would
kill them; Clark could hear kids shrieking and babies crying as their parents
cuddled them protectively.
His biceps and triceps bulged under the train weight but he gritted his teeth
and returned the train on the rail over the bridge easily yet the other train
was coming. His raging mind thought of just heaving the train off the rail but
they were on a bridge where the rails leading to opposite directions became
one. The derailed train wasn’t supposed to go on the bridge but turn at the
intersection a mile before yet some sudden breakdown to the system made it
continue without turning, constantly losing its route into finally breaking the
railings and falling off the bridge.
The view of the cliff over the bridge was breathtaking but at the moment Clark
wasn’t in the mood to appreciate it; on the contrary it frustrated him. Because
the only solution he had was stopping the train with his back – which was
already happening, the high speed train slowly losing impetus under Superman’s
tremendous power. People in the train were cheering and shooting videos of
their miraculous rescue with their tablets and smart phones, unaware that
another train was fast approaching to collide head on with them.
Clark knew that he had to stop the other train with his hands since even though
he sensed that the other driver was struggling to stop it, the train still had
great impetus.
He heard the cheers turning to new shrieks and cries when the first people saw
the coming train. Superman clenched his teeth determined to stop the train even
if he had to die in the effort. He thought of Bruce: what would Bruce do if he
wasn’t able to use all his power?
The pang was awful seeing again Bruce confined in that chair…powerless…He
roared: Bruce would have compensated his lost mobility with his other skills.
Superman blew at the coming train slowing down a bit its speed and pressed his
lips satisfied because now, at a slower speed, his odds were better. He plunged
his feet in the ground, his back emanating real flames from the friction with
the other train that thankfully had almost halted. He positioned his hands
ready to stop the second train, clenching his eyes and jaw preparing for the
collision.
That didn’t come. Superman heard the second train halt with a long screeching
sound and the scent of metal on metal friction burnt his nostrils. But the most
exhilarating was the cheers from the two trains: and to make his exhilaration
greater another pleasant perfume distinguished in the air. He opened his eyes.
Princess Diana was standing in the middle of the rail: her one leg slightly
bent the other stretched firmly rooted to the ground and her arms put on the
headlights of the train that stopped under her resolution and mighty force.
Superman appraised her body: the effort had drenched her with hotness but not
sweat because she was a demi-goddess and as he, such activity wasn’t demanding
enough to make her sweat. Nevertheless, the effect was breathtaking: the
hotness emanating from her lean, strong body highlighting the tension, the
tautness, the beautiful way her muscles bulged lined by throbbing veins…
Diana turned her head graciously to him, her waving locks blinding him; but her
eyes’ sparkling was one of the most beautiful things he had ever seen. She
smiled loosely and released the train now that it was secured.
Superman did the same and walked to her with determined eyes that locked with
hers as they approached each other. The saved humans on the trains were
cheering and capturing the scene.
Diana stood before him and hit her fisted hand over her heart as a sign of
respect and Superman stretched his hand. The Amazon pierced him with her
blazing eyes and shook his hand causing the crowd’s raving cheers.
“When you left in such haste I figured that something really urgent occurred
and followed…just in case. I hope you don’t mind…” she purred.
Superman registered how her even breaths made her rich breasts move slowly,
mesmerizing, wanting to escape their leather confines. That wasn’t proper, he
berated himself, and focused again on her beautiful eyes.
“Not at all, Princess” he made a respectful, slight bow and pierced the air
with his fist hoisting his body to return at Metropolis.
 
The very soft sensation was slithering his chest: it was velvety and silky and
feathery as if the softest breeze was touching his flesh, like all the love of
the world was caressing him. Bruce knew that it was something sponge looking
but it was nothing like any sponge he used, even the natural sponge that Alfred
provided him even under Falcone’s tyranny.
He closed his eyes and inhaled carefully because although the Fortress
monitored and controlled his body’s functions, eliminating much of the pain and
the discomfort, Bruce didn’t want to test his long suffering lungs, especially
the right that he had felt it collapsing just a few seconds before he… died in
Clark’s arms.
And now after a month – as Clark told him – he was lying on that bed that gave
the impression of being made of clouds in a room made to look exactly as the
master bedroom in the Manor.
“I want you to tell me if I’m hurting you…” a voice smoother than the alien
sponge whispered to him – Clark’s voice.
He had a sweet, happy smile lightening his face yet Bruce could discern apart
from his elation for getting him back, the pain and fear of all these days he
was in a coma and his agony that his ministrations could hurt him. All these in
his crystal, clear eyes.
“I’m fine…” he answered, smiling for additional reassurance unable to speak
more due to his fatigue and to the sensations Clark’s ministrations caused to
his oversensitive, naked body.
The painkillers and the other medicines he was given made his body
feel…strange…constantly in a pleasantly numb state as if it wasn’t tied to the
earth but in a medium level between earth and heaven, existence and non-
existence: a trance. And that made Clark’s tender ministrations so pleasant,
enhancing the feeling of wings flapping in his chest…Maybe more because he came
back from the dead and wanted to suck every pleasant experience life could
offer.
He moaned as the too soft material touched his nipple and Clark stopped
abruptly scared that he had caused pain to his fragile lungs.
“I hurt you…” he licked his lips cursing himself.
He barely shook his head and since he couldn’t make the move as he wanted, he
grinned.
“No, it felt nice…” he closed his eyes and Clark chuckled.
He saw through his eyelashes Clark drenching the sponge into a column of light
neon blue light that the Fortress conjured obviously because the Man of Steel
thought it. Now the sponge brushed velvety his abdominals, slowly, meticulously
and Bruce could hear his savior’s rasps; he wondered even in his mind’s drug
induced daze how Clark could find breathtaking a mangled body…
Yet…he relished on that: the perfect man’s love and desire. He breathed
carefully, synchronizing his respiration with Clark’s movements, since he
couldn’t do anything else more encouraging for the man who loved him. But even
that was enough for Clark to understand… Bruce knew so well those lips that
barely touched his belly sending tender hot air to caress his flesh and ripple
his skin with goose bumps…
“Mmmm…” Bruce sighed – damn! His powerlessness shouldn’t be so…erotic.
He could sense Clark’s amazed eyes watch him flapping his eyelashes as Clark
continued nibbling his abdominals with only the edge of his lips. And then
Clark caressed Bruce’s left hand because the right was strongly encased.
“I’m here to bath you…” he said regretful.
Bruce smiled without opening his eyes in an effort to make the sensation
linger.
“I prefer your lips than the sponge…” he answered slyly.
Clark rose and his face was above his; he had still his eyes shut but he could
understand the concern just from Clark’s breath. Bruce opened his eyes and
Clark’s eyes confirmed his assumption.
“Is the sponge harsh?” the Man of Steel inquired really distressed.
Bruce smiled and wished he could move his left hand to touch Clark’s cheek.
“No, it’s soft like velvet, silk and cotton together – yet your lips are even
softer…”
Clark cupped his cheeks and locked their lips almost sobbing from suppressed
craving that at least could be let out; yet as soon as Bruce felt the first
imperceptible pang in his lung, Clark stopped. Bruce realized that the Man of
Steel after all this time was perfectly tuned with his vitals.
Clark nuzzled his cheekbones and then his temples keeping his eyes closed and
fighting his complaining whines.
“I must continue…” he pressed his lips and Bruce nodded.
Clark was bathing him every day, twice; though the environment in the Fortress
was perfectly clean, healthy and sterilized, the Man of Steel never let go of
this routine… Bruce understood that Clark needed that; he loved to wash him and
never let his androids do it: he suspected that Clark wanted to bath his body
to persuade himself that Bruce was alive. At first, when he was in a coma, and
then when he woke up, to persuade himself that it was true and that he hadn’t
dreamt that…
Bruce knew that Clark was washing his legs because he didn’t feel anything;
only his eyes could inform him that Clark’s gentle touch was still his, taking
care with adoration leaking from his eyes - flesh that ungratefully would
ignore everything. So he was watching eagerly Clark’s every ministration as
much as his inability to crane his neck allowed him – he didn’t want to miss
anything because he felt that it was unfair to that wonderful demigod who
humbled himself so much as to wash him.
Clark realizing Bruce’s watching eyes was raising his head every now and then
to smile to him. Bruce mirrored that smile not only because Clark always caused
that reaction to him but also because the bed was drying his body instantly and
made him feel like laundry…
As soon as he finished applying carefully the healing and painkilling alien
balsam, Clark let the sponge suspend inside the blue neon light. He wrapped
carefully Bruce’s chest with one arm and used the other to raise carefully,
gingerly his torso.
Bruce almost purred from Clark’s gentle rubbing but stopped when he sensed
Clark placing something around his neck: a pendant. He opened his eyes and saw
the black diamond hanging in the middle of his chest, near his beating heart;
it was wrapped in a plain but beautiful oval shaped frame made from black
platinum. It glowed like a dark star.
Clark brushed Bruce’s locks and kissed tenderly the corner of his lips.
“I thought that I ought to the Black Butterfly give her an appropriate frame”
he smiled uncomfortably. “At least, I think it appropriate: what’s your
opinion?”
Bruce wanted to touch it but his hands wouldn’t make him the favor so he
settled for the feeling of the mystic diamond over his heart and the beauty of
the black, rare metal.
“I think it’s beautiful…” he locked his eyes with Clark’s.
“It reminds me of you…” he mumbled and cleared his throat determined. “Let’s
take care of your bed sores now…”  
Bruce nestled his face in Clark’s shoulder: his numbing powerlessness made him
so prone to find refuge in Clark’s hot body, nude as his; maybe because his
body remembered who saved it; who taught him love…
“I don’t have any…” he mumbled letting his lips graze smoothly Superman’s naked
shoulder that its hair raised and Clark shivered. “You’re a perfect nurse” he
chuckled “a nurse of steel: I’m thinking of recommending you to Leslie…” he
smiled knowing that Clark felt it since his cheek was sunk in his shoulder.
Clark’s fingers ruffled his locks as he did a few minutes ago when shampooed
him. The Man of Steel was beaming as their eyes met.
“We are in good cheer, huh?” he cupped Bruce’s face and mouthed the corner of
his lips sucking the feeling of the soft flesh and the unique perfume.
And he was looking at Clark’s closed, trembling eyes as his lips massaged
tenderly his lips, his cheek, his neck, groaning, sniffing desperately.
“Cinnamon, orange, hibiscus, defiance, bravery, kindness: you…”
He could hear Clark’s affectionate whispering but his eyelids were too heavy
and discerning the words was impossible and then exhaustion won him over and as
much as he didn’t want it nothingness hid Clark’s voice…but not his love.
And then all of a sudden:
“But you’re WEAK, damn it! Only your stupid stubbornness doesn’t let you admit
it. Your pigheadedness sends you every time to risk your life while you know
that you can’t cope; your idiocy to prove that you don’t need anyone made you
use that stupid suicidal technique to force your disabled body to fight Joker…”
Bruce brushed the indication on the railing around the chair inside the bath
tub and the water stopped. His ‘’wheelchair’’ reading his wish reached the tub
that slightly inclined permitting Bruce hoist himself using the titanium
supporters and slide into the warm chair. He immediately took his bathrobe and
wore it.
Upon approaching, the door opened to the bedroom and Hero ran to him, climbing
swiftly to his lap. Bruce laughed and caressed his head.
The huge room was pleasantly warm and the built in fireplace opposite the king
size bed was on creating a wonderful atmosphere as outside the window night was
gradually settling. A discreet aroma of pine wood twirled in the room, relaxing
Bruce’s body.
“You’re too gushy, eh, buddy? To make up for your friend’s introversion…” the
kitten was staring at him and Bruce ran his hand to his wet locks. “Or you’re
just hungry…” he willed the chair towards the cabinet. “Good thing I stash food
here for you…” he locked eyes with the kitten and raised his index finger
warningly “but don’t tell Alfred I hide your biscuits here…”
He opened the marble-wood cabinet, pulled out a metallic bowl and filled it
with biscuits under Hero’s greedy stare that followed the bowl till the floor.
Yet the kitten didn’t jump and Bruce chuckled.
“You’re loyal: I give you that – you don’t sell your friend for some biscuits…”
He took a biscuit from the bag and brought it to Hero’s mouth who gulped it
greedily licking Bruce’s fingers. Bruce took him from the armpits and lowered
him to the floor next to his bowl.
“Help yourself, littl’ one – Bruce must get dressed.”
Alfred had set his clothes neatly on the mattress: he brushed the soft fabric.
Dark blue long sleeved fleece pajamas. And, of course, Alfred’s love and
overprotectiveness readied even underwear and socks; he wore as fast as he
could the underwear and took the socks but then the memories that accompanied
him during his bath returned and his stare was drawn to the clock on the
nightstand.
He hastily looked at the bedroom’s door a second before polite knocks announced
Alfred’s arrival; the kind form emerging after Bruce’s answer carrying a silver
tray with a white porcelain bowl, a milk jug, a sugar jug, a glass of orange
juice and a rose.
Alfred cast a sideways glance to Hero grinning and Bruce cleared his throat.
“Hero” the kitten turned to him licking his muzzle “remember what I told you
about Alfred and the biscuits?” he pressed his lips guiltily looking at Alfred.
“Forget it: we’re busted!”
Alfred chuckled relieved that his young master’s spirits were high again and
placed the tray on the small, rectangular table in front of the oval shaped
window that covered the center of the external wall in its entire length.
“Master Hero will be happy to have table company” he winked to the kitten who
turned upon hearing its name. “I brought you a snack, sir.”
He approached Bruce and gave him the orange juice taking the socks from his
hands.
“Please, leave that to me, sir” he said and crouched under Bruce’s
uncomfortable eyes. “And drink your juice before it loses its nutrients.”
“No, Alfred, no! You won’t do that…It’s too much!” he protested, moving his
hands to take the socks but Alfred was adamant.
“Sir” he mock scolded him “I have the suspicion that you intend on firing
me..." Bruce’s eyes widened shocked.
“Of…of course not!” he protested again.
Alfred took carefully his young master’s unresponsive foot and raised his
playful eyes to Bruce’s face.
“Then let me do my job! And please do drink your juice” he began dressing
Bruce’s feet gulping his sadness from feeling how dead these young legs were.
Bruce drank obediently his juice staring at him so intensely that the butler
felt it and looked back fixing meticulously the socks on the calves.
“It’s only temporary, Alfred: don’t be sad…I’ll walk again…soon…” he pressed
his lips in a determined grin – he wanted to comfort his wonderful butler who
was exhausted accompanying him through his entire journey in Hell.
“I know, sir…” he replied a bit embarrassed for being caught “please, forgive
an oversensitive old man for being a coward…” he absent mindedly caressed his
master’s feet.
Bruce’s eyes sparkled and he shook his head.
“You’re not old, Alfred, and definitely not a coward…”
Alfred stood grinning.
“Thank you, sir, yet you can’t deny that I am an idiot succumbing to sadness
while I’m so proud of you!”
Bruce raised his eyes to meet his butler’s affectionate stare.
“You’re not pissed I brought that on me?”
Alfred couldn’t fight it: he kneeled before the disabled young man and touched
his shoulders locking their eyes.
“Nobody is pissed at you, Master Bruce” he said solemnly. “We know you did the
right thing, the noble thing, an unbelievable sacrifice… Everyone, even Master
Kent, knows that weren’t for you, things would have been very difficult for the
children. Yet, you have to understand that…” he gulped and sighed “we love you
so much and that night we almost lost you again due to your…annoying altruism
and sometimes – how youth calls it? – we lose it…And you’re a really bad boy
who makes his butler broke his code of conduct!” he coughed with dignity to
cover his emotions and stood, taking in his young master’s grin.
He took the pajamas from the bed and placed them carefully over the back of an
armchair.
“Can you untie your bathrobe, Master Bruce?”
Bruce looked at him astonished: Alfred was helping him dress the first days of
his return from the Fortress but now he was more than able to dress himself.
However he didn’t want to spoil his mood so he obliged believing that Alfred
would just offer him his clothes.
But Alfred took his magical first aid kit (that probably had brought while
Bruce was in the bathroom) and began cleaning the scratches over his torso and
legs – Bruce was relieved that he had at least worn his boxers… In less than
fifteen minutes, Alfred was fixing the last sticking plaster on his forehead
and Bruce seeing him standing thought that he had finished and hastened to wear
again his robe.
Yet Alfred held the pajama shirt open and Bruce rolled his eyes.
“Alfred, for pity’s sake..!”
“Please, sir, stretch your arm” he said unfazed and Bruce did it although
grudgingly.
“You realize that I’m not eight years old…” the young man narrowed his eyes as
Alfred lifted the pajamas’ pants over his legs – he was blushed glad that he
had worn his boxers before his butler came in.
“Is it too bad that a butler wants at times to make up for the lost years?” he
asked in a casual tone yet Bruce sensed the underline emotion.
“No…” Bruce answered quietly and Alfred grinned.
“Thank you, sir” he buttoned up the pajama shirt and registered Bruce’s hand
brushing the fabric.
“It’s exactly like my favorite pajamas back then…” he said and Alfred nodded.
“I thought that I had forgotten the sense of the fabric…”
Alfred moved to the dresser and took the comb that belonged to Martha Wayne. He
began combing Bruce’s hair incredibly softly and carefully and the numbness
overtaking his mind reminded Bruce of the days at the Fortress when Clark was
dressing him and combing his hair. His eyes on their own volition glued to the
clock on the nightstand.
“He’ll come, Master Bruce” Alfred said. “If you pardon my lack of discretion: I
think that Master Kent can’t wait to come back to you. He wouldn’t have gone if
he didn’t believe that his presence made things worse for you” he shook his
head. “And I’m absolutely sure that he already regretted what he said.”
Bruce closed his eyes shaking his head and let it loll to his shoulder.
“But he believes what he said.”
Alfred pressed his lips, his eyes taking their warmest hue.
“Master Bruce, you’re inexperienced in arguments…”
Bruce rubbed the bridge of his nose.
“Alfred, you know that I am more than experienced in that field…”
“If I may beg your pardon, sir: your experience is scarily vast in verbal abuse
not arguments” Bruce licked his lips uncomfortable. “People say things that
they don’t necessarily believe: in intimate relationships like the one you have
with Master Kent feelings may get too hot and blur the reasoning. Master Kent
cares so much for you” he searched his young master’s eyes to see if he was
convinced.
Yet Bruce’s eyes were lost for a bit before turning to Alfred.
“From the day I woke from the coma till I returned to your care, Clark looked
after me every day: he was washing me twice a day, he dressed me, he fed me
because my hands were disabled; he treated my wounds and massaged me” he said
staring at Alfred’s face and the butler smiled.
“Such admirable devotion is scares even in old couples…”
“I owe him my life…”
Bruce’s steady but hoarse voice from hidden emotion made Alfred once again
screw his butler code of conduct and kiss his young master’s soft locks. And
Bruce realizing how great a misdemeanor that was for an esteemed butler like
Alfred took his butler’s wrinkled hand and kissed it.
Alfred’s heart writhed in his chest upon understanding the deep emotions his
boy had for his butler – no, no butler…
He opened the door for his masters, craving to follow them but knowing that it
was impossible, so he just wished everything would go well and at the end of
the night they’d have Bruce with them.
Martha stood in front of him before she followed her husband to the car. She
brought out of her coat’s pocket a key and gave it to him.
“This is the key to my vault in Switzerland; this is to secure Bruce’s life if
anything happens to us” Alfred opened his mouth to say that nothing will happen
but Martha stopped him. “You’ll keep Bruce and raise him and with this key you
and him will go to the bank and open the vault – it needs Bruce’s right thumb
fingertip to open. I know you love him like your own child and that he will be
happy with you, so the money is my gratitude to you...” she smiled.
“Mrs. Wayne, everything will be fine and Bruce will be with us in a few hours
and if... if ever Bruce needs me to...” he just couldn’t say it “I’ll do it
gladly with my own money...”
“I know, Alfred; for that, I give you the key and my only son’s guardianship:
you know where we keep the papers...”
“Alfred?” Bruce inquired with a small smile in his tone.
The butler kneeled again before him and held his shoulders, his stare serious.
“Master Bruce, I beg you to promise me that you won’t stretch yourself in your
effort to walk again: you’re a brave young man; strong, determined with
willpower that surpasses every super power Master Kent has” Bruce smiled. “But
you need to be cautious because a wrong move could damage again your legs or
pelvis and then we’ll be again at the start or worse.”
Bruce nodded.
“I know, Alfred.”
“I understand how difficult is for a dynamic youth like you to be in this
position and I share and feel your eagerness and impatience to return to your
old life…” Bruce inhaled and turned his eyes to the window before looking again
at Alfred. “Yet, Master Bruce, do you remember the first time you came to the
Manor through the caves? Or later when Falcone moved to your parents’ house?
When I was eager to address you with your rightful title?”
Bruce shook his head understanding what Alfred meant.
“Wisely you were insisting that I should not be hasty and be patient as you
were patient all these years under Falcone’s brutality. You were insisting that
patience is crucial; that we should suppress our readiness and our exploding
emotions for the sake of the final victory. And we were both patient although
it hurt…” Alfred lowered his eyes remembering the cold sweat running his spine
every time he heard Falcone abusing his young master. “But in the end” he
raised his eyes and smiled “all this patience was worthy…You’re an incredibly
wise young man, Master Bruce, and you know that the same patience is demanded
from you again. So promise me, Master Bruce, that if you feel any discomfort,
any tiny nuisance or pain, you’ll immediately notify me or Leslie or your
precious friends.”
Bruce smiled.
“I promise’’ it’s the least I can do for all of you…
Alfred stood and bowed gesturing to the table where the tray waited and Bruce
cocked an eyebrow.
“Your cereal wait for you with thyme honey Miss Kyle harvested” Bruce chuckled
“and fresh milk: or perhaps you’d like something different?”
Bruce made his chair move to the table and purred milk from the jug in the
porcelain bowl, adding a teaspoon of honey.
“No, Alfred; I love cereal for snack.”
“I’m glad to hear that, sir. Now if you’ll excuse me I’ll tidy up the
bathroom.”
“OK, Alfred; thank you for everything.”
Alfred grinned.
“My pleasure, Master Bruce.”
However he didn’t move to the bathroom till Bruce took the first spoonful of
cereal. Hero having already eaten his snack was rubbing at Bruce’s legs
purring.
Bruce followed Alfred with the corner of his eyes and as soon as the butler was
out of sight he let his gaze wander to the darkening sky from the big oval
window. Waiting… 
 
Clark Kent with his trademark slumped posture entered the Daily Planetbuilding,
fixing his square, ugly glasses and working in his mind what would say to
Perry. It was almost 14.00 and he was gone for almost three hours!
He greeted Mr. Avew, the doorman, and the old man grinned.
“Mr. Kent, I didn’t see you leaving the building” he remarked under his
presbyopic spectacles.
Clark cleared his throat: of course, he didn’t because Superman used the
bathroom window.
“Mmmm…There were many people at the foyer at the time so you missed me…” he
grinned shyly and the old man scratched his hair.
Clark hastened to reach the lift before Mr. Avew asked more but upon pressing
the button to call it, he frowned. You’re kidding me! He huffed: it was only an
hour since he stopped two high speed trains from crushing getting some friction
marks in his back and feet: OK, the marks were so insubstantial that had
already vanished but…still. A burglary at noon? Metropolis was turning into
Gotham?
He rolled his eyes; he couldn’t let it pass because what he heard wasn’t the
common alarm that would notify the police – the common alarm was obviously
deactivated. It was the silent alarm Lucius Fox had established to every LEXLAB
after Wayne Enterprises got their control. Clark immediately thought that the
burglars must be overconfident to strike during daylight and the possibility
that their overconfidence was well based made him hurry to the exit.
“Mr. Kent, where are you going?” the doorman shouted confused.
Clark turned his blushed face to the old man.
“I just remembered that I parked illegally and I don’t want a fine or being
towed…” he grinned uncomfortably “salary cuts…”
He surged outside and in the first empty alley changed into Superman taking off
for the LEXLAB he heard the alarm from. For a couple of months, Metropolis was
plagued by burglaries: not usual burglaries but breaks into labs and gun
storages; also, some of these burglaries were accompanied by massive killings
of the guards who in most cases were members of local gangs. So Clark came to
the conclusion that those hits could not only aiming to add infantry or illegal
drugs to the draft of the culprit gang but also weaken the others. His
reluctant informants whispered one name: Intergang.
Superman had managed to intervene on time in some of the cases but either the
culprits killed themselves on the arrest (that shocked him) or didn’t know
anything about what they were doing there. He was concerned about that new gang
because gradually it eliminated with cruelty its rivals and was gathering
weapons and chemicals whose grade of danger nobody could estimate with
certainty since they were illegal or clouded in secrecy.
And now it was LEXLABS’ turn and that sucked because Luthor was the greatest…in
illegitimate, dangerous, secret experiments that very often concerned Superman.
Clark knew that this was one of the major reasons Bruce gave his priority into
gaining the control; he also knew that from the first day Bruce changed the
security system and the staff with his own and began registering in detail
whatever it was found there. But LEXLABS were too many and some of them in
secret locations that the new owner had to elicit from the division’s files.  
If this was again Intergang’s doing, maybe Luthor had some kind of
collaboration with them. The imprisoned tycoon didn’t hesitate to join forces
with shady organizations and outlaws when the interest was common and grave –
and, of course, the League of Shadows wasn’t enough. On the other hand, it
could be just a scavenging attack to loot the luxury lab’s equipment and any
other goodies they would find. Probably they believed that the transitional
phase to Wayne Enterprises’ control would have let some void in safety.
He clenched his teeth already seeing the vast premises in Metropolis’ outskirt
and the human forms inside. The guards had fought – his super vision told him –
because they were slumped on the floor gathered in the middle of the ground
level and bleeding; the attackers ready to execute them with semi-automatic
guns and AR-15, all from the last warehouse’s robbery: Clark had covered that
and read meticulously the police’s report.
Clark clenched his fists and collided with the reinforced wall which collapsed
startling the criminals who turned to see the Man of Steel emerging as the
clouds of dust settled down. As soon as his impressive posture became visible
they began raining him with bullets which were unable to pierce his body.
When they ceased fire and looked curious for the result Superman gazed at the
layer of hot bullets at his feet and then at his assailants before he surged
against them shattering their guns and knocking them down with just a slap
because if he punched them they would shatter.
The guards encouraged stood up, helping each other, as Superman finished with
the last thug. They approached ready to handcuff the criminals beaming at
Superman who however frowned: footsteps on the upper level were coming to the
balcony overseeing the ground floor. Sixteen pairs of feet.
“Take cover!” he said calmly to the guards nodding to the big containers around
and flew to meet the thugs.
He was ready to attack them but he stopped abruptly realizing that the thugs
who wear ski masks held hostages, guns and knives pressed on the scientists’
and other personnel’s bodies.
“Stay back, boyscout!” the head goon barked. “One finger on one of us and the
others will kill the hostages!” even if Clark didn’t have super vision the
guy’s sneering stare was enough. “You don’t want this, huh?” he sniggered. “We
blow now and you, as a good boy, won’t do anything…”
Clark clenched his fists and his jaw, his eyes reddening.
“No, no, no!” he pointed with his eyes at the other thugs who armed their guns
causing scared screams from the hostages. “See ya, Supes!”
“No way!” Superman hissed and the head thug narrowed his eyes.
“Kill some stuff; maybe he’ll think it over then…”
“No!” Superman said but he didn’t attack because hitting some of them would
simultaneously hit the hostages and the other thugs would kill the rest.
“Too late, dude!” the head thug croaked and Superman’s eyes widened.
But then a golden line hissed ripping the air and the thugs on the back found
their necks wrapped and their heads slammed together not leaving them the time
to harm their hostages. Before the others realized what had happened a
hurricane embraced them dragging them away from the hostages and breaking their
weapons.
Superman didn’t let the thugs on the front think but took advantage of their
instant turning of the heads to melt with his heat vision the guns they held
giving the opportunity to the hostages to run away. And then he tackled them as
he wanted all this time.
The criminals were down in less than a minute and as soon as Superman
straightened his posture regarding the faces under the ski masks, he saw with
the corner of his eyes his unexpected ally walking proudly to him.
Superman couldn’t suppress the wide smile that grazed his face upon seeing the
Amazon Princess gathering her lasso and dangling it to her hip with her eyes
always on him. A wild shining lock hid her eye but she yanked her head proudly
and Superman was excited. She smiled.
“We meet again, Man of Steel.”
He nodded.
“You saved my hide again, Princess” he placed his palm over his heart. “I’m
obliged.”
But she shook her head and cocked an eyebrow.
“You could have managed but…I couldn’t resist the chance to fight again
alongside a noble warrior like you” her smile became wider and her teeth’s
shine dazzled Clark.
“Som’ne kill me already! Find a room, ya fuckin’ superheroes!” the barely
conscious head thug grunted from the base of the railings he was slumped.
 
“Good evening, Mr. Wayne! What a pleasant surprise! How are you?” Lucius Fox’s
cheerful face appeared on the screen of Bruce’s laptop.
He had come out to the living room’s balcony and combined the work he had to do
with the splendid night view he so much loved. He had already studied carefully
the logs with everything they had found in LEXLABS looking for something that
would resemble his attackers. In vain. But every day new findings were added
and maybe they weren’t registered yet.
It felt so good to be engaged again in this kind of activity especially since
nobody seemed to remember that an attack just happened.
“Good afternoon, Lucius; I’m fine, thanks. I’m so glad to see you even through
sat connection.”
Lucius laughed.
“I guess the two days since our last Tele-conference with Mr. Fredericks is
enough time to miss me, huh?” the scientist squinted regarding Bruce’s face
more carefully. “Mr. Wayne, you had a fight?” his voice became dead serious,
concerned and a bit reprimanding.
Bruce smirked: it took for Lucius less than he expected to take in the marks on
his face – besides Tony’s sat connection were of high definition. Bruce made a
mental note to schedule the building of such satellites for Wayne Enterprises;
Falcone didn’t care about modern technology.
“It’s nothing, Lucius” he saw the man’s eyebrow arch. “I was attacked” he added
casually and Lucius leaned closer.
“By whom? Nobody knows your current residence.”
Bruce nodded and pressed his lips.
“Unfortunately, I can’t tell and I’ll need your help.”
Lucius tilted his head on the side, his eyes playful.
“But you are the detective, Mr. Wayne…”
Bruce rolled his eyes.
“With Alfred, Leslie and the company around guarding me?” he huffed. “Hardly…’’
Lucius chuckled.
“They were very scared, huh?” he asked compassionately and took off his glasses
“Understandably…”
Bruce just pressed his lips and didn’t comment.
“What are your thoughts?” Lucius prompted him.
“Princess Diana’s intervention ruined our chance to capture the assailants and
get useful info… Selina was fighting them but Princess came before Superman and
Tony.”
Lucius eyebrows rose with interest.
“Princess Diana as…”
Bruce nodded.
“Exactly: the Amazon who rescued Oliver Queen.”
Lucius chuckled.
“Seems like she made her life’s goal to protect billionaires…”
Bruce huffed not so amused.
“The fact is that she blew up the creatures that attacked me and now we can’t
find their source.”
“Creatures? You mean that you weren’t attack by humans?” Lucius’ eyes widened.
Bruce shook his head.
“No, anything but human and the question is if they were creatures or robots…
I’ve already searched the databases of many labs around the world but I didn’t
find anything similar. Of course, I searched the logs with the stuff we found
at LEXLABs however I know that the registration continues.”
Lucius tilted his head and tapped his fingers on the desk.
“Indeed. There are facilities in remote, god-forsaken locations and even those
easily accessed have top secret sections that are hidden quite efficiently. But
tell me about those creatures.”
Bruce felt his heart flapping in his chest from excitement because finally he
could discuss the attack’s details.
“Approximately human height and weight, human-like arms and legs, but they were
green with small wings and they had hundreds of thin, needle-like teeth
covering their jaw; their eyes were very small, black dots, and they had only
nostrils that steamed. They used guns.”
Lucius brought his fist to his mouth and coughed deep in thought.
“You have a ‘’friend’’ who is related and has access to strange, unseen before
beings” he cocked his eyebrows suggestively, sure that Bruce’s confused
expression was only a pretense. “A demon” he added widening his eyes.
Bruce pinched the bridge of his nose and shook his head.
“I stabbed him with the Knife and that sent him to the Tartarus – Thor
confirmed that. But, to be honest, I considered that possibility too…”
Lucius gave a teeth revealing smile.
“Of course you would, Mr. Wayne.”
“If those strange creatures were demons or something related to Bagdana, they
wouldn’t need guns.”
Lucius pursed his lips and nodded.
“You’ve got a point there… What kind of weapons they were carrying?”
Bruce pressed his lips and grimaced.
“I’ve never seen anything like this…They were the size of shotguns, their form
something between Kel-Tec KSG and P12 Bullpup, yet the material was like
crystal and they shot beams. I sent you a rough sketch but I didn’t find an
exact match in my research.”
“League of Shadows?”
This had crossed Bruce’s mind too.
“We have a very detailed database with League’s and S.H.I.E.L.D.’s infantry,
including Dr. Banner’s breakthrough technology, and there’s no match. If the
creatures were in their army, we’d have known. And they’d have preferred
sending humans for the job…”
Lucius crossed his arms.
“That approach failed horribly before so maybe they decided to test something
new. And we can’t rule out the possibility of them having secret hideouts that
weren’t in Al Ghul’s database.”
“Still it’s too early for them to make a move, Lucius…” yet Lucius’ suggestion
made Bruce’s healthy spine shiver reminding him of something Talia had told
him:
“You don’t need a womb to give me the offsprings of yourself and Bagdana! I’ll
summon him, he’ll fuck you, your body will absorb the seed and my scientists
will have fresh material to create my new army of demon soldiers with
extraordinary human DNA!”
Maybe Ra’s had already done that?
“Mr. Wayne?” Lucius asked concerned, noticing the young man’s widening of eyes.
“We’ll definitely not cross that probability but for now I’m focusing on
unregistered, illegal experiments…”
“What about…aliens?” he inquired arching his eyebrows and Bruce closed his
eyes.
“I’d rather focus on Earth…”
Lucius tapped his fingers.
“But Superman has many extraterrestrial enemies, Mr. Wayne” their eyes met with
shared understanding and Lucius nodded. “That video of Superman being extra
tender to you while carrying you to the clinic has millions of viewers” he
pressed his lips. “And certainly the video fascinated Superman’s enemies.”
Bruce shook slowly his head.
“So they attacked me – the weak link – to gain leverage against Superman: their
beams were set to stun not kill.”
Lucius nodded.
“However, concerning Superman’s enemies we don’t have to leave earth’s
stratosphere to find them: there are many of them very much Terrans and highly
dangerous and one of them hates me as much as Superman.”
Lucius smiled.
“Of course: that brought you to search Luthor’s secret activities. But he knows
how to hide his traces and we need to search meticulously LEXLABs. However, we
have to take into account the fact that he is in jail – not that this would be
an obstacle for him…”
“I know and I’m not convinced that it’s his doing… Batman could interrogate
Luthor but…at the moment he is unavailable” he pressed his lips.
“We’ll figure this out, Mr. Wayne. I’ll speed the procedure of registration and
I’ll keep you updated. Yet what concerns me most is that they knew where to
find you: I know that Mr. Stark travels there in stealth mode and Superman
knows how to evade tracking; also, the villa is invisible to satellites. And
the deal you made for local products hasn’t been publicized yet and even so I
was the one who signed it not you, so the locals know my name not yours.”
The man was in deep thought.
“Anyway, what matters is that your safety is compromised.”
Bruce nodded.
“And not only mine: during my staying here I used to go to the village for
strolls and having coffee in the square – imagine if the attack had happened in
the middle of the village with so many innocent people around… The village
doesn’t have a police station and even the entire island’s police force makes
for Gotham’s one hundredth of officers!” he shook his head and shrugged. “The
people here don’t know about villains or super villains and I want to stay that
way… So I must leave this peaceful place soon before I ruin everything.’’
Lucius tilted his head on the side.
“It’s not your fault, Mr. Wayne…”
Bruce shrugged.
“You can’t deny that my presence is a damning factor” he narrowed his eyes.
“Lucius, there’s an article in Gazettethat seems to have an effect on our
shares…”
Lucius closed his eyes exasperated and shook his head; he knew that article but
he hoped that Bruce wouldn’t read it but of course the young man was daily
watching his company’s activity and that damn article was mentioned everywhere.
“It’s some stupid speculation that was confuted by Wayne Enterprises. And the
shares are stable.”
Bruce gave a crooked smile.
“Speculations that I’m probably dead and the company’s claims that I’m
recovering in some rehabilitation center are lies to maintain the stability and
rising course of the shares?”
Lucius frowned in such deep seriousness that was unusual for him. Lucius
always, even in the most crucial situations, kept his undeterred and loose
mood.
“Mr. Wayne, your company functions perfectly, you have the absolute trust of
the board and everyone wants you to have your recovering time forgetting the
insubstantial matters”Lucius leaned towards the screen. “Mr. Wayne, you need to
rest and take care of yourself: your only concern should be your healing and
recovery. You have people you can trust with trivial things. We want to see you
returning but not hastily because of some exploiters.”
“Thank you, Lucius.”
However as soon as their discussion ended Bruce opened the site of Gotham
Gazette to read again that article but a popped up ad for the ranking of the
best universities in US filled his screen. Bruce’s fingers rubbed his lips
unconsciously and he touched the link to open the article.
 
Clark sank at last in his chair at the Daily Planet; he was flustered, feeling
uncomfortable for being absent for so many hours but at least he had a good
time with the Princess and he gave an exclusive to the newspaper; the sneak
preview already on the site promising a full article. The burglary in the
LEXLAB gave him the best alibi.
Indeed, almost the moment he sat down, Perry rushed out of his office probably
informed by one of his colleagues and hurried to shake Clark’s hand the man
uncomfortably straightening his askew glasses, flushed.
“Well done, Kent! It seems that this is your year! Your source was a good one”
he patted his back. “Use it wise!”
“Mr. White, I…”
“I’m waiting your full article and coverage from Superman and Wonder Woman’s
battle!”
He let Clark with his mouth gaping unable to utter what he wanted and returned
to his office. Clark twitched his lips and sat again, sighing.
“Hey, Smallville, how’s Bruce?” Lois whispered to his ear and although he knew
that she was coming he looked at her with wide eyes blushed. “What? It was
something serious?” her face fell.
Clark bit his lips: he totally forgot Bruce… He slapped both his cheeks and
gazed with blank eyes at his PC screen. Yet Lois lolled her head and nudged his
ribs.
“Well?” she widened her eyes demandingly when her friend eyed her.
“I…I don’t know; he seemed fine but…” he closed his eyes and sighed. “I’m not
sure…”
“You’re kidding me, right?’’
Clark lolled his head to the side.
“We had an argument and I left to help him relax…to not deteriorate things
and…”
Lois put her hands in her hips and rolled her eyes exasperated.
“And in all these hours you didn’t go back to speak to him, to learn? What the
heck? Even calling?”
Clark snapped his hands in the air.
“So many things happened – it was a very busy day, Lois - and I…”
Lois rubbed her forehead.
“You forgot him…” she shook her head disappointed.
Clark jolted on his feet to protest and in his clumsy haste upturned the foam
cup with the stale coffee he bought the morning. So he frantically took the
keyboard and the mouse off the desk and tossed a handful of tissue papers over
the liquid. His colleagues giggled entertained: usual Kent.
“I…I’ll go see him” he said to Lois holding his computer’s parts. “As soon as I
deliver that article…”
Lois crossed her arms and gazed at him disapprovingly. Clark raised his
eyebrows frustrated.
“What?”      
***** Chapter 11 *****
Lois scrolled a video on her smart phone’s screen and started it showing to
Clark who sat on his seat sweeping his desk and placing back the keyboard and
the mouse. He knew what the video was about: the rescue of the two trains in
Switzerland: what Lois wanted to say with that?
She cleared her throat.
“You’re not interested? Funny…”
Clark lolled his head on the side and cast a fleeting glance to the video
appreciating the fact that even in an amateur video Diana was breathtaking. He
blushed and looked hastily and indifferently at Lois.
“What?”
Lois jerked her head, huffing irritated.
“That was the real reason you didn’t care about Bruce… You forgot him goggling
and drooling for her…” she clenched her teeth “everything!”
Clark’s super vision enabled him to read the comments under the viral video:
the comments were enthusiastic about Diana’s body with expressions that… Well,
Clark would never use such vulgar vocabulary though he agreed with the meaning.
Lois understanding what he was doing pushed his shoulder. Clark saw that her
eyes were widened and very angry.
“Typical male!” she groaned. “The moment someone shakes an ass to you, you
forget everything!”
Clark closed his eyes.
“You’re wrong, Lois! And…what? You’re making me a scene on Bruce’s behalf?
Please! Princess saved Bruce before I arrived” Lois’ eyes widened more and
Clark shook his head. “And when I heard that the trains were to collide and
rushed there she followed me to help.”
Lois pursed her lips and nodded.
“So, I got it right: she really is trying to get to you – she has you on her
target!” Clark rolled his eyes. “And she was again at the LEXLAB…”
Clark raised both his hands appeasing.
“Let’s get reasonable, Lois. She isn’t stalking me…It was a coincidence she was
in the area when Bruce was attacked and of course he helped someone in need.
And then she just wanted to help me.”
Lois wasn’t convinced and was huffing and puffing.
“Who attacked Bruce?” she asked frowning “And how is he?” she asked calmer.
Clark pressed his hair with both hands.
“He had some scratches but thankfully he wasn’t hit. Stark brought Leslie and
I’m sure she’ll check everything…”
She nodded relieved.
“As for the attackers…Diana had blown them up before I reached the place – that
must have passed the message across.”
Lois narrowed her eyes on that but didn’t push it more.
“That means that you are not wondering about who ordered the attack?” Clark
looked her exasperated.
“Of course I am, Lois!” he protested and then scratched his nape uncomfortable.
“I guess someone from my enemies.”
“Who?” Lois demanded and Clark squinted frustrated.
“How the Hell I am supposed to know that already?!” he shook his head.
“OK” Lois relented but in a rather reluctant way. “And what happened? I mean
you said you had a spat.”
Clark sighed and narrowed his eyes at her.
“Are we a bit indiscreet?”
“Because I care about you, farm boy…”
Clark pressed his lips.
“His condition makes him irritable…”
“Understandable” Lois spat and shook her head. “He spent his entire life being
terribly abused; then a gang of nut jobs kidnaps him” she jerked her eyebrows
“tortures and almost kills him rendering him paralyzed. And now some cowards
attacked him AGAIN!”
Clark arched his eyebrow: solidarity among humans…
“… and he’s already too stubborn” he remarked pointedly.
“And?” Lois looked at him demandingly.
“I talked a bit harsh to him…” he sighed and ruffled his hair uncomfortably.
Lois crossed her arms and yanked her head.
“You almost lost him three months ago…”
Lois of course didn’t know what happened at the factory and that Bruce was dead
in his arms for one or two minutes. But she knew, as he had told her, that what
the League did to him led Bruce to coma and left him paraplegic. He locked eyes
with her and nodded.
“Make sure you remember that!” she raised her eyebrows in emphasis and moved to
leave for her desk. “Finish that article fast and hit the road, buster!” she
shook her index.
Clark just couldn’t understand why Lois was so pissed with Diana: thanks to her
on time intervention hundreds of people were saved. And she saved Bruce, as
well!
He threw the soaked tissues in the garbage basket and opened the program to
write his article. Yet his hand was twitching to open YouTube to see the video
with Diana…A crooked smile carved his face: he had another one from LEXLAB to
accompany his article.
 
Princeton, as Tony had said, was ranked first among the US universities. His
hand moved to close the screen with the article but instead his curiosity or
something else won and he opened the link to the university’s official page.
There was a welcome message and links to several sections. Yet Bruce opened the
one about the campus, silencing the self - scoffing inside him for indulging
childish whims. He opened one photo after the other submerging to the peaceful
scenery with smiling students strolling or heading to their courses. The
amphitheaters, the buildings, the labs, the library, the parks…
He pressed his lips: those things were so strange for him yet his eyes were
fixed there.
“The campus is more beautiful than the pictures…” a cheerful voice said and a
friendly arm wrapped his shoulders making Bruce tense.
“You went at MIT” he took his eyes from the pictures and looked at Tony’s happy
eyes that gazed the pictures.
“Yeah…well, I had some great parties there…” he cleared his throat and arched
his eyebrows, sighing “and not only parties…”
Obviously, Tony believed that he was intrigued and fascinated from the photos
and the prospect of being there – which was ridiculous. He shut abruptly -
almost violently - the site and Tony frowning looked at Bruce puzzled.
“I was reliving my youth, little guy” he shook his head “and some veeery
pleasant moments: you had to close it?”
But Bruce wasn’t affected by his friend’s playfulness; his stare was dead
serious.
“I know what you’re doing.”
Tony narrowed his eyes and squatted to be in the same height; he brushed the
narrow crystal board hosting Bruce’s laptop; the sleek board wasn’t there but
had emerged obeying to Bruce’s wish.
“He thought everything, huh?” he looked at Bruce’s serious eyes and his friend
gave a nod. “So what do you think I’m doing, little guy?”
Bruce stabbed him with his intense stare.
“Trying to make me so intrigued with the university that I enroll” Tony blinked
“and for four or five years forget anything else.”
Tony cupped with both hands Bruce’s neck and pressed his lips.
“Is it so bad?” he said in a low, serious voice locking his eyes with his
friend’s. “You deserve it, Bruce.”
Bruce shook his head and hastily took his eyes from Tony’s puppy eyes. He knew
it! He gazed at the night sky, focusing on the slice of moon that felt like
calling him. He drew a deep breath closing his eyes, the prompting returning to
his ears without his will:
“I can give you back your own wings…”
His fingers dug into the armrests of his confinement and Tony placed his hands
on Bruce’s shoulders frowning: since Superman brought Bruce back to them, his
friend was happy to be among them, smiling, accepting their care but even then
sometimes his eyes became lost like he was travelling to another world – a
world that constantly tempted him to abandon his loved ones and spread his
wings… And Tony hated those moments because they reminded him that Bruce almost
died and maybe nonexistence lured him since that world gave him only pain.
“Bruce?”
Bruce focused his eyes on Tony.
“You want me to forget everything about Batman – you don’t believe” he shook
his head “no, you don’t want me to resume my mission.”
Tony gulped and lolled his head on the side.
“Guilty as charged!” he replied but his tone was anything but loaded with guilt
and saw that Bruce’s eyes narrowed.
Tony didn’t feel guilty; on the contrary he knew that this was the best
solution so he wouldn’t leave any space to Bruce to manipulate him into feeling
bad.
“I want my little guy to be recognized for the genius he is, astonishing those
smart asses at the university; and I want you to follow your dream.”
Bruce felt like boiling inside, ready to explode: of course, weak, littl’ Bruce
should stay behind!
He shook his head exasperated.
“Stop evading the subject, Tony! You don’t believe that I’ll manage to be again
the Batman and you want to thwart me from trying!”
Tony ruffled his hair with both hands and yanked his head sighing. Then he
stabbed Bruce’s wild eyes with his serious ones.
“That’s right! I don’t want you absorbed in Batman; I don’t want you return to
that every night suicide mission spending yourself in fighting bad guys. And I
believe that your current condition isn’t suited for this stuff anymore…” he
watched Bruce’s eyes bulge and he knew that his buddy felt punched.
“So those five or six years in university would be the bait…” Bruce smirked.
“Engaging me in studies for that amount of time to let behind my training so
when I end my studies, it’d be impossible to establishing again the required
skills. Or even better losing entirely my appetite for the ‘sport’ and do
whatever else.”
Tony pinched the bridge of his nose.
“You’re the detective…But I don’t see why is so bad. It was your dream!”
“When I was eight years old, Tony!”
“And what’s your dream now?”
Bruce shook his head and didn’t say anything. Tony sighed guessing.
“I don’t need dreams, Tony… It’s not time for dreams.”
“But you’re still too young, Bruce, to say that…”
Bruce’s eyes were scolding and annoyed when stabbed Tony making him cut his
phrase short.
And Tony knew that it wasn’t a matter of need or age: after all these years in
Hell, his little guy had lost the ability to dream; it was another thing his
torturers extinguished.
“If you accept to try and set yourself in an environment as normal as the
university, I’m sure you’ll begin dreaming again. You need just to change
environment.”
Bruce gritted his teeth and slapped his laptop closed willing the chair to move
towards the railing and away from Tony who was crouched and the abrupt lost of
support crashed him down. He watched his friend from the floor letting his arms
slump on his knees.
Bruce grabbed the railing that sparkled in the night and let the cool breeze
hit his face; his heart was throbbing, his arms trembling from the power of his
grip. He was breathing heavily and his lungs burnt.
“I just don’t want to lose you again…” Tony said approaching caressing his
butt. “I only want to…”
Bruce snapped his head towards him.
“Don’t even utter it! Protect me: that was what you were ready to say, right?”
Tony pressed his lips. “Slyly taking me away from what I am!”
Tony clapped his mouth.
“Please, calm down, Bruce: it does no good to you.”
Bruce arched an eyebrow.
“I’m not pregnant” he sneered “or you consider finding a way to manage that too
in order to keep me away from being Batman again?”
Tony licked his lips.
“That’s ridiculous!”
Bruce shook his head exasperated.
“Thank Goodness!” he turned his gaze to the starry sky. “So you won’t help me
do those adjustments to my suit?”
Tony exhaled and looked at the sky as if asking for help. He stood right next
to his friend and crouched again.
“Listen, Bruce – here” he cupped his friend’s head and turned it gently to look
him in the eyes. “You know that these adjustments are not enough – don’t roll
those eyes, buddy. Look at me” his stare was intense and deep in affection as
their eyes met “there are millions of people around the world that are
paraplegic” Bruce bit his lip “and they adjusted to their condition and live
with it. So, as when the world learnt that you survived Falcone’s brutal abuse
and won, you can once again be the role model for all these people who feel
depressed and defeated by their disability. You can be once again the beacon of
bravery and willpower!” his voice emanated the warmth his eyes had.
Bruce closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead.
“I won’t ever be the role model for all these people because these people are
much braver than I’d ever be. I can’t be compared with all these people because
they cope without having any of the luxurious things and conveniences I enjoy”
Tony rubbed Bruce’s upper arms. “But even if the press’ spotlights make some
people look up at me expecting, that will be Bruce Wayne, not Batman” Tony
lolled his head closing his eyes. “They have different roles…”
Bruce regarded his friend’s closed in frustration eyes.
“So you won’t develop the bionic spine parts…” he said flatly, dryly.
Tony opened his eyes, cupping again his friend’s face.
“Oh, Bruce… Of course, I will; everything will be ready soon” Bruce’s eyes
sparkled with such joy that Tony bit really hard his lips for the impact his
next words would have. “Yet” Bruce’s eyes began already narrowing “implementing
some bionic parts in your damaged spine and restoring the normal neuronal
activity” Bruce frowned, his eyes hungrily and maybe angrily waiting the next
and Tony sighed. “All these don’t mean that you’ll be able to do what you did
before…” Bruce’s eyes widened and Tony tightened his grip on his friend’s face.
“Littl’ guy, every paraplegic in the world has to make compromises and…”
But Bruce yanked his head evading Tony’s hands, the billionaire tilting his
head on the side huffing.
“Every paraplegic in the world is encouraged to continue doing what loves and
is praised for managing to do that despite the disability! Don’t tell me that
your bionic parts won’t be as perfect as to enable a paraplegic dancer or an
athlete resuming her/his career? Why you want so much to confine me?”
Tony stood up, clenching his waist and letting his head slump on his chest.
“There aren’t many paraplegics in the world whose ‘love’ includes jumping from
rooftops, flying, exchanging punches with really dangerous guys and being hit…
Dancing and sports are vast differently. The dangers in what you do are
unaccountable…”
“The times I was hit are really few!”
Tony jerked his arms in the air: why his stubborn buddy didn’t want to
understand; why was refusing to accept reality? And those blazing eyes made
Tony really sad because he could see and feel inside this angry shine the
formidable hero being caged inside roaring and despairing to be freed… And he
wanted so much for that to be possible yet….
“Exactly…” he replied throatily. “Before you were able to avoid blows but the
bionic parts although very effective and with almost perfect functionality, are
not able to stop blows or bullets: and if you’re hit again…Even a mild blow
could render you completely unable to resist your enemies! For fuck’s sake! Can
you think for a second what will happen if you collapse in front of your
enemies?! My hairs stand on end only on the thought!”
“That won’t happen!” Bruce protested and Tony closed his eyes sighing. “I know
how to protect myself!”
The blood was bursting Tony’s veins and the billionaire surged on the chair,
his eyes flashing madly.
“You’re in that damn chair, aren’t you?!” he almost yelled. “And will the need
to be more careful stop you from covering an innocent with your body to save
him from a bullet or anything?” he lowered his voice. “You almost died and your
lower spine was almost shattered because you shoved out of the way a boy” he
blinked “can you say that you won’t repeat it?”
Bruce’s eyes were widened stabbing Tony’s: the answer was written there and
Tony bit his lips and held tighter his friend’s upper arms. But Bruce’s heart
was drumming in protest and only his will make his heartbeat calm.
“You’re convinced I’m not the warrior I used to be” he stated so calmly that
Tony wanted to scream.
The billionaire from Malibu stood abruptly and submerged his fingers in his
locks clutching them.
“But you’re not!” he said almost desperate. “You’re a paraplegic!” as soon as
he uttered it he regretted; Bruce was exactly as if he was just backstabbed.
Bruce swallowed and locked his eyes with Tony who felt exactly as if he was
looking at Batman’s lenses.
“Every paraplegic in the world” he said pointing every word separately “has a
name, has a personality: paraplegia doesn’t define them. And as every
paraplegic in the world, I’m still Bruce, not a chair with a man on.”
Tony’s shoulders slumped and he lowered his head.
“I’m sorry…” he whispered and then kneeled and hugged his friend. “Of course,
you’re still Bruce: my buddy, my little guy but I’m afraid” he looked in
Bruce’s eyes that had softened.
Bruce rubbed Tony’s back.
“I know you love me but, Tony, my temporary disability won’t dictate the rest
of my life and change me – I’m sure it’s temporary and with the help of you and
Lucius it’d be over soon.”
“Yeah but still being a vigilante…”
Bruce licked his lips.
“For pity’s sake, Tony! You were half dead when you made Ironman and smashed
your enemies!”
“It’s not the same, buddy…”
“Everyone has his/her own ways to compensate” he shook his head. “I assure you
that I don’t want to die so I’ll return to the streets only when I’ll be
ready.”
Tony held tightly his friend’s hands, her eyes resolute.
“And if that time never comes?” he whispered.
“Never isn’t in my vocabulary, I thought it wasn’t in yours either…” he pressed
his lips. “But I suppose this is the case when you are concerned…”
Tony pinched the bridge of his nose: it was so difficult to defeat Bruce in an
argument.
“Don’t try to push me into mutilating what I am: my body was damaged by my
enemies” Bruce cocked his eyebrows “I don’t believe that my best buddy wants to
amputate my personality, too…” Bruce’s eyes were something between puppy and
pure power and resolution.
Tony closed his eyes: he was a sucker for his buddy.
“I’m just trying to show you that there are other options to consider: I didn’t
want to press you” he inhaled: he’d prefer Bruce in a university rather than in
Gotham’s rooftops. “What you want is what matters” Bruce smiled but Tony raised
a warning index finger “but! You’ll take your time: even after the operation
for the implementation of the bionic parts, your body will need time to regain
the strength and the skills you had before. And Leslie will tell us when you’ll
be ready.”
Bruce nodded and Tony felt like crying seeing him beaming because personally he
doubted that his friend would be ever capable to resume his mission. But for
now he preferred to feed his friend’s hopes – he just couldn’t demolish Bruce’s
hopes: that man had survived so many calamities with incredible strength and
now Tony with his words fought to push him to despair.
As much as Tony thought that hid his true feelings and beliefs they were so
clear for Bruce… And it was like a demolishing punch in the guts: pain and
anger together. Yet he was used to taking punches… After all, he wouldn’t wait
for Leslie’s or Tony’s or Clark’s permission to don again the cowl and cape:
this was his life and his creation so they had no saying in that. Besides if he
let them they would keep him forever in that chair…to protect him.
“You need to notify Thor” he said without betraying anything from the feelings
inside him. He wanted to change subject.
Tony frowned.
“Why?”
Bruce arched his eyebrows and twitched his lips.
“If your main concern wasn’t my…academic career and had asked about the
assault, you’d know.’’
Tony scratched his nape.
“Whoa! We definitely forgot about this, huh?”
Bruce shrugged one shoulder and snorted.
“What has Thor to do with this?”
“Before the creatures attacked I was separated from Selina” Tony’s eyes bulged.
“Then how…?” he stopped himself just before saying ‘you protected yourself’.
Bruce swallowed that too, licking his lips.
“You know Loki?”
“Thor’s brother?”
Bruce nodded.
“I met him in the forest and he protected me from the attackers.”
Tony frowned.
“He isn’t a nice guy, Bruce… I mean, I don’t know much about him but he isn’t
the protecting-the-innocent type; he probably wanted something…” he rubbed his
chin thoughtful.
“No kidding…” Bruce crossed his arms. “Yet I think you should thank him for
helping your helpless friend…”
Tony looked his friend exasperated; he could sense his buddy’s frustration.
“What he said?”
Bruce brushed the armrests without looking at Tony.
“He was just intrigued about the interest Thor and his kin show in my case: I
hope your teammate didn’t mention anywhere my secret.”
Tony lolled his head on the side pressing his lips.
“I’ll let Thor know…” suddenly he frowned. “Wait a minute: you said that you
were assaulted by…creatures?”
Bruce smirked: finally, Tony noticed. He nodded.
“What creatures?” now Tony’s worry became stronger, his mind racing: both he
and Superman had bizarre enemies – it could be their enemies that found Bruce’s
current location and decided to strike him? He felt a shiver running his spine.
Bruce saw his friend’s paleness and forgot the frustration Tony caused him. He
was ready to describe the things that attacked him yet the StarkStell’s song
stopped him.
“It’s Pepper” Tony said. “I left hastily and she must be worried…”
“I don’t believe it that all these hours you didn’t call her!” Bruce shook his
head and Tony smiled guiltily. “Go speak to her…”
Tony nodded and began heading inside.
“I’ll call Thor too.”
Bruce opened his laptop and typed the address for Gotham Gazette’s site. He not
even looked at the video in the right of the page that had remained permanently
there for three months: Superman_brings_Bruce_back_home…Instead something else
got his interest: Impressive dive in Gotham’s criminality rates.
He brushed the screen and read Gotham’s Police official report and his immense,
long time activity in the field gave him the skill to realize immediately the
truth of the statement. Surely, it was impressive and very un-Gotham: it was
the criminality rate of a custom city, a hopeful city. Commissioner Gordon who
presented the official report praised his officers’ self-sacrifice and devotion
to their duty.
Bruce knew that the massacre at Gambol’s restaurant was a key factor because
Gotham’s remaining small organized gangs were too scared to be active in the
city and had already expanded their activities in other cities. Of course, that
didn’t take away the credit Gordon’s new GCPD deserved just made Bruce’s sense
of haste more pushing: he wasn’t sure how much would take for new players to
come to the fore, taking advantage of the empty field – he should be doing
field work spying… And Joker?
There was also something that raised Bruce’s hopes: Mayor Garcia commenting on
the decrease of criminality rates spoke about Harvey Dent’s great contribution
and hinted that after his suspension penalty ended, they could do a referendum
asking the citizens about the former DA’s return. The author had made a poll in
the end of the article asking the readers to vote Yes/No to Harvey’s return.
“No” was leading but with a few votes and Bruce smirked because Gothamites
could easily change their minds.
A subtle beep notified him for a new e-mail. It was from Lucius’ secret
address.
“I received your sketches and I’m on to make my search. Also, I’m delighted to
inform you that your high tech gift for Mr. Grayson was delivered to Ms. Turner
with your instructions to presented as her gift.
Sincerely,
Lucius Fox.”
And then he opened the article he wanted to read:
Super_arms_not_enough_to_save_Bruce_Wayne?
By Vicky Vale
It’s been three months since our beloved sad Prince(Bruce cocked an eyebrow)
was rescued from the hideous League of Shadows having suffered once again
extreme abuse. And who was the best candidate to save the 26 year old
billionaire than Superman who was obviously overemotional to hold again the
young man?
From that night and the publication of the revealing video people are excited
about the secret love story that came to the light under such dramatic
circumstances. So everyone – most of all the author of this article – is
eagerly waiting for a chance to see again Gotham’s Prince and his Guardian
Angel together.
Yet although since then we have seen many times Superman saving the day with
his heroic way, Bruce Wayne remains elusive as ever. Of course, from that night
the video was taken we heard from various sources that the young man is
recovering to a special rehabilitation center. However as the days pass and we
don’t get a glimpse of Bruce, things became odd…
The night Joker kidnapped the children from the Haven to demand that Bruce
Wayne goes to him witnesses say that the young billionaire was transferred from
the clinic to Wayne Manor due to the danger. Yet after Joker was arrested Tony
Stark, 32, informed the Gotham Police Department that he took his friend to a
special rehabilitation center because his condition had deteriorated; also, Dr.
Thomas Elliot, 30, a specialist in complex injuries, was called to operate the
Wayne heir only to be oddly called off to Dr. Elliot’s puzzlement.
“The explanation I was given was very vague and I never learnt anything about
my childhood friend’s condition” the doctor, chair of the Neuroscience Faculty
in Gotham’s University told the Gazette. “I feel a very awkward atmosphere of
extreme secrecy surrounding Bruce – I just hope all this reluctance to share
information does not hide anything…bad for my friend.”
Bruce snorted on the “friend”.
Indeed, why denying the professional genius of an acclaimed doctor as Dr.
Elliot? Could this ‘odd’ denial to share information hide something ominous for
our Prince? Could the secret be the opposite of what happened 18 years ago?
Maybe this time instead of declaring the Prince dead, they ‘keep’ him alive in
order to avoid panicking the shareholders and bringing a terrible collapse to
the newly stabilized Wayne Enterprises.
We recently talked to Lucius Fox, 60, who is the head scientist in Wayne
Enterprises, an important member of the board and one of the major allies of
Bruce Wayne in his battle to establish himself to the head of his father’s
company. The likeable Mr. Fox was reassuring.
“Mr. Wayne is very much alive; he is just having his time recuperating from his
latest adversity and he’ll be with us as soon as his doctors approve it.”
However, Mr. Fox’s charming smile can’t be sufficient to make the clouds of
doubt disperse: where is Bruce Wayne? And in what condition? Is he alive or the
company tries to hide the truth to maintain its shares’ racing course?
The sure thing is that until Gotham sees again her gorgeous Prince questions
and uncertainty will cloud Wayne Enterprises and the very city.
UPDATE: Is_Superman_already_trying_to_heal_his_grief?_A_new_SuperRomance_in_the
making?
 
Dick was absorbed reading something in his fancy new Tablet and Jayson rolled
his eyes exasperated and took a big sip of his Irish coffee. They sat on a
secluded booth in a small cafeteria.
“Yes!” Dick clenched his fingers and punched the air causing Jayson’s bored
eyes fix on him.
The younger boy pouted puzzled on the way his friend’s eyes glimmered with
enthusiasm.
“Wha’? Gotham Knights lost last night…”
Dick showed the screen to him and his face was beaming.
“They say that Wayne might be dead!”
“Wow…” Jayson answered completely untouched and shook his straw.
Dick disappointed by his friend’s lukewarm reaction put down gingerly his new
toy and grabbed his hand.
“That asshole might have finally gotten what he deserves! Don’t you get it?!”
his eyes were fervent and Jayson pretended for his sake that was interested.
“My family finally gets justice; Brian will be finally rested…” his voice
dropped on his brother’s name and remembrance.
Jason patted his upper arm.
“I know how ya feel, chum…”
Dick pressed his lips and looked at the table because he didn’t want Jason to
see his eyes tearful.
“If Wayne died then there’s one left…” he whispered. “Mom, Brian…I went to
their graves yesterday with granny – you knew that Wayne had the nerve to come
to their funeral?!” his eyes jerked to his friend’s and the younger boy shook
his head. “The bastard!”
“Maybe he cares, mate…” he shrugged.
“No way! He just wanted to…” he huffed. “Damn! To play the good guy to us! They
died a horrible death because of him!”
Jason drank again from his coffee.
“Joker kill’ ‘em, buddy…”
Dick yanked his head and groaned: why Jason didn’t want to understand him?
“He wouldn’t, if Wayne had stayed dead!” he crossed his arms and scorned. “Of
course, you defend him ‘cause your mom works at the Haven!”
Jason frowned and his eyes narrowed menacingly.
“Cut it already, ya dork! I told ya: I hate the asshole but I don’t like ya
wasted in that shit! An’ I’m not the one with that fancy, brand new toy!” he
sneered eyeing the Tablet.
Dick touched it.
“My granny gave it to me yesterday…”
Jason smirked.
“Ya know that this toy isn’t on the market?”
Dick cocked an eyebrow.
“You’re an expert on high tech?”
Jason leaned closer to no be overheard.
“Only on snatchin’ it…An’ I tell ya, mate, that thing isn’t anywhere in
Gotham’s stores…” a crooked smile carved his child face. “Wher’ ya granny finds
the bucks to get all these?”
Dick looked at the shiny, white gadget: indeed, now that Jay mentioned it, Dick
hadn’t seen it anywhere. He shrugged.
“I guess my dad left some fortune: he was very popular, you know…mom told me…”
his voice cracked and Jason pressed his lips. “He made much advertising for
many companies – everyone wanted him!”
Jason felt uncomfortable from his buddy’s emotion; he had never met his dad too
yet he was sure that he just dumped his mom after screwed her and never gave a
shit about his kid. While Dick’s dad was decent and died before getting to know
his kid.
Dick though deep in his sorrow realized the younger boy’s uneasiness and shook
himself. He cleared his throat and pointed his finger to the glass of Irish
coffee.
“Jay, alcohol is forbidden to minors.”
“Not when they wear a helmet and order in a husky voice…” he winked “and I’m
sturdy for my age: tall an’ such…”
“Bullshit!” Dick huffed. “They just don’t give a damn since they get the
bucks…” he took a sip from his hot chocolate slightly envious for Jay’s
forbidden coffee.
Jason sniggered and pompously took a big sip from his glass.
“An’ how com’ an’ yar granny permit ya stayin’ out after school?”
Dick rimmed his cup.
“I told her that I’ll go for a chocolate with my classmates.”
Jason clapped and hopped in his seat causing curious stares from the other
booths.
“Mistah nice guy lyin’ to his granny!” he said in a singsong manner.
Dick ruffled his hair with both hands blushing, the feeling of guilt getting to
him.
“I didn’t lie!” he protested. “I did go for a chocolate” Jason widened his eyes
sneering “and though you’re not a classmate, you’re…” he searched for something
“a peer.”
Jason chuckled.
“An’ isn’t like ya met that Zucco guy…” Dick nodded with a perplexed look upon
remembering his granny’s angry and almost desperate order to not approach that
man who so much intrigued him. “Mmm…Why yar sweet granny becomes so battleax”
Dick cast him a really nasty glance “eh…strict when it comes to him?”
“Search me…” the older boy shrugged. “Speaking of granny we must get going” he
put his hand in his pocket bringing out some money and Jason did the same.
“Those are on me, boys!” a cheerful male voice invaded their space and they
both saw Tony Zucco approaching their booth smiling cordially.
Jason sniffed and twisted his lips not caring to hide his disliking. Yet Dick
seemed interested.
“Thank you,… eh… – how am I to call you?”
The man shrugged a shoulder.
“Tony sounds perfect” he said and sat by Dick.
“We’re leavin’, dude!” Jason stood, looking with widened eyes to his friend who
didn’t share his hastiness.
“That goes for you, too, Dick?” Zucco asked the older boy smiling slyly.
Dick shrugged.
“I guess I could stay a bit more…”
Jason grunted and slumped in his seat.
“How are you doing, champ?” the adult looked affectionate at Dick.
“Fine, I guess…” he said obviously without believing it.
Zucco cocked his eyebrows.
“Down at the gym everyone is impressed from your talent!” he beamed and Jason
watched him angrily.
Dick’s eyes flashed.
“Really? How’d you know?’’
Zucco tilted his head on the side.
“I have some old buddies there and I just couldn’t stop myself from asking
about my nephew – I hope you don’t mind. And I watched you myself some times.”
Jason now crossed his arms and pouted fuming – he didn’t like that man and fell
for Ms. Turner. But Dick’s eyes widened.
“And?” the boy asked interested.
Zucco shook his head.
“You’re a great talent, kid! Your late dad would be very proud of you!”
Jason rolled his eyes seeing how touched his friend was from the guy’s words.
But Zucco’s attention was drawn to the Tablet-like gadget.
“Yours?” he inquired Dick and when the boy nodded: “I haven’t seen anything
like this in market or in magazines – it must be pricy…”
“My granny’s gift” Dick answered and the man grinned with a glint in the eyes
that Jason didn’t like – littl’ Jason could definitely tell when someone was
interested in money or expensive toys.
“How’s dear Ms. Turner?’’ he asked Dick but his hand was already stretched
towards the expensive gadget. “May I?”
“Of course” Dick replied. “Granny is fine.”
Zucco was staring at the screen where the Gazette article was still on, rubbing
his chin thoughtful.
“Glad to hear: but I know she doesn’t want me near you so I can’t send my
greetings… You read about Wayne, huh?” he narrowed his eyes. “It’d be justice
served if it’s true – that nutcase killed your family for his sake.”
Dick pressed his lips and nodded: finally, someone who saw the truth and shared
his feelings. Someone who understood him.
“Yeah…If Wayne had stayed dead, my family would be alive and this world
wouldn’t be such a shitty place…”
Zucco rubbed the boy’s back soothingly, gulping.
“I know, son; it’s so hard…Losing your loved ones because of a filthy brat who
doesn’t give a shit. I hope he really is dead so that your family finally finds
rest.”
Dick’s eyes were tearful remembering the day they dropped his baby brother’s
body to the grave and covered it with dirt. He remembered how they were playing
cops and thieves only a couple of hours before Brian was tortured and killed;
his mommy bringing them milk and cookies.
“Mom says that Vale is a stupid cow that croaks bullshit!” Jason spat wanting
to shake his friend from that man’s influence.
Zucco smiled to him patronizingly and turned to Dick.
“I went to their graves…” he said in a hoarse voice. “And John’s…” he shook his
head biting his lips. “I can’t believe so many years have passed…poor guy! He
didn’t have the chance to meet his son: he was so excited for your arrival…”
Dick devoured every word the man was saying: his mother spoke hours and hours
about his father and his granny too, but it was never enough. He was thirsty
for every tiny new detail that could make him feel like having known his
father.
“You were there when he died?” he inquired in a low voice and Jason was pissed:
Dick was slipping to this man’s grip.
Zucco lowered his head and sighed.
“Yeah…It was nightmarish, awful…” he sighed again.
Dick’s eyes bulged.
“Tell me!”
Jason had had enough and stood.
“Yar granny will be sick of worry – let’s go!”
And as if confirming, the tablet-like gadget began ringing with Dick’s granny’s
number flashing.
“Shit!” Dick exclaimed and blushed.
Jason noticed Zucco almost cursing and grabbed Dick’s elbow.
“If ya not move yar ass, I’ll tell her where are we to come an’ snatch ya.
Dork!”
Dick answered the call mumbling that he was on his way back and followed Jason.
“Bye, Tony” he hastily addressed the man. “And thank you…”
Zucco smiled.
“My pleasure, kid. If you want, after the gym, we can talk about your father
and some movements he loved and that I believe you can master!”
Dick smiled nodding and Jason dragged him.
“Not even think ‘bout it, ya dumbass!” the younger boy gritted his teeth to
Dick.
But Zucco staring at their retreating forms smiled confidently.
 
Selina pulled off of her the special garment for beekeeping, placed it on the
wooden working bench and breathed easier staying with his form fitting short
sleeved T-shirt and jeans. She gazed around the wild landscape made of weeds
and late autumn flowers where a raw of small, square beehives were lined up –
butterflies were still flying around as various insects. Selina sucked the
smell of grass and salt from the sea that brushed the shore at the roots of the
hill; she closed her eyes and yanked her head letting the bright sun caress her
skin that had tanned after her staying in the island.
 She turned smiling hearing Argiris approaching.
The young man approximately at her age – but who cares? – was caring a small
vial and a tub. Selina smiled.
“What are these?”
Argiris gave her the tub.
“From my mom – cream mpougatsa: she knows your friend likes it very much and
she sends him some. Just out of the oven.”
Selina took it and smiled.
“Yeah! She always treats us some when we drink coffee at the square’ cafe. Her
bakery sends such tantalizing smells…and Alfred loves her bread! Please, give
her our thanks – Bruce will be very happy!” she chuckled. “He can’t resist!”
The raven haired man showed her the vial.
“Royal Jelly: it’s really precious and enhances the organism” he licked his
rich lips “it’s for your friend. It will benefit him – galvanizes the immune
system and generally strengthens a recovering body.”
Selina hesitated to take it.
“I don’t know, Argiris… He already takes many drugs and I don’t know if he
should mix them with this…”
“It’s an entirely natural product but of course you can ask his doctor first
for allergies.”
Selina nodded and took the vial, placing it on the tub and then at the working
bench. She cocked an eyebrow and smiled slyly eyeing the tall young man with
the beautiful black eyes coming closer to her.
“So, Selina” Selina loved the accented way he uttered her name. “That man,
Bruce, is…your fiancé?”
On that Selina choked and laughed; she shook her head in refusal.
“Then mother was right that you’re brother and sister” he shook his hands. “I
mean: same age, same beauty and such bonding: you love so much each other –
it’s obvious…”
Selina clenched her waist and tilted her head on the side smirking.
“You’re too observant, handsome…”
Argiris blushed.
“When I’m interested in someone…”
Selina cocked an eyebrow.
“In me or Bruce?” she demanded flatly because she was also very interested…in
Argiris.
The man widened his eyes and blushed even more.
“You!”
Selina rolled her eyes.
“Thank Goodness for that!” she remarked slyly. “No, we’re not siblings but it’s
as good as that…”
Argiris placed his hands on her shoulders and came even closer, his eyes locked
with hers.
“I’m so happy to hear that…” he breathed and Selina relished the hot air that
brushed her naked neck. “Because I really like you, Selina…”
“I like you too, Argiris, but you know that my time on the island is
limited…I’ll return to the States at some point.”
The young man brushed his lips on Selina’s and she closed her eyes sucking the
different smells from the wild plants of the field flavored from Argiris’ raw,
so male scent.
“So let’s make good use of that time…”
Selina shook her head and rolled her eyes.
“It was about time, handsome!” she wrapped her arms around his neck as he
cuddled her.
Their lips locked in a passionate, hungry kiss and cuddled together fell on the
grass rolling between the wild plants.
Selina stood before the window in her room, Hero’s purr loud as he rubbed at
her leg. She sighed and squatted taking the kitten in her lap.
“Let’s find our Bruce!”
 
Bruce brushed the link that led to a video on YouTube. As it played he watched
Superman stopping a train taking position to halt another train that was
heading to crush with the first. And then an impressive woman landed swiftly on
the rail and with pompous ease stopped the coming train.
His eyes were still but his heart jolted when Superman walked slowly towards
the Amazon who saluted him with a gesture of respect and they shook hands. The
video ended abruptly with Superman’s departure but Bruce saw at the related
videos’ section a new video.
Some guys attempted to rob LEXLAB in Metropolis – Bruce pressed his lips many
questions and thoughts already forming as his mind assessed the information yet
he continued watching. The burglars held hostages and Superman hesitated to
attack; the thugs were ready to flee with the hostages when a half-naked
hurricane engulfed them giving Superman the chance to attack ending fighting
side by side with the Amazon…
For the second time in a day, the two heroes shook hands and locked eyes…
“You’re thinking what I’m thinking?” Bruce inquired indifferently knowing that
Selina had come in the meantime and watched silently the video.
The young woman sent a kiss to Hero who was following her.
“Mmmm…That she looks more like a cheerleader than a crime fighter or that she
must have some super power holding that kitsch corset on her boobs while
fighting?”
Bruce looked at her and smiled.
“Do you think that ancient Greeks knew about silicone boobs? Because those are
not real!” Selina added in a matter of fact way.
Bruce chuckled.
“Everything is possible. Yet I wasn’t thinking that.”
Selina rolled her eyes.
“No kiddin’!” she slipped in Bruce’s hand two cinnamon biscuits and winked.
“Alfred just served them…And Tony is already savoring them!”
He took a bite.
“The whole house smells deliciously…”
Selina rubbed her shoulders.
“It’s cold here, do you want a cardigan?”
“No, thank you” he eyed his robe. “Alfred wouldn’t have let me out
unprotected.”
“Of course…” she looked at the screen with the paused image of Superman and
Princess Diana. “Well, what were you thinking?”
Bruce bit a biscuit and pointed at the screen.
“Superman has found a new ally and comrade – and he is impressed” his voice was
totally emotionless as if commenting in a council. “And who can blame him? She
is powerful, indestructible, a formidable warrior and…gorgeous…” his sparkling
eyes were fixed on the two heroes completely still.
Selina snorted: Bruce was a master in hiding his feelings but not from her.
“She’s mediocre” Bruce looked her lopsided, arching an eyebrow and Selina
shrugged. “What? I’m objective…And she is so clearly fancying Superman that I
want to throw up…”
“Why not? Superman is beautiful…”
That scientific tone in Bruce’s tone was getting on her nerves. She scoffed.
“Give me a break, sweetie! Because he put a spell on you taking advantage of
your innocence” Bruce choked on that and laughed making Selina frown and pout
“and love-blinded you into not seeing around that doesn’t mean that he is THAT
beautiful!”
Bruce lolled his head on the side looking at her disbelieving.
“I can count many humans who are more beautiful than him: Argiris for instance”
she said proudly crossing her arms.
Her friend arched his eyebrows and smiled benevolently.
“Now who’s love-blinded, dear?”
She punched him gently on the shoulder.
“As for superboys, for me, Captain America is DA hunk!”
Bruce’s eyes widened and he looked at her mock-shocked but definitely amused.
“I don’t believe it that you’re Captain America’s fangirl!” he teased.
She clenched her waist and pouted deep in thought.
“Well…I like burly boys yet Hulk is oversize for me and green isn’t really my
color…”
“Poor Tony will be heartbroken hearing that you prefer someone else from his
team.”
 
“The competition is merciless, babe!” she followed Bruce’s eyes back on the
screen and crouched leaning at his ear. “I know how you’re feeling…you may be
hiding from the others but I know that your previous fight with Superman still
stings you” Bruce stilled his eyes on hers and she sighed. “His words burn
inside and those awful videos and that bitch makes it more painful…”
“She isn’t a bitch, Sel” he said calmly.
But she smirked.
“I know a bitch when I see her… Anyway, the important for me is you. That dork
spoke like an ass but maybe he understood his fault and regretted what he said
and with the first chance he’ll apologize…”
Bruce gazed at the sky thoughtful.
“I don’t know, Sel…I don’t want him to apologize or something…He believes what
he said…and to tell you the truth, I understand his fascination with the
Princess…”
Selina grunted and grabbed his shoulders. Bruce stared at her nonchalant.
“Clark is attracted to strong, brave, proud individuals.”
“He fell in love with Falcone’s helpless toy – he didn’t know you were Batman
then” Selina retorted.
“He might have felt sorry for that being and wanted to save him but it was
Batman he kissed first. Without knowing that I was Batman.”
“Instinct…”
Bruce shook his head.
“Batman was the one he wanted…He felt pity for poor, miserable Bruce and wanted
to protect and save him – as a good-hearted hero would do – but Batman’s
strength and defiance, the feeling of danger and adventure that he carried was
that fascinated Clark: knowing that Bruce was Batman kept his interest alive.
But now he sees only a battered, weak being in need of care and protection and
though his nature is protective and kind” he shook his head “that doesn’t mean
that he’s still attracted to someone who is no longer the Batman he fell for:
he said it plain and clear – for him, I’m weak.”  
Selina gritted her teeth.
“You’re not weak! You’re always Batman because strength and bravery is in your
core. And if he can’t see that then he is super-idiot!”
Bruce grinned to her.
“You heard him. Compare the way he was staring at me and how he goggles at
her.”
Selina definitely didn’t like Superman’s stare and she couldn’t persuade a
detective like Bruce that wasn’t true. She caressed her friend’s shoulders and
took Hero who was at their feet and let him on Bruce’s lap.
“It’s only a crappy video, Bruce…”
Bruce nodded and caressed Hero’s head with his fingertips.
“From the Daily Planet by Clark Kent – he wants to inform the world about the
Princess: he is excited.”
Selina cupped his face and brought their eyes to lock.
“You know he loves you: he looked after you all this time; remember all the
days you spent together here – how happy you made him. He is still proud of
you, Bruce; as all of us!”
Bruce nodded smiling; the knot in his guts wasn’t dissolved but he didn’t want
to cause distress to Selina neither to act like a jealous kid. Besides there
wasn’t a point in all this…
“I know” he caressed Selina’s cheek.
Leslie popped her head from the door.
“Kids, dinner is ready. Come!”
Bruce turned nodding and Leslie left.
“Well?” Selina inquired standing.
“Go! I’ll shut my laptop.”
Selina looked at him suspiciously but chose to not insist.
“C’me, Hero” she took the kitten from Bruce’s lap. “Don’t be late, handsome”
she shook her index finger. “You know Stark: he can’t hold himself from eating
everything!”
Bruce grinned and waited to be alone before playing again the video from
LEXLAB, his lips so tightly pressed that they lost their color.
He could sketch Batman’s every move during the fight: how he’d block the thugs’
every attack. His mind burnt from desire to set his body in motion but his
members didn’t obey – they shouldn’t obey his bossy and cruel mind’s orders
neither succumb to his mind’s destructive power: that was what everyone said,
that was what everyone wanted from him. Because he was weak, just a wreckage
lucky to have people loving it.
He inhaled deeply and his burning eyes gazed the sky. The thought of the
Immortality Water came torturous in his mind. Many times he was tempted to
drink it again to force his injuries heal faster…He could feel for his old
mentor, Ra’s, who drank the powerful elixir to heal his injuries and maintain
his power… He had experienced the strength of the pure form of the elixir when
he cut his carotid, trying to die: the Water stopped the bleeding and revived
him. And Superman…Clark had given him the same elixir to keep him alive after
the building collapsed on him.
He rubbed his temple feeling hammers. He was lucky to survive that, he reminded
himself; lucky to be still breathing and having his loved ones around happy to
have him with them; lucky for having a chance to try and regain his life… No,
everyone wanted to stop him from even trying.
He bit his lips: if ha drank again the Water and his body healed completely
they would have to accept it: they wouldn’t have any argument to retort. His
heart beat excited: the Water was his after all – he deciphered the ingredients
and the procedure. They couldn’t deny him taking it…
His eyes estimated the railing and then the slope underneath; the whim to open
again the wings of his armor and fly was more than dictating, urging, demanding
– it was tormenting, stabbing his insides. And the chair felt not just
confining but choking him…
It was just some gulps of the miraculous liquid and then everything would be
like it used to be…
Suddenly, his eyes stopped at something he had months to see: two emeralds
shining in the dark. Bruce’s heart missed some beats and he held his breath as
his sight adjusted to the dark discerning the body of a bat: his bat, that
wasn’t afraid of the owls that filled the night cool air with their sounds. The
emerald eyes locked with his and reached his heart saying in silence so many
things – things that stung and soothed him.
He pressed his lips: no, he couldn’t and wouldn’t take the Water… That was the
sloppy way Ra’s Al Ghul followed to his fall: he used the Water to make himself
a God, a demon, to fool and violate his nature into kneeling his enemies,
gaining immense power and taking advantage of others for his pleasure.
All the times Ra’s used him, all the times he tortured him flooded his mind.
The man was corrupt to the core and maybe the constant use of the Water
contributed to that: like everything, the Water’s effectiveness was a matter of
wise use – when used to heal people was a blessing but using it to make
yourself a God and invincible into achieving your ambitions led to your own
fall and destruction.
And Goddess Nemesis punished Ra’s for his arrogance and his corruption and
blasphemy: the emerald eyes flashed as if confirming his thoughts. The Knife of
Justice used Bruce’s hand to serve justice to the man who killed so many
innocents and took advantage of a priceless gift to indulge his ego…
Drinking the elixir to just relief himself from the turmoil and soothe his
desires would send him to follow the same road to total corruption as Ra’s Al
Ghul. And Bruce wouldn’t do that: his eyes gave that promise to the emeralds
watching him. Even if that meant months of waiting and painful training and
disappointment and frustration from being regarded as weak and using techniques
that would exhaust his body and mind: this was the human way, his way. Because
he was a human and frankly he wouldn’t change that with anything.
“Master Bruce?” Alfred’s soft voice addressed him from the balcony door.
Bruce looked a last time at the odd eyes and turned to Alfred.
“I’m coming.”
 
It was already dusk when Clark left Metropolis and that meant that in Greece it
was past midnight. Yet he couldn’t leave the office sooner: after he published
his article, Perry called the entire team to a meeting and Clark felt that any
attempt in finding an excuse to flee would be too much. After all, the last
months he exploited too much Perry’s gratification for the hit-exclusives he
brought to the Planet.
However Lois was glaring at him all the time – that is when she didn’t ignore
him completely – as if he had done a crime!
He shook his head even now travelling midair. He wasn’t totally convinced on
the usefulness of this transatlantic swift trip: Bruce probably was already
asleep and even in the morning the stubborn being would be still pissed at him.
So Clark was sure that his mood was going to be in shreds not only by Bruce’s
sullenness but also… He sighed. He didn’t want even to let the thought form but
the pang in his guts every time he thought or saw him it was eloquent enough.
Every time he was flying to meet him, Clark felt excited, happy to see him but
always a hidden pain was there. That night however there wasn’t any excitement
only that hidden pain magnified and transformed into irritation and exhaustion.
He was so elated all these hours after the dispute with Bruce – he forgot all
that emotional torment and after so many days, so many hours of agony and
despair he felt again hopeful, carefree, relieved from every burden…
Stark’s white villa sparkled like an earthly star imprisoned in the mountain. A
star… He sighed remembering his Star: his trapped Star… He inhaled deeply, the
cool air that brought the revitalizing scent of the sea refreshing him. If at
least Bruce wasn’t so pigheaded…
And then he saw it and his calm was again gone replaced not from gloom as
before but anger. That man was going to drive him crazy!
He dove swiftly at the forest near the villa and landed to the spot where he
had seen it. That obstinate human didn’t hear anything from what he said; he
was taught nothing from their quarrel and now wandered to the forest after the
rest fell to sleep. Clark pressed his lips and clenched his waist: Bruce was
mocking him – showing off his stupid defiance, his disrespect for Superman.
And now not only Bruce forced his body to stand and walk but also hid from him,
jeering him. He gritted his teeth.
“Bruce, this is stupid!” he used his super vision to scan the forest and found
him again.
But this time Bruce’s body didn’t arouse him but made him mad; he clenched his
jaw and surged there. Obviously, the overconfident idiot thought that Superman
wouldn’t find him because he didn’t try to hide again.
Superman grabbed his upper arms and pinned him on a tree letting the human’s
legs dangle. He didn’t care if he hurt Bruce: maybe if he felt pain would get a
grip. His eyes were almost red and his breathe a rasp, as their faces came too
close. Clark could hear his heart drumming in his skull.
But Bruce was totally unfazed; his beautiful face brushed by a faint smirk, his
eyes glimmered mockingly and regarded sarcastic Clark’s distorted from anger
face.
“Why you did that, you stupid man?!” Superman growled and shook almost brutally
the human body. “You want to drive me mad?! You want to spit in my face your
contempt?!”
However the mesmerizing eyes became more gleeful, the eyebrows forming a full
sarcastic arch and those rosy lips opened slightly to let out a horrible
snigger – so much unlike Bruce.
Clark’s self-restrain shattered on that and his mouth opened and rushed to
punish those jeering lips; his hands freeing Bruce’s shoulders to cup with both
hands his face and shake it in his pace, sucking and devouring with his lips
that bruised the soft human flesh before his tongue licked them angrily.
He kept his eyes closed lost in the tornado of his anger, his frustration, his
passion for these unmarred lips that just let him do whatever he wanted…
Wait! Bruce’s lip had a cut from the adventure at the forest and the smell was
nothing like Bruce’s. He frowned and opened his eyes.
Whatever he was pinning on the tree evaporated; Clark’s eyes widened and looked
frantically around. Maybe he was already crazy?
And then he heard a man cackling from the sky above. There was anything there
but Clark used his super vision and saw enraged a man floating with folded
legs. He had raven, greasy hair and a nose pointy as his ears; his attire was
green with a long leather vest. He looked at Superman’s glare knowing that the
Man of Steel was seeing him but this didn’t deter him at all, on the contrary
his cackling snigger became louder.
Superman launched his laser vision against him but it slithered on an invisible
barrier; Clark clenched his teeth and stretched his fist surging at the
stranger that mocked him that way. Yet as soon as he reached the man and
unleashed his fist to smash him, the raven haired man snorted, pointed his
middle finger at him and just vanished leaving his hair-raising cackle behind.
Clark inhaled deeply and shook his head: what was this man? And he knew about
Bruce… Concern bit him hard: if he had attacked Bruce before playing with him?
He couldn’t hear Bruce’s heart or respiration and he didn’t know if the man did
something to block the sound in order to fool Superman to believe that Bruce
was in the forest and not in the house or it was the brutal reality.
He changed his body’s direction and rushed to the villa.
***** Chapter 12 *****
“Oooooh! You kept me a seat, Johnny boy! I’m touched!’’ Joker made a dramatic
gesture patting his heart and jumped into the seat opposite Crane.
Crane rolled his eyes and stabbed with his fork the chicken fillet that was his
dinner.
“And I hoped that I would enjoy my meal…” he snorted with a voice quite fierce;
so much different than the lean doctor’s.
Joker placed his arms on the table and leaned towards Crane.
“Buuuuuut you can’t enjoy a meal without good company!” he licked his lips
missing the taste of the brazen lipstick he used.
Crane raised his glistening eyes and stabbed Joker who giggled amused from his
obvious distaste.
“Exactly!” Jonathan spat.
But Joker unfazed grabbed his chicken fillet and took a big bite.
“Mmmm…Soooomeone thinks that loonies are humans tooo… That meat is as soooft as
Brucie’s booody!” he let his eyes take a reminiscent expression and licked his
lips. “Speaking of which” he hissed suddenly too serious. “There’s soooome
catching up you owe me, doc!”
Of course…Jonathan thought and left his fork on his plate. As a matter of fact
he had no problem of relaying his knowledge to this clown – on the contrary,
his knowledge would make that fool consider him useful and Jonathan would
gladly exploit it.
“What do you want to learn?” he locked eyes with Joker and the jester flapped
his eyelashes cutely.
“Pleaaaaaase…Don’t look me like this: I’m getting all wet…” he made his voice
girlish and Crane looked frustrated around at the cafeteria. “Now…” Joker’s
voice though low became cold as his stare “take back your fork, eat normally
aaaaand start talking; I’ll intervene whenever I want some-thing.’’
Crane rolled his eyes and swallowed his wrath: he hated being ordered around
but he couldn’t do anything else than obey. For the moment.
“Those strange people…”
“The Leaaague of Shaaaadows” Joker interrupted never letting Crane’s eyes from
his.
“Yeah” Crane nodded. “Can you stop looking me in the eyes? It’s really
annoying: if this is your version of truth test, there’s no need – I have no
reason to lie” he sneered.
Joker shook his head spasmodically.
“Hehehe…There’s at least ooone thing that you would want toooo hide…” he licked
again his lips.
“If you mean violating your…wife I’m not interested…”
“Gooooood for youuuu, docky! Con - tinue…” but as soon as he opened his mouth
to resume his narration Joker sprawled in his seat. “You know that
schizophrenics caaaan’t stand eye contact?” he smirked with the hint he let.
“Taaaalk it with your shrinky” he shrugged a shoulder.
Crane snorted and closed his eyes: how much more he’d have to tolerate those
fools?
“Those jerks organized an entire breach to the Asylum to take me out.”
Joker jerked towards him with his mouth agape.
“W-O-W, doc! I’m imp-pressed!”
Crane shook his head and smirked.
“You should because I’m an expert in human behavior, psychology and
psychopharmacology…”
Joker giggled aloud and some inmates looked at their table.
“Obviously, it’s theeee brain youuuu missed on the roooad…”
“They wanted my skills for your…wife” he scoffed unfazed and his eyes shone
gleefully at Joker’s interest. “They gave me everything I asked in order to
achieve their purposes…”
Joker’s eyes became two glistening slits.
“Purposes?”
Crane lolled his head to the side and smiled.
“Make the brat her obedient slave; enslaving his mind to her.”
Joker nodded, every trace of the maniac goofy gone. He took a roast potato and
chewed it.
“Morticia.”
Crane jerked his head backwards and leaned towards Joker taking a forkful of
salad.
“Talia Al Ghul, the daughter of Ra’s Al Ghul: the former leader of the League
and partner of Falcone’s” he cocked his eyebrows suggestively.
Joker took his fillet and dag his teeth ripping a big chunk.
“Youuuu were working for Falcone…” he said between chewing.
Crane nodded and took a sip from his juice.
“Yeah…He had asked a pill to cause extreme arousal” he smirked and looked at
his tablemate suggestively. “He used it for his toy…I’m sure he had a
spectacular time as the lady of the Shadows did using a similar substance on
dear Brucey…” he sniggered but his grin froze when his length was squeezed by
fingers stronger than pincers.
Joker smiled innocently.
“A bone stuck in your throat, dear?” he asked sweetly to be heard by everyone.
Crane coughed.
“I’m fine…” he said throatily, drops of sweat flooding his face.
Joker smiled, patted him friendly in the shoulder and squeezed more; Jonathan
gasping.
“The bitch raped him?” Joker asked smiling but his voice was metallic.
Crane nodded clenching his teeth to not scream.
“Not only she…” he huffed. “That oaf she dragged with her too…”
Joker lolled his head to the side.
“I dooooon’t like killing animals buuuuut I might make an exception… Why the
bitch wanted you?”
“She…she said that Wayne belonged to her father but he escaped…she wanted him
back…but this time wanted to control totally his mind to not escape again”
Joker squeezed more and Jonathan whined. “She…she thought very highly of his
mental capacities.”
Joker arched an eyebrow, his mind racing. That suited perfectly his suspicions:
that stupid League trained assassins – as if killing needs any training… he
rolled his eyes – and its leader believed that Brucey belonged to him. His
daughter believed that the ‘poor thing’ was her heritage and was desperate not
only to get him back but also reassuring his blind obedience. He pouted. Maybe
Brucey’s use wasn’t only the obvious? Maybe the ‘poor thing’ was taken under
the Ra’s – something – wing for more things than a fuck?
“Aaaand youuuu?” he clenched Crane’s testicles more chewing indifferently a
potato.
Crane was holding the table to fight the pain and not cry but Joker shook his
head disapprovingly.
“Eat…” he hissed smiling and gave him his fork with a potato. “And speak…”
Crane mouthed the potato and began chewing.
“He…he definitely had…more endurance than expected” Joker nodded with a knowing
shine in his eyes. “And…and…he resisted to my fear gas…”
Joker huffed and sighed.
“Myyyyy Brucie!” he said with pride, his mind racing crossing Crane’s
information with his own. “Soooooo the sweet angel wasn’t only Falcone’s slave
but this Al Ghul’s too…Ugh! I’ll find that guy and tell him sooooome things…”
“I don’t think you’ll find him…I mean, she told me that her father died and
wanted Wayne because he was her heritage…”
Joker snorted.
“Sooooo Morticia was nuts even before contaminated by youuuu…HuHu!” Crane’s
eyes from scared became angry. “What youuu did to my boyyyyy?”
Crane swallowed hard hesitant to answer but Joker twisted cruelly making his
heart beat faster.
“I began to distort his memories into confusing him about what was true or
false so that gradually he’d stop considering Talia as his enemy and trust her
to guide him through his fogged past and present.”
Joker frowned: that was very interesting…and useful. Morticia had failed but
that didn’t mean that he would too… His methods along with those of the loony
doctor were a sure recipe.
“Can you repeat the procedure?” he inquired in business-like tone and released
a bit Crane’s balls.
“Stark took my tools and drags…” he barely gulped his scream as Joker clenched
his genitals.
“That won’t be a problem for you, riiiiiight?” he asked with his nasal voice
becoming a sly purring.
Crane felt Joker letting go of his genitals and managed to see an orderly
approaching.
“Dr. Quinzel wants you.”
“And she’s not the oooooonly one” Joker winked and licked his lips. “See ya
soon, Johnny boyyyyy! Seeeeex boooomb, sex bomb, I’m a sex bomb…”
He stood up and followed the orderly dancing and singing.
Crane watched him with his eyes half closed.
“Of course I can repeat it, you fool…”
 
“It’s not bad at all that you are weak, Master Bruce: we all love you. You
don’t need to try return to your previous life because we all know – most of
all, yourself – that you would never manage to be strong again. But no need to
worry, Master Bruce: we love you despite your worthlessness…”
Alfred was kneeled before him and held his hands but his grip wasn’t
encouraging but detaining: his baby blues were affectionate as ever yet
mocking. And that hurt as if he wasn’t more than a child. And what hurt more
was that in Alfred’s irises he could see his own reflection…And his face had
deep wrinkles, his hair was grey and his eyes were dead from years of wasted
efforts and constant disappointment.
“You don’t believe that I’ll be able to be like before?” he showed with his
eyes his laptop’s screen where his 3D sketches of the new bat suit were
displayed.
Alfred cast a fleeting glance and his eyebrow cocked sarcastic.
“For Goodness’ sake, Master Bruce… Only an idiot would believe that these
ridiculous adjustments would allow you to be Batman again” the baby blue eyes
locked with his in disbelief. “You should have learnt by now, sir…Are you so
stupid, Master Bruce?” he got the impression of a hidden snigger. “I’d suggest
you get comfortable in that chair of yours and indulge in our care.”
This should have hurt more yet he clenched his jaw: he’d never yield to that
chair or anyone’s discouraging words. But he was old, his youth had passed and
he really didn’t manage to come back…
The sound of the cape waving in the air made his heart jolt and his spine get
goose bumps. And then the distinct complex noise that was Gotham’s night. The
familiar feeling… the familiar landscape of the illuminated city above him –
the polluted air that he loved so much giving life to his lungs. It was exactly
the view from the tallest gargoyle on the City Hall building: exactly, as when
he was standing there, watching, lurking…And his body felt good, in its best
shape, young.
So, it was just a nightmare…
He was standing and everything was normal. He was Batman and Batman never
smiles but he was deeply satisfied because his adjustments succeeded; his new
suit was perfect and despite everyone’s doubts he had returned to his mission,
to his city, to himself…
“…Can you think for a second what will happen if you collapse in front of your
enemies?! My hairs stand on end only on the thought!”
“You’re not the warrior you used to be…” the caring voice of Tony whispered
honestly to his ear.
But Tony was wrong. He was fighting with Zsasz. Evading his lethal punches
easily and delivering swift, almost invisible round kicks that made the giant
stagger. His mind was coldly estimating and predicting his opponent’s moves and
self-confidently blocking them to counter strike. Batman never wasted himself
in enjoying fights but this time he could permit a slight content.
“…the bionic parts although very effective and with almost perfect
functionality, are not able to stop blows or bullets…” Tony’s exasperated voice
warned him.
Two stings in his nape and waist made his blood run cold and his body grew
completely numb carrying him down without being able to stay erect. Cold sweat
ran his entire body and he realized that his armor was gone and he wear only a
ragged shirt and weathered jeans.
He was unmasked and Bane who anyways knew his identity walked pompously at him;
he could sense his smirk, his eyes were sniggering.
“…Can you think for a second what will happen if you collapse in front of your
enemies?! My hairs stand on end only on the thought!”
He raised his eyes to stare without any fear at Bane yet he knew that he was
defeated; he was doomed.
And then Bane squatted and his enormous hand got a fistful of his hair and
heaved him like a small child; a helpless child – that was what he’s always
been after all…
“And if he doesn’t play the hero he’ll feel weak, right? And he is scared of
feeling weak because then he’ll feel exactly as when he was enslaved to
Falcone; he doesn’t want even to consider what you propose because playing the
hero offers him something to cover his weakness. He can’t stand feeling weak
and he is willing to die instead of adjust to his nature! He thinks that
pretending the strong fools us into not seeing his weakness but the only one
who fools is himself!” Clark’s outraged voice pierced his mind and it felt
worse than being dragged by Bane.
He collapsed on his knees; his right arm was dead but hurt, immobile like a log
hanging from his shoulder and his rear end was killing him, blood leaking to
his inner thighs. He was feeling terror, despair; he was trembling and crying
and through his eyelashes could make out his shadow: only this shadow was of a
boy, a really skinny boy no more than eleven years old.
Suddenly, his eyes opened bulging in panic: there was another shadow towering
his – a gigantic shadow and a familiar smell that made his guts convulse like a
dying fish.
Chill clenched his dirty locks and jerked his head.
“Stand up, ya useless worm!” he shouted.
He wanted to obey but his legs were paralyzed – they weren’t there. He turned
his wet eyes to the adult.
“Please, sir…I…I can’t…”
Chill snorted and kicked him in the stomach sending blood burst from his mouth;
Bruce thought in terror his injured lungs.
“Ya expect me to carry ya?!”
His bark made the boy shut his eyes and cry shamelessly shaking his head in
denial.
“Then stan’ up an’ walk, ya ass!”
But he couldn’t; as much as he urged his legs to listen to him and move, they
remained dead. He was feeling the Vulture vibrating from wrath and he was sure
that at any moment he’d start punishing him so he used his left arm to push
himself up in the floor, to crawl.
His hair was clenched again and he was heaved and this time the respiration was
Bane’s and the boy had become a man – a helpless man. A man tossed on a bed
unable to move but for his head. He tried to fight because he knew what a bed
meant for him, fight only with his head, butting Bane right on the nose as much
as this pained him.
“Go ahead: make Crane’s job easier!” Bane growled and Bruce could see his
former trainer’s horribly maimed face uncovered.
Bane’s lethal hands punched him on the face deteriorating his raging migraine
and then the giant grabbed his useless hands binding them on the headboard. It
was like being again that helpless child, that terrified child.
Bane pushed Bruce’s head on the pillow and left Bruce to walk slowly to the
bench from where he took a pair of handcuffs and rope. He grabbed Bruce’s
wrists and cuffed them to the front.
“You’re so much afraid?” Bruce said undeterred to him. “I’m paralyzed.”
Bane swept with his palm the blood on the bridge of his nose from Bruce’s blow
and hooked the rope to the chain between the handcuffs’ rings. He pulled the
rope upwards stretching Bruce’s arms to tie the rope to the headboard.
The oval window in the external wall of Bruce’s bedroom retreated soundlessly
to the invisible horizontal frames on Superman’s approach and he was pleasantly
surprised because he hadn’t expected to be welcomed after the dispute.
He floated inside and the window closed. The big room was dark except from the
warm hue that the red-yellow flames of the built-in fireplace and the dim light
of the laptop’s screen… It smelt pine wood and…Clark closed his eyes and
sucked…Bruce.
Clark crossed his arms and lolled his head on the side looking at the scene in
front of him: of course…
All this time his flight from Metropolis to the Fortress was hurried but the
last days his haste had nothing to do with dread and concern. His haste to
reach as soon as possible was driven by joy: his Star had woken from the coma
and gradually was back on living. Bruce was wandering with the chair’s help
around the Fortress – Clark had given him access to every corner: mmm…maybe
that wasn’t very prudent? Nah…Besides Jor El was with him all the time and it
was Bruce: Clark trusted Bruce with his life.
Jor-El finally had found a willing and fervent partner for the chess-like game
from Krypton: Clark was delighted to see his Star playing with his father
because that meant that his cognitive abilities were intact. But he was even
happier seeing Bruce with the newer inhabitant of the Fortress: the kitten he
had found in Metropolis and given to Bruce because it was exactly like the
kitten he had as a boy – the kitten Chill brutally killed in front of Bruce’s
eyes.
Clark floated silently to the room he had made exactly after the master bedroom
in Wayne Manor. His androids informed him that he’d find Bruce there. He could
see inside through the wall without being noticed. He felt a bit guilty for
peeking yet it was so beautiful.
Bruce sat on the chair Clark had made for him and had the kitten on his lap. He
had his still hardly movable right arm on the kitten and with the other hand
held the special baby bottle feeding the animal. Thankfully, the new Hero
wasn’t very boisterous yet so the feeding was easy for Bruce: it was as if the
fur ball sensed that his friend was incapacitated and didn’t want to made
things hard for him. Clark’s super sense told him that the kitten was purring
making Bruce’s heart beat so calmly…
Clark was smiling at the scene of Bruce feeding the small animal: it was so
sweet…
“You know, littl’ one” Bruce was mumbling to the kitten. “You’re exactly like
the little kitten I had years ago – you have his name: Hero.”
Clark could see through the wall Bruce’s touched eyes look at the kitten’s head
– Hero was sucking greedily the milk.
“He was a true Hero: you see, he was born ill and his eyes were infected. One
of his eyes was already completely ruined when Selina found him…Right! You
don’t know Selina…Well, you’ll meet her and I’m sure you two will become the
best of friends: she is the kindest, sweetest, cleverest, bravest girl in the
world and very beautiful. And she will instantly fall in love with you. You’re
exactly as our Hero and Selina found him in a garbage bin where someone dumped
him to die…” Bruce’s voice dropped and the rubber nipple left Hero’s mouth;
Bruce hurried to bring it back. “Selina was who took care of him and saved his
life but he loved me as well…We used to play – the limited time we had -, we
used to share the sandwich Selina was bringing me every night. Your namesake
was a brave kitten, a good kitten like you but he was unlucky…”
He pressed his lips and took his eyes from the kitten to look at nowhere.
“He was unlucky to meet and love me…” his voice was steady but completely
emotionless and the small animal looked at him puzzled.
Bruce realizing that Hero wasn’t drinking left his daydream – or nightmare –
and smiled at the kitten that reassured began sucking again.
“A scum killed him because” he drew a big breath “because I loved him…I hadn’t
had the chance to bid him a proper goodbye…” his voice was hoarse but gentle
like a boy’s and Clark could see him bite his lip. “But now with you is like he
came back” he smiled “and we’ll have the chance to give him what he truly
deserved – and you deserve. I guess Clark – I can trust you with Superman’s
alias, huh?” he frowned playfully. “Clark cherishes both of us and took care so
as to meet again.”
Clark felt moisture in his eyes as too many times before but now was from pride
because he had made Bruce happy…He walked towards the door that instantly
lifted to let him in.
Bruce and Hero looked at him and Clark in a whoosh was glued to Bruce’s lips,
like a metal to magnet.
As soon as he let go of those rosy lips – only because he didn’t want to
torment Bruce’s lungs – he presented to his Star the paper bag he brought from
Metropolis.
Hero sniffed interested stilling his paws on Bruce’s lap and the young man
chuckled.
“You’re going to make me gain too much weight…”
Clark ruffled his hair. That was impossible: actually, it was just a few days
that Bruce’s appetite got somewhat normal. The first days after the IV removal
he hardly ate anything and that just to make Clark happy…
“Mmm…It’s fresh baked donuts: almond praline filled and white chocolate
topped…” Clark widened his eyes innocently - Bruce’s favorite.
“That’s dirty!” Bruce protested but his protest was silenced by Clark touching
a dessert to his mouth.
A big smile lightened Clark’s face as Bruce bit the donut and began chewing
moaning, the kitten in his lap standing on its legs looking fascinated.
It was too much to expect from Bruce to lie on his bed sleeping… Clark’s lips
twitched amused despite the fact he wanted to be irritated.
The younger man was on his chair in front of the table where his laptop was
open and Clark albeit behind could see what had kept him up: on the screen,
were 3D designs of Batman’s armor from different ankles – the adjustments Bruce
had thought that could make him able to be out there…
He shook his head exasperated, pity almost coming to the fore. He rubbed his
forehead: no, no, pity – Bruce didn’t deserve to be pitied. And definitely he
couldn’t get mad at him. Not when Bruce was like this…
His head was leaned on the chair’s back that sensing that its occupant was
asleep had reshaped to hug comfortably his neck. His velvet eyelids covered
gently his orbs and his respiration was so calm that was almost imperceptible.
Untamed locks had fallen in his forehead and some others framed his sharp
cheekbones.
Clark Kent or Superman couldn’t be seen by strangers in the villa or near Bruce
Wayne: Vale’s video was enough.
So Clark had to remain hidden till Mat Leench ended his session with Bruce and
left using Stark’s helicopter. Leench was the Avengers’ physiotherapist and
trainer and Stark trusted him to help Bruce recover – as much that was
possible… The man was more than trustworthy and familiar with Stark’s genius so
he wouldn’t attribute the energy casts holding Bruce’s bones together to anyone
else.
But the most important for Clark was that Mat was at Bruce’s age…Blond, blue
eyed, good looking with the body of an Olympic Champion… And almost always his
skin tight T-shirt was drenched in sweat sketching his perfect muscles since he
was making the exercises along with Bruce.
Clark always cringed seeing how hard Bruce was training and couldn’t understand
how this man and Stark allowed so much effort.
Bruce’s torso was naked and his muscles glistened under the sweat’s hue; he was
doing pushups with his legs unable to assist but Bruce made it look so easy.
Clark was always trembling that he might injure his arms again.
“Bruce, you’ve got a great body” Mat said with his kid-like way.
Yeah…Clark licked his lips and sighed. Nutritional, good food, the healthy
climate of the area had helped in regaining much of the lost muscle mass:
almost exactly as before the factory.
“Falcone demanded that I’ll be trained…” Bruce answered shyly. “And then I kept
the habit because it helps me to clean my mind…”
“You did great, Bruce” the young man gave his beaming, benevolent smile and
Bruce nodded. “That way it’s easier for you to do the exercises – as a matter
of fact, you amaze me.”
Clark’s heart was kicking in his ribs and his face was hot.
“Of course he amazes you, you dick!” he gritted his teeth.
“I think that’s enough for today, Bruce.”
He grabbed Bruce with the special way physiotherapists do and placed him on the
massage bed.
“Time for your massage.”
Clark could see Bruce blushing because he had to discard all of his clothes for
that and his Star never liked to be touched except from Clark – unless that
changed…?!
Mat brought the folding screen to grant privacy to his patient yet that didn’t
reassure Clark’s jealous heart. He could see Bruce already lowering his gym
pants and Clark was rasping.
And then…Knocks on the gym’s door.
“Excuse me, sir but Master Stark’s helicopter is here” Alfred said to Mat who
was taken aback.
“But we haven’t finished yet…”
“We”? Clark mouthed and only then he registered Selina perched on the balcony
giggling at him, Hero standing on his rear legs grabbing with his front legs
the biscuits she gave him.
“Would you like me to tell the pilot to wait?”
The young man was in a standstill but Bruce emerged his head behind the folding
screen.
“It’s alright, Mat; you can go.”
“And your massage?”
Bruce smiled.
“You have taught Alfred well; don’t worry.”
Oh! His Star seemed relieved.
“Thank you, Bruce, till our next meeting, continue your daily program but
without excess…”
“As if…” Selina whispered passing by Clark and patting his shoulder, Hero
perched on her shoulder.
But for Clark only one thing mattered: he rubbed his hands together. Time for
massage…No bloody way he’d let Alfred do it.
Clark felt his body getting hotter than usual and his breath becoming faster.
He closed his eyes in despair – he shouldn’t slip to that. He focused on
Bruce’s lap instead.
Of course! He smiled. Hero was sleeping curled in Bruce’s lap, Bruce’s hands
gently placed upon him. Clark shook his head and pinched the bridge of his nose
smiling: the kitten was supposed to stay at Selina’s room in the nights so to
not disturb Bruce’s rest because cats are restless and don’t sleep like humans:
they tend to wake every now and then asking for various things.
But it seems that Hero wasn’t thwarted by doors: Selina probably forgot her
door slightly open and Bruce definitely had made some trick to his door to
recognize his animal friend and open at his approach. The sly kitten took
advantage of that: actually, Clark had heard Selina saying that cats can do
anything to get what they want. And Hero was Batman’s kitten…
Kryptonite teeth bit his guts and he sighed: Batman…The time when Clark stalked
Batman seemed too distant and a sinking feeling told him gleefully that Batman
wasn’t ever coming back… Damn you, Joker! The clown had almost killed Bruce and
rendered him paraplegic, bound to this chair!
Flashing images of Diana kicking and punching graciously her opponents sending
them to the ground unconscious came to his eyes. Nobody would be ever able to
incapacitate that powerful woman – she like Superman was invincible,
indestructible not like… He cast a fleeting glance to Bruce’s sleeping form –
he closed his eyes: so fragile, so weak…
Bruce’s armpits screamed from the violence of the move but he pressed
stubbornly his lips.
“But you still feel…” Bane sneered as he finished the knot “so I’ll maximize
your discomfort.”
“I know you prefer torture me…” he tried to reason with him if urging someone
to torture you was reasoning.
But Bane smirked with his teeth rattling and with a swift, violent push and
without any preparation thrust deep inside Bruce who bit his tongue to not
scream.
“That’s true…” he pulled slightly out and thrust immediately again “but I know
this is the worst torture for you…” he thrust deeper and stronger relishing the
bulged vein in Bruce’s neck stretched from his struggle to swallow his groans.
“And I really missed you, whore…”
Suddenly, Clark’s lips were over his, as his eyes to mute him.
“If you weren’t so stubborn to admit your weakness and protected yourself
staying behind Bane and Talia wouldn’t have raped you!”
He felt his insides shatter on that and he clenched his jaw to silence his
groans both from the searing pain in his pelvis and the pain Clark’s words
evoked.
His heart beat somewhat strange and Clark knew that was Bruce’s heart – after
so many months of watching the human’s vitals Clark’s body was still tuned with
Bruce’s. He looked again at the human and calmed down realizing that it wasn’t
something dangerous: Bruce’s heart was a bit arrhythmic which was inevitable
after so many years of brutal abuse.
He noticed that he was a bit cold: of course… Bruce’s temperature had a
tendency of playing games and the fact that he didn’t wear any socks or robe
didn’t help. Thankfully, Alfred had left the fireplace lit and the room was
pleasantly warm.
Clark was sure that Bruce planned to do whatever he wanted to do – work on his
designs – and then go to sleep so that nobody figured his ‘mischief’ but the
handful of drugs Bruce was taking were very strong and also had placatory and
sedative qualities. So at some point, his fatigue intensified by the drugs won
– that was the reason he didn’t wake sensing Clark’s arrival.
But two glimmering eyes were looking at him now and Clark leaned on Hero who
remained still to not wake his master.
“Hero, I thought we had a deal” he whispered mock accusingly. “You were
supposed to watch over him not become his accomplish!”
He took gently the kitten and placed him in the basket Bruce had for him near
the fireplace: well, Hero loved to watch the flames.
“Stay here, buddy” he told the kitten that was ready to leave the basket to
climb again to Bruce’s lap. “Bruce needs to get to his bed.”
Right. He floated back to Bruce and placed one arm under his knees and one
around his shoulders to heave him as softly as he could to not alert him.
Suddenly the excruciating pain and the nauseating sound of flesh whipping flesh
ceased and were replaced by cool breeze caressing kindly his face. He was
flying and was held by strong, loving arms and his heart was beating calmly. He
was safe.
He raised his eyes and saw around; he was travelling amongst small, fluffy
clouds, stars and then the blinding, beautiful waves of aurora borealis. He
sensed two affectionate eyes staring at him and turned his eyes to see Superman
with his trademark curl on the forehead, his smile and crystal blue eyes hued
with warmth. He was so beautiful… He nestled his head on Clark’s chest and
closed his eyes.
Clark chose to go slowly to the bed to not upset Bruce although he doubted if
the drugs’ effect would let him wake so easily. So he had to admit to himself
that the reason he delayed the transfer was because he relished the feeling of
holding Bruce like this and watching his face at sleep; hued from sleep’s calm
that highlighted more the man’s beauty.
And then Bruce did something that melted even the last hint of past anger in
Clark. He moved his head and settled it snugly and comfortably in his shoulder.
With such surrender and trust that it felt like a small kid… Well, Bruce was
still a kid deep inside: that poor, enslaved kid waiting an adult to save him…
Clark pressed his lips: Bruce would have cuddled like that in his arms if
Superman had barged in that horrible brothel and taken him away. Things would
have been so much different then: Batman wouldn’t have been created and Bruce
wouldn’t have been in such danger – he wouldn’t have been almost killed and now
he wouldn’t be bound in that chair.
Only one thing would have remained the same: Bruce’s kind and generous heart
that loved everyone. Sometimes even for Clark who had the fame of the most
good-hearted hero, Bruce’s benevolence towards people was a mystery and a
miracle. Someone so much tortured as Bruce was justified to be angry at
criminals and want to punish and bring them to justice. But to be so caring and
generous for his fellow humans who didn’t do anything to help him all these
years? Of course, it wasn’t Gothamites’ fault that Bruce was kept prisoner so
many years and Bruce knew that but still it was admirable that his wounded
heart could hug every human in need.
He placed Bruce carefully on the mattress, fixed carefully his legs X-Raying
them to see satisfied the progress that was made; then he tucked him with the
soft blankets without being able to keep his eyes from his face. He brushed
with his fingertips the stray locks decorating his chiseled features. He found
it too difficult to persuade his body to detach from Bruce even for the seconds
he needed to put on his own pajamas that Alfred had placed in the dresser and
settle himself on the mattress spooning Bruce’s body and touching his cheek to
the younger man’s cheek – tenderly to not disrupt his sleep.
“How come and I always end up in your arms?” Bruce asked Clark who was looking
so affectionately at him.
Instantly, Clark’s face distorted; his face’s muscles clenched and his eyebrows
frown in rage.
“Because you’re fucking weak!” he yelled. “You’ll never admit your mistakes,
huh? Even though they make all of us sick with agony and running desperate to
save you! As when you surrendered yourself to Talia…”
His eyes widened but he wasn’t angry…he was hurt, sad.
“I didn’t” he mumbled.
But Superman was really angry and didn’t want to acknowledge Bruce’s hurt eyes.
Instead, he pressed his lips and shoved the man on the examination bed and when
Bruce swallowed his sadness and supported his body on the elbows to rise, Clark
grabbed his upper arms and pinned him on the mattress. Superman’s red hued eyes
were above Bruce’s, his breath was a furious rasp; Superman’s powerful thighs
kept Bruce’s hips trapped: not that it was necessary since he couldn’t feel or
move anything below his waist.
“Weak anger…You know everything about that, huh?” Superman sniggered through
gritted teeth. “Do you feel like a warrior?!” his grip on his arms became
bruising as he roared – his eyes sneering as he shook his head. “Of course not!
You’re a worthless being counting on his super friends to save him from tight
spots, when he fucks things up!”
He shook him violently, lifting and crushing him again on the mattress, Bruce
watching him with blank widened eyes that caused a new fit of cruel laughter.
“It hurts, huh?” he mocked him. “That’s the point: maybe now you’ll admit that
you’re weak and stop pretending the strong, putting everyone in trouble! You
really believe that you can be in the same league as me and the Princess?” his
laughter was like barking. “No, stupid littl’ human! You’re a zero with the ego
of a god but your egoism can’t hide your worthlessness! You’re weak, damn it!”
Bruce was shaking his head in denial, his jaw clenched in rage and hurt.
“I’m not weak!” he growled.
On this Superman clenched his wrists and pinned them above his head, his eyes
ablaze glaring at Bruce’s narrowed eyes.
“What I must do for you to admit that you’re weak?” he barked and Bruce jerked
his head.
Only to be crushed on the mattress, Superman’s body upon him weighing like that
factory…
“Get off me!” he growled.
“Make me!” Superman challenged him with a gleeful smirk and Bruce thrashed but
it was useless since half of his body was dead.
Bruce clenched his teeth and launched his head against Superman’s – he didn’t
care if his skull was shattered though Ra’s had taught him how to protect his
head from lethal impact.
His head didn’t crack open but the pain was great and his eyes lost sight due
to the blood that burst from his broken nose.
“Go ahead: make Crane’s job easier!” Superman sneered but his voice was
distorted; it was Bane’s voice and as much as he wanted to see Clark’s face to
dissolve that illusion a red cloud covered his eyes.
His heart was beating fast sending sweat to wash his body, his respiration was
frantic and his lungs burnt because he sensed Clark’s hands ripping his shirt.
“Maybe you understand what you really are…” teeth grazed his breasts and he
felt like drowning.
He knew it was Clark but he smelt like Bane, he hurt like his former trainer.
“No, Clark, not like this…”
“Are you going to beg?” now the voice was clearly Clark’s but it was so mean…
“Beg me like you should: it’s the only thing weak beings like you can do. And
your arrogance must be punished…”
Clark bit him really hard on the abdominals but Bruce closed his eyes, clenched
his jaw and didn’t even moan. Not even when he heard the violent ripping of his
pants and underwear…
“Beg me to not squash you!”
Brush thrashed desperately even under Clark’s unrelenting body, inside his
hands of steel that didn’t care if his flesh was torn and his bones smashed.
“Say it! Admit you’re weak, you idiot!”
Clark was nuzzling softly Bruce’s cheek; his body’s perfume was intoxicating
and numbed him. Yet the younger man began thrashing inside his arms, his
heartbeat frantic and his breath a rasp. Clark got up slightly eyeing Bruce’s
body that convulsed like a fish out of the water: he was sure that this turmoil
could make Bruce’s mind force his legs to move in order to fight whatever
haunted his sleep. The Man of Steel bit his lips: it was the first time after
the incident with Joker that Bruce struggled something like this.
He placed his hands gingerly on the human’s shoulders and shook him gently; he
leaned his mouth over Bruce’s cheek and kissed him.
“It’s alright, Bruce” he whispered. “It’s only a bad dream… Wake up…I’m here:
nobody is going to lay a finger on you…”
Bruce gave a really painful gasp that made Clark cringe for his lungs and half
opened his eyes in the corner of which stagnated tears began flowing to his
cheekbones. Clark felt his heart cracking and grabbed him to nestle him in his
chest, caressing his sweaty locks and kissing softly.
“It’s alright…” he whispered again to persuade him because Bruce’s cold body
was tense and the younger man didn’t let his head touch on Clark’s shoulder.
“I’m here, Star…”
Clark realized that all these drugs must have made it too difficult to orient
back in reality so he brushed his back. Finally, Bruce relaxed in his chest and
his heartbeat began normalizing. Yet the younger man detached his head rather
quickly and Clark frowned.
Bruce felt deeply ashamed that Clark witnessed that: now his claims about him
being weak would have new arguments. He moved his body with his hands and lay
again on the mattress turning his back on Clark who pressed his lips but
unfazed lay on the mattress too cuddling Bruce’s body.
The Man of Steel placed his hands on Bruce’s shoulders and kissed the corner of
his lips sucking all the senses.
“Flashback?” he whispered in his ear and kissed the earlobe.
Bruce closed his eyes.
“It was messed up…Flashback and nightmare and…bullshit!” he spat.
Clark nodded and inhaled struggling to keep his calm.
“Crane tampered with your memory…” the scum! Really, who can be so cruel to
play filthy games with the painful memories of a tortured being?
Bruce hated discussing about what was done to him.
“He didn’t have enough time to cause damage.”
Clark licked his lips: Bruce would never admit that he was hurt.
“But you said it was intensive: three times a day with increased doses” his
invulnerable spine shuddered even in the thought of that metallic box shutting
his head and various needles piercing his eyes and skull… “I think that
something should be done to restore the damage” he knew that Stark and Lucius
analyzed everything that monster used on Bruce.
“We discussed it already, Clark and we decided that it’s better not cause more
upset to that part of my brain. Leslie cleaned my cerebrospinal fluid from the
remaining substances and that’s enough.”
Clark couldn’t ignore the distant and cold tone in Bruce’s voice that was
expected from their morning dispute…despite the fact it seemed like ages ago.
Of course he had the chance to engage in so many things and take his mind of
that but Bruce albeit with his beloved people, had remained stationed on that
chair feeding with designs of his armor his illusions of returning.
He wanted to sigh but held himself – he had to approach again him. Besides he
had gotten over what happened. He cuddled tighter Bruce’s body, immersing his
mouth in his neck, his hands rubbing his upper arms.
“It’s nice you wear these pajamas…”
Bruce cocked an eyebrow and he knew that Clark heard it.
“Because they’re warm and I won’t catch a cold…”
That coldness was still there in Bruce’s voice so Clark sucked on his neck
relishing the softness and the perfume.
“Because…” he whispered in a husky voice “your body must be touched only by the
softest materials…when it’s not touched by my body…”
Clark’s kisses trailed upwards to Bruce’s jawline but he didn’t stretch his
neck to give him better access though…he always loved Clark’s kisses.
Clark ended up again in Bruce’s ear knowing how his touches there rendered
boneless the inexperienced in love young man. Clark wanted to melt the ice his
own behavior caused to cover Bruce’s heart.
“Is everything alright? Did Leslie find anything?”
Bruce didn’t look at him.
“You didn’t eavesdrop?”
Clark’s arms tightened more in front of Bruce’s chest and he closed his eyes:
no, he forgot to…
“You don’t want me to…” Clark chuckled.
“And you always do it…”
“You’re still angry with me, huh?” he nibbled Bruce’s so soft earlobe causing
goose bumps in the healthy part of his spine.
But Bruce didn’t feel at ease, the messed up nightmare reminding him the
morning incident and stirring all the emotions he experienced then.
“You’re refreshed though…” the images from Superman’s interaction with the
Amazon came to sting more his sensitive heart.
Clark sighed and his hot breath brushing his ear made Bruce shudder. He surely
felt refreshed, invigorated, happy: the scenes of his interaction with Diana
enhancing his good mood.
“I was afraid that you’d have done something to forbid me from entering your
bedroom… I’m happy you didn’t…” he rubbed Bruce’s arms and kissed his cheek.
“Though I could blackmail my way in…” he said teasingly waiting for Bruce to
ask and when he didn’t “I could say to Alfred that you left your bed…”
“You’re not a snitch” his eyes were still blank.
Clark couldn’t stand anymore Bruce’s turned back neither his ill mood – he
wanted him to forget everything and be at ease again, like himself. He cupped
gently Bruce’s shoulders and tenderly laid Bruce on his back.
Bruce’s eyes locked with Clark’s and Superman felt his guts jolt on the beauty
of these wild eyes.
“C’me on, Bruce; you’re supposed to have your rest, your body is tired.”
The sapphire-emerald orbs narrowed to slits like a wildcat’s ready to attack.
“I’m not tired! I sleep 10 whole hours a day and the rest of the daytime I’m
sitting on a chair. Plus, I was constantly sleeping for one month.”
Clark bit his lip and swallowed hard.
“That month you were constantly fighting: the hardest battle you ever fought –
the hardest battle no superman has ever given. Your every breath, your every
heartbeat was a tremendous feat…I was overwhelmed by your strength, your
willpower to fight even though your body was broken…” he touched his forehead
to Bruce’s who began relaxing on sensing Clark’s emotions. “For Goodness’ sake,
Bruce, promise me that you’ll forget these feeble adjustments to your armor:
you know deep inside that they won’t enable you to fight as before…”
Bruce was looking at him emotionless cursing himself for falling asleep in
front of his laptop.
“So you don’t believe that I’ll walk again…” his voice was dry like his
insides.
Clark caressed Bruce’s cheek.
“Of course you will but this doesn’t mean that you should get back to Gotham’s
rooftops jumping, flying and fighting…” he shook his head. “Why you don’t
consider Tony’s idea?” his face beamed. “You have a brilliant mind and a will
stronger than steel; you can succeed in every field and you can fight crime
from other positions.”
Bruce felt his blood rushing in his veins.
“Being Batman never stopped me from doing that as well…” he said coldly. “You
doubt that I have the strength to overcome this and don again the cape and
cowl” his eyes shone like the lenses of his cowl.
Clark closed his eyes and gulped.
“Do you remember Batman anymore?” Bruce asked.
Of course he did but actually he preferred not remember the way Batman was
graciously and lethally fighting his opponents; he had many times his memory
ready to replay that epic video from Batman’s battle with Zsasz or the night at
Haven’s atrium where Bruce was fighting dressed in an expensive suit. But
stopped it before starting because he wanted to adjust to the new reality and
not dwell in the past. It was better to see the Amazon Princess fighting… it
didn’t stir bitter emotions and he wanted to just focus in the bliss of having
Bruce alive…even if Batman died in that factory.
“Batman didn’t die” Bruce stated dead calm and his eyes stabbed Clark. “I’m
going to return; I won’t give up on Gotham due to a disability.”
Clark supported his torso on his palms keeping Bruce between them and closed
his eyes.
“I can protect Gotham too if that’s your concern… I protect an entire planet: a
second city won’t be a problem.”
Bruce felt a vicious bite in his chest: Clark meant that what he was doing in
Gotham was nothing – he was replaceable. He hadn’t done anything special. More
so for a demi-god. Bruce cocked an eyebrow stilling his eyes in Clark’s.
“Remember the last time you impersonated Batman?” he referred to Clark’s
confrontation with Joker.
Clark remembered: it was rather embarrassing: the jester fooled him, set on the
loose many Arkham Asylum’s inmates, and probably he figured that he wasn’t the
real thing. Not to mention that the clown kidnapped the children from Haven and
forced Bruce to face him while injured.
“I was inexperienced then…” he licked his lips eyeing Bruce’s disbelieving
stare. “So you hold me responsible for Joker taking the children and…everything
that followed!”
Bruce shook his head and blinked.
“No; it was my fault and I paid for that” Clark was shaken by the steadiness of
Bruce’s voice. “I learnt that I should have organized it better and not let my
city to the whims of a criminal.”
Clark cupped his face and leaned to kiss his lips.
“Stop blaming yourself for every ordeal that city experiences: it’s time your
life gets independent from Gotham. You must think a bit about yourself. Tony’s
idea is perfect: it’d allow you to prove your worth” Bruce’s eyes were narrowed
“do great things and in the meantime you’d get to help Gotham in her struggle
against crime…” he was hesitant to continue because Bruce’s stare had become a
glare. “You know as much as we that your injuries are severe and even when you
walk again, you won’t ever be fit to do what you were doing!”
Bruce opened his mouth to retort but Clark placed his fingertips on his lips to
silence him. And then replaced his fingertips with his lips in a soft kiss.
“You can relay your unique knowledge…you can train someone to become Batman.
You can supervise and advise him…” he stopped abruptly seeing the eyes
underneath him flash angrily and the body between his arms tense – but it was
the hurt he detected that made Clark numb.
Yet Bruce disregarded the hot pain in favor of the anger and the energy that
charged him: he was used to that. So he looked calmly at Clark.
“I’ll walk again and I’ll don again the cape and the cowl. And I’ll fight again
whomever dares to threaten my city” his voice was power and certainty and Clark
felt electricity running his back. “If you came back to try to discourage me
you did wrong: you should have stayed with your super powered friend!”
Clark closed his eyes and let his head hang: of course…Bruce knew. He nuzzled
the younger man’s cheek.
“You saw the videos…”
“As millions of people” Bruce answered coldly and indifferently.
Clark’s lips were sucking Bruce’s neck, trying to get better access but Bruce
was unyielding. So the Man of Steel sighed and rose to bring his face above
Bruce’s.
“And…you’re jealous?” he asked hesitantly but amused at the same time because
that would be something completely new for the young man.
Bruce frowned: jealous? Well, while a kid he felt jealousy when other children
had puppies or kittens and he didn’t; yet jealousy because his…boyfriend (?)
was looking someone else that way? Could what he was feeling being indeed
jealousy? He felt his cheeks hot and Clark rushing to plant his kisses on his
red flesh wasn’t the best thing. He felt Clark’s body trembling from joy and
the lips that kissed him formed a big grin.
“Should I? You began doubting my chances of getting back from the moment she
said those things about me” he shook his head. “You weren’t like this before:
you used to share my hopes.”
Clark huffed desperate and let his torso collapse on Bruce’s which regretted
instantly remembering his tender state and jerked upright.
“Bruce… No, what I’m saying has nothing to do with what Diana said to you in
the forest. She doesn’t know you as I do.”
Bruce cocked an eyebrow.
“Really you do know me?”
Clark turned his eyes elsewhere and detached from Bruce sitting beside him on
the mattress. He placed his elbows on his knees and let his hands hang between.
“Seeing me fighting alongside Diana is what made you looking frantically a way
to become Batman? You feel threatened by her? Shadowed by her?” he squinted.
“You hate her, don’t you? Because she saved you.”
Bruce pressed his lips and supported his body on his elbows rising to sitting
position.
“I don’t need to become Batman: I am Batman! Even if you regard me as a poor
helpless being just because I got severely injured and my healing takes time so
much different of you. Finding ways to compensate my shortcomings isn’t new –
I’m doing and working this all this time. Batman always loves shadows so being
shadowed is what I pursue. I don’t hate your friend though I don’t like her
attitude. She helped but it wasn’t she who saved me.”
Clark looked at him.
“Selina was there first.”
Bruce nodded.
“But before her there was someone else who defended me” Clark tensed. “He was
the reason I just crawled in the soil and not helped Selina as I wanted.”
Clark was intrigued by everything Bruce said but especially on one thing:
“He?” he asked with raised eyebrows: he couldn’t help but think all the men who
goggled at Bruce and it suddenly flashed: the guy who mocked him in the forest.
“A strange guy approximately at my age with black shoulder length hair, pointy
nose and ears? A definitely non human guy?”
Bruce shook his head.
“Loki: Thor’s brother.”
Clark grabbed Bruce’s shoulders: Bagdana’s remembrance was annoying piercing
his brain – oddly, Clark hated it when god-like creatures eyed his Bruce.
“What does he want from you?” his eyes were glistening but Bruce didn’t share
his upset; he just pressed his lips.
“Play: what else?”
“He was in the forest as I was heading here – he had your form and he sneered
at me. I don’t like gods or…demons near you” he said deep in thought.
Bruce snorted.
“That includes yourself?” he retorted crossing his arms. “Do you want us to
discuss something useful and let me inform you about the attack?”
Clark still thoughtful about Loki and his interest in Bruce scratched his hair.
“Diana told me everything about your attackers…”
Bruce smiled and let his eyes drop staring at the mattress amused: of course!
He raised calmly his head to look at Clark.
“Then why you came back tonight? You haven’t told me the reason yet?”
That emotionless voice again, Clark thought and without realizing grabbed his
arms and laid him flat on the mattress. He cupped Bruce’s face with both hands
and locked eyes.
“I wanted to apologize for my outburst…” he whispered in a deep voice. “I
yelled at you and you don’t deserve that.”
Bruce pressed his lips and averted his gaze.
“You don’t have to apologize: I yelled too.”
Clark shook his head frustrated and gently brought Bruce’s face in a position
that the younger man would be looking at him.
“I feel that you’re not so forgiving…”
And before Bruce protested he left the bed to be back in a second with a paper
bag that smelt delicious. Bruce rolled his eyes but before saying anything
Clark had touched his favorite donut to his lips.
“Fresh baked donuts: Almond praline filling and white chocolate topping…” Clark
moved his eyebrows suggestively, smiling. “And your stomach has free space.”
Bruce sighed: it was futile. He bit succumbing. They were still hot.
“You used Superman to make Ms. Rose bake donuts?” he asked accusingly and
brought a donut to Clark’s mouth to bite.
“No” he said chewing “she is quite fond of poor Mr. Kent…”
Clark cupped Bruce’s face and let the bag on the nightstand.
“I was panicked, Bruce” he said and his voice was so low that Bruce was
surprised. “When I was alarmed about the attack I was scared, terrorized: I
know, I’m Superman, and I shouldn’t be afraid of anything but…” he sighed. “I
was panicked that I won’t make it on time…”
Bruce brushed softly his cheeks.
“It was like reliving my returning nightmares” Clark arched his eyebrows. “Yes,
Superman has nightmares…After that awful night at that fucking factory. I
always see the same thing: that I arrived ten seconds later. And the entire
building collapsed on you, squashed you…and I search the wreckage to find you,
I lift bricks, I melt metallic rods, I smash rafters and cement columns unable
to see anything from my tears; my heart deafening my ears ready to explode. And
then…” he closed his eyes “I find you not with my eyes but my instinct…But
you’re…”
Clark touched his lips and nose to Bruce’s soft cheek to make sure that he was
indeed alive; to escape from the icy, terrifying feeling of touching a mangled
body, a body that more of its half was churned, only shattered bones there… A
head that had been opened by the crushing impact; his beautiful face eerily
intact but for his deeply cracked forehead from where brain matter was purring.
He didn’t want to describe to Bruce this sight that was so vivid in his mind;
besides the low beating of his heart was enough for Clark to understand that
Bruce could imagine the spectacle and Clark’s feelings.
“I…I take…you and I fly away…I leave Earth and I reach space with…you in my
arms…and I’m flying, I’m floating in space’s void and darkness but nothing is
darker and emptier than me. I stare at your face begging with my blank eyes
because my voice is lost; I’m begging you to come back…but you don’t…and I’m
just floating hugging you in eternity…my heart doesn’t beat anymore but I know
that I won’t die…I’ll continue float with you in my arms but you won’t ever
come back to me and I’ll be forever alive but dead…”
Bruce wrapped his arms around Clark’s neck and kissed him gently on the lips
and then nuzzled his cheeks letting hot air from his lungs reassure the
powerful being that he was alive, in his arms. But it was the wetness from his
eyes that made Clark shake himself: he didn’t want to upset Bruce – violent
emotions weren’t suitable for his current state.
He cuddled Bruce in his chest and immersed his mouth in his silken locks
kissing insatiably and sucking that perfume while his hands felt that body. He
cupped Bruce’s face and kissed his eyelashes.
“Can we cross out this horrible day?” he asked while his thumbs caressed
Bruce’s cheekbones. “I promise you I’ll always come back to you – can you
promise me that you’ll be there?”
Bruce bit his lips: how on earth he could promise that? He was a human, a
mortal and death was his only certainty… Clark as if sensing his hesitance held
him tighter and his puppy eyes stabbed Bruce’s desperately.
“I…I’ll do my best…” he gave him the reassurance Clark needed and the Man of
Steel let his face to cuddle him.
Clark’s body was crying – he had life in his arms not the carcass of his
nightmares and wanted to claim that life. What he experienced the two times he
was inside Bruce’s body haunted and created a demanding thirst in him. Bagdana
knew what that body had to offer and Clark flinched on the thought that more
gods could sniff that as well…Like Loki…Humans had already exploited hard that
man, he wouldn’t let other beings do the same. Bruce was only his.
He placed Bruce carefully on the mattress and discarded the top of his own
pajamas on the floor, his chest relishing the nakedness as well Bruce’s
caressing hands. Clark massaged gently Bruce’s ribs while his mouth fed on his
neck that finally Bruce stretched permitting him deeper access.
Bruce moaned as Clark’s magical fingers pressed slightly his abdominals, the
healthy part of his body getting violent goose bumps from the tender nibbling
across his jawline. And then Clark’s greedy hands had had enough of Bruce’s
pajamas shirt and began fast unbuttoning, pushing the fabric of his chest.
Now two lips hotter than any human’s were gulping Bruce’s breasts, trembling
hands lowering swiftly his pants and underwear to grope his buttocks – Bruce
could only see and hear those movements but he was sure that Clark would soon
touch the spots where he could feel. Expecting that, he tangled Clark’s locks
with his fingers breathing carefully to not cause fear for his lungs,
Superman’s quickening respiration telling him that this time he wouldn’t stop.
Clark had his eyes open to register once again, to admire this flesh – the
life. His hands were greedily feeling Bruce’s hard buttocks this time thanking
his physiotherapist and Bruce’s stubbornness to train so much. But suddenly
these buttocks felt differently and Clark knew that they weren’t Bruce’s: these
buttocks gave the exact feeling that he would get from…
His lips stopped abruptly as Bruce’s pectorals became big, round shaped breasts
with big, brown nipples that were hard. Exactly as… His eyes widened: he had
peeked under Diana’s clothes?! He gulped and blushed and jerked upwards sitting
on the mattress beside Bruce, his arousal ebbing fast.
Bruce closed his eyes and let his head slump on the pillow, his heart sinking
and his breath held in his lungs. No, Clark wouldn’t treat him as before but
Bruce sensed that this time something was different: it wasn’t just the dread
that he might hurt him. He pulled up his pants.
Clark was deep in thought and staring at his hands. But then he realized that
Bruce would figure that something was amiss – the human had a knack in sniffing
things. And frankly it was nothing to let it stir more turmoil to Bruce.
So he turned to him biting his lips on seeing the younger man’s closed eyes:
ugh! He had again played with Bruce’s healing body…and feelings. He took gently
the pajama shirt’s edges, brought them over Bruce’s slowly heaving chest and
began buttoning. On ending with the buttons he caressed Bruce’s chest.
“Let’s not rush things, huh? Your muscles are too tense” he whispered. “I’ll
make you some massage – it’ll help you have a peaceful sleep.”
“No need to” Bruce kept his eyes closed.
Clark smiled knowing that Bruce would feel it – he wanted to make up for his
blunder.
“You know I don’t want your physiotherapist massage you: I don’t like how he
touches you and…anyway I’m better.”
Bruce opened his eyes and they seemed tired yet he hid the coldness that had
settled in him.
“Tony called Mat and told him that for three days he won’t have to come” Clark
was happy to hear: he really didn’t like him. “And Mat is heterosexual.”
Clark raised an eyebrow.
“I was too till I met you…” he retorted playfully but for Bruce it wasn’t so
light.
“I thought you were bi” he said though speaking about matters concerning
sexuality was still uncomfortable. “Anyway, let’s get some sleep…” he rolled
his body turning his back on Clark shutting his eyes.
Clark clenched his fists and cursed himself; he laid spooning Bruce’s body that
had gone so cold and rubbed his upper arms.
“I’m sorry…” he whispered.
“It’s OK…I understand…” he stretched his hand and caressed with his fingertips
Hero who was looking at him from the floor – the animal’s eyes shone sad.
***** Chapter 13 *****
The great thing about being a demon was that you could appear anywhere you
wanted. Unless, someone had stabbed you with the Knife of Justice stripping you
of your power and imprisoning you at the Tartarus…
Bagdana raised his eyes to the caverns ceiling.
Then you need another god or demon to free you so you regain your power
and…seek the one who stabbed you and take revenge. If of course you want to
take revenge or instead what the other considers to be your revenge.
He sighed and that was odd and completely un-demonic but Bagdana had no problem
with it. Bruce was a complex and sensitive issue after all. Also, Bagdana had
suffered enough emotional pain that a sigh was the least to ruin his self-
esteem.
He was again in Gotham’s guts – frankly, he preferred Gotham to Metropolis
where his ‘partner’ operated: he was a creature of darkness and Gotham was
darkness and also Bruce’s city. The city that born his Lilith’s last descendant
– how fitting!
It was the great hall: an enormous space framed by stalactites and stalagmites
that united into creating huge columns. At the center lay a small formation of
minerals like a small table.
He brushed the rock. For him it was rather short but for a small boy was like a
waist table. He had first lay eyes on Bruce there…It was amusing as much as
intriguing: a really small kid strolling under the earth without any trace of
fear. Bagdana cocked an eyebrow: well, there was fear but not for the earth’s
guts or the bats surging the place – the boy relished the dark and the bats and
that fascinated the aimlessly wandering demon.
So much so that he took a peek into the boy’s mind and saw his great fear. He
was a horribly abused child and that was obvious even if you weren’t a demon
able to see under his ragged, bloodstained clothes and that explained why the
caves were the place where he felt relieved: there he could escape his
tormentors. Yet the boy’s greatest fear came from his past: the murders of two
people in front of him.
Bagdana remembered how enjoyed that revelation and exploited it taking the form
of his dead father making the poor boy happy and despair at the same time.
Because Bruce was very clever even then so he knew that he was interacting with
an impostor or a hallucination. Oh! It was so amusing feeling the boy’s torment
knowing that his ‘daddy’ was a fake but being unwilling to lose even that
illusion.
He had left the boy crying while his cruel laughter filled the hall and echoed
really nightmarish…
Bagdana smirked but it was for himself: he should have felt that this boy would
be his destiny, something unique, something inescapable.
The child kept coming to the caves unfazed from that incident or maybe
motivated from his first experience. Maybe he was hoping of reliving it. But
Bagdana chose to watch silently the boy’s explorations with the bats being
strangely friendly to him.
And one day he felt the summoning: someone was calling him to take his
sacrifice. Bagdana was too tired and bored and frustrated from centuries of
false alarms by fools who wanted to gain a rich reward but they only offered
huge disappointment. However he went as every time because as much frustrating
the experience with the offered sacrifice was the revenge afterwards on the
idiots who summoned him was what he came to live for the last couple of
centuries. His wrath, his disappointment and his…pain were unleashed on them
who played with the most precious thing for him: his long lost love, his
missing half…his dead mate.
When he arrived at the spacious basement curiosity ignited his blood. The form
tied on the floor covered with black silk was too small: a child. The demon had
beamed: humankind had followed a very sharp slope even without his immediate
urge – they offered him a child. An innocent life, an innocent soul to be
ruined for them to take the fat reward the demon promised. Bagdana smirked
because he knew what they would take in the end: he might not be an avenging
angel but he sure enjoyed delivering punishment to those greedy and ruthless
people…even if the child was to die before them as every other victim offered
to him.
He still remembered the surprise when he made out the features of the child: he
knew that boy; he was the boy that intrigued Bagdana so much that made him
stalk him in the vast, Daedalus caverns of Gotham. He hadn’t considered of
tasting him all this time but his summoners set that before him, tempting him –
and, Hell!, who was he to not fall for a temptation? He was the master of
temptation after all.
The boy was scared – who could blame him? They gave him the special potion –
they were good on their thing. The boy, Bagdana knew, was always scared…and
brave at the same time and that lit the demon’s interest.
He removed the black silk that covered the skinny body: it was an immature
body, a very skinny body but a body with the potential to be beautiful – shame
that the boy was to die tonight. The biggest shame though was that his summoner
– Ra’s Al Ghul – had taken the precautions to not be faced with his ire
afterwards: that damn maggot!
They had the boy blindfolded because everyone knew – Ra’s Al Ghul more than
anyone - that a mortal shouldn’t look Bagdana in the eye; not that they could
or wanted… But he was curious…He ordered the fabric to leave the boy’s eyes and
kneeled on the floor.
And then the most unexpected thing happened: the boy had looked him in the eye.
The scared boy held the demon’s gaze without faltering. And Bagdana frowned
inside: that was unique as the boy’s eyes…like star sapphires, the rarest star
sapphires with emerald sparkling stars. Bagdana’s inside was squirming worse
than the boy’s heart and for the first time in the endless centuries after
Lilith’s demise he felt aroused: he wouldn’t ravish his sacrifice from boredom
and whim for destruction but from real interest.
And as he proceeded to claim the boy’s body with fever that progressively burnt
the demon, Bagdana was realizing that the boy, Bruce, was indeed what he was
looking for all this endless ages: his love’s last descendant. The one with the
mark…Only he couldn’t see the mark. But it was fine because his bare existence
had recognized Lilith’s existence.
Bagdana in Gotham’s underbelly closed his eyes flooded with the demolishing
emotions of the moment…the beautiful, exhilarating emotions that flared his
powers. He had found his Lilith again and his body was celebrating, feasting
again on the beloved body…And he devoured the moment unleashing all the
lasting, all the craving and all the despair from so many years of lacking.
Only to realize with dread that the boy was dying: he was in grave pain and his
blood was flowing on the cement of the room. He had been ruthless with the boy
forgetting that he was a mortal, a boy, not his immortal Lilith. Yet. He let
his seed fill him knowing already that this body would absorb him. And then he
healed the damage his passion had made. And saved the boy. Unlike that night
with Lilith when he failed to give her life again. Because he had arrived too
late…Because although a demon he could give life back only when it wasn’t too
late and he felt…oh, that was…
He had given Ra’s what he wanted: the way to kill the Kryptonian.
Bagdana clenched his fists and roared causing the stalactites to shake: he
wanted the Kryptonian dead because he had Bruce’s body…Bruce’s love. Because he
took Bruce from him…as Cain had done. Only the Kryptonian hadn’t failed to save
Bruce.
He remembered that night that Bruce stabbed him with Nemesis’ Knife and sent
him back to be imprisoned in Tartarus – really, Bagdana considered himself an
idiot for not recognizing the Goddess’ emerald star eyes in Bruce’s irises but
who would think that Lilith’s descendant would be a descendant of the justice
Goddess too? A perfect hybrid to torture him more: getting Lilith back but not
being able to have her because the damn priest’s DNA was in there fighting.
That night he felt Bruce ending – his beautiful spirit being freed back in the
sky like Lilith’s. And Bagdana was desperate to leave his prison and rush there
to save him, to take him away from humans, to make him immortal again, to be
with him forever. But it was like chains bounding him there mocking and
enjoying his pain and agony as his last chance for happiness, for redemption
was fast slipping like the life from Bruce’s gravelly aching body.
But the Kryptonian saved him at the last moment, took him away to heal him. But
the Kryptonian wasn’t a god or the most powerful and ancient demon…Bruce’s life
slipped from his tender arms – he died and Bagdana experienced a pain worse
than that from the Knife as if he had actually a heart and was torn to shreds…
In the end, Superman did it: he saved Bruce. But Bruce was seriously injured
and now he was bound to a chair: not that he couldn’t stand and walk and fight
if he allowed his mighty mind and will to force his body but doing that would
lead to causing new damage to his frail body.
The demon actually sighed and wasn’t ashamed for that: he knew, he felt Bruce’s
burning desire to fly – he was Lilith’s son after all…And now he couldn’t even
walk…Bagdana punched a stalactite that immediately was shattered in a pile of
mineral dust and then reformed it because he didn’t want anything to be
destroyed in this cave. This cave was special.
He caressed the empty human shaped Bat that was erect on the cave’s wall; he
grinned. Bruce’s first cave; Batman’s suit. Bagdana had hosted his battle for
three years; he had watched from afar because that bastard Ra’s feared for the
boy’s life after he copulated with him for the second time and used repellants
to keep him away from Bruce. He watched amused and intrigued and then
fascinated by the boy’s, a young man now, wit and determination: Bagdana
admired him…oh! How it’s possible for a demon to admire a mere mortal?
Yet Bruce was anything but ‘mere’: regardless of the fact he had Lilith’s DNA,
he wasn’t a demon or a god. He was more: he was a great human.
His enormous hand touched the cowl.
“Do you miss your caves, Bruce? Your armor? The night?”
He could feel what Bruce was feeling right now and smirked.
“It pains, right, Bruce? For now you just acknowledge the pain, the knife in
your heart…” he grunted. “Like the Knife you stabbed in my back…” he cackled
with bitterness. “Are you questioning your choice yet?”
His eyes reddened and flashed as he brushed the arms of the suit. He was so
close to get that man… And then Nemesis defeated him once again having given
Bruce the weapons to escape…Having established herself inside the being that
was his salvation, his Lilith’s last son, her last surviving piece…
He just couldn’t even tolerate the slightest doubt that Bruce would ultimately
be his. It hurt even to think the possibility of the Kryptonian continue
touching his Bruce…
 
Joker made a deep court bow as he entered his cell where Dr. Quinzel was
already waiting seated in her chair with her phone’s recorder ready.
“Ohhhhhh! Helloooooo, Dr. Harlequin! To what I owe thiiiiis un-expected
pleasure? It’s not our usual tiiiime, right? Ooooooor…” he moved his eyebrows
suggestively “this nightly visit haaaas mooooore than…’therapeutic’ motives…”
he gazed at his groin. “I know I’m an eye-candy…”
He giggled seeing Quinzel’s cheeks getting red but she determined set her jaw
in a very strict expression that made Joker laugh more.
“Please, sit down, Mr. J. I changed our scheduled session because tomorrow I
won’t be here.”
Joker leaned to her but Harleen knew that this wasn’t the prologue of an attack
because her patient would have been already knocked down – Mr. Stark had made
that sure installing in him a special monitoring system that read the man’s
vitals into stopping him whenever the vitals showed a tendency for
aggressiveness. Joker’s lips were a breath’s distance from her long, lean neck
and his hot respiration grazed her skin bringing her goose bumps that she
wasn’t sure whether they were from terror or something else.
“Mmmmm…” Joker pouted. “Aaaaaa naughty daaate?” he said throatily smirking with
his doctor’s change in breathing.
But Harleen realizing her amateur reactions straighten her head and looked
Joker in the eye firmly though she was aware that the man was amused.
“Please, have a seat, Mr. J” her voice meant ‘cut the crap’.
Joker giggled and with a long jump landed on his bed. He patted the mattress.
“Fancy that…Is a reeeealy gooood beeeed – pity I can’t try iiiiit with
sooomeone…” his narrowed eyes fell on the stern looking doctor.
“How was your day, Mr. J?” she asked professionally brushing the phone’s screen
into recording.
He folded his legs on the mattress and shrugged a shoulder.
“I guessssss niiice…” he smacked his lips while his eyes looked at the ceiling.
“Oooooof course, I’d prefer it iiiif I had a viiiiisit from my lawfully wedded
wiiiiife…” he was staring reminiscently at the ceiling but he noticed his
therapist’s uneasiness. “It’s myyy right, right?” he focused rapidly on
Harleen’s eyes and she managed to restrict her surprise.
“No, it’s not” she answered blatantly. “Mr. Wayne isn’t your…wife.”
He shook his head loosely.
“Aaaaaand may-be he is noooot generally…” his eyes flashed too serious. “Caaaan
you assure me that he is aliiiive?” his nasal voice rose almost angrily.
The young psychiatrist looked at him completely neutral.
“You’ve made a new acquaintance while in the common rooms.”
“Huhu!” Joker knew that she wanted to change the subject, to bring him out of
his ‘obsession’ – but why? People live thanks to their obsessions: is what
gives the salt and pepper to their lives and Brucie with his tantalizing
secrets was his... cinnamon. But anyway… “Yeah, dear ol’ Joooohnny boy” let’s
go with her pace.
“How you feel about it?”
Now Joker couldn’t hold back his laughter: it was so easy to read that woman
and manipulate her.
“Joooohny is a good bloooock – I mean, he was a shrink aaaaaand eeeended up a
loooooony! WOW! That sur-passes even meeeee, for pity’s saaaaake! Hmmmm…”
He regarded his therapist curious and she met his gaze.
“Dr. Harlequin, doooooo you think that eeee-very shrink foooollows the steeeep
path?” he moved his hand downwards.
Harleen met his eyes serious.
“Psychiatrists are humans too.”
Joker giggled.
“Sooooooo you, my hooooot stuffff shrink” he licked his lips looking at the
floor and then suddenly at her eyes solemnly “one day could become like our
Johnny?”
She pressed her lips.
“Is it so important for you?”
He moved his head, stretching his neck in every position.
“I looooove loonies, doc – especially thooooose with a university degreeeeee!”
he erupted in a spree of laughter sweeping supposed tears.
Dr. Quinzel gathered her phone and stood regarding her patient determined.
“I think that’s enough for tonight.”
She turned but Joker stopped laughing abruptly: he was the one to decide that
and he wanted to play. He sensed that it’d be easy to bring that little doctor
to the “Dark Side” and it was so funny.
“Dr. Quinzel, don’t leave” he said with his best solemn voice – he was an Oscar
winning actor for pity’s sake (well, his win wasn’t so fair play but whoever
wins by playing fair?). “Do you really care toooo learn abooout meeee?” his
eyes were sparkling almost sad locking with hers as she turned towards him
interested – hehe! It was so hilarious but he couldn’t laugh aloud – being an
actor is a really difficult thing, that’s why he chose the murders instead.
“Of course, Mr. J, this is the reason I’m here” she arched her eyebrows. “For
me, you’re a human being.”
Joker raised his eyebrows innocently but inside he was sniggering: a human
being – noooooo kidding!
“Really, a human being?” he snorted bitterly – not dragging his words was
tedious and boring especially when he wasn’t actually speaking seriously. “I
tortured and murdered countless people without a reason…” well, there was a
great reason: greeeeat laughs! “You should hate me as everyone else” he sighed
“including Bruce” his eyes now were of a puppy’s. “You know, I really care
about him…”
Harleen’s eyes were neutral.
“You kidnapped, forced drugged him and attacked him sexually” her voice didn’t
contain accusation, just stating the facts.
Very professional, little doc-y, but you can’t kidnap your spouse, can
you?Joker thought and scratched his nose.
“You knoooow that I’m a loooost case, right?” he stared at her innocently.
“Nobody is a lost case, Mr. J.”
Joker gave the driest laugh of his life pretending bitterness.
“I believed that I was helping him, you know…”
Harleen didn’t manifest her interest, just straightened her glasses.
“Helping?”
Joker looked at the ceiling.
“I didn’t mean to cause him any damage…it’s just that…” he narrowed his eyes
staring at her. “Bruce and I are very much alike” he leaned towards her.
“Aaaaaand I’m perfectly aware of how much he suffers eeeeven now – so…I just
wanted to help him become like me: be freed from the chains of constant pain…”
he brought his palm over his eyes watching from the corner Harleen’s avid
attention as if she was waiting to see Chris Hemsworth naked – hehe! He barely
restrained his giggles.
Harleen felt that she was very close to something important: unraveling this
man’s secrets. Finding the root of his homicidal mania.
“You said you’re much like Mr. Wayne – on what terms?”
Joker shrugged.
“You want my life story, doc? I mean, beeeeyond the murders?”
“Of course.”
Joker nodded and smiled and Harleen actually liked that smile – it was a human
smile showing that Joker wasn’t the only aspect of this man.
“You already know that I spent more than a decaaaade in a loony bin…” of course
she did, everyone did, because Batman had dug too deep and discovered that
skeleton in his huuuuge closet, so there was no problem repeating it. “I
knoooow how it is to beeeee imprisoned without any hope to escape.”
“This is your similarity with Mr. Wayne?”
OK, Joker, your Oscar winning scene, hihi! He intertwined his fingers and
brought them behind his neck looking at the corner of the wall opposite him
with a blank stare. He could tell that his therapist was holding her breath
which was hi-larious. He sighed and untied his fingers clapping his palms in
front of him.
“Let’s say that there was maaaaaany reasons I ended up in that loony bin…and
thoooose reasons make me so intrigued by Bruce…because he, unlike me” he turned
his palm showing his chest “…managed to stay…you know…toooooo normal” he
articulated it showing his teeth. “It must pain him toooo much to be like that
having all this shit happened to him aaaand I wanted to free him, to make him
forget the pain and laugh…be, you know, happy. Be-cause I know that being
normal isn’t any happiness.”
Harleen’s eyes sparkled and Joker coughed supposedly from uneasiness but in
fact to cover his laughter: the fish bit the bait.
“Can you elaborate on these reasons?” her voice was professional but Joker
thought that she was ready to say ‘please’.
He pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes.
“Hell, no!” he yelled but it was a hurt yell. “I think it’s obvious…aaand
frankly I don’t remember much…things are a biiiiit foggy” he cackled “maybe I
want them to not clear up…” he turned his puppy eyes to her. “You understand,
Dr. Harlequin? It’s what fascinates me in that man” well, not the only thing…
“I wiped my past and leeeeet my miiiiind go, you know” he rolled his finger
around his temple. “I chooooose madness to face my past while he…” well, if my
suspicions are right, he chose something else.
He pressed his lips.
“I just want to stop his suffering…”
“Every human being has his/her own ways coping with pain.”
Joker shook his shoulders uncomfortable in the mention of pain and his eyes
fell on the floor. Harleen’s eyes widened.
“Pain…” the jester said as if thinking deeply and gave a laugh that resembled
mostly of a grunt. “You have to live in a lot of pain to being able to cause
pain to others” he added in a too serious voice “do you think, Dr. Harlequin?”
He turned his acid eyes to her and – oh! - how much he wanted to giggle
unstoppably in the view of the almost on orgasm doctor. She surely felt that
had come to a great discovery.
“So pain is what drives you to do what you’re doing?”
Joker scratched the edge of his bed that was made from material that couldn’t
be used for any lethal purpose – supposedly…
“Isn’t what drives all of us?” he wanted to throw up with that line… Fun was
what drove him. “Even if we try to hide our wounds?” his eyes locked with her
compassionate ones.
“Talk to me about those wounds” she understood that Joker’s past resembled
Bruce Wayne’s past and that made the man so infatuated with him – only if she
managed to make him open up…Only if she managed to reform one of the worst
criminals ever…
“Hehehe…” well, even as an Oscar winning actor that couldn’t be hold back as
Joker read her hunger. Yet he managed to make it sound like a bitter laughter:
damn! He was more talented than even himself thought.
He brushed the tip of his nose and looked the young psychiatrist.
“It’d be sooooo ridiculous if I returned to that!” he shook his head in denial.
“No, no, nooooooo: Joker is fun…”
Harleen’s eyes were sparkling.
“But you’re not only Joker: there is someone else deep inside you and you work
so hard to keep him buried.”
Joker pinched the tip of his nose: that was…oh! And he believed that he was the
best comedian…oh! The baby had potential! Indeed, there was someone deep inside
him and he – oh! Believe me, doc – was making a really hard effort to harness
him from popping and creating chaos…
“I’d rather nooooot – not - talk about that…” you can’t give them at once
everything they want: you have to tease them to keep them engaged and drag them
the way you want and those shrinks were the easiest prays – he had studied
them…
“I don’t want to put pressure on you.”
Joker shook his head innocently showing supposed uneasiness but inside he
cocked a sarcastic eyebrow: as if you could, doc!
“I guess…I guess…thank you” he looked her in the eyes.
She smiled.
“It’s nothing. I want you to know that I’ll be here for you to listen whenever
you’ll be ready. I think our time is up. I’m really proud for your improvement,
Mr. J. Your behavior at the common rooms is excellent and you’ve been
socializing enough. If you continue like this I’m going to grant you more
privileges.”
Joker didn’t look at her but kept staring blankly at his hands between his
folded legs.
“It’s me that should thank you, doc” he said without looking at her – you gave
me access to my clowns and that asshole Crane. I can get valuable info.
Harleen didn’t smile but her cheeks were hot – she was proud of herself for
making Joker say such things but her experience also warned her to be careful.
“You don’t have to, Mr. J – it’s my pleasure to be of any help.”
Now Joker looked lopsided at her arching an eyebrow. Youuuuu beeet you are…
“You really care about a baaaastard like me, uh, doc?”
Harleen stood and gathered her phone shutting the recording.
“It’s the reason I’m here, Mr. J – you can trust me” her eyes widened in
sincere interest. “Remember that.”
Joker smiled loosely feeling his scars asking for blood and nodded.
“I will, Dr. Harlequin…” be certain of that…
“Good night; I’ll see you in two days.”
He nodded and watched her leaving behind the curtain of his curls. Too bad he
couldn’t laugh because after the shrink was leaving the surveillance was on
again. Oh! That would be so much fun – well, not as fun as when he realized
that his Rachel backstabbed him AND befriended with Brucey: oh! That was indeed
hilarious! He missed Rachel and her snarky remarks, her don’t-giving-a-damn
attitude; but of course Brucey enchanted her as well taking her with him in the
other side and now that dork Dent would corrupt her…Hehe! Well, only if he
doesn’t get corrupted first… Because Joker knew a good sport when he saw it.
As a difficult, compelling one. Like Brucey…and what he hid…Well, he should be
sure, right? He had cornered the loony case, Crane, and would learn what he
wanted. And then nothing would keep him in that place and away from his Prince…
“UUUUUGHHHHH!” he groaned from exhilaration. Who said that Gotham was a grim
city without fun? Ask Falcone…
He giggled on the thought of the almighty Emperor of Gotham who relished on his
certainty that the boy he was fucking was a blind, weak kitten without nails.
Joker’s insides roared: Brucey was a tiger! And between a kitten and a tiger
Joker preferred it when both of them came in one pack…
 
Loki brought fast a popcorn to his mouth but suddenly he stayed with the piece
in front of his mouth and his eyes widened interested and sparkling slyly.
He was sprawled in his throne in the great hall of his palace, his legs
stretched loosely wide in front of him. A huge screen resembling a plasma TV of
at least 100’’ was playing the video from Falcone’s court, the part where
Harvey Dent was dismantling the mobster’s arguments giving details of the cruel
abuse Bruce Wayne experienced in his hands.
And then on his mental demand the footage on screen changed to show Bruce Wayne
dashingly dressed in front of the hotel that hosted the GCPD’s annual ball.
Loki threw in slow motion the popcorn in his mouth and chewed it slowly
watching the man’s moves.
“Wow, boy! You must be really experienced in kinky bed!” he cocked an eyebrow.
“Surely you wake filthy thoughts in that suit…or the jeans…or without any of
these…Supes must be a very boring bedmate…”
Suddenly the screen became black and Loki rolled his eyes.
“I don’t think this is a blackout…”
A loud thud revealed Thor’s impressive figure… The god of thunder was pissed:
that’s not news, Loki thought.
“Well, well, fancy that…Big bro – and I mean really big -, is here: did you eat
steroids for breakfast?” he didn’t change the way he was sitting but shoved in
his mouth a handful of popcorns.
Thor wouldn’t play Loki’s game; he walked towards his throne taking in his
‘brother’s innocent stare that was never innocent.
“What are you think you’re doing?” he demanded calmly but determined.
Loki pretended to swallow hard the popcorn in his mouth and his eyes bulged
pouting.
“Eating popcorn and watching educational mortal TV…Don’t tell me that now in
Asgard this is considered a disgrace?”
Thor closed his eyes: he knew that Loki was always treated a bit haughtily
because he didn’t meet the Asgardian standards and Thor personally didn’t like
that. But Loki really didn’t make anything to change that, on the contrary: he
constantly provoked everyone.
“I think you perfectly understand what I’m saying” he was looking at the god of
deceit. “You were watching videos concerning Bruce Wayne. You were never a
dribbler, peeping Tom”
Loki’s eyes bulged and he choked on the popcorns he was eating because he could
help but laugh.
“Really, I was not?” he frowned. “How much you know me, brotha!” he snorted.
“But I have to admit that socializing with Stark made your vocabulary
interesting!” he chuckled to Thor’s dismay and made his big container of
popcorns disappear and his eyes became solemn. “It’s this why you turned my TV
off? Oh, man! You’re too selfish” Thor was used to Loki’s nonsense so didn’t
react to that. “I’m just following the newest trend in Asgard” he opened his
hands in the air. “Being infatuated with Bruce Wayne!”
Thor shook his head: they made that and Loki was sly enough to notice.
“Nobody is infatuated with the man.”
Loki straightened in his throne and gave a snake like smile, his eyes stabbing
his ‘brother’ sparkling slyly.
“Come on, bro – I’m the god of deceit and that means that I’m cleverer than the
god of thunder and the rest” he leaned towards the blond, muscular god. “When
something stirs the waters” he rolled his eyes “even if the waters are in fact
ice, I immediately sniff it…And there’s much to sniff in Asgard concerning the
mortal – even, dear Odin, seems interested in the man.”
Thor crossed his arms and Loki smirked at the bulging muscles.
“Is this the reason you harassed him?”
Now Loki stood abruptly placing his palm over his heart and widening his eyes
hurt.
“Harass? That’s insulting! That asshole Stark said that?” he gave his voice a
weepy tone.
Thor pressed his lips restraining his irritation for Loki’s act.
“You did meet Bruce Wayne.”
Loki lolled his head on the side, looking lopsidedly at his ‘brother’.
“That boy has a big mouth, huh?” he smiled wickedly and his eyes glimmered
gleefully. “OK, scratch that: that’s common knowledge – from what that gossipy
DA said his mouth – and not only – must be really…”
Thor had had enough: unfolded his arms and his eyes flashed as real thunders.
“Enough!”
Loki closed his mouth and his eyes along with his entire face became serious
and even threatening. He hated it when Thor tried to bully him using his stupid
physical strength.
“Don’t mock what that man has been through” Thor lowered his tone but not his
determination. “What do you want from him?” he set his jaw and Loki did the
same unfazed by their difference in height and mass.
“It’s forbidden to meet a…celebrity?”
Thor tilted his head on the side and furrowed his eyebrows.
“I know you, Loki” he shook his head.
Loki laughed and his eyes were really demented.
“Yeah…I suppose you do so. Well, that little red riding hood told your Iron
buddy that some ridiculous things attacked him and I defended him? Giving that
the boy has two super hero friends, he is protected in a rather lame way…” he
rolled his eyes.
“Just stay away from Bruce Wayne” he knew that it was no use arguing with him.
Loki sniggered and narrowed his eyes with his wide forehead leaned towards
Thor.
“Or else?” he hissed.
Thor shook his head disapproving.
“Why do you have to be so pugnacious? You know, not everything has to be
settled with brawls…”
Loki yanked his head and clenched his waist with both hands.
“Says the god who lives and breathes for battles… Don’t tell me the mighty,
muscular god of thunder is afraid of tiny, weak Loki?” his black eyes sparkled
gleefully.
Thor raised his index finger; he was angry, he didn’t like Loki playing him in
such a manner but he didn’t want to escalate this.
“Bruce Wayne has nothing to do with you or me or any of our kin – leave him
alone.”
He turned his back on Loki and walked the long, plain aisle to the exit while
he could just vanish. Loki crossed his arms and followed his brother with his
sneaky stare. When Thor moved to pass the exit he let a horrible snigger to
accompany his enraged brother’s journey: Asgardians were really pathetic!
 
The soft breath beside him was the only distinctive sound in his vast,
glamorous bedroom. The sound proof walls and windows of the most expensive
apartment building were keeping Gotham’s cacophony outside and the heavy drapes
left the room in complete darkness.
He had his hands under his nape and stared up at the ceiling; his eyes had
adjusted to the darkness so he could make out the outlines of things. The
ceiling…the shadows sketched so interesting things there more interesting than
the naked breasts of that little dumb nurse Kely.
Thomas had no intention on letting things unfold randomly. He knew how to be
patient and lurk but that didn’t mean that he wouldn’t prepare things. So he
dressed in his most expensive, tailor made suit, bought an impressive bouquet
of red roses and went at the nurses’ apartment – it wasn’t difficult to
discover this info, besides he had volunteered in Leslie’s clinic exactly for
gaining access in such things.
He cocked an eyebrow in sarcasm.
“I always learn something that interests me…” he had said in his most seductive
way to Kely when at opening the door she stayed goggling at her crush-doctor.
Which was the truth: he really learnt everything he wanted. And that was
another reason for being so frustrated with his failure to find answers in this
case: he couldn’t believe that Brucie was covered so effectively – ugh! All
this protectiveness and devotion and adoration made him even now sick… C’me on,
he was Brucie Wayne, nothing special then, nothing special now – his only worth
was his surname…Falcone spared him only for his last name – to humiliate more
the Wayne legacy.
He snorted but the bitch behind him didn’t hear anything just sighed in her
sleep. As she was sighing and moaning and whining under him…He had invited her
for dinner at the most glamorous restaurant of Gotham and she had blushed, her
eyes almost watering for her unbelievable luck…He rolled his eyes.
Then he suggested have a drink at his penthouse and as he guessed she had no
reservations for that. Neither for getting laid by the most handsome,
interesting, intelligent bachelor in Gotham… He smirked. On the contrary…
He casted an ironic sideways glance to Kely’s sweet, innocent face; her messy
locks splayed all over the silken pillow. She begged for more, never getting
enough of Thomas Elliot – she melted in his hands. He could see it in her eyes:
she would do anything he asked. She was already his devoted slave and he needed
such individuals to keep him informed on Thompkins’ movements and maybe later
of Bruce’s himself.
His blue eyes glimmered in the darkness as he stared again at the ceiling
indifferent of Kely’s bare naked body at his side.
“You thought I was a bully to you then, Brucie? You cried then because I was
calling you names and ruined your Tao-Tao. You can’t even imagine what kind of
bully I am now and how much more suffering I can cause you…and I WILL cause
you…”he mused and smiled satisfied. “Till I ruin you completely as this asshole
Falcone failed all these years…”
 
His sleep was so deep all these months due to the bunch of strong medicines he
had to take; so being aware of his surroundings even when sleeping as Ra’s had
taught him became difficult – that was the goal of all this medication after
all: to get as much as possible rest.
However, even in this lethargic state he felt a mass on him. He was sleeping
flat on his back and something, a body, large and muscular was on him – well,
that he could figure from the input his half body was giving. A sinking bitter
feeling filled his insides before the memories of last night came to complete
the puzzle. The words they have exchanged, the hard impact Clark’s words had on
him; the sense of resign from everything Clark relating…
Suddenly one new input for the environment was added: two very familiar lips
were touching his neck. Clark…
Obviously…He was sleeping with Clark after all. Yet he wasn’t so sure that it
was really him. For once, Clark wouldn’t place his heavy body on him; after the
incident in Chicky’s factory he was very careful, even afraid in his
ministrations. Also, something was off: the lips weren’t as hot as Clark’s and
Clark didn’t kiss in that way; not to mention the unfamiliar smell.
He got in battle stance – well, spiritually. As the lips reached the corner of
his lips he opened his eyes pretending annoyance for being woken.
“Good morning, sunshine!” Clark’s voice greeted him along with the beloved
crystal blue eyes and a big stunning smile.
Yet Bruce’s eyes narrowed and he gasped, his hands grapping the mattress trying
to move his body that way. His uncertainty even if proved unjustified
afterwards made him keep pretenses…just in case.
“S…Superman, what are you doing?” he asked puzzled and half-hid his supposed
fear as a person who wants to put a brave face on and half fails.
“Come on, Bruce, you know…morning glory? It’s your superman, don’t be shy…”
As if…Bruce arched a mental eyebrow but as a front he took a really insulted
expression that bordered with terrorized. He was so glad his laptop was
programmed to close after an hour of inertia because last night he slept
leaving it open with the designs of the new armor… He didn’t know who that
impostor was and that was the reason he didn’t call him with Superman’s alias:
he didn’t want to betray his secret identity neither to divulge their
relationship.
“Are you crazy?” now his voice had a slight tremor either from anger or fear.
“How…how dare you? Please, get off me…”
‘Superman’ rolled his eyes and brushed Bruce’s cheek with his lips that now
that Bruce was certain that belonged to a stranger felt nauseating.
“You are not completely awake yet, huh? Sunshine? Your man is here.”
Now Clark would never say that bullshit.
“You’re not my man!” and then he rasped and lowered his tone. “Please,
Superman, stop that…I…I’ll scream…”
“Bruce, I can’t understand why you’re reacting like this… I’m hurt. It’s what
we’re doing every morning…” he frowned and lolled his head in a completely non-
Clark-ish way. “I least I hope so…” he said huskily in a mildly mocking way, as
if hardly restraining a jeering snigger at someone.
Bruce smirked but only inside: so Loki decided to continue the game he started
with Clark last night. His amusement on the thought of Superman didn’t do his
mate every morning was obvious in ‘Clark’s eyes. So obvious that his black eyes
almost replaced Clark’s.
“W…what?” Bruce exclaimed. “We…WE?” he snapped as if the idea was crazy. “We
don’t do anything like that! Why you’re here?”
Thankfully, ‘Superman’s knees were fixed on the mattress and his considerable
mass wasn’t on his pelvis. Loki wanted to be careful.
‘Superman’ looked at him with narrowed eyes.
“Are you kidding me or am I kidding you?” he asked.
“Get off!”
“Superman is your boyfriend; you should be happy for him wanting to play…”
Bruce mentally snorted: so the supposed Superman was speaking for himself in
the third person.
“He is not” let’s continue in his way.
‘Superman’ seemed frustrated.
“Drop it, alright? I saw him coming here last night and he was very happy to
suck your lips…” Loki stopped abruptly and closed his eyes before bursting in
his typical laughter.
“Loki.”
‘Superman’ became Loki and the god of deceit shook his index finger, still
laughing amused.
“You’re clever…”
Bruce pressed his lips.
“You’re an asshole!” and then his eyes stared at the floor where Hero lay
completely immobile; the bedroom granite tilted floor was replaced from the
filthy cement in the alley behind Dolcetto and a kitten lay there, his one eye
open but immobile, dead, his tongue hanging. This image had the impact of a
full blown migraine and Bruce writhed under Loki trying to escape remembering
to hide his true strength. “What have you done to my kitten?”
Loki turned his head towards the animal and shook his head.
“Cool down, babe; he’s just sleeping” he cocked his eyebrows. “I might be an
immortal yet cat’s nails really hurt.”
Bruce licked his lips and really put an effort to look at Loki’s face,
pretending to be afraid.
“Please, get off me…” he was really shaking - well, it wasn’t from fear but
anger yet Loki was unable to read his mind.
Loki supported his body on his knees and rose a bit scratching his head. But
then Bruce felt his arms being lifted upwards and strapped to the headboard
without Loki laying a finger on him – actually, the god had crossed his arms
and just stared at him perplexed; his eyes bulged but a black silken ribbon
covered them.
Loki clenched his waist with both hands and regarded Bruce.
“Well, straps and blindfolds truly are amazing on you! Hm…let’s discover other
things…”
The buttons of his pajama shirt were slowly undone and Bruce felt sweating and
was glad that at least he was not wearing the Black Butterfly, he didn’t want
Loki being intrigued by the jewel and search what it was. He was angry but he
knew how to act anger and fear together.
“This…this is a sexual assault…” he said trying to control his fearful breath.
Loki pushed the two parts of Bruce’s shirt away and smirked at the view of the
man’s naked torso.
“I can see why Supes is head over heels…” he remembered what Bruce had said
about the sexual assault “look, babe, at least I tried to follow the other
way…and, let’s face it: I’m a god – I know it’s unfair but I can do whatever I
want.”
Bruce was furious.
“Please, untie me…I…I…it’s awful…and Alfred could come at any moment…Please,
I…I can’t…”
Loki twisted his lips.
“I thought after all these years you’d like going fifty shades of gray – hell,
you could write one hundred and fifty shades of gray…” but upon seeing his
captive shaking and moving nervously his tied hands, he sighed. “Fine…party
pooper!”
Instantly, Bruce’s hands were free and the silk blinding his eyes gone. Bruce
brushed his wrists though the straps weren’t very tight: in Falcone’s hands he
had endured much worse bonding… He looked at Loki, his heart still beating
fast.
“So” he inhaled deeply “you want to have your fun with me” he closed his eyes
“no surprise there…”
Loki sat on the mattress folding his legs.
“You told Stark I was with you in the forest and he sent Thor to chastain me.”
Bruce shook his head.
“And you decided to punish me.”
Loki lolled his head on the side and smirked.
“If I wanted that I wouldn’t have stopped, would I?”
Bruce grabbed with both hands the headboard and rose in a sitting position.
“Then what do you want from me?”
Loki shook his head laughing silently.
“You’re intriguing, Bruce…and I like being intrigued. Thor coming to face me
for disturbing you, Superman being in love with you…”
Bruce opened his mouth to answer but Loki’s lips were on his silencing him.
Bruce shook his head to escape and Loki detached licking his lips.
“Mmm…I get why Supes figured me last night when he kissed me… I know the truth,
buddy – I saw him leaving this gorgeous villa an hour ago because of an
earthquake in Tibet and…there’s a bag of donuts from a Metropolis’ bakery in
your nightstand – Superman home delivery, huh? Not bad at all…By the way, I ate
one” he squinted “I hope it doesn’t bother you?”
Bruce regarded Loki interested.
“What do you really want?”
Loki smiled, his straight hair falling from the two sides of his face.
“We’re so much alike, Bruce.”
Not again…Bruce thought exasperated remembering Joker’s same words.
“I don’t see how…”
Loki laughed.
“I was raised by my father’s murderer…Odin killed my father and then to show
off his… ‘generosity’ took me under his wing and raised me.”
Bruce had read about that but he’d never believe that that would make Loki
identify with him. So he let his eyes show his interest.
“Were you abused?” he asked in a low voice.
Loki stretched his hand and touched Bruce’s chin.
“Nah…Nothing like what you’ve been through…though even without any abuse it’s
always the man who killed your father, right?” he winked. “And having all these
Asgardians look down on you because you’re not as tall and broad as them and
not meet their beauty or whatever standards…well, it doesn’t help.”
Bruce wasn’t one to fell fully for Loki’s sayings; it was the god of deceit
after all and he could pretend as much as Bruce.
“What?” Loki asked and laughed. “You think I’m trying to deceive you? Clever
boy” he knitted his eyebrows. “That’s another reason, I’m intrigued: you’re not
the typical victim” he shook his head “and neither do I. You’re scared but you
try your best to not be or at least not show your fear and you’re still smart.
And you charm people – look Supes or Thor.”
“Enough, Loki!”
Loki was already looking at the big oval window that opened for Thor to enter.
Bruce turned too and if someone was watching his eyes would discern his
irritation and…amusement because that was simply atrocious! The first years in
Falcone’s hands, when he was still a stupid, naïve child he was praying and
expecting that god would save him…Well, no god or human ever came for him then
and now that he was safe…two of them in his bedroom!
“Oh, dear ol’ Thor-i!” he frowned. “Isn’t impolite to burst like this in
someone’s bedroom?”
Thor huffed.
“You did the same…”
Wrong answer, Bruce decided to have his own fun already knowing what Loki was
going to retort when the god of deceit opened his mouth.
“But I’m Loki, the mischievous god; the god of deceit. Not the noble god of
thunder! Bye, bye, darling” he turned to Bruce and he glued his lips on Bruce’s
making a dragging noise of sucking. “See ya!”
He vanished in a pop and Bruce let all his annoyance show in his eyes – Thor
knew his secret.
“I’m sorry for that” the god of thunder said walking closer.
Bruce leaned to the floor and gently, carefully took Hero who began stirring.
He caressed the confused animal and led himself on his chair that in the
meantime had reached the bed following his mental order. The chair approached
the bulky god and Bruce stared at him calm.
“It wasn’t your fault…though you could just have watched Loki’s movements and
not blandly confronted him. That was the reason I told Tony and he notified
you. I’m not afraid of Loki.”
Thor nodded with respect.
“I know: fear doesn’t suit you.”
Bruce smiled.
“Maybe because I have been so much scared in my life that it doesn’t make an
impression anymore.”
Thor pressed his lips and shook his head.
“I ruined your plan, huh?” Bruce regarded him.
“I guess you have a different approach to things. Humans like me rely on
waiting and thinking – having special powers and being almighty can afford to
be effective without all these.”
Thor squatted to be in Bruce’s level and their eyes locked.
“Your insight and observation were that revealed S.H.I.E.L.D.’s true colors and
it was your perfect planning, timing and organizational skills that led us to
defeat the League of Shadows and stop them from killing millions of people.
With all our super powers combined we wouldn’t have made it without you. There
are no words to describe the depths of my respect for you” his fist hit his own
heart as a gesture of appreciation.
Bruce pressed his lips.
“You can find many mortals with the same qualities you praise. It was a good
thing we had you fighting on our side.”
Thor smiled but he could feel that Bruce was upset and he couldn’t blame him.
He couldn’t fight a sense of regret seeing the warrior who defeated a powerful
demon like Bagdana being stuck in a chair. However the fact that this man
wasn’t thwarted by that and made a titanic effort to come back, honestly gave
Thor goose bumps of pride.
Bruce’s eyes were on Thor’s and the god knew that the human could discern his
emotions. So he caressed the small kitten in Bruce’s lap; the animal was now
fully wake and stretched his legs.
“The little one looks fine…” he said smiling and Bruce nodded. “And you? Are
you alright? I know that you don’t want to show your true skills.”
“Loki didn’t do anything apart from playing yet we must be vigilant” Thor
nodded “we don’t know if he plans something. But we need to be discreet…” he
said arching his eyebrows and Thor nodded.
Someone knocked on the door and Bruce knew that it must be Alfred.
Thor stood.
“I should leave. Give my regards to Tony” he turned to leave but stopped and
looked at Bruce. “I pray for your full recovery and wish I’ll get the honor of
fighting beside you…I can talk to Eir to apply her healing skills on you.”
Bruce smiled.
“I’ll think about it…”
Thor nodded and disappeared in a pop.
“Come in, Alfred” said while buttoning his shirt: he didn’t want Alfred asking
questions and be worried.
He had made his decision: as much as he was content here, at times feeling as
if he was another person he had to return to Gotham. There were too many things
waiting for him there.
***** Chapter 14 *****
One by one Bruno Mannheim’s lieutenants left the warehouse under their boss’
disgusted figure: they were used to his arrogant attitude but they couldn’t
imagine that this snobbish tactic actually stemmed from his disgust about
humans in general – they never imagined that the sturdy gangster wasn’t one of
them.
A woman seemingly at her fifties approached him respectfully. She was dressed
in dark blue pants and shirt; her hair short and a dirty blond. She bowed to
him and Mannheim gestured to her to rise.
“I can’t wait for the day you’ll squash those idiots like bugs, great master”
she said, her lips horribly twisted in such disdain as if she was experiencing
nausea.
Bruno cocked his eyebrows.
“I always need expendable slaves… To do the things that must be done and then
offer me the entertainment I want by exterminating them. Right, Granny
Goodness?”
She laughed.
“Oh, yeah! Killing those humans is all the times a great spree…Like the
brilliant earthquake you just sent to Tibet.”
The bulky gangster nodded satisfied and tightened his fingers in a rock-
shattering fist.
“I wanted some satisfaction on that stupid human race!”
Granny Goodness moved a bit closer.
“For the failed attack on Bruce Wayne” Mannheim cast a lopsided glance at her.
“Next time if you honor me I’ll be glad to bestow you the human: it’s obvious
that that worthless demon it’s incompetent – not to mention that maybe he’s
sabotaging your plans” her voice was low as a snake’s and her eyes glistened
maniac.
Darkseid keeping the gangster’s form paced to the depths of the warehouse and
sat at a humble armchair.
“Do you really trust that loser?” Granny who had followed him asked.
“He is an ancient demon so he knows humans better than us and he already faced
the Kryptonian and his allies.”
Granny crossed her arms and nodded.
“And lost” she croaked.
Mannheim’s eyebrows united.
“And that’s what makes him a valuable asset: revenge. Bagdana is strong enough
and has motivation to destroy his enemy” his lips stretched in a bad imitation
of a grin. “He wants what Superman stole from him and would do everything to
take it back and punish the Kryptonian. Also, I trust his cunning.”
Yet Goodness wasn’t persuaded.
“His plan to capture the human failed miserably.”
“As the raid to LexLab at Metropolis that anyways didn’t lead to my machine.
Now we have to expand our search to every LexLab.”
“The failure wasn’t yours, great master: it was of those useless humans: they
aren’t even good servants.”
Mannheim nodded.
“It would have been nothing for me to conquer this stupid planet and search the
labs but I don’t want to reveal myself to the Kryptonian.”
Granny gritted her teeth.
“Only because that useless demon persuaded you not to; you have no reason to go
stealth: you can defeat the Kryptonian and his allies at any time!”
Mannheim was looking at her expressionless, his hands brushing the armrests.
Granny Goodness narrowed her eyes.
“He just uses your power to achieve his own purposes’’ she snapped her head
“but your Greatness doesn’t need a loser like him. Launch an attack right now
and this lame excuse of a planet will fall immediately and Superman will kneel
before you begging for mercy.”
Mannheim rubbed his chin.
“I definitely prefer your version” his lieutenant grinned gleefully. “Yes…the
Kryptonian kneeled before me begging as his human mate will be burned and
chopped tiny piece by tiny piece…”
The woman almost drooled.
“I’m sure that human will be perfect for torturing: the more beautiful they are
the more beautiful the spectacle when they are tortured..! If I was the head of
that attack, now the human would be yours to do whatever you want…”
“And you’d have Superman, Ironman and their allies hot on your tail searching
everything, connecting dots and finally kick you out of Earth having suffered a
really humiliating defeat” Bagdana’s voice echoed through the warehouse just
before the demon emerged in a loud thud.
Mannheim looked grimly at him and Granny rolled her eyes.
“Humiliating defeats are your thing…” Granny spat at him yet Bagdana was
staring at Mannheim ignoring her completely.
“If I had let you do as this woman tells I wouldn’t have been doing what I
should: securing your victory. And your victory is my main concern…”
“Your main concern is taking Wayne!” Granny interrupted him haughtily.
Bagdana didn’t even grace her with an acknowledging glance but kept looking at
Mannheim.
“I never denied it but this is what makes your victory my main concern also: we
both take what we desire. You’ll take that pitiful planet and Superman’s death
and I, Superman’s punishment and Bruce.”
Darkseid regarded him with narrowed eyes.
“Still I’d prefer it if the Kryptonian at his dying moments suffered even more
watching unable to do anything his bitch being tortured slowly to death …”
Bagdana pressed his lips.
“Bruce is nobody’s bitch! And believe me Superman’s passing will be more
torturous if he knows that Bruce will be mine.”
Granny Goodness snorted.
“A demon falling for and running behind a human’s ass is pathetic…”
Bagdana grinned and his red eyes shone really menacingly when he glared at
Granny.
“It’d be more pathetic if someone like me gave a shit about what someone like
you thinks…” his laughter was spooky and spine shattering and Granny just
twisted her mouth in deep hatred.
Bagdana turned to Darkseid.
“You need to have your lackeys raid other labs except Luthor’s.”
He raised his eyebrows.
“Give me a reason why I should make a detour from my real target” he said
bored.
Bagdana walked closer.
“You don’t want suspicions that someone is looking for something Luthor has…and
you don’t want anyone taking your machine and ruining all your plans.”
“And who might do that?”
“A great detective” Bagdana hissed remembering how Bruce discovered that the
League of Shadows and the S.H.I.E.L.D. was the same organization.
Mannheim laughed with his cracked way.
“You give too much credit to those humans…”
Bagdana was unfazed by his collaborator’s clear degrading tone.
“After hundreds of thousands years, let me know more about humans.”
Darkseid shrugged.
“Fine…I’ll show once again my trust on you though you failed me once…” his red
flames of eyes locked with Bagdana’s “But you didn’t really want that attack to
succeed, right?” he sniggered and Bagdana’s face became expressionless like a
rock made of granite as the color of his body. “You just wanted to scare your
little pitiful human and you manage to bring that Amazon near Superman giving
him another ally.”
Bagdana smirked.
“Let her to me.”
Granny gave a loud snort looking at her Master but Bagdana just vanished.
 
“Gotham’s climate might ignite severe pain in your healing injuries and bones”
Leslie had said strictly professionally but with her eyes filled with
disagreement and worry.
He had announced his decision to return at Gotham during the breakfast; he had
uttered it completely calm, almost indifferent but definitely adamant.
He noticed Alfred’s hands clenching tighter the towel he held despite the fact
he kept his composed expression; Selina who was feeding pancakes to Hero had
raised her eyes and just looked at him. At his long time friend’s eyes saw
understanding, deeper understanding, empathy, and trust – she would always
support him, no matter what.
Tony stayed with the pancake in front of his mouth; he had remained there
during the night in case anyone tried a new attack. He dropped the delicacy to
the plate and rubbed the bridge of his nose. His disapproval was more than
evident. He stretched his hand to show Leslie.
“The doctor has just said that Gotham is not the best choice for your condition
right now” Tony told him stabbing him with his fervent black eyes. “I can’t
understand your rush, buddy… I really can’t…” he shook his head. “Lucius and I
are taking care of everything at the Enterprises. I just can’t find a good
reason for you to go back now: you don’t like it here?”
Of course he loved the place. His gaze wandered to the peaceful horizon that
had provided the scenery for some of the happiest moments in his life. Fall was
at its third month yet the weather was so sweet and the sky still had the clear
blue color missing any clouds since the strong winds made the horizon
unbelievably bright. The sun was shining but too gently offering sweet warmth
and still sparkled on the crystal waters that formed small waves crushing at
the shore offering a melancholic soundtrack to his thoughts.
The light breeze caressed his face with a pleasant, warm salty smell and moved
his locks that have got slightly longer than usual. He smiled fondly
remembering when after he woke up from the coma Clark cut his hair: the Man of
Steel was just caressing his locks and a white light removed the overgrown hair
– well, not much…Because Clark was in love with his locks and didn’t want much
of them discarded… Thinking of which, Bruce doubted that Clark binned even a
hair…probably he kept his locks in a super-secret section of the Fortress.
Something clenched his chest and he turned slightly his head to watch Hero
playing with some dry seaweeds – he smiled.
Alfred had driven him to the village because he wanted to bid goodbye and thank
the people he had met all this time. Everyone had treated him as if he was one
of their own: not like a filthy rich guy, not like a poor victim – without pity
and disgust battling in their eyes. For them he was just another human being.
And Bruce really could socialize with ease among them without feeling a painful
knot in his stomach and an urge to run away.
They had their last coffee in the small table under the huge plane tree in the
middle of the village’s square: Selina, Leslie, Alfred, himself. The wide,
ancient tree’s leaves had turned a brown orange color but stood on the branches
moving slowly on the gentle wind; their concert was so beautiful and calming
but a bit sad as if they were also saying goodbye.
Mrs. Suzana once again brought them her delicious ‘mpougatsa’, hot from the
oven, and Bruce invited her to have a coffee with them which action made Selina
cast him a really shocked stare. Well, Bruce was sure that Argiris wouldn’t
have told his mother about his affair with Selina…though Mrs. Suzana wasn’t an
idiot.
 
Selina loved watching Argiris clean the beehives. And she did just that: stood
behind a tree and gazed at the beautiful young man working with concentration
and devotion. Of course he had no chance to feel her presence: she was
Catwoman.
When she had had enough watching distanced from the tree and walked elegantly
to him.
With the first sound Argiris turned to her smiling and his smile was so
beautiful and earnest.
“Well, hello, Selina! What a beautiful way to start my day!”
Selina reflected his smile but her eyes were a bit shadowed.
“I’m leaving, Argiris; in two days…” she said without delay and saw his
sparkling eyes fell.
He pressed his lips but nodded.
“I hope it isn’t something concerning your friend’s health…”
Selina lolled her head.
“He is just homesick…” she chuckled and gestured to the wild environment
drenched in morning light. “He loves the place as all of us but he got
nostalgic…it’s been months since he last saw his city.”
The youth nodded.
“I understand: he was violently taken from his house” Selina frowned “and then
what they did to him damaged him so much that he had to stay in rehab for too
long” he smiled and caressed with his thumb Selina’s cheek. “And just when he
got back to his home after eighteen years.”
“So you know who he is…” she said grinning slyly.
“I may be a beekeeper but I have an internet connection and…watch the world
news.”
“But you didn’t say anything…to anyone. I mean, there weren’t hoards of
paparazzi surrounding the villa.”
Argiris nodded smiling.
“Obviously…I’m not the type to feast on a man’s tragedy and need for peace and
happiness. And Bruce needed that so much, huh? After all, I’d be ungrateful.”
“Ungrateful?” she lolled her head squinting.
Argiris moved closer.
“Thanks to him I met you…” his eyes shone and he swallowed. “I’ll miss you…” he
smiled “I mean, I wish you would stay for the winter: it’s so beautiful in the
island during the winter, people get so close…”
Selina got closer finding a warm niche in his chest and locked eyes with him,
her eyes playful.
“I thought we were already close…” she wrapped graciously her arms around his
neck.
Argiris chuckled and winked.
“Time to say goodbye then?”
Selina shook her head.
“In the best possible way, handsome!” she captured his lips in a passionate
kiss and he closed her in his strong arms rubbing tenderly her back.
“You’ll miss me?” he breathed quickly before resuming their kiss with more
vigor.
Selina moaned and ran her fingers in his rich locks.
“Oh, boy..! You know I will…”
His lips were sucking her neck the way she liked so much and Selina grabbed the
hem of his T-shirt lifting it till he pulled off the annoying cloth himself.
She felt the firm muscles almost desperate as Argiris unbuttoned her shirt and
opened it to kiss the flesh that came out of her bra.
“But you’re a free spirit…” he mumbled “a wildcat that can’t stay in one
place…”
Selina laughed as his hands undid her bra freeing her breasts exactly when she
opened his jeans and groped his buttocks.
“You know me so well…”
 
“Thank God, Mrs. Suzana gave me the recipe for her wonderful ‘mpougatsa’
because Master Bruce devours it every time…” Alfred had commented with his
disapproving tone because forgetting manners his young master had dived into
the delicacy like a famished kid. Yet everyone could easily discern that the
butler was enjoying the spectacle.
“Though it won’t be the same as when eating it here under the old plane tree…”
Bruce had answered and Alfred nodded.
After they took Leslie back to the villa, he had asked Alfred to bring him in
this beach. Selina didn’t come along: they exchanged a full of meaning glance.
His friend had her own good bye to bid…
Alfred was reluctant to leave him here alone.
“Do you consider it prudent to stay all alone here, Master Bruce? After what
happened yesterday?”
He smiled.
“I don’t think that they’ll try a new attack so soon. They need time to
reorganize…if, of course, hitting me was their true goal.”
Alfred slightly frowned.
“What are you thinking, Master Bruce?”
He had twisted his lips.
“Not sure, Alfred. But life has taught me to take nothing as it seems” Ra’s had
seemed like a compassionate angel who cared for him and was going to save him –
and Bruce was so utterly wrong.
However Alfred still cast apprehensive glances around as if estimating the
possibilities of that beautiful scenery turn into a death trap. Bruce knew that
he had teeth biting his guts in the notion that his young master would stay
here on his own.
“Alfred” he slipped from the jeep’s opened door his butler held to the chair.
“This marvelous chair has a perfect security system that in the unlikely
occasion of a new attack will immediately set off the alarm for Superman and
Tony to rush and save me. And the chair will cocoon me into a nice shield that
will protect me till the cavalry comes” he was smiling in good spirit yet the
thought of Clark and Tony rushing again to his aid made him feel uncomfortable.
Alfred leaned to look him in the eyes.
“You won’t deactivate the shield this time?”
His face became serious if not slightly annoyed.
“Tony told you?”
Alfred grinned in his wicked way.
“I’m not a detective but I have some deductive skills – fairly good if I am
permitted to say” the butler arched his eyebrows. “Master Kent wouldn’t have
been so angry and” he cleared his throat “scared if you were all the time
shielded.”
Bruce eyed him affectionately and nodded.
“I won’t deactivate it” he replied. “I promise you.”
Hero jumped from the seat of the jeep to his lap.
“You see, Alfred?” he chuckled. “I won’t be all alone after all.”
Alfred shook his head disapprovingly and brushed the kitten’s head.
“Master Hero’s protective presence is a huge comfort, Master Bruce.
Absolutely.”
Though the morning was anything but cold, Alfred muffled his back meticulously
in a cardigan but didn’t move to the driver’s seat and Bruce knew that he
wanted to say something.
“Well?” he prompted him.
“Master Bruce, please do not think that I’m try to influence your decision or
something, but we can stay here more… A couple of months until you’re fully
recovered.”
Bruce looked him in the eyes truly touched; finally, some warmth ran in his
veins.
“So, Alfred, you believe that I will walk again?” he asked.
Alfred gave an absolute nod as if even thinking the opposite option was
despicable.
“Of course, Master Bruce! As a matter of fact I believe that you can achieve
everything you want.”
Bruce’s eyes had sparkled and a smile stretched his lips: at last, a vote of
confidence.
“My reasons for wanting to quicken my departure aren’t solid enough for you,
Alfred?” he, as the rest, had witnessed his discussion with Tony during the
breakfast.
Alfred had seemed fighting to keep his nonchalant attitude but in the end he
bit the inside of his lip. It was rather a “blink and miss it” thing but after
the years he was kept away from Alfred – the last surviving member of his
family – Bruce had become very observant of his every, tiny reaction; from the
first time he reached his old home from the tunnels.
“They are solid, Master Bruce, and as always very noble. It’s just that…” he
hesitated because he didn’t want to show his emotions. “Sometimes for me your
wellbeing and happiness comes above every solid reason” he pressed his lips. “I
think the same goes for Master Anthony too. And you’re happy here…”
Bruce lowered his eyes and caressed Hero: Alfred’s sadness even so finely
covered made him always regretful. He could hear Alfred’s loving thoughts: here
you’re happy and careless as a young man should be, Master Bruce; as if your
dreadful, horrible past is obliterated…
“Am I wrong, Alfred?” he raised his eyes to meet his butler’s.
Alfred inhaled deeply.
“No, Master Bruce, you’re perfectly right in your reasons; after all, it’s your
life and it’d be awful if the people who care about you tried to use their
affection to direct your life as they want, even if they believe that this
would be the best for you. You’re not wrong, Master Bruce, but sometimes I get
as selfish as to wish that you were a bit more wrong in your reasons…” he gave
a tight lips’ smile.
Tony wasn’t so mild in his reactions.
“Yeah, buddy, I don’t see the reason for this rush.”
“How about the rumors that circle Wayne Enterprises and destabilize our steady
course? They whisper that I’m dead and immediately the shares fell.”
Tony ran his fingers through his untidy hair.
“It was a very small decrease and after Lucius refute the rumors, the decline
was easily recovered” Bruce could see him thinking that they shouldn’t had
allowed him a laptop.
He pressed his lips.
“And the next time? The more I stay hidden when such rumors fly around the more
gravitas those rumors will get” Tony sighed and averted his eyes from Bruce’s.
“I don’t think that we should risk all the good things we established till now
– it’d be a pity.”
Tony gulped and cast a lopsided glance at Bruce under his frown.
“Lucius and I have things under control – the only thing that should concern
you is how to spend your time here in the best possible way.”
Bruce shook his head and Leslie cleared her throat.
“I think that Tony is right, Bruce” she met his eyes. “A few stupid, malign
rumors shouldn’t make you disregard your recovery.”
“But I won’t!” Bruce set his jaw. “Returning to Gotham doesn’t mean that I’ll
neglect my recovery…” he saw Tony shaking his head exasperated and Leslie had
the same cut-the-crap expression. “As for what both of you fear” he continued
determined acknowledging the elephant in the room “it seems that even here, in
this peaceful place, has found me.”
Selina nodded arching her eyebrows.
“Obviously…” she said slyly.
Bruce looked towards her and nodded.
“And I don’t want whoever attacked me doing it again here putting in grave
danger the innocent people here” Tony was pouting and tightening his lips
constantly looking at his fingers drumming the table. “Also” he lifted his
voice pointedly towards his friend and Leslie “being in Gotham would make it
easier and faster for you to come and save me if needed.”
Selina lolled her head widening her eyes towards Bruce but he instantly met her
stare communicating that he was perfectly safe with her guarding him but he had
to play along with the superheroes’ arguments. She shook her head amused and
gave another pancake to Hero.
But Tony’s eyes were strangely immobile and blank.
“You want to persuade me” he cocked his eyebrows “that your safety is one of
the reasons that make you rush your return in Gotham?” his voice was filled
with sarcasm.
Leslie was looking at him too while Alfred nonchalantly dusted the kitchen
bench.
“My safety isn’t your major concern?” Bruce inquired.
Tony crossed his arms.
“And you use it against me…” he snorted.
Bruce frowned and narrowed his eyes.
“Against? Seriously, Tony…”
Tony stabbed him with his eyes.
“Exactly! You use our fear and our need to keep you protected in order to get
back to Gotham” he stood “while everyone here knows what you’re planning to do
there! Which is anything but ‘safe’. Oh, you’re very manipulating, little guy!
Busted, kiddo?”
Bruce looked him calm while he acknowledged Leslie’s kind of furious
expression.
“So, you deny that in Gotham you and Superman will be able to intervene
faster?”
Tony had crossed his arms and was staring at him pissed.
“OK, Tony” Bruce continued, nodding. “I confess that my own safety isn’t my
major concern, though I definitely don’t want to be captured or killed by who
knows who. But it is your major concern, right? So I just pointed to you that
my decision would suit you too.”
Alfred was now watching avidly. Tony inhaled deeply and stared at the floor
before turning his eyes back to him.
“Will you promise that you won’t make an attempt to don the cape and cowl?”
Bruce knew that Selina rolled her eyes even without seeing her: she was fully
understanding that asking him this was…unthinkable. On the other hand, Leslie
had her lips pressed.
“It’s like me asking you not to be Ironman again” he tried to reason.
But Tony snapped his arms in the air and huffed.
“I’m not the one with the shattered spine! For fuck’s sake!”
His friend turned furiously his back ready to storm out of the kitchen and
Bruce just couldn’t stand to see him leaving like this.
“Tony, don’t go” he said and he felt exactly as the day the 14-year-old Tony
was ready to leave from the Manor angry at him.
And Tony stopped at his trucks, his hands pressing his locks. He closed his
eyes and then he turned looking at Bruce: the fact that he now towered over
Bruce made him recall the last Christmas they had spent in the Manor – eighteen
years ago. The younger man saw it in his eyes.
Bruce licked his lips nervously.
“I don’t want you to leave angry…I don’t want any negativity between us, Tony”
he lowered his eyes. “It’s a tight, burning knot in my guts” he chuckled – and
not the only one…
Tony lowered his head: nice, you help so much things, Stark – his regret shone
in his puppy eyes.
“I promise you that I won’t do anything foolish” Bruce continued. “I know how
bad things are, Tony…and I’ll wait. Till your bionic parts give me back my
mobility and till I’m ready. Is that reassuring enough for you? But don’t ask
me to promise things I can’t and I don’t want to do – don’t ask me to deny who
I am.”
Alfred drew some air because he was holding his breath during Bruce’s speech.
Tony kneeled before his friend and grabbed his upper arms; his eyes were almost
tearful.
“I could punch myself for that knot in your guts because – damn! – I swore to
smash everyone that would make you suffer again” Bruce smiled and Tony couldn’t
help himself but reflect it.
“We don’t want your admirers crestfallen if your face is bruised …” he cocked
an eyebrow.
Tony shook his head thoughtful.
“I wouldn’t punch DAT face” he gestured to his face. “That piece of art can’t
be hit even by myself” he sobered. “You know how much fear I felt those past
months? And that new assault…And thinking of you rushing to don again the
cowl…”
Bruce locked  eyes with him.
“I won’t rush things…” if I don’t have to… “And definitely I won’t engage in
anything dangerous.”
Bruce could say from Tony’s look that his friend didn’t trust this ‘anything
dangerous’ but decided to not press matters more. Tony patted him in the
shoulder and stood.
“I must fly to Malibu: Peps was bitching ‘bout a meeting and that I have to
make some homework…Leslie, I’ll send the helicopter to give you a ride to
Gotham.”
Leslie stood up and came by Bruce’s side.
“Give me some hours: I’ve got to examine again our bad boy…”
Bruce turned his head with an expression filled with dread.
“Not again…”
Tony chuckled and winked at Leslie.
“Go, Les! Punish him! When you’re ready, just call Happy: my helicopter is at
Limenas’ private airport. See ya, kids!”
Seagulls were still crying in the sky even though the summer was gone. As much
as he enjoyed the presence of his loved ones, sometimes he longed to be alone –
another leftover from his captivity. He felt guilty for wanting to stay alone:
they loved him so much and he had the feeling at times that he failed them. He
remembered Alfred returning to the driver’s seat when he said that didn’t need
help to approach the shore.
Bruce pressed his lips: facing criminals was easier than facing regret for
causing sadness to Alfred. The good man had remained for some time hesitant to
leave him alone even after Bruce reached the shore (the chair had the quality
to adjust to every possible terrain to ensure easy movement). He could see
Alfred sighing defeated before he started the engine and left to make the
preparations for their departure.
Alfred like Tony was afraid of what Gotham would do to him. Alfred wanted for
him a life that would be always as in this island. Crossing everything else,
leaving only carelessness and bliss.
Bruce yanked his head and inhaled the fresh air: he couldn’t do this. He
couldn’t just ignore everything else. He should return, he need to get back.
Not only for his company, not only for the safety of the people here, but also
because he missed his city…Even though leaving this place and the wonderful
times he spent here was painful, seeing again Gotham was pressing.
And then there was another aching knot to be added: last night…
He grabbed the armrests and slipped his body on the sand. He placed his legs in
the right way using his hands, his lips constantly pressed. Being paraplegic
was difficult for him as for every other person yet it was the way Clark
treated him lately that made things so much worse.
“Are you jealous?” Clark had asked him last night touched because – hey! – the
emotional crippled Bruce felt jealousy for his boyfriend; also, the Man of
Steel was amused with a bit of self-satisfaction and pride.
Oh! Clark…If only this was what you call ‘jealousy’…He gazed at the bright
horizon – even that sun wasn’t enough to lift the gravestone over his chest. He
recalled bitterly the first time after his waking up: Clark was always happy
seeing him while now…
He grabbed a fistful of sand and let it slip slowly between his fisted fingers
watching its fall. Maybe it was his own emotional turmoil that he reflected on
Clark or maybe it was true that Wonder Woman’s sudden appearance worsened
things – maybe Superman realized that someone like him would be better with
someone like her.
Bruce bit his lip but the bite in his heart was more painful. Loki told him
that Superman had run to Tibet to help people after an earthquake. And he
searched at the net for news…Superman was there helping to draw people out of
the debris, tireless, his beautiful features tense and dusted. But once again
he wasn’t alone: the new protector of humanity was there to assist him… A
merciful goddess along with a god of benevolence saving humans together... to
eternity.
He opened his fist and the rest of the sand fell abruptly. He rubbed his
forehead: the image of Clark’s scared face as he was ready to claim Bruce’s
body cracked once again his heart.
A cute meow dissolved the images and made his lips twitch in a smile. Hero had
come and was looking at him claiming his attention. Bruce patted his thighs and
Hero hopped there.
“Are you hungry, Hero?” he stretched his arm and took out of the chair’s pocket
a small packet of cat biscuits.
He filled his palm and offered it to his small friend who binged on it since it
was his favorite flavor. His other hand filled his own legs: all these months
that Clark massaged him Bruce had memorized the route of the still operational
sensory neurons.
At first, he caressed the spots and the tiniest of feeling warmed his heart so
much so that he began pinching the flesh and hitting with his fingertips. He
closed his eyes: it was so exhilarating feeling pain there! If only this sweet
pain expanded to the rest of his legs…
Hero had stopped eating and was looking at Bruce’s hand hitting his legs. Bruce
frowned at him.
“Don’t tell me you’re gonna RAT me to the others? You’re a cat, remember?” he
chuckled and Hero rubbed his head to Bruce’s hand.
Suddenly, in a flash Hero was off his legs and he was trapped against a chest
of steel; two powerful and simultaneously tender hands were cupping his head
and hot, sweet lips captured his, ‘eating’ them greedily with despair, with
longing. Bruce’s heart was flapping from excitement. The past months he had
learnt to manage his oxygen supply so to not come short and panic Clark. That
permitted him to follow Superman’s pace and enjoy the sensation, prolonging
Clark’s pleasure. Bruce’s eyes were wide sucking his mate’s every reaction:
Clark had his eyes closed in a way that betrayed both relief as if he had just
found safe haven after a horrible storm, pain and hopelessness like he was
afraid of his safe haven being lost.
Clark’s hands that were covered with dust from the debris and…blood caressed
his cheekbones and then his cheeks with harsh movements that became gentle and
then again fast, almost painful, as his kiss that had become fiery, almost
savage. It was obvious that the Man of Steel wasn’t holding back and Bruce was
determined to take everything.
He was feeling the hurt burning inside Clark and a bit of shame for the
personal hurt that taunted him till now. He wrapped his arms around Superman’s
shoulders and rubbed his exhausted muscles – exhausted not from physical
activity but emotional burnout…
Now those dirty hands that held life and death in the demolished buildings in
Tibet were roaming Bruce’s torso, under his blouse, bruising but Bruce didn’t
moan, even if sensing the half dried blood of other people was gripping his
heart bringing flashing images of his parents’ bodies; Clark was exploring
every inch of his torso, massaging, claiming, securing…
He even proceeded below Bruce’s waist following the paths he knew that would
offer sensation to the human: Clark needed to feel life even in Bruce’s damaged
body. He pumped the flesh that still could feel wanting desperately to arouse
the rest, unresponsive part; as if the non-functional neurons would be jealous
and wake…
Bruce moaned into the kiss as the flood of sensation in that part of his body
after the long sensual drought was overwhelming. He didn’t want that to end and
he could last without oxygen for a couple of minutes more so he didn’t manifest
any sign of discomfort yet Clark was so proficient in discerning Bruce’s vitals
that halted before the looming burning in Bruce’s lungs began. However his lips
continued touching Bruce’s lower lip.
Bruce caressed his cheeks and Clark for the first time opened his eyes. He kept
massaging Bruce’s legs enjoying the sensations that were sent to Bruce’s brain.
Bruce’s lips were laying passionate kisses to his dusty face and Clark didn’t
want dust to his lungs so cupped his face and held him.
“I’m dirty” he said with a throaty voice.
But Bruce’s eyes sparkled and he kissed his palm.
“Thank you!”
Clark dove in those mesmerizing eyes.
“For what?”
“For saving all those people in Tibet.”
Clark swallowed hard.
“I was late for many of them…” his voice cracked. “When I got to them…they were
dead…mangled…crashed…”
Bruce understood: Clark relived his nightmares.
“Every time I dispersed the debris only to found a dead…was like…”
“Finding me dead under the factory’s ruins…” he completed for him.
Clark nodded.
“But you saved people as well – people that would have died weren’t for you…”
Clark’s fingers felt Bruce’s warm face.
“Yes…But each time I found someone dead I felt like abandoning every effort –
how you, humans, manage to go on? The rescuing teams were tireless, tenacious…”
he shook his head “heroes…I had to rely on external strength to continue…”
“Princess Diana…” he said calmly and Superman smiled.
“No, though she made an amazing work my strength came back after searching and
listening to the most wonderful sound in the entire universe: your heart
beating.”
Under the thin layer of dust Bruce could see the red color over Clark’s cheeks;
he pressed his lips.
“You wonder how the people in the rescue teams can continue despite the
constant death they encounter: each one has something similar to get his
strength back in difficult moments – a silver lining” he tried to change the
subject because he felt uncomfortable. “And saving even one life is worthy of
every effort.”
Clark understood Bruce’s attempt and mouthed gently his lower lip, sucking as
if it was a caramel.
“And you? What gave you the courage to continue all these years under Falcone’s
cruelty? A little boy faced with so much…” he asked softly.
Bruce’s eyes filled with shadows yet he smiled steadying his stare at Clark’s
eyes.
“Are you interviewing me, Mr. Kent?” he replied playfully.
Clark chuckled.
“A very personal interview that will stay between us…off the record –you know?”
he could sense Bruce’s unwillingness to share and brushed his cheekbones.
“Well?”
The younger man gazed at the horizon.
“I’m not as brave as you think…” he inhaled. “There were days that I prayed I
have died with my parents or when Chill was playing with me in the sewers…There
were days that” he licked his lips “I was pondering on ways to…to kill myself”
he lolled his head and chuckled “but when you’re 8 years old and watched so
closely it’s not so easy…”
Clark’s lips were tight and his fingers caressed feathery Bruce’s slightly
overgrown locks.
“What kept me going? I guess…the bats, at first.”
Clark’s eyebrows flew upwards from surprise.
“The bats?” he inquired dumbfounded.
Bruce nodded.
“My cage was a small cave-like formation literally under the ground and was
inhabited by many bats. They were my…pets.”
“That was…unhealthy! Your pets?” he cocked his eyebrows. “You weren’t afraid of
bats? – I mean, even grownups fear bats especially in a dark place.”
Bruce smiled.
“As a matter of fact I was afraid of the bats – I mean, really scared of them –
but Tony helped me to face my fear” Clark nodded, the jealousy for the years
Stark shared with Bruce panged him once again. “When I heard the bats in my
cage, my dread came back; you see…” he licked his lips “I was covered with
blood and in a state of shock so I thought that the bats would bite me or” he
chuckled “drink my blood and eat me alive! But then rapidly I realized that
humans were the ones I should fear and bats became my…company…my comfort…It was
very lonely in that cave” he shook his head “especially when you’re in pain…”
Clark caressed his forehead.
“I was talking to them and I imagined that they answered” he turned his eyes to
Clark “it sounds crazy, I know, but for a kid…” Clark nodded pouting his lips.
“I was telling them to deliver messages to Tony when the bats went out for
hunting and I imagined they brought back his answers” he was gazing blankly at
the horizon and then at the sand. “And I was happy believing that the bats kept
me connected with Tony…” he rubbed his eyes. “And then I met Selina and I knew
that she loved me and cared about me and the minutes I spent with her every
night behind the big trash bin it was for me the fuel making my heart continue
beating…” he gulped. “Also, it was Alfred’s sad eyes when he was forced to
leave me…I knew how much he loved me and suffered because of my suffering…”
Clark cupped Bruce’s slightly lowered head and raised it so their eyes met.
“I want the entire world to know how magnificent you are and how lucky I am to
be blessed with your love…” he sucked Bruce’s lips but he could tell that his
Star was thoughtful.
Bruce followed into the kiss yet he was aware that what was about to say
wouldn’t be pleasant for Clark. He touched his lover’s neck with both hands and
Clark kissed those palms that their touch filled him goose bumps.
“Clark, I don’t think that we should give more food to those rumors Vale’s
video started” his eyes were dead serious and Superman sighed. “The attack was
probably a result.”
Clark detached a bit and sat on the sand.
“I don’t want to put you in danger…” he said morose.
Bruce shook his head; he didn’t want Clark sad and bitter.
“Nonsense! I’m not afraid of your enemies and – listen to me” he touched
Clark’s chin piercing his sad eyes with his fervent. “I don’t care about any
danger because being with you gives a whole new meaning in my life and I won’t
change it with anything. But there’s no need for everyone to know…”
Clark chuckled.
“You love so much secrecy…”
“It will keep safe the innocent people around us.”
Superman ruffled his hair and huffed.
“Is this why you want to leave this Heaven and go back to Gotham?”
Bruce had no doubt that Clark would be aware of his decision especially when he
admitted that had listened to his heartbeat. When Clark searched for his
heartbeat he was able to hear other things as well.
Clark knew that Bruce wasn’t surprised by his intelligence on that. He nodded.
“Exactly… Listening to your heart made me privy to your discussion with the
others. And after Diana helped me and the rescue teams to find and dig out
every trapped, I immediately flew back to my life giving sun…”
“You exaggerate…” but Clark glued his mouth to Bruce’s mouth silencing him.
“Don’t go back there…This island with the splendid time difference offered us
so many dreamy moments…”
Clark wrapped Bruce’s torso tighter and locked eyes with the younger man.
Bruce’s body tensed and he narrowed his eyes.
“I love this island, it’s like a second home…yet I miss my first home and I
want to visit my parents’ graves…”
 Clark closed his eyes and sighed.
“Is just that?” he asked disappointed.
Bruce set his jaw.
“You heard Tony…”
“Oh, Bruce…It wasn’t necessary to hear Tony to figure the real reason for your
rush to go back. You’re addicted to Batman and now you experience the ‘addict’s
panic’!” he acknowledged Bruce’s frown. “You want to go to Gotham to don again
the cape and cowl.”
Bruce glared at him and pushed himself from Clark’s embrace. He gestured to his
immobile legs.
“Do I look like a man ready to wear again the cowl?” he spat.
Clark clenched his hair and groaned.
“And that’s why you are in a hurry to be again there! To make those STUPID
adjustments to your armor and go head first to a new suicide mission!”
Bruce narrowed his eyes and his voice came out cold and low.
“Stupid?”
Clark held his temple rubbing: why was it so hard to find the right words when
addressing Bruce?
Bruce shook his head exasperated hiding how hurt he felt from that small word.
He used his hands to move his body away from Clark and Hero who was licking his
fur run to him feeling his boss’ distress. Bruce caressed the small animal.
Clark punched the sand.
“Damn!”
He crawled much like Bruce had done and sat beside the younger man – Bruce was
concealing his vitals from him and that meant suffering.
“Bruce, I’m sorry…”
“You don’t have to: it’s your opinion and belief” his eyes stayed on Hero who
pawed his finger.
It was unbearable for Clark when Bruce didn’t look at him yet he didn’t want to
force him to, even gently.
“I just know that you CAN’T be Batman again” Bruce’s heart missed a beat and
Clark bit his lip; he was ready to add ‘so soon’ to mollify the effect but
Bruce’s blazing eyes were glaring at him.
“I’m tired of people saying what I can and what I can’t do: all my life others
were bossing me around, demanding and forcing things on me.”
Clark huffed and looked away feeling the pain that nestled in Bruce tormenting
him.
“I believed that the fact I escaped from these people’s tyranny would have
proved that I’m the one who knows better what I can and what I can’t do. And
you know something, Superman?”
Hearing Bruce addressing him like this was like a punch with Stark’s Kryptonite
glove but Clark turned his eyes on him.
“I prefer to focus on what I can do and how to manage to do what supposedly I
can’t. And I was expecting from you of all people to support me in this
effort.”
Clark snapped his hands in the air.
“I do support you, Bruce – you know, I’m always at your side but I don’t want
you to risk so much. You’re a human with no super powers” Bruce’s eyes took the
attacking jaguar quality that made Clark’s groin rebel. “So…there are limits…”
“Humans are known for surpassing those limits: the fact that you and your new
friend are super powered doesn’t entitle you to set the limits for a mere
human” he shook his head. “Your super sight oddly doesn’t let you see what a
human can do.”
“Is that the problem? My super powers? You’re jealous of my super powers and
are you desperate to prove your equal worth?”
Clark expected from Bruce to glare and growl but the younger man just laughed.
“Do I have to prove my equal worth? Because frankly I don’t give a damn about
proving anything. As for being jealous of your powers…” he caressed Hero’s
head. “You know what Bagdana promised me in order to accept his love and follow
him?”
Clark’s heartbeat was audible and his eyes emanated his fervent interest.
Bagdana had promised Bruce things to allure him. He wanted to ask but his voice
was constricted with agony.
“He promised to give me back Lilith’s wings to fly on my own” Clark knew how
strong Bruce’s desire to fly was… “He promised me enormous strength, skills to
destroy and take revenge from my enemies and…immortality…” he smiled to Hero
who licked his fingers.
Clark remembered and saw again his nightmare while Bruce was in a coma: Bruce
had silver wings and he was so happy flying in the night sky. As if he was back
home. He felt Bruce’s strong stare and met his eyes.
“I refused even to think about it because I don’t want super powers. I’m fully
satisfied with being a mere human” he lowered his voice “and being loved by
you…”
Clark’s eyes bulged from joy: damn! Bruce had the super power to make him
miserable or extremely happy in a second! He hugged him and captured his lips
with new energy and fire. But soon it wasn’t enough and his hands began
frantically grabbing the flesh that even under the blouse felt wonderfully warm
and firm.
“Hero, go play…” Clark mumbled with his mouth tangled with Bruce’s and
thankfully the kitten had the subtlety to obey evoking some laughter from
Bruce.
Laughter that instantly became a surprised gasp as Superman pushed the blouse
off his torso; Bruce stretched his arms to let him remove completely the cloth
and the Man of Steel in a rapid movement was at the same moment naked above the
waist. Clark pressed Bruce’s naked body to his relishing the sensation of the
hot, firm flesh; his mouth roamed the human’s shoulders causing small moans
from both of them because Bruce adored Clark’s body and proved it with his
hands’ ministrations over the super human perfect muscles.
“Tell me you won’t stop this time…” Bruce whispered kissing Clark’s earlobe.
His groin was yelling with agreement yet Clark wasn’t willing to let his whims
hurt Bruce and the younger man felt it.
“C’me on, Clark! I won’t shatter…”
Superman took his face in his palms and touched his forehead to Bruce’s.
“I just want to feel your flesh on mine…there’s no need for…getting inside
you.”
Bruce huffed.
“There is, Clark!”
He was rubbing his torso to Bruce’s agreeing with that but still firm on not
finishing it.
“I couldn’t imagine that you would want penetration so much…” he chuckled proud
of himself for making Bruce horny and actually asking for the same thing that a
couple of months ago detested. “But not now, babe… there will be time for
this…”
But Bruce paled; Clar’s words made him feel like a cheap whore though he knew
that for a normal person asking from his loved one this wasn’t shameful. Yet he
felt horrible… He let Clark dive in his torso, his fiery kisses claiming every
inch of his flesh, his hands groping. However Bruce’s hands were detached;
plunged loosely in the sand, his eyes on his kitten that played with some stray
seagull feathers.
Superman placed him carefully on the sand to ease his mouth devour Bruce’s abs
and naval; his rasps burning the human flesh, his palms massaging those
delicious pectorals. His groin was in fire but Superman could discipline his
body even if his genitals rubbed Bruce’s gently but demandingly. This rubbing
was enough for Superman to get some relief and recharge his batteries with
Bruce’s revitalizing force.
Bruce was gazing at the sky; it was plain that Clark wasn’t paying attention to
him – maybe his mind was elsewhere, maybe he was celebrating his feat to make
him ask to be penetrated – fucked. Superman was even sucking his naked pelvis
without following the paths that could give stimulation to him.
Clark thought that he asked to make love to him just because he liked being
penetrated? He couldn’t feel below the waist, for pity’s sake!
“I wanted you to make love to me not because I like to be penetrated but
because you taught me that this can be a pure expression of love and respect.
Because that way I’d feel that you see me again like equal and not like a
decorative object ready to shatter.”
“You are my equal” Clark’s crystal blue eyes over his face were his entire
world now. “Soon I’ll be able to give you again what I did that night in our
greenhouse – but when I do you’ll be able to feel and enjoy everything like
then. Because your every time deserves to be perfect, Star… When the time comes
I’m going to show you exactly how strongly I regard you as an equal!”
Bruce smiled.
“Is this a threat?”
Clark narrowed his eyes and leaned closer.
“No: a promise.”
He lifted him gently and pressed him to his naked body, their hearts beating
synchronized, his hands ruffling Bruce’s locks and the younger man was looking
him in the eyes with deep love and…with many questions unanswered. Yet Clark
was just too mesmerized from these eyes – his lucky Kryptonites.
“You know, Bruce” he said playfully. “For someone who in his dispute with his
friend used the point of his safety, being in a deserted beach alone doesn’t
make much sense” he winked.
Bruce shrugged and twisted his lips.
“I’m not alone…”
Clark touched playfully his forehead to Bruce’s.
“I don’t see Selina around…”
“Because she isn’t around – she has her own goodbyes to say.”
Clark frowned.
“Then…you are alone with nobody to assist you if something goes awry.”
Bruce raised his index finger.
“First, I’ve got your chair and its shield; second, I wear the Black Butterfly
and…although I don’t believe in charms, I have to admit that it does a terrific
job. Third, I’m not alone even if the matter of protection is taken into
account… Hero!” he called the kitten and gestured for him to come.
The kitten came to him hopping and Bruce looked lopsided at Clark’s amused
expression, smiling and pointed at Hero. Clark laughed and Bruce’s heart
finally relaxed.
“Yep! Because your kitten is definitely a…Super-Hero!” Clark exclaimed.
Hero lifted his eyes to Superman and meowed as if to agree and Clark stretched
his hand to caress his fur only to touch Bruce’s hand that moved to do the same
thing. That was definitely an omen! Clark thought and wrapped Bruce’s shoulders
grabbing his so willing lips with his own as his Star turned his face to kiss
him.
 
Tony was drumming his fingers on his sleek, silver colored working bench
looking blankly down at the reflection of his face. On his right stood a
natural sized holographic 3D depiction of a human skeleton.
“Master Anthony, Miss Potts is here” the AI voice disrupted his stupor.
Tony pressed his palm on his eyes.
“Jarvis, tell her that I’m in the shower or some other bullshit…”
“If you want to get rid of me you can just say it, Mr. Stark” her voice was
perfectly toned by the clicks of her stilettoes.
Damn, that silent door!Tony cursed his own invention since the doors of the
house opened and closed soundlessly which in such cases was a drawback.
Now Pepper stood before him stretching her imposing body.
“You don’t have to corrupt Jarvis too…” she lolled her head.
Tony rose and hugged her placing a kiss on her lips.
“I don’t want to get rid of you, babe – it’s just that I’m not in the mood…”
Pepper arched her eyebrows.
“I noticed that: you were not your known ‘charming’ self at the board meeting.
Is Bruce alright?” Tony frowned as if not comprehending. “C’me on, Tony: I mean
the assault!”
He ruffled his locks.
“Yeah, I told you so last night.”
Pepper crossed her arms.
“Indeed. Yet your more-than-usual absurd behavior worried me: in Bruce’s
delicate condition complications are common.”
Tony spread his arms and nodded as if he has gotten what he wanted; Pepper
narrowed her eyes.
“Well?”
Tony crossed his arms and tilted his head on the side; his eyes were too
solemn.
“The day after tomorrow he’s gonna return to Gotham.”
Pepper frowned more.
“And?”
Tony sighed and sat again, Pepper sitting at the stool beside him.
“He is supposed to come back, isn’t he?”
Tony punched his own palm and locked eyes with her.
“As if you don’t understand…You know as much as I why he wants to return.”
“To be at his home?” she asked pointing each word but Tony groaned.
“No, Peps! He wants to be again Batman!”
Pepper pressed her lips and her gaze fell on the holograph.
“His condition is still too sensitive for that” she said. “And I don’t think
that Bruce is as unwise as you think him to attempt something that would
deteriorate things.”
Tony pinched the bridge of his nose.
“He plans on applying adjustments to his armor for enabling him to walk and
fight” he cocked his eyebrows. “Relying on me and Lucius to do that” his voice
was more than pissed.
Pepper pushed her locks behind her ear.
“For emergencies?”
Tony yanked his head.
“Is there a difference?” he snapped his palms in front of his face. “The fact
is that Bruce MUST forget all about Batman and he isn’t willing to do that.”
Pepper touched his shoulder.
“Would you have forgotten Ironman?”
Tony closed his eyes: she raised the same point as Bruce.
“It’s not the same, Peps. He would never be able to be Batman again” he
gestured to the hologram. “This is his spine: his lower spine is a mess, his
legs carry multiple fractures still healing and most of his neurons are dead.”
Pepper met his stare.
“And here is where you and Lucius enter: the bionic body parts” she smiled.
“You can give all these back to your friend.”
Tony’s hands now were fixed on the bench. His eyes were stony and Pepper
narrowed her eyes.
“The think, Peps, is that…” he smacked his lips. “I don’t feel like I want to
continue with that…”
“What?!” Pepper almost yelled.
Tony inhaled deeply and watched his fingers clench and unclench slowly as his
thoughts in sharp contrast with the frenzied thinking pace he was used to in
all his life.
“I won’t send him to his death…this time I’ll protect him as I failed then.
Giving him back his mobility is like sending him to his death.”
Pepper bit her lip.
“So, you two had a quarrel…”
Tony shook his head without raising his eyes to her.
“No…” he pressed his hair on his head with both hands. “I was pissed, seriously
pissed and I rushed to leave but…” he huffed. “He asked me to not leave, to not
be angry with him…and Bruce rarely, if ever, asks for anything…so asking that
was like…pleading me and I couldn’t ignore him, could I?” he looked at Pepper’s
eyes. “So…going against him, arguing and being mad and turning my back on him
can’t work.”
Pepper nodded.
“And you’re thinking of…sabotaging his recovery into forcing him to accept his
paraplegia and settle with that” her voice was dry and her eyebrows moved “by
finding refuge for his energy in your plans to enroll him in Princeton.”
“It’s better being bound to a chair than dying miscalculating your power” he
replied equally drily.
Pepper yanked her head sighing. She didn’t like Tony’s idea: she acknowledged
his dread for his friend’s self sacrifice and even felt for him yet not doing
his best to give Bruce back his mobility felt so bad.
“You realize that this would hurt Bruce immensely?”
Tony was stabbing the bench with a pen. He nodded.
“I’m willing to take that on me: Bruce is strong. He’ll suffer but he’ll take
it and gradually will come back forming his life again in a safe way.”
But Pepper widened her eyes.
“And you do realize that Bruce would immediately figure that you didn’t want to
gift him his ‘legs’ back – the life he so much loves: his self…”
Tony closed his eyes.
“Believe me, Tony, from what I know about Bruce this knowledge will kill him
slowly and worse than being Batman again.”
Tony turned his eyes on her; he opened his mouth but didn’t know what to say.
Pepper touched her fingertips to his lips.
“I know how much you love him and he knows too but if you deliberately condemn
him to the chair you’d have killed him.”
“It’s the best for him, Peps; and if hating me is the price for him staying
alive I’ll gladly pay it!” he jerked from his stool and paced the room ending
in front of the hologram.
Pepper slowly approached him and hugged his shoulders planting a soft kiss in
his ear.
“He has the right to decide the best for himself, Tony. He is a young man now,
not the small kid you lost 18 years ago: he was taking his own decisions even
when in Falcone’s captivity and – let’s face it – his decisions were right. You
can’t rob him from his right to decide himself, even if you think that it’s for
his best. Bruce trusts you and even now at times looks at you like a small boy
with infinite love and respect.”
Tony turned his eyes on her.
“You think?”
Pepper smiled.
“Don’t tell me that Tony Stark faces self doubt?”
He cupped her hand on his shoulder.
“Bruce has such a strong personality that it’s hard to believe that he still
regards me like when he was eight and I fourteen…”
Pepper nodded.
“Oh, he does…But if you sabotage his only chance to walk again and be what
fulfills him…” she pressed her lips “it won’t be the same; I mean he’ll surely
continue to love you but the love you share will be turned into a knife in his
guts.”
Tony closed his eyes and Pepper kissed him on the lips gaining his stare.
“Bruce isn’t stupid: he’ll use your gift wisely. All these years he was doing
exactly that: using what he had wisely. If you deliberately refuse to help him,
I’m sure he’ll respect it but he’ll turn to some other way to reprise what he
misses so much” she widened her eyes. “And that could possibly be dangerous and
you won’t have any chance to control the conditions.”
Tony nodded.
“He is too stubborn…”
Pepper smirked and snorted.
“Look who’s talking!”
Tony turned swiftly, grabbed her waist, glued her on his body and locked his
lips with hers in a quick kiss. He winked.
“I have an hour before my virtual meeting with Lucius and…I bought a new
mattress that I want to test…”
She chuckled.
“So you’re still on the project?”
“Devouring your body or manufacturing the bionic spine parts? Ouch!” Pepper had
just pinched his buttock. “It’s a ‘yep’ to both!”
He grabbed her hand and dragged her along to the elevator to his bedroom
roaring.
***** Chapter 15 *****
Dick was playing with his cereals deep in thought. His grandmother watched him
from the opposing chair at the kitchen table.
“Eat your breakfast, Dick: you’re going to miss the school bus.”
The boy raised his eyes at her having made his decision.
“Granny, why you don’t want me to hang out with Zucco?”
Ms. Turner yanked her head and drew a breath; she suspected that Dick never
stopped thinking about that man so hearing it out loud wasn’t a shock, just a
headache.
“I thought you trusted me?”
Dick shook his head and rolled his eyes.
“That’s not the point! I trust you, granny, is just that…” His grandmother
leaned towards him.
“What, sweetheart?”
Dick huffed and leaned his back on the chair.
“He is dad’s cousin and his trainer; in the net I read that they were best
friends till dad died.”
Ms. Turner rubbed her temple.
“You’re so interested that you search the internet for him?” her voice was so
disappointed that Dick felt bad.
“Your dislike made me curious: I wanted to find out what’s up with him since
you didn’t tell me.”
Ms. Turner pressed her fingers on the table and Dick watched eagerly waiting
her reaction.
“He continues to bother you…” she said irritated and her grandson shook his
head disapprovingly.
“No, he doesn’t!” he protested. “And actually I don’t see why I should avoid
him!”
Ms. Turner bit her lips.
“At least till you give me a reason to do that because honestly I don’t find
any” the boy lowered his voice. “He knew dad, granny” he continued with real
craving “and he can tell me a lot about him and also he can train me to be a
champion like my father.”
Ms. Turner felt her heart aching and the air cut in her lungs: Zucco had
stretched his web around Dick.
The boy noticed her paleness and worried rushed to her wrapping his arms around
her shoulders.
“Maybe you’re wrong, granny; maybe you don’t have to worry so much” he
chuckled. “He is only a guy after all…”
Ms. Turner took his hand in hers and caressed it; her solemn eyes found her
grandson’s blue eyes.
“He is a bad man, sweetie; he doesn’t care about you, he doesn’t care about
anyone. He came all of a sudden to our life because he wants something and
believe me it would be bad for us, baby. So, stay away from him, please.”
Dick smacked his lips in disbelief.
“For pity’s sake, granny! Why assume the worst? I don’t say that he cares about
me but maybe he just wants to meet his cousin’s son and help.”
Ms. Turner yanked her head, her eyes widened.
“He never came for you from the day you were born!”
Dick crossed his arms.
“Maybe because you have this opinion about him and passed it to mom too” he
spat. “And then when mom married Peter he felt completely alienated and didn’t
dare to approach. But now that I lost my family he decided to help me cope…”
His grandmother blinked disheartened: the obvious allure this man had on Dick
nauseated her. And it was clear that Zucco had met the boy again.
“Is this what he told you?”
Dick’s face became red: he didn’t want his granny realize that. OK, he
disagreed with her attitude towards Tony yet he didn’t want her to know that he
didn’t listen to her. He lowered a bit his eyes.
“It’s reasonable…” he said hesitantly and raised his eyes to her. “It’s a nice
block, granny, and he has nothing to gain from us” he saw his grandmother
shutting her eyes “at least tell me why you fear him so much…” he uttered
exasperated.
Ms. Turner grabbed Dick’s shoulders and stabbed him with her fervent eyes.
“Don’t believe him that he was a friend of your daddy” Dick frowned. “They
hanged out a lot, your dad trusted him, enjoyed his company and for a time
Zucco was his trainer but I never got the impression that Zucco really cared
about your father. John was already a champion when Zucco persuaded him to hire
him as his trainer degrading his old one.”
Dick shook his head.
“But dad won at the Olympics with Zucco as his trainer! I checked that in the
net.”
Ms. Turner realized that Zucco had done with Dick the same he had done with
John. But maybe she could make Dick open his eyes.
“Your father won the three gold medals because Trevor Breizic, his old trainer,
was still in the team. When Trevor retired right after the Olympics your
father’s career took a downturn…” she took a deep breath really hesitant to say
the next. “His performance in the tryouts wasn’t the best…”
Dick grunted: what now? His granny was trying to ruin his father’s fame?
“Every athlete has some decline in his career!” he spat.
Ms. Turner lowered her eyes because she couldn’t say what she had to say
looking at her grandson’s angry and hurt eyes.
“The Federation found illegal substances in your father’s samples during an
unexpected doping test.”
Dick jerked away from his granny, his heart was kicking in his rib case and his
face was hot.
“My father didn’t do drugs or doping!” he yelled and Ms. Turner pressed her
lips and locked eyes with Dick.
“Your father didn’t and he refused it blatantly; he protested that someone must
have sipped the substances secretly in his food or drink” Dick’s eyes widened.
“Only one had access to do that…” she nodded. “Your father finally suspected
Zucco…you see, his performance’s decline had made John antsy and displeased
with his cousin so Zucco to appease him gave him secretly the substances to
cover his inadequacy as a trainer.”
Dick was shocked and angry: that couldn’t be truth, this was preposterous. He
couldn’t believe it.
“It was proved?” he demanded.
Ms. Turner’s eyes sank because she understood that the boy wasn’t willing to
accept it.
“Your father was also unwilling to believe it: he was dissatisfied with Zucco’s
training skills yet he loved and trusted him as a relative and friend. He
didn’t want to accept that he could have done something so sly…But who else
could be? Only he had access to John’s food and drinks.”
“This is your theory! My father didn’t believe this shit and I see why Tony
didn’t attempt to approach me earlier!” he snapped at his granny. “I can’t
believe you say all these things, granny!” Ms. Turner rubbed her forehead
tired. “All these just to keep me away from my father’s only relative – the
only person that connects me with him! Your hatred for him is more important
than what I want, what gives me some joy!”
Ms. Turner’s eyes flashed.
“Dick! Your wellbeing is the only thing that matters for me!” she almost yelled
but her voice cracked: that boy was the only part of her daughter left, the
only thing that gave meaning to her life.
Her eyes watered and Dick felt a painful pang in his chest and sat in the chair
next to his grandmother calmer.
“I know you love me, granny” he said warmly “but because you don’t like that
man doesn’t mean that he is bad or he wants to harm me: I’m a big boy and I
know to protect myself.”
She cupped the boy’s face and kissed his cheek.
“You’re a big boy but you’re vulnerable, sweetie” she smiled and caressed the
boy’s soft cheeks. “You don’t know much about the world and how dangerous some
people are… I only try to protect you from learning with the hard way and being
hurt.”
“I know everything about bad people, granny…” he couldn’t help but feel a bit
annoyed since his granny talked about ‘bad people’ while always defended Wayne.
“Better than you…”
The elder woman frowned.
“What do you mean?”
The boy shook his head.
“I bet you wouldn’t have any objection if I wanted to hang out with Wayne
although he’s the reason my family was killed! But for poor Zucco…”
Ms. Turner shook her head.
“Mr. Wayne didn’t do anything, sweetheart; try to understand…”
But Dick jerked from his chair avoiding her hands. He groaned.
“You defend him all the time!” he spat. “It’s because of him I lost my family!
But you all the time speak so high of him while blame Tony for things without
any proof! You keep ruining the only good time I get by accusing and spitting
poison for the only man that give me some comfort!” he clenched his jaw. “Dad
loved him and Tony loved my dad and everything you say about doping is bullshit
because Tony remained my father’s trainer till his death!”
Ms. Turner stood too and placed her hands on Dick’s upper arms. There were more
ominous things about Zucco but in Dick’s emotional state she was afraid that
saying them now would provoke worse things – her grandson wasn’t going to
believe her.
“I’m not making stories, Dick. And I would never play with your feelings: I
wish that man was really good for you because the only thing I want is your
happiness. But believe me, baby: your mom would have acted exactly the same
because she knew that Zucco was bad for John as he is for you. There are things
about him…”
Dick was tired of all this discussion and he didn’t want to hear more of his
granny’s dislike for the man. He looked at his wrist watch that his granny
gifted him for the Halloween and his classmates were really amazed by.
“Are you gonna tell me that he killed my father?” he asked bored keeping his
eyes on the watch and didn’t notice Ms. Turner’s sigh. “I’m gonna miss the bus…
See ya, granny!” he pecked her cheek and rushed out of the kitchen.
Ms. Turner heard the apartment’s door open and close and slumped on the chair;
she sighed again covering her face in her palms. She had to keep Zucco away
from Dick but the boy was fascinated by someone who could make him connect with
his dead father – and truth be told, Dick was more relaxed those days, almost
happy. Yet she knew that this was temporary until Zucco achieved his purpose
because there must be some purpose for him to remember all of a sudden the son
of his dead cousin: a cousin whom he almost destroyed.
However trying to explain those things to Dick seemed pointless: he was just a
hurt boy after all that had managed to find some solace at last. An adult
friend, something close to a father: she shivered – no, not that! But
presenting the facts to the boy was only leading to the opposite result: Dick
attaching more to that man and alienating from her. And she didn’t want that...
Ms. Turned placed her elbows on the table: if Mary was here things would have
been easier…Zucco wouldn’t have dared to intrude to their lives again.
 
Blue and green. That was what he saw through the small round frame of the
window; between white fluffy clouds and golden rays of sun. They took off early
in the morning because he wanted to arrive at Gotham around noon so the news of
his arrival would make it to every TV station and radio. He couldn’t fight off
some melancholy as his eyes gazed at the rough sketch of the island that
offered him such beautiful moments… And Clark hadn’t come last night.
He pressed hard his lips together: maybe that was an omen for the future; a
hand with super strength clenched his heart and his healing lung… Some urgency
didn’t allow Superman to come or it was just that Clark was unhappy with his
decision to return to the States… A part of him wanted to stay here more and
cajole his friends and himself: he took a deep breath.
It was morning when the car stopped in front of Cassandra’s house. It was some
days since his health permitted his transfer from the Fortress to Tony’s villa
in a place where nobody would annoy him: a place beautiful and peaceful – the
perfect choice for someone in need of recovering.
And of course since Marathon was so near, Bruce wanted to meet again the family
that had been so definitely connected with him and his salvation.
Alfred had driven him there: he didn’t mention it but Bruce knew that his
butler also wanted to meet these people; he was grateful to them as much as
Bruce. Leslie had some objections because she felt that it was too early for
such a road trip even though Tony’s jet would take them to Athens; yet she
didn’t insisted. Both she and Selina stayed at the island not wanting to barge
in something personal.
“This is the house, Master Bruce?” Alfred asked him and he nodded.
He stopped the car and helped him sit in the wheelchair they used when in
public because the chair Clark had built for him cried that it was made with
extraterrestrial technology. Not that Tony’s creation was less perfect.
Cassandra and her mother came out of the house and led them inside where Bruce
made the introductions. What impressed Bruce was that they didn’t seem shocked
to see him in the chair.
Cassandra’s mother squatted before him and with her polite familiarity cupped
his face which move oddly didn’t make Alfred cringe. The woman said something
and her eyes were both amazed and touched.
“She says that you defeated the demon – you made it!”Cassandra translated.
Bruce looked at the woman’s eyes and smiled.
“How does she know?” but Cassandra winked to him and he didn’t need anything
else. “It was the weapons you gave me and…Nemesis’ help” he said hesitantly
because it was difficult for him to utter something that a few months ago
didn’t believe – well, there were still times he felt awkward about what he
experienced in the guts of the mountain.
But the woman as if she had understood the meaning of his words shook her head
in refusal.
“No weapon or charm would have helped if your spirit wasn’t powerful” Cassandra
said smiling solemnly.
Bruce remained expressionless: even now, listening to people praising him felt
so…he knew that people were talking honestly yet he still had difficulty
believing good things about himself.
Cassandra’s mother eyed his muffled in the blanket legs and her warm eyes
caressed his. Bruce couldn’t understand what she was saying yet it was as if he
knew the meaning.
“Fighting evil always takes an awful toll on the noblest of warriors – those
who are willing to give their lives to save others” Cassandra confirmed.
And seeing Bruce’s narrowed eyes expressing his wonder:
“Well, my mother sensed that Bagdana was near you so we kept watching the
developments in Gotham. We learnt that Superman brought you back injured and
when we heard that Batman stopped Joker from killing those children and that
the building collapsed without anyone being able to speak with certainty about
Batman’s survival, we knew that you were injured again…” she cleared her
throat. “We were aware that you were alive.”
Bruce nodded, looked up at Alfred and then at Cassandra’s mother who now sat on
an armchair next to him.
“I died for a minute or two…” he said to the woman’s fascinated eyes; she
seemed to understand his words without translation the same way as he
understood hers. “Superman revived me but it was the Black Butterfly that gave
me the energy to hold on and finally wake from the coma…”
His hand slipped inside his T-shirt and brought out the Black diamond that
shone as if happy for reuniting with old friends. Cassandra’s mother brushed
with her eyes the gem and closed Bruce’s fingers around it.
“The Black Butterfly did that only because you are the goddess’ chosen…”
Cassandra translated. “Despite how hard things look now your willpower and
strength will help you win once again: at times, you may lose your hope but
your inner strength is limitless and you’ll overcome every obstacle…”
Bruce grinned and locked eyes with the older woman.
“Efcharisto” he thanked her in Greek and her eyes sparkled touched.
Alfred stood from his armchair and bowed to Cassandra and her mother.
“I’d like to express my gratitude to you, madam, Miss Cassandra – without your
help Master Bruce wouldn’t have made it and I…” his eyes fell fleetingly but
with infinite affection to Bruce “wouldn’t have the happiness of getting back
my…” he cleared his throat “young Master. I’m obliged to both of you” he bowed
again and Cassandra’s mother nodded solemnly to him as her daughter translated.
Later, after they had a splendid lunch, Alfred drove them to the ancient temple
of Nemesis at the hill overlooking the small city and the Aegean Sea. It was
Bruce’s request and Cassandra happily obliged; her mother was clearly
overwhelmed as she walked inside the ancient ruins.
Alfred pushed Bruce’s chair though it wasn’t necessary and the young man closed
his eyes relishing a sense of relief and completion as images of his dream with
Nemesis’ priest came to his mind.
When he opened his eyes found both women look at him.
“I have seen this place as it was in the old times” he admitted hesitantly,
watching Alfred’s reactions with the corner of his eyes: he was aware that for
a rational English gentleman those things may sound stupid. Yet Alfred was
watching interested. “In a dream, when I was a captive: I was seeing the temple
through the eyes of the priest and it felt as if I was him. I saw the goddess’
emerald eyes and I heard her order me to leave Marathon and Greece to save my
life…his life…And then I saw the caves he was forced to take haven to escape
his enemies…”
Cassandra was translating and her mother nodded staring fascinated at Bruce who
blushed.
“When in the temple” he rose his eyes to Alfred “in the dream…I saw letters
engraved in the marble cornerstones…the letters that form my surname” he locked
eyes with the older woman and she rose from the stone she was sitting and
walked to the four corners of the rectangular place.
Cassandra followed to help her bring back four stones that they placed in front
of Bruce whose eyes widened as Alfred’s: each stone had a capital letter carved
– exactly like the dream: A Y N E. Bruce watched Cassandra’s mother walking to
the center of the temple, gripping another stone and returning to position the
new stone before the others: the stone had engraved the rough sketch of a bat
with open wings and it was exactly like a W. Bruce felt an electric current
going through his back – at least the healthy part of it.
The older woman took first the stone with the Y and spoke, his daughter
explaining.
“Yvris: hubris. The crime: the sin of arrogant people whose deeds violate the
divine laws hurting humans and insulting Gods” her mother took the stone with
the A. “ATI: the Gods intervene and confuse the culprit leading him to new
deeds that will lead to…” her mother showed the third stone with the N. “Will
lead to Nemesis: the wrath and revenge of the Gods which will finally end to…”
the stone with the E “-TISIS: the punishment, the destruction of the offender
by the Goddess’ descend. This four words form the truth of justice – the truth
of the Goddess. ”
Cassandra’s mother placed the stones in creating his surname: W A Y N E. She
brushed the stone with the W.
“The symbol of the Goddess Nemesis, the daughter of Nyx (Night). Nemesis fell
on her enemies with her wings spread, like a bat…”
“Master Bruce, Miss Kyle, I brought you some juice and brunch.”
Bruce came out of his reverie and Selina patted his shoulder smiling.
“Daydreaming, darling?”
“A bit” he answered and looked at Hero who rubbed his head to his calf as if
trying to persuade his master’s dead leg to feel; yet it was the kitten’s
purring that notified him of the act.
Bruce took a bite from his sandwich and broke a small piece that gave to his
kitten. Which provoked a really disapproving stare from Alfred.
“It isn’t polite dropping crumbs to the floor, Master Bruce…”
Selina widened her eyes and laughed. She had sprawled in the seat opposite
Bruce and ate her sandwich.
“Oops! Bad boy!”
Bruce cocked his eyebrows.
“Sorry, Alfred but poor Hero seems to be hungry too.”
The meow and the kitten’s sparkling big eyes piercing Alfred’s came to confirm
what Bruce said and Selina chewing her sandwich chuckled.
“They are a gang, Alfred, those two: a ruthless gang!”
Alfred cast a glance at her.
“No speaking when your mouth is full, Miss Kyle!” now it was Bruce’s turn to
laugh and the young woman rolled her eyes.
“I’m an alley cat, Alfie!” she said smugly and the butler gave her a
disapproving glance filled with affection and walked to the small kitchen of
the plane.
Selina slumped on her seat.
“Is everything alright?” she asked her friend.
“Why?”
“I have read that plane travel can be difficult for people who are in
recovery.”
Bruce gulped his food and grinned to her.
“I’m just fine: you know I’m more than endurable – it’s not easy to get rid of
me.”
Selina’s eyes darkened.
“Not even utter this…”
Bruce cupped her hand on the table.
“Fine.”
The young woman shook her head and looked at the laptop that lay open on the
table.
“You don’t get a rest, huh? That’s why you couldn’t wait to get back in
Gotham.”
Bruce pressed his lips: he felt guilty because Selina had to leave behind her
boyfriend, Argiris. The young man had come early in the morning to say goodbye
to Selina and Bruce saw how emotional his usually cool friend was after.
“I’m sorry I became the reason to end your relationship with Argiris. You were
so happy…”
She waved her hand nonchalant.
“Both Argiris and I knew that it was going to end sooner or later: maybe it was
better it ended now because I wouldn’t want him to get too attached. But” she
jerked her index finger “if your return to Gotham gets connected with any funny
business” she frowned warningly “I’m gonna tell Supes to grab you and lock you
up in his Fortress… or whatever!”
Bruce crooked his lips amused.
“I just can’t imagine you taking his side over mine…”
Selina lolled her head and widened her eyes.
“You need to put your imagination to work, kiddo, because I won’t tolerate you
risking your life. You realize it’s too early to open your wings again, right?”
Bruce opened his hands on the table and looked at his legs.
“The reality is a bit too hard to ignore, don’t you think? Sel, you know I’m
not stupid” she shook her head “I’m not going to put myself in danger – I know
how limited I am right now. But there are things in Gotham that can’t wait.
And… you can stay in the Manor to make sure I’m not up to anything bad…”
Selina narrowed her eyes and gave him a sweet smile.
“Nice try, sweetie…”
“Come on, Sel: it was awesome living under the same roof! And what about Hero?”
the kitten hearing its name climbed to his lap. “I know you can’t live without
him…” he twitched his lips and his eyes shone wickedly.
Selina snorted.
“Huh! So you blackmail me…” she shook her head. “It’ll be a battle for the
custody then!”
Bruce chuckled and his friend did the same.
“I don’t know, Bruce…It’s perfect living with you and Alfred and Hero but…” she
pressed her lips.
Bruce nodded.
“You need your independency…” he huffed. “I perfectly understand, dear…Just
give it a thought, will you?”
“I definitely will…”
Bruce’s laptop beeped and Selina looked interested. Bruce stared at the screen.
“It’s Lucius: we have an appointment through satellite.”
Selina jumped from her seat.
“I buzz off” she winked “I hate business talk…” she took Hero.
Bruce smiled because he knew that his friend wanted to be discreet.
“Thanks, Sel!”
She rubbed his upper arm passing him heading for the other cabin.
“Give Lucius kisses!”
Bruce chuckled looking up at her.
“I’m sure he’ll be thrilled!” he said slyly and Selina pinched his cheek
playfully before leaving.
Bruce opened the program and Lucius’ delightful smile welcomed him.
“Good morning, Mr. Wayne! How are you this fine day?”
“Good morning, Lucius. I’m fine. How about you? I hope I didn’t ruin your
sleep.”
Lucius shook his head.
“Not at all. I don’t need much sleep.”
Bruce lifted an eyebrow.
“Me too but lately with all these medicine I’m sleeping like a cat…” which
reminded him of Selina’s request. “Selina sends you her kisses” he said
grinning.
Lucius protruded his lips in bliss.
“Hm…That alone would be enough reason to wake up early even if I wasn’t a
morning bird” he chuckled.
“I watched the Wayne Enterprises’ shares’ course from yesterday and it’s quite
satisfying.”
“Well, thank you for the compliment…” he frowned. “It was a compliment, right?”
Bruce chuckled.
“Of course, you personally and the rest of the company’s staff are superb.”
Lucius’ face got serious.
“Then you could have prolonged your much needed vacations – recovery.”
Bruce nodded.
“If it was only a matter of trust to you, I’d have had vacations all the time,
especially in a place like Thasos…yet there are other things too.”
Lucius pressed his lips and nodded.
“Your donations to various charity foundations in Greece have been arranged as
the construction of the health center in Potamia, the village near Mr. Stark’s
villa.”
Bruce grinned.
“Those people treated me really wonderfully, Lucius, and the health center is a
must: during our stay, a local got seriously injured and weren’t for Leslie who
happened to be with us, he probably would have died.”
Lucius cast a lopsided glance to the young man which was full of respect.
“It will have your parents’ name as you asked and a yearly fund covering the
salaries of the personnel and the provisions’ cost.”
“Nice. Thank you, Lucius!”
The scientist shook his head and took his glasses off his nose.
“It’s a pleasure for me helping the fulfillment of such noble acts” his voice
became hoarse. “Your parents would have been so proud…”
Bruce lowered his eyes: still he couldn’t imagine his parents being proud of
him despite the fact that the people that knew them so well, like Lucius, said
it all the time.
“You took care of the other thing we discussed?” he asked wanting to change the
subject and Lucius smiled.
“Leaking to the press from trusted sourcesthat Bruce Wayne is arriving today
under…” he chuckled “complete secrecy at Gotham’s airport?” Lucius lolled
slightly his head. “I bet the airport has already started to get swarmed by
reporters – brace yourself!”
Bruce chuckled.
“It was my choice so I’ll give them what they want.”
“To gain what you want…” the scientist said smartly inclining his head.
The younger man nodded.
“Exactly. The rumors of my demise that hurt our company will be evaporated once
and for all and perhaps we’ll see a shares’ rise after the stability you
managed to keep throughout the rumors.”
Lucius cocked his eyebrows, his clever eyes sparkling playfully.
“And?” he asked knowing already the answer.
Bruce’s lips twitched and he squinted.
“You know me so well, huh, Lucius?”
Lucius chuckled.
“Great minds think alike, Mr. Wayne!”
“Now you flatter me… And yes: by showing up battered, paraplegic, bound to a
wheelchair will eliminate any possibility that Bruce Wayne gets connected
with…odd things, like jumping from rooftops or chasing criminals. Your
holograms are a great assistance in that.”
Lucius drummed his fingers on the table, his eyes sober.
“But definitely you’ll want to exploit the paraplegic façade yourself” he
stressed out the last word.
Bruce looked at his hand on the table and licked his lips.
“You saw the rough sketches I sent you?” he inquired without lifting his eyes;
he was afraid of Lucius’ reaction being as everyone else’s.
When after a second Bruce looked at Lucius the loyal scientist’s face was
solemn and his lips pressed and for Bruce that was the indication that he had
to act alone. However Lucius turned his eyes to his employer’s and Bruce saw
the familiar warmth.
“I think that the modifications you suggest are solid and could counterbalance
the obvious difficulties in mobility and the need for extra protection.”
“But?” although Bruce felt encouraged by Lucius’ estimation sensed a ‘but’
lying there. “You spoke with Tony?”
Lucius met the decisive yet a bit sad eyes of his employer and pressed his
lips.
“My loyalties first and foremost lie with you, Mister Wayne” he stretched his
eyebrows “you don’t doubt that, right?”
Bruce smiled.
“Of course not.”
Lucius lolled his head.
“I’m relieved to hear that. So when you tagged your mail as ‘confidential’
there was no chance for me to discuss the content even with your best friend.”
Hearing the ‘best friend’ Bruce felt a bit embarrassed.
“To make things clear Tony already knows about my sketches and my…intentions”
Lucius nodded. “But I wanted you to assess the modifications and how effective
they can be unbiased.”
“So Mister Stark is negative…”
Bruce’s eyes fell on his hands and he pouted.
“He didn’t take the time to have a second look at the sketches…” he sighed. “He
believes that even the thought of getting out there equals with instant death
so he won’t even consider the possibility…”
Lucius intertwined his fingers in front of his face.
“Well…we can’t blame him for that, can we?” he asked calmly. “It’s certainly
very dangerous…”
Bruce closed his eyes and tilted his head exasperated.
“For pity’s sake, Lucius… I don’t understand why all of you bring the same
thing up” he pinched the bridge of his nose. “All these years I used Batman
wisely without jeopardizing the bigger plan and the lives of others…and mine”
he hurried to add. “If I was as reckless as you think, Falcone would have
discovered my escapees and would have killed me…obviously, he didn’t.”
Lucius nodded.
“I don’t consider you reckless, Mr. Wayne; on the contrary, you are a wise
young man. Yet we all know your …bias for self sacrifice” he smiled and Bruce
twitched his lips. “And I think that this is the reason we are afraid of you
getting out there.”
“Listen, Lucius: the reason I want this suit to be made is for enabling Batman
make some appearances – one or two.”
“The holograms persuade Gotham that you are still out there.”
Bruce nodded.
“I know and they are a perfect creation of yours but…” he stabbed him with his
eyes. “It’s been four months and Batman hasn’t busted a single robber: don’t
you think that soon someone will notice?”
“The majority of Gotham’s underground are still petrified by the ‘big three
massacre’ and Batman’s action so many of them have already fled to other
cities. On the small time culprits, Batman can’t be everywhere, right?” Bruce
didn’t seem persuaded. “I can’t deny that you got a point there…but we always
can ask from Superman to dress up.”
Bruce shook his head in negation.
“I don’t want him in Gotham” Lucius frowned and Bruce cleared his throat.
“Superman has other responsibilities and Gotham is a hellhole with its own
rules and norms – a person as bright as him shouldn’t be consumed by this
city’s darkness… I don’t want Gotham’s dirt get to him: it almost happened” he
pressed his lips. “And I won’t risk someone realizing the differences as Joker
did.”
Lucius arched an eyebrow.
“Joker isn’t a common villain.”
“None of Gotham’s villains are common and Joker’s one meeting with BatSupes was
enough to make him suspicious of my secret. The night at Chicky’s factory he
hinted that” he took in Lucius’ deep frown. “A second encounter with Superman
disguised as Batman would affirm his suspicions and what I want now is for him
to take that out of his mind.”
Lucius nodded.
“So you’ll appear in front of every news camera of Gotham on a wheelchair,
attend some social events while Batman who till now was roaming Gotham will
make some arrests.”
“Exactly.”
“So we must make those modifications perfect to enable you to have some basic
artificial mobility to catch crooks and protection from additional injuries –
always provided that you’ll be extra careful and barely engage in fights.”
“As I was doing while in Falcone’s captivity to avoid injuries and bruises that
would betray the truth to him.”
Lucius rubbed his forehead and it was clear that the man was reluctant to give
Bruce the ability to risk so much. But he was also aware that his young
employer would proceed in his plans with or without his participation and that
would enhance more the danger. The youth loved his city so much and would do
anything to protect her. And Lucius loved Gotham as much and his young employer
so he couldn’t let him attempt to modify his suit himself. Even more since he
could see how all these could secure Bruce’s secret identity.
Bruce could see that the loyal scientist was thinking fast and his eyes were
sparkling eager and thirsty to hear that Lucius would help but at the same time
determined to continue even if he refused - on his own.
“This suit will be only for one or two times” Lucius said strict as Bruce had
never again heard him. “You won’t engage in very risky situations and you’ll
make sure that there will be backup for you” his eyebrows formed a very strict
line over his dead serious eyes. “Which brings us to this: Mr. Stark will be on
the project.”
Bruce was looking at him with the same level of seriousness.
“I promise, Lucius, that I won’t make ill use of your gift. But I don’t think
that Tony would agree to be a part of this” he ruffled his hair. “He is against
and also he has too many things on his head with being the new director of the
S.H.I.E.L.D. and working on the bionic parts – for crying out loud, he has his
company to run…”
“I’m sure that Mr. Stark won’t have an objection to participate in your new
armor’s creation – more on an advice level. As long as he” he cocked his
eyebrows “and I see that your top priority will be your recovery and your
health because you need to be ready for the operation…”
Bruce would never interrupt Lucius but this news made his heart beat faster
with childish enthusiasm.
“So the bionic parts for my spine are ready?!” no – it was too soon, he could
read it in Lucius’ eyes. “Are in good progress?” he continued more restricted.
Lucius smiled seeing the youth’s thrill: Bruce’s joy was infectious as much as
when he was the little boy that roamed the Wayne Tower.
“Is my pleasure to affirm that, Mr. Wayne, but” he hated to see the small
shadow in his employer’s face. “Even after the operation you’ll need some time
to be able to fully regain your normal functionality not to mention your more
demanding activities.”
Bruce nodded.
“Absolutely!” the shadow was gone and a grin caressed his cheeks.
“And that makes it evident why this new suit must be used in great caution and
with much consideration because a new major injury” Lucius felt that both
shared a shiver on that “could make the use of the bionic parts impossible.”
Bruce licked his lips. Lucius took in the youth’s paleness and wanting to raise
his spirits smiled.
“Not to mention that Mr. Stark will kill me if anything happens to you because
of my decision to help you built that suit and my contribution in persuading
him to agree” Bruce looked at him and Lucius narrowed his eyes. “Now I’m
thinking about it, Mr. Stark won’t be the only one…A second superhero will be
after me, a wildcat and let’s not forget Alfred and Leslie” he shook his head
“they can be more intimidating and lethal than any superhero…” he chuckled.
“Nothing will happen to me, Lucius. You have my word.”
Lucius’ smile vanished and he leaned to the screen.
“Mr. Wayne, the only reason I’ll help you with this new armor is that I don’t
want to let you make it alone – because I know you will whether I or Mr. Stark
help you or not – and because I trust you that you won’t endanger the life of
you and of so many people who love you” Bruce closed his eyes and Lucius arched
his eyebrows. “The one month you were fighting for your life and nobody knew if
you’re going to make it, all the people that love you were also staggering
between life and death. You must realize that you’re not only responsible for
your own life but for the lives and wellbeing of your loved ones…”
Bruce nodded and locked eyes with him.
“I know, Lucius…”
Lucius wore his glasses again and looked at another screen that Bruce couldn’t
make out clearly.
“Now about the soil and wood samples you sent me from the location of your
attack and of your own clothes…”
Bruce’s eyes flashed: Princess Diana might have blown up the awkward creatures
that attacked him yet some of their remains must have fallen on the soil or the
wood; also, some of the creatures grabbed him at some point. So he put samples
in special cases and sent them to Lucius through Happy, Tony’s pilot.
“They were good enough? Because you can’t imagine how difficult was to go back
there and gather them…” he rolled his eyes and Lucius chuckled picturing Bruce
trying to evade Alfred’s watchful eyes.
“So…I get that you passed to the other side of the law?” he asked in his
innocent friendly irony.
Bruce laughed.
“I thought I was always on the lawless end of the line – yet Alfred’s laws are
stricter and the ramifications from violating them more fearsome…”
“Indeed!” Lucius laughed. “Being spanked in this age is a bit embarrassing not
to mention being banned from Alfred’s cinnamon biscuits…” Bruce nodded. “Well,
back to business: the soil samples you sent me had indeed traces of other
materials – materials that matched those found in the samples from your
cloths.”
“And?”
“The analysis of those matters and substances indicated life forms matching
your description.”
Bruce’s eyebrows jerked upwards and he leaned to the screen.
“Life forms? They weren’t robots…” he whispered. “So we’re talking about
results of illegal experimentation?”
Lucius shook his head in negation.
“The substances were definitely unlike anything in Earth.”
Bruce didn’t want to accept that.
“Anything known” he stressed out the last word. “Maybe someone created
something never seen before – substances or materials that were used to create
those odd beings.”
“You’re thinking of the League of Shadows and that demon?” he asked softly
because the issue was extremely sensible.
Bruce rubbed his chin.
“That could be a possibility. Or Luthor. Or some other sick genius.”
Lucius cocked his eyebrows and took a pen from his desk.
“What about aliens, Mr. Wayne?” Bruce huffed and Lucius nodded. “Our data from
Lexlabs and the League of Shadows don’t show any evidence of such experiments.
And…Superman has extraterrestrial enemies who definitely would want to gain
some leverage against him.”
Bruce pressed his lips.
“You don’t like that idea…” the scientist remarked and the younger man looked
at him lopsided.
“I just believe that there are too many local villains for Earth to draw alien
villains too but…it’s not a matter of what I like, right?” Lucius nodded.
“Brainiac maybe?”
“It could be…Yet Superman has too many enemies and maybe he has others who
never encountered yet. We must search it more and hope for some new evidence –
not as dramatic as a new attack.”
“And keep our eyes open for what the registration in Luthor’s labs will bring
up: he had delved in many shady businesses and he absolutely hates Superman, so
why not being into this scheme too? And recently one of LexLabs was broken
into.”
“Star Labs and some other less famous were also raided those days so maybe it
was random looters.”
Bruce shrugged.
“Maybe or maybe not…We certainly can’t let go so easily of that possibility –
especially when LexLabs unlike the rest are in our control.’’
“Which was the main reason you wanted to gain the absolute control of Mr.
Luthor’s famous labs…”
“You know me so well, Lucius…”
Lucius leaned to the back of his armchair with a huge smile on his face.
“I’m eagerly waiting to see you back in Gotham, Mr. Wayne.”
“Me too, Lucius.”
 
“The Metropolis’ central lab was attacked and you mention it just now?”
Luthor’s voice echoed through the small space where his new lawyer had visited
him. “How many lawyers I have to fire to find a decent one?”
Luthor’s young lawyer stared at him completely unfazed and with a sarcastic
expression in his face.
“Well, for starters, not exactly every acknowledged counselor is eager to be
hired by you, Mr. Luthor. And second, you know that I’m the best for you right
now.”
Luthor narrowed his eyes and twitched his lips in disdain.
“I don’t like arrogance…” he hissed but the lawyer smirked.
“Then you surely don’t look a lot in the mirror!” Luthor’s eyes widened in that
insult and his lawyer raised his palms in appeasement. “I’m not here to
quarrel, Mr. Luthor: my focus is on how to get you out of here and I think you
should also focus on that instead of trying to intimidate your lawyer.”
“I don’t see you achieving anything, Mr. Larson: I’m almost 4 months stuck in a
filthy Gotham prison while my company is raided!”
Mr. Larson tilted his head.
“Maybe because this time you’re deep in shit, Mr. Luthor. There are a lot of
proofs for your collaboration with the League of Shadows. Not to mention a
charming video with you making some grave felonies, like attacking Mr. Wayne,
threatening him with a gun and assisting in his kidnapping.”
Luthor shook his head: that still stung bad – how they managed to trap him like
that. That stupid brat! Damn! He shouldn’t have been so carried away by his
grudge to expose himself like that.
“We can prove that the video was somehow fake: fabricated to frame me…” Larson
shook his head.
“I’m afraid that’s out of the question: the transmission of the footage was
almost live and there’s no sign of alienation. Plus, there are other evidence
and foremost Wayne’s testimony.”
Luthor fumed, his grey eyes taking an icy texture.
“At least, he died after the testimony: it’s some satisfaction.”
The young lawyer snorted.
“I’m sorry to disappoint, Mr. Luthor, but that was just a rumor: Bruce Wayne is
returning today to Gotham – every media in the city babbles about that.’’
Luthor frowned and his fist punched the table causing a smile to his lawyer. He
stabbed the man with his eyes.
“Use all of my connections to get me out of here! I won’t let that brat walk in
LexCorp undisturbed!”
Larson shrugged.
“He now possesses the 30% of the shares so he had every right, especially in
the Labs which are already under his control.”
Luthor felt cold sweat running his body and he clenched his jaw.
“I’m doing everything to arrange some special pardon for your case” the young
lawyer said. “Even a psychiatric assessment claiming that after the incident at
Stark’s party you became abnormally obsessed with Wayne in a way that dimmed
your reasoning.”
Luthor cast him a glare but gradually his face loosened in a grin.
“Not bad…” he said content squinting. “Not bad at all, Larson…”
He placed his briefcase on the table and began settling his papers in.
“The temporary DA is as hard as Dent but…he isn’t Dent” he smirked. “He doesn’t
have Dent’s appeal so he wouldn’t be able to last for long.”
Larson took the briefcase and moved to leave, casting a last glance at his
client whom he didn’t like much.
“I hope to have good news soon.”
Luthor gave a nod and stared at his hands without a second look at his lawyer’s
departing figure. He pouted. Undoubtedly, things would change soon…for the
best. He smirked. Mannheim was raiding his labs desperate to find his machine.
So when his efforts failed the powerful gangster would have no other option
than getting him out of there in exchange to get what he wanted.
 
Joker was gulping a big forkful of salad.
“Eat your salad, buuuuuddy” he said to Crane who was glaring at him from
opposite. “It’s good for youuuuur health and…bowel, unless you like things
getting stuck to your…hoooole…HAHAHAHAHA!”
“You mean like your…wife?” the lean doctor tilted his head on the side and spat
dryly. “No…I do not think that I like being stuffed as him…” he chewed calmly
his vegetables.
Joker giggled but all of a sudden Jonathan choked as he felt something digging
his stomach: he noticed that Joker’s fork was nowhere. The jester’s eyes were
casual as ever.
“Aaaaaanything can become a le--thal weapon in the rrrright hands” he whispered
in a scientific way. “Ugh! I did master-pieces with plastic forks…Liiiiike that
eye I smashed before anyone even noticed…” he brought a carrot slice in his
mouth and bit nonchalant. “I think it was an orderly” he squinted “but I’m not
sure – not that matters…What matters, Johnny” he raised barely his voice and
Jonathan almost screamed from the pain that plastic thing gave him “iiiiis to
know how aaaaand where to use each thing…Like when referring to my Brucey: when
you dooooo it after I ask you to it’s OK” he pouted “well, it depends…anyway.
But when you doooooo it to insult him” his teeth rattled but then he loosened
“or flatter him you get in trouble. Understood?”
Crane nodded with gritted teeth: how he wanted to cause terror to that man, to
see him cry and squirm and beg. He knew that the clown would be an easy subject
to his fear gas…unlike Wayne.
“Stop threatening me!” he hissed in a voice unlike his normal and Joker gave a
full Cheshire smile.
“Buuuuuut I’m not…” he answered innocently. “It seemed like I was?” he
scratched his head and then tilted it on the side “well, maybe I am…” he dag
more the fork in Crane’s stomach. “Now, let’s speak about what I want…”
“OK, then!” Crane clenched his jaw. “How about your precious wife really likes
to be fucked? The hard way” he leaned towards Joker with a gleeful shine in his
eyes disregarding the increased pain in his stomach.
Joker licked his lips and moved his shoulders. He gestured to Crane to
continue.
“Go ooooon, give me your” he giggled “professionalopinion…”
Crane smiled wickedly.
“Wayne likes to be raped” the jester arched his eyebrows fascinated and mocking
at the same time. “He was raised up like this and now inside him struggles his
disgust about sex and his deep desire to get fucked – so the only solution he
has is being raped: don’t you find it a bit strange that he always gets in
situations that can lead to a rape?” he raised his head looking down at Joker.
“Because he wants to be dominated and violated: it’s the only way he permits
himself to have sex and can enjoy it.”
Joker left his head hanging on his shoulder seeming deep in thought as if
Crane’s words made an impact.
“Soooooo, you wanna say that he likes to be fuck--ed…raped by anyone BUUUUT
meee?”
And then suddenly he erupted in laughter.
“Is this youuuuuur opinion as a shrink?” he moved in his seat and giggled
again. “I was soooooo right that every shrink is a mental case…”
Crane shook his head.
“It’s funny that someone like you likes so much the idea of someone’s purity –
especially, when he is so filthy…”
Crane’s eyes bulged as the fork almost made his flesh bleed.
“OK, Ok, let’s…let’s calm…” Crane’s voice became a bit shaky and definitely
appeasing. “We can’t deny the truth about his past, can we?” he squinted and
Joker pouted mocking him. “Or his present…And he’s absolutely a hard used
whore” now the hissing became once again Scarecrow but seeing Joker’s eyebrows
twitch he widened his eyes. “You wanted me to give you info and that’s what I’m
doing.”
Joker smacked his lips and looked at the huge flat TV that played a stupid
reality show. His eyes flashed: one of the guys sitting on the nearest table
was Lou, the goon from the night at Chicky’s factory who shot and caused the
fire. Joker knew that they had him first at the Blackgate prison but finally
they realized he was nuts and dumped him here. The jester tilted his head on
the side: well…the bozo was lucky that Batman didn’t die that night because at
first when Joker wasn’t sure, he had a death penalty for him.
The goon was so different in the orange fit of the Asylum but soooooo same
moronic faced. He sensed Joker’s stare and began waving enthusiastic for seeing
him again.
“Hiya, boss!” he yelled and Joker rolled his eyes snorting.
Jonathan smirked sure that Joker had forgotten him occupied with his henchman.
In the same time, he didn’t like it that the clown was gathering his thug-army
even without doing anything…
“Infooooo…” Joker spat in his nasal voice still waving at Lou. “Start chewing
your apple pie and spill it.”
Jonathan crooked his mouth but did what he was told.
“That crazy bitch who considered Wayne her slave…”
Joker rolled his head regarding again Crane completely bored.
“Yep, yep, yeeeeep! She raaaaaped him with your help and that troll did the
same…Greeeeeat info, precious!” he mimicked Gollum’s voice.
But Crane laughed.
“You don’t want details? That they had a threesome with Brucey?” he asked in a
devilish way and Joker licked his lips with a enraged and at the same time
longing expression in his eyes. “You don’t care to learn that they had him
tied? I saw the marks on his wrists.”
Joker moved in his chair.
“Which was completely unnecessary…” Crane added leaning towards Joker. “Who
takes so many precautions with someone as pathetic as Wayne? Unless this is the
way to make him turned on.”
Well, definitely not, Joker thought remembering his one half - time with him.
No, Cran-y, he smirked: they tied him because they were afraid of him.
“Binding someone that you already rendered completely paralyzed.”
Joker frowned and the former doctor smiled.
“They shot him twice: in his nape and his waist making him unable to move below
the neck” his eyes shone gleefully.
Joker’s mind travelled back in that night at the old factory: Batman had come
to save the brats and face him and he absolutely…moved and ran and kicked and
everything. If Bruce had two bullets stuck in his body paralyzing him then how
the Bat-guy was able to come? He wasn’t that moron Super-Goofy: he would easily
make out the difference…And then all these rumors that the Bat was stalking the
city even though Bruce Wayne was away? Fine, it could be a trick but…if it
wasn’t and the kitten wasn’t the Bat?
Joker cocked an eyebrow: well, in this case, at least the threesome was still
in the plan…He giggled but then sobered again.
Jonathan could understand that the clown’s mind was racing but he couldn’t
guess what he pondered on; maybe how to punish those who defiled his…wife. So
why not expanding his list and providing more reasons for Joker to rely on him?
“And Superman certainly bangs your boy” he shook his head. “There’s no doubt:
he sent that oaf Bane for two months in the hospital because obviously he
figured that he had fucked his bitch” the forgotten fork dag again his stomach
surprising him. “It’s him you must punish not me! And I can help you with
that!”
Joker rolled his eyes and snorted.
“Help? HELP!” he giggled and shook his head. “You’re completely nuts, Cran-y!”
Something in the big screen caught the corner of his eye and he lolled his head
watching half interested, half glaring at Crane who looked at the screen too.
Behind Vicky Vale’s velvet armchair a whole wall screen showed footage of
Superman and a woman dressed in a fancy swimsuit lifting tons of ruins and save
people. And then the footage changed into a luxurious hall where the duo was
decorated by the UN’s General Secretary.
“The two heroes seemed to be at ease together…” Vale commented slyly. “Hm…it
seems that our Prince couldn’t hold Superman’s interest for long…”
 
Bruce watched Superman and Diana being decorated by the UN’s General Secretary
in the official video on the organization’s site: the two heroes were honored
for their contribution in the rescuing efforts after the Nepal earthquake.
 The video continued showing image from the humble reception that the
organization held after the ceremony: the two heroes sat together and spoke all
the time in a way like they have been friends for years – or centuries, since
they both were practically immortals – and at times Princess laughed with
something Superman told and Clark’s eyes glimmered reflecting her eyes’ shine…
Bruce’s breath became restrained: he knew that glow in Clark’s eyes – it was
like the entire existence loved you…
The sky had waves of neon blue moving slowly, glimmering majestically: he was
watching it from the hovering round balcony the Fortress had created for him.
Waiting for Clark to return from Metropolis.
Which was now. Bruce could hear him even if Clark usually floated in the
Fortress; he turned to his direction and Superman flew to him, his hands
immediately wrapping around his back and behind the knees lifting him easily as
a child.
“You could say ‘Hi’, first” Bruce chuckled as the roof above them opened
because obviously Superman wanted to.
“I guess I could…” Clark captured his lips and Bruce felt the jolt in his
stomach, signaling the sudden ascend.
Oh! Being among the glorious blue light was unbelievable, as if he was inside a
fairytale. And every night was the same exciting feeling even if the color in
the sky varied: green, red, yellow or mixed. He was looking the natural wonder
in absolute admiration and fascination. Yet today he decided to be more
restrained.
“You know, you don’t have to take me for a stroll every night…” he teased Clark
who smiled.
“Really?” he arched an eyebrow. “Then why are you gazing at the sky for hours
EVERY NIGHT?”
Bruce pressed his lips.
“Because you didn’t get me a cable TV?” he snorted.
Clark laughed and at the same time unfastened his cape and wrapped him in its
unbelievable warmth and softness that always made Bruce relax like a baby. Of
course, there was no need for warmth since Bruce was dressed in the House of El
ceremonial attire which was cold proof. Yet both of them relished the use of
the cape…
“That night” Clark said in a deep, touched voice locking his eyes with Bruce’s
“I promised you that I’d take you to watch the aurora every night till you’re
bored of it…Do you remember that night?” his voice became very low and very
throaty.
Bruce took away his eyes to avoid the deep pain in Clark’s sweet, beautiful
eyes and gaze at the glowing like a huge gem crystal pyramid under them: he
remembered that night…he remembered all the pain from his injuries and then the
worst pain…knowing that he was dying and he wouldn’t see his loved ones again:
their immense hurt for losing him as he acknowledged it in Selina’s eyes mixing
with his for losing them.
And saying goodbye to Clark forever… Shutting softly his eyes at least relieved
that he wouldn’t be used again to hurt the Man of Steel… Hearing Superman’s
eerie heartbreaking howl as he was floating away…Realizing that Clark couldn’t
be left alone: he had to return to him…
“I remember…” he said returning his stare to Clark’s waiting eyes and the older
man took gently his chin between his fingers and kissed softly his lips.
“Well…You don’t seem bored of aurora borealis yet…”
“Bruce, we’re ready” Selina’s hesitant voice broke into – she was going to stay
in the plane and leave when the reporters were gone. “Are you alright?”
He nodded and stretched his hands to put on the leather jacket Alfred held for
him.
“Master Bruce, the ramp is down; can we go now?” Alfred asked politely.
“Let’s give them what they came for…” he answered with his eyes determined.
 
“Breaking news” Vale’s eyes shone thrilled as the video showing Superman and
Wonder Woman was cut abruptly. “Tony Stark’s private jet just landed at
Gotham’s airport.”
The camera zoomed on the jet’s door that opened and the ramp that was set.
“Ladies and gentlemen, at last: Bruce Wayne back home!” Vale said excited.
But she was astonished watching along with the people filling the seats in her
show Bruce Wayne getting out of the door and descending slowly from the ramp:
seated on a wheelchair that was pushed by his loyal butler. Hundreds of cameras
flashed simultaneously as the people of the press yelling questions pushed
closer and were held at bay by the security staff of the airport.
Joker’s eyes were glued on the screen completely immobile glimmering maniac; it
was the image of Bruce seated on the wheelchair that made his eyes explode. His
previous discussion with Crane was erased as his doubts about Bruce being the
Batman since he was already paralyzed when Batman fought him. This moment only
one thing dominated his boiling mind: the fire in the factory and the building
collapsing, obviously crushing Batman and rendering him useless to play with
him. And the responsible was there, laughing stupidly.
His body jerked upwards jumping on Lou and Joker was seeing only the neck of
his goon readying his bare teeth to tear it apart. The useless moron was dead.
Several people cried in surprise and horror, the loudest voice that of Lou who
felt his boss’ sharp teeth stabbing his neck. Orderlies rushed there stretching
their Tasers. Yet Joker was seeing only Bruce confined in a wheelchair merged
with the damn old factory and a hell of fire…
Suddenly there was only darkness.
 
***** Chapter 16 *****
The airport’s security kept the raging crowd of reporters at a distance as
Alfred led the wheelchair to the waiting silver Rolls Royce under a buzzing
cloud of questions. Alfred cast a glance to his young master and Bruce gave a
discreet nod.
Upon that, Alfred opened the back door and held Bruce’s body as the
physiotherapist had taught him in order to move him from the chair to the car’s
back seat. Of course Bruce was perfectly able to do it alone yet they had to
play a little show for the press so he let Alfred help him while secretly spare
the older man from the majority of his burden – a Wayne Enterprises’ driver
(the one who had brought the Rolls) was standing right next to the car’s front
door and hurried to them eager to help but Alfred politely sent him away
because they didn’t want him to realize Bruce’s true body and the young man
still loathed strangers touching him.
Their show was a success: dozens of cameras flashed maniac on the sight of
Bruce Wayne clinging his arms around his butler’s neck to be hoisted and
settled on the back seat.
Selina was already there, sprawled, one foot on the leather and Hero in her
lap, clearly happy now that he was out of his portable cage. The kitten jumped
on Bruce’s lap as soon as the door closed.
Bruce wasn’t shocked from her presence there – his friend had a pretty
effective distraction to disembark unnoticed and slip in the car while the
reporters were goggling at their show. Alfred, however, who entered the car
after he put the wheelchair in the trunk, cocked an eyebrow at the driver’s
mirror just as he turned on the engine to get them out of there.
“Miss Kyle, I’m delighted to see you here…”
Bruce and Selina exchanged an amused glance.
“I wouldn’t have missed a ride with that car, Alfred!” she winked.
Alfred smiled.
“We were supposed to pick you up after we lured the reporters from the
airport.”
She shrugged.
“Why bothering you with that? Besides it’s more fun to razz those papa-razzis…”
she pressed more her foot on the seat’s leather to Alfred’s dismay and Bruce
stopped looking the tablet on his legs to widen his eyes to Selina and she
hurried to put down her foot.
He was watching avidly his tablet-like gadget, the latest creation of Wayne
Tech that only he, Lucius and Dick had at the moment. He was scrolling the
articles on his screen thoughtful yet with a playful eye on Selina.
“I didn’t know that you were so fond of old, outdated cars…” he snorted to
tease her.
Which caused a disapproving grunt from Alfred and Selina’s raised eyebrow.
“This isn’t old, darling; this is classic…” she said slyly and looked at the
driver’s mirror Alfred giving her an approving nod. “Forgive the kid, Alfred:
he is still too young and inexperienced…”
“Of course, Miss Kyle… Would you give us the pleasure of coming with us to the
Manor?”
Selina was glancing at Bruce’s tablet screen.
“Not today, Alfred: I have to see if my apartment is still standing after all
this time. But I’ll come visit as soon as possible.”
“So our destination is Midtown” Alfred said not without a slight sadness for
Miss Kyle’s so rapid departure. All this time he got to love the young woman’s
presence: it was as if the Waynes had left him two kids to look after.
“Sorry for the inconvenience, Alfred – I know it’s out of your course…” Bruce
and Alfred both cast her exasperated glances and she shrugged innocently. “It
is a detour from the road to Pallisades AND we have to lose our tail” Selina
said looking from the back window at the string of cars following them. Rolls
had armored windows with glass that didn’t permit the view inside.
Bruce still scrolling the headlines touched his finger to his lips.
“Alfred is one hell of a driver!” Alfred coughed disapprovingly for the
expression but Selina could see the satisfaction in his gleaming eyes. “Yet it
would have been so much easier if you came to live in the Manor…” he raised his
eyes and met hers. “You’ll always welcome if you change your mind.”
Selina nodded: she felt Bruce’s love and how he’d miss her constant presence
and the truth was that she would miss him too.
“What are you searching for?” she asked to drop the subject and Bruce petted
Hero who was also looking at the screen curious.
“Superman sightings from last night” he said casually and Selina frowned.
“But he was at that UN ceremony last evening with that woman.”
He nodded keeping his eyes on the screen because he didn’t want Selina to read
them.
“Afterwards…”
She didn’t need much more to figure; she didn’t like it but also she wanted to
pretend that it wasn’t important though for Bruce it was – even if he put on a
nonchalant face.
“Don’t tell me he didn’t come last night…”
Bruce shook his head in denial still avoiding Selina’s stare.
 
He liked people; he liked all these UN officials yet he grabbed the chance and
slipped to the deserted foyer of the top floor. He stood before the whole wall
window overlooking New York and his eyes were caught by the newly finished
Avengers’ Tower dominating the skyline. Stark’s need for showing off… Well, he
didn’t want to be unfair to the billionaire: after the revelations about
S.H.I.E.L.D. he had to use every means to heal the organization’s image and
status.
Superman inhaled deeply: he really didn’t care much. He just wanted this
ceremony to end for him to return to… where? He felt coldness inside and
something else…what exactly? He couldn’t name it but he knew that wasn’t good –
it drained him from energy. He yanked his head: he always could go back to his
sun and recharge his batteries…His sun… The one here on earth which was more
powerful than the sun out there. He so much missed being inside Bruce’s body
that sometimes, like now, it hurt because this thought made the knot that
strangled for days his stomach worse.
“Are you seeking loneliness or indulge in sweet remembrance?” a soft female
voice breathed in his ear and he was startled.
Diana smiled her radiant smile.
“So the Man of Steel can be taken by surprise?’’
He closed his eyes and chuckled.
“Sometimes…by extraordinary people…” like Batman or you…
Diana came closer, their chests a breath away.
“When powerful things dominate your mind and senses…” she whispered and her
eyes flashed in his.
He stretched his head and sighed.
“Yeah… sometimes even Superman gets distracted.”
The Amazon princess lolled her head on the side and eyed him thoughtful.
“I’d be very indiscreet asking if it is your love interest that occupies your
thoughts?” she smiled. “Does he realize how lucky he is or torments you?”
Torment…Superman couldn’t stop himself from thinking that Diana was right. What
he was experiencing was tormenting… The way Bruce looked at him… the way
Superman sensed that as much as he tried he always he blundered with Bruce… the
way his immense happiness was turning into something unpleasant.
He mentally shook himself and pictured Bruce smiling, Bruce gulping greedily
the doughnuts he brought to him – the warmth and elation he felt every time.
Bruce didn’t torment him…at least, on purpose. Wait…
“He?” Superman asked frowning – he had denied to her that he was related to
Bruce.
Diana laughed.
“Bruce Wayne: for one unexplainable reason I can’t shake off the idea of you
having a relationship with the human” she shrugged. “It’d make perfect sense
that you look so troubled and unhappy. Because definitely a human – especially
he – is unworthy of someone like you…” she widened her eyes sympathetically
“resulting inevitably in pain.”
Superman watched her in disbelief but he couldn’t deny that her words made
something in him.
“Once again, Princess: there’s nothing between me and Mr. Wayne…other than my
duty to protect him as every other human being. I thought I’ve made that clear
already.”
She smiled and nodded.
“My mistake, Superman but my fear of you being involved in something so wrong
drives me to seek reassurance constantly. I dread seeing you wasted with
someone like him and eventually destroyed by deceit…” she noticed his slightly
displeased stare. “Since you two are not involved he won’t be annoyed when
those stupid reporters publish the video of us they’re shooting right now…”
Superman looked over Diana’s shoulders to the cameraman who had located them
and of course didn’t miss the chance getting a nice footage. Yet he wasn’t
pissed: after all, he wasn’t doing anything wrong and Bruce was busy with other
more important things than caring about his lover’s evenings.
Diana followed his eyes satisfied by the lack of reaction.
“What about leaving that place?” she asked serious. “I don’t think that they
would be insulted or something…and I know you want to leave as much as I…” her
thick eyelashes half covered her sparkling green eyes.
The idea was appealing. He shrugged one shoulder.
“New York nights are legendary after all… But we’ll come back later to bid
goodnight to our hosts” he replied beaming and Diana’s eyes shone.
“Mmm…I guess it wouldn’t suit the boyscout to misbehave like that…” she laughed
and the impact was similar with Bruce’s laughter.
Superman pressed his lips and shook his head.
“No, not at all!” he said with conviction.
Not even the camera that was fixed on them caught their exit.
New York was blinding illuminated by millions of multicolored lights: it looked
like Metropolis but Clark could spot all the tiny differences – smells, voices,
sounds, mood… The Statue of Liberty where they stood right now.
He was gazing at the ocean with his arms crossed and his mind totally empty
which was bliss… Diana cleared her throat and he turned his eyes on her.
“It’s quite different than my homeland” she said with her steady voice “but
it’s still beautiful.”
Superman nodded and remembered the night dinner at the balcony in Stark’s
villa: Bruce was so relaxed and happy among them – his mind wasn’t yet obsessed
with that madness. Bruce then wanted just to live and absorb everything life
had to offer – that Superman had to offer… And then suddenly, Superman’s love
wasn’t enough for Bruce: Batman had defeated him…
His jaw clenched unconsciously and Diana’s soft, long fingers touched his chin.
“You have to relax a bit…” he felt the hot air from her lungs brushing his skin
and he was shocked to realize some goose bumps. “Superman…” she smiled. “This
is what humans call you yet I’m sure you have a real name unlike those mundane
human names declaring your regal kin and stating your superiority… I’m Diana of
Themyscira, daughter of Hippolyta…” she cocked an eyebrow and stretched her
hand.
She waited for a proper introduction, for a token of mutual trust and
allegiance. Superman knew that he could trust her with his real identity but
also he could imagine her shock and disapproval hearing his human name: he
definitely would lose some of her respect. And for the first time, Clark felt
uneasy about the name that connected him with humankind.
“Kal El of Krypton” he grabbed her hand. “Son of Jor and Lara of the House of
El.”
“Your stew is getting cold…”
Clark looked startled at Martha sitting right next to him at the kitchen table.
She was beaming.
“Your mind is always with Bruce…” she caressed his forearm.
Clark blushed embarrassed on the realization that he wasn’t thinking of Bruce.
“Mmm… I can’t help it” he chuckled and sighed. “But I’ve got a daily job to
maintain…”
Martha frowned.
“Speaking of which, it’s still working hours…”
Clark winked.
“I’m supposed to do field work investigating those burglaries in Metropolis’
labs.”
His mother raised her eyebrows shocked and amused at the same time.
“My baby would never skive off school or work!”
Clark chuckled.
“I can do my work while enjoying my Ma’s company… My hearing is tuned at
Metropolis. And dear Martha deserves some attention” he kissed his mother’s
cheek.
“Don’t fret about me, sweetheart” she smiled her eyes filled with love. “I’m
always happy to see you but I know there are things that demand your
attention…” she sighed. “I’m proud of you like your father was…even if what you
do keeps you away from me. I know that there are people that their need is
biggest than mine…”
Clark’s eyes caressed her wrinkled face and his heart ached for her loneliness
after Jonathan died. He held her hands in his and kissed them.
“You saw the ceremony at UN building?”
She chuckled.
“Yes and I was crying like a baby from pride…not that I needed some decoration
to know my child’s heart of gold…”
He cuddled his mother kissing her graying hair feeling again the same dread as
with Bruce: the looming presence of death shadowing everything.
Lois’ melody from his smartphone blew like a bomb in the room and Clark rolled
his eyes and reluctantly released his mother to take his smartphone.
“Kent here.”
“You could have given us a tip, farm boy…” Lois’ exasperated voice escaped the
phone’s boundaries.
“What are you talking about, Lois?”
“Cut the crap, Clark! Bruce just arrived at Gotham’s airport and the Planet
didn’t know anything! Why didn’t you tell something? Every news outlet of
Gotham knew already so it wouldn’t be so bad if you informed us…”
Clark rubbed his forehead: damn! Bruce in Gotham… Yes, they had discussed it
but had Bruce mentioned when? He closed his eyes raking his data. Yes, he had
mentioned and he forgot it…FORGOT IT!
“Listen, Lois…I’m…I’m sorry…”
“What’s the matter, Smallville” he could hear her frown “I know you trust me
with way more sensitive information than that…”
“Of course I do, Lois.”
“You forgot it, don’t you?” her voice was utterly shocked and Clark could hear
her scoff. “My Goodness, what’s wrong with you, Clark?’’
Clark lolled his head on the side and ruffled his hair.
“Planet got plenty of coverage from the last night’s reception in UN.”
“That’s not the point! Ugh, Clark! Fuck the Planet: we’re talking about more
important things… At least, tell me that you escaped work and you’re incognito
next to Bruce…”
He shook his head not knowing what to say.
“I’ve got to go, Lois…Bye.”
“Clark, wait…”
 
Selina could easily see through her friend’s façade of calm.
“I see… And you’re worried” she pressed her lips “for his safety and…there are
other things, huh?”
Bruce lifted his eyes on her to catch also Alfred’s seemingly composed stare on
the road that darted discreetly to the back seat.
“There’s nothing on the news.”
“And that’s more worrying for you. You have his number – call him.”
Bruce looked at Clark’s number that he had already on hi screen. However he
hesitated.
“Maybe he just didn’t want to see me. And…” those matters were so awkward for
him. “I don’t want to press him to speak to me.”
“Nonsense!” she rolled her eyes. “Something happened between you and you think
that maybe he was pissed and didn’t come to see you. But you’re worried too so
why not calling him?”
Bruce huffed and ran his fingers to Hero’s fur.
“There’s a chance he doesn’t want to speak me and for that he didn’t came or
called. I don’t want to disturb him if that is what he wants…” his voice was
decisive.
“Bullshit, handsome! You worry for him and need to learn he is okay – he is
your boyfriend so a phone call is the first choice not…searching the net!
Please!”
“Master Bruce, I think that Miss Kyle is right: calling him is the easiest and
safest way. And I’m sure that Master Kent would be rather happy to see that you
care – especially if something came out to disturb your happiness.”
Bruce sighed: all these made him uncomfortable yet he knew that they were
right. And he felt the beat of agony in his chest not only for Clark’s safety –
because he had the gut feeling that he was alright – but also for Clark’s
possible detachment… He took in the others’ urging stares and decided that
calling was better than live in uncertainty. He brushed his screen calling the
number.
 
Clark hanged up hurriedly under his mother’s puzzled stare. The phone
immediately rang again and Clark sighed: typical Lois! Yet he wasn’t in the
mood to discuss it more so he deactivated the phone: he’d explain to her later.
“What’s wrong, sweetheart?”
“Nothing.”
But Martha wasn’t convinced.
“Anything wrong with Bruce?”
Clark shrugged frustrated.
“No.”
Martha licked her lips.
“I heard Lois saying that you forgot about his coming back?”
Clark huffed.
“She doesn’t know how to lower the decibels of her voice… Yeah, I forgot:
sometimes even Superman forgets things.”
Martha felt uncomfortable pressing her son but from the moment he made her
happy coming for lunch she sensed that Clark was upset.
“How can you forget when every night you’re together?” she smiled. “I’m sure he
mentioned last night?”
Clark lowered his head and drummed his fingers on the table making the dishes
shake.
“I wasn’t with him last night” he raised his eyes to look at Martha. “I had to
attend the UN ceremony and the reception after so…”
Martha touched his shoulder.
“I feel your upset, baby – you had a quarrel with Bruce? Are you displeased
with him?”
Clark’s eyes hardened.
“He is too stubborn, Ma; he never listens, he never thinks about me…”
She pressed her lips: those words were so heated and so different from the way
her son talked till now about the young man he loved.
“What happened, dear? If of course you feel like sharing…”
He yanked his head backwards.
“Maybe I forgot about his returning because I wanted to forget it!” Martha
narrowed her eyes and Clark inhaled deeply. “I told him I didn’t want him to
come back in Gotham but he didn’t care! All he cares about is…” he stopped
abruptly: his Ma didn’t know about Batman.
“But it’s his city – his home. I bet he missed it all these months…”
Her voice was sweet as ever and Clark regretted his heated tone; he pinched the
bridge of his nose.
“This city almost killed him, Ma! If he was sensible enough, if he listened to
others, he would stay as far away as he could! But he is too obstinate and
strong opinionated and…”
Martha cupped his face and brought their eyes to meet; she was smiling and
Clark narrowed his eyes.
“Why are you smiling?”
“Because it’s nice hearing that our Bruce has such a strong personality – after
everything he’s been through people believe him to be weak and scared but you
tell me that he is someone who stands his ground opposite…Superman. And that,
my son, makes me really happy for that young man and…” she caressed his cheek
“explains why you fell in love with him. I know that your heart is so kind that
can embrace every human in pain and need but for falling so mad in love with
someone, it’d take something more. Which now I understand. You wouldn’t love
Bruce that much if he was different…”
Clark sighed: it was true – Bruce’s strength and personality was that
electrified his body and soul. Even now in this awkward state picturing again
the man’s sparkling with determination eyes made him crave for him.
“This is why you’re so upset: your feelings for him are too strong but you have
to understand that he has some needs. The fact that he decided against what you
wanted doesn’t mean that he doesn’t respect your opinion. I’m sure he is
unhappy for having to do something you don’t like. He definitely would want you
supporting his decisions and not being against and disgruntled…away from him.
But Bruce has his own personality, Clark: you can’t decide for him either force
things on him. And I know that deep inside you wouldn’t want that because then
Bruce wouldn’t be the man you loved.”
Clark put his hands on his mother’s shoulders.
“Things are so complicated, Ma…” he inhaled deeply. “When he woke from the coma
everything was so beautiful, so bright, so clear…but now…” he bit his lips and
Martha frowned. “It’s not the same…I feel that I can’t cope with Bruce, I can’t
give him what he needs and…” he felt that he could speak honestly at least with
his Ma “I’m tired of this: I need something that won’t make my guts twist.”
Martha’s eyes widened.
“Your feelings have changed?” she asked.
Clark realizing the meaning of what he had said looked at his mother almost
desperately.
“No! Absolutely not! I love Bruce as ever but…” he pressed his hair on his head
“ugh! Ma, I don’t know what’s happening…”
She pressed her lips.
“It’s fatigue, Clark; I know that you never in your life experienced physical
fatigue so now the emotional fatigue is quite odd for you. You and Bruce shared
a Hell together all these months: things that hurt both of you. At first, the
joy and relief from Bruce’s saving hid everything but slowly as the life
becomes casual all these things are coming to the fore: Bruce feels the need to
return to his normal life and you are afraid for him and this fear intensifies
the impact of what you experienced while Bruce was fighting for his life. It’s
a trial, son; a trial of your love.”
Clark nodded thoughtful.
“It’d be easier if he understood…He is a human and he is vulnerable and Gotham
is full of dangers. Why is it so difficult for him to sympathize with me and
ease my torment?”
Martha smiled.
“Maybe he does, maybe is as much difficult for him as for you…But he needs to
be himself or else he’ll be miserable and withered. We, humans, are vulnerable
but this isn’t our only quality: if Bruce submit to you and settles in his
vulnerability you’ll be still interested? You’ll still be interested in a being
that would be half? Is that what you really want from him? To be submissive and
simply obey to your wishes?”
He pressed his lips and swallowed hard. He remembered Falcone’s slave: Bruce’s
façade to satisfy his owner. It was just a mask then but still echoed Bruce’s
suffering all the years under Falcone’s mastery. Clark cringed: no, he didn’t
want to be turned into Bruce’s new owner. He met his mother’s eyes.
“I don’t want that…” he whispered and his heart felt light.
Martha nodded.
“I know…Because your love is real: I remember your suffering and agony while
his life stood on the edge and you were coming to me… I remember your elation
when he was saved, when he first opened his eyes and talked to you…”
Clark’s eyes watered: he remembered too. Martha kissed his cheek.
“When in doubt, recall those moments…”
 
Bruce kept his face completely unruffled as his tablet called several times
Clark’s smart phone. No answer. He finished the call decisively. He looked at
Selina nonchalant.
“He has his phone deactivated…”
“Perhaps he is somewhere where he doesn’t risk being heard…”
“Or as I suspected, he doesn’t want to talk to me…”
“C’me on, Bruce!” Selina pouted. “You don’t honestly believe that!”
“Master Bruce, if you pardon my indiscretion” Bruce tilted his head and looked
him exasperated “I must agree with Miss Kyle: I don’t think that this is the
case.”
Bruce shook his head pressing his lips. They didn’t know what happened the last
night Clark came to him; they didn’t feel the change in him…
Alfred stopped the car at the back side of Selina’s apartment building and
rushed to open the door for her. She was staring at her friend reading his
sadness for what he believed that was indifference from Clar. Bruce locked eyes
with her.
“Call him again! You’ll see it’s not what you think…”
Bruce smiled and ran his fingers to her cheek.
“It’s okay, Sel… Don’t worry.”
She kissed him on the cheek.
“Have a good rest, will you?”
“I will.”
She kissed Hero who meowed to her. She stepped out of the car and Bruce holding
Hero leaned towards the door.
“Come to see us soon!”
Selina turned rapidly and kissed her friend again.
“Tomorrow morning, sweetie!” she caressed Hero once again. “Call Clark again!”
she said and rushed to the building’s back door because she didn’t want them to
see her eyes watering. After all, they’d soon see each other again!
Alfred started the engine.
“Do call Master Kent again, sir” his butler told him looking at him from the
mirror.
But Bruce dropped the tablet on the seat and hugged Hero. He was feeling
exhaustion slowly eroding his muscles deep to the bones.
“I’m too tired, Alfred; I just want to sleep for a couple of hours…”
Alfred nodded, worry evident in his face: a journey of ten hours was extreme
for a healing organism, especially when sadness cast its torturing burden on
everything else.
“Of course, sir: Leslie and Lucius took special care for the Manor to be ready.
But first you’ll have a nice meal and your medicine.”
Bruce let his head rest on the back of the seat closing his eyes, taking solace
by Hero’s warm tongue licking his face.
 
Dick was hanging from the still rings trying to finish his exercises. The gym
was full of people: young and older athletes, trainers and other staff. In his
trainer’s expression he could see that Jeffrey wasn’t much satisfied by his
performance and Tony Zucco standing a few feet away in a corner was watching
with his arms crossed and his lips pressed.
The boy clenched his teeth and turned his body upside down supported in his
stretched arms which tremble too much – insanely more than the previous times.
Jeffrey, his Afro-American trainer shook his head.
“Stretch your legs more, Dick! Concentrate on your arms… Relax…”
Ugh! Relax! That was easy for you to say, Jeff… Dick gritted his teeth trying
to stop his arms from shaking, the air pressing in his mouth. He closed his
eyes but the result wasn’t as the other times: his heart beat too loudly, too
fast…too angry.
“It’s okay, Dick” Jeff yelled clapping once and Dick knew that his trainer gave
up for today. “We’ll continue tomorrow” after you find again your self -
control,Dick filled the gap in his trainer’s words.
The boy let his body fell entirely gracelessly disappointed with himself and
angry… and then landed on his tiptoes. Jeff smiled to him and patted his
shoulder.
“Go take a shower and back home to get some rest: you’ve made a great progress
the last months so you can relax a bit…”
Zucco approached with his light strides and covered Dick’s shoulders with the
big towel he was holding. He smiled with Dick’s awed eyes when took in the
towel’s imprint: three times Olympic Champion – the legend: John Grayson.Under
that there were signatures – names that Dick recognized as some of the world’s
greatest gymnasts. He had heard about the towel that was given to his dad as a
token of his colleagues’ respect but never till now had he seen it.
Jeff looked irritated at Zucco: he didn’t want Dick being stressed and pressed
by his legendary father’s legacy. He wanted his young athlete to focus on what
he could achieve and not on a stupid pressure to repeat his father’s feats. And
Jeff, unlike some of his colleagues in the gym, didn’t like Zucco.
“Dick, shower and home” he said to the boy.
Zucco nodded to Dick and winked.
“Exactly, Dick; Jeff is right.”
“You’ll wait?” the boy asked him calmly.
Zucco smiled.
“Of course, champ!” they slapped their palms in the air and Dick ran to the
showers.
Jeff walked to Zucco towering him, his eyes’ cold.
“I don’t want you here, Zucco…”
The shorter man grinned meeting his eyes.
“The gym isn’t yours, Jeff… As far as I know, it’s public…”
Jeff protruded his lower lip.
“Let the boy alone: I don’t like your bad influence on him.”
Zucco laughed.
“This is for Dick to decide and he wants me here. So you’re not entitled to
kick me out.”
Jeff shook his head.
“What do you want from the boy, huh? Returning here all of a sudden?” his thick
eyebrows knitted.
“Hang out with my nephew” he answered casually.
“As if…” Jeff spat and pressed his finger on Zucco’s chest. “I’ll being
watching you…”
Zucco winked.
“You’re still a homosexual, Jeff? I wonder if the parents of your young
athletes know that and how they’re gonna react hearing…”
The veins in Jeff’s bulging deltoids moved irritated wanting to ignite an
attack but a fellow trainer called him and he walked away glaring at Zucco who
raised his eyebrows jeering.
“Thank you for showing me that towel” Dick approached him after some minutes
holding the famous towel folded carefully. “I thought it was just some
exaggeration…” he gave the precious item to Zucco but he waved him off.
“No… It belongs to you” Dick’s eyes bulged. “Your father would want you to have
it.”
Dick’s eyes fell touched on the towel: it was so perfectly preserved. He put it
carefully in his gym bag. It was obvious that it had great emotional value for
Tony and the man just gave it to him! He remembered what his granny had told
him the morning and blushed ashamed of her.
“Come…” Zucco put his arm around Dick’s shoulders and led him towards the small
cafeteria of the gym. “You have time or you must go home immediately?”
Dick met his eyes and shook his head.
“I can stay a bit.”
Zucco raised his eyebrows innocently.
“You sure that your granny won’t worry?”
“It’s okay – I’m not a kid.”
Zucco grinned.
“You’re definitely not: you’re an incredibly mature teen” he gesture to him to
seat at the table on the corner and he walked to the bar returning with a
coffee for him and a natural juice for Dick.
Dick eyed the juice and shook his head.
“I’d rather a chocolate or a milk shake…” he said mischievously.
Zucco crossed his legs casually and chuckled.
“I’m sure you do, young man, yet you must be careful with your diet: you’re an
aspiring champion. Anytime now you should start attending tournaments and even
championships.”
“I have already some honorable mentions for my performance in tournaments in
our state” he blushed admitting and Zucco nodded. “Mom was very proud…” his
voice dropped. “Now I don’t feel any mood on participating…and my skills as you
saw earlier are off…”
Zucco raised his palm stopping him; his eyes were firm.
“You’re a great talent, kid, and you shouldn’t ever forget that.”
“You saw how trembled my arms unable even to hold my body…” he said frustrated
playing with the straw in his glass.
Zucco supported his elbows on the table and leaned towards the boy.
“You can do way more than this: I know your range of movements is incredible
for your age” he took a deep breath having gained Dick’s attention. “Today, you
just weren’t concentrated: your mind was elsewhere.”
Dick frowned.
“How do you know?”
Zucco bit his lips.
“Because your father was exactly like this towards the end…” he gulped. “It was
a phase where his career had turned downwards…” the adult took in the boy’s
intrigued stare and smirked inside but didn’t let Dick utter his questions. “I
know what caused it…and understand.”
He looked upwards on the wall behind Dick where a huge TV screen was built-in.
Dick made to turn his head to see but he narrowed his eyes and changed course
only with a glimpse of what was on. His face became gloomy and his lips
upturned in disgust. His shoulders slumped: once again they were showing
Wayne’s return.
Zucco cupped his hand on the table.
“He’s alive…” he mumbled sympathetically “and he is back – I know, Dick: it
hurts that he came back while your loved ones who died because of him won’t
ever come back…” he took in the boy’s lips trembling. “Life is unfair, champ,
but you should not let him ruin your life anymore” he smiled. “You should use
him as a motivation to become a champion” he winked. “He is disabled and I hope
he never walks again so your success in gymnastics would hurt him more…”
Dick nodded although he wasn’t sure if Wayne gave a shit about him becoming a
champion and how could this hurt him. Yet indeed seeing him disabled, glued to
a wheelchair gave him a wild satisfaction.
Zucco watched carefully the boy’s expression: he was easy to read like his
father and his hatred for Wayne was a sure way to win Dick over. He took a sip
from his coffee taking in the boy’s frown.
“Drink your juice, Dick; it will lose its nutrients.”
But Dick’s mind was occupied with something else.
“You said that my father was like me…towards the end…” he hesitated and finally
met Zucco’s eyes. “It was because his career was lapsing…, right?” Dick wanted
to hear Zucco’s take of the story and compare it with his granny’s.
The adult opposite him became serious but not uncomfortable.
Zucco was smirking inside: so Ms. Turner opened that closet… She was desperate
to take the boy away from him and would use everything to achieve it. She was a
clever cow but he was cleverer and the boy definitely didn’t listen to her –
exactly like John, at least at first.
“No, Dick: his career was lapsing because he wasn’t concentrated” he sighed as
if reluctant to continue. “He was facing personal problems and that had a
detrimental effect in his performance” he relished the boy’s widened eyes.
“Personal problems?” Dick tensed. “Mom said that they were happy together.”
Zucco tilted his head on the side and smiled warmly.
“I’d have said the same in her place… A mother always wants to keep unpleasant
things far from her child” he pinched the bridge of his nose. “On the other
hand, it’s tough to speak about the problems your husband was facing when those
problems were in fact…” he shook his head: he knew that choosing to not say
directly what he wanted was the best to persuade the kid that he was telling
the truth and that cared about him “let’s drop it…Poor Mary died a terrible
death so let’s forget the rest…”
Dick drew a big sip from his juice, his breath caught in his lungs.
“Mom had something to do with dad’s problems?” he demanded breathlessly.
“Mmm…let’s say that family is what causes the personal problems of a married
man. Listen, Dick, I don’t want to cause any troubles to your relation with
your granny…I know that she doesn’t like me and if she learns that I told you
about that…” he grimaced. “Ms. Turner has already many things in her head –
honestly, I don’t want to cause new pains to her. And you.”
Dick rolled his eyes: Zucco should hear his granny talking about him…She wasn’t
so generous with him; she didn’t hesitate to speak ill about him.
“Please, Tony, you must tell me everything about dad: I know that parents often
have fights – it’s not that I’ll hate my mom or something…”
Zucco drink from his coffee.
“You’re an admirable young man…So unbelievably mature for your age that you’d
understand your mom’s increasing upset and restlessness when your father’s
investments failed to make profit…” he shrugged satisfied from the boy’s
widened eyes. “It’s understandable, Dick: she was panicked. Your dad’s career
had peaked, he was a champion but in a few years he would have to retire – the
money he naively put in some insecure business was their savings from
advertising contracts that probably he wouldn’t get again” Dick gaped shocked:
so his dad was…broke?
“Mom wasn’t…I mean she didn’t love money more than my dad…” the boy was
flabbergasted and Zucco pressed his lips.
“I didn’t say that, my boy. Mary loved John but she was scared; she felt
insecure and – I’m sorry for saying it – your granny wasn’t helping” he was
enjoying the different shades of color Dick’s face was taking from red to pale.
“Women need some security in their lives and when things aren’t so good…” he
sighed dramatically and ruffled his hair. “John was sharing his pains with me
but it wasn’t enough…He just couldn’t concentrate on his craft, he felt a loser
and one day…” he didn’t know if Turner had reached to the point of speaking
about that but he would “after a surprise drag test, he was found…”
Dick jerked angry.
“My father refused he had done use – he didn’t know anything!”
So she indeed told the boy.
“Calm down, Dick; please…” the boy sat again a bit reluctantly. “I’m the last
person in the planet that I’d say anything bad about John: he was a great
athlete in talent and morality; his teammates and people adored him” he gulped
touched. “Damn! He was my hero!”
He leaned towards Dick and took his hands in his own.
“But you have to understand that sometimes despair changes even the best of
people… Mary wasn’t happy with their marriage and she even spoke about breaking
up and poor John wanted to regain her trust, to help her feel secure” his eyes
stabbed the boy’s hurt eyes “to stop her from leaving him…”
Dick shook his head in disbelief.
“But she was pregnant when dad died.”
“Yes, she was but that was after your father was found positive in use of
illegal substances – Mary still loved your father and realized that her
coldness had pushed him to desperate measures. So she gave him a second chance
– and I’m glad…” he smiled “because we got you…”
Dick’s eyes were expressionless: his heart ache from all these and his brain
was confused. It was the first time that a doubt about his parents’ love and
marriage got to him – till now everything he had heard was like a fairytale. He
didn’t believe it and at the same time…believe it…well, not exactly: maybe
Zucco was lying?
“Dad said that someone slipped the substances secretly in his drinks or food…”
he said searching Zucco’s eyes but there he could see only understanding.
“Me, right?” he smiled. “That’s what your granny told you?” Dick didn’t answer
and Zucco didn’t need him too. “Believe me, my boy: you can take her word for
that” he nodded “actually, I’d prefer it if you thought ill about me than have
a prickle in your heart. But I didn’t…If I had done that don’t you think that
your father would have fired me? It’s easy for people blaming the others than
admitting their own faults…” he said meaning Ms. Turner.
Dick pouted and lowered his eyes.
“There ya are!” a young voice that was trying to sound tough startled Dick. “Ya
told me to wait ya at Bernie’s, ya dork!” Dick looked at Jason sheepishly and
the younger boy cast an irritated glare at Zucco. “Up!” he pulled Dick from his
jacket.
“Wait, Jay! I’m talking here!”
Jay put his foot down.
“Yeah! Yar talkin’ bullshit!”
But Dick paled seeing Ms. Turner walking furiously towards them. Her short
posture tensed eyeing Zucco who answered her glare calmly but with a glint of
satisfaction.
“Good afternoon, Ms. Turner! I hope there’s no problem we chatting with Dick –
if it is however, I take the full responsibility.”
Ms. Turner didn’t even answer.
“Let’s go, Dick” she said to her grandson and led the two boys outside under
Zucco’s amused eyes.
Only after they were outside the building, Ms. Turner stopped her frantic pace
and squatted before Dick.
“I think I told you to return home right after your training! What’s wrong,
sweetie?” her voice cracked and her eyes bent. “I know I’m not your mother
but…” her eyes watered and Dick just couldn’t stand it: despite everything he
heard today he loved her so much.
He hugged his grandmother.
“You’re the best, granny, and I love you…I just…”
Jason was watching exasperated with his hands clenching his waist.
“It’s just that Dick sometimes is…a dick!”
Ms. Turner turned to him realizing his presence. She smiled fondly.
“Who is this charming young man?” she asked Dick and Jason actually blushed
which made his friend chuckle.
“He is my buddy, Jason Todd. Well, Jay, this is my granny.”
Jason cast him a lopsided glance.
“I figured already…”
Ms. Turner stood and stretched her hand to Jason and he took it uncomfortable.
“You’re not Dick’s classmate, right?”
Jason scratched his nape.
“Nah…”
“He is from Narrows” Dick felt that he must be honest at least now. “But he’s
my best pal.”
His granny smiled to the two boys.
“I’m very glad to meet you, Jason!” and she definitely was: after Joker killed
Dick’s family, Ms. Turner was afraid that her grandson would shut himself from
the world: actually, his teacher had warned her that indeed Dick became very
aloof. So Jay was the best thing right now – the little boy gave her hope.
Jason sensed the elder woman’s affection and felt awkward; he wasn’t used to
people being glad for his meeting or so fond of him. Even his mom didn’t look
at him with such shining eyes.
“Mmmm…Me too…” he glared at Dick who was smirking. “Ya…” he was ready to call
him something nasty but he remembered Ms. Turner and stopped. “I…I’ve got to
buzz off…mom is waitin’.”
Ms. Turner frowned seeing the young boy riding a bike and rushing into the
road.
“He isn’t too young to drive a bike?” she asked dumbfounded and put her arm
around Dick’s shoulder leading him towards their home that wasn’t too far from
the city gym.
“Jay is an awesome dude! He lives in the Narrows!” he said with awe.
Ms. Turner nodded.
“Why you didn’t tell me about him?”
Dick chewed his lips.
“’Cause he’s from Narrows and I thought that you’d forbid me from hang out with
him…to not get in the wrong path…” he raised his eyebrows.
Ms. Turner shrugged.
“He seems a good boy and growing up in Narrows is a feat…No, I have no problem
with you being friends with Jay: you can invite him home if you like. Zucco on
the other hand…”
But Dick was too tired from everything he heard that afternoon.
“Please, granny…” he pleaded. “Can we just drop it for today?”
Ms. Turner pressed her lips: her poor boy was so tormented by all these; he had
just lost his family and now this…
 
Thomas Eliot had just finished his lecture at Gotham’s university and was
heading to his office at the top floor of the Neuroscience Department. It was
the best situated office with a panoramic view of the city since this building
was rather tall and the university was placed on the hills at the east of the
city. Thomas had asked for that specific office because since his student years
he was envious of the old, gloomy professor Georgiou for occupying it.
Well, ten years later and he, Thomas Elliot, was putting his key in the lock of
that same office where that old rascal preached him about being more modest and
moral concerning his scientific projects. Opening the door, Thomas smirked:
dear professor, here I am! An acknowledged doctor and scientist with great,
breakthrough work and an endless list of charities: a role model for his
students.
Thomas got almost aroused every time he entered the amphitheater to teach all
these students. He sucked their attentive eyes and respect. He was beaming and
smirking inside because he put on a modest, serious, nonchalant face.
He relished the luxury he established for the office and the smell of the
expensive air freshener. He brushed the control panel on the wall and the
secret lighting illuminated the space. He tossed his brown, leather briefcase
on the armchair facing his desk and walked to the half-wall window overlooking
Gotham that slowly began filling with multicolored lights as the evening
approached.
Thomas pulled a deep diaphragmatic breath and exhaled slowly, his blazing blue
eyes stabbing the city. He loosened his silken, mahogany tie product of a
famous fashion house.
His eyes were empty as he gazed at the city: he hated that city…but at the same
time was tied with her…well, at least now that Brucey returned from the dead.
All these years that his childhood… ‘friend’ was considered dead Gotham bore no
interest for him because he felt unchallenged, the definite winner. But when he
first heard the shocking news of Bruce’s ‘resurrection’, his brilliant mind
went completely numb as his body; his entire life was toppled…And since then
Gotham despite hateful became an obsession much like that extremely lucky brat.
Thomas knew that he had to come back, to re-establish the order of things, to
re-establish his superiority over that appalling thing which now was again the
Prince of Gotham: the favorite son of this shithole. Thomas was dethroned: his
successful career and his feats that till now made Gotham proud and positioned
him at a pedestal were forgotten only because that brat happened to be alive
and saved by Stark and the other assholes superheroes.
He fisted his hands; all this attention and love that filthy whelp used to get
even during their childhood was outrageous! “The Little Prince of Gotham”, “the
Angel of the Narrows” – everybody was kissing his little ass to lick his
father. And Tommy was always left in the shadow, although he was brighter than
that stupid kid and better in everything…
Thomas breath became rasps. That pint-sized puppy always got everyone’s eyes
and admiration without doing anything and his parents adored him while poor
Tommy had to suffer his rascal father and his stupid mother who never took his
side…
Thomas smirked: at least, Falcone gave Brucey what he deserved. He remembered
how aroused he was listening to Bruce’s testimony at the court: his steady
voice that failed to hide his pain and terror as he recounted the various and
so delicious torments Falcone had put him through. Thomas, who snubbed the
Gotham’s Emperor during his kingship, now felt a deep respect for the man who
understood the real nature of Bruce Wayne and what he should get; his only
failure was that he didn’t finish the job.
But then that clown killed the man and Thomas was enraged at how that boy
managed to fascinate all these people: from scum to superheroes.
Thomas yanked his head; from the moment he learnt that Bruce was alive he
wanted to return and finish the job Falcone left half… Thomas’ eyes were fixed
on the city that lay underneath: he’d become this city’s ruler and do Bruce’s
life a living Hell: eighteen years of Falcone wasn’t enough for the Wayne brat
and Thomas would take care of making him wish he had stayed in Falcone’s bed.
He had already established connections…
He smiled remembering the sweet, angelic face of Bruce when young Thomas ripped
the leg of his Tao-Tao toy: oh! Bruce, you should cry all the time… A cackled
laugh escaped his mouth seeing again those wet, beautiful eyes filled with weak
rage, despair and hopeless bewilderment: the little shit couldn’t understand
how someone could be so cruel to him – he was accustomed to be loved and sweet
talked by everyone. Bruce couldn’t accept that people around him weren’t as
good as himself and could be happy by making him suffer and cry.
The phone on his desk rang and dragged him out of his reverie; he turned his
head towards the stylized expensive device and wondered who could be. Probably,
something professional since the more personal calls were made at his
smartphone… He closed his eyes and puffed: he had closed his smartphone when at
Gotham General and with the lecture right after he forgot to open it.
He let the phone ring several times, sitting slowly and pompously at his royal,
ergonomic leather chair and clapping once for the built-in fireplace to ignite:
the room was warm enough but Thomas loved the atmosphere of nobility it gave.
He finally took the receiver.
“Oh, Tommy, at last!”
Thomas yanked his head and pouted his lips in disdain.
“Hi, sweetheart! What’s the matter?” he answered hearing Kelly’s voice was a
bit exasperated and filled with eagerness.
“I’m trying to reach you for hours!” the idiot nurse kept bitching instead of
getting to the point.
He rubbed the bridge of his nose asking himself if he really had to tolerate
that stupid girl.
“I’m sorry, darling, but I had a surgery at Gotham General and then right after
a lecture in the University and I forgot to open my smartphone…” really now?
You have to justify yourself to HER?
He heard her taking a hesitant breath as if regretting her tone.
“You don’t have to apologize, Tommy” she said and Thomas imagined her blushing.
“A…actually, I’m sorry for…for my tone but I have exciting news and I didn’t
know if you heard…”
Thomas straightened in his chair and frowned.
“What news, babe?”
“Oh! So you really didn’t learn anything…of course, with all the things you
have to do daily…”
The doctor rolled his eyes and snorted finding it hard to not burst out.
“OK, Kelly… What’s up?”
“Bruce Wayne returned!” she was in fact happy for that. “Every station plays
it! And I thought you’d want to know ASAP!”
Thomas’ lips formed a tight line, his eyes shining coldly.
“Thank you, my dear. Of course, I wanted to know…”
He heard a pressed breath and he understood that the nurse remembered
something.
“Mmmm…Tommy…” she mumbled rather apologetically and Thomas was intrigued.
“What is it, Kelly? You make me worry…”
“I’m sorry…Is that your friend…I mean the way he has returned…” Thomas clenched
his jaw and ruffled his perfect groomed hair. “He was using a wheelchair!” she
was really miserable relaying these news because she really believed that he
gave a shit about Brucey’s wellbeing.
But this was very interesting and satisfying.
“Oh! God!” he exclaimed in his best heartbroken imitation. “I knew that
something was off…Poor Bruce! But maybe he was just tired from the trip and
they used the wheelchair to help him.”
She sounded thoughtful.
“Yeah! Maybe he isn’t really paralyzed!”
Thomas shook his head in disbelief: I hope he really is! Yet he had to get rid
of her to see it with his own eyes.
“Kelly, I must hang up now – I have an appointment with a student for his
diatribe…Mmm…thank you, babe for calling: you’re a treasure.”
“I’ll see you tonight?” she asked with a begging tone. “I’m not in the night
shift and I know that you’re not as well so if you wanted…”
Thomas rolled his eyes and his lips twitched in disgust: that’s what you get
when you encourage too much people. Anyway, she was useful for now.
“I don’t know yet, babe. You can’t imagine how much I’m dreaming of a night
with you! I’ll call you… Now give me a kiss!”
She giggled and did that causing Thomas’ snort.
“Bye, Tommy!”
He just put the receiver back feeling a deep disgust for what just took place.
He inhaled deeply: at least now he was free. He rushed on his computer and
opened the Gotham Gazette’s site.
His eyes narrowed, sparkling with wild joy. Here it was: head news.
“The Prince of Gotham is finally back – but on a wheelchair!”
He turned on the video from his arrival at one of Gotham’s private airports. He
shook his head and a wide smile lightened his face as the frame filled with
Bruce confined in a fancy wheelchair – certainly, Stark’s creation – pushed
carefully by Alfred.
His childhood ‘friend’ was in good shape: no paleness or thinness. Wherever
Brucey was the place made wonders considering the critical condition he was.
The Wayne brat had rosy cheeks and must have gained some weight; he looked
tired from the trip – and that meant that his rehabilitation center wasn’t in
US – but at the same time seemed rested.
But the best was that he returned a paraplegic. Thomas shook his head: that
chair wasn’t like the ones used by companies to just help their ill clients –
that chair was made for permanent use.
“Yes!” he exclaimed gesturing to the air. “That serves you right, my little
friend, since you turned over my professional help! I could have saved you, you
selfish, arrogant shit! Suffer now!” his teeth grinded.
But then he loosened in an innocent grin, a thought forming in his mind.
“Yet a true friend must be forgiving and sympathetic, right, Brucey?”
 
Dr. Quinzel was watching on her tablet the footage from the Asylum’s cafeteria
the moment Joker attacked to his former goon. She was outside Joker’s double
cell, sat on a plain chair; Joker was lying on the bed, still unconscious since
the rising in his vitals during the attack activated Tony Stark’s intra-
organization measures and the man was instantly knocked out. However, she took
care to be woken up sooner than it was programmed.
It was the fifth time she was watching the video: Mr. J was talking as usual
with Crane during their meal. Her patient was calm and even pleasant with the
former doctor who however kept acting a bit strange if not hostile – anyway,
Mr. J didn’t seem the type to hold grudges. Then he looked fleetingly at the TV
and his eyes fell casually on his former henchman who was enthusiastic on
seeing his former boss. And Mr. J’s reaction wasn’t bad either.
He continued his discussion with Crane which discussion seemed very interesting
– Harley was curious to learn what they were talking about. She had brought up
the subject to Dr. Finley, the psychiatrist who was appointed to Crane but he
had no idea albeit he was as much interested as her and…alarmed at the same
time. Dr. Finley was a fearful man and didn’t like the idea of Joker walking
around in the Asylum’s premises. What a bad professional!
Suddenly, without an obvious reason, Mr. J jerked upwards and in a remarkable
fast way jumped on his former goon digging his teeth in his neck. It was a good
think Mr. Stark had his intra-organization triggers to knock out Joker because
the orderlies’ intervention would have been too late. Thankfully, the goon – a
Lou Garfield with Down’s syndrome and manic disorder – wasn’t seriously injured
though he would bear for some time Mr. J’s bite marks... Joker had managed to
remove a chunk from the man’s neck in the fraction of the second before falling
unconscious.
Harleen felt goose bumps: it was kind of pervert…and she had worked it with her
supervisor psychiatrist but…vampirism was a turn on for her… Well, apart from
being a psychiatrist she was a human too so…some eccentricities were permitted
when harmless…
Her gaze fell on Mr. J: he was a fascinating man…well, case. A hard case and at
the same time he had the potential to become her biggest success. She bit her
lips: professional success and ambition wasn’t the only drive for her – she
really wanted to help him become a reformed man. Because Mr. J, Jack, was a
special person and he could change into being a man skilled in whatever he
wanted. Harleen could see his above average I.Q., she didn’t need to apply some
test: she doubted whether someone so extremely intelligent and rebellious like
Jack would take that tests seriously.
And there wasn’t only his intelligence; he could become a good person. She was
sure that he was one but his life experiences turned him into that mass
murderer – he lived for ten years in a psychiatric hospital! And Harleen wasn’t
sure that the staff there cared much about some punk the police sent them. But
she cared and Mr. J seeing that changed already. He opened up to her during
their last session and gave her a glimpse of his tormented life. He even
socialized with the other patients without any incident proving that he can be
nice to others and that he wasn’t the blood-thirsty and sociopathic monster
everyone thought.
Till now. Harleen almost immediately saw the reason of Mr. J’s violent
reaction: it was on the TV screen. It showed Bruce Wayne’s arrival at Gotham’s
private airport, the billionaire descending the special ramp on a wheelchair
with his butler’s assistance.
The young psychiatrist grinded her teeth: that arrival ruined every progress
she had accomplished with her fascinating patient. He just pushed Mr. J miles
back to his cruel, sociopathic self. It was evident that Bruce Wayne was Mr.
J’s demon – weren’t for him, her patient would have continued his impressive
improvement.
She was really angry with the timing because Joker manifested signs that he had
nearly overcome the young billionaire and even he seemed to get interested in
her; so Harleen was really angry with her patient’s infatuation – Bruce Wayne
could have stayed away from Gotham for some time more, right? Or forever… If
Wayne was dead, Mr. J would sooner or later forget him and proceed into
becoming a normal, charming person with her guidance.
Harleen bit her lip: that was completely inappropriate. It wasn’t Bruce Wayne’s
fault that Mr. J got obsessed with him. On the contrary, surely the young man
wished that Joker never had set eyes on him.
Mr. J stirred for the tenth time since she rushed there after being informed
for the incident. He was meant to stay unconscious for many hours but she
intervened so to be woken earlier. Harleen watched eagerly his eyelids and
finally she saw a fraction of his glimmering orbs.
Joker felt awkward: he was knocked out a few times in his life yet this one had
a different quality. He cocked an eyebrow and chuckled: Stark’s touch! Hehehe!
Not bad! He could sell it in clubs to stupid brats wanting great stuff. He
still felt a pleasant tickling in every cell of his body – ummm…he imagined
that banging Brucey would be like this…
His muscles became tense and his eyes narrowed to slits: a flash crossing his
mind showed him the screen in the cafeteria with the footage from his spouse’s
arrival…On a wheelchair, led by someone else, unable to stand, a cripple…He
gritted his teeth and groaned. He saw again the moronic face of his goon
laughing carelessly as if he hadn’t done anything wrong or happy for what he
did! He pulled the trigger that caused the fire, the collapse of the building
that disabled Batman and…Bruce.
He punched his mattress in frustration realizing that he was knocked out before
causing fatal damage to that scum. Damn! Lou was still alive! He punched again
and suddenly erupted in laughter.
“Mr. J, how do you feel?”
So, he wasn’t alone. The funny little doctor was here, worried about her
prodigy patient. Joker cackled: he definitely had a splendid time with her but
now it wasn’t enough. He looked her with the corner of his eye without moving
his head just putting one leg upon another.
“What’s uuuuup, doc?” he asked indifferently so unlike his attitude towards
her.
Harleen immediately discerned the difference and didn’t like it – it almost
hurt. She didn’t want to lose her patient’s interest just because the Wayne
heir returned.
“You don’t have anything to tell me?” she answered.
Joker made a negative sound pouting his lips, still not looking at his doctor,
being aware that this was unsettling to her.
Dr. Quinzel closed her eyes disappointed but she wasn’t a quitter.
“Mr. J, what happened at the cafeteria?” she continued calmly, even
compassionate.
Joker’s eyes fixed on the ceiling as if it was the most interesting thing and
put his palms under his nape.
“Youuuuu have cameras watching the place soooooo this is a stupid question
ooooooor a slyyyyyyy one… Whaaaaat option you prefer, Harle--quin?” his voice
was now cold and Harleen felt hurt after how close they had come.
“I’m interested in your view of things, Mr. J; I thought we had come to this
understanding all this time…”
“HA!” he exclaimed sarcastic and then giggled. “I think that YOU” he stressed
the word accusingly “should stay with what the cameras showed” he nodded.
“HEHEHEHE! I have the im--pression that the short film you have is eloquent
enough…HUHU…HUHU…HUHU…HUHU…” he ended in a singsong manner knowing that he was
getting on the young psychiatrist.
Harleen was really upset: till now she had Jack’s trust. Jack showed her that
he believed her good will. She didn’t like that he was getting so cold to her,
treating her as he did everyone else.
“I sense that you got some complaint…”
Joker giggled but still didn’t look at her which really annoyed Harleen.
“Meeeeee? Complaint?” he exclaimed amused. “Naaaaaah! I’m a tooootally
satisfied customer…” he paused and his eyes stabbed the ceiling. “If you
croooooss out that MY doctor who braaaaags that cares about me allowed that
perv Stark put something in me to knock me out whenever he wants to!” he turned
suddenly his head and stabbed Harleen’s widened eyes. “Now” he dragged his
tongue “I don’t think that this is the way to get someone’s truuuust…” he
lolled his head downwards with his eyelids batting innocently.
Dr. Quinzel managed to find her calm and looked at him casually.
“Mr. Stark’s measures were taken not to torment you but to prevent you from
harming other people and yourself – you were ready to tear apart the neck of
that man.”
Joker twitched his lips.
“If you had killed that man I’d be forced to keep you in complete isolation and
withdraw all the privileges you gained with your admirable efforts” Joker
hiccupped to hide his giggles on the ‘admirable efforts’. “So actually you
should be grateful to Mr. Stark” she said widening her eyes for emphasis.
Joker shook his index finger to her.
“I wouuuuuldn’t be grateful to Stark--y even if he was our best man aaaaand his
wedding gift was a car like Bruce’s…” he crossed his arms and then uncrossed
them cackling. “Grateful…” he mimicked the doctor’s solemn voice and shook his
head amused.
“What’s the reason you attacked Mr. Garfield? Until that moment you were
talking calmly with Mr. Crane and you even greeted that man.”
Joker had fixed his right eye on her cocking an eyebrow.
“I doooon’t have to answer youuuu. Harlequin…” he spat nasally like a small
brat and devoured how the doctor pressed her lips in frustration.
Harleen took a deep breath.
“It was that you saw Bruce Wayne on TV…” she said to prompt him to elaborate
since there was nothing secret.
Joker eyed her under furrowed eyebrows and narrowed eyes: ha! So the doll face
had an ounce of brain enough to watch carefully the footage and connect the
dots. Well, it didn’t take Einstein’s brains to figure THAT. A Cheshire smile
curved his cheeks.
“Uuuuuuuuu! Youuuuu are a smart pumpkin” he clapped his hands. “Now you have
your answer, hit the road!” his voice became harsh.
“I’m not” she retorted calmly. “Not before you speak about what happened.”
He laughed and his back shook. He lay again on the mattress returning his eyes
to the ceiling.
Harleen felt like crying from frustration: why Mr. J was doing that to her? He
knew that she was on his side, that she wanted to help him. It wasn’t her fault
that Bruce Wayne didn’t want him or that he was a convict; a dangerous man that
should be guarded all the time. For pity’s sake, she wanted to change that and
make him a free person again without anyone having to be scared of him and
instead see in Jack what she had seen.
“It’s a pity that all our work and trust was ruined because of a news’ footage…
You must control what that man is doing to you. We must work on that.”
Joker let out a sole cackle: control what Bruce was doing to him… What’s the
fun in controlling what you want to be uncontrolled? Bruce was a totally
uncontrollable force – so much so that his abusers-masters failed to tame after
so many years of thinking the kid a zobbie. So everything that this man
provoked was uncontrolled and that was what made Joker fascinated like a kid
finding an exciting, unpredictable game, as himself…
Harleen understood that Joker wasn’t paying much attention to her, probably
pondering on his…wife. And that was annoying! She was struggling to help him
and he had his mind on that man who didn’t give a shit about him – Bruce Wayne
hated Mr. J whereas she cared about him: she was the only person that really
cared about Joker and believed in him and his hidden quality.
“You need to understand that Bruce Wayne triggers the worst things in you” she
tried to sound collected.
Worst things? Joker moved his lips as if blowing a gum bubble. Nothing was bad
in Joker so worst was a stupid term but he could sniff the young doctor’s
despair. Hehe! He had done a perfect job: the shrink got attached to him and
every speck of his attention and ‘secret information’ about his life and soul
was the most delicious bone for that puppy to wave its tail. And when he
withdrew that bone…oh, it was hilarious! Harlequin was desperate to do anything
for getting her rubber bone back – rubber because it was a fake bone all this
talk about his past life: Hell, it was obscure even to him…
Joker chuckled: all in all, psychology was a great science. Look how right it
was about conditional learning… I love you and your dogs, Pavlov!
Harleen realized that her patient wasn’t listening to her at all and closed her
eyes.
“You don’t hear me…”
Time for a hint of a bone…
“’Course I dooooo, doc! I loooove your voice after all!” he turned his wicked
eyes on her flushed from frustration face. “Didn’t I tell ya?”
The young psychiatrist felt relieved and satisfied by that comment.
“We must work on your infatuation with Bruce Wayne; the time we discuss things
together I came to the conclusion that this man is the key for your reform. If
you get over him” her eyes shone “you’ll be a new man: your true self!”
Joker turned his hand into a gun and pretended to shoot his temple.
“Ho-holly shit!” he gazed again at the ceiling.
Harleen squinted. Mr. J’s gesture definitely wasn’t a sign of him taking her
words seriously but she knew that would be hard for him to give up on his
obsession.
“I get that you don’t agree?”
Joker whistled: well, Harlequin might have some professional titles but much
like Crane her brain was losing some spins. He giggled: she really believed
that Bruce made him what he was? But he was his charming self even before that
groundbreaking night he met him at Stark’s party.
His doctor cleared her throat.
“I know you were killing people years before you met Bruce Wayne and I don’t
claim that he was the trigger for that behavior. Yet in this phase, he hinders
your liberation.”
The last word made an impact on Joker who jolted from his bed and stood,
walking towards the inner barrier before the blue neon energy bars. He
supported his elbows on the railing and stooped his head towards Harleen who
was watching eagerly.
“That’s…that’s” he shook his index finger “Dr. Harlequin is the gist. Freedom!”
Harleen stood up and walked to the energy bars.
“Exactly! You deserve a second chance: you deserve to be free…”
Joker gave a full Cheshire smile and nodded.
“I’ll agreeeee with that, doll face.”
Dr. Quinzel met his eyes.
“Free from yours demons – free from Bruce Wayne.”
“Hehehehehe!” he jerked his head backwards. “Naaaaaah! Deeeeemons are niiice,
sugar: I’m ooone…and I can show you how exciting demons are.”
Harleen shook her head in denial: her patient after everything that was said
from the press might have formed the idea of being a demon or saying that he is
a demon was a figure of speech for the crimes he committed. At first, he didn’t
manifest any sign of remorse but during their sessions he showed that things
began changing. And that was hopeful.
“You’re not a demon, Mr. J. And you just agreed that you deserve to be free.”
Joker huffed exasperated.
“Free from that fucking Asylum, you dummy. At first, it was fun but now it’s
getting boooooring. And Joker wants to playyyyyyy!”
Harleen felt cold sweat: no, he just couldn’t drawback; he couldn’t just deny
their work till now, his improvement. She managed to hold her calm.
“You’re a convict, Mr. J: you can’t get out of this institution without being
healed, reformed.”
Joker licked his lips and cocked his eyebrows looking mockingly at her: she
really believed that a stupid asylum could keep him jailed?
She read his thought and met his stare unfazed.
“You just experienced what happens when you misbehave…”
Joker kept her gaze but he was absorbed in his thoughts: mmmm…right, that
mumbo-jumbo thing courtesy of Stark was entertaining and he didn’t regret his
outburst yet it’d be even more fun if he had ripped the throat of that stupid
goon. Stark’s nonsense wasn’t capable to hold him from maiming and killing
buuuuuut upon seeing Bruce disabled made his vitals work differently than every
other time he killed: his vitals rose just a tiny bit and that was enough to
trigger the ‘knock out’ effect.
“Youuuu, Harlequin, have the same need to be freeeee…” he whispered in a
hushed, too solemn tone.
“I’m free, Mr. J.”
Joker’s cackle was dry, humorless and he shook his torso as if he could get
closer to her to share a secret.
“Naaaah, my dear… You may staaaate that, youuuuu may believe it at times
buuuuut deep inside you feel imprisoned” the young psychiatrist was staring at
him seemingly cool but Joker knew that she was interested – he nodded. “This
well defined world you live in, your sup--posed success, your biiiig position
in this fine establishment, your car--eer, your white criminal record –
everything seems perfect, huh? Yet youuu feel empty, right, pumpkin?” Harleen
shook her head in negation yet Joker smiled, a normal man’s smile. “You know
that your self demands something else without which you’ll remain unfulfilled.
Buuuut you don’t know what this is…oooooor” he stabbed her eyes with hers “you
suuuuspect what it is – you’re fascinated by that buuuuuut you’re afraid to get
iiiinto it with everything you’ve got…” he licked his lips and nodded reading
her inner numbness. “That’s why you’re en--grossed in scum like me, darling;
and youuuur profession gives you the best excuse to suck what you love…buuuut
being in the perimeter of that isn’t enough, right? You want to dive into
it…you neeeeed to follow what you really are to be complete, to be happy, to be
free, Harleen… I can give you all that, Harlequin; I can freeeee your true self
because you know that I succeeded where you failed: I’m completely free.”
The young psychiatrist felt numb during his speech: it was true that she never
felt OK with herself. It was like always pretending to the 0others and her own
self. And she wasn’t satisfied from her life: her isolation from her family,
her nice apartment, her job and career; something was missing and she was
getting something when talking with her patients with a criminal record… But it
wasn’t what Joker hinted…Oh, no: she wouldn’t play his game. Her work was to
make him follow her in the road to normalcy not vice versa. And in the end it
was clear what he wanted.
“If you believe that I’m gonna help you escape, you’re wrong” she jerked her
eyebrows decisively. “The only way you’re coming out of here is when you’re
reformed. We were in a nice track and we’re going to return there… But you need
to stop imagining that you can escape and that you’ll manipulate me to do what
you want. Believe it or not I have much experience to be handled by you or
anyone else in that way. So I’m leaving now, letting you think about it and get
over the possible side effects of the knock out.”
Joker grinned to her and tilted his head on the side.
“I’m soooorry you took it thaaaat way, Dr. Harlequin. Buuut you can still come
with me…to free--dom.”
Harleen just turned her back and walked away under Joker’s amused stare. His
doctor was fun – he was soooooo lucky! And her reactions! She could be Rachel
no. 2: he’ll definitely need a second expert apart from Crane for doing his
things to Brucey…
Brucey… He recollected the image from the TV screen. Bruce was paraplegic. He
scratched his head: well, Crane had told him that Morticia had shot him twice
rendering him completely immobile below the neck. One point. The night Super-
Goofy brought him back he was already disabled. Second point. Batman came to
the factory and was fighting as always – definitely not a cripple. Third point.
The Batman in the factory wasn’t an impostor. Fourth point. The factory
collapsed that night but Batman was reported stalking Gotham afterwards… And we
know that Bruce was already disabled.
Maybe Batman wasn’t Brucey and Brucey wasn’t Batman… How could someone with two
bullets in his spine, crippling him, come and fist fight with him? Maybe he was
wrong in his suspicions?
He yanked his head backwards and laughed amused. Or maybe the boy was toooooo
clever and was trying to play with him like he did with Falcone and the others.
Or Joker was wrong: it wasn’t easy to stand up and run to save a bunch of brats
even if you want to… But also it wasn’t easy for Joker to let go of his
suspicions…after all, he was interested about Brucey even before noticing the
similarities oooooor coincidences…
Joker giggled: oh! That game was getting more exciting with time: Bruce or
Batman gave a new meaning to the word fun. Now he only had to get out of here
aaaaand play along putting his own chaotic rules.
***** Chapter 17 *****
It was the tenth time Alfred came to the master bedroom which was in subtle
darkness since the thick drapes were closed hours before to ensure a restful
sleep for his young master. The exterior lighting of the grounds that
automatically turned on with the evening’s twilight cast a dim light into the
room permitting Alfred to navigate easily – after all, the loyal butler knew
the space even with closed eyes.
He placed softly his palm over Bruce’s forehead and was relieved to sense
normal temperature; however he gingerly brought the thermometer in the sleeping
man’s ear to be sure. Alfred was worried from his young master request to sleep
since he usually had to be persuaded to do that which meant that he was
exhausted or worse… He dreaded the idea of the long trip causing some drop in
Bruce’s recovery – because even though almost four months had passed and he
seemed healthy, apart from the paralysis, the fact was that he was still
sensitive.
Alfred didn’t like the idea of their return and the long hours of flight was
only one of the reasons. Yet he knew that Bruce was entitled to decide for
himself and Alfred understood his need to get back. Even if the loyal butler
would prefer it otherwise this city was part of the youth and there was his
house which after eighteen years of suffering he managed to regain only to
enjoy it for seven months before new Hell found him. And… his parents’ graves
were in these grounds, their remains rest here and Bruce was bound to them…
He pressed his lips and sat carefully on the mattress: he wasn’t afraid of
waking his master because although in normal days Bruce woke up with the
tiniest sound of a breath now with all these heavy medicine and the fatigue of
a challenging – demanding recovery his sleep was too deep. His young master had
expressed many times to Leslie his worries about getting addicted to all these
drugs but there was no other way and Leslie reassured him that addiction wasn’t
a risk.
He touched two fingers to Bruce’s jugular vein and counted his heartbeat that
was perfectly normal as his breaths, light and soft in an untroubled sleep.
Alfred’s eyes lost their cool butler-ish hue and filled with affection as
caressed the youth’s peaceful face; he even smiled taking in once again his
rosy cheeks beaming with healthiness.
Alfred fought for a bit the urge but in the end allowed his hand to caress his
young master’s locks that weren’t messy at all, another token of how exhausted
he was to fall asleep as soon as he lay down. And bodily fatigue wasn’t the
only reason: poor master Bruce had experienced so much emotional hurt that even
the slightest suspicion of his beloved’s disgruntlement could be a blow for his
battered soul.
The elder man took some stray locks that fell on Bruce’s eyelids and pushed
them back. He was afraid of what a major disappointment could do to Bruce so
early after his liberation. Fine, the boy was strong and probably would hide
every trace of suffering but Alfred was dreading the possibility of that
splendid relationship between Bruce and Master Kent gone wrong and the
consequences… Of course, he trusted Master Kent but as they say: shit happens
sometimes…
He caught with the corner of his eyes the tablet-like gadget on the nightstand:
it was still open and Alfred closed his eyes. Bruce left it there waiting
Master Kent’s call which didn’t come. The loyal butler really felt for his
young master… He had witnessed many times the youth’s horrible suffering in the
hands of Falcone and Chill and knew that the instances he witnessed was only
the peak of the iceberg – so he didn’t want any more of that for the young man:
physical and emotionally. Bruce had enough hurt for several lifetimes.
He took the blanket and muffled carefully his young master: how could he
protect him from potential pain? He was more afraid of Bruce suffering than
Bruce himself: his young master was brave: dared to let Superman touch him –
both in body and heart. And if things ended up badly, Bruce would face it with
the same bravery but Alfred knew that it would hurt him too much like a
bleeding wound and could probably lead to a closed forever heart.
He rose slowly. Hero at the corridor was screeching the bedroom’s door: Alfred
had kept the kitten out of the room so that Bruce would doze off undisturbed.
But the animal missed already his young master and followed Alfred; he pressed
his lips: you didn’t miss him, Master Kent?
He walked soundlessly to the door still casting fleeting glances to the
sleeping form. He opened the door and managed to grab the kitten as he was
ready to rush to Bruce. Alfred brought his finger to his mouth hushing Hero who
meowed calling Bruce – thankfully, not waking him.
He closed the door hastily.
“Now, master Hero, you must be patient: Bruce needs his good rest” he raised
his eyebrows for emphasis. “He’s been through a lot…But you’ll see him as soon
as he wakes. Now, come for some milk!” he smiled.
As he descended the grand staircase to the ground floor holding the kitten, he
shook himself. Probably all this fuss between Master Bruce and Superman was
nothing, just a misunderstanding so usual to young couples deep in love that
just came out of a traumatic experience. His young master’s suffering soon
would be over with Master Kent coming to him because Alfred was sure that
Superman was truly in love with his boy.
But even with that new reassuring lightness a burden lurked somewhere
underneath.
 
The tablet-like gadget glowed on the nightstand before beginning emanating the
tone for the incoming calls.
Bruce although fast asleep jerked and he would have jumped on the mattress if
his legs were a little more alive. His heart was beating fast because even in
his sleep waited for Clark’s call and the jeering female snigger that haunted
his dreamless sleep had kept him in some odd vigilance.
His heart sank as soon as he remembered that this tone wasn’t Clark’s; of
course he regretted immediately his momentarily disappointment because it was
Tony and he had missed him.
“Aloha, little guy!” he greeted him in his cheerful way.
“I’m in Gotham, Tony, not Hawaii.”
“A man can only hope…” he sighed. “And I have so many memories of Hawaiian
dancers around me…”
Bruce chuckled.
“Of course you would, veteran…”
“One of these days I’ll take you there, kid, to introduce you to some of
world’s divine pleasures…Oh! Hula!”
“Tony, are you drooling?” he laughed frowning. “You left Peps in Malibu and
you’re doing nasty business in New York, huh?” on his screen the special
locating system showed the caller’s location in map in detail.
Tony frowned.
“I’m calling from the Avengers’ Tower and our communications SUPPOSEDLY have
the safest, anti-detection software…”
Bruce cocked his eyebrows and snorted.
“Then Wayne Tech beat you to that, big guy! Mmm… I’m thinking of giving my
gadget to Peps so to track you everywhere, naughty boy.”
He heard a sound that was definitely Tony slapping his eye.
“You won’t do that, you backstabbing, traitorous brat! Bros before hoes,
remember?”
“It’d depend on your behavior” Tony groaned.
“You know I’m like a virgin to Peps – don’t roll your eyes! It’s true…”
“Okay, I believe you. Lucius would be glad to give you his intelligence about
our call locating system so to enhance your security.”
“Ouch! That hurts my arrogance, little guy!” he protested.
“Calling me little guy is hurting you more because people think that you’re
pretty older than me” a thud was heard and a new ‘ouch!’ which was Tony falling
from his chair – Bruce could picture his friend rubbing his rear.
“That damn new chair! Ergonomic bullshit… I wonder what idiot created it” a
stop “it’s a genius chair made by a genius” it was his creation after all. “And
nope! I won’t drop the little guy thing” he said dead serious. “Chicks are
suckers for daddies!”
Bruce couldn’t hold up a yawn and of course Tony cleared his throat.
“Either my extremely charm worn out or I just woke you up.”
He pinched the bridge of his nose.
“The latter, Tony.”
“I’m sorry, little guy” his voice was fool of regret. “Are you alright? When
you called me right on landing you sounded fine.”
“But I’m fine just a bit tired – and actually I’m glad you called because it’s
been” he looked at the bottom of the screen “three hours I’m sleeping. And I
have an endless night of sleep waiting me.”
Tony’s delight on hearing that Bruce was going to spend the night sleeping was
almost audible and the younger man raised an eyebrow: did his friend really
fear that he was going to roam the rooftops on his wheelchair?
The billionaire from Malibu cleared his throat.
“You know, Bruce, Fury relayed some info from our division in South Europe”
Bruce frowned “and they seem to have traced some odd activity – I’m sure you’ll
be shocked” he said sarcastic “the day you were attacked.”
“Odd activity?” probably they were near the same findings as he and Lucius.
“Yeah. Like transmissions with technology that has nothing to do with anything
we know. Like extraterrestrial involvement in your assault or some product of
illegal experimentation – S.H.I.E.L.D. is conducting research.”
As much as he knew that the organization had been cleaned and reformed Bruce
felt a rush of disdain.
“Well, Tony…” he had to share his knowledge with his best friend though he
expected to be scolded.
Tony’s huff was dramatic.
“You. Investigated. Al-ready!” he said defeated. “Under our nose…Damn! That
ninja training!”
“You were too occupied reprimanding me and I couldn’t let the evidence be lost:
Wonder Woman took extra care to eliminate most of them.”
Tony looked at the transparent ceiling giving a spectacular view of New York’s
sky and whistled.
“She has nice boobs, little guy – I mean, as a long time expert I give her 8.5
out of 10. Of course if Iron Man meets her I’ll have a more accurate
impression” he licked his lips “I told you about the ultra-scanning vision?”
“Lucius analyzed soil and wood samples from the area where the pieces of the
attackers fell and he says that there are substances and matters that aren’t
from our planet.”
“Mmmm…Superman’s enemies?”
“This remains to be seen… We can exchange notes.”
“Of course; I’ll be there soon. For dinner.”
“Tony, I know you must be tired so there’s no need to make the trip.”
“Believe me, kid: nothing is more tiring than being tied in a bed with four
horny girls having you at their mercy…and even that didn’t bend me… Besides the
food is awesome! Oh! Nick, m’ boy, com’ in! I have to hang up, little guy: do
you want me to give your kisses to big bad Fury? I…don’t think so, huh?”
“Bye, Tony…”
He called Clark. Again the same artificial voice informed him that his phone
was deactivated. Bruce pressed his lips.
“C’me on, Clark…” it wasn’t like they had a major quarrel the last time they
met…Yet Bruce was reading and more important sensing the signs of change from
that day he was attacked…and the Amazon Princess got in their life.
 
The bell of the front entrance rang as Alfred had just ended filling Hero’s
bowl with milk. This must be Leslie, he thought, since the gates opened
automatically only for few, selected people.
“Where’s our troublemaker?” the doctor asked as soon as Alfred greeted her.
“He is sleeping. Please, do have a seat; would you like some tea?”
But she frowned throwing her coat clumsily on an armchair to Alfred’s dismay.
“How on Hell you persuaded him?”
He took her coat and put it meticulously to the built-in closet that emerged
after he pressed a spot on the wall.
“I didn’t: he asked it.”
Leslie lolled her head on the side and clenched her waist.
“I must examine him” she said determined not liking what she heard. “Bruce
asking to sleep?” she shook her head “very unusual…Were he experiencing any
pain or dizziness or any discomfort whatsoever? The trip was way too difficult:
the last time I made that trip I needed a day to fully find my normal rhythms –
for someone recovering from many, critical injuries it must be awful…”
Alfred gestured calmly to the sofa for her to sit down.
“Calm down, dear. I’ve been watching his temperature, heart rate and breath
regularly and everything is normal: Master Anthony’s jet has a brilliant system
of eliminating the effects of abrupt pressure changes due to extreme heights so
Bruce’s lungs didn’t suffer at all. He was fine just exhausted from the long
flight” Leslie twisted her lips in disapproval. “And…” he sighed “he was a bit
downhearted.”
She cocked her eyebrows curious.
“Downhearted?”
Alfred raised his eyes and shrugged.
“Young love…” he said nonchalant wanting to entertain his own worry. “And it’s
Master Bruce’s first time dealing with these things” and taking in Leslie’s
questioning look “it seems that they had a misunderstanding with Master Kent
and he wasn’t among the reporters in the airport as Master Bruce had expected
neither he came to visit the night before our departure.”
Leslie nodded.
“Poor boy… All these are complicate for someone ‘experienced’ and without his
traumatic past, imagine what impact have on him… Is it my impression, even bias
or Superman has become a bit short tempered towards Bruce? I didn’t like his
outburst after Bruce was attacked.”
Alfred pressed his lips.
“Master Kent is tired as all of us from the last months – he actually more than
everyone: he was with Bruce all this time, he was watching him day and night
struggling between life and death. I think he is admirable and his super powers
are the least reason. I believe that it is his love and concern added to his
emotional fatigue that leads to those tantrums.”
Leslie rubbed her forehead.
“I know, Alfred, and I didn’t mean to accuse him…but Bruce really doesn’t need
that at this stage and…he is Superman…” she stilled her eyes on Alfred “I mean,
remember what happened in the examination room? How Superman almost forgot his
strength and Bruce’s vulnerability? Before the injury Bruce could handle
Superman but now in this state...”
Alfred shook his head.
“I don’t think that we have to fear this, Leslie: I’m more afraid of the
consequences of a failed relationship…I know it’s only a petty disagreement but
what if there is indeed something going on and leads to a breakup?”
Leslie let her eyes wander in the room in thought.
“Bruce is strong” she huffed “he was willing to take the risk when embraced
Superman’s love and to tell you the truth, Alfred: I’m glad he did because he
let his heart love and experience the love of someone else.”
Alfred nodded.
“I know…” he pressed his lips “but if things go awry I’m afraid that it will
have a great toll to his emotional world. It took much courage and energy for
Master Bruce to make that huge leap of faith and if his faith is crashed…”
Leslie stood up and patted her friend’s back.
“We’ll be here, Alfred… Bruce isn’t alone anymore.”
He looked at her and she could discern under his cool expression the doubt and
insecurity.
“I don’t want Master Bruce hurt again…” Leslie could feel the burden that her
old friend carried from the countless times he saw Bruce in pain and suffering
– she was blessed to be spared from this though even listening about Falcone’s
tortures it was enough for her heart to bleed. “I’m in a complete loss, Leslie,
on how to protect him; of how to spare him from a potential new trauma: if his
parents were alive…”
She gave him a pressed lips smile.
“Their trust though an honor makes the responsibility greater… But I’m sure
that they are more than satisfied by you – you’ve been proved worthy of their
trust, my old friend.”
Alfred shook his head.
“Thank you, Leslie, but I haven’t done anything other than watching unable to
help him; like I am now…”
 “You’re too harsh on yourself, Alfred!”
“I agree with that…” a voice lively but a bit raspy from sleep startled them.
They both turned towards the entrance from the kitchen’s direction to see Bruce
coming with Hero on his lap. Alfred took his scornful expression.
“Master Bruce, I thought that you were taught that is impolite to eavesdrop!”
The young man grinned: he preferred Alfred scolding him than being sad and
self-doubting. He led his chair to them and Leslie perused him for any sign of
discomfort.
“I’m fine, Leslie” he said though he felt some stiffness and mild pain in his
shoulders and back but he knew that it was due to fatigue. “And I didn’t
eavesdrop, Alfred: I took the lift to the kitchen to drink some water and then
as I was coming I overheard the last part of your dialogue” he pouted
mischievous “it’s not my fault you were too engrossed in your discussion that
didn’t hear us coming…”
Alfred smirked as his young master came in front of him.
“You’re perfect, Alfred: don’t you ever forget that!” his eyes locked with his
butler’s baby blues. “I’m so lucky to have you” he smiled to Leslie “all of
you. I know that sometimes I’m a pain in the ass…and I’m not showing how much I
appreciate all of you…but I do” he nodded.
Alfred was numb unable to articulate a reply and Leslie rose from the sofa and
squatted in front of Bruce holding his upper arms.
“You’re not a pain in the ass” she said briskly but then frowned thoughtful
“well, at least not all the times…”
“We never had any doubt of your feelings, Master Bruce…” the young man smiled
and Leslie stood. “I was going to wake you up when the dinner was ready.”
“I already slept too much and given that I won’t go anywhere during the night”
his expression was indifferent but the other two could sense a hidden regret
“it’s better to keep some sleep for then.”
His eyes wandered to the spacious salon and he led the chair towards the small,
round marble table on which lay an impressive bouquet of white roses. Hero
sniffed.
“They brought them while you were sleeping” Alfred commented and Bruce nodded
and took them.
“Hero, you’ll stay with Alfred and Leslie.”
Leslie cocked her eyebrows.
“And where you’re going, young man?”
Alfred knew already: Bruce wanted to lay the flowers to his parents’ graves. He
made a step forward.
“It’s dusk, sir…”
“I’m not afraid of dark” he replied nonchalant. “Besides, the grounds are well
lighted.”
Yet his butler wasn’t persuaded and exchanged glances with Leslie.
“May I escort you, sir? That hill might be a bit challenging…”
“Or I could, Bruce…”
He smiled.
“Clark’s chair can easily adjust to every possible terrain – thank you both.
After all, Alfred has the dinner and you, Leslie, will make me a great favor if
keep Hero entertained” Leslie rolled her eyes and Bruce chuckled “I thought
that rolling the eyes was forbidden!” he handed her the kitten “you’re staying
for dinner, right?”
She shook her head mock disapproving.
“Do I have a chance?” she sighed caressing Hero who purred.
“Great!” Bruce’s eyes sparkled happily reflecting his smile yet both Leslie and
Alfred knew that he was doing it mostly to reassure them that everything was
fine.
He moved towards the main door and Alfred hurried to take from the hidden
closet a coat which held for his young master to wear.
“It’s cold outside, Master Bruce” he lifted an eyebrow “Gotham, real cold; we
are not still in Greece.”
Bruce winked.
“You’re right – I guess I’m a bit jetlagged, huh?”
Alfred opened the heavy, oak door for his master and Bruce moved towards the
brand new titanium ramp that Lucius had taken care to be built right beside the
stone stairs.
“Sir, please do not stay too much outside…” the chair stopped with Bruce’s
mental order and the young man looked at his loyal butler who blushed because
he sounded like a mother hen – he cleared his throat and re-established his
cool demeanor. “The dinner will be ready soon and it’s not very polite to let
our guest waiting.”
Bruce grinned on the change of tone and nodded.
“I won’t, Alfred, thank you!”
“If you excuse me asking, do you have any news from Master Kent?”
He shook his head in denial and pressed his lips in a tight line.
“Tony called to see if I survived the flight – he woke me up, actually” he
answered indifferent wanting to evade answering because it was a prickle in his
guts – but in the end he realized that not answering only increased Alfred’s
certainty that he was sad. “No, Clark didn’t call me back and…” he said before
Alfred asked “I tried again to reach him but his phone was still deactivated”
he blinked and lolled his head on the side. “It’s okay: the reporter’s job is
really demanding – I have my tablet with me in case he calls…”
He turned towards the ramp and began descending slowly.
 
Clark Kent sat in a corner table at a bar in Metropolis. He had left Smallville
with the intention of heading to the Wayne Manor because after his discussion
with his mother he longed to see Bruce and make up for his absence. He could
listen to his soft breaths and steady heartbeat which made the profile of his
sleep: Superman huffed. Of course, he was exhausted after so many hours of
flight – Bruce wasn’t a superhuman like himself to withstand such a trip.
He shook his head and felt ashamed: once again he thought scornfully about
Bruce as if his human nature made him inferior… And the more he listened to the
man’s heartbeat the more Clark was realizing that exhaustion wasn’t the main
reason that pushed Bruce to sleep: although the heartbeat was characteristic of
sleep there was a different quality in it, a thud that Clark knew too well: it
was hurt maybe unconscious but Bruce was suffering, emotionally. And Clark knew
that it was his fault.
He had meant to change that rushing to the master bedroom and cuddling his mate
but his hearing that was perfectly able to watch different locations at the
same time, caught voices from Metropolis’ warehouses. Voices of scum he was
looking for days: they must have gone underground getting suspicious of been
watched or in a mission.
Clark had intelligence that these men might be members of the Intergang and
hoped that they could lead him to the organization’s core or leader or more
modestly give him a hint on what they were up to. He sighed, listening Bruce’s
soft breath and picturing him on the bed yet he had to get to Metropolis. He
clenched his jaw: after all, he was fast asleep; better not to wake him up…
The Daily Planet’s reporter didn’t need a disguise because he wasn’t famous so
he just settled on a corner away from most of the clients watching and
overhearing his targets’ chat. Contrary to Gotham’s underworld, in Metropolis
thugs used to mingle with citizens in bars and cafes since there were no areas
strictly for outlaws, which served them perfectly because they didn’t raise
suspicions: normality offered a great camouflage.
Alistair Bendel – White and Johnny Stitches sat on a table on the far end of
the hall. They were busted a year ago by Metropolis’ Police for being involved
in a wide range of illegal activity but strangely the charges were dropped and
they return to the field; Clark suspected that they were recruited by the new
player and this was the reason that both acted cleverer this time. Emerging and
disappearing before being connected with anything.
Clark’s sources though very scared to say much hinted that those thugs’ job was
mainly to recruit small time hoodlums from other gangs and lead them to attacks
or other jobs. Obviously, their boss was saving those two for bigger things or
he managed to cover perfectly their traces.
Unfortunately, their mindless chat didn’t contain anything remotely interesting
and Clark sipped his bourbon replaying scenes from last night’s reception with
Diana.
As if someone had read his thoughts the big TV screen on the wall above the bar
played footage from the same event: it was first page news after all… His eyes
focused on Diana’s hot body and her dazzling smile as she shook hands with the
General Secretary and then with Superman. It was a good thing his huge glasses
covered his orbs. Damn! She was fucking hot!
He was startled hearing exactly what he was thinking by Alistair’s whispery
voice and his attention turned to them.
“I won’t mind being choked by her thighs around my neck…” the man sniggered. “I
might suck her a bit…”
The guy opposite him sniggered stressing the faint stitches all over his face.
“Nah…She fancies Supes: you can see it in the way she holds her posture that
she is horny…”
Clark felt his face hot and focused on Diana over the screen searching for
clues of what the thug said.
“I bet she’s after his super dick following him around like a bitch in heat”
Stitches cackled. “She doesn’t give a shit about humans or justice” he spat on
the word “you see it in her eyes…”
Alistair drew a large quantity of his vodka.
“The fact is she is Supes’ ally and that will complicate things.”
“I don’t think that boss really worries about her or even the S guy.”
“If those two become a couple then they’ll be a force to be reckoned…” Alistair
insisted.
Stitches nodded towards the screen where footage from Bruce’s arrival in Gotham
was shown and Clark felt a knot in his throat. Especially, since the one who
made the reportage had the stupid idea to include the infamous video of
Superman carrying Bruce. Cold sweat poured in Clark’s body.
“Supes prefers ass over pussy…” Johnny sniggered and Clark gritted his teeth
for this vulgarity.
“And sluts…” Alistair commented amused. “That brat was Falcone’s whore for
years and” he winked to his partner “I heard of many others… I’d expected from
the big guy to feel appalled by such filth.”
Clark banged his knee on the table in his rush to stand up and shut that man’s
mouth. But thankfully he stopped himself before his strength broke the table or
anyone noticed. He clenched his jaw and fists.
Johnny smirked.
“I wouldn’t have a problem making Superman’s bitch squeal and beg as I rip his
asshole…”
The other cackled.
“He is a cripple – won’t feel anything below the waist!”
“But he’ll feel everything above the neck!” Stitches winked wickedly and
laughed which his friend mimicked. “Maybe the boss plans to do that in the end,
after he…”
“Ssssss!” Alistair hushed him hastily.
“It’d be the perfect punishment for Supes… watching his slut gangbanged to the
death by his partying enemies” his sly eyes found again Bruce on the screen and
Clark’s heartbeat became so strong that he thought that everyone in the room
heard.
Alistair was thoughtful.
“It’s not so easy: that whelp has more protection than S guy himself. Iron man
is his best buddy and he drags along the entire Avengers’ circus. And Gotham
has Batman guarding her property.”
The news changed in something uninteresting and Johnny turned fully to
Alistair.
“The boss seems confident enough” he shook his head “I bet he doesn’t chicken
to attack that bitch and after his scheme unfolds nothing would save this
bitch…”
Clark erased everything else to focus on their discussion but Alistair stood up
and clutched Johnny’s upper arm.
“Enough! You downed a lot and your tongue got loose not that you know anything
about his scheme but we’re not supposed to babble about the boss – we’re off!”
They threw some bills on the table and walked casually out of the bar. Clark
pretended to be absorbed in his drink and followed them after some minutes from
a safe distance to not raise any suspicions.
He hoped that they’d lead him to one of Intergang’s ‘invisible’ hideouts but at
some point they parted to embark their cars and head to their apartments
leaving Clark frustrated because he didn’t learn anything important other than
reaffirming his suspicions that those two were working for the new powerful
crime lord for whom Clark knew nothing.
Damn! He hated the fact that he couldn’t go forward with this shadow-
organization; with every step he was met with a wall – a dead end and its
members were secretive and unbreakable even after they were busted: it reminded
him of the League of Shadows. Which association brought back those vulgar
comments the thugs made. About Bruce…
He felt nauseated and leaned on the wall of the pavement; he sighed and looked
up at the starry sky of Metropolis. So much filth connected with the being he
chose to tie his life with – his guts clenched in…shame? He frowned: it was
really shame? That was preposterous, unfair…utterly wrong to be ashamed of
Bruce…because he had been doomed to be a slave to Falcone and suffer his and
the other scums’ tortures…
“I dread seeing you wasted with someone like him and eventually destroyed by
deceit…” Diana told him again.
Wasted…Many people had the same opinion with her. And many people thought her a
perfect match for him. Many people or just him?
“Nah…She fancies Supes: you can see it in the way she holds her posture that
she is horny…”
It was pointless to deny that he had sensed it too. He knew that Diana desired
him. Well, she wasn’t the only one and that wasn’t him bragging but a fact.
Which brings us to the big question: was he interested in Diana’s interest?
He sighed and his mind brought the image of Bruce in front of his parents’
graves, three days after his testimony against Falcone.
“You’ll find someone worthy, someone who won’t cringe whenever you motion to
touch her or him, someone who won’t panic whenever you look at him with lust,
someone who won’t feel disgusted even with the thought of you craving his or
her body, someone who whenever you believe that you give him your love and
happiness won’t feel Falcone’s cruel hands instead of your gentle ones, Chill’s
sneering eyes instead of your kind ones, Al Ghul’s punishing thrusts instead of
your pleasant ones, Bane’s teeth instead of your velvety lips...”
And then his absolute reply echoed.
“You deserve happiness too, Bruce, and I’d give everything to...”
He made a spin and hit his forehead to the cool wall that cracked. How could he
think like this about Bruce? Could he be so frivolous to change his emotions so
fast and so irresponsibly? Because Bruce opened his heart to him and offered
him his body risking his shattered heart being rendered to shreds. And now he
was behaving like a creep.
“Bruce…” he whispered.
“It’d be the perfect punishment for Supes… watching his slut gangbanged to the
death by his partying enemies.”
Chill’s horrible voice taunting Batman returned from that night:
“Wha’? Ya thought I didn’t recognize ya? C’m’ on, littl’ slut! I’d recognize
yar body anywhere; ya see I forged that body, every day for eighteen years! I
recognized ya sinc’ the first time ya laid yar fists on me... The poor
traumatized kid created a strong persona to find haven when pain an’
humiliation were too hard to stand an’ slowly the lie became a man; a man who
was avenging the beatings he had by beating bad guys! An’ I was fucking both
the Prince an’ the Batman!” he had laughed haughtily. “Oh! Ya can’t imagine how
satisfying was that, littl’ slut, like our first time, do ya remember?”
He didn’t manage to catch his mind from recreating the giant thug thrusting in
the poor boy that trembled and begged to be spared…His enemies wanted to do the
same and though Bruce was a great warrior willing now to defend himself…he was
disabled and… a human. And Clark realized that the same dread he was feeling
now would bind him for the rest of their life together…It wasn’t like being
Diana’s lover…
“Shut up, you idiot!” he gritted his teeth and thankfully there was no
pedestrian around.
He pulled out his smartphone that had stayed closed all these hours; he eyed it
indecisive: he won’t go to Gotham, probably Bruce didn’t care much about his
absence anyways – probably, after his nap the disabled Dark Knight was too
absorb in designing a new suit for his comeback. He would just make him a call
to remind him of his presence and then head to his apartment.
But upon opening the gadget, a window popped up informing about unanswered
calls. He grinned: Lois must have had a fit. But after his friend’s calls, his
eyes bulged seeing another number: his breath stopped and his heart flew above
the stratosphere. Bruce had called him several times – the last only a few
minutes ago! His Star missed him and searched for him! Ugh! He felt so stupid
for all these horrible thoughts: how could he?!
His feet were already floating and he barely managed to scan the area for
witnesses before taking off for Gotham: Bruce deserved more than a simple, cold
phone call!
 
 
Bruce had laid carefully the white roses on his parents’ graves: it was dark
already and he secretly wished that their spirits took form and appeared to
him, like the ghosts in the legends. But unfortunately, ghosts don’t exist or
fortunately because Bruce wanted his parents to be peaceful in their eternal
sleep…
It was much uncomfortable with the wheelchair but he stretched his arm enough
to touch his fingertips to their tombstones. His eyelids fell heavy over his
orbs and images of them flashed in his mind: it was incredible, unbelievable
but even after all these years he could still hear their voices, their
laughter; see their eyes glimmering with love when they were talking to him
bent over his cradle; he could smell them, their pleasant perfumes of warmth
and safety.
And then the horrific bangs and the acid smell of guns and bullets and blood.
His mom already dead on the dirty cement and his father rasping with his last
breaths for him to flee…
His head had lowered to his chest and his breath mimicked the agony in Thomas’
last moments. Bruce stared at the remains of the rock pile beside their graves:
some letters were still discernible – B W U E…The others were washed away by
the elements.
He inhaled deeply: he would have never demolished his grave…But Clark did it to
free him…He remembered the anger, the hatred, the despair of those moments as
he had watched trapped in Clark’s arms the stone exploding: he felt as if it
was Clark not Falcone that separated him from his parents. And then when his
mind cleared he was able to see Clark’s love and his own feelings for the Man
of Steel. He had let the man love him.
His stare returned to the tombstones: he was sure that it was their wish… He
pressed his lips and caressed the stones one after the other.
Someone was here…His smile became broader: he could recognize that presence
everywhere.
“How long are you standing there?”
The steps got closer.
“Not much, handsome: actually, I thought to leave because…you know…I don’t like
to intrude but then you sensed me. And it’s cold out here so I owe to Alfred
getting you inside.”
Bruce stretched his hand and took hers. Selina walked closer to the graves
getting solemn as her eyes fell on the names.
“I knew you’d be here…” she whispered. “It was long since you’ve last been here
– you missed them…”
He lifted his eyes to her.
“I always feel the need to offer them beautiful, bright white roses” Selina
nodded remembering the battered white rose of that night, seventeen years ago
that Bruce lay on the filthy cement where his parents died. “Not that they
would have complained with less…” he rubbed his nose.
Selina felt her eyes watering and was glad that the lights from the grounds
were far enough to not be illuminate her face much.
“Well, they wouldn’t want you to catch a cold by staying much here so we’re
off!”
“You’ll stay for dinner?” he asked encouraged.
She shook her head slyly.
“I wasn’t in the mood for cooking and delivery food in Gotham is garbage so… I
thought of the best restaurant in the city” she winked. “Which is also free of
charge!”
Bruce laughed.
“I hoped that the company would be the major pro…”
Selina grasped his hand and walked beside him to the Manor.
“Always…but I like combining interest with pleasure!” she winked.
Her eyes fell on the torch-like glow that emanated from Bruce’s chest pocket
where he’d stashed his tablet-like gadget after setting it to shrink in
smartphone size – the gadget had the ability to scan its environment and when
dark enough illuminate like a torch adjusting the lighting intensity to its
owner’s wish. She whistled.
“Can I have one of these or I have to steal it?”
“I thought you didn’t fancy high tech thingies…”
She crooked her mouth wickedly.
“I think that this dingus will be very useful in my business…”
Bruce frowned; he didn’t like his friend continue her career as a thief now
that Gotham wasn’t lawless.
“I thought you worked for me? And you liked your work?”
She shrugged.
“Old loves never die, sweetie…” she sighed but taking in her friend’s
expression chuckled. “You know how many tycoons use their money to snatch
jewels for their illegal collections? I gather that I could spoil their game by
returning their loot where it belongs – that way I’ll get the chance to relive
my youth!” she gave a dramatic sigh and Bruce laughed.
“Youth?” his mood was light approving of what Selina planned to do with her
talents. “You’re still a baby, Sel!”
She made a deep squat and sucked her friend’s cheek wrapping her arms loosely
around his neck.
“Did he call?” she asked because the reason Bruce took the gizmo with him was
obvious.
Bruce cast a look at the gadget and then found again Selina’s eyes. He grinned.
“No” he answered quietly and Selina grunted.
“Did YOU call him again?” she was afraid that her friend’s dignity would have
forced him in something stupid like not searching for his boyfriend.
“Several times…”
His voice was indifferent but for Selina wasn’t difficult to sense the
disappointment and melancholy. She jerked her head and her eyes flashed.
“Well, let’s get you inside ‘cause I want you in good shape so you kick his ass
when he rushes back like a beaten puppy begging for your forgiveness!”
Bruce chuckled.
“Sel, he didn’t do anything!”
“Exactly!” she stood. “And stop defending him!”
The Manor’s door was open and Alfred stood there waiting while Hero had slipped
between his legs and was already at Selina’s feet meowing to get her attention.
She grabbed him from the armpits and rubbed his cheek to hers.
“I missed you, baby!”
 
Jonathan as every night had waited patiently and eagerly for Ted, the orderly
he hired while he was the head of this Asylum. Ted was loyal to him even now:
Dr. Crane had given him money to buy a small apartment and allowed him to take
drugs from the storage for his addict brother. Ted believed in him and that he
would once again regain power in this shithole so when the defeated doctor
promised him to have his share, Ted had no hesitation to serve him. Secretly.
So like every night after the medical staff was gone Ted escorted Scarecrow to
the basement where he was left guarding while Jonathan slipped to his secret
laboratory: the one he established during his reign there. Nobody was ever to
discover that small, ancient hall – because it wasn’t in any blueprint of the
Arkham Mansion. Jonathan had discovered the secret passage one day while
admiring the rare volumes the Arkham family had in the ancient, dusty library.
It was encrypted but he had no problem deciphering it.
Jonathan breathed content mixing his ingredients in a testing transparent tube;
he had a medical mask covering his mouth and nose. He was at his home, his
favorite place, much like Jeremiah Arkham who, as the legend had it, made his
horrific experiments in this exact place.
Jonathan could feel the vibes: the cries of the bound patients suffering from
Dr. Arkham’s juices and other experiments, the terror, the insanity of the
doctor and his brilliance… There had remained some of his instruments rusty and
hastily abandoned: rusty chains, ripped and mice-eaten torturous
straightjackets, chairs with plugs, cases with dried, odd concoctions… Some of
Jeremiah’s patients died terrible deaths but Jonathan was aware that
groundbreaking science needs and deserves sacrifices – sacrifices of lesser
people. Like that idiot Joker or his…wife.
The concoction for his fear toxin was ready to be added to his stock waiting
for the right moment when he’d take his revenge on those inferior stupid
people. Who intimidated poor Jonathan into submission without knowing that
Scarecrow was there to support the genius but weak doctor and take revenge
against those bullies…
 
Joker was sprawled on his mattress watching the ceiling and pondered through
the tangled mess his thoughts were in his head. Sometimes a giggle escaped him
recalling his discussion with Herlequin and her so hilarious ire – ire for sane
people was the first step to the road for madness. Hihi! And it was a matter of
days to get out of there now he knew how Stark’s intra-something bullshit
worked. Also, he was sure that his goodhearted doctor wouldn’t keep him in that
cell – she wouldn’t take his privileges away because litl’ Harleen wanted to
lick her little bones. And only a happy Joker could feed her.
Suddenly, he sensed a presence and that was watched. He jerked his eyebrows: he
knew when he was watched because he loved to be the center of attention…and
hated it…well, his relationship with fame was complicated…
He turned his eyes where he felt the presence and frowned seeing a doctor
sitting at a grandiose armchair with a golden pen in his hand and a notebook on
his lap. He definitely hadn’t seen him again and he was…Joker laughed on the
absurdity of him calling someone else, well, bizarre. Raven hair straight to
his shoulders, a thin, pointy nose and sly, almost like his, eyes behind old-
fashioned round glasses.
“A newwww kid on the block?” Joker snorted leaning slightly his head towards
him. “Me liiiikes to plaaaay with other kids – are you a new doc? Isn’t a bit
aaaaa late for sessions?”
The stranger’s eyes shone but he kept his head completely still studying Joker,
a faint amused grin in his lean face.
“Me? Doc?” he chuckled though his voice had the thick accent of a German
clearly imitating someone.
Joker rolled his eyes.
“It’d beeeee myyyy cr—azy idea then, SIGMUND!... as in Sigmund Freud” he
stressed more his nasal voice.
The stranger yanked his head and smirked.
“It must be the robe…” he said nonchalant and the white robe vanished along
with the glasses, revealing his all leather attire: green leather leggings,
green leather tunic reaching his thighs, and a golden short vest. “But I like
dress up!”
Joker cocked his eyebrows.
“I seeee that, Hoody! UHU! Aaaaand they call my dressing Kiiitsch!” he erupted
in a fit of giggles hugging his belly.
The man on the armchair licked his lips drumming his fingers on the armrests.
He smirked and out of nowhere a large amount of cold water splashed on the
giggling Joker who jerked from the mattress and sat on the edge of his bed
studying narrow-eyed his visitor.
“I like laughing but not being laughed at…” the bizarre man said indifferent.
“Imagine the giggles when the staff sees your bed all wet…” he leaned towards
Joker.
Joker shook his head and gave a wide lick to his lips.
“Then try changing attire…” he retorted in a hissing unfazed and then cackled
entertained “I’ve toooooo admit: your joke was gooooood but not au--thentic.
“Sooooooo you’re not some loony” he arched his eyebrows “at least, some
ooooordinary loony. What doooo you want?” he asked and his eyes went dead
serious.
His visitor crooked his mouth and locked eyes with the inmate.
“You don’t want to know who am I?”
Joker shrugged.
“Tooooough!”
His visitor chuckled.
“You’re good, Joker! I’m Loki…”
“Biiiig deal! I knew already you’re a loca…”
Loki understood that he was referring to the Spanish word for crazy.
“I’m Loki, the god of mischief and deceit…”
Joker hiccupped and made a glorious roll of his eyes.
“Ooooooh, boy! HEHEHEHEHE! Your maaaadness” he rolled his finger right beside
his head “breaks a record, huh? Niiice! ‘Cause this fine establishment needs
some fresh jokes…”
Loki smiled confidently and snapped his fingers causing the bars to vanish:
both the common bars and the energy ones Stark created. Joker smirked and his
scars were stressed.
“It’s easy for me to just intervene and mess Stark’s creations – I get so much
fun poking that arrogant man…” and with a second snap the bars were back.
Joker pouted.
“Paaaarty pooper!” he slapped his thighs. “Goooods are not fun!”
Loki arched his eyebrows and brought his leg upon the other.
“Tell me about it…that’s why I came here: fascinating! A loony bin inside a
loony bin…”
Joker giggled.
“Yeaaaah! Yoohoooooohooo! I looooove Gotham too! Buuuuut” he raised his index
finger warningly “gods ooooor nooot I don’t like intruders in my
playground…Legolas…Oooh, sorry! It’s the ears” he whispered as if sharing a
secret “did uuuu anyone tooooold you that are elf like?”
Loki rolled his eyes and stood pacing the room.
“Not even when the… intruder can make the game more interesting?” he craned his
head on the side eyeing the jester; Loki smiled wickedly. “I met Bruce Wayne”
his grin became wider seeing Joker’s frown “twice… one in his bed… HEHEHEHEHE!”
he mimicked Joker’s giggle.
Joker knew better than letting his vitals get aggressive still he jerked
upwards and rushed to the god grabbing his neck. Yet the raven haired man just
smirked unfazed.
“He’s my wife…” Joker hissed and Loki shrugged.
“I didn’t see a wedding ring…” he lolled his head on the side and pouted, his
smugness stronger than ever. “Maybe if you’ve given him a decent diamond ring
he wouldn’t sleep with Mr. Super-muscle…”
The jester had been almost certain of that but hearing it was a fuel to kill –
his hand clenched more Loki’s neck but the god just scorned.
“Ow! You didn’t know…” he said pitying him but his jeer was evident. “Ugh! I
hate being a marriage wrecker though…I’ve done it sometimes – some of them with
unfortunate results…You know, husband killing wife or lover… It really wasn’t
my fault” Joker regarded him through slit eyes “calling me a sly abettor to
these misfortunes…” he shook his head disgusted “the injustice of people…” he
huffed. “By the way, Bruce is hot stuff: I mean the hottest stuff. You’re a
lucky man” he said solemnly but then erupted in a mad fit of giggles “well, not
so lucky!”
Joker’s hands were left with thin air and the raven haired man reemerged
outside the cell. The jester laughed on the absolute absurdity of the scene and
put his elbows on the bars supporting his arms.
Loki did the same but with the energy bars that had no impact on him.
“I heard that you call yourself the Agent of Chaos…”
Joker shook his head and raised his eyebrows sarcastic.
“I’m sooooo flattered a goooood searched me!”
But Loki knitted his eyebrows.
“Don’t be! I’m making my school project on Bruce Wayne and that’s how I learnt
about you. Of course academic research doesn’t give you juicier details like
how statuesque the man is and you need your handiwork to find out how taut and
smooth he is.”
Joker rolled his eyes and laughed before he tilted his head on the side and
stabbed with his eyes the bizarre guy.
“I’ve chopped people for lesser…” he hissed, the dropping of his stuttering the
only sign of his wrath.
Loki gave him a lighthearted smile.
“Ow! You’re threatening me: the best clown joke I ever heard! And I was
considered a clown…” he supported his forearms between the nano-energy bars and
leaned towards Joker locking eyes with him. “You brag that you bring chaos yet
it’s Bruce Wayne that actually brings it…” he nodded. “I’m sure you’ve noticed
how this cute, weak brat makes everyone around him twist and blow: mere humans,
superheroes, supervillains” he gestured to him “demons, ugly gods – like Thor…
which make a beautiful and genius god…like me…intrigued.”
Joker shook his shoulders and leaned more to his counterpart.
“I’ll give you a tip as a crazy to a loony: Bruce is mine!” he grinded his
teeth. “You didn’t saw the…aaa…sign?”
Loki’s mouth twisted.
“Tell that to the superguy who fucks him and to Thor… My dear ol’ bro shows too
much interest in the youth; I guess superdudes’ competition… – if you get what
I mean: who is BIGGER… who makes Bruce convulse and moan more…” he twitched his
eyebrows in suggestion.
Joker’s acid eyes were ablaze but expressionless.
“Chaos is nice” Loki said thoughtful. “Especially when you’re the agent of the
proper agency…” suddenly his mouth was right next to Joker’s ear.
The jester cast him a sideways glance.
“If you loooooook for aaaagents, call Molder and Scully. I’m not a hired gun!”
Loki stretched his posture, his hands behind his back.
“Who said anything about hiring?” he answered and just disappeared leaving his
cackle behind.
 
Superman was flying in high speed towards the elegantly illuminated Wayne
Manor, at last seeing the majestic building: he would have arrived sooner but
cries for help made him rush at Washington to save a homeless old man from the
torments of stupid teens who decided to play tough with a weak man. Well, he
lectured them a bit and they seemed regretful – no, they didn’t cheat him:
Superman checked their brain waves.
He was thinking that Bruce would be fast asleep but his hearing told him that
he was wake – probably, fiddling with his designs… But then in midair his phone
rang and it was Bruce’s tone. His Star was trying to find and speak to him; his
face beamed – he was about to make a big surprise to Bruce so he didn’t answer,
much to the human’s dismay: Clark could hear the same sad thud coloring Bruce’s
strong heartbeat. Hang on, babe, he smiled.
Suddenly, Superman remembered the reinforced window in Bruce’s bedroom and
pressed his lips because he didn’t want to smash it to get in…Obviously. Maybe
he serenaded Bruce to open…He chuckled.
But his problem was solved as his eyes focused on the master bedroom’s huge
window… Bruce was there on his chair in front of the open window staring at his
tablet that hadn’t managed to bring him close to Clark; Superman smiled not
without self-satisfaction.
And then Bruce gazed at the clear sky and Clark saw the shine in his eyes and
heard the increase in his heartbeat so he just couldn’t hold himself any
longer!
He covered the distance in a couple of seconds and landed on his knees right
next to Bruce, his arms already burying the younger man in his chest.
“You should be sleeping” he said softly. “And definitely not in front of an
open window – it’s freezing!”
Bruce left the warm heaven of Clark’s chest and looked at him. His heart was
beating normally now, a bit happy and still a bit apprehensive.
“I was waiting for you…Hero was making me company but he fall asleep and I put
him in his basket. I knew you’d come…at some point…”
Clark filled with regret and self - loathing.
“And you were waiting for me last night too?” he asked hating himself more as
he read the sleepless hours in Bruce’s body.
Bruce didn’t want to admit that but he couldn’t lie too so let his eyes answer
to Clark who cupped his cheek which was cold but so deliciously soft that his
lips glued to it almost on their own.
“I’m a bastard!” he growled feeling with his other hand how tired the muscles
in Bruce’s back were – and that considering that he had slept a couple of hours
before said a lot.
Bruce smiled.
“I don’t think that Ms. Kent would be happy hearing someone calling her son
‘bastard’…”
Clark chuckled and nuzzled Bruce’s neck.
“Mmmm… She surely won’t appreciate it…” he sucked the perfume that was more
intense there “you should meet her – she is so fond of you!”
Bruce put his hands under Clark’s jaw and lifted his head to make him meet his
eyes.
“She talked you into coming back?”
Clark closed his eyes and sighed.
“I…I acted like…” he bit his lower lip “I don’t know what got into me…” Bruce
was staring at him expecting and with brave understanding.
“If your feelings have changed…”
But Clark couldn’t even hear Bruce’s voice forming these words. He hugged him
and stopped him by capturing his mouth in a breathtaking kiss. Bruce wrapped
his arms around Clark’s neck for support following his lover’s passionate
ministrations while always keeping his eyes on Clark’s.
Suddenly, the Man of Steel hoisted him carefully and moved him slowly to the
king sized bed where he placed him gently cuddling him to regain his
temperature.
Superman took reluctantly his mouth from Bruce’s to allow him to breath. He
licked his lips to take the lingering taste and the younger man caressed his
cheek.
“You didn’t answer” he whispered with a steady voice.
“No!” he replied with conviction and Bruce nodded even though his eyes were
still unsure. “I’m sorry” Clark said reading those eyes “I was irresponsible…”
“You acted as you felt.”
Clark shook his head.
“I acted childish! I stayed away from the one I love more than anything because
of foolishness – a stupid stubbornness, something completely irrational. I know
that I can get whatever I want – it’s selfish! And definitely…” he sighed.
“Damn! I love it that you defy me!”
Bruce shook his head in denial: staying in front of the open window made him
cold but Clark’s body was warming him better than the old fireplace.
“I don’t defy you…” he replied. “I just want to be true to what I am and not
simply Superman’s or anyone’s pet” Clark pressed his lips. “I always listen to
your ideas and opinions, Clark and I respect them yet in the end…we’re two
different people and we can’t agree in everything… It would be better if I was
someone like you…Like the Amazon Princess?”
His eyes were estimating Clark’s reactions and Superman felt irritated not so
much for Bruce’s inquiring mode but because that was an awkward subject that
always made him uncomfortable even when alone.
“Diana’s thought seems to torment you too much…” he decided to evade an answer.
But Bruce wouldn’t swallow that; he shook his head.
“It troubles me because I get the feeling that you’re troubled too” Clark
twisted his mouth. “From the day the Princess intruded our life you always look
thoughtful, irritable…unhappy except when you are with her.”
It was so easy for Clark to discern the bitterness in Bruce’s voice though it
was effectively hidden. The younger man cupped his face locking their eyes.
“Since you met her you spent more time with her than with me” he continued
determined with steady voice but Clark’s heart melted on the love and
understanding that colored Bruce’s voice – he wasn’t blaming him.
“Oh, Bruce…You shouldn’t think like that…” Bruce’s eyes were still and Clark
felt regret for having acted like this but…it didn’t felt so wrong when he
stayed away – it seemed…natural. “It was random I found myself with her” he
lifted his eyebrows for emphasis. “And Diana is a friend, an ally to our fight
against evil” he chuckled “not what your brilliant but tired mind thinks”
though sometimes Clark arrested his eyes darting to more private parts of the
impressive woman’s anatomy…but that wasn’t a crime, was it?
Bruce didn’t buy it: fine, he believed in Clark’s honesty right now but he
could see the signs. And Clark.
“I’m sorry for staying away so long, for being so abrupt to you but…I’m so
irredeemable?” he pouted. “Our last time in the beach wasn’t nice?”
Bruce cocked an eyebrow.
“It was… great…but then you didn’t come and I was wondering what went so
wrong…”
Clark lowered his eyes and Bruce didn’t like to see him like this so he wrapped
his arms around Clark’s neck clinging to him in order to plant a kiss to his
lips.
“I get it” he looked deep in his eyes “I get how you felt about my decision to
return and I want you to know that I feel for you… about your fears… Because I
fear for you too: the fact that you’re someone almost invincible doesn’t mean
that I don’t have the same fears for your safety” he chuckled. “How would have
seemed to you if I asked you to stay at the Fortress and never be Superman
again?”
Clark shook his head and looked at the younger man lopsided. He sighed.
“It’s not the same, Bruce…” he hesitated to say it but in the end huffed
“you’re a human, which makes you more vulnerable and easier to break” he closed
his eyes. “You’re currently paralyzed…” he didn’t want to sadden him but Bruce
looked him straight in the eyes.
“Easier to break? Really now?Remember the Kryptonite bullet on the rooftop?” of
course he did: Bruce saved his life then. The human nodded. “I remember the
footage Ra’s showed me with Zod plummeting you around…” his eyes though locked
with Clark’s stared at something else “I was scared for you…”
Clark tightened his embrace to feel Bruce’s body on his. He cupped the man’s
jaw with both hands and touched their foreheads together.
“You loved me from then?” he asked throatily from the emotions.
“I…I don’t know…things were so complicated then… but my heart was beating so
painfully like in mount Marcy when you were hit by Bagdana…”
Clark let his fingertips on Bruce’s lips and the younger man stared at him.
“I don’t want you even uttering his name…” he breathed and felt Bruce’s
cheekbone with his hot lips – in front of his eyes he saw again the demon
stripping Bruce ready to claim his body, he watching unable to do anything…
“You see that you can be hurt as much as I? Someone stronger or with evil plans
can always get to you – actually, those hours after the UN reception, all this
silence…I was worried…”
Bruce’s hands tightened around Clark’s shoulders and nestled his head in the
crook of his neck, his breath sending goose bumps to Clark’s spine.
“I don’t think that you’d like Superman settled in his Fortress indifferent to
the world’s suffering…” Clark said kissing Bruce’s silken locks.
Bruce’ soft lips trailed Superman neckline causing a deep moan.
“No, I wouldn’t like that…And you? Would you like Batman caged?”
Clark closed his eyes a battle raging in him; that answer would have been so
much easier if Bruce was like Diana…  So the answer to Bruce’s previous
question whether the things would have been different if he was like Diana – if
Diana took his place – was yes: things would have been different; Clark would
have been free to enjoy his happiness without the clenching of fear. Yet he
hadn’t the heart to admit to Bruce something like that. He heard again
Stitches’ snarky remark:
“I wouldn’t have a problem making Superman’s bitch squeal and beg as I rip his
asshole… Maybe the boss plans to do that in the end, after he…”
His enemies wouldn’t even dare to suggest something like that for Diana… His
enemies would never hurt him through someone like her; and their boss might
already have had his eyes on Bruce.
He opened his eyes feeling Bruce’s eyes on him – he smiled his brilliant smile
that always made Bruce reflect it.
“I don’t think that anyone can cage Batman…” he became serious. “And I’m glad
for that!”
Bruce caressed the diamond shaped insignia in Superman’s uniform and placed his
palm softly over his strong heart that jolted joyfully to that.
“I love you, my great Bat!” Clark exclaimed and his mouth ‘attacked’ Bruce’s
neck where the intoxicating perfume emanated stronger and groaned happily when
his lover bent his neck letting Clark suck greedily, wetting the flesh.
Forgetting all the thoughts that tarnished their time together.
“And when you stop loving me?” Bruce inquired calmly and Clark sighed. “You’ll
tell me?”
Clark’s breath became a rasp and he took Bruce’s head in his hands sinking his
eyes in the sapphire-emerald seas that studied him.
“I’ll never stop loving you!” he said exasperated and Bruce’s heart gave a
painful thud. “You’d never be alone again…I promise you” his eyes searched
Bruce’s and narrowed suspiciously “you believe me, right?”
Bruce felt something clenching his guts but he smiled reassuringly. He nodded.
Which made Clark roar playfully and began tickling Bruce’s ribs rendering him
to giggles.
“You can’t let go Batman’s reticence and answer properly? Huh? I have to tickle
the answer from you?”
Bruce’s laughter was a blessing and Clark relished in it but he stopped to let
the man breathe.
“I…surrender…” Bruce beamed. “I believe you.”
“Glad to hear…”
He pushed gently Bruce on the mattress and untied the belt of his robe, rushing
to close the window in less than a second and return. Bruce looked at him
confused but Superman whistling carelessly unbuttoned his pajama shirt pushing
it to his arms and extracting it; his hands unable to resist the view felt the
younger man’s chest, his lips drawn to those sweet nipples like metal to
magnet.
He licked to taste them, realizing how much he missed Bruce; he sucked with all
his might, gently touching his teeth on the stiffened flesh and heard the human
groan. Clark smiled and massaged with his mouth the playful nipple along with
some of the taut pectoral; just to feel smoother and richer flesh which wasn’t
of a man: it was a woman’s breast – Diana’s porcelain, juicy breast.
He shook himself embarrassed wishing Bruce hadn’t realized and hurried to
descend to the man’s abs before clutching the waistband and lowering the pants
and the underwear till the body he loved was completely naked.
“We must talk about the attack, Clark: we found some things with Lucius and
Tony also got intelligence…”
But the Man of Steel rose with a disbelieving frown in his brow.
“Are you kidding me, right?” he asked slyly.
And without waiting for a reply he immersed his head in Bruce belly nibbling
the taut, soft flesh, each abdominal muscle separately and enjoying the goose
bumps he was causing. He felt Bruce’s hands caressing his messy locks in the
pace of his exciting breaths.
“What are you doing, Clark?” the younger man asked because he knew Clark’s
reluctance to engage him in intercourse. Clark who was fondling with one hand
Bruce’s soft penis and with the other his buttocks moaned displeased for having
to take his head from Bruce’s warmth.
“Mmm…a nice massage? Your muscles are too tense and tired BECAUSE OF ME! You
haven’t slept last night waiting for me, right?” “Your body needs its rest to
heal…”
Bruce blinked.
“Nothing bad happened… You’re here.”
Clark beamed and nodded.
“Yes, I am! So I’ll make up to you with my magic fingers” he waved his fingers
in front of Bruce who smirked with his eyes shining gleefully.
“Matt comes tomorrow and I’m sure he’ll take care of that…” his voice was cut
from a fit of giggles as Clark’s mouth attacked his belly tickling him
relentlessly.
“No massage from him!” he growled imitating Batman’s roar and turned Bruce on
his stomach. “Your body is only for my fingers to touch…”
Bruce chuckled and lifted an eyebrow.
“A good massage requires the masseur wearing the proper attire, which for your
case is…” he moaned closing his eyes as Clark already touched his back “none!
It’s so long since I last saw you without this ridiculous outfit…”
Clark leaned his head right next to Bruce’s cheek, who feeling his breath
opened his eyes.
“Ridiculous?”
“Red, blue, yellow and orange? Really?” he snorted. “Besides anything compared
with your naked body IS ridiculous!”
“You saved it…” Clark commented and was ready to discard his suit when his eyes
fell on two flashing eyes on the floor. “Huh, Bruce? Nudity is allowed for
underage kitten?”
Bruce chuckled and stretched his arm to brush Hero’s head and the kitten purred
and climbed on the mattress to Clark’s rolling of eyes.
The Man of Steel took the kitten and in a blur placed him in his basket getting
rid of his annoying attire in the second of his return. Bruce’s eyes caressed
Clark’s god-like nude body making the Man of Steel feel as if the most skilled
hands in universe had fondled him.
“I hoped for a sensual, slow strip tease…”
“So the client isn’t happy?”
“You took my kitten away!” he protested as Clark straddled him careful to not
let his weight burden him.
“Hero understands…especially since I gave him his favorite smoked salmon” he
winked.
Bruce supported his torso on his palms and looked at him.
“So…the crime was carefully planned beforehand…”
“Always…” he laid Bruce carefully back on the mattress. “And now, my Star, your
faithful super masseur will earn his money…” his fingers ran Bruce’s shoulders
easing the tension, kissing and sucking every inch of flesh he touched.
“But I didn’t pay…” Bruce let his head sink to the mattress and moaned as
Clark’s lips doubled the effect of his skilled fingers.
“You just did…” Clark trailed Bruce’s deltoid with his hot tongue relishing the
pleasure that flooded the young man’s brain waves.
 “Fifty two hours and 24 minutes without you…” he whispered his thought as the
magic fingers massaged his stiff neck numbing pleasantly the depths of his
brain loosening his tongue.
Clark blushed because that was the greater admission of love from Bruce and
because he hadn’t realized that so many hours had passed. And then he moved
slowly down, finally reaching Bruce’s legs that still carried marks of his
horrible injuries. He stretched the unresponsive legs aware of Bruce’s held
breath. He knew that he was craving for his ministrations.
And Clark traced with his fingers the paths of the barely functional neurons
rejoicing the stimuli that slowly ascended to Bruce’s brain. He could hear
Bruce’s relieved smile and his head nestling in the silken pillow. Clark wanted
to compensate for the lost time he neglected that special treatment that kept
the neurons active and helped the generation of new synapses.
His eyes narrowed on the marks Bruce’s fingers left on the paths he followed.
“You were hitting your legs?”
Bruce gave an affirmative huff through the soft fabric.
“It’s nice to get some feeling…”
Clark pressed his lips determined to give Bruce more than some feeling. He took
away his fingers and began massaging with his mouth, letting out hot and cold
breath in turn savoring Bruce’s aroused breaths – Clark knew that stimulating
those ill functioning areas turned them into highly erogenous paths. He
smirked, hearing his lover moaning, clutching the soft pillow; his breath was
quickened with pleasure.
He used all his skill to guide his lips into extracting the most stimuli
possible and he knew he was successful as Bruce’s forearms hugged tighter the
pillow grunting as his healthy torso shook.
Clark after ten minutes of smelling Bruce’s perfume intensified by his arousal
didn’t have the restraint to continue: he was aroused more and his body was
drenched in the same glowing sweat as Bruce. He whined and rose wrapping his
arms around Bruce’s shining torso before touching carefully his body on the
human’s; his suffering length rubbing on those delicious buttocks, Clark
leading his member to slowly get release even without penetration – Kryptonian
physiology had many other precious advantages apart from super powers.
His head nestled in Bruce’s shoulder blade chewing softly the hot flesh,
savoring with his tongue the salty flavor.
“It’s nice, huh?” he whispered.
Bruce turned his head on the pillow, some locks had glued on his sweaty
cheekbones which view made Clark rush to nuzzle that hot cheek.
“It is…You’re back…”
Clark’s hands massaged Bruce’s buttocks guiding them into treat his penis to
climax at a safe pace. Bruce had no feeling below his waist but from Clark’s
rasps, the sound of flesh brushing flesh and his body’s shaking understood what
he was doing. And he was content that Clark could get some sexual satisfaction
out of him.
“I promise you…” Clark whispered in his ear sucking and burning the skin with
the rasping of his orgasm. “I’ll always be here…” he grunted.
Bruce stilled his blank eyes on the pillow.
Don’t make promises you can’t keep…His insides were torn as soon as this
thought cracked in his mind like a lightning.
***** Chapter 18 *****
Bagdana was standing in the middle of his underground lair, a circular huge
cave with colossal columns made from stalactites and stalagmites glimmering
with different colors; he retained his true form with his granite gigantic
body, the sparkling silver spikes all over his scalp and the ivory straight
horns. He was in his domain, in his kingdom watching in the crystal waters of
the round lake in front of him Darkseid with his sycophant Granny Goodness
overseeing his hired and brainwashed thugs raiding hideouts of rival gangs in
Metropolis and labs all over the States. His partner was in his real form too
since the underground of the Mannheim Mansion was unreachable to everyone and
his red eyes were glaring smugly at his human servants on the holograph
projection right before his throne.
He smirked: this new God didn’t suspect that Bagdana could have access to his
headquarters and watch his movements. Darkseid didn’t trust him enough to tell
him what he was looking for in the LexLabs but he was sure that the new God
wasn’t going to find it. Luthor though not a god was cunning enough to hide
perfectly what was to secure himself from his present allies and potentially
future enemies. Luthor was going to sell dearly this precious info especially
now that he was in need.
And there was another factor that should trouble Darkseid: LexLabs belonged now
to Bruce and he was even smarter from both Luthor and Darkseid: Superman’s
intervention in the raid of the Metropolis’ central LexLab manifested clearly
that the security system that Darkseid knew from Luthor had been already
replaced by Wayne Enterprises’ security systems that blew the whistle ruining
their plans. Bruce was fully aware of Luthor’s shady businesses and experiments
so would not risk of something dangerous being taken from there.
They had continued attempting robberies at LexLabs always in combination with
other irrelevant laboratories as Bagdana had advised to camouflage their real
target. Darkseid simply didn’t give a shit about his thugs which were busted
every time: they were cheap, expendable tools and each time he recruited new.
If they managed to find the desirable thing Darkseid would take it himself.
At the same time his partner’s servants (either with their will by generous
payment or with brainwash) were erasing the competition of other gangs in
Metropolis. It was obvious that Darkseid wanted to establish his reign in every
sector and hit Superman from different battlefields simultaneously.
Bagdana yawned because all this trouble to dominate earth had become after the
first couple of millennia boring and uninteresting. Well, he definitely liked
to be in the winner’s side or better to be the winner but his major concern at
this stage was getting back what ran away from him.
His red flames of eyes stabbed the water surface and erased the footage from
Darkseid’s headquarters. He ordered mentally the waters to show him Bruce…but
nothing came up.
Bagdana snorted and smoke filled the space: Bruce had returned to Gotham, to
their city, the city that gave birth to Bruce and brought them together. The
thought alone made his gigantic, granite looking body get on fire ready to
storm his bedroom and conquer his sleeping body… or since he didn’t want to
disclose his menace yet, at least caress with his hot breath the youth’s neck
to cause goose bumps to his body in his peaceful sleep…
But he could only sense and imagine his stubborn soul mate and his surroundings
not even take a peep of him, proof that the damn black diamond was hanging
powerful from his neck, over his chest and…there was still deep love in the
Kryptonian’s heart which lay right beside him with his lips brushing the same
neck Bagdana wanted to suck.
His fists clenched and he shut his eyes roaring because every time the love
between Superman and Bruce created a shield against him, it was real pain: how
could Bruce still insist on the love of this man? He opened slowly his eyes and
over the water the image of the Amazon Princess smiled seductively to Superman.
Bagdana nodded: his pain would be over soon: there was still love in Superman’s
heart…but it was cracked and before long it’d be shattered.
 
It began with a sense of tickling slowly pouring from the few functional
neurons of his legs to the entirety of his bottom half body. He was still sat
in Clark’s wheelchair and two blazing crystal blue eyes were watching him
avidly sharing the same senses through reading his brain waves.
For an instance, he was hesitant: he didn’t want to have his hopes crushed by a
failure…But life flooded his legs and flared his body. So he pressed his lips
determined, clenched his jaw and tightened his grasp to the armrests.
Clark jolted to hold him if he fell but Bruce cast him a sharp glare to stay at
a distance.
His feet felt the floor, the solid surface and his heartbeat raced before he
controlled it back to normal pacing. His fingers hurt from the way he was
gripping the armrests as he prepared himself for the last and most difficult
part. He could sense Clark holding his breath…He pushed his body upwards and
his legs trembled.
Clark jerked in his place but didn’t intervene as Bruce slowly let go of the
armrests…standing…well, not very steady but it was amazing since he wasn’t
using an ounce of his mental power to assist his body.
He concentrated on his body and the shaking eventually stopped; Clark was
rasping now but Bruce didn’t look at him to not lose his focus. He inhaled
deeply and his eyes were sparkling in determination as he ordered his left foot
to move forwards. He felt Clark’s eyes stilling at his foot as if transferring
some of his insane power to the human limb; Superman was so tense that didn’t
smile when the foot settled an inch ahead. Neither did Bruce: he just
controlled his breath and ordered his right foot to go ahead the left.
A small step for a human, a huge step for Bruce… He smiled to himself
encouraged; his brow sleek with sweat; he staggered a bit and stretched his
arms for balance – Clark’s body resembled the body of a lion ready to attack
but not really attack but catch.
He had stability now and breathed: time for a second step. First the left then
the right. A faint smile carved his face and for the first time he turned his
eyes to Clark whose face was still tense with apprehension, a lump evident in
his throat.
Bruce moved again his feet to reach him enjoying how the beautiful body was
coming closer; he was inches from him and Clark was beaming – was right for
Superman to shed tears? Bruce didn’t want to see Clark crying even if it was
from joy…
…The floor left from his feet and Bruce after all this time wasn’t able to
retain his balance…he was falling and it felt awfully…
But then two unbelievably strong but simultaneously gentle arms caught him from
the armpits and suddenly the lack of floor didn’t feel terrifying but
thrilling. He was ascending to the sky – he was flying…
“I got you… I’ll always be the faster to catch you…” Clark’s face was touching
his and Bruce attacked his lips more aggressively, more enthusiastic than ever.
“Yeah, Bruce…” Superman whispered “you made it!”
Batman was gazing down at Gotham’s streets, the strong wind blowing his cape
around him. His eyes were ablaze with determination: he just stopped a murderer
and knocked out a gang ready to attack a woman and her little girl. He was
back!
The whoosh was eloquent enough: he really thought that he could take him by
surprise? His eyebrow twitched under the cowl and Batman jolted passing over
Superman’s body with a somersault that the alien barely caught. He landed
softly at his feet but sprang again as a blur came at him – Superman wouldn’t
admit defeat – Batman smirked as he twisted his body to meet Superman’s instead
of avoid it.
He could tell that the Man of Steel was astonished but as Batman expected,
Clark wrapped his arms around his torso and connected their lips in a wild
tango of flesh… He felt the rush of movement but Batman didn’t worry: his back
was softly rested on the wall and immediately fast hands were unclenching his
armor’s parts causing his heartbeat and breath go crazy… Superman’s lips were
sucking desperately the visible part of his face, frustrated for being unable
to get access to the rest of the face.
But the Man of Steel was luckier in stripping Batman’s hips and his greedy
hands fondled the human’s buttocks roaring his pleasure in Bruce’s mouth.
“It’s… wrong…” Batman growled. “Superman… can’t be… fucking around – especially
with Batman…” of course his moans disrupting every syllable were relaying the
opposite.
“Who cares?”
Superman grabbed his still armored legs and brought them to hug his hips in the
same second Superman freed his erection. And then Batman’s gloves tightened on
Superman’s back as his lover thrust in him causing a moan.
“No foreplay?” Batman growled in Superman’s ear biting carefully to not break
his teeth but the effect on the Man of Steel was powerful.
“I think” he thrust again “we had that” he grunted perfectly synchronized with
Bruce as the human sucked and licked his neckline “I, with Metropolis’ thugs
and you, with Gotham’s scum…”
Superman began thrusting without restricting himself only holding Batman
tenderly to not be hurt by hitting the wall from his force. And Bruce was
moaning and grunting as Clark searched with his teeth for Batman’s still hidden
cheekbones.
“Take off your damn cowl…” he rasped between his thrusts that sent fire to
Bruce’s spine.
Batman’s gloved hands fisted Superman’s messy locks as his blood boiled with
joy.
“Never!”
Superman’s eyes found Batman’s real eyes since he had deactivated the lenses
and the Man of Steel chuckled like a boy; his thrusts became faster and then he
cupped Batman’s head touching their foreheads together.
“Sex on a Gotham rooftop” he breathed “I always wanted to do that…”
Batman bit Superman’s lower lip.
“Not so boyscout-y…”
Superman laughed and then his hot fluid rushed in Bruce’s body filling him with
goose bumps exactly as his own climax erupted. Superman’s embrace became
tighter.
“You’re my life-giving sun…Don’t you ever leave me…”
“Do you really want to do that to him? Do you believe that he deserves that?”
it blew like a thunder in the quiet of the night.
It was the same arrogant female voice that had jeered him for being hidden
behind a tree only this time the scorn was stronger. And Gotham was gone, as
the cool air, to be replaced by impenetrable milky-white fog…
Bruce suddenly could see the fog dissolving revealing the back of a kneeled
Superman dressed in the same grandiose attire Bruce was wearing during his stay
in the Fortress of Solitude. With the difference of being all white in
agreement with the surrounding crystals…A color that Bruce knew it was mournful
because the whole scene clenched his insides in sorrow. Reflecting Superman’s
emotional state… whose head was slumped in his chest, his arms loosely left to
touch the cold surface without any energy, without any mood to make a move.
It seemed that the Man of Steel didn’t even breathe either had a heartbeat but
Bruce could see his tears falling from his eyes…
“…my heart doesn’t beat anymore but I know that I won’t die…” he heard again
Clark’s dry voice recounting his nightmare.
 He felt his heart ache for Clark and moved closer to console him because they
could fight everything together… He touched his shoulder blade but his froze as
his eyes were able to discern in front of Superman. The Man of Steel was
leaning above a body…Bruce’s body.
“I’ll continue float with you in my arms but you won’t ever come back to me and
I’ll be forever alive but dead…”
Bruce bit his lips hard and the copper taste of blood was heavy; he looked at
his dead self and his face was gaunt and wrinkled, his hair white: he was old,
very old…and Clark was young, beautiful as ever – he looked like Bruce’s
grandson but the Man of Steel was crying for him, his insides were torn apart
because his human lover died his natural death of age…
“It’s okay, Clark” he whispered to Superman’s ear and caressed his shoulder.
“We lived together all these years…humans die but at least you gave me
happiness…You’ll be alright – life is beautiful and people love you: your heart
will beat again with joy…”
He closed his eyes: he knew the pain Clark was feeling…The pain of losing your
loved ones… It kept stabbing through the years.
“Do you enjoy what you succeeded?” the same female voice hissed in his ear. “Do
your human egoism relish seeing a being like him broken for your sake?”
Her voice was poison and Bruce could see Superman’s crystal, sparkling
eyes…only they were glassy, their blue topaz glow put out as if these eyes were
of a dead man… Of a dead man crying above the corpse of an old man as if this
carcass had sucked Superman’s life and energy before dying or even after death.
“No…” Bruce spat angrily. “You can’t be like this, Clark! You’re life
incarnated! You’re my Sun…” his voice was choked by despair.
He heard steps echoing to the empty, depressive chamber. A snigger sharper than
knife wounded the silence of Clark’s non existing vitals and silent sobs.
“YOUR. SUN…” she spat gleeful. “Of course, littl’ Brucie kept Superman for
himself so his miserable life could get some light – so he could hide behind
him…to brag that someone like him managed to capture, trap and drag Superman to
a living death, along with him…”
Bruce shook his head.
“No, Clark…Your life doesn’t end with mine…” he tried to chuckle as if Clark
could hear him but he ended up grunting. “You know that…You promised…”
The woman laughed.
“It’s your fault: you always knew that he wouldn’t be able to keep that promise
but still you doomed him…you doomed humankind…”
He saw buildings burning, collapsing, huge waves shattering ships, people
crying for help, mothers beg Superman to save their babes…but Superman though
could hear their pleading didn’t stir, his dead eyes focused on the old man’s
wrinkled face, his hands weakly caressing the gaunt cheeks.
Bruce gulped because Superman’s pain had settled in his throat as well as in
his heart.
“I stare at your face begging with my blank eyes because my voice is lost; I’m
begging you to come back…but you don’t…” Clark’s monotonous voice continued
echoing through the crystal walls.
The steps stopped right next to him.
“You did that: you put your egoism above anything else – above his wellbeing.
Do you really think that you offered him anything more than agony, suffering
and pain? Even the satisfaction he deserves was taken away from him by you…”
Bruce turned to the presence right next to him and his eyes widened seeing the
one he already knew.
“Selfish human, do you believe that you’re worthy of him? You’re worthy of his
love and misery?!”
“He isn’t miserable!” he yelled but he wasn’t sure.
Diana jerked her head and began laughing.
And Bruce found himself in front of the Daily Planet building in a Metropolis
that was totally different, like coming taken off a sci - fi movie depicting
the distant future. He heard the sound and raised his eyes to see Superman and
Wonder Woman hammering some bizarre flying enemies until the last one was down.
The crowd cheered as the two heroes hugged mid-air and kissed passionately.
A blade ripped Bruce’s heart in two but his eyes disobeyed him and kept looking
there… and then someone else flew to them: a boy dressed in Superman’s – the
House of El – colors; he had raven hair and crystal blue eyes; a curl brushing
his forehead exactly like his father’s. The boy rushed to them and Clark took
the boy between him and Diana, and Bruce saw that the boy had the same lips
with her and a tiara like hers was in his locks… Their son…
Bruce felt one by one the drops of blood from his heart…yet…he was happy
because Clark’s eyes were alive, joyful, hopeful…
“Do you want to deprive him of all this happiness?”
The drenched in sunshine landscape of the future Metropolis with the smiling
super family dissolved abruptly leaving in its place the depressive all white
chamber of the Fortress with the slumped, uncaring, broken Superman. His dead
eyes were stabbing Bruce’s heart though the Man of Steel wasn’t looking at
anything except the lifeless face of his dead lover or not even this but
somewhere in the past. It was obvious that from now on for Clark there was only
the past: not the present, not the future, not life – exactly like a ghost…
“I don’t think that you’d like Superman settled in his Fortress indifferent to
the world’s suffering…”Clark’s playful voice echoed from past times.
And then he felt again the shadow of the Amazon Princess scolding at him.
“Are you so cruel?” she hissed.
Bruce stirred in his sleep; he was vaguely aware that it was a dream but still
the impact was grave – actually, a gravestone settled on his chest and he just
wanted to get out of the blindingly white chamber and escape to something
relieving: like reality…
Well, there was nothing relieving in feeling that you’re cut in half with your
body below the waist being nonexistent. He tried to re-experience the feelings
from the other dream where his legs were alive again but the thud, exhausting
beating inside his ribcage didn’t permit that.
The strong medication he was treated with always made it difficult for him to
get quickly from sleep to awakening; it demanded some ‘twilight’ zone where
Bruce was aware of his surroundings and pondered on things: actually, although
rapid awakening was crucial for him, that pondering was nice and inspiring.
However, today the ‘twilight’ pondering was filled with disappointment as an
abrupt clearing informed him that although he was warmly cocooned this cocoon
wasn’t Clark’s hot body but blankets carefully placed to muffle him
meticulously. He was dressed in his warmest pajamas – if he knew Clark well,
the ones he wore last night were neatly hanged to the chair’s back because he
was taught by his mother to be neat.
His body was cleaned from his and Clark’s sweat, saliva and…semen. His lover
had cleaned him after he fell asleep defeated by the medication, the fatigue
and…the happiness of Clark’s return. Definitely Clark didn’t use the shower’s
aid; he’d have woken…So he cleaned him with his own means… – on that he felt
his cheeks hot which angered him because he was behaving like a teen – an
innocent teen while he was anything but that!
He inhaled deeply: innocent or not, teen or not, his hands caressed the other
side of the mattress. The absence of that body-nest around him and that hot
respiration wetting his ear and sending electric currents to his healthy body
discouraged Bruce for the day that dawned.
But he was in Gotham now – here the time difference didn’t exist so Clark had
to fly to Metropolis for his daily job. Here they didn’t have the blessing of
sharing mornings…Unless, Bruce struggled and didn’t surrender in deep sleep so
to get up the same time with Clark, which would first cause an outcry from
Leslie…and the rest of the gang, and second would hurt the infamous ‘rest to
heal’ dogma, especially when the surgery could be happening soon…
There was something warm on his chest but it certainly wasn’t Clark’s
‘possessive’ arm…and it purred! His face radiated with a big smile and he
actually chuckled before opening his eyes exactly when his fluffy burden felt
the movement and stood to bring its face above Bruce’s.
Bruce now giggled, finding it so funny to have Hero’s pink nose right above his
own and the kitten’s big round eyes looking him curiously.
“So…you were the burden over my chest? Huh?” he narrowed his eyes mock strictly
but the kitten didn’t buy it and pecked his cheek causing a new lighthearted
laugh. “Nah…It wasn’t your fault, buddy…”
Indeed the impression from the dream lingered and Bruce shook his head to clear
it.
“Do you think that all these drugs I’m taking and Crane’s sick experiments got
to me?” he caressed Hero’s head. “Or it’s the thoughts I don’t want to
acknowledge?”
Hero’s paw touched his nose softly and Bruce nodded.
“You’re right…I’m babbling…” he took gently the animal from its armpits and
lifted it to place it on the pile of blankets. “Wait a minute, buddy…to hoist
myself. As much as I’ve been training, it’s still much different from having my
legs doing the job…”
Yet his ascent was stopped abruptly when his eyes fell on the nightstand and he
ended up supporting himself on his elbow. He knew he should have smiled on the
sight yet his expression stayed neutral. On the nightstand lay his tablet-like
gadget – it had fallen on the floor when Clark lifted him last night so Clark
must have picked it up before he left. Upon its screen a ruby colored rose was
placed diagonally – Clark knew that this screen was indestructible and scratch
proof; under the rose the entire screen was covered with Italian letters:
“I’m sorry I left without saying anything but you were sleeping so peacefully –
like an angel – and I didn’t want to ruin your dreams (I hope they were filled
with me…)” – of course they were…Bruce almost sighed “I’ll come as soon as I
slip Perry’s clutches…I love you! P.S. Thank you for being so generous and
forgave me…”
Bruce took the rose whose thorns were meticulously removed and inhaled deeply
its intoxicating smell – certainly, Clark brought it from another corner of the
planet and didn’t just buy it because the fresh drops on its petals were
natural and not the product the florists were using.
Hero had climbed again to his lap now that he was in sitting position and
touched his muzzle to the petals.
Bruce’s eyes were blank replaying the scenes from last night with a strange mix
of feelings: he was joyful and relieved that Clark hadn’t been injured or
something and that he came back to him, but on the same time he felt a sinking
feeling: he knew he did the right thing to act like that yet…it hit him like…
“You were there, Hero…You think I’m too soft to him?” his sparkling eyes met
the kitten’s, who stopped rubbing its head to Bruce’s chest and Bruce frowned
shocked “do you think that he has wrapped me around his pinky?!”
He was Batman, for pity’s sake! He shouldn’t be like this…like…like… He should
have made Clark beg for his forgiveness; torture, punish him for letting him in
agony – for being with the Amazon more than with him…Her voice from the dream
echoed again in his head and he rubbed his face.
No, he wanted Clark to be happy even when the Man of Steel caused Bruce some
turmoil…Because Clark had suffered because of him all these months; Clark took
care of him like a father and a mother together: he was bathing him, feeding
him in the mouth like a baby.
He’d have died without his love and care…Clark’s heartbreaking howl of that
night when Bruce succumbed to his injuries made the blood freeze in his
veins…Clark loved him and his love troubled and filled the older man with
agony…so he needed some time alone to find himself, his stability…despite being
the most powerful being, Clark could be bent from his fears and his fears had
to do with Bruce’s vulnerability and that was that caused his irritation when
he decided to return to Gotham. But now he was sure that Clark was calm again
and things would be like the first days after his awakening.
Unless…He remembered the footage from the UN ceremony; the knowing laughter of
the reporters as they commented on the rapid disappearance of the two
superheroes… Did Clark enjoy more her company than his? But then he recalled
all the moments from last night, the massage that gave again life in his legs –
though now they were again dead -, the kisses, the moans, the whispers, the
promises…Don’t make promises you can’t keep…
“Master Bruce, you’re already awake?” the door opening and Alfred’s slightly
surprised and embarrassed voice dissolved his thoughts. “Pardon me for not
knocking the door but I didn’t want to disrupt your rest – I was going to
just...”
“…Check on me” Bruce smiled. “It’s okay, Alfred” he reassured him and took in
Alfred’s nonchalant eyes estimating the room’s condition.
“Perhaps you should resume your sleep for a couple of hours more: Mr. Leench,
your physiotherapist isn’t due till afternoon and it’s not even 8 o’clock: you
must be tired after Master Kent’s return” Alfred’s eyes were cool as ever when
his young master’s cheeks became red.
“Actually, I’m quite rested, Alfred” he said having decided to stop being a
teen in these things. “You know that Clark is very careful and takes care of my
body’s wellbeing…” he frowned “but how you knew about his coming?”
Alfred walked to the chair that hosted Bruce’s pajamas and gestured to the
clothes.
“First of all, the pajamas you wore last night: you wear a different set now;
second, the rose you hold and third, the body shape in the other side of the
bed” his face was totally expressionless but Bruce could make out a sparkle of
amusement in his clever eyes.
“I must remember to exploit your detective skills…” he replied arching his
eyebrows and placing the rose on the nightstand.
He brought his legs off the mattress to touch the floor as the wheelchair
‘reading’ his order came near him; Alfred waited eager to help but didn’t make
a move because he knew his master’s wish to make everything alone – not even
Hero moved closer to not thwart his master’s effort. However, Alfred grabbed
the robe and held it for Bruce to wear immediately after he was settled in the
chair.
“Alfred…” he was hesitant to phrase his question as his arms slipped inside the
robe.
“Yes, sir?” Alfred though for eighteen years had been kept away from the boy,
had trained himself to read his mood even when there were no many signs – and
the clever man saw that apart from the relief the reunion brought and something
else.
Bruce opened his mouth but closed it shaking his head.
“Nothing…”
But Alfred was so attentive for anything threatening Bruce’s emotional peace
that couldn’t let the chance go away.
“Forgive my insistence, sir, but you know that I’m here for everything you want
to share, right?” Bruce raised his eyes to find his butler’s eyes. “Your trust
is always an honor for me.”
And a pain…Bruce thought and he didn’t want to sadden this good man with such
things. However Alfred was wise and patient and unbiased concerning Clark; Tony
didn’t cover the last so he couldn’t ask him.
“Alfred, do you think that I have changed?” he asked straight and ran his
fingers through Hero’s fur – the kitten had found the chance to resume his
rightful place in Bruce’s lap.
The older man lifted an eyebrow because it was a complex question and his young
master’s eyes manifested how important it was.
“Before answering properly that question, allow me to require some
clarifications: change in relation to what and when.”
Bruce inclined slightly his head and licked his lips: he should have asked the
question properly.
“Do you think that…what happened between me and Clark has changed me?”
Now that was difficult to answer: Alfred had lived Bruce only through glimpses
– stolen, rushed moments filled with agony in the darkness of the Manor’s
underground caves – and then his daily experience with him was only for one
year from the moment Falcone decided to move to the Manor and drag Bruce along.
He felt that he knew the youth better than anyone – except from Miss Kyle – but
still the seriousness in those young eyes said to him that Alfred had
responsibility to assess right.
“To begin with, Master Bruce, anything new in our life can cause changes –
especially, when that new is a person and more important a person that stirs
the strongest emotions inside us” Bruce was staring at him sucking every word
collected yet giving the impression that he was holding his breath.
Alfred leaned and held the young man’s upper arms.
“The core of us remains the same yet when something so strong enters our lives
some changes do happen; maybe not so much in our personality but mainly in the
way we see things and cope with them. Life means change, Master Bruce” Bruce’s
eyes were sparkling “our experiences in relationships always bring something
different in our worldview or attitude around other people. What is important
though is whether we feel content with those changes; whether we consider them
good or bad or if I may say, worth to be maintained.”
Alfred’s stare was stronger now.
“Which leads us to this, sir: are you content with your relationship with
Master Kent and how it is affecting your personality?”
Bruce’s eyes lowered a bit and then returned to look at his butler’s kind face.
“I’m too soft with Clark? Am I acting out off character? Sloppy?”
Alfred was divided between smiling for the youth’s first known love issues and
being serious because it was very important for Bruce – and so for Alfred too.
“I get that you didn’t – let’s say – punish him much last night, right?”
Bruce blinked: he felt so uncomfortable speaking for these things. He actually
felt like an idiot.
“Not at all…” he admitted.
Alfred pressed his lips.
“Did you feel the need to punish him for staying away without a word?”
Bruce lowered his head and rubbed his forehead. He shook his head.
“No…I just wanted him to get back safe…and be like…” he inhaled “like we were
before the attack. Oh, Alfred, I can’t get angry with Clark… he also suffered
too much and struggles all the time with his fears of me being hurt…and I’m
sorry for him” he yanked his head. “Maybe these things aren’t for me: I don’t
think that I’m supposed to be in such situations…”
Alfred frowned: no, Bruce shouldn’t think like this.
“Do you regret the last night, Master Bruce?” Bruce’s eyes widened and got
warm.
He shook his head in denial and brushed Hero’s head.
“No, I was…happy.”
“Did you ever regret what you started with Master Kent?”
Alfred didn’t lose the tension in Bruce’s healthy body.
“Only when I was to die and I felt Clark’s terrible pain; that howl of his the
moment I…” he locked eyes with his butler “when I momentarily died…” he tasted
again the sour taste of his dream. “But other than that, no, I have no
regrets.”
Alfred’s lips twitched.
“So if I’m getting this right, the Bat inside you is concerned that you let
Master Kent easily get away with his misbehavior and nudges you, huh?” he
stretched his posture. “Well, I’d hate to make suggestions but why not enjoy
your last night reunion, which I assume it was quite pleasant? Perhaps the
brilliant young man that we know Master Clark is realized his misbehavior and
won’t do it again…But if he does anything so nasty again you’ll adjust your
stance accordingly?” he winked smiling.
“I just don’t want him to think that I’m a desperate victim that clang to the
first person that approached him…”
Alfred nodded solemn.
“Pardon me, sir, but I think that currently this is your own fear: what if
Master Kent actually thinks that he is the bloody luckiest man on this planet
and thus the happiest too?” Bruce raised his eyes to him. “You’re not weakened,
sir, because you’re soft and understanding to the man you love, like Batman is
not less strong when is generous enough to give criminals a second chance. It
demands more strength to depart from one’s anger and adhere to what is really
important…”
Bruce gave a smile and nodded; Alfred’s heart beat calmer because he saw that
his young master was relaxed, his face regaining his beautiful healthy rosy
color. And as the kitten in his lap became restless and writhed rubbing his fur
on Bruce’s chest, Alfred saw the clouds dissolving.
“Shower and breakfast, sir?”
“Hero…Hero…” the kitten was nuzzling Bruce’s neck purring and the young man
tried to escape. “I think he is hungry, Alfred…” he chuckled. “Is Tony still
here?”
Alfred was already gathering his master’s pajamas from the chair.
“I just met him on the corridor to the kitchen: Master Anthony like myself
thought that you’ll be sleeping for some more. Do you want me to notify him?”
Bruce made an affirmative sound.
“I wish Selina had stayed for the night too: I always have more appetite with
all my friends around the table…”
He let Hero down and turned towards the bathroom that was already adjusted to
his increased and special needs as an individual with mobility impairments.
“There are many things I have to do today, Alfred” he said with vivacity as his
chair rolled inside the bathroom.
“A lot, sir?” Alfred’s voice was slightly downhearted because definitely he
wanted for his young master to continue his rest filled days at Thasos.
Bruce realized and grinned to him.
“I won’t exert myself, Alfred, I promise, but there are things that waited too
long.”
“Of course, sir” he nodded.
Hero’s soft paws didn’t make a sound on the thick carpet but Bruce caught him
before the kitten slipped in the bathroom.
“Do you want a bath too?” he asked him as he brought Hero’s head to his. “I
don’t think so…” he shook his head and let the kitten outside the bathroom
closing the door.
Bruce chuckled remembering the first time he bathed Hero. He was still in the
Fortress and although Clark reminded him what he already knew that is to say
that in the Fortress bath didn’t require water, Bruce insisted on Hero getting
used to the normal procedure…
Well, it proved to be quite difficult to persuade an energetic two months old
kitten to be bathed…and thankfully, Clark was there not only to help
controlling Hero but also to dry and dress Bruce in new attire because he ended
up more drenched than Hero.
He was laughing so hard as if he was again the giggling toddler in the Manor’s
grounds and he sensed Clark’s glimmering eyes sucking the sight of Bruce
‘wrestling’ with his kitten before the Man of Steel erupted in even louder
laughter and joined them to get as much soaked.
Hero was clean and dry in his kryptonian basket and Clark heaved Bruce in his
arms: they were both dripping water and even their hair was soaked. Bruce
couldn’t stop his hands from touching Clark’s wet locks and he was surprised to
feel Superman shaking from emotion.
“We must get those drenched clothes off you…” Superman breathed in a husky
voice and Bruce was naked in a second and Clark’s mouth was glued to his,
tantalizing and conquering his lips.
Bruce had closed his eyes diving into the sweetness of the Kryptonian’s kiss
and the avalanche of his touches to the healthy part of his body; touches which
although soft and tender drove his newly revitalized body to excitement and
bliss. Once more Clark sparked life in him…
 
Clark was scrolling down on his PC screen the news headlines referring to
Bruce’s arrival. He supported his chin on his palm and his eyes were blank
replaying the last night’s moments: he never had much need for sleep so that
permitted him to watch Bruce sleeping…and that would melt him every time,
especially as he spooned Bruce’s warm body that emanated that intoxicating
smell that was paralyzing pleasantly his brain as his half open lips nestled in
the human’s neck.
“If you plan on writing an article concerning the reactions about Bruce’s
return too late, buster! Perry gave it to someone else. You lost your chance to
cover it live” Lois settled on his desk sniffing at him.
Clark heard her coming and was ready for her outburst – he hadn’t answered her
calls from yesterday: oops!
“Aaaand you didn’t have the decency to answer my calls, farm boy!” she shook
her head disgusted “Ms. Kent will be very displeased when hears about your
behavior…”
Clark smiled to her and she frowned narrowing his eyes.
“C’me on, Lois… You know how highly I think of you” she cocked an eyebrow and
rolled her eyes in disbelief “but I didn’t call you back ‘cause we’re gonna
argue and argue, and I wanted to ‘answer’ Bruce’s calls and talk to you up
close and personal.”
Lois took his cup of coffee and sipped grimacing.
“You certainly can afford a better coffee…”
Clark snorted.
“As soon as Ms. Rose decides to buy a new coffee machine.”
Lois chuckled; she was a fan of Ms. Rose’s bakery as well but the old lady’s
coffee machine was from the 90s.
“So you made Bruce so worried that he was searching for you through phone…”
Clark sighed and nodded pressing his lips.
“I did and it was cruel from me. I went to him to soothe him and…make up to
him.”
Lois shook her head.
“I hope he made you kneel and beg and beg and cry. That would do your” she
lowered her voice to whisper “super powered ass justice.”
He jerked his eyebrows upwards.
“He…he wasn’t angry” he looked Lois in the eyes showing his vast regret “he was
worried, Lois, and sad, and that was worse than being angry and forcing me to
beg for getting in his good books again. Of course I apologized” he added
hastily “and…I made my best to compensate and make him happy again…” he winked.
But Lois’ eyes widened.
“You didn’t!” she exclaimed shocked and some of their colleagues looked at her.
“You told me that his pelvis is too fragile” she continued much calmer and in
whispery mode after casting a glare at the others.
Clark chuckled.
“I gave him a heavenly pleasant – I’m not bragging here…- massage that relaxed,
rested and revitalized his body.”
Lois crossed her arms.
“Like ad for brothel selling cheap porn massage!” she snorted.
Clark opened his mouth affronted and raised his index finger shaking his head.
“No cheap, not cheap at all!”
“And he just let you?”
Clark huffed: he knew that he deserved to be tormented by Bruce but he was glad
the younger man didn’t go for that option.
“Oh, Lois, I know I acted stupidly but I regretted it and apologized and why we
should have kept arguing about my stupidity and not go on enjoying the moments
life offers us?”
Lois’s mouth crooked in a smirk and she snorted.
“Cut the crap, buster! The boy needs to learn some things…”
Clark yanked his head and chuckled.
“Bruce has Stark to disparage me.”
She nodded with her eyebrow cocked.
“Yeah…a womanizer. Bruce needs a woman to teach him about men.”
“He is a man too, you know…” he tilted his head on the side.
Lois shook her index finger.
“He is much more than simply a man: he is a sweetheart, the bravest, cutest
being out there… but he is inexperienced and innocent” Clark shook his head
smiling in disbelief for the strong sympathy Bruce got from women. “I hope you
realize that you’re the luckiest bastard, mister!”
Clark looked her in the eyes, completely serious.
“Do I look like I haven’t realized?”
She widened her eyes in emphasis.
“Absolutely! And though I’m a woman, I tell you: that Diana sucks and doesn’t
compare with Bruce.”
Clark pinched the bridge of his nose.
“I have nothing with her, Lois: she is just a friend and ally.”
“That you can sell to others not me – I see how you look at her!” she leaned to
him placing her palm on the desk.
He ruffled his hair.
“Okay! I might look at her…appraising and acknowledging her beauty” Lois
grunted “but it’s normal, Lois… Before I met Bruce I was heterosexual so I
recognize the female beauty too.”
Lois crossed her arms.
“Heterosexual my ass! Even your mom knows that her son had experience with both
sexes…” Clark crooked his lips. “The name Ron Cooper rings a bell?” she smirked
and Clark blushed. “You’re bisexual but either of them doesn’t justify you
drooling for her. She’s bad influence, Clark!” she inhaled deeply. “You began
neglecting Bruce from the day you met her – do you think he didn’t notice?”
“Wait…wait… Neglect? For pity’s sake, Lois!”
But she poked him at the chest grimacing because she had forgotten that this
actually hurt.
“You have to get a grip, Smallville: Bruce might be sweet and kind and
forgiving but I’m sure that if you continue your double play he’ll react
because he has dignity – he won’t stand being fooled around by you.”
Well, Clark was also sure more so since he knew that Batman was watching.
“You need to clear things, Clark, because you’ll hurt him and remember that you
vowed to not let anyone do exactly that?”
Clark lowered his eyes.
“There’s nothing going on between me and Diana. Honestly.”
Lois looked him disbelievingly.
“I hope you’re not lying to yourself, Clark…” she pouted. “You need to be
honest with yourself, buddy…”
He licked his dry lips and his eyes found Bruce on the news’ photos on his PC
screen.
“I love Bruce and I’d never cause him new pain: he has had enough of this
shit…”
“Good to hear…” she patted his shoulder. “On other stuff: we had some gang
quarrels last night – Police hints Intergang: seems like the new gang is
expanding and increases its power while remains vague like a ghost.”
Clark nodded.
“I was watching White and Stitches last night – they spoke about their boss but
nothing fascinating; just some scattered words about a plan and about how
confident he is – they hinted that their mysterious boss isn’t afraid of
Superman…”
She raised her eyebrows and whistled impressed.
“Do you think that he has Kryptonite stock? Maybe he was co-operating with
Luthor?”
“That would explain the raid in the LexLab…”
“Yeah…and then they added other laboratories in their target to drive us away
from suspecting their actual interest.”
Clark remembered Bruce’s suggestion to discuss about the attack against him –
well, that moment he wasn’t in a state to discuss anything but as soon as he
left the Planet he’d rush to Gotham to share notes with him.
 
Jim Gordon was pacing the rooftop of the MCU building which was an unusual
thing since he used to do that a lot but at night not early morning. He looked
at the bat signal that had remained unlit for a long time. His obscure ally
after the incident in the Chickey’s factory had become even more unreachable.
Batman had saved the children, had stopped Joker and his goons and since then
kept a low profile – not that Gotham needed something more for the time being.
Certainly, Batman read the circumstances and adjusted to their needs and at the
moment the city was quite calm with criminality rates that reminded other,
normal cities. His ally during these months had contacted him via his
cellphone. Yet Jim had an odd gut feeling concerning the city’s protector; and
he had the boy’s testimony. Dick Grayson was also held hostage by the Joker and
according to his sayings Batman saved him both from the jester and the fire –
along with a strange woman because as Dick said the last glimpse he had from
Batman was of him under a lethal pile of debris from the collapsing building.
Dick was sure that Batman had been killed. Okay, the boy was distraught and
shocked that night so maybe he had estimated wrongly. Also the fact that many
witnesses said that they saw Batman after the incident and he had contacted Jim
proved that the Dark Knight wasn’t killed. However that didn’t deny the
possibility of him being licking the wounds the fire surely made to him.
So Jim was worried and couldn’t enjoy the miracle in Gotham’s criminality
charts. He inhaled deeply: not that expected this to last forever without some
aspiring crime lord making his move – Gotham still had some figures whose fame
was ambiguous and burdened with suspicious: it wasn’t a matter of time before
they decided to make the big move and claim the rule, forming a new underworld.
Jim even though there wasn’t any critical condition missed his allies: Harvey
Dent and Batman. Robert Howard was a talented young lawyer and as much justice
oriented as Harvey but still Jim would be glad to have the old DA back. Maybe
if Garcia actually made that referendum about Dent’s return… And then Bruce
Wayne: the young man had manifested with actions his support Gotham and the
police but he was hurt badly from the League of Shadows to the point of being
disabled… Would the tormented man have the strength and will to continue his
active support? Or the new tragedy would break his admirable stance turning his
interest more into the vast needs of himself? Even if the latter happened Jim
could not blame the boy…
“That spotlight isn’t of much use lately…” Montoya’s voice burst suddenly but
Jim by now was used to that and wasn’t startled.
He smirked – Batman taught him that. He turned to see both Montoya and Bullock.
“Peace melancholy, chief?” the young officer asked him.
“Unfortunately, lieutenant, peace doesn’t last much…”
Bullock nodded solemnly.
“We have to be always ready” the tough officer remarked.
Jim patted the shoulders of both.
“This is our job” Jim said and turned his head to the spotlight. “And I’m sure
that someone else out there is thinking exactly the same thing…”
 
When Bruce entered the kitchen Tony was sipping his espresso and Alfred was
refilling his plate with scrambled eggs. The tycoon from Malibu looked at his
friend’s stare raising his eyebrows.
“What? You think I’m eating too much? It’s Al’s fault because usually I am an
abstinent guy…” he pouted and turned his eyes upwards deep in thought; he shook
his head “with food…” he clarified stressing the words. “It’s how I maintain
that divinely beautiful sexy body!”
Bruce nodded smiling and took his place at the island in the middle of the huge
kitchen room.
“Good morning, Tony!” he cocked an eyebrow to his friend who grimaced.
“Damn! I knew I forgot something… Good morning, little guy, but this Gotham
weather doesn’t persuade of a good morning…” he sighed.
“If I may, Master Anthony, it is just a figure of speech and a wish…” Alfred
smirked while serving breakfast to Bruce who brought his chair to the proper
height to the bench.
Hero who was slurping his own breakfast turned his head to regard his master.
Tony regarded the butler under his arched eyebrows.
“I must add that to Jarvis’ repertoire of ‘sarcastic retorts to Stark’s clever
comments’.”
Alfred shook his head affronted.
“Sarcastic, Master Anthony?”
“Clever comments?” Bruce chuckled, locking eyes with his friend.
“Et tu, Brute?” Tony sighed, mock hurt and Bruce tilted his head on the side.
“Now, that was a really clever comment but…a bit cliché” Tony opened his mouth
to protest “Sorry, Tony, I just can’t stop myself from teasing you…”
Tony nodded.
“Yah, yah, yah…Poor Tony always being the punchbag…” he pouted but then
laughed. “I love it when you tease me, buddy” he cocked an eyebrow “Batman
definitely improves with my charming humor’s influence…”
Bruce took a spoonful of his cereals – he just couldn’t stand scrambled eggs
for breakfast and coffee was forbidden because had a counter effect on his
medication, so just milk, juice and toasted bread with honey.
“It’s nice having you around for breakfast, Tony.”
Tony gulped his food.
“Ah! Now I see why it seemed to you like a good morning…I’m glowing, baby!” he
shook his head. “Poor Malibu will be facing a gloomy weather without me…”
Alfred huffed causing Tony’s innocent glance and shrugging and Bruce just
sipped his milk.
“Actually, it’s a perfect sunshine day in Malibu, Tony…” Pepper’s voice came
out of Tony’s phone: she had left a message to his StarkStel and Tony had set
it in waiting mode to connect her immediately.
Tony crossed his arms and shook his head in disappointment.
“My other sycophant! Well, good morning, sunshine!”
“Good morning, Alfred, Bruce, Hero…, Tony…”
Tony leaned on the island towards Bruce.
“Lesson 1: this is what you get when you leave them some days without mind-
blowing sex…” he mouthed to him stretching his eyebrows for emphasis, pointing
at his own chest and Bruce almost choked in his food. “You get toppled to the
bottom of the list with a kitten before you” he met Hero’s eyes “no offence,
furry buddy…”
A hologram of Pepper scowling at him popped up from his StarkStel.
“Stop corrupting Bruce!” she grunted shaking her index finger and Tony turned
towards her with a smug expression.
“These are life lessons from the best, Peps…”
She rolled her eyes.
“Anyway…I called to remind you of the meeting with the executives of the tech
department.”
Tony crossed his arms and yanked his head.
“Ugh! I must give my lights again to those people…Com’ on, Peps…I prefer
overlooking the last details of the Avengers’ Tower – you can’t expect
everything from good, ol’ Tony, you slackers!”
Pepper was indifferent.
“Whatever… I’m sure you’d rather play with your LEGO but it’s about the
StarkExpo so your presence is required.”
Tony ruffled his black locks bored crooking his mouth.
“Okay, I’ll be there. It’s nice Happy and the jet is here: it’s been days since
I last made a grandiose, cocky entrance to Malibu” he narrowed his eyes
seductively and kissed the air “be ready, babe: I’ll make up to you for those
dry days.”
“Fuck you, Stark!” Pepper fumed and Bruce looked at Tony who smiled smugly and
sighed.
“I truly hope so!”
She rolled her eyes.
“I’m sorry for the wild awakening, Bruce, and for the language, Alfred.”
“No problem, Miss Potts…” Alfred smiled handing Bruce his handful of pills.
“I hope I see all of you soon – I missed you” Pepper said looking at Bruce and
Alfred. “Have a lovely day!”
“I bring out so powerful emotion to people!” Tony exclaimed when Pepper
vanished and the call ended. “Sometimes I impress even myself and myself isn’t
impressed by nobody else than Tony Star…wait! That doesn’t make any meaning,
huh?”
Bruce laughed and swallowed his last pill. Tony smiled warmly and patted his
friend’s shoulder.
“When I return from Malibu I want to know everything about your new tablet –
sounds…adequate…” he said condescendingly.
Bruce snorted.
“Right…Also, I want to discuss about our info on the attack.”
Tony’s face got immediately serious and cloudy.
“I’ll call to cancel the meeting.”
Bruce shook his head.
“There’s no need; actually, I was thinking that evening will be better: I’d
have finished my session with Matt, I’d have checked on some source of mine and
Clark would be off work.”
Tony twisted his mouth and hugged his own upper arms.
“Baaah…He finally decided to grace us with a phone call?” his sarcasm was heavy
as his raised eyebrow.
“He actually came here last night…” Bruce replied with steady voice unfazed by
his friend’s animosity.
Tony nodded.
“I knew I should have put Kryptonite aerial fence around the grounds…”
Alfred cast him a neutral glance and took the empty plates from the island.
“C’me on, Tony… He admitted his fault and I know that it was my decision that
made him upset and pissed – not that I’m making excuses for him…”
Tony jolted to his feet and leaned above his friend clutching the armrests of
Bruce’s chair.
“I was pissed by your decision too, little guy, but I would never do that to
you! Torment you with needless worry, agony and…” he lowered his tone because
he always discerned so many emotions in Bruce’s eyes “sadness” he thought of
Superman with Wonder Woman.
He stretched his body.
“He isn’t worthy of causing so much turmoil to you…”
Alfred was on the verge of saying something but decided that it was
inappropriate to intervene.
“I make many mistakes, Tony, so I can’t hold a grudge against those who also
make them…and Clark saved my life and I” he inhaled “love him so I can’t shove
him out of my life for a misunderstanding…like I can’t lose you, Tony. It’s so
wrong that I want to enjoy my loved ones’ presence?”
The older man ran his fingers through his hair.
“He is a lucky bastard!” he spat. “Don’t let him rest in that, kiddo” he shook
his index finger warningly.
“He won’t, Tony.”
Tony sighed.
“I wish my lovers showed the same understanding…alas! ‘xcuse me now I have a
flight to catch. Bruce, don’t get in full Batman mode…you promised that you
won’t exhaust yourself and that goes for investigation too.”
Bruce grinned.
“Don’t worry, Tony: it’s just a visit.”
 
“It’s final! He has put a spell on you!”
Selina shook her head exasperated staring impatiently at the red light on the
street. Bruce had called her to Wayne Tower to give him a ride with her mini
cooper since he had sent his eye-catching and recognizable car with auto pilot
back to the Manor luring along the raging crowd of reporters who had been
besieging the grounds all night waiting him.
Which was exactly what Bruce wanted: he took his sleek car that all this time
Tony looked into making the proper adjustments for mobility impaired person and
headed to Wayne Tower taking them with him. His return to Gotham had already
changed the vibe for the stable but constantly under attack Enterprises’ shares
erasing all the rumors of his death. And now by visiting his father’s company
he wanted to show that it remained his first priority despite his disability
that wouldn’t keep him locked in.
As was expected, the reporters lingered outside the Tower waiting his departure
hoping for a statement since for his entrance he used the underground parking
evading them. However for the next part of his daily schedule he didn’t want
their escort.
Bruce looked at her.
“My friends deserve some understanding and patience from me, don’t you think?”
But she shook his head and cast him a glance.
“He isn’t a friend: he is a L-O-V-E-R: and that is different! Oh! You need
intense lessons…” the car moved as the light became green.
Bruce turned to look out from the passenger’s window: the doubt that maybe he
hadn’t handled it right and the dream were fighting with the relief and
pleasure of last night.
“He needed to suffer a bit more, kiddo – don’t fall for his puppy, gorgeous
eyes: it’s the same ol’ dirty trick of men!”
“He was already in suffering, Sel; he apologized…”
She huffed and sniggered at the same time.
“You need to dog him a bit to realize your value…”
Bruce tilted his head on the side.
“You think that he doesn’t?”
Selina turned and looked at him sighing.
“I can’t answer that with certainty but boys are…boys: they get easily
impressed by new toys even if their old one is gold with diamonds – they have
it in their possession now, they have it secured so they wander around playing
with other toys.”
Bruce closed his eyes; though there was no real comparison, Falcone was using
him every night and after locking him up, he was sleeping with women who
occasionally gained his interest and desire. But he always returned to him, his
possession…
“I killed Thomas an’ Martha Wayne an’ spared ya in order to have my livin’
trophy to keep my triumph fresh!” Falcone’s voice taunted him.
He shuddered: no, Clark couldn’t be like that. Clark loved him. But then…he
didn’t know anything about these complex things.
“Do you believe that Clark sees me like…a trophy?” his hairs stood on end:
perhaps what kept Clark so passionate with him was his resistance and now that
he had him on his bed, had begun losing interest?
Selina saw her friend’s agitation and it was easy to understand and feel for
him: he just came out of a near death experience, his first love disappeared
for two days making an appearance with a woman who unashamedly claimed him; and
after all this agony, his lover comes back apologizing making Bruce relieved
and happy only for her to come and fill him with doubts.
“If he thinks like this is a big asshole” she exhaled. “You’re nobody’s trophy
– I think Clark knows that and didn’t act like this due to arrogance… we’ll
see…For the time being enjoy the good time he offers you” she cocked her
eyebrows. “You’re too clever to grasp anything off and act accordingly.”
Bruce’s eyes were unreadable and Selina patted his shoulder.
“You did right to act as your instinct told you: if he misinterpreted your love
for weakness, the worse for him! But we know he loves you, right? So no
regrets, Bruce!”
He smiled to her.
“No regrets, Sel!”  
The apartment building they were looking for emerged to the end of the street:
it was a luxurious skyscraper which conveniently had an underground parking –
not that Selina’s car was a target for his reporter-chasers but if someone saw
Bruce coming out, would possibly notify the hungry reporters.
Selina stopped the car and hurried to bring Bruce’s chair for her friend to
easily slip in.
It was a rather modern building so the wide elevator wasn’t really a surprise
but a great convenience for both.
“I had the certainty that he would have picked a loft…” Bruce said to his
friend as the screen indicated the passing floors with red numbers.
“Yeah…More discretion and quiet, especially when you own the entire floor…”
Since the top floor of the building was occupied only by one loft Bruce had no
hesitation to guide his chair only with his brain waves. He stopped before the
plain but reinforced door – he couldn’t help it remembering his first meeting
with Ra’s Al Ghul when Chill stopped him before an equally pricy door and
threatened him to be completely obedient to his second master.
“Are you alright?” Selina grasped his hand: her friend had coped wonderfully
with the long flight but those last days had exhausted him and she had her eyes
open for any sign.
Bruce raised his head to see her face and smiled reassuringly.
“Perfect…”
Selina’s hand was ready to press the small screen which served as a doorbell
but the door opened.
“I was expecting you…”
***** Chapter 19 *****
Crane had just ended another boring session with Dr. Finley, his inadequate
psychiatrist, and breathed satisfied once out of his office. He walked the
linoleum corridor escorted by an orderly that wasn’t Ted – Jonathan advised Ted
to not ask to be his orderly in order to not raise any suspicions about Ted’s
preferential treatment and loyalty to his former employer.
He sniffed at his orderly and followed him to the common room because it was
still early for lunch. Jonathan now that his chore with Dr. Finley was over
could let his pleasant mood return: it was a nice day because he was to have a
day off from Joker’s bullying stupidity.
However that changed the moment he put his foot in the vast common room that
thanks to Wayne’s generous donation was extremely and impressively renovated
after Crane’s sharp downfall; he heard the appalling giggle of the jester.
Jonathan’s upper lip twitched nervously from frustration and his eyes went
blank.
Joker crossed hopping the space and hugged the skinny doctor under the
orderly’s frown: Dr. Quinzel assured them that Joker was harmless after the
previous day’s breakdown but they had to keep their eyes open just in case.
Well, the orderly did keep his eyes open and was sorry for that because the
jester planted a loud kiss on Crane’s cheek.
Jonathan felt as if a slug had just crawled on his skin and for the first time
experienced a slight sympathy for Bruce Wayne.
“The duuude I wanted to seeeeeeee!” Joker cheered patting Crane’s shoulder and
the same moment turned completely serious to address the orderly. “Can’t you
see we need some uuuum priva—cy here? King Kong? UHAUHAUHAHAHAA!”
The sturdy orderly thought of a few ‘compliments’ for the jester but first the
head’s soft spot on him and second Joker’s fame kept his mouth shut. He didn’t
want to be sacked neither to be targeted by the lunatic: Mark might not be a
genius but he definitely could read the malice in that man even now and he
doubted that the Asylum would hold him for much longer. So he walked away to
his colleagues – he had done his job after all.
Joker wrapped his arm around Crane’s shoulder and led them to the interior of
the room.
“You shouldn’t be here!” Crane hissed as Scarecrow surfaced.
Joker scratched his head and tilted his head.
“I see we’re noooooot a—lone, huh? Any—way: youuur best buddy is my buddy too…”
he knitted his eyebrows in despair “Aaaaand where else could the poooor Jocker
beeeee?”
Crane’s eyes narrowed to slits and flashed.
“To isolation: you almost killed a man! This Quinzel is an idiot!” he growled
in a low voice.
Joker pouted and shook his head.
“Weeeel, I wouldn’t disagree with that…Buuuut I think you’re jealous of the
preference the blondie shows to me – sorry, Johnny boy, but I’m the hunk here!”
he gestured to his orange clad body “as you can see! HEHEHE!”
Crane rolled his eyes and sank to the sofa forced to follow Joker’s abrupt
descent.
“We’ve got to talk” Joker’s voice was strictly business as his eyes.
“’Bout Wayne again?” he answered almost yawning and Joker giggled.
But then Jonathan caught with the corner of his eyes the huge flat TV on the
wall and his lower lip curled in disbelief: it played cartoon which was
unusual: they were always watching the typical TV program.
Joker followed his stare and cackled.
“I looooove Bugs Bunny! And the program suits the place: “the Loony Tunes” –
HEHEHEHE!” he stopped laughing and stabbed Crane with his sharp gaze.
“Harlequin thinks that seeing news ‘bout Brucie drives me mmm…” he shook his
head “crazy and decided that from now ooooon we should watch only programs that
are pure and without violence…HEHEHEHE!”
Crane snorted.
“Yeah…As if you needed Wayne to drive you crazy…”
Joker’s laughter was like hiccup and gave a strong pat in Crane’s back.
“Exactly! You haaaad me down cold” he widened his eyes mock impressed. “W—ow!
You could be a shrink!”
“What do you want, Joker?” the former doctor demanded without any mood.
Joker licked his lips and his whole expression was of a hungry wolf.
“I have had enough of this place” he said in his most nasal, menacing voice
“not enough stimulation, you know… Aaaand now that Brucie is baaaaack…” he
winked grinning slyly “I’m sick of my paaaalm…” he twitched his hand nervously.
Crane’s eyes filled with contempt and he shook his head.
“You can’t leave: everyone knows about Stark’s unbreakable cell.”
Joker hiccupped-laughed.
“And you learnt yesterday the hard way what you get when misbehave.”
Now Joker became serious and came closer to the former doctor.
“I could kill you right now without Stark’s system feels anything… What
happened yesterday was a…” his eyes sparkled coldly as they fixed on Lu who
bore gauze on his neck where Joker’s teeth had sunk “mistake. Not that I didn’t
enjoy the ex--perience…”
“Wayne indeed drove you out of control” Jonathan sneered. “You murder people
without any of the physiological changes that signalize violence to the normal
people: for you violence and murder is what for normal people is eating or
drinking. The only one who can ruin that for you is Wayne: he stirs things in
you making the connected with him murder arousing enough to change your
vitals.”
Joker raised his index finger smacking his lips.
“That’s… NONE of your business!” he hissed. “Aaaaand if I want an analysis I
have myyyyy Harlequin or my god-therapist” he giggled. “A god visited me last
night…Be jealous!”
Crane’s lips crooked in disgust.
“Your drugs need changing…”
Joker was actually satisfied that Crane believed that he had hallucinations.
“Back to ooooour topic…I’m out of here…”
“What if I tell everything to your stupid doctor?”
“HEHE!” he tilted his head staring at him interested. “You won’t dooooo that:
first, because the next day you’ll be deeeead – I might be in isolation but my
goons won’t. Aaaaand second, you don’t want to miss the chance to be free
aaaand…practice your ehmmm…science” he winked.
Jonathan frowned.
“If you count on my contribution to your escape” he shook his head sniggering
“I’m sorry to disappoint.”
Joker tilted his head to the side.
“Nah… I’m not thaaaaaat crazy! Buuuut I always get my gooood buddies along and
youuuu areeeee…” he made a pause for Crane to complete the sentence but when
his fellow inmate didn’t say anything, rolled his eyes exasperated “myyyyy best
BUDDYYYYYY!”
Jonathan smirked and his eyes narrowed.
“You need my expertise in concoctions…toxins and gases” he shook his head. “So
what’s the plan?”
Joker turned his eyes on the ceiling, licking his lips impatiently.
“Doooo I look like a maaaaan of plans?”
Crane snorted.
“Absolutely…” his voice was snarky.
The jester looked him in the eye.
“I take it back that you could be a shrink…Meeeeee planning? Bitch Ppppplease!
I love improvisation aaaaand I have my caaaast available” he opened his arms to
hug the common room that was occupied by various members of his gang.
Of course… Jonathan thought: those stupid doctors brought Joker’s thugs near
him. Anyway, it wasn’t his problem; on the contrary, he could benefit from
this.
“And how far you think you’ll go with Stark having whatever in you monitoring
your vitals? You might be able to trick it into killing people without being
knocked out but certainly Stark can use it to track you or immobilize you
without the need of your vitals triggering.”
Joker nodded enthusiastic.
“Hehehe! I’m a man of positive thinking…aaaand I told you I’ve got myyyyy
personal god…”
The former psychiatrist rolled his eyes snorting.
“Aaaand then you, my Johnny, enter the staaaaage…”
Crane frowned.
“I thought you want me to make my thing to your…wife.”
Joker pressed his lips.
“Hm… I don’t like the sound of it…Next time rephrase it…if you want your
carotid! Well, that’s bonus: I bet you craaaaave to beat Stark on his thing –
you brag to be a genius, rrrrright? So here’s your chance to prove it…I don’t
know…” he scratched his head “maybe a deodorant forming a clooooud blocking the
signals?”
Crane regarded him through half closed eyes: really Joker believed that could
manipulate him?
“I’m a prisoner here” he snapped irritated but always whispering “I don’t have
any of the materials I need and my expertise is psychopharmacology not Stark’s
mambo-jumbo.”
Joker patted his back and blinked.
“Oh! C’me on…Don’t be modest…you caaaaan’t act, after all. I’m sure you’ll find
a way… or else…”
Crane grunted.
“Can you stop doing this? I don’t like threats!”
“Hehe! I think you won’t like more how these threats become acts.”
“Even if you manage to escape and we blind Stark’s system they’ll find you
sooner or later because they’d know you’ll head for Wayne. He has a bunch of
fucking super-heroes protect him…”
Joker arched his eyebrows and stuck his tongue out.
“Super-heroes are over--rated…Aaaand I told you I have my priiiiivate god…” he
inclined his head squinting. “Doooon’t know…perhaps he’s my deus ex
machine…HEHE…Doooo you knoooow what that is?”
The former doctor rolled his eyes exasperated.
“You’re nuts…”
Joker licked his lips and popped his index finger.
“Noooooo, actually I’m pea-nuts!”
Crane shrugged.
“Whatever…” he replied completely bored. “But when they bust you I’ll tell I
was your hostage.”
Joker giggled and poked Crane’s chest with his finger a bit too strong causing
the doctor to support on the sofa’s back.
“Aren’t you always?” he sighed. “The thing is that noooo--body believes you!
Hehehe!” he planted another kiss to Jonathan’s cheek and hopped away to his
thugs.
 
The loft was spacious and bright with a whole wall window overlooking Gotham’s
skyline. From the first glance it was obvious that the philosophy of its owner
was ‘less is more’. The space wasn’t divided with interior walls but for a
folding screen with Chinese designs that concealed the owner’s plain bed; the
lounge toned in black and white covered the front space whereas in the center
stood a twirled stair that led to the attic.
The lounge was as plain as possible with a white corner sofa, two assorted
armchairs and a rectangular black waist table. There weren’t any lamps apart
from surface or secret lighting. A few pots completed the minimal decoration
that screamed that this was a temporary accommodation for its owner so nothing
personal was to be found.
Exactly, as Selina remembered it; her head craned following the twirl of the
stair that led to the attic that was actually a vast training room.
“Master Ubu…” Bruce inclined his head courteously as soon as their host closed
the door.
His former trainer brought his glued palms before his face and bowed.
“Bruce…” he replied with his regret for his past actions shadowing his solemn
voice.
Selina cleared her throat: she was clenching her hips and her lips were
slightly upturned as her eyebrow. Ubu looked at her.
“I hope you don’t expect me to call you ‘master’, as well, huh, Greg?”   
Ubu smiled in a most unusual way for him and shook hands with her.
“Selina, I see I was right about you.”
She tilted her head to the side and snorted.
“This is meant to be a compliment?” she asked slyly and strutted inside.
“No, child, merely the truth. But do come in” he gestured to the lounge.
Selina tilted her head towards Ubu smirking since she was already inside.
“Um…You’re not the change type, huh?” she remarked looking around.
“Please make yourself at home.”
He left them heading to the shining, modern kitchen and Selina made a
spectacular dive into the armchair to Bruce’s surprised stare.
“This is my favorite armchair, sweetie… That leather…Mmm…”
Ubu returned with a tray bearing an ancient and expensive looking teapot with
the match pottery which Selina with her professional experience could easily
tell that it was an authentic Satsuma.
The former Leaguer served them the tea that was nothing like the usual and
Bruce stare at it hesitant – he knew that now Ubu was trustworthy but the past
experiences with Ubu’s brews held a powerful influence; his body tensed
involuntarily. Yet in the end he took the cap and sipped under his trainer’s
penetrative eyes that read his initial hesitance and smiled with his final vote
of confidence.
Selina sipped too – she had heard Bruce’s recount of the times Ubu had given
him strange brews to serve Ra’s purposes but now the man had redeemed himself
to Bruce. Because for her it was more difficult to forgive anyone that hurt
Bruce.
“Well, tea is not my cup of tea but this is nice…” she shrugged. “10 grand…”
she brushed her cup “for the whole set with the right buyer.”
Bruce chuckled and Ubu cocked an eyebrow.
“A modest estimation for the original pottery the prince Shimazu used for his
tea ceremony…”
Bruce cast a sideways look at his friend and chuckled again at her bulged eyes.
“I hope your chair has secret pockets because I have some stuff to stash…”
Selina winked to Bruce.
Ubu gazed at them both with deep affection and admiration.
“Brother and sister indeed… A bond stronger than any blood kinship…” he uttered
and his eyes shone. “Ra’s made one more mistake by underestimating that bond
and its power.”
Bruce looked at him.
“But you knew…”
Ubu stood up and approached Selina locking their eyes.
“A little girl so brave to defy the rules of the orphanage and roam a dangerous
city; and so affectionate, so loyal to a battered boy that never stopped going
to him every night to offer him her love the only solace he had to keep him
alive.”
Selina coughed uncomfortable.
“You exaggerate…” she said trying to clear her voice from the huskiness.
“He doesn’t…” Bruce cupped her hand and gave her a tight smile.
Ubu walked to him and kneeled. He placed his hands over Bruce’s knees.
“There is still much life and vigor here, child” he stilled his eyes in
Bruce’s. “That waits to be awoken – it’s another test for your spirit and
you’ll make it again…”
Selina huffed.
“As if he didn’t have enough tests already…”
Bruce looked her sideways and she shrugged innocently.
“What?”
Ubu placed his hand on the top of Bruce’s head and closed his eyes murmuring
some strange incantation; Bruce felt the same peace and tranquility, the waves
of pleasant and clearing numbness, as the days he was still a frightened child
faced with the challenges of a hard training and Ra’s’ demands.
After a few minutes of silence Ubu slightly frowned, rose and returned to his
armchair: the pain he felt in Bruce always shocked him like the first time but
now he could sense also the tension from something that occupied the youth’s
mind. Bruce needed another couple of seconds before overcoming Ubu’s effect and
turning to his old master.
“You said that you were expecting us.”
Ubu nodded.
“Dr. Thompkins treated me like an old friend, taking extra care for my
recuperation…as if I had done the same for the lost child of her friends
despite the fact she knew that I didn’t: I found the courage to do the right
thing only in the end.”
“Weren’t for you I wouldn’t have found Bruce and a safe way for us to get away”
Selina interrupted him.
Bruce nodded.
“Your contribution was crucial – you stood up against Talia for my sake and you
almost got killed. You gave me back the Knife and the brew that strengthened
me.”
Ubu shook his head.
“It was you two that made it” he said with softly closed eyes like he was
meditating. “You fought Talia and stood up against the demon…”
“Bruce saved us all…” Selina remarked and Bruce cast a glare at her. “One super
powered alien, one high tech armored superhero and a fucking Norwegian God were
subdued by that Bagdana guy and Bruce managed to stab him in the back and send
him to his shithole.”
“Can Bagdana escape his prison?” Bruce found the chance to ask something that
bothered him all this time. “Thor reassured me that he was trapped in Tartarus
but I was wondering…”
Ubu was regarding him with awe that made Bruce feel uncomfortable.
“The Knife’s blow left him heavily injured, stripped from his power. Thus, only
a powerful deity would be able to free him and I don’t think that there is
someone willing to help an ancient demon.”
Bruce nodded somewhat relieved.
“You asked me something” Ubu continued setting his palms on his knees. “After I
was fully healed I decided to remain in Gotham waiting your return; I knew that
you would want to speak to me.”
“Leslie told me that you were constantly asking her and Tony about my
condition.”
His former trainer’s deep brown eyes focused on his student.
“Thanks to Mr. Stark’s immediate intervention my life was saved and I woke up
soon. Your friend thought that it would be best if I was transferred to Gotham
under Dr. Thompkins’s care and confidentiality. I heard about the events in
that old factory where Batman saved the children…” his eyes shone. “Ra’s Al
Ghul would have been awestruck and delighted hearing what his dream student
managed to do with his injured, paralyzed body… Yet I knew that your life was
almost the price…” he paused for a second. “This kind of agony was first known
to me” Ubu said hesitantly “I dreaded the demise of the one who was so generous
to forgive me… Then Dr. Thompkins informed me that you came around but you’d
have to stay far from Gotham to recover. I stayed here waiting and praying till
yesterday Gotham echoed with the news of your return and I knew that soon
you’ll come.”
Bruce sipped again from his tea that was really revitalizing and relaxing. Ubu
opened his palms in front of him.
“You can tell me what is bothering you.”
“Four days ago I was attacked” he said without further ado, his voice cool.
Ubu’s calm face turned into stone and he shook his head.
“They won’t give you a break…” his voice was dark.
Selina huffed.
“No, they won’t!”
Bruce’s eyes were fixed on his old mentor who waited for him to speak.
“Master Ubu, do you think that the League could be behind this attack?”
Ubu stretched his neck thoughtful.
“After the complete defeat you and your allies succeeded against them only four
months ago?” his eyes locked with Bruce’s. “Do you believe that Talia survived
and ordered that although her army is smashed?”
“Talia wasn’t found, Master Ubu: dead or alive. And Ra’s’ mummy was gone as
well as… the painting with my portrait.”
Selina’s eyes widened and her head snapped.
“What mummy? What painting? You didn’t mention anything!”
Bruce licked his lips.
“After Crane’s experimentation, the multiple head injuries and one month in
coma, my memory had many gaps: these things came back slowly. Talia had
preserved her father mummified…”
Selina’s eyebrows twitched and she snorted.
“The bitch was more pervert than her father!” she cast a sideways glance to Ubu
“for nice people you were working…” she said dryly and Bruce looked her and
coughed.
 “…Anyway… Ra’s had in his position the same painting you, Selina, have: he had
ordered the painter who made my portrait for Falcone to make a copy for him”
Selina rolled her eyes. “Talia inherited that. After the events in Mt. Marcy,
the mummy and the painting was nowhere to be found.”
Ubu’s eyes were interested and thoughtful.
“You want her to be alive” Bruce said in an understanding, calm voice and Ubu
seemed shaken. “I don’t blame you, Master Ubu, neither feel I betrayed…”
Selina on the other hand frowned and crossed her arms and legs affronted.
“I am!” she stabbed Ubu with her eyes and Bruce tilted his head towards her
asking with his eyes to calm down. “What?! She almost killed you” Selina showed
with her hand Ubu “she would have killed me deviously stabbing me in the back
if Bruce hadn’t exceeded himself into dueling with her…”
Ubu looked at Bruce impressed.
“You managed to stand against and stop the Lady of the Shadows while you were
paralyzed?” his awe was so great that he didn’t utter anything else.
“Of course he did!” Selina exclaimed. “By the way, this is what you’re teaching
to your students? To stab their opponent in the back while the said opponent
fights a dozen ninjas?! Not to mention what she did to Bruce while her
captive…”
Ubu lowered his eyes; he knew what Talia had done to Bruce…
“Forgive me sometimes emotion betrays my reason…”
Bruce shook his head and found Ubu’s eyes.
“I feel for you, master Ubu…” Selina snorted remembering how easily Bruce let
Superman go: of course you do…“You knew her since she was born; you taught her
for years since her childhood; you knew her before her father’s ideas corrupted
her. It’s natural to love her even now.”
The older man’s eyes however were adamant.
“I want her to be alive only to realize the wrong path she and her father
followed and return to the initial values of justice and charity” his voice
hardened. “If her survival is to be connected with the same crimes and
atrocities, then I pray that she died so her spirit might find the truth in
other worlds and innocents be spared by her wrath.”
The former mentor’s eyes for a minute became blank and then refocused on Bruce
who waited patiently.
“Your attackers were members of the League?” he asked.
Selina twitched her lips remembering the flying, green creatures: no, they
didn’t seem like Leaguers at all. However, she was curious to listen to Bruce;
because if he suspected the League behind this then there were solid reasons.
“No, definitely, not” Bruce said and Ubu frowned. “They were green flying
creatures with thousands of needle-thin, sharp teeth covering their jaws,
nostrils emanating steam, perfectly able to handle weapons.”
Selina grimaced in disgust.
“Hearing it is worse than facing it!” she snorted.
“Master Ubu, the analysis of their remains showed that they weren’t of this
planet: probably, extraterrestrial or…” he stared intensely in his mentor’s
eyes “product of illegal experimentation.”
Ubu united his palms and brought his chin over the fingers, his eyes on Bruce.
“You suspect that the League is the one who conducted those experiments and has
such soldiers ready to fight for its causes. Despite the fact that every
hideout of the League was found and destroyed along with the secret weapons the
League possessed. Did your friends discover either in the League’s or
S.H.I.E.L.D.’s premises traces that indicate such experimentation?”
Bruce shook his head.
“No, but the base in Mt. Marcy was Ra’s secret known only to his daughter –
there’s nothing to make me cross out the possibility of other such places…or”
he arched his eyebrows “projects.”
Ubu blinked.
“Continue, Bruce.”
The younger man pressed his lips.
“Talia told me of her plans to summon Bagdana and offer me again to him.”
Selina growled and Ubu nodded.
“She told that to me as well” he shook his head “I tried to talk her out of
that but she was already too arrogant and thrilled of the prospects to listen.”
“Her intention” Bruce continued struggling with the memories of that moment and
the boiling emotions “was to create a powerful army of beings created by the
mixed DNA of me and Bagdana.”
“But she was stopped” Ubu remarked arching an eyebrow.
Bruce nodded.
“What if she took that idea from her father? What if Ra’s had already done that
and preserved the products in locations that only he and his heir knew? My body
had absorbed Bagdana’s semen both times.”
A crease formed in Ubu’s forehead.
“Holly shit!” Selina exclaimed and to the absence of anything stronger gulped
the content of her cup at once. “Shit! I need something stronger!” she turned
to Bruce feeling her hair standing on end. “Both times?!” she quirked her
eyebrows – she knew about the first time the demon raped her friend but a
second?
Ubu didn’t say anything though he knew and Bruce took her hand.
“After what happened in Ra’s basement, Bagdana used me again in Dolcetto” his
voice was completely calm and that calmness pained more the young woman.
“Falcone was going to punish me for my…adultery but someone left in the
checkroom the payment for my services” his tone now was ironic. “An ancient
looking pouch with rubies that Falcone said that couldn’t be found anywhere…”
Selina closed her eyes and her head fell towards her chest; Bruce caressed her
hair.
“I’m sorry, Sel…” he pecked her cheek feeling moisture.
“You never told me…” she protested, making her cracked voice tough.
“He couldn’t have told you, Selina, because we were giving him the Oblivion
Serum: Ra’s Al Ghul didn’t want Bruce upset from the memories both of his
sacrifice and of the demon’s second claim and ordered me to give him the serum
and use the repellants that would keep the demon away. Bruce was able to
remember through flashbacks only after other traumatic experiences stirred the
memories.”
Bruce cupped Selina’s cheek and smiled.
“It’s okay, pretty…” he said and locked eyes with her in silence for few
moments.
Selina filled again her cup: actually, this beverage was good for strengthening
her nerves.
“All in all, Master Ubu, could Ra’s have done that? I mean do you know if he
had the knowledge to do that?”
Ubu was deep in thought.
“He never spoke to me about anything like this, child…” he shook his head.
“I remember vaguely strange people along with you treating my body…”
Ubu felt the sting of remorse.
“I participated in the process of turning your body into a special Kryptonite;
I applied substances and medicines to strengthen your body and compensate for
the years of malnutrition; but I never extracted DNA from your body.”
Bruce nodded.
“What about the others? My memory still has gaps…You were always with them
during my treatment?”
Ubu rubbed the center of his forehead and shook his head in denial. He expected
that discussion to be hard but still remembering and counting his indifference
to the boy’s suffering was more painful than the bullet Talia shot to his
chest.
“No…No, child” he inhaled deeply. “I wasn’t always there and I don’t know what
they were doing to you: Ra’s was rather secretive about you and I…it felt
better to not know the details…”
Selina yanked her head and huffed.
“Oh, Greg!” she exclaimed exasperated. “I mean Ubu…” she slapped her thighs
frustrated. “At least we can find these motherfuckers and make them speak!”
But Bruce wasn’t so enthusiastic keeping his eyes fixed on Ubu who closed his
eyes.
“I’m afraid the healers who were appointed with your care…”
“…are dead!” Bruce finished his sentence for him.
“How convenient!” Selina grunted.
Bruce took another sip from his cup.
“So the question remains” he said unfazed: “did Ra’s have the knowledge to
create such beings taking samples from my body? You already had the knowledge
to summon a demon.”
Ubu took in the youth’s intense, undefeated stare.
“Personally, I never sought the knowledge to create life forms – hybrids of
human and demon.”
Selina supported her elbows to her thighs and leaned towards Ubu.
“But that kind of knowledge exists?” her voice was filled with agony but
Bruce’s eyes were determined to accept whichever answer.
Ubu closed his eyes; he didn’t like to speak about these things yet if it was
of any help to Bruce and Selina…
“Humans had always the insane tendency to mess with things that surpass
them…and Ra’s wasn’t an exception. But I can’t tell for sure…”
Selina raised her palms.
“Wait! Those creatures were ugly – I mean, malformed. If they were made by
Bruce’s genes…” she chuckled. “Bruce is absolutely beautiful – even if that
demon is…” she shook her head “a demon, Bruce’s beauty should have given them
a…normalcy in appearance?”
“Selina, this isn’t a science” Bruce replied. “I’m sure it’d be more of an
experiment than a certified procedure so many things could have gone awry or
differently than they had expected.”
Ubu nodded.
“On the other hand, searching for Lilith and Bagdana I found legends about
babies being born from demon-human couplings” Bruce remarked.
His mentor shook his hand.
“After normal copulation, fertilization and normal pregnancy in a female womb;
so, yes, the attempt to use extract of your body to create hybrids could lead
to malformed or bizarre life forms, or…” he jerked his eyebrows “with the
features their creator wanted – if, of course, we accept that he had the know-
how.”
Selina rubbed her chin.
“I fought them…and I don’t think that these creatures have either the strength
of a demon or the skills and cleverness of Bruce.”
“I pray for that” Ubu said.
Yet Bruce wasn’t soothed; something else was prickling his mind.
“Talia said that I didn’t need a womb to give her the army she dreamt.”
Ubu cupped Bruce’s hand.
“She failed on that: you need to reassure yourself. Besides you told me that
analysis was conducted of these beings: if they were made from your DNA, don’t
you think that you have found out?”
Bruce nodded.
“You have a point there; yet the samples I managed to collect from the scene of
the attack” Selina rolled her eyes both amused and outraged on how Bruce evaded
their attention to do that “were mingled with soil or wood – the creatures were
blown up by Wonder Woman. Only the samples from my clothes were from the
creatures in their normal form. So something might have missed the analysis or
the other substances that constituted their material could have concealed my
DNA… Master Ubu, did the League know about aliens’ existence in Earth other
than Superman?” now that Ubu almost crossed out the possibility of the League
having created such beings, he had to examine if Ra’s’ right hand knew about
other aliens lurking the earth.
Ubu shook his head.
“You can find legends hinting such presence on Earth – Ra’s was interested and
studied such myths. But other than that, no, the League of Shadows didn’t have
concrete evidence of other aliens except the Kryptonian.”
Bruce brought his palm to rub his neck.
“And…How about…a child?” he finally told what concerned him all these days. “A
child that came from me?”
“If Talia survived, after what she did to you, she does carry your semen…”
Bruce stabbed him with his dead still, flashing eyes.
“I don’t mean that… Forget the bizarre creatures that attacked me, forget the
mindless beings used as soldiers: could Ra’s have produced a human child using
my genes? I remember the glint in his eyes after he realized that my body had
absorbed the demon’s seed; especially, when he told me that if I was a girl I’d
have been with a baby. Maybe he proceeded on doing that after all?”
Selina’s breath was cut in her lungs and the crease in Ubu’s brow became
deeper.
“You think that Ra’s had reached that level of corruption?”
Selina snorted.
“We’re talking about the man who strapped a kid on the floor and summoned a
demon to…” she looked at Bruce “use him in order to gain his personal reward?
Or the one who mutated the same boy’s body into turning him in a weapon to kill
his enemy?”
Ubu lowered his eyes and shook his head.
“I guess he wouldn’t have hesitated to defile even more his precious
acquisition for enhancing his power…”
Bruce licked his lips.
“When Ra’s summoned Bagdana, human cloning was already established with a
flourishing tendency…” he pressed his lips and his eyes stabbed Ubu. “Is there
a solid possibility that he created an embryo from my cells and his and …a
child was…created? My child?”
“Gosh…” Selina whispered.
Ubu held Bruce’s gaze feeling the conflicting emotions burning the youth’s
insides. He could see inside those eyes the hope that this hadn’t happened, the
hope that Ubu could give him an absolute negation of this possibility; but
simultaneously, Ubu could discern in his beloved student’s eyes the certainty
that his former trainer couldn’t negate it.
“Unfortunately, I can’t deny that possibility, child” he said regretful but not
wanting to deceive Bruce. “Actually…I remember him talking avidly about how
great it’d be if you were a girl and you could give him a baby with his blood
and yours, especially since your body had absorbed Bagdana’s genes – of course,
in the end he was stressing out that the fact that you couldn’t be used merely
for reproduction left you free for being trained to become his greatest
warrior.”
Bruce shook his head.
“Bane was Talia’s spy on Ra’s – he could have informed her for Ra’s’ thoughts
and inspired the same wish to her or she just sensed it. The fact remains that
Ra’s had the idea and the desire and we know that when he wanted something
nothing could stop him…” he bit his lip. “While I was searching the lists with
what we have found till now from LexLabs, I came across some logs referring to
experimentation on human cloning” he felt Selina’s bulged eyes piercing him “it
was around the time Ra’s met me at Dolcetto and began training me – and when
Bagdana’s summon happened: also, I know that Falcone was already working with
Luthor so Ra’s could have learned about LexLabs’ cloning project and
established his own partnership with him.”
“Have you found anything?” Selina asked.
Bruce shook his head.
“Despite the fact LexLabs had invested a huge budget in that project we still
haven’t found any remains of it except some pretty vague logs which claimed
that the embryos from that procedure died soon after but…with Luthor” he shook
his head “you can’t be sure.”
Selina who was shocked but was keeping her cool nodded.
“Luthor buried the evidence and the results from the experiments he did for
himself and Ra’s forced him to bury everything concerning his own business.”
“So…if that child truly was...born…he or she might be anywhere in the
world…alone or…forced to be trained as…whatever they wanted…” Bruce added.
Ubu moved closer to his student; he squeezed his upper arms.
“Even if Ra’s tried to do that, it is quite possible that the unusual process
failed or the embryo died at the early stages or the baby died soon due to
anomalies. And if the child indeed survived Talia would have killed it, afraid
that she/he would be her rival to Ra’s’ succession, much as she hated you and
wanted your death.”
Bruce’s insides were clenched; since he woke up that morning everything that
happened with Clark the previous night, the dream and now this conversation
made the knot inside him bigger and pricklier.
“Maybe that was the reason Ra’s kept it under such secrecy” he arched his
eyebrows “because he knew his daughter…”
Selina cleared her throat.
“Or the baby didn’t meet his expectations and disposed of it himself…” Bruce
looked at him appalled and she shrugged. “The man was ruthless: if the result
disappointed him he wouldn’t have an issue to get rid of it – I think that if
he had your…” she hesitated to utter it “child in his hands he’d have used it
as leverage to blackmail your complete submission. Even towards the end.”
Bruce was deep in thought and this “your child” had a complex impact on him.
Both Al Ghul, father and daughter had exploited him, had used and robbed him,
and now both of them might have in their possession literary and metaphorically
a part of him to continue tormenting him.
He felt Selina’s soft touch on his shoulder – he must have been absorbed.
“Bruce?”
He pinched the bridge of his nose.
“Still I’d like to know the truth; know if somewhere in the planet exists a
child – my child…somewhat – and find him or her to…ensure that his or her life
won’t be like mine…Especially, if there were some abnormalities due to the
process” he rubbed his right temple. “Perhaps Luthor has some answers; yet even
if he gave them – which I highly doubt – we can’t be sure that he’ll tell the
truth. And Bruce Wayne can’t be associated with this because Luthor would be
even more suspicious of my real relationship with the League…” he bit his lip
“and Batman is unavailable for the time being.”
“Listen to me, Bruce” Ubu told him in a soothing voice. “Now I saw you I can
leave Gotham and return to the monastery in Nepal: I was thinking of training
youth in the principles of humanity and justice. Once I go there, I’ll do
everything in my power and use my connections to verify if such a child exists
and if exists to find his/her whereabouts.”
Bruce lowered slightly his head and Ubu touched his chin yanking gently his
head.
“If there is a child we’ll find it…”
Selina slipped next to her friend and hugged him. Bruce pressed his lips in a
smile.
“The monastery is currently under S.H.I.E.L.D.’s control but I’ll speak to Tony
and you will be able to settle there with the organization’s means and
protection: if Talia is alive she’d definitely seek you to take revenge.”
Ubu’s stern mouth upturned.
“I’m more afraid of my conscience than Talia…” he touched his lips to Bruce’s
forehead. “Your spirit is strong, child” his hand cupped the hidden diamond
hanging from his neck and he smiled to Selina “and you have precious friends
with you.”
 
“When the moon hits your eye
Like a big pizza pie, that's amore”Sinatra’s voice sang.
“Amore!” Tony’s singsong voice towered the workshop’s dull sounds of popping
data on the various holographic screens and automatic screwdrivers.
“Master Anthony, I’m glad to discern your easygoing mood…”Jarvis remarked.
“But –I smell a but there – with one t: Jarvis, if you’re going to reproduce
some snarky Alfred-ish comment about my singing talent drop it. You’re not an
X-factor critic!” he rolled his eyes thoughtful “Critics my ass!”
“You have an incoming call from Mr. Lucius Fox.”
Tony rolled his hand.
“Shoot it.”
Lucius’ smiling face emerged on the screen in front of Tony – the one with no
running data or designs on it.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Stark!”
“The same to you, Lucius; to what do I owe this pleasant surprise?”
“To Mr. Wayne.”
Tony pouted and frowned.
“I just sent you my latest attributions to Bruce’s spinal parts. I had a
meeting here in Malibu and then some other obligations but tomorrow we’ll work
them together.”
“Fine, Mr. Star. I’m studying them right now. It’s something else I want you to
consider.”
Tony cocked his eyebrows.
“I’m all ears.”
“About Mr. Wayne’s new suit.”
Tony twisted his mouth and huffed.
“I’m not Armani.”
Lucius laughed.
“Good one, Mr. Stark! But I’m sure you know what I mean.”
Tony drummed his fingers on his working bench.
“Actually, I don’t want to know… That brat talked you into it? You’re his
mediator?” his voice became harsh. “This is suicide, Lucius! You can’t agree
with that!” he abandoned his slack position and leaned toward the screen. “He
is paraplegic, for fuck’s sake! A suit however good can’t enable him to act the
hero of Gotham from all cities!”
Lucius nodded serious.
“And that’s why we have to make that suit perfect.”
Tony slapped his eyes with his palms and yanked his head backwards.
“I won’t allow my friend to be out there while he is disabled! And I can’t
understand how you, who I know how much you care for him, have agreed to that!”
Lucius exhaled.
“Because, Mr. Stark, Mr. Wayne wouldn’t wait for anyone’s permission either
yours or much lesser mine. Even if we don’t assist his effort he’ll proceed
himself – and that would be more dangerous.”
Tony pinched the bridge of his nose.
“Have you seen his designs?” the older man asked calmly.
“Of course not! Because there’s no meaning in that! We should focus on the
bionic parts and the surgery. And even after the surgery he’ll need time before
he gets out there – if ever! So let’s drop it altogether!”
Lucius intertwined his fingers on the desk.
“He wants the suit so that Batman makes one or two appearances to erase any
suspicion that it’s not the real Batman that patrols Gotham right now.”
“I don’t give a fucking damn! Bruce is more important than Batman or Gotham!”
“Gotham and Batman are parts of Mr. Wayne’s existence: you can’t just extract
them. He’ll proceed with or without us and if we participate in his plans we’ll
be able to control the conditions and set limits.”
“Limits to Bruce? Ha!”
“Your friend is a very mature young man. He managed to be Batman even under
Falcone’s captivity in a way that no major injury betrayed him. Mr. Wayne
reassured me that he’ll behave as cautiously as then. And…I told him that the
spinal parts are almost done and he must be in perfect condition for the
surgery so he definitely won’t risk his chance to walk again.”
“So…no suit then!” he jerked from his stool and clapped his hands. “If his
worry is that the holograms will be debunked, then I can make a BatRobot to
kick some asses.”
“Mr. Stark… You know that Mr. Wayne won’t agree to that.”
Tony pressed his lips stubbornly, crossed his arms and shook his head.
“Don’t care!” he arched his eyebrows. “He is a paraplegic – he can’t play
punches with bad guys.”
Lucius blinked.
“Mr. Wayne is an extraordinary young man.”
Tony protruded his lower lip and nodded without looking at Lucius.
“I prefer him less extraordinary and more alive!” he almost whispered piercing
the older man with his flashing black eyes. “And Gotham’s bad guys are
dangerous lunatics, unpredicted.”
“At the moment Gotham enjoys a period of low criminality without any organized
crime or major villains: that was the reason I agreed to that, Mr. Stark. And
I’m sure that your friend took that into consideration. Batman needs to catch
one or two low timers to secure that nobody will ever associate him with Bruce
Wayne.”
“You’ll build him the suit even if I won’t agree.”
“I want you in that.”
“Why? You can manage perfectly.’’
“Because Mr. Wayne wants you too; you’re too important for him and your
participation even in a consulting role will boost his spirits. Mr. Stark, if
we try to suppress him there’s the probability of triggering quite the opposite
and worse result. Having an active role in that we can protect him.”
Tony shook his head and growled.
“I’ll think about it…”
“Thank you, Mr. Stark; I’ll send you Mr. Wayne’s designs.”
Tony turned his eyes to the ceiling.
“Jarvis, turn up the volume to Frankie and call Peps: I need some cuddling!”

From the moment the car engine ignited and they returned to the street, silence
fell between them. Selina tightened her grip on the steering wheel because from
the fleeting glances she cast to Bruce it was obvious that he was somewhere
else and she dreaded that this somewhere might be all the times this pervert
pedophile, Al Ghul, violated him. It was disgusting: a powerful man had a
powerless, defenseless, hurt child at his mercy and he exploited and tortured
it in every filthy way!
In front of her eyes, Chill raped again the 9 year old Bruce in the alley his
parents’ were killed, the thug changing to become the lion-like man whom Bruce
had considered his savior! Her hand fisted on the steering wheel: Bruce didn’t
deserve that… And the worse was that they still tortured her friend.
Bruce even though absorbed in his thoughts could discern the pressed breath of
Selina. He realized that his silence made her worry.
“I’m a bit tired…” he turned his head to her and grinned.
Selina swallowed her feelings.
“I bet you are! I’ll drive you to the Manor and after a fine meal you’ll take a
nice nap.”
“You’ll stay for lunch?”
She winked.
“I never say no to a free meal…And I’m curious about Alfred babysitting Hero…”
Bruce chuckled and rested his head on the seat’s headrest.
“I’m sure they are fine…”
Unwillingly Selina thought of Alfred and Bruce’s supposed child. She was
hesitant to bring that up.
“Say it…” Bruce muttered playfully keeping his eyes closed.
“Alfred knows about your suspicions?”
“Of course not I don’t want to burden him or anyone else with a theory like
this…I’d have spared you too but if I had told you to leave me alone with Ubu
it’d have been worse.”
“And I’d have been mad!”
Bruce snorted.
“Exactly what I meant…”
Selina just couldn’t hold it inside anymore.
“Damn, Bruce! How could he have done that? What kind of a person he was?! I
mean, I know he was a bastard but still…”
Bruce opened his eyes which remained blank.
“He snatched and squeezed everything I had to offer and still he wasn’t
satisfied because he wanted my soul too…” his voice was emotionless. “I was
thinking that the night of Falcone’s downfall, when Ra’s poisoned me and was
about to take me away from Gotham, maybe he planned to get me to the place he
had the child…Perhaps it would be better if he had succeeded because I might
have freed that poor soul.”
Selina felt her eyes watering from the hidden emotion in Bruce’s voice.
“Don’t even think about that, Bruce! You know that if he had taken you then
he’d have rendered you completely controlled by him and” she inhaled “even if
this kid exists and he had taken you there, you wouldn’t be of any help for him
or her.”
He nodded.
“You’re probably right.”
Selina pursed her lips.
“When you began thinking about this? You wanted the control of LexLabs to check
this?”
Bruce yanked his head and sighed.
“No, this had nothing to do with gaining the labs’ control. The gun Joker used
to smash the security windows of Wayne Tower was made by Luthor and he along
with Dagget used Talia’s special Kryptonite to make an attempt against
Superman. Of what I knew about Luthor and his rivalry with Superman I had the
certainty that he had created in his labs many things to harm Clark.”
“So you wanted the labs to protect that ungrateful alien.”
Bruce’s lips twisted in a smile.
“In general, I wanted to check every shady project Luthor executed because he
was collaborating not only with the League but also with other illegal groups
so knowing what Luthor produced for them I would know those groups’ plans as
well – and Luthor’s own intentions.”
The young woman whistled impressed.
“That must have hit Luthor close to the bone… And about the kid?”
“With Crane’s drugs and then the coma, as I told you, my memory was in a foggy
state: I remembered the major things but some details were missing. When those
strange beings attacked, I remembered the things Talia was telling me while in
her captivity: about the army and of her planning to have children with me. And
then I thought about the possibility of Ra’s having planned or executed the
same thing so as I was searching the LexLabs’ logs for anything matching our
attackers I kept my eyes open for other projects that might lead to creation of
human beings.”
Selina didn’t say anything and kept her eyes straight ahead on the jammed
street.
Bruce pouted: he could sense Selina’s turbulence from what she heard and he
decided to lighten her mood. He intended to not reveal anything till Lucius
told him that everything was ready to spare his friends from disappointment.
“Mmmm…Sel, I haven’t told you” he saw Selina bracing herself for another
hideous thing and made sure that the red light was lit so the car wasn’t on the
move “but Lucius informed me that the surgery might not take long…”
Selina’s eyes bulged and she gasped letting of the steering wheel. Her face was
flashed when she turned her body to hug Bruce.
“You sadistic brat! Why you had to keep the good things secret?!” she punched
his shoulder lightly.
“Because I wanted to spare you from a disappointment in case something
changed…”
“You…dirtbag!” she gritted her teeth but was kissing him at the same time.
“It’s not like I’m walking and didn’t tell…”
Selina detached from him and growled.
“I’d have broken your cute nose then!”
Bruce chuckled as angry horns filled the street coupled with infuriated
adjectives since the green light had been on and they were stopping the
traffic.
“Move your ass, lady!”
“Get a room, you morons!”
Selina started the engine lazily, lowered the driver’s window and showed her
middle finger.
“Fuck off, asshole!”
Bruce cocked an eyebrow and snorted.
“Some stealth…”
Selina looked at him with the corner of her eyes and twisted her lips.
“You caused it, buster!”
Bruce chuckled and turned his head to look outside the window; they were
passing a school – Gotham County High School as the sign read. The building’s
condition was good in comparison with other schools in Gotham and its yard was
swarmed with kids making a beautiful fuss and Bruce found himself thinking
about that supposed child: if he or she would be attending a school or have any
contact with other kids – he estimated that if a baby came from Luthor’s and
Ra’s’ experiments now it would be approximately at Dick’s age…
Wait… This was Dick Grayson’s school.
“Sel, can you slow down a bit?”
“Why?” she inquired lowering the speed.
Bruce moved in his seat to have a better view.
“It’s the school Dick Grayson attends.”
Selina cocked an eyebrow and crooked her lips.
“You’re much informed about that boy, huh? Do you want me to stop for you to
say ‘hi’?”
Bruce blinked considering that for only a second because the answer was too
easy for negotiating further but then he saw the boy coming out of the school’s
yard door with Ms. Turner and his attention was drawn there.
“Here he is…” he suddenly remembered Selina’s suggestion and hastened to answer
before his friend made a move to approach. “No… I wouldn’t do that – the boy
hates me.”
Selina parked the car in a niche between two other cars at the other side of
the street, opposite the school. She craned her head to see what Bruce was
seeing.
“You almost died to save his life” she remarked dryly: the idea of someone
hating Bruce was preposterous to her – especially when Bruce had done so much
for him.
Bruce detached from the scene he was watching and turned to her.
“I’d have done the same for every kid in Gotham; and that doesn’t mean that he
owes to like me – besides it was Batman who saved him; Bruce Wayne was the
reason he was Joker’s hostage” his eyes focused again on the boy. “Because he
had the misfortune his life to cross mine…”
Selina rolled her eyes and huffed.
“Don’t start the “because of me” thing! Joker did all these, not you… He took
the boy to touch a sensitive spot. Have I told you how much I don’t like Joker
suspecting Batman’s true identity?
Bruce smirked.
“Only a hundred times…” he arched his eyebrows. “And I don’t like it either but
I hope that Bruce’s paraplegia would persuade him that’s not true.”
“Who’s that lady?”
“Dick’s grandmother, Ms. Turner: I didn’t know she was picking him up from
school…”
Selina shrugged.
“Maybe some parents’ and guardians’ gathering. That explains the early
dismissal.”
But Bruce’s eyes were glued on a figure at the opposite corner of the pavement
they were parked: it was a well-built man, covered by the shadows however Bruce
was able to discern that he was around 35 years with black hair.
“Selina, look there” he gestured with his head. “That guy has his eyes fixed on
them…”
She frowned.
“Maybe he is a friend or some acquaintance.”
“And why he stays in the shadows watching?”
“You mean like us?” Selina snorted.
Bruce cast an amused glance at her and took out of his jacket’s breast pocket
his smartphone that Selina knew it was his tablet that shrank to smartphone
mode to fit in the pocket. With a brush of Bruce’s finger on the screen it
turned into a camera and Bruce zoomed to take a shot of the stranger.
“The windscreen won’t distort the picture?”
“No” he replied as the clicks of the camera were heard. “It has a system that
eliminates every source of distortion…”
She cocked an eyebrow.
“I feel like I’m in a James Bond movie!”
A crook smile curved Bruce’s cheek.
“I didn’t know you wanted to be a James Bond girl?” he asked playfully.
Selina rolled her eyes and snorted.
“Please, darling…” she dragged her words “I prefer my solo movie” Bruce
chuckled. “Everyone knows that Bond girls are just pots…” she waved her hand
dismissively and then frowned “do I look like a pot?”
“Nah…More like a jardinière…” he chuckled as Selina punched him softly on the
shoulder, gritting her teeth but she ended up laughing. “You know you can be
only THE Queen…”
Selina wrapped her arms around his neck and pecked his cheek.
“I so much want you to laugh…”
Bruce returned the kiss and patted her forearm.
“I know, dear, and thanks to you I manage…”
Selina’s eye fell on Dick and Ms. Turner entering the elder woman’s small car.
“At least, they’re in the car and…off.”
Bruce turned to see the car leaving.
“I’ll feel better if we escort them to their house…” he arched his eyebrows for
emphasis “discreetly.”
Selina grabbed the steering wheel. Bruce raised his hand signalizing her to
wait till the stranger got in his own car – he got a shot of the number plate
since his memory was still recovering and they didn’t have the time for him to
repeat the number many times since the car took a totally different direction
than Ms. Turner’s.
“Now, we can go.”
“As you wish, Master Wayne!” she mimicked Alfred’s accented voice turning the
engine on but once they were on the street again, cast a business like glance
to Bruce. “Being a chauffeur wasn’t in the job description, mister” she said in
a smart-ass way “so I want a raise…”
Bruce closed his eyes and smiled.
“With the next paycheck…Deal?” he offered her his hand and she shook it, all
part of the game since it was obvious that the young woman didn’t meant it.
“Is he following them?” Selina asked fleetingly looking at the mirror.
“No, he isn’t but I’ll check on him.”
Ms. Turner old car got in the building’s parking.
“Aren’t you happy that your monthly grant allowed them to live in a building
with interior parking?”
“Actually, the apartment is in Dick’s name.”
His eyes were scrutinizing the surroundings for the stalker’s car: he could
have come from a different route. But there wasn’t any trace.
Selina drummed her fingers in the wheel: this had gone too far and Bruce needed
some rest.
“Well, kiddo, time to get you home: Alfred will be worried.”
Bruce nodded keeping his stare at the building as the car turned towards the
city’s exit to the Palisades.
“You’ll tell Alfred and the others?” she looked at him. “About the kid…I mean
the possibility…”
He breathed heavily.
“No” he knew that he didn’t have to ask from Selina to keep it secret once he
wouldn’t reveal it. “At the moment, there’s no reason to upset them for a
slight possibility – they have enough to cope with.”
***** Chapter 20 *****
Alfred opened the main door for his young master. Selina had left Bruce on the
front and drove the car to the garage: she was to stay hidden since the Manor
had a guest.
The Englishman had called Bruce to warn him about a surprise visit and ask if
he wanted for him to find a nice excuse to send away politely their guest. But
Bruce would see their guest.
“She is waiting for you, sir” his butler said nonchalant. “I believe that it’d
be much better if we arranged an appointment for another day; you need your
rest.”
Bruce looked at him.
“I’m interested to listen to her and I’ll have my rest after – it won’t last
much.”
“As you wish, Master Bruce.”
Alfred huffed and led the way to the grand salon. In front of the marble
Victorian fireplace stood a young blond woman holding and staring interested
the painting Billy had given to Bruce. As soon as she heard footsteps
approaching she left the frame and hastened to meet Bruce.
“Harleen Quinzel, doctor.” she stretched her hand to Bruce for a handshake.
“I’m the head psychiatrist of the Arkham Asylum.”
Bruce nodded solemnly and shook her hand. Of course, he didn’t need her
introduction to recognize Joker’s psychiatrist: all this time he was being
updated concerning the jester and the young head of the Arkham Asylum was a
figure so familiar to him as if he knew her.
The long, blond hair tied in a plain ponytail, the square spectacles, the
strange attire, though today she was wearing a business suit consisting of
mahogany jacket and assorted knee-length skirt like she wanted to make an
impression to him showing off her authority. He knew other things as well: her
studies at Harvard University, her doctorates, her previous work with famous
sociopaths.
“Pleased to meet you, Dr. Quinzel. Please, have a seat” he gestured to the
sofa. “I see Alfred has already introduced you to his famous tea.”
She smiled and Bruce thought that along with her sweetness there was something
awkward in her eyes.
“Oh, yes! Mr. Pennyworth” she stopped abruptly remembering the butler’s
suggestion to call him by his first name “Alfred was extremely kind.”
“I’m obliged, Dr. Quinzel” Alfred replied with a slight bow. “If you’ll excuse
me I have some things in the kitchen that require my attention.”
Bruce nodded and Alfred left them alone.
“I’m really glad to see you, Mr. Wayne: during your absence there were some
nasty theories around.”
Bruce smiled.
“Yes, I’m well aware of that, Dr. Quinzel but” he shrugged “people like to make
up stories” he shook his head “and my past predisposes for the grimier ones.”
She nodded.
“Unfortunately… Yet they were right about the severity of your injuries. I’m
honestly sorry, Mr. Wayne.”
“It could have been worse, Dr. Quinzel, much worse.”
The young psychiatrist took her cup and sipped but Bruce could tell from the
way her fingers brushed the porcelain cup that she was uncomfortable and
hesitant about something. Probably for uttering the reason of her visit. Yet he
pretended ignorance and bit one of the cupcakes Alfred had served to accompany
the tea.
Harleen estimated her host behind her elegant glasses; she was trying to
discern what had made her unique patient so infatuated with this man. Fine, he
was beautiful above average and definitely he had an intriguing past that Joker
trusted her enough to divulge that was much in common with his. However, she
couldn’t deny that Mr. Wayne emanated a dynamic aura: strength, courage and
bravery accompanied with vulnerability – maybe this combination intrigued Mr.
J.
Yeah…Bruce Wayne was an interesting case, not as much interesting as Mr. J but
definitely that made her idea even more appealing. Now she had to find a nice
way to serve it…She remembered the small framed painting on the fireplace: the
Waynes were squatting on both sides of their six or seven year old son kissing
each of the boy’s cheeks.
“It’s a very beautiful painting” she said pointing there “the one that made it
is very talented.”
Bruce stared at it and smiled.
“The artist’s name is Billy; he is one of the young adults that are housed in
the Haven. I’m positive he’ll make a fine career.”
Harleen smiled cleverly which didn’t evade Bruce’s attention.
“You sound really proud of him.”
“Exactly as of every other boy and girl in the Haven…” he frowned internally
remembering Billy and the other kids in the cage Joker had jailed them: a wave
of white, burning rage travelled the healthy part of his spine.
Dr. Quinzel believed that she found what she was after.
“You’re an avid philanthropist; the horrors of your past didn’t manage to make
you indifferent to other people’s pain neither willing to cause them pain.”
Bruce knew that the young psychiatrist wanted to say something from the first
moment; also, he felt that she was laying the ground for delivering it in the
best possible way.
“Thank you, Dr. Quinzel; the experiences of all these years made me determined
to soothe the pain of people around me. But although I’m sure you were
interested in my wellbeing” – well, not sure at all…- “and I do appreciate your
kind words, there must be a more serious reason for the Asylum’s head to come
and see me.”
The young woman smiled and pulled out her glasses.
“You’re smart, Mr. Wayne…” she cleaned her glasses with a handkerchief and put
them on again.
“Not so much” he shrugged. “It’s a bit obvious, don’t you think?” he took
another bite from his cupcake – he was really hungry.
She nodded and raised her index finger.
“You’re right! Well, you don’t know that but I’m the therapist of the man known
as Joker” Bruce lowered his eyes, licked his lips nervously and made his
breaths a bit pressed; he let his cupcake on the plate feeling the doctor’s
eyes watching him intrigued.
“And what this has to do with me?” he asked abruptly but giving an almost
indiscernible shaking to his voice.
Harleen left her place on the sofa and came to Bruce. Her eyes seemed truly
worried.
“Are you alright? I didn’t want to upset you.”
“I’m fine” he said looking her in the eye. “Please, proceed” he was really
interested to know.
She sat at the nearest armchair: Harleen honestly didn’t want to upset him in
the middle of his recovery but her patient was a more urgent case. So she set
her chin and locked eyes with him, every hesitation finally leaving her. It was
a doctor after all.
“Mr. Wayne, you just said that you care to soothe the pain of every person
around you.”
Bruce’s eyes were perplexed; he shrugged.
“As much as I can…But I don’t understand how…”
Dr. Quinzel interrupted him.
“My patient, Jack, is a human being too” her stare was strong in emphasis and
Bruce frowned.
“His victims were human beings too” he arched his eyebrows “and also their
loved ones that stayed behind to mourn” he remembered Ms. Turner at the Phelps’
funeral and Dick calling his little brother when the small casket lowered to
the ground – Bruce’s eyes almost watered.
He shook his head to get a grip.
“Anyway, Joker is at the Asylum because justice sees him like a human being
that needs reformation” he remarked.
She crossed her legs and leaned towards him, shaking her index finger.
“And this is the whole point, Mr. Wayne. All these months Mr. J’s, I mean
Jack’s therapy is showing encouraging signs: the patient has exhibited trust
towards me” her eyes shone proudly “and he even socializes with his fellow
inmates without any incidents.”
Well, Bruce knew that already through Tony and Clark who kept an eye on Joker.
However, he was curious what she wanted.
“I suppose this is good?”
“It’s great, actually and it manifests that there is hope for Jack to reform:
you do want that, Mr. Wayne, right? You care about people.”
Bruce gulped on hearing about his kidnapper like a victim of abduction that was
abused and almost raped by that man.
“I can’t see how this has anything to do with your patient.”
“Do you want to help the reformation of Jack, Mr. Wayne?” she demanded.
Bruce pinched the bridge of his nose.
“I give funds to the Asylum so the inmates have the best life conditions and
the most qualified therapists” he gestured to her. “But other than that” he
shook his head in denial “I don’t think I can do anything else – I’m not a
therapist.”
Harleen leaned more towards him and Bruce tensed sensing her urge to touch him.
He took in how fervently her eyes shone – almost maniac.
“Mr. Wayne, I believe that you’re the key to Mr. J’s healing” Bruce felt unease
hearing that ‘Mr. J’. “Let me explain” she continued thrilled “during your
absence Jack was calm – at least, for his standards -, he was socializing with
the other inmates and moreover he developed a kind of friendship with Jonathan
Crane” Bruce made a mental note – he didn’t like that. “All in all, he
manifested a spectacular improvement until he saw your arrival in TV.”
Bruce cocked an eyebrow.
“Maybe I should have stayed away?”
Harleen leaned to the back of the armchair.
“The moment he saw you disembarking the plane he attacked one of the inmates
nearly tearing his neck: the poor man was saved thanks to Mr. Stark’s safety
measures that knocked out Jack.”
Bruce pressed his lips.
“Is the man alright?”
She waved her hand almost indifferently.
“Yeah, Jack didn’t manage to hurt him lethally. What’s important…”
“More important than the injured man?” his eyebrows rose in disbelief.
Harleen flashed.
“I didn’t mean it that way: I meant more important in relation to our topic” he
nodded. “From the instant Jack saw that you returned he lapsed: he manifested
again Joker’s behavior – he stopped responding to treatment, trusting his
therapist. It is like your return is the trigger to resurface Joker.”
Bruce’s eyes widened and he clenched his jaw.
“You claim that it’s my fault Joker is like that?” his voice was filled with
disbelief and anger.
Harleen raised her palms appeasing shaking her head in denial.
“Please, Mr. Wayne, don’t get defensive…”
He stabbed her with his eyes.
“You say that I trigger Joker’s aggressive behavior!”
Harleen yanked her head: this man didn’t want to understand!
“Let’s face the facts: Falcone, the Phelps’ family, Jack Napier…” she folded a
finger for each name. “All these murders have only one thing in common: you.”
Bruce felt his cheeks hot and his heart beating too heavily: he always had felt
responsible for all these but hearing it coldly stated by someone else was like
a blow. Besides, what she wanted to hint: that if he somehow stopped existing
Joker would be harmless? He had hoped that science would have found some more
legit explanation.
“The police said that Joker had begun killing people way before he came at
Gotham!”
Harleen shook her head exasperated.
“Yes, but before he met you at Mr. Stark’s house he had maintained one normal
persona: Jack Napier” normal?Bruce rolled his eyes remembering their first
meeting. “It was his effort to keep an anchor to the society – a desperate
struggle between Joker and Jack. But when he met you he stopped caring about
Jack and Joker absorbed him entirely – he was unwilling to maintain an anchor
to our world, he didn’t care to be normal. During the time of your absence Jack
resurfaced and Joker almost vanished. It was your return that destroyed Jack
and brought Joker back.”
Bruce couldn’t believe what he heard and his head began hurting: the first time
he left the Fortress he was faced with migraines that the energy of the
Fortress had kept at bay. Leslie managed gradually to eliminate them till now.
He rubbed his temple.
Dr. Quinzel leaned again towards him, her face filled with sympathy.
“You care for people and you do wonders to help them” she gestured to the
painting on the fireplace. “You’re proud of these kids and Joker kidnapped them
to get to you.”
Bruce rubbed harder his aching head.
“He asked for Batman too…” he said dryly.
Harleen closed her eyes and sighed.
“Believe me if there was a way to conduct him I’d have asked his contribution
too…” Bruce lolled his head on the side and regarded her. “What I’m trying to
say, Mr. Wayne, is that if you really care for these kids and the people of
Gotham in general, you’d want Joker’s therapy to be effective. What would be
better than Jack getting out to the society reformed, repentant for his crimes
and willing to offer to the others? Believe me, Mr. Wayne: prior to your return
he manifested signs of regret.”
Bruce wanted to believe that but he had his doubts.
“So…” he inhaled “what do you want from me?”
She crossed her arms and took a breath.
“I want you to be part of Jack’s therapy.”
Bruce’s eyes widened in dread whereas inside he was enraged. Dr. Quinzel saw
the terror and hastened to raise her palms reassuringly.
“You could come to the Asylum once a week for Jack’s session – it’d be
something like a couple therapy” Bruce felt his hair standing on end at the
craziness of this while Harleen was beaming for her brilliant idea.
“But we’re not a couple!” he protested exasperated.
The blond sighed.
“Of course not! However we have a situation that reminds that. For the time
being, I keep Jack deprived of any stimulus that has to do with you so when
your join sessions began the only exposition he’d get on you would be under
controlled conditions and my guidance we will erase his obsession with you.
Imagine our success, Mr. Wayne!” her eyes flashed fervently. “Imagine the
relief for our society! The people will be safe and we will gain precious
knowledge for other cases like Jack’s!”
Bruce’s eyes were blank but estimating the young therapist: it was obvious that
she believed in her goal and was enthusiastic and really invested in Joker’s
reformation which was great. Yet asking him to be in a session with Joker! He
feared that Joker was manipulating her exploiting her good intentions; Joker
was cunning.
He shook his head and licked his lips.
“I can’t do that! He…he forced me to…marry him…he almost raped me. He kills
people!”
Harleen lolled her head on the side, hardly containing her frustration.
“We’ll take every safety measure – and your friend’s system is very effective.
Mr. Wayne, I’m certain that with your participation Jack’s therapy will produce
wonders. And it will help you as well. I mean, to reevaluate and get over the
traumas Joker left you; also, if Jack stops being obsessed with you, you’ll be
safe.”
Bruce shook his head.
“No, Dr. Quinzel. How you’re sure that my presence there won’t feed his
infatuation and increase his blood thirst?”
She smiled concealing her impatience resisting the urge to shake her feet
nervously like a pendulum.
“Because we’ll have medication and I will be there controlling the situation –
I assure you: I’m a psychiatrist with much experience with sociopaths.”
“I don’t doubt that but still I can’t agree.”
Harleen closed her eyes and sighed disappointed.
“Mr. Wayne…”
“Master Bruce, the lunch is served” Alfred’s cool voice entered the room
interrupting deliberately the young psychiatrist. “Dr. Quinzel, would you honor
us with your company?”
Her fingers clenched the armrest irritated by the interruption. She understood
that her visit was over so she stood up.
“I’m afraid I can’t” she smiled sweetly. “I must return to the Asylum. Thank
you for the invitation; maybe some other time. Mr. Wayne, please consider what
we discussed.”  
“Good afternoon, Dr. Quinzel” it was his only reply and Harleen yanked her head
and followed Alfred to the door.
Bruce watched her course to the exit with expressionless eyes and his lips
pressed. As soon as Alfred closed the door behind her, he took his smartphone
out of his pocket and with a brush on the side turned it into a tablet. He was
ready to do his thing but Alfred’s light footsteps approached and the young man
turned his eyes at him.
“If I may, I would suggest that you forget every bit of this conversation,
Master Bruce.”
Bruce raised his eyebrows and chuckled.
“Someone told me that eavesdropping isn’t a polite thing to do…”
Alfred flushed a bit which Bruce definitely enjoyed yet the Englishman
sustained his cool and stared nonchalant at his young master.
“For masters and young nobles but for a butler eavesdropping sometimes is a
duty.”
Bruce snorted and returned his eyes to his tablet.
“It sounds like double standards…”
Alfred cleared his throat with dignity.
“The lunch is really served and Miss Kyle waits for you” Bruce cast him an
exasperated glance but followed him to the kitchen. “Wash your hands, Master
Bruce.”
Bruce let the tablet on the kitchen island and washed his hands at the sink,
Selina watching him from her stool while Hero beside his bawl was licking
meticulously his rear leg.
“That woman is crazier than Joker!” Selina snorted when her friend settled his
chair beside her in front of his plate of Beef Wellington.
“Another eavesdropper…” he commented snidely and looked appalled the glass of
milk by his plate. “Why Selina gets wine and I milk?” he protested taking his
tablet ready to hack the archives with the footage from the Asylum’s cameras.
Alfred soundlessly approached him and grabbed his tablet.
“No games at the dinner table…” he said nonchalant and Bruce jerked his hands.
“It’s not games!” he objected.
Alfred nodded in emphasis.
“Even worse! As for your other inquiry, Miss Kyle isn’t on medication so she
can drink wine with her meal.”
Selina smirked at Bruce and sipped from her glass teasingly. Bruce shook his
head and huffed.
“On medication…The story of my life! At least I could have a can of soda
instead of milk.”
Alfred looked at him with arched eyebrows.
“With the poor density of your bones, calcium is more necessary than soda.”
Selina chewed delighted a forkful of her meal and turned to her friend holding
graciously the fork between her fingers.
“Don’t be put off, kiddo: eat your food and when you grow up you would be able
to drink wine like the adults” she giggled and Bruce rolled his eyes but began
eating.
His initial hunger had subsided considerably but he knew that eating was
obligatory since there was a lot of medicine to take.
“Don’t tell me that you’re thinking what that shrink told you?’’ Selina asked
staring at Bruce.
He shrugged.
“Perhaps she tries to help both her patient and the society.”
“Bullshit, sweetie! Couple therapy?! I think she shares Joker’s illusions.”
Bruce sipped his milk grimacing.
“At least, I took some useful info out of this.”
“Like?” she asked, chewing her food.
But then a melody came from Bruce’s tablet and Bruce jerked a bit because it
was Clark’s ringtone. His eyes fixed on the ‘’confiscated’’ gadget and Alfred
sighed and gave him back the tablet.
“Hey, Bruce; how are you?” Clark’s voice sounded cheerful but slightly
remorseful.
“Fine, Clark.”
“Just exhausted, huh?” Clark’s voice was now a bit deprecatory. “You couldn’t
stay at the Manor, right? At least, you returned early” Bruce smirked realizing
that Clark saw the footage from his car returning and didn’t knew anything
about his visit to Ubu. “And your move elevated Wayne Enterprises’ shares – BUT
that’s not a reason to repeat it, okay?”
Bruce rolled his eyes.
“You called to reprimand me?”
Clark chuckled.
“As if I could…No, I didn’t call for that” he swallowed. “Ugh! I want so bad to
suck your lips…” Bruce could see him closing his eyes in delight. “I’m sorry I
didn’t manage to come but Perry is bitchy…more than usual.”
“It’s okay, Clark.”
“I’ll be there as soon as I end with work.”
Bruce nodded.
“I’ll be waiting: Tony and Selina will be here for the council.”
He heard Clark huffing.
“Actually, I had other things in mind but…first thing first, huh? Well, babe, I
have to hang up now. Take your medications and have a good rest, okay?
And…and…wait? You have a session with Leench?”
His frown was too loud and Bruce chuckled.
“No massage from him, okay?”
Bruce smirked.
“Mmm…I’m not sure…Buy, Clark!”
He ended the call unable to conceal a big smile and Selina nudged his forearm.
“What’s new from the big bad alien?”
“He doesn’t want Matt to massage me…”
She knitted her eyebrows and grinned evilly.
“Goooood! Let the blond babe massage you and see to manifest signs of great
pleasure – that would make Superman a match to Hulk.”
Bruce shook his head smiling, smile that freeze when Alfred brought him his
pills. He crossed out the exasperated question of how much longer he’ll have to
rely on chemicals and took them calmly.
Alfred looked at his wristwatch.
“Now…off you go for your midday rest.”
But Bruce tightened his grip on the tablet.
“I have some work to do: I’ll take my nap when I’m done.”
Alfred’s expression became disapproving and stern.
“At three o’ clock mister Leench will arrive for your session so the time in
between has to be dedicated to your rest in order to handle the effort.”
The young man rolled his eyes frustrated but then he had to let the tablet on
the table because Hero hoped on his lap and demanded his caress rubbing his
head to his hand.
“You promised to be a good boy, sweetie…” Selina remarked and Bruce huffed
defeated.
“You’ll stay, right?”
Selina nodded.
“Master Wayne, lead the way to the master bedroom: I have to make sure that no
detour will occur. And you don’t need to worry: Miss Kyle will stay and help me
with the cleaning…”
Selina’s eyes bulged and her upper lip upturned in horror causing Bruce’s
laughter.
 
Hero was kicking a small rubber ball between his front legs arching his back
while Selina was sprawled on a sun chair. The steady sound of strong arms
slicing the water of the interior pool made her look up.
After a delicious Alfred meal Selina stayed at the Manor while Bruce took a nap
that was rather short both for her and Alfred’s taste. And then Matt Leench,
Bruce’s physiotherapist, came for their session and Selina liked to watch and
participate to her friend’s workout – that enabled her to restrain Bruce from
overstretching himself: not that Matt didn’t do it, he was actually stern with
his stubborn patient despite his more than evident admiration yet Selina was
more effective and Alfred knew it. Besides, some workout was necessary for her
too.
She had watched Bruce warming up, do resistance exercises, lifting weights and
then even sit-ups under Matt’s protective and impressed stare – Tony had told
her that the Avenger’s physiotherapist was a great professional but Selina
would have been very gleeful to watch Superman huffing and puffing once again,
boiling in his jealousy: that would serve him right!
“I want you to tell me as soon as you feel the slightest of discomfort, OK?”
the physiotherapist kept repeating and Selina smirked because even Matt had
understood Bruce’s disregard for pain when he wanted to achieve something. “We
want to keep your muscles in good shape but we must be very careful with your
upper spine.”
In the end, Matt had put Bruce’s legs in exoskeleton cases to do with the
instrument’s help soft movements that would preserve the muscles’ near normal
condition: he knew that Tony Stark’s goal was to enable his friend to walk
again so the physiotherapist applied exercises that mimicked the walking
movements - always in sitting position.
"What about doing this properly?" Bruce had asked determined and Matt squinted.
"I mean standing."
Matt had pressed his lips in a tight line because he could feel his patient's
impatience.
"I wouldn't risk applying so much pressure to your pelvis, Bruce. Your spine is
still too sensitive."
Bruce followed his trainer’s instructions and did his exercises calmly,
determined and clenching his teeth because sometimes even now the workout was
demanding. But seeing his legs in walking motion made Bruce’s eyes flash and it
was as if Selina could hear him swear that he’ll walk again without the machine
doing everything.
“I think it’s enough for today, Bruce” Matt had said patting his patient’s
sweaty back.
Bruce looked at him under his wet locks.
“I can continue, Matt…a bit more.”
Matt smiled understanding his patient’s desire to walk again as soon as
possible.
“I know you can, Bruce; but it’s enough for now – you didn’t work out for three
days: we don’t want any cramps or strains or stiffness. And you’re tired after
a long transatlantic journey” he smiled. “You know that weren’t for Tony’s
energy internal casts you would be still on a bed completely immobile wrapped
in hard casts?”
Or worse, six feet under…Bruce nodded thoughtful.
“We’ll volume up gradually, deal?” Matt inquired cheerfully to lift his
patient’s spirits and wrapped carefully a big towel around Bruce’s shoulders.
Bruce sighed.
“Deal.”
Then they proceeded to the pool room where Matt accompanied Bruce in the warm
water. Not that her friend needed any help: he slipped from his wheelchair to
the pool with ease and grace, Matt waiting in the water. The pool had the
normal depth because Bruce was a skilled swimmer even disabled. So Matt stood
on the side and watched with pride his patient sliding to the waters.
Selina cleared her throat.
“It must be odd for the physiotherapist of the Avengers working with everyday
people” she said slyly.
Matt shrugged.
“Although I enjoy my work with the Avengers, it’s my interaction with everyday
people that gives me the greatest reward” he glanced at Selina keeping the
corner of his eye on Bruce who continued swimming. “I believe that people
without superpowers are the true heroes.”
Selina’s eyebrows arched.
“I absolutely agree with that… However it must be a one-of-a-kind experience to
massage Hulk” she rolled her eyes.
Matt laughed.
“No, I wouldn’t dare that!”
Selina protruded her lips.
“And what about Captain America?” her eyes glimmered and Bruce stared at her
grinning. “He needs training and massage too?”
Bruce chuckled understanding what his friend was thinking: that she gladly
would change places with Matt.
“Well, he has enhanced strength and skills but still a physiotherapist can be
of help especially after battles…I just can’t elaborate on this:
confidentiality reasons.”
Selina nodded and watched Hero running from his corner towards his master; at
the sight of the water the kitten braked abruptly and looked down at his
master.
“C’me, join me, Hero!” Bruce told him but the kitten meowed unwilling.
The young man splashed a few drops on the animal which made some nervous steps
backwards.
“Maybe Selina could join you” Matt commented.
But she shook her head.
“No way, handsome… I don’t have a swimming suit and I don’t owe you a great
favor…” she winked.
Matt chuckled but then his smartphone from the gym room rang.
“Mmm…Selina, do you mind keeping company to Bruce?” he meant watching over
Bruce just in case.
“Not at all, go…If it’s Captain give him a kiss!”
Bruce changed his body’s position into backstroke. He loved swimming because it
gave him the sense of independence, of freedom, of normalcy.
“You’re quite fast” Selina said sitting at the granite tile surface. She
admired him because although she was sure that demanded too much effort Bruce
made it look easy.
“Yeah…” Bruce said grimly. “Like a turtle…”
Selina stroked Hero who was twitching his paw in the drops of water Bruce had
sent towards him.
“A sea turtle” she commented arching an eyebrow. “In Finding Nemo they were
pretty damn fast.”
Bruce placed his arms in the surface in front of Selina and lifted the goggles.
“Finding Nemo?”
Selina slapped her eye.
“I forgot you’re much behind in films…” Bruce was Falcone’s slave back then and
he barely was given food… “The orphanage staff took us to cinema when it came
out: it’s an animated film about a clown fish that crosses the entire ocean,
has a lot of adventures and faces even sharks to find his son that was captured
and kept in a fish tank…” she suddenly realized the similarities with Bruce and
the possible child.
She bit his lower lip; from Bruce’s eyes could understand that her friend had
already caught the similarities.
“I’m sorry…” she whispered but Bruce smiled.
“It’s a good movie?”
“It’s great! And the clown fish it’s accompanied in his journey by a female
friend: Dory who’s a bit stupid but has a good heart.”
“It sounds worth watching…” he let go of the edge of the pool and slid into the
water lowering the goggles over his eyes. “Matt should have known better when
he suggested you get into the water…” he snorted. “Cats hate water!”
Suddenly, the arched roof of the swimming pool room opened and Ironman made his
appearance as pompous as ever when the armor vanished and Tony dressed in his
jeans and T-shirt fell completely ungracefully to the water splashing all over
Selina and Hero.
“Yooo-Hoooo!” Tony exclaimed and hugged Bruce who was a bit unbalanced from the
wave. “Ha! Like a wet cat, huh, Sel?!”
Selina gritted her teeth eyeing her drenched clothes; her eyes were spiting
flames as Hero’s.
“Stark! You asshole!” she yelled. “You could have hit Bruce, you dork!”
Tony however was beaming.
“She loves me, huh, little guy? I’m simply irresistible, babe!”
Matt, who had heard the fuss, ran there worried; he closed his eyes and
breathed easier seeing Tony Stark holding his best friend.
“Tony, what a nice surprise! But you could have hit Bruce!”
Tony rolled his eyes to Bruce who smiled.
“What are they talking about, Bruce? I had estimated everything about my
spectacular dive to eliminate any risk: you know that, huh?”
“Of course, Tony… Selina, Alfred has stashed some clothes for you so you can
change.”
She was drying Hero with a fluffy towel and glared at them fuming.
“Tell me that you don’t have any clothes for that spoiled Californian brat and
he’ll be forced to walk around naked…”
Tony twitched his eyebrows suggestively.
“I love the way you think, babe…” he lowered his voice looking at her
seductively. “Adam’s attire suits me perfectly and ladies love it too…”
She rolled her eyes and snorted.
“Yes, I suppose there are many perverts out there…”
Tony slapped his palm over his arc reactor and lolled his head supposedly hurt.
“You stabbed me in the heart, babe…Wait…That’s the arc. Have I told you that
I’m a masochist?” he patted Bruce’s upper arm. “They were afraid that I might
hit you – that would impossible: you’re great at swimming, buddy!”
“He believes that he is a turtle” Selina remarked.
“No way!” Matt protested. “He’s can be an athlete!”
Tony widened his eyes at his friend.
“A sea turtle like in Finding Nemo.”
Bruce yanked his head.
“I must see that movie…”
“In my cinema hall back at home; it’s been ages since the last time you came to
visit.”
The younger man smiled but Matt clapped his hands.
“It’s time Bruce gets out of the water and you change clothes.”
Tony held his friend as Matt had taught him to help him out but Bruce tensed:
he wanted to do as many things as possible by himself.
“Thank you, Tony but I can manage…” he said smiling.
But Tony was serious.
“I know you can…but I need to do this to loosen that knot in my stomach…to
persuade myself that I can do something for you” his voice was too solemn for
Tony’s standards; he brought his mouth to Bruce’s ear “other than contributing
to your crazy plan…”
The younger man understood.
“You spoke with Lucius?” he whispered.
“Yup…He wants me in the project” he locked eyes with him “do you?”
Bruce pressed his lips but didn’t lower his eyes.
“I didn’t want you to participate in something that you don’t believe; in
something that would bother and upset you…And you also have too many things
demanding your attention and skills. But it wouldn’t have been the same without
you.”
Tony hugged him and kissed his forehead.
“I won’t let you out of my sight again, kiddo and…my ego wouldn’t stand it if
Lucius created something better than my things without my contribution” he
lolled his head.
Bruce’s eyes sparkled and his lips trembled in a hesitant smile: he had the
confidence that Lucius would make the best possible suit yet Tony’s
participation was important because he wanted his best friend supporting his
decisions.
“So…you’re in?”
Tony turned his eyes to the ceiling that had closed again and scratched his wet
locks holding Bruce with one hand.
“It’s the least I can do: you taught me how to sustain and control Ironman with
my mind’s power…”
Bruce frowned.
“I didn’t.”
Tony pouted shaking his head thoughtful.
“Exactly…you’ll say that when outsiders are around – I like to brag about
that!”
“Tony!” Matt yelled. “Stop keeping Bruce in: it’s time for shower!”
Tony cocked his eyebrows.
“You can’t find respect in your employees anymore…” he sighed and supported
Bruce to his waiting wheelchair at which point his eyes widened. “You emerged
from thin air?”
Alfred wasn’t in the pool hall when Tony arrived and now was standing by the
wheelchair holding a fluffy bathrobe. He knew the time Bruce’s swimming session
ended and as every time he came just in time to wrap immediately and carefully
his master in the bathrobe.
“Like master like butler, huh?” Tony smirked. “When are you gonna teach poor
ol’ Tony the tricks, littl’ guy?”
Bruce pouted and nodded patronizingly.
“I’m teaching you too but you’re a late bloomer…”
Alfred gave one of his precious chuckles and Tony rolled his eyes sighing.
“My humor is used against me by my own pupil…alas! Where this world is headed?”
Suddenly, Tony felt a strong push and lost his balance ending up completely
gracelessly back in the pool. He emerged to the surface rasping and saw Selina
sniggering with a hissing Hero in her arms.
“Next time remember that cats hate water!” she snapped and turned graciously
swaying seductively her beautiful hips heading to the showers.
Tony lolled his head to the side arching an eyebrow.
“And that cats have nails and…awesome hips! Wow!” he wolf whistled and winked
to Bruce. “She wanted me to see the view from here…”
Matt from the other end of the space approached with his hands clutching his
waist.
“Bruce, go make a shower and I’ll wait you in the gym for your massage.”
 
Finally!
He gazed all around him awed and touched: the cave walls, the working bench
with the five screens showing footage from different parts of the city, the
waterfall at the entrance, the Tumbler standing there neglected, the bats
hanging upside down from the ceiling. The case with Batman’s suit: a new one
Lucius probably brought at a point, because his previous was destroyed in the
factory.
Everything looked different from this position, from the nest and cage of his
wheelchair which however was to thank for being able to come here because the
steep and rough surface would have made it impossible for a normal chair to
move.
All these time he felt lucky and grateful that survived the collapse and the
fire but being again down in the cave intensified that feeling, made his heart
jolt in his chest and his back shiver…however at the same time the realization
of his impairment became graver. Which on its turn galvanized his decisiveness
to walk again and don the cape and the cowl. He used the chair’s capability to
elevate and took reverently the cowl: he felt as if the inanimate that object
stared back piercing him.
He placed the cowl back because he didn’t want his friends seeing how touched
he was; instead, he wheeled the chair in front of the working bench and for a
few seconds brushed with his fingers the keyboard and the mouse. It seemed as
if it’s been ages…
Then he brought his iris to the niche at the bottom left corner of the central
screen and the processor opened sending goose bumps to Bruce’s healthy spine.
Tony had a virtual meeting with S.H.I.E.L.D.’s sector directors and Selina was
busy with something occupying Hero. So he was alone…He adored his friends but
still he cherished some loneliness – especially, in the cave…though it always
brought back memories of his escapees to the underground caves when he was at
Falcone’s captivity. Maybe that was the reason he loved so much being in the
cave: because he lived again all these emotions of the few instances of fake
safety, freedom and oblivion the caves gave to the scared boy.
He placed his tablet on the bench and his fingers flew on the keyboard bringing
on the screen the results from Lucius’ analysis. But first, he wanted to do
something else.
“Transfer pictures 001 to 0020” he ordered and the tablet’s screen illuminated
as the pictures of Dick’s stalker were moved to the central processor.
He tapped the keys giving the data to the face recognition software to cross
the photos with public archives.
The whoosh told him that he was no longer alone; he took his eyes from the
screen just as Clark was right next to him, his mouth nestled in his neck.
“You promised to not go hard at this…” Clark struggled to sound stern but his
voice came out too sensual – after all, seeing Bruce working in the cave always
aroused him.
“I don’t” Bruce replied nonchalant though Clark’s wet breath made his healthy
body go in paralysis too.
Clark frowned and sniffed harder at Bruce’s skin.
“That Matt was touching you?” he rolled his eyes.
Bruce snorted and looked again at his screens.
“Of course; he is my physiotherapist: kinesiotherapy and massage is part of my
sessions.”
Superman took gently Bruce’s shoulders and nuzzled his cheek that was so
deliciously cold from the cave’s temperature.
“I don’t want him to massage you…I can do it” his eyes reminded of a kicked
puppy. Clark could scan Bruce’s muscles and see that the physiotherapist did a
good work with his patient’s paralyzed muscles and his healthy but sensitive
ones – a remarkably good work because Clark could sense how relaxed Bruce’s
muscles were. Damn!
“You’re not as reliable as Matt” a snarky voice came from the lift and high
heels echoed to the stone along with light paws walking along. “He is devoted
and he’d never abandon Bruce for two days…and Bruce really needs that massage!”
Clark stood up and regarded Selina with his arms crossed on his chest. The
young woman smirking held his gaze with her blazing eyes.
“I’m sorry, Selina” Superman decided that Bruce’s friend was right to be
pissed; after all, she had never abandoned Bruce despite all the dangers.
“You’re right” he walked towards her “I’m an asshole!”
“Indeed!” she spat. “A super asshole!”
Hero was at Clark’s feet and the man squatted to take him but the kitten sped
to climb on Bruce’s lap. Clark shook his head slowly getting up.
“Even Hero is angry with me” he huffed.
Selina patted him in the upper arm and twitched her eyebrows.
“So from now on behave, buster: you’re on probation!” she passed him and sat on
the bench crossing her legs and looking at Bruce patting Hero who purred.
Superman ruffled his hair.
“Fair enough…” he shrugged and then laughed seeing Bruce working over his
keyboard with Hero having climbed on his shoulder and rubbing his head on the
man’s neck. “Another rival!” he sighed.
“You have no idea, pal!” Tony’s grumpy voice saluted him as the billionaire got
out of the lift.
He met the scolding stare of Ironman before Tony proceeded to his friend. Clark
pouted and followed.
Selina in the meantime had detached Hero from Bruce – not without resistance –
and rolled her eyes to both boys.
“Boys, if you didn’t get it we have a meeting” she scoffed. “And we have
already a nice show with a shrink here…”
Bruce didn’t stir being engrossed in the data on one of the screens.
“Why are you searching Oliver Queen?” Clark demanded with narrowed eyes.
“Because the Amazon Princess saved him from the island he was stranded” Bruce
answered without turning.
Clark knew that already but Bruce searching him meant that his stubborn lover
intended on making an inquiry about Diana. He huffed.
“You’re searching Diana…”
“Of course…” he replied indifferent for Clark’s underlying disapproval.
“Bruce, for Rao’s sake, she is our ally!”
However Tony’s main concern was other.
“Sorry to interrupt but what shrink?” he asked.
Twisting the stool into facing his friend was the easiest thing in the world
but the wheelchair albeit of advanced technology needed a bit more effort.
“Dr. Harleen Quinzel” Bruce replied.
“Joker’s psychiatrist?” both Tony and Clark exclaimed and Selina clapped.
“You were in the school band or natural talent?” she chuckled.
Tony turned his eyes on the ceiling reminiscent.
“Those girl groups…” he sighed and then cleared his throat looking at his
company. “You know how fond and caring I am of every cultural effort!”
Clark didn’t pay any attention and frowned.
“What did she want?”
“To mess with our nerves!” Selina spat gritting her teeth and Hero found the
chance to swallow her finger mock biting it.
“She asked me to help with Joker’s therapy” Bruce said indifferently.
Tony crossed his arms.
“I don’t like that…Clarify.”
Bruce rubbed his chin.
“She suggested I participate in Joker’s therapy sessions in order for her to
change his wrong perceptions about me and our …relation.”
Tony cocked his eyebrows and scratched his neck.
“I must congratulate Gotham for the choice of its shrinks…” he sneered. “First
Crane, now her…”
But Clark was agitated.
“As in couple therapy?” his lips were twisted in disgust.
Bruce nodded.
“Exactly.”
Clark clenched his fists and his feet already hovered off the ground.
“I tell her one or two things!”
“Easy, tiger!” Tony stopped him. “You want all these rumors of Superman loving
Bruce Wayne being inflamed?”
Clark met Bruce’s eyes.
“I personally don’t have a problem with that” he said nonchalant.
Selina hopped from the bench and erected her elegant body in front of him
locking their eyes.
“Really now?” she cocked an eyebrow in sarcasm. “Are you sure? Perhaps your new
friend would be heartbroken?” she pouted lolling her head on the side.
Superman’s gaze hardened and Bruce closed his eyes hearing his lover’s rasping
breath as he was ready to retort.
“I refused!” Bruce’s stentorian voice echoed through the cave and Clark turned
to him instead. “Of course I refused” he continued lowering his voice looking
at Clark. “The good thing is that I learnt some things from our discussion:
first of all, that Joker attacked an inmate on the news of my arrival.”
He pressed a button and the attack’s video played on the screen.
Selina clenched her waist.
“So…instead of getting your rest you were hacking…Wait till Alfred finds out!”
A crease formed in Bruce’s forehead under the reprimanding eyes of his friend.
“I did sleep; I just woke up sooner than schedule and did some work.”
Selina’s eyebrows knitted.
“Wait a minute! Your tablet was in the living room: Alfred knows you too well
to let it in your room, so how?”
Bruce’s lips twitched.
“You can control the tablet from your watch.”
Tony whistled and slapped his thighs shaking his head.
“That’s preposterous, littl’ guy! WayneTech can’t have created THAT before
Stark Industries!”
Bruce smirked, cocking an eyebrow.
“It seems that we can…” he inclined his head to Tony. “Good thing you’re a
shareholder.”
Tony huffed.
“I want that gizmo in StarkExpo!”
Bruce shrugged and smiled wickedly.
“Why not?”
“Tell me everything about your gadget” Tony’s eyes sparkled intrigued.
Superman fumed; he jerked his arms upwards.
“Are we forgetting something?! We were talking about Joker, remember?”
Tony rolled his eyes clearly disappointed.
“Clark is right” Bruce commented. “Well, the inmate Joker attacked is Lou
Garfield…”
“Any relation with my favorite smug, fat, sarcastic cat?” Tony asked and then
looked at Hero’s big, round eyes. “Favorite animatedcat.”
“No” Bruce replied and the man’s police file emerged on the screen. “He is one
of his thugs; and before you ask why Joker attacked one of his thugs: Lou was
at the Chickey’s factory and he shot the bullets that started the fire.”
Superman nodded slowly.
“Joker attacked him the moment the TV showed you disembarking the jet on the
wheelchair…”
Bruce pressed his lips.
“And Joker holds him responsible for your impairment” Tony continued “which
brings us to an unpleasant conclusion…”
“That Joker thinks you’re the Batman” Selina crossed her arms.
Bruce nodded.
“He hinted that in the factory. And obviously he wasn’t persuaded by the
holograms, which makes urgent the built of a suit that would enable me to make
some appearances as Batman so to disperse those suspicions.”
“I don’t like that!” Clark exploded. “I don’t care what Joker thinks! You won’t
get out there while in this condition – this is madness! If it’s necessary that
Joker sees Batman, I’ll dress up.”
Bruce shook his head patiently.
“That won’t work! The one time you did that Joker figured you out and that made
him suspect the truth. And it’ll be safe: I trust Lucius and Tony; besides I
won’t do anything too demanding.”
“Yeah, sure…” Clark snapped his head to the side to not look at Bruce’s
determined eyes.
Tony lowered his head thoughtful and pouted.
“At least my intra-body tracker worked knocking out the nutcase before he
killed the guy – however it took some time…” he mumbled skeptical “which it
shouldn’t…”
Bruce pointed his finger at the screen.
“You told me that your system works on the basis that aggressive behavior is
accompanied with arousal to some bodily functions” Tony nodded. “The problem
with Joker is that he doesn’t function like most killers: I have some
experience with him and believe me murdering is nothing for him – he doesn’t
experience the physiological changes that are connected with violent behavior.
It’s something absolutely normal for him.”
“However Tony’s system worked in this case and the man was saved” Clark
commented.
“Quinzel told me that Joker’s reactions are more intense when it’s about me –
perhaps the news of my paraplegia made him lose his control” he took in Clark’s
pissed eyes. “Anger overwhelmed him and that saved Lou; however now Joker knows
how the system works and won’t make again the same mistake.”
Selina rubbed her chin.
“But he can’t break out of Tony’s cell.”
“He can’t but he doesn’t stay there all the time: Dr. Quinzel decided that it’s
better if he wanders free among the other inmates.”
“Yeah, but after the incident she must keep him away from the others” Clark
commented.
Bruce pressed his lips and tapped a button showing footage from the common room
with today’s date. They saw Joker talking with Crane on the couch.
Clark gritted his teeth.
“Those two together is bad news! What this woman is thinking?! Letting Joker
plot with Crane?”
“And with his former thugs around” Selina pointed out.
“Obviously, Quinzel believes that isolation will make things worse or…Joker
manipulates her.”
Tony yanked his head meeting Bruce’s eyes determined.
“What do you propose? You know him better after all.”
Bruce looked at the jester on the screen.
“Nobody can say that knows Joker…” he was thoughtful but then turned again to
Tony. “What if instead of monitoring Joker’s bodily signals your system tracks
the bodily reactions of the people around him?” Tony’s eyes flashed and a
wicked grin dawned on his face. “So every time it senses terror knocks out
Joker.”
Tony laughed triumphantly and shook his head.
“That’s brilliant, littl’ guy! And cunning!” he raised his index finger and
shook it.
“But it’s difficult” Selina said.
The billionaire from Malibu turned to her pouting hurt and opened his arms.
“That hurt, gorgeous! Nothing it’s difficult for Tony – The Genius – Stark”
Clark cocked his eyebrows exasperated which Bruce noticed. “Only Bruce
understands my restless intelligence and offers me challenges! Thank you,
buddy!”
“Perhaps we could ask for Quinzel’s removal at least from Joker’s treatment?”
Clark asked.
“We could but that could provoke some uncontrollable results: Quinzel is the
head of Arkham Asylum and it’d be difficult to be removed from her patient,
plus she’d get defensive on us hardeining any cooperation with her; on the
other hand, she seems to be really interested in Joker’s reformation and we
want a therapist invested in that purpose.”
Selina leaned her waist on the bench and raised an eyebrow.
“Not if she is controlled by him…”
“I agree” Clark nodded.
Bruce drummed his fingers on the bench.
“That’s right but we can’t intervene so roughly to the Asylum’s function.”
“As if the mysterious mastermind of your attack wasn’t enough” Selina shook her
head.
“We have some clues about the attackers” Bruce said.
Clark frowned.
“You told me that Diana ruined the evidence.”
Selina lolled her head on the side.
“Yes, but nothing is impossible for our detective…He slipped our tight security
and took samples from the soil where some remains fell” Bruce stared at her
with sparkling eyes “and from his clothes because the green fellas had grabbed
him – am I saying these right?” she arched an eyebrow.
“Perfect!” Bruce replied ignoring Tony’s and Clark’s shared exasperated looks
for Bruce’s sneaking activity. “Lucius and I searched the databases of labs –
legal and illegal labs.”
“Why?” Clark asked. “From Diana’s description they sounded clearly
extraterrestrial.”
Bruce bit his bottom lip because Clark had discussed the attackers with the
Amazon and not him.
Tony slumped on a stool.
“And reports from the local sector of S.H.I.E.L.D. talk about signals of non-
earth technology.”
Bruce nodded.
“The fact that the clues don’t remind anything we know or that the attackers
looked like extraterrestrial doesn’t mean that they are indeed
extraterrestrial. For instance, our attackers could be the product of illegal
experimentation.”
Superman clenched his jaw.
“Luthor.”
“Except he is in prison” Tony pinched the bridge of his nose.
“That doesn’t stop him from ordering the attack from there” Selina offered.
“I’m sure he’d want some revenge on Bruce and Superman.”
“Or some of his partners could be using the products of their association”
Bruce remarked.
Tony ruffled his hair with both hands.
“League of Shadows. But, Bruce, we dismantled them: we destroyed their secret
weapons, their bases and their members are in high-security prisons around the
world. Also, their control over S.H.I.E.L.D. is over and their leader is
missing or dead.”
“You believe that some cells managed to reorganize so soon after such a lethal
blow?” Clark asked.
“There is always the possibility of them having some locations that weren’t
included in the files I stole, like the base in Mt. Marcy. So” he breathed
“Selina and me went to examine that possibility. We talked with the one man who
was Ra’s right hand: Ubu.”
“And?” Tony asked with narrowed eyes.
“He doesn’t believe that those creatures were sent by any remains of the
League. Also, he wants to relocate at the monastery at Himalayas to train
people to serve justice.”
Tony frowned.
“I know he saved your life, buddy, but…”
“He almost died for that and without him you wouldn’t have found the secret
base.”
“Correct – so he conducted Selina to reveal the location: and you, my lady,
trusted him?” Tony pouted.
Selina met Bruce’s gaze and he nodded.
“I trusted Ubu because I already knew him: years before, while Ra’s loyal
warrior he secretly trained me to help Bruce.”
Tony gaped and Clark nodded; it made sense that both Selina and Bruce trusted
Ubu.
“So, Tony” Bruce cut to the point “I think S.H.I.E.L.D. can give him back the
monastery: you may keep the supervision because there’s a chance someone wants
to get him.”
“Okay…If you vouch for him, no problem; actually, I like the bald guy.”
“So if the League is crossed out where we stand?” Clark inquired.
“Lucius didn’t find anything in labs’ logs all over the world and the findings
from LexLabs didn’t give anything. For the time being.”
“So Luthor has no involvement in your attack and neither does the League” Tony
wrapped it up.
Bruce nodded.
“Furthermore, Lucius’ analysis showed that those creatures consist of matter
and substances definitely out of this world.”
“Which agrees with the reports from S.H.I.E.L.D.” Tony added. “So some
extraterrestrial dude decides to attack Bruce…” he looked pointedly at Clark “I
wonder why?”
Selina shrugged.
“It could be your enemy too, Tony…” Selina remarked.
The billionaire lolled his head to the side.
“I have many enemies, doll, but they are from this planet even though some of
them are ugly as aliens – no offence, Supes. On the other hand, we know who has
attracted much alien scum to challenge him.”
Tony’s tone was a bit snarky yet Superman didn’t feel irritated: from the first
moment he was almost sure that some enemy of his ordered the attack and
honestly he just cared to find and smash him so Bruce won’t be in danger ever
again…Well, at least because of him.
Clark sat on a stool, his hands on his thighs.
“Mongul? Lobo? Brainiac?” he counted some of the enemies he fought.
“General Zod?” Bruce offered.
But Clark shook his head in denial.
“Supes snapped his neck” Tony commented. “Everyone was talking about that then
but you, littl’ guy, don’t know that because…well…” he twisted his lips “you
didn’t watch much TV then.”
“Exactly, Bruce” Clark added but Selina was looking at her friend’s blank eyes.
“You said that you’ll check this…” Bruce said looking at Clark.
Tony yanked his head.
“Wait! I’ve lost some episodes here…”
Clark crossed his arms.
“Bruce has a premonition” maybe obsession is a better word “that Zod is alive –
that I didn’t kill him but only knock him out.”
The billionaire from Malibu lolled his head and pouted staring at his friend.
“C’me on, Bruce, you can’t know that…”
Bruce inhaled and turned to them unfazed by their doubts.
“I can’t remember how I know this – maybe Ra’s told me so: he had made a lot of
research about Clark. It’s better if he checks this.”
Clark pressed his lips: he didn’t like returning to deeds that haunted him till
now but if that would soothe Bruce.
“Fine, I’ll do it.”
“So” Selina intervened “either is someone of Supes’ past enemies or a new,
unknown one.”
Clark feared this prospect more because he didn’t know what they were facing.
Damn! An alien enemy was more dangerous for Bruce because even as Batman he was
fighting human villains and to make matters worse Bruce was now disabled.
“I fought Bagdana as well” Bruce spat reading his thoughts and Clark blushed.
“Anyway” he changed the subject “we still continue searching LexLabs for any
indication of his collaborators – he was involved in many shady business.”
“We can interrogate the son of a bitch” Tony said.
“There’s a spree of burglaries to labs in Metropolis” Clark said. “LexLabs,
STAR Labs, everything – I know it may be irrelevant to our case but…”
“We can’t afford to neglect anything involving Luthor. And the burglaries
weren’t local” Bruce added. “LexLabs all over the States have been raided the
last months; police arrested the culprits – all of them local hired muscle yet
the thugs didn’t say for whom they work.”
Clark brushed his chin.
“That’s the case in Metropolis too” Bruce seemed interested. “Metropolis’
police believe a new big gang tries to dominate the city’s underworld
destroying the rivals: the Intergang. They have weakened the other gangs by
executing their members and stripped them from their weapons; it’s a ghost gang
that everyone knows that exist but nobody has seen it. They have aggregated
weaponry and technical supplies for various illegal activities. My
investigation had led me to believe that Intergang has recruited many convicted
criminals succeeding their release: dangerous people like Johnny “Stitches”
Denetto or Alistair Bendel - White. And…” he hesitated remembering what he
heard from these two.
“What?” Selina asked and Clark felt every eye on him.
“I was watching those I mentioned and they were saying that their boss isn’t
afraid of Superman” Tony arched his eyebrows smugly “or the Avengers.”
“Arrogant bastard!” the billionaire exclaimed insulted.
“And they said that after their boss’ win they will take their revenge on me
using Bruce…” his eyes met Bruce’s relishing their strength and contempt for
the threat.
“They can dream on it…” Selina scoffed.
“You suggest that Intergang has something to do with Bruce’s attack?” Tony
inquired.
“Luthor could have been collaborating with an aspirational new local
player…that would explain the raids in LexLabs” Clark shrugged.
“So we must find Intergang’s boss because even if the attack wasn’t his idea,
he seems to be up to no good” Selina said.
“And either he is the big enemy” Tony added “or we are facing two villains” he
protruded his lower lip “nice…”
“We have to keep our eyes open” Bruce said hiding his frustration for being
confined unable to go out there, disguise and spy.
“Speaking of which…” Selina narrowed her eyes “where’s Hero?”
Clark chuckled because his super hearing knew already.
“Following Batman’s lead…” he pointed to the Tumbler.
Hero had climbed on the roof and was eyeing the bats on the ceiling with the
cold determination of a predator. Suddenly he jolted against one of the rodents
which flew away to the kitten’s dismay.
“Siblings’ rival!” Tony erupted in laughter and Clark flew to the Tumbler
snatching the kitten.
“He just proved that I was right…” Selina said in a singsong voice.
Clark placed Hero on Bruce’s lap and remained squatted in front of him smiling.
Selina pulled out of her breast pocket a folded paper that she opened and
showed to Bruce giggling.
Bruce laughed too and soon everyone in the cave did the same.
On the paper Hero was painted perfectly with a black cowl covering his eyes and
ears and a cape waving behind him. Hero stared at himself intrigued and meowed
proudly.
“Congrats, buddy!” Tony cackled. “You found yourself a sidekick! The Bat-
kitten!” Hero twitched his paw towards Tony and the billionaire pouted mock
solemn “Okay, okay, what about Bat-Tiger!”
Clark was laughing and Bruce was engrossed looking his crystal blue eyes
sparkling full of energy and life; suddenly, the dead eyes of Superman of his
dream came returned causing his blood to freeze.
“Are you so cruel?” the Amazon Princess repeated in her cold voice.
Clark sensed that Bruce’s temperature decreased a bit and fear gripped his
insides: hypothermia was a constant danger for paraplegics and today Bruce got
really tired.
“Are you alright?” he asked searching Bruce’s blank eyes cupping the younger
man’s cheek. “Is it your lung?” his other palm touched Bruce’s chest on the
lung’s place.
Bruce shook his head and Clark’s palm lowered to touch the place where his
spleen used to be; it was clear that the Man of Steel was scanning him.
“You did that: you put your egoism above anything else – above his wellbeing.
Do you really think that you offered him anything more than agony, suffering
and pain?”
“I’m fine” he spat shaking off the effect of the dream; he gulped seeing how
worried Clark’s eyes were.
“The cave is way too cold and humid for you: time to get you upstairs” Clark
snapped determined and patted Hero’s head as the kitten was licking Bruce’s
hand.
“I have work to do” Bruce answered flatly and looked at the screen where the
photo of Dick’s stalker was surrounded by information.
Tony cleared his throat.
“Don’t tell me your wonder-gadget can’t establish connection with the bat
computer because I’m taking off the invitation for StarkExpo” he said playfully
but sternly at the same time.
“And Alfred had baked cinnamon biscuits that wait for us…” Selina took Hero.
Clark who was looking at Bruce’s friend turned to his lover and cocked an
eyebrow.
“We’re leaving” he said and made to take Bruce in his arms to his dismay.
“I can use the chair.”
Clark was hurt.
“I know but holding you gives me so much pleasure…”
“Exactly!” Bruce said briskly and turned the chair towards the lift. “You’re on
probation, remember?”
Selina sniggered and growled satisfied before following her friend and Tony
raised his eyebrows smugly.
“Right…” Clark sighed as the others left.
***** Chapter 21 *****
Chapter Notes
     I'd like to thank all of you for reading, commenting and leaving
     Kudos!
Leslie was perusing the latest shift’s reports on the clinic’s patients. It was
late evening and the night shift had started. After three decades in this job,
she was used to spending her nights in the free clinic reading reports,
supervising the urgent happenings of a clinic located in the Narrows and
tending to the patients. It wasn’t too difficult: during the hard years of
Falcone’s reign she had transferred her home here since she had sold her
apartment to sustain the clinic.
Now that things were ideal she still couldn’t change her old habits and that
made her sympathize with her most challenging, stubborn and beloved patient,
Bruce: she could understand his urge to return to his former life despite the
difficulties he was facing right now. And although he sometimes frustrated her
she deeply admired him… of course she was hiding this because then their
wayward boy would be encouraged to exploit her soft spot.
She pursed her lips and detached her eyes from the papers; she rubbed the rim
of her eye glasses: now that was a temptation! Being at Wayne Manor enjoying a
perfect meal with Alfred, Bruce and his gang: she smiled fondly. After eighteen
years believing the little angel dead, she couldn’t get enough of him,
especially since a couple of months ago she had almost lost him again. Yet the
people’s needs here were the priority over her personal happiness. And Bruce
understood that perfectly because this was his life too…he almost died because
of that.
She sighed and shook her head to focus again on the medical report she was
reading.
Knocks on the door and Leslie answered because every now and then some nurse
wanted to announce or ask something. Except it wasn’t a nurse.
“Good evening to my favorite doctor!” behind a really big bouquet of white
tulips Thomas Elliot strut in the office.
Leslie blinked and Thomas’ face emerged behind the flowers crestfallen.
“Mmm… I’m not welcomed?”
Leslie took off her glasses and rubbed the bridge of her nose.
“Of course you are, Thomas; have a seat. Your shift isn’t tonight, right?”
Thomas bestowed politely the flowers to her and sat at the armchair in front of
her office crossing elegantly his legs eyeing Leslie who put the flowers on the
desk rather untouched: Thomas smirked inside because he realized that the rough
Narrows doctor wasn’t the chivalry-crap type.
“I’m allowed in the clinic only for the shifts?” he asked mock hurt, cocking
his eyebrows and Leslie waved her hand dismissing.
“Not at all; it’s that I know how demanding your program is and I thought that
you’d want to exploit the little free time you have for something recreational
and reviving.”
Thomas smiled and nodded.
“And that’s why I’m here!” he opened his hands. “I wanted to see the most
charming doctor and have dinner with her.”
Leslie shook her head: Tommy’s efforts to ‘seduce’ her were ridiculous. And his
hair that till now was perfectly groomed and short, was left slightly messy and
long, exactly like Bruce’s hair when landed at Gotham. Somehow she would bet
that the moment Bruce cut his locks, Thomas would do the same.
“I believe that the perfect company for dinner would be some young, beautiful
lady” Leslie remarked.
The young doctor grinned revealing his pearly white teeth.
“Or if you were to leave your clinic for dinner it would be only for a dinner
at Wayne Manor, right?”
Leslie put down the pen she was holding. She leaned towards her guest and
narrowed her eyes.
“Tommy, what do you really want?” she asked in her cut-the-crap voice though
softer than most times.
Thomas ruffled his hair laughing.
“I can’t fool you, huh?” he shook his head amused.
Leslie cocked an eyebrow and pierced him with her gaze over her glasses.
“You want to fool me, young man?”
“No, no, no…Nothing evil there: I honestly wanted to have dinner with you to
enjoy your witty, intelligent company and asked you to arrange a meeting with
Bruce” he straightened his gaze into dead seriousness.
Leslie leaned to the back of her chair and shook her head disbelieving.
“Me? Arrange you a meeting? Come on, Thomas, I’m not Bruce’s secretary…”
“And that’s the reason I want you to speak to him” he pressed his lips.
“You want me as a mediator… Why don’t you contact him personally? I think that
this would be the best choice.”
He shook his head.
“He’ll refuse albeit, I’m sure, politely. I think he still holds for me the
impression from his childhood – not that I blame him… With everything he’s been
through I didn’t have the chance to correct those misunderstandings – and now
he has more important things to invest his energy…but I need to make amends and
maybe help him” his eyes were shining with honesty.
Leslie intertwined her fingers on the desk.
“I still believe that if you really want that personal contact asking for it
yourself would be the best option. Otherwise it’d seem like we trapped him: do
you want him to lose his trust in me? Not that I’ll ever agree to set up a
meeting.”
Thomas lowered his head.
“If I really want that? What else would I want from Bruce?” he lolled his head
on the side. “C’me on, Leslie! I’m not Joker or that ridiculous League that
hurt him so much!”
“Thomas, listen to me: if you want to approach Bruce, trying to make his people
plot with you isn’t the right way: this will lead to the opposite result. Speak
to him without mediators.”
He smiled.
“He’d never agree to meet me: he didn’t even let me help him with his injury! I
could have helped: Superman knows that I have worked in a project about the
most complex spine injuries with remarkable results.”
“What about Superman?” she asked frowning.
Thomas pressed his lips amused and shook his head: Leslie had an excellent
poker face and was using it to deny that Superman was fucking the pure,
innocent victim…Bitch please!
“Leslie, I’ve seen what the entire world has seen” she arched her eyebrows
disbelieving “Bruce wrapped carefully in Superman’s cape, safely nestled in the
superhero’s arms being brought to you for treatment – Superman’s eyes were
leaking love and he was clearly unwilling to surrender Bruce to anyone” ugh!
Thomas felt nauseated recounting all these but he managed to keep his cool face
and the jeer out of his voice.
Leslie blinked and took off her glasses.
“I was expecting from a man of your intelligence and seriousness to not fall
for gossip nonsense” she replied solemnly. “That story was made by a gossip
reporter and since then people interpret the video according to Vale’s
fairytale. Superman and Tony found and saved Bruce who was naked – the Man of
Steel used his cape to protect Bruce’s dignity and since he was the first to
reach him rushed to bring him back. End of story.”
Dr. Elliot felt his cheeks hot from Leslie’s comment about him being carried
away from gossip but tried to conceal it with an uncomfortable smile. Not that
he was persuaded by Leslie’s story that there was nothing between Bruce and
Superman.
And judging by the way Captain America came to the clinic that day to transfer
Leslie to Bruce’s secret location, Thomas wasn’t the only one who believed
Vale’s story: Alfred and Stark wouldn’t have sent for Leslie if it was a simple
medical issue…and Bruce’s sudden return after the incident cried that someone
found the secret location of Superman’s darling and attacked Bruce so they
decided to bring him back to Gotham for more safety. Brucie’s friends didn’t
imagine that bringing him back in Gotham meant that he would be faced with
other threats…
“Well, that doesn’t change that the project I developed in Metropolis’ hospital
with Superman’s contribution makes miracles in the healing of the most complex
spine injuries. I could help him walk again, Leslie! If only you made him
reconsider his grudge…” his eyes shone fervently with honest interest “he’ll be
benefited from this and I will soothe my conscience.”
Leslie lolled her head on the side and her narrowed eyes were exasperated.
“You must understand, Thomas, that isn’t a matter of grudge: it’s just that
Bruce after everything he’s been through has a small circle of people he trusts
and it’s difficult to accept new people; you must earn his trust and using
mediators isn’t the best way. Believe me: if there was a chance you could help
in this we’d have called you on board.”
Dr. Elliot twisted his lips: he doubted that this spoiled, stupid brat would
ever stop whining about his Tao-Tao toy so Thomas preferred gaining the trust
of Brucie’s loved ones: that way he would make a bigger impact to the pampered
baby – by stealing one by one his guardian angels and isolating him.
“A cross-examination never hurt anyone – you know that” he waved his hand but
in the end sighed defeated. “Anyway, I don’t want to upset him during the
sensitive process of healing – since he isn’t willing to let go of childhood
rivalries” he stared at Leslie’s still eyes and pursed his lips sad. “However,
I want you to remember that I’ll be ready to help with whatever Bruce needs.”
Leslie smiled to her colleague.
“Thank you for your kind offer, Thomas. But have you ever thought that maybe it
is you that haven’t let go of childhood rivalries?” Thomas’ smile froze. “Maybe
you project your own feelings to Bruce; maybe your guilt and self-accusations
make you believe that Bruce still hates you.”
Thomas laughed under Leslie’s scrutiny.
“I didn’t consider you a Freudian…” his eyebrow arched in slight sarcasm.
Knocks on the door interrupted their discussion and Leslie called them in
squinting at the sight: a delivery boy much better dressed than the average
came in with two big paper bags in his arms.
Thomas jerked his head towards the boy and gestured to Leslie’s desk.
“Ah! Put them there!” he said and stood up elegantly to shove a large bill to
the boy’s hand as a tip.
The boy’s eyes flashed.
“Thank you, sir!” he beamed and Thomas revealed his shiny teeth in a big smile.
“Good evening, young man” he sent him away with a charming, void smile and the
boy bowed before closing the door behind him.
Leslie was staring at the young doctor sternly.
“What’s that, Thomas?”
He pouted and gestured to the bags’ imprinted firm and logo of the most
expensive restaurant in Gotham.
“Isn’t it obvious? Delivery food. I was sure that you wouldn’t accept my
invitation to abandon your clinic for a dinner so…I brought the dinner to the
clinic.”
Leslie pinched the bridge of her nose.
“I don’t believe that “Masa” does delivery” she snorted.
Thomas smiled wickedly.
“Not everyone is as adamant in their principles as you…When the customer is as
prestigious and generous as Dr. Elliot” he leaned towards her in conspiratorial
way “and when you put 500 bucks to the manager’s pocket” he whispered
“everything can be done.”
“You’re sly, Dr. Elliot” Leslie said in a way that it wasn’t possible to say if
she was teasing or accusing.
So Thomas decided to go along; he shrugged innocently.
“I’m a medical doctor: of course I am! And I came here intending to bribe you
into arrange a meeting with Bruce…”
Leslie’s lips twisted.
“You make me feel like a pimp” she said in a snarky voice.
Thomas cackled.
“My Goodness! No, definitely not!” he brought his armchair closer and sat. “So
since my attempt on bribery had failed so miserably, at least, let’s enjoy that
meal” he cocked his eyebrows “don’t tell them but “Masa” is overrated.”
He offered her the elegant container, the fork and knife that accompanied the
meal and Leslie wondered how much Tommy spent for that ‘bribery’ as how much
getting to Bruce meant to him and for what reasons.
“You like to throw away your money, Thomas” she took a bit of food just to not
insult him.
He pursed his lips and lowered his eyes.
“I admit that I like the fancy life but I assure you that other really
important things, things that matter have become my priority” like becoming the
king of this shithole and make littl’ Brucie cry again worse than the day I
ripped his stupid toy.“And that’s why I want to meet Bruce again, for him to
see the change and for us to become the friends that my stupidity thwarted us
to be back then.”
Leslie shook her hand in the negative when Thomas made to pour whine from the
pricy bottle included in his order. She wished to believe in Thomas’ words but
every time he spoke about Bruce she felt the same clench in her guts as when
Joker uttered her boy’s name.
 
Hero was sitting on his back legs in front of the Victorian, marble fireplace
watching fascinated the flames dancing around the logs.
“He loves watching the fire” Bruce said grinning.
“Yeah…But I’m waiting something else here” Tony arched his eyebrows.
“Right… Well, the WT Cosmos is our attempt to create something fresh and
original to the high tech field” Bruce was brushing the shining tablet proudly.
“Of course Lucius can explain better the utilities and capabilities…” he turned
his eyes to Lucius who had dropped in for dinner since his employer had invited
him during his morning stay at the Wayne Tower.
Lucius waved the offer off with one of his charming smiles.
“I think you’re doing an excellent job promoting our product, Mr. Wayne” he
chuckled.
Much to Tony’s appreciation…Because he honestly relished his friend’s
sparkling, enthusiastic eyes and his livid voice. Well, Tony knew that Superman
dressed in one of the civilian attires he had stashed in Bruce’s bedroom was
also absorbed in goggling at Bruce. Tony rolled his eyes: Supes had forgotten
Bruce for two days and now he was acting like a lovesick teen – hypocrite! But
deep inside he hoped that he was wrong and Clark really was the lovesick teen…
Bruce coughed in his fist to hide his shyness at speaking about his company’s
creation. In front of strangers or adversaries Bruce emanated confidence and
strength because of his iron will to prevail but among friends he was demure.
“First thing first: this gadget doesn’t need electricity or battery – it runs
on perpetual energy from solar panels that store energy for the night or the
cloudy days. It activates with the pressing of your fingerprint unless you set
other preferences and it can turn from a big tablet to a smartphone or a small
camera with the touch of this spot” he pointed to a round azure light on the
bottom of the frame. “The camera is of 200MP, zoom and properties of a
professional one. The screen is unbreakable and unscratchable with definition
that rivals a plasma TV.”
He looked at Lucius to take his approval and the scientist nodded.
“It has the memory, the speed and the qualities of a laptop, also it can
connect with stronger processors” he shook his head “like my own down in the
cave and can be operated from your watch. The Cosmos’s frame displays scenes
from the universe.”
He showed the back side where planets, nebulas and stars combined pink, purple
and blue high definition colors in sleek black background, moving slowly.
“Which can change according to one’s preferences” he tapped the frame and the
theme changed to other scenes from the universe displaying different colors and
formations. “And in case someone wants a different theme displayed, there’s the
possibility of using their own photos or videos or themes from the net. You can
also type either using the concealed keyboard” he brushed the screen and in the
bottom half of it emerged transparent buttons with letters and symbols and
Superman beamed showing that he had already used that “or vocal dictation –
there’s also the possibility of dictation by brain waves. The tablet possesses
the latest GPS, the known apps and the best multimedia playing.”
Tony scratched his temple.
“Nice…It’s too frustrating watching porn with every fucking – literally! -frame
pausing…”
Alfred scowled at him and Tony shrugged innocently.
“I’m just commenting on the practicality…”
“And a great proportion of this creation was made by Mr. Wayne himself” Lucius
commented and Bruce really flushed casting an uncomfortable glance at his
trustee who chuckled.
Selina jerked her head and Hero writhed surprised on her lap.
“I knew that during your visits at Thasos you and Bruce were up to something.”
“Indeed, Miss Kyle” Alfred elegantly seated in his rocking chair remarked
nonchalantly a bit annoyed. “If I knew I’d have banned Mr. Fox.”
Lucius laughed benevolently.
“I assure you, Alfred, I didn’t bother much my employer: the vast majority of
work was made the previous months between chasing the Joker and plotting
against the League of Shadows.”
Tony was leaning against the back of his ergonomic leather chair at his office
in the Avengers’ Tower, his hands under the nape of his neck, gazing at the New
York sky from the glass – bullet and rocket proof – roof. He had to admit that
Bruce’s gadget had the most realistic depiction of natural colors even at its
frame not to mention the screen.
The door opened hissing and Pepper’s heels echoed to the shining surface
approaching. He jerked in his seat.
“Shit! I must change the settings of that door: you could catch me doing
inappropriate things…”
Pepper crossed her arms and shrugged one shoulder.
“It wouldn’t be the first time…” Tony arched his eyebrows and smiled with tight
lips in mock regret. “And if you keep the door locked it’d count against you.”
Tony nodded.
“Right! That would put me on probation like Supes” he sniggered.
Pepper sprawled on the chair before Tony’s desk.
“Speaking of which I thought you’d stay at the Manor.”
Tony leaned on the desk.
“After the afternoon virtual meeting with the sub directors I had another one
with some Congress people and senators here – they are conservatives those guys
and prefer physical presence” he frowned crossing his arms. “I thought you knew
my schedule by heart.”
Pepper ruffled her long hair.
“Yes, but you’re notorious for screwing such meeting for your fun.”
Tony lolled his head on the side pouting.
“Now I’m hurt! You know how responsible I am…” Pepper rolled her eyes and
snorted “with things that really matter and this was crucial for S.H.I.E.L.D.’s
and the Avengers’ future” he sighed “we need to re-establish their trust after
the revelations about the League of Shadows.”
Pepper smiled.
“I’m sure that Bruce is very proud of you – he knows that you prefer to be with
him than with those boring people.”
Tony brought his palms to his face.
“The little guy was always proud of me even if I didn’t deserve it…” he
commented bitterly.
Pepper locked her eyes with his.
“Bruce knows you better than anyone” Tony pursed his lips and scratched his ear
uncomfortable.
“You should have seen him talking about the new multiform tablet” he beamed and
Pepper reflected that. “His eyes were so warm and enthusiastic; he even flushed
during the description. Hehe! He is so passionate about Wayne Enterprises!”
“You blame him?”
“Of course not – he wants to establish his company’s status to avoid new
threats. It’s his father’s company and for so many years his murderer was
running it tarnishing the respected name of Thomas Wayne. Bruce is happy with
Wayne Enterprises’ successes because he feels that his father will be peaceful
and justified…” he huffed. “And this gizmo is his baby…”
Pepper nodded thoughtful.
“So that tablet is really that good?’’
Tony yanked his head huffing.
“Ugh! Stark Industries – that’s me – should have manufactured this first! The
slim design, the unbelievable colors and graphics – even to the frame! – the
utilities, the changing to smartphone and camera, the distant controlling from
a watch!” he hit his palm to the desk.
“You’re not happy that Bruce’s company made that?”
Tony closed his eyes and lolled his head on the side exasperated.
“Of course I’m happy, Peps! I’m just an antagonistic bastard!” he laughed.
“Kidding… I’ll include it to StarkExpo in the most prominent stand. And I’ll
watch closely Bruce’s eyes glimmering from pride while WayneTech stand gets the
spotlight. To the heck! I already pre-ordered one: I’m a shareholder and I
deserve one before the public.”
Pepper smiled.
“I love the way Bruce makes your true self surface…”
Tony twisted his lips and ran his fingers through his hair.
“You had a nice trip from Malibu?”
“As always” Pepper answered nonchalant. “I’d prefer it if my destination was
Gotham and saw Bruce and pals again but I have to prepare your S.H.I.E.L.D.
reception.”
Tony stood up and slithered to her with a predatory expression.
“I prefer the term ‘party’ and…” he took Pepper’s hands and hoisted her with a
wicked glimmer in his eyes. “Bruce told me to give you a kiss…”
He pulled her to him and rolled his eyes at their height difference. He
stretched his body more, standing on the tips of his toes and cupped the back
of Pepper’s head to lock their lips.
“Bruce told you to do that?” she asked through his mouth.
Tony closed his eyes.
“You have to scratch every detail? He did tell me but let it vague…I’m
improvising here, girl!” he caressed her red locks and resumed the kiss.
His hands left her hair and slipped under her white, silken shirt feeling her
soft abdominals up to her breasts while she cupped his face with both hands and
deepened the kiss.
“Exactly for how many people your office door opens automatically?” Pepper
breathed her eyes slightly mocking.
Tony huffed frustrated but extracted his hand from the warmth of her body and
press a button on the desk’s phone.
“Nobody…” he whispered sensually in her ear and she giggled; Tony knew that
whispering in her ear made Pepper go limp.
Pepper laughed as Tony pulled her shirt out of the brown skirt and began
unbuttoning sucking the crook of her neck that bent to the side.
“Do you realize that your office has glass walls and roof?”
“Bullet and rocket proof” Tony mumbled hastily continuing his work gently.
“Everyone can see inside…” she pointed the words and wrapped her arms around
his neck nibbling his ear lob.
Tony cocked smugly an eyebrow and shrugged one shoulder.
“Not seeing us: MARVEL AT US, babe!” he growled and pushed the silk off
Pepper’s torso letting the fabric slip to the floor.
Pepper laughed.
“You arrogant motherfucker!” she said through gritted teeth and her hands
unbuckled his belt lowering his zip and groped his genitals.
Tony goggled and bit his lips before passing his tongue over them.
 “Ughhhh! You drive me crazy when you’re speaking dirty…”
“Only speaking?” she pressed more his genitals and he sighed aroused.
He clutched her hips and twirled her body to sit her on the shining desk,
plunging his mouth in her bulging breasts. His fingers were so skilled that her
black lace bra was undone in a second freeing her breasts. Tony enjoyed
Pepper’s sigh of relief and sucked the soft freed flesh ending up to the erect
nipples as his personal assistant unbuttoned violently his shirt and took it
off from his strong built body; her breaths were heavy and wet causing goose
bumps to Tony as her teeth grazed softly or more angrily his shoulders.
Though his mouth and head were absorbed in licking Pepper’s sweaty breasts and
abdominals, his experienced hands heaved her skirt for him to settle between
those endless, perfect legs that opened for him engulfing his pelvis. His
fingers got tangled to the waistband of her black lace panties lowering it till
her knees.
Pepper was fondling his buttocks as his tongue in her underbelly drove her
breaths and heartbeat mad; her long, lean fingers caressed his fully erect
length to urge him to do what he procrastinated. She yanked her head that had
reached the desk and her nails grazed Tony’s back.
“Tony…” her eyes flashed feverish meeting his in the dark, demanding.
He thrust in her and she trailed his pectorals with her hot lips; her legs that
still bore the red stiletto heels tightened their embrace around his hips to
guide him to the rhythm of her rasps and need.
They were both drenched in hot, shining sweat; their breaths wetting the
office’s air. Tony moved frantically causing Pepper’s fingers pull his wet hair
increasing the hot fire inside him and the electric current over his spine as
her heels grazed softly his naked buttocks urging him to continue.
 
Brunno Mannheim stood before the whole wall window of his office overlooking
the glittering Metropolis’ skyline. His hands were behind his back and his
stare was bored: he didn’t like anything human made and he would have already
demolished the entire city and smashed under his feet every human like a pest
weren’t for his obsession with perfectness and victory. So he was willing to
wait and stick to the plan – his victory couldn’t be complete without his
machine that evaded him.
However being restricted in this ugly human form was enraging: he took
satisfaction imagining the horror of those inferior beings when Darkseid’s
gigantic, majestic figure would walk in Metropolis feeling their bodies crushed
under his feet. Their Kryptonian protector slumped in a pile of waste defeated
would be watching helpless till the master of the universe finished him off.
 
Tony and Pepper were tangled together leaning on the desk catching their
breaths and enjoying relaxation after the climax. Pepper’s legs were still
perched around Tony’s hips so he fondled her sweaty hips, his lax member
resting inside her. Suddenly, the holographic US map emerged at the desk’s side
with the red light of alarm bleeping.
Tony sighed frustrated.
“Why the bad guys think it their duty to nettle me?”
He detached pissed and glared at the map while Pepper fixed her skirt.
“Metropolis” Tony said.
“That’s Superman’s city” Pepper remarked clasping her bra.
“Yeah, but he is in Gotham right now; we need to make sure that nothing happens
till he comes – we can’t ignore a distress call, do we?”
His armor wrapped his naked body.
“Do you think it’s bad that I’m naked under the armor?” he winked.
Pepper having worn her shirt shrugged.
“Only if your armor falls apart…”
Tony pouted rubbing his chin thoughtful.
“That would definitely scare those sonovabitches! Not bad…Not bad at all…” he
murmured and flew from the roof that opened immediately sensing his ascend.
 
“Tell me” the cold, gravelly voice of the tycoon – gangster cracked the
darkness of his office that was located at his skyscraper’s top floor. “You
insisted on stealth and patience and now you suggested we control Morgan Edge’s
brain to do this. Not that I have a problem with anything causing human
casualties” he cocked an eyebrow “actually, it was the first good idea you had
to offer. But, tell me, what made you change your views?”
The column of swirling thin air slithered to the middle of the room before it
shaped into Bagdana’s near human form.
“I didn’t change my views” the demon replied striding towards his partner “this
is actually part of the plan.”
He was standing right behind Mannheim but the window didn’t reflect him.
“It’s entertaining” Mannheim barked “but why Edge getting all the
satisfaction?”
“Because we want everyone to believe that he was behind the burglaries in the
science labs all over the states. He is brainwashed to do what we want, use
Luthor’s weapons and get captured or killed. Thus you’ll have both a rival
crime lord neutralized and the search away from you: someone could connect the
dots to you.”
Mannheim cackled and snorted.
“You’re too fearful, Bagdana…What makes you believe that they could discover
that I’m behind the raids? You’re giving too much credit to these inferior life
forms.”
“You better stop underestimating them: I suggested using a gangster because
someone might already be investigating.”
Mannheim turned slightly his square head to him.
“Who?”
Bagdana’s eyes lost their redness and also their focus as if looking somewhere
else.
“Batman. You want him misled.”
Bagdana couldn’t gain access to Bruce’s thoughts or monitor what he was doing
yet he was sure that once in Gotham his favorite Bat certainly was
investigating the burglaries at LexLabs: they were his property now and Bruce
was always suspicious about Luthor and his shady partners. Despite their decoy-
attacks to other labs as well, the demon was positive that Bruce would dig
every detail unless they managed to draw his attention elsewhere.
Darkseid’s human thin lips stretched into a smirk.
“He is just a human” he said with contempt.
“Many people claim that he is a demon…”
“Then…what’s your verdict since you’re an expert?”
Bagdana licked his dry lips.
“He is a human but do not let this fool you: he discovered and revealed the
League of Shadows’ scheme and sent Luthor to jail.”
Mannheim huffed haughtily.
“They are also humans” he waved dismissingly “your…Batman is good only in
facing other humans. You weren’t defeated by him after all…”
Bagdana’s face was expressionless like stone and Mannheim left his position to
walk to his desk.
“I don’t share your reasons but I certainly countersign Edge’s destruction –
I’d prefer it if he is killed in the process but his incarceration for my
gang’s crimes is a pleasure too. Besides I think it’s time we stop the
needless, stupid, fruitless raids to random labs and aim directly at our
target: Luthor would be forced to tell me. My tolerance with this fool is
getting short: I feel like he ridicules me from his cell.”
Bagdana was still gazing from the window, completely disinterest about his
partner’s rambling.
Mannheim realized and looked at him sideways with a gleeful shine in his red
eyes that made sharp contrast with his human features. Darkseid knew how to get
back his minion’s attention.
“As for this Batman of yours, since you think so highly of him and since you
want him and Bruce Wayne unharmed and unspoiled” he cocked a thick black
eyebrow seeing Bagdana’s dark gaze fixed on him “I’ll have plenty of time to
experiment on them to find what so special they hide.”
The demon without any movement made, was standing in front of Mannheim with his
diamond sharp and shiny teeth bare.
“Our agreement was to keep them for myself” he was rasping and sparks
accompanied every exhale.
Mannheim smirked.
“Of course. I have no interest in humans except to maim and annihilate them” he
sniggered and walked to his private elevator.
It’d be so much easier and pleasant for his superiority to just vanish and
reappear in his Mansion but people should see him acting like a human to not
get suspicious – not that he cared much but he wanted his machine first to
finish this properly.
Bagdana watched him through red slids till he was lost: he didn’t trust
Darkseid – Hell! He was a demon and he knew better than trusting gods
especially of Darkseid’s kind. But he was using him for his purposes as the new
god was doing with him. Besides, he was sure that his partner definitely didn’t
trust him as well.
 
“My probation terms include sleeping on the couch? Because I’ll choose the
floor instead – it’s closer to you” Clark had asked half serious, half joking
as he was buttoning the last of his pajama shirt, his eyes fixed on Bruce doing
the same albeit slower and with more effort.
Bruce’s right hand had been for six years cripple and malformed, completely
immobile and in horrid pain. Then Ra’s had fixed it perfectly into managing
Batman’s fighting effortless and effectively. But even then fine movements were
a problem.
After the factory’s collapse Bruce’s both arms suffered major fractures that
were treated by Jor El and with internal energy casts into almost perfect
mobility – but still more time was needed for perfecting fine motor skills. So
the accumulative effect of the past and new injuries was evident in Bruce’s
difficulty to manage something that for everyone else was mundane. The left
hand had been perfectly restored but the buttoning required both hands.
Clark felt his body nervous to assist him but Bruce would surely feel bad and
that wouldn’t help his case. So he watched fascinated Bruce’s concentration on
his task.
“Paraplegics are prone to hypothermia so I want a heater by my side just in
case…” Bruce chuckled and raised his eyes to Clark who saw the satisfaction in
them for ending the buttoning without help.
Clark clapped.
“So I have to thank my Kryptonian physiology for this clemency!”
Bruce nodded and wheeled his chair to the bed; Clark knew better than helping
him settle on the mattress so instead sprawled to his side pretending that
didn’t watch his mate’s seemingly effortless shifting from chair to mattress.
Bruce covered his non-responsive legs with the blankets and took his tablet
from the nightstand.
“Alfred permits that?” Clark asked playfully.
Bruce clapped once and the lights went off but for the tablet’s torch like
lighting.
“He doesn’t have to learn…” Bruce answered nonchalant.
 Clark slipped his arm around the younger man’s shoulders and Bruce cast him a
sideways glance.
“What?” Clark shrugged. “You just made me your accomplice and I don’t like
deceiving Alfred so I need some bribing” Bruce glared at him from narrowed,
panther like eyes and Clark hastened to add “also, you said that you want me
for the heat. And that light could harm your eyes, you know.”
“No: Cosmos screen has filters that eliminate the harm to the eyes even in
complete darkness.”
Clark rested his head in the crook of Bruce’s neck enjoying the skin there and
the perfume.
“Mmm…when I am allowed to publish my exclusive on Wayne Enterprises’ new
wonder?”
Bruce was absorbed in scrolling archives on the screen.
“I think we’ll keep it for StarkExpo…”
Clark wasn’t annoyed in the least by that: the past months he was benefited by
exposing many of Bruce’s secrets under the special Kryptonite’s sick effect so
honestly he didn’t want to use anymore Bruce’s name in anything concerning his
job as a reporter.
Bruce was now scrolling the list with the items found in LexLabs: some of them
had a description or a name and some others only a question mark because their
qualities and utilities were unknown and currently under research. Many items
had in common the word ‘Kryptonite’ in their description. Clark would have
shuddered if all these items weren’t in the safe hands of Bruce.
“Is there a Kryptonite paddle somewhere in that list?” Clark asked interested
and Bruce turned to him perplexed.
“Why?”
Clark slithered his hands to Bruce’s back and nibbled the younger man’s neck
causing a joyful increase to his heartbeat that peaked when Clark’s lips
moisturized his ear.
“I was thinking that perhaps my probation would be shorter if some really
deserved spanking sessions were added…Would that satisfy you?” he whispered
sensually.
However his mood was instantly changed feeling Bruce tensing and Clark realized
that his mate was reliving what he could only imagine… He had seen the horrific
marks on Bruce’s buttocks from Falcone’s brutal spanking. He bit his lips and
closed his eyes: stupid Clark!
But Bruce hearing his intake of air obviously realized Clark’s thoughts and
shook himself.
“I didn’t know you for a masochist?” he asked with widened eyes and Clark
decided to follow his lead into lightening the mood and took Bruce’s hand
gently to touch it to his lips.
“From your hands I’d take everything…”
Clark thanked once again his Kryptonian physiology that made him independent of
sleep and allowed him to watch Bruce’s face deep in sleep.
Those strong drugs caused drowsiness that although Bruce wanted couldn’t
defeat. So the tablet lay on the nightstand having closed automatically after
some time of being unused. Clark knew that Bruce hated his dependency on
medication but he was grateful because those drugs eliminated the pain: even
after almost four months Bruce would be in considerable pain without them.
And the medication granted him long, much needed restful sleep: Clark cringed
only in the thought of Bruce’s sleep being disturbed every now and then from
nightmares and flashbacks. He knew that Crane had tortured Bruce through this,
administrating substances that created horrible nightmares exactly the moment
Bruce was falling in deep sleep. The insane doctor wanted to destabilize
through exhaust his mental state to brainwash him.
He touched his lips to Bruce’s forehead: his temperature was a bit increased
but that was in the limits of the young man’s ‘normal’ temperature changes.
He smiled watching each and every swallow, calm inhale and exhale of air from
the youth’s barely open lips. Clark was completely immobile not wanting to
change anything…
Because Bruce had his arms wrapped around Clark’s neck nestling his head to
Superman’s broad chest. It seemed that his probation was suspended…
His palm cupped the place where Bruce’s heart beat calm and strong: he could
hear that melody from thousands of miles away but touching the vibrating muscle
was a whole different, fascinating sensation that made him go numb.
He took gently the stray locks that had fallen over Bruce’s eyelids and brought
them to their place; his fingertips ran feathery his cheekbones to the jaw and
Bruce unconsciously hid more his face to Clark’s chest.
“You loved me from then?” Clark had asked him once.
And actually it was a stupid question: Bruce loved him from then, when he was a
scared child; he loved him from the footage of a shaking camera. And Bruce
remained a child, even now…Well, he definitely refused that with his attitude
all day long but when asleep, when his defenses were eased, without realizing,
that child surfaced. The child that was declared dead; the child that was
living an everyday, slow, horrific death in Falcone’s hands.
His eyes caressed Bruce’s face exactly as he was doing all the time during that
month in the Fortress. His insides clenched on that memory and he kissed those
lips as he did that night when Bruce succumbed to his injuries.
He remembered the small gray tombstone beside those of the Waynes… BRUCE WAYNE:
from all the memories imprinted to his eidetic memory this humble inscription
was among those he wanted to erase. He had demolished that stone but the memory
still lay there prickling him.
Clark nuzzled Bruce’s neck with closed eyes: he couldn’t afford to lose that
perfume, that flesh…though he could catch that young physiotherapist’s scent
even on Bruce’s neck. He sighed and kept rubbing his flesh to Bruce’s to scrub
out that annoying scent: the only other acceptable scent on Bruce was Clark’s.
Of course he understood that a man confined in a chair needed that massage even
to his neck; it must be uncomfortable and painful for even the healthy muscles…
His hands travelled feathery Bruce’s body that was touched to his; below the
waist felt awkward reminding him that Bruce brought his body to him using only
his arms. He slipped his hands inside Bruce’s waistband fondling the younger
man’s taut, soft flesh ending to his genitals and then with the other hand
touched Bruce’s anus feeling his hot blood rushing to his head.
He desired, needed to get inside that body: sometimes that inanimate sun of
their planet system wasn’t enough – he needed the life giving power of his
mate. He felt his fingers tremble to slither inside Bruce: if he prepared him
very carefully penetration wouldn’t harm him – he’d be very, very cautious and
besides Bruce wouldn’t feel anything…
Clark held his fingers just before they stormed inside and he pressed his lips:
he couldn’t risk it and Bruce deserved to enjoy everything as much as he. Bruce
should walk again. He withdrew his hands hastily and hugged him tighter…
When Bruce had told them that the man that Joker almost killed was the thug who
caused the fire in Chickey’s factory, Clark honestly couldn’t blame Joker…
His eyes fell on Bruce’s peaceful face and he bit his lips ashamed: he couldn’t
be like Joker and killing that mentally retarded man couldn’t have changed
anything…
All of a sudden, his hearing caught something distant: people screaming and
alarms going crazy. Metropolis’ subway. They might have gone to sleep at ten
but now at midnight, Metropolis’ subway was packed with people coming or going
to clubs or other events or to their night shifts.
Damn! He stared affectionately at Bruce who unconsciously had brought his hand
over Clark’s heart. He had to go, though his body didn’t want to part his other
half. Carefully, gingerly he disentangled himself and placed Bruce on the
mattress muffling him meticulously with the blankets.
He stood up and cast another regretful glance at Bruce. Then he remembered
something and flew to Hero’s basket.
“Hero, wake up!” he whispered and the kitten opened his eyes unhappy. “I need
you to look after Bruce.”
Hero stretched his body graciously and silently ran to the bed, climbing and
settling beside Bruce
“I trust you, buddy” he said arching his eyebrows impressed and the kitten’s
eyes glimmered in the darkness as if nodding.
Clark plunged a soft kiss to Bruce’s lips and sighed before launching for
Metropolis from the open window that he closed before leaving.
 
“There are at least thirty armed people scattered around the main area of the
central station, sir; some citizens are cowering behind the cashiers but the
shooters roam the area and rake everything with bullets. Police cars are fast
approaching but I’m afraid that there are already civilians dead or wounded.”
“Fuck!” Tony exclaimed gritting his teeth as his system got image.
He scanned the station for any explosives or gas and he was relieved but also
surprised at not finding anything. Terrorists usually had some nasty surprises
like these waiting.
 “Do you want me to alert the Avengers, sir?”
“No, they’re scattered all over the planet and it’d be too late when they
arrive – I can handle those motherfuckers” he was seeing their projection in
his helmet’s systems: they didn’t seem to follow a plan or take some precaution
as if the only thing they cared about was causing as much bloodshed as
possible. “Wait!” their guns were prototypical and he immediately crossed them
with the list of registered weaponry where they matched a specific LexLabs’
model Bruce had supplied to his data and the ministry’s logs. “Yup! Our Luthor-
boy has a very broad social circle!”
He was hovering over the stairs leading to the underground station. He was
trying to neutralize their ammunition the way Lucius had developed but they
were still out of range due to the underground so he had to get inside first.
“I’m getting in, Jarvis.”
“I’m with you!”
Tony rolled his eyes and huffed because he knew the voice and didn’t need to
look his indicators to identify it.
“I thought you were with Bruce.”
“Super hearing” Clark replied pressing his lips because he knew that inside the
station people were dying or already dead.
Superman punched the air and rushed ahead of Tony who sped up to catch him.
Thankfully, upon realizing Superman and Ironman were there, the terrorists
stopped shooting at people and opened fire against them while Superman had
already stormed at a cluster of men scattering them with a punch.
“Showoff!” Tony scoffed sending a wave of electricity to a man ready to shoot a
woman who ran scared hugging her baby.
He was ready to neutralize the firearms of those before him when he realized
that Superman’s eyes were all red and at the point to hit the guns to melt
them.
“Don’t!” he yelled at him. “You’re going to blow everything up! I’m on this!”
Superman didn’t lose any second: since he couldn’t use his laser beams he blew
up and the icy wave from his chest catapulted five of them to the opposite
wall. He surged against them to knock them out his face contorted from rage.
But then he felt the peculiar sense of hot stones hitting his back and he
turned slowly to see two guys emptying their machine guns on him; their failure
to harm the Man of Steel had infuriated them and the bullets kept falling like
rain at him.
Tony had already defused the firearms in his range and turned to the men
shooting at Superman. He raised his palm sending the waves to break down the
machine guns and simultaneously his other palm sent laser beams to break the
legs of a man who realizing that his gun was useless pulled out a nasty looking
knife and stormed against a teen. The man howled and collapsed, his knife
scattered from another beam.
Superman was already on his assailants when the firearms silenced and it took
only an uppercut to knock them out.
“You welcome” Tony remarked snidely at Superman, already storming at a ticket
booth where the terrorists had covered; the Man of Steel snorted.
“If I relied on you I’d be dead now…” he said grabbing the knives of five men
at once and crushing the metal like paper.
“So why are you whining about?”
Superman was catapulting his adversaries to the walls as if they were pests but
some others had scattered among the frenzied civilians using their blades to
cause harm rather than flee from the scene as if they didn’t care to escape.
“Sir, they are mingling with the crowd: you can’t use your firepower” Jarvis’s
collected voice pointed out.
Tony rolled his eyes as his bullets hit the last man behind the booth adding
him to the pile of moaning, useless terrorists.
“Tell me something I don’t know already!” he snapped and turned towards the
yelling crowd who ran to nowhere.
Superman was in the havoc trying to fight every terrorist he could locate
before they killed more people and Tony clenching his teeth decided to do the
same though Ironman wasn’t made for close combat. Every time a yell of pain was
heard both heroes were desperate, their enemies seemed to be endless and
changing form like chameleons till their blades injured someone.
At least now police officers were engaged too barking orders to the assailants
to surrender…to no avail. So truncheons were out and the cops began the same
effort to separate innocents from terrorists.
“Sir, a train is heading to the station” Jarvis said.
“Block its system and stop it!”
 
Bagdana was alone in Mannheim’s dark office. He stood in front of the glass
wall and his eyes saw to the mayhem at the subway. Yet his mind travelled miles
away where the meaning of his existence was sleeping alone…
He felt the urge to go there but the protective vibrations of the damn diamond
were powerful shielding Bruce and thwarting him to emerge there. He could only
listen to his quiet breaths and his steady, peaceful heartbeats…
 
Superman got two men from their collars and snapped their heads together
knocking them out – Tony was shooting beams from his fingers opting for
precision and aware that bullets could cause more panic.
Panic was pushing people to the edge of the platform in their struggle to avoid
the violence that had spread around them from good and bad guys together.
Superman’s and Tony’s eyes bulged as a horrific collective scream came from the
rails. The people that crammed on the edge were pushed from newcomers and fell
on the rail. And the clear sound of an approaching train filled the station
with horror.
“Fuck! I told you to stop it!” Tony barked to Jarvis.
“I did, sir. But something intercepted my signal and reignited the engines. I’m
trying to block it again but I can’t gain access to the control panel.”
“Shit!” Tony cursed drenched in his sweat and along with Superman whose face
was disfigured from anger and horror dived there.
 
“ Don’t be afraid, Dick; we’re almost there…”  
The beams supporting the upper level creaked and moaned, the fire’s rage
howling throughout the space. The smoke was too dense and acid; his lungs hurt
because he used his cape to cover the boy and not himself. His heart was
pounding from agony for the boy whose life depended on him but he willed it to
beat calmly. His body was in pain and he felt that he would collapse at any
moment like the whole building. Yet he clenched his jaw and kept running hiding
the rasping of his breath to not panic Dick.
He managed to push the boy forward just a second before the final crack and the
nightmarish sound of the entire upper level collapsing. Just a second before he
was crushed to the floor: his spine shattered and there was pain, crucifying
pain as if eighteen years of pain were accumulated.
He had hidden from Clark the truth because he was already too sad; he never
told him how much it pained as the metallic rods, hot from the chemical fire,
stabbed his legs and his fractured bones ripped his muscles or his broken ribs
pierced his lungs and his spleen. And then when the fire rapidly defeated his
armor’s protection and began eating away his flesh…
He never told Clark about the agonizing minutes before his nerves below the
waist were dead; he never told him about what he was experiencing right now:
the air ending at his lungs with every breath that burnt his collapsing organs
and his heart pounding desperately to fight all the injuries and the pain from
his upper body since his pelvis and legs didn’t exist anymore.
He was feeling every drop of blood oozing from his body like streams; he felt
the blood trickling from his nostrils and mouth; he sensed the life leaving him
and the hell of the burning building was swirling around him; the sound of the
roof grunting and howling at the verge of falling and finishing him off filled
him with dread and relief because his pain and agony would soon end…
His heart was now kicking his rugged ribs adding new pain; every rasping breath
vomited blood; his head was spinning…He’d never see again his loved ones…
Maybe that was why he never told Clark about the pain: because Superman didn’t
make it on time…He died in excruciating pain and agony at Chicky’s factory;
everything else – the Fortress, the new Hero, the island – was a beautiful
dream, a wishful flash during his dying moments. Bruce closed his eyes because
the tombstone of this realization smashed his heart worse than the tone of
debris.
 
The collective scream of horror was immediately replaced by yells of joy and
Tony with Clark hovered in midair watching in disbelief.
“I could use some help here, Kal” a smug female voice greeted him.
Wonder Woman was standing with her legs spread wide over the rail in order to
give more strength to her hands holding the train away from the fallen citizens
that one by one got in their feet still numb realizing their luck.
“Of course!” Clark’s face relaxed in a brilliant beam and rushed to add his
hands to the train’s front while the driver was meddling with his buttons to
stop the engine.
Tony snorted.
“In what century they live? Obsolete fools!” he shook his head disapproving of
his fellow heroes and used his waves to shut down the engines immobilizing the
train. “Brains always beat muscle!”
He lowered to the ground helping people get on the platform; officers were
there grabbing men and women to the safety and only when the rails were empty
the amazon and Superman flew away to land on the platform were people already
were cheering for Ironman who had deactivated his face plate to flash his
magazine smile.
“He is in his element!” Superman chuckled eyeing his friend.
“Ironman” she snorted “I’ve heard of him: another arrogant man pretending the
god!”
Superman frowned and turned to her.
“You’re unfair…Stark brags a lot, sometimes becomes a pain in the butt but he
is honest and doesn’t give a damn about becoming a god: he enjoys what he is
and really wants to help. People were saved thanks to him.”
She clenched her hips and cast a sideways glance to the billionaire; her
eyebrow arched.
“You’re too generous in your assessment of the humans… Anyway, maybe I’m a bit
frustrated that it’s been 24 hours since I last saw you and…once again a train
was needed to bring us together” she smiled and Superman couldn’t fight his
face muscles from forming a smile.
Suddenly, gunshots were heard from a kiosk behind the corner and Superman
stormed to put his body between the bullets and the crowd that once again
screamed. Diana flew behind the corner and Superman heard her bracelets
clanging together before a man’s scream echoed through the tunnel.
 
Bagdana inhaled deeply and closed his eyes: he could create Bruce’s form in his
mind but he wanted proximity – tonight he couldn’t resist his demanding need.
He didn’t want to reveal that he was free now neither he could due to the black
diamond’s protection. But his thought, his spirit could fly to him to suck his
aura…Like he did when that Ubu’s repellents kept him away from the mountain
where they tortured his Bruce.
 
Superman rushed there seeing the kiosk demolished and a man sprawled on the
debris, his head bleeding. Clark was shocked to recognize Edge: he was an
infamous gangster but definitely not a terrorist… And now definitely not alive.
Diana was supporting her impressive, proud posture on her spread legs, her
hands clenching her hips. She turned her head to him, her face glowering.
Suddenly, without any other word she flew to him and slammed her body to
Superman grabbing his head and attacking his lips.
He was astonished at first, numb, doubting that this was happening but as Diana
was massaging fierce and softly his lips he realized that his mouth was
reciprocating enjoying the feeling. The sense of her smooth and taut breasts
brushing his chest; the feeling of her so alive and warm hips rubbing to his
groin…He closed his eyes immersing to the pleasant vibrations: he had missed
the sensations of a warm pelvis on his own… His hands on their own slithered
down to her waist to wrap her body closer to lose himself in her intoxicating
perfume of every blossom of the world.
 
It was the sound of feet, almost silent feet, and in an odd way towered the
last creaking of the roof. He opened his eyes just a slid; his breaths were now
shallow, insufficient, hissing, burning his dying lungs. He wanted to clench
his fists to gain some strength but the pain was too much and the burden of the
debris smashing his arms.
He looked up: Clark hadn’t come, he was sure. But he couldn’t make out who was
in front of him: the dense smoke, his failing eyes, his head’s spinning.
Slowly the fog cleared somewhat and he managed to eventually focus. It was a
giant in the color of granite – a giant he knew from his fourteen years: a
giant with silver spikes for hair and two ivory small horns. His red blazing
eyes stared down at him and though the demon should be scowling at him, his
eyes were sad.
“I could let you die and get your soul for eternity…” his voice was suave, soft
but still managed to cover the nightmarish noise of the roaring fire and the
collapsing building. “But I want your body alive as well…”
And suddenly the pain stopped and the building was a distant memory like a bad
dream; he was among sparkling stars, hovering, held by two enormous, caring
arms. His head was carefully placed on his carrier’s chest. He opened his eyes
slowly to meet affectionate red eyes.
“You always knew that Superman never came for you; you knew that it was a big
lie…”
Bruce shook his head in denial because he doubted if his lungs could sustain
any voice.
Bagdana leaned and kissed tenderly his forehead.
“My poor boy…My precious soul mate…My eternal Lilith” he whispered and Bruce
felt his body light as a feather – every care, every distress of the world
distant. “Only your Bagdana is real…”
The demon’s square, meaty lips captured his, pumping life into him. Bruce was
watching him unable to decide if he liked or hated this and this indecisiveness
was agony.
“No!” he spat and took away his lips causing a sigh from the demon.
“You know I’m your destiny, Bruce! The Kryptonian is just a dream, a stupid
dream and you’ll wake and you’ll suffer!”
“Liar!” he screamed. “Let me go!”
But the demon’s hold became tighter, stronger, incarcerating him. Bagdana’s
eyes spat fires.
“You’re coming with me!”
 
Jimmy Olsen followed Lois Lane to the subway station; it was midnight but she
ordered him to be there ASAP. Her eyes were almost crazy as she waited for a
chance to break the police line around the rolling stairs. Which happened when
screams came from the station and the officers’ attention turned there.
Lois grabbed him from the upper arm and dragged him from the stairs almost
crashing him to the floor.
“I hope you brought your camera” she yelled because with all this noise it was
difficult to hear even herself.
“Always, Miss Lane!” he pulled his professional camera out of his bag.
She released him and her frantic eyes scanned the hellish scene.
“Start shooting then!” she barked and rushed among the scared people, her
smartphone already in tape mode.
Jimmy took hundreds of shots: from the terrorists, the destruction, the dead
bodies scattered around, the injured, the babies that cried in their parents’
arms, the officers handcuffing the terrorists that the two superheroes had
knocked out and sending away the civilians that could still walk. He also shot
Wonder Woman and Superman halting the train and Ironman blocking the engine and
then helping people out of the rails.
Lois was gesturing now for him to come to her for taking photos but Jimmy saw
Superman following Wonder Woman to the kiosk behind the corner and he knew that
there would be something juicy there.
And he found it: Superman and Wonder Woman French kissing! His camera went on
fire taking shot after shot.
 
Diana’s hips were glued to his groin that twitched appreciating the stimulation
that was miserably missing all these months; because Bruce’s pelvis was wooden,
with awkward temperature and muscle tone… He saw Bruce’s face nestled
trustfully in his chest, his hand cupping Clark’s heart.
Superman’s hands jerked from Diana’s hips and held her shoulders detaching her
from his lips though the pleasant numbness lingered torturing.
“Diana, this is wrong” he said though his lips did say the opposite.
She frowned and shook her head.
“Why, Kal? You’re a single man and I am a single woman; and I see in your eyes
that you like me as much as I like you.”
Superman’s head dropped and he clutched his hips.
“Unless you’re lying and you do have someone” she accused him.
Clark yanked his head.
“No, but what you propose can’t happen, Diana; I’m sorry: you’re my ally and my
friend but other than that…”
She shook her head and chuckled.
“This is…unreasonable…crazy… I know you enjoyed the kiss… though your lips had
another scent besides your own” she smiled wickedly “an intoxicating scent of
rare, sensual cinnamon mixed with orange and hibiscus – a scent I met again”
her eyebrows arched in deep irony.
Superman gulped but his gaze became stern.
“You’re mistaken, Princess.”
She lolled her head on the side and smiled, her blue black hair sparkling in
the artificial light.
“I’m glad I did because then you’d eventually come to see me as something other
than a friend” she shook her head laughing and her feet left the ground.
She flew towards the opposite end of the tunnel but she stopped and turned her
head to look at Superman with a shine in her eyes.
“How could I think even for a moment that you would kiss someone with such
scent?” Superman narrowed his eyes. “Someone with your sensitive nose would be
disgusted kissing someone who smells of so many different, horrible
scents…Scents of other men… Brutal men who took everything and left so much
filth…” her voice was hissing. “Some smells are too recent…” she shrugged. “See
you soon, Kal” she brought her fist to her heart and flew away.
 
Bruce clenched his jaw and tried to writhe in the demons embrace but his body
was completely paralyzed and Bagdana smiled.
“You understand now that everything you consider reality is a hallucination?
You never came out of the caves” suddenly they were inside Gotham’s so
familiar, so loved caverns; Bagdana nodded knowingly. “You belong to these
caves, to my kingdom: to me!”
Bats rushed suddenly from every corner forming a cloud around them; the sound
of their wings accompanying the demon’s joyful, triumphant laugh and Bruce felt
defeated, overwhelmed, resigned…
A loud hiss towered every other sound…
 
Clark stayed dumbstruck: his olfactory brain center pushed to his nose the
acid, aggressive scent of Bane’s arousal and climax when Superman held Bruce in
his arms leaving Mt. Murcy…and then Ra’s Al Ghul’s and Falcone’s and Chill’s:
odors hidden behind the seductive, enchanting cinnamon, but still there: his
stomach twisted painfully.
But then hurried footsteps drove him out of his shocking realization and he
remembered the distinctive clicks during the kiss when he didn’t have the will
to part from Diana’s lips and body. Clicks of a camera. Jimmy Olsen’s camera.
The youth was walking hurriedly back to the crowd but the Man of Steel landed
before him smoothly with his arms crossed and a smile brushing his face.
“I think you have something of mine…” he said calmly and stretched his hand to
Jimmy eyeing his camera.
Jimmy wasn’t scared of Superman but he was shocked by his presence and he
couldn’t deny his request: after all, Superman could burn his camera if he
refused. He gave the camera.
Clark saw the photos he was interested in and deleted them. When he perused the
entire memory of the camera and didn’t find anything insulting gave it back to
Jimmy.
“Thank you” he said politely and knitted his eyebrows. “I’d appreciate it if
you don’t share what you saw – you know, privacy…Daily Planet isn’t exactly a
gossip rag, huh?”
“Oof cccourse” the youth stuttered still numb.
Superman saluted him in military style and floated to Tony who turned at him
frowning.
“Where were you?”
“They aren’t terrorists” Clark opted to change the subject. “They are gangsters
of the Edge gang – a Metropolis gangster.”
Tony yanked his head pouting deep in thought.
“What are you thinking?” Superman asked.
“In the end, from up close it’s 8,4 not 8,5” he nodded in conviction.
“Huh?”
“You wouldn’t understand” he shook his head and flew towards the exit.
 
Bagdana had his eyes closed and through his spirit that had invaded Bruce’s
bedroom was relishing the youth’s powerful yet suffering aura.
And then an aggressive, loud hiss revealed another presence and the demon in
Mannheim’s office jerked as his kicked off spirit returned hastily to its
master.
 
Bruce opened his eyes to pitch black; he was panting and his heart writhed in a
body drenched in cold sweat. He couldn’t discern anything; he had woken up but
to what? He knew nothing about his surroundings but for one was sure: Clark
wasn’t there. So it was true: he was in the caverns, he could see a shadow
looming over him. Two small circles flashed in the darkness and Bruce cringed
cursing his useless legs.
But then his eyes adjusted a bit and he distinguished a form that he recognized
as Hero: the kitten had arched his back in defensive-aggressive stance and his
entire fur to his erect tail was standing on edge reminding spikes. Hero had
hissed.
“Calm down, buddy. Don’t be afraid…” he whispered but he was holding his own
heart; he was still panting and his right lung burnt a bit.
You must not panic: the lung isn’t collapsing…just breath…He began applying
diaphragmatic, deep breaths maintaining eventually normal respiration and
heartbeat.
He touched carefully Hero’s head and the animal seemed to relax. With his other
hand he opened the drawer and pressed his thumb’s fingertip for the second
level to emerge. He wrapped his fingers around the dagger’s hilt and it was
like the Knife of Justice welcomed him. He switched on the lamp at his
nightstand.
He already knew that nobody was here but with the light on roamed the room once
again. He released the Knife and focused on calming the still growling animal.
“Sssssss, Hero; hush…It’s alright now…” he was caressing Hero along with his
reassurance and when the kitten calmed his posture, Bruce raised himself in
sitting position and hugged him pecking his pink nose. “Who was here, buddy?”
The kitten purred still shaken and meowed to his master but was unable to say
anything, not that he had seen something concrete; he only sensed something.
“It’s okay…your friend had a nightmare and his thrashing scared you” he looked
again at the other side of the mattress. “And where’s Clark?”
He took his Cosmos from the nightstand and pressed his fingertip in the
reception at the down left corner. The desktop immerged immediately and Bruce
opened the internet browser: Daily Planetwas his home page and answered all his
questions at once:
BREAKING NEWS (Update): the Metropolis’ subway attack comes to an end – 10
people dead, 90 injured.
There was a big photo of Superman and Ironman in action and another with Wonder
Woman halting a train with her bare hands just some feet before it squashed
several people on the rails.
***** Chapter 22 *****
Dick brought the can of beer in his mouth and took a long sip as his
expressionless gaze was seeing but not perceiving the city that lied before
him. Jason sat on the ledge of the rooftop his legs dangling and puffed in the
air the smoke from his cigarette and his exhale, enjoying the clouds of fume
the cold atmosphere created.
“Yar granny won’t smell the beer?” the younger boy looked up at his standing
friend and downed the last of his own beer.
“I brush my teeth as soon as I woke up – she won’t notice anything; and she
would be fast asleep when I slip to my room from the fire escape…”
Jason protruded his lower lip recalling how sweet and caring Ms. Turner was
when a few hours ago he hesitantly went to visit his friend at their apartment.
He wouldn’t have said no for a granny like her: she even baked them cupcakes!
“Ya know, Dick…It’s wrong to fool yar granny like this” Dick looked down at him
frowning. “I like her…”
“I doubt you tell your mom about your night strolls…” he challenged him.
Jason shrugged.
“She doesn’t care much…” he looked at the sky “an’ has a lot on her head…It’s
better now she works in the Haven but still takes pills an’ drinks to sleep…”
he had dropped the pretended tough voice and unknowingly was speaking in his
real, child voice.
Dick pressed his lips because he knew how difficult his friend’s life was; he
sat down beside him.
“I’m not fooling my granny” he defended. “I just don’t want her to worry about
me – she wouldn’t allow me to wander so late and then I’d have to run away…What
she doesn’t know isn’t hurting her.”
Jason shook his head and brought the cigarette back to his mouth.
“Yep but I feel guilty” Dick cackled and Jason narrowed his eyes. “’Cause she
trusts me an’ I pull ya down!” he scratched his messy locks “I mean, this is my
world an’ I like it an’ it’s cool but ya’re different an’ don’t belong…”
Dick crooked his lips amused and sniggered.
“C’me on, Jay: I’m older than you! I’m doing what I want, you don’t corrupt
me…Corrupt…” he sneered. “We’re not doing anything wrong” he shrugged.
Jason was pissed from his friend’s mockery and sucked his cigarette to the end
dropping it to the street.
“Yeah? Then why are ya sneakin’ out an’ don’t tell yar grunny?” he retorted.
Dick shook his head.
“Because she is overprotective and doesn’t understand. And I need this…I need
to clear my head from everything, from the lies…”
“Yar granny isn’t lying!”
The older boy arched an eyebrow.
“How do you know? I know she is kind and sweet and caring and she does it to
protect me but I feel that she hides the truth.”
Jason lit another cigarette.
“That Zucco guy made ya think like this…” he took a sip from his beer. “Ya
trust him more than yar granny?” his voice was outraged. “Man, that dude is
crap: don’t let him ruin yar relationship with yar granny.”
Dick sighed: Jason didn’t understand.
“He doesn’t; on the contrary, he always reminds me how important my granny is”
Jason cocked his eyebrows and twisted his lips in disbelief. “Jay, he is my
uncle” he locked eyes with the younger boy “he was my dad’s cousin and his best
buddy and trainer: he said to me things that nobody else did and granny always
speaks ill of him to drive me away as if she’s afraid of something.”
“Perhaps she is afraid for ya” Dick rolled his eyes. “Dick, ya don’t know this
man: if he really gave a shit about ya why ya never saw him before?”
“Ugh, Jay! Granny hates him and mom hated him too so how was he supposed to
approach me?”
Jason smoked gazing the city.
“If he was really yar daddy’s pal why would they hate him?” he glanced at his
friend shrugging.
“Things are complicated, Jay…It seems that my mom and dad was fighting a lot
and mom was gonna divorce him – maybe for that she didn’t want Tony near me
then so I don’t learn. And granny continues that.”
“Zucco told ya that?” his eyes widened disapproving. “And ya believed him?!” he
shook his head exasperated and laughed. “Man, ya’re a jerk if ya believe
everythin’ he’s telling ya. Ya don’t know him!”
 Dick’s head dropped.
“Mom did get married too fast after dad’s death…as if she didn’t care much…”
Jason lolled his head on the side.
“Don’t let him do that to ya, man…Don’t let him screw yar mom’s memory or what
yar got with yar granny.”
Dick stared at the void deep in thought: Jay’s words had an impact. But he was
so confused; some months ago he was careless, happy with his family, everything
was simple and it took only one night to upturn his whole life and plunge him
in shit.
“But he makes me feel nice” he remarked “he makes me feel as if I knew my dad.”
Jason closed his eyes; he could sense his friend’s suffering and struggling. He
threw his second cigarette.
“This is his game, Dick! Of course he’ll make ya feel nice to gain yar trust
an’ spit his poison!”
Dick lolled his head and cast a lopsided glance to Jason.
“’Cause you know so much about life, huh?” he spat snidely.
“I’m born an’ raised in Narrows, man! One of my rip-off nights makes for yar
entire life!”
Dick started giggling on that and gave a one armed hug to his friend ruffling
his raven hair: Jay made him forget his problems and laugh as he did with
Brian.
“You can brag about your criminal life now that Batman is dead, huh?” he teased
him.
“You don’t want him hear you saying that, kiddo!” a seductive female voice made
them jump and turn behind.
They both goggled, mouths agape on a tall, lean woman with breathtaking curves
swaying towards them with confidence and a sly smile on her red colored juicy
lips. She was dressed in a black leather skin tight outfit that stressed out
her body. Her eyes were covered by a leather mask that ended to two cat-like
ears on her head. On her waist was rolled her whip.
“Fuck!” Jason exclaimed drooling. “Cat-freaking-woman! Holy fuck!”
Catwoman touched with her finger feathery his chin and pushed it up to close
his mouth
“Aren’t you a bit small for that, tot?” she asked dragging her words amused and
Jason gulped blushing because his eyes were fixed on Catwoman’s round breasts.
She lolled her head and rolled her eyes.
“I mean the rip-off, the fag and the beer…”
“Ow!” Jason exclaimed “that…no…no, I…I’m not” he stuttered.
Dick laughed and jumped on his feet, Jason following having found his cool.
“Can a girl have some beer, gentlemen?”
Jason gave her a can which she opened and took a large sip.
“Nice…” she huffed and gazed at the city with a sparkling in her eyes. “You,
kiddo” she turned sharply to Dick “stop saying that Batman is dead.”
He cocked an eyebrow.
“Why? It is the truth! You were there: I remember you. Batman told you to take
me out and you were distraught, crying because he was to die. And he did die
when the building collapsed!”
Selina’s eyes flashed angrily and both boys were shaken.
“He’s alive and kicking” well, not literally, but definitely kicking in every
other field. “I know better and since he saved your life” he stressed out every
word “stop spreading lies about him!”
Dick flushed and clenched his jaw.
“I don’t lie! I just say what I saw to my pal!”
The woman leaned to him.
“You didn’t see him die” her eyes widened “you presume that he died. But he
didn’t…so drop it!”
Dick pressed his lips uncomfortable because he didn’t like being reprimanded
but he was relieved hearing that the man who saved him was alive. Selina nodded
and straightened her posture taking another sip from her can.
“He wouldn’t like you drinking…”
The older boy shrugged.
“Mind his own business! He’s not my dad!”
Selina cast him a glare and he gulped.
“Wow!” Jason’s eyes were wide. “I mean, I never bought Dick’s bullshit but
still… So really the big bad Bat is still out ther’!”
The woman smirked and clutched her hips.
“So you might want to rethink your twockings – you don’t wanna him bust you!”
The boy sniggered.
“Nobody can bust Jay freaking Todd!”
Selina rolled her head on the side with a glance that said ‘bitch please!’
“I doubt it when you give your credentials so easily…” she snapped and Jason
blushed.
“You’re a thief too: everyone knows that Catwoman is the best jewel thief” Dick
commented snidely “but still you’re his ally” he cocked his eyebrows. “He never
busted you!”
She smirked.
“Well, kiddo, thanks for the ‘best thief’; but I was a thief when Falcone was
sucking the city – now things have changed.”
“Or maybe the Bat fucks ya…” the younger boy spat in a smart ass style and Dick
gulped.
Catwoman glared at him and the smug smirk on Jason’s face vanished.
“You think you’re too smart and too mature for your age; you think that you’ve
seen already the ugly part of life and I’m sure you saw much of it, as your
friend here. But believe me there are uglier things out there you don’t even
imagine and I wish you never get a hint of them” she grinded her teeth. “So
stop doing the smart ass with things you don’t understand and be cautious with
your rip-offs because as much as you brag there are guys you can’t
outrun…Thanks for the beer!’’
She dived from the ledge and with a breathtaking combination of two front flips
and a pike she landed graciously on the opposite rooftop; the two boys gaped at
her impressed.
“Are you one of my father’s co-athletes?” Dick asked hopefully.
Selina rolled her eyes exasperated.
“How old you make me, kiddo?!” she spat to him insulted and with another dive
she vanished into the shadows.
 
Oliver Queen, 35, made his more than unexpected appearance in Queen
Consolidated’s yesterday memorial service for his father Robert Queen and
himself, causing a great shock; he was declared dead two years ago after the
shipwreck of the Gambit, the family’s yacht and the recovering of his father’s
body.
The heir of the Queen Empire was accompanied by a mysterious woman who
introduced herself as the legendary Princess of the mythological Amazons, Diana
of Themyscira. The amusement and scoff of some Press members who covered the
reception stopped abruptly when she left the ground and caught them in her
flashing lasso; however the momentarily fear of the crowd was replaced with
giggles when the lassoed reporters began confessing rather embarrassing things.
The gorgeous woman released the reporters and landed on her feet to watch with
blazing eyes Queen’s speech.
Queen snidely thanked his company’s officials for the event and proceeded to
express his gratitude to Princess Diana who found and brought him back.
According to the Queen heir after the shipwreck he was stranded in a desert
island.
“Princess Diana found me when I was at the verge of dying” Queen stressed out
“she took care of me and brought me back to the States. In front of all of you,
I’d like to express my gratitude to her.”
The Amazon nodded curtly and left the room flying while the guests goggled at
the impressive woman.
The article was two months old.
Bruce played the video accompanying the article while catching with the corner
of his eye the developments in Metropolis’ subway station from Daily Planet’s
site that held the middle of his Cosmos’ screen. The third frame of the screen
was covered with the information the computer at the cave had retrieved for
Dick’s stalker whose photos matched with Tony Zucco. But before delving into
the data he had something else to do.
He dialed Jim’s number: it was midnight but he knew that the Commissionaire
didn’t leave his office until much later. Jim didn’t sound much surprised
hearing Batman’s voice; on the contrary, in his almost expressionless voice
Bruce detected some relief.
“Asylum needs your attention” he growled.
“Joker?”
“Many of his thugs are there and he associates with Crane.”
“Do you have any insight?”
“No, but Joker might be up to something.”
“Mr. Stark has taken measures.”
“We need to be careful with Joker and Crane.”
Jim’s nod was almost audible as his determination.
“I’ll put police officers guarding the asylum.”
“Nice.”
He ended the call abruptly in Batman’s style and his mind travelled to all the
times he met Jim at the MCU’s rooftop and the icy wind flapped his cape.
Hero was sprawled right next to him licking lazily his front leg. Bruce petted
his belly and the kitten began jerking his front legs to catch him which
brought a big smile on the youth’s face.
If only Hero could talk…Bruce thought and his mind get lost for a moment in his
nightmare: it was the first time after his injury at the factory that he dreamt
of Bagdana and that discomposed him. He had stabbed the demon with the Knife of
Justice and watched him evaporating and slithering in the depths of earth; Thor
reassured him that Bagdana was trapped in Tartarus and Ubu told him that the
wound from the Knife had weakened him so much that only another powerful deity
could free him.
But Bruce always kept his vigilance – especially, since he could feel the Black
Butterfly on his chest vibrating. On the other hand, after what he had
experienced under Crane’s treatment he definitely could recognize the pattern
of this nightmare: a flashback, a part of his real experiences, mingled with
things that never happened but were his fears… Leslie and Lucius had cleared
his system from the remains of the drugs but still some effect lingered. So
maybe he should just forget the dream; or not…
He focused back on his info: Tony Zucco was a professional trainer of
gymnastics before he retired, twelve years ago. He didn’t have a criminal
record not even a traffic ticket yet his name was implicated in a dope scandal
when the athlete he was training was found positive in illegal drugs’ use…
Bruce’s eyebrows arched. Zucco’s athlete was John Grayson…yes…Dick’s father.
John firmly denied that he had used any illegal substance and claimed that he
was framed or given the drugs without knowing.  John was banned from sports
events for some months but eventually came back with some successes – rumors
had it that Zucco was downgraded by John Grayson and John had put himself under
the trainer of the US national team of gymnastics. However, Zucco remained in
the training team of John Grayson during his preparation for the world’s
championship when in a tragic accident John died.
After that Zucco retired and there were no results from the media as to what he
was doing all these years; Bruce’s other info came from IRS’s files that
manifested that he enjoyed a quite opulent life thanks to some clever
investments.
But what made the greatest impression to Bruce was that Tony Zucco was John
Grayson’s cousin from his mother’s side. So the stalker was in fact Dick’s
uncle…
Daily Planet had an update on the culprits of the station’s assault: there was
the picture of a man that according to police was the mastermind behind the
attack. He was killed during the battle with the law enforcers: the newspaper
had an exclusive photo that you had to be of age to see – the man was sprawled
on a mass of debris that used to be a kiosk and his head was cracked in several
places.
They didn’t give a name yet but Bruce crossed the police snapshot with the
archives of Metropolis’ police department and the name of Morgan Edge was
displayed. Now Bruce frowned: Edge was one of Metropolis’ biggest crime lords
and definitely not the terrorist type or the Joker type to get his gang in a
blind hit like this. He was definitely deep in every kind of shit: drugs,
gunrunning, smuggling, robberies, prostitution…But always money was the goal.
Wait! He zoomed in Edge’s photo and immediately recognized the firearm that was
still glued in his dusty, covered in blood hand. He had seen it again in the
logs of the items found in LexLabs. So Edge was collaborating with Luthor? He
couldn’t have gained access to these guns after Wayne Enterprises took the
labs’ control because the guns were taken away immediately after the
acquisition. Unless Luthor had a secret storage and informed his collaborator
about the location.
Oliver Queen’s voice was loud, clear and had an angry hue when he declared in
front of the reporters that were gathered to cover his memorial service his
determination to control the Queen Consolidated without any mediator and boost
the company to the top. The man was handsome: tall and sturdy, with slightly
overgrown dirty blond hair and chestnut stubble; yet the most powerful feature
in his face were his eyes: light brown with an angry, determined fire and
darkness that they gave the impression of penetrating you to the core.
 
Clark was flying over the Wayne Estate; he felt actually tired as the events of
the last hour weighted over his shoulders as much as his brain. He just desired
a good sleep. On Bruce’s side… He closed his eyes: he hoped that the younger
man was sleeping – he
***** Chapter 23 *****
“Hey, Rachel, how are you?”
A surprised gasp on the other end of the line – a happy gasp.
“Bruce! That’s…that’s awesome! I didn’t expect that…”
Bruce smiled.
“You didn’t expect me to call? By the way, am I keeping you from something?”
“No, not at all – I mean, I’m at work but I’m doing a break right now…
Hmm…Yes…I thought that you had too many things to look after now you returned
to Gotham” she laughed lighthearted.
“You’re my friend, Rachel, and you saved my life risking yours – I think you
more than deserve a long distance call.”
He could imagine his old friend rubbing her temple uncomfortable, her other
hand clutching her waist.
“I meant to call, Bruce…I mean after we spoke while you were abroad. Yet seeing
you with the wheelchair made me think that you’ll need some time to rest from
the trip…By the way, I’m really sorry for your injury.”
“I know, Rachel; thank you. How are thinks there? Any issue?”
She chuckled.
“You’re kidding me? You arranged everything perfectly: Steve works at a Wayne
Enterprises’ subsidiary here in Toronto; I work in a real estate company that
the owner is Tony Stark’s friend and Harvey” she hesitated because Harvey’s
adventure was partly her doing. “He works as a consultant – he is aware that
you had some involvement in his hiring because the entire Joker incident and
his suspension aren’t the best recommendation. You take care of everyone except
yourself…”
Bruce pinched the bridge of his nose.
“I just had some misfortunes…” he chuckled “but I was also lucky – it could be
worse. And all of you deserved some peace. However I miss you all: Mr. Petrou’s
job awaits him always. Give him my regards.”
“He’d be very happy to hear: he was heartbroken when he saw you on the
wheelchair and he was ready to call but I” she gulped “it was my fault: I told
him that it’d be better if we gave you some time to settle your more urgent
affairs.”
“Rachel, you, - all of you -, are my friends: so don’t hesitate to contact me
for anything. It’s my pleasure to hear from you.”
“Maybe we should return – I mean if you returned after all the terrors you
experienced there, why not us too?”
“This is your decision to make. On the other hand, Garcia plans to put on vote
Harvey’s comeback to DA’s post – if that is what Harvey wants.”
She laughed.
“There’s nothing Harvey wants more than serve justice…”
“I don’t know…I think marrying you tops that?”
Rachel sighed.
“Bruce, I still don’t know if I’m made for these things…”
“Time will show…I’m sure Harvey is more than happy just being with you.”
“At least, he seems too” she snorted. “The other sure thing is that if we
decide to marry you’ll be the first to know since Harvey wants you as his best
man.”
Bruce smiled.
“Only Harvey?” he asked slyly.
“Me too…I want to see you again, Bruce: the moment we found each other again my
faults forced me and Harvey to flee.”
“The important thing is that you are alright – every other thing can be fixed.”
“I guess so…Mmmm, Bruce, thank you for calling but I must return to work.”
“Sure.”
“Take care of yourself and get well soon, huh? Give Alfred my love!”
“I will. My regards to Mr. Petrou and Harvey: tell them that whenever they
decide to come back, I’ll be here for everything.”
Rachel gulped.
“Thank you. Hope to see you soon!”
“Me too.”
The moment Bruce hanged up someone knocked on his office’s door. It was Ms.
Philips with some manila files in her arms containing paper work that required
his signature.
Both Alfred and Leslie didn’t want him daily in the Wayne Tower yet Bruce was
adamant about being there even for a couple of hours. He didn’t want anyone,
ever again, to spread rumors that would endanger his father’s company.
Of course he had with him his Cosmos in order to do some other
‘extracurricular’ work.
“Is that all, Ms. Philips?” he asked while reading the last report under the
approving eyes of his secretary.
“Yes, Mr. Wayne; that’s all for today.”
Bruce grinned.
“Great! Thank you, Ms. Philips” he handed her the papers.
Yet his secretary lingered.
“Do you want me to bring you something, Mr. Wayne? Some brunch or milk…”
Bruce lolled his head on the side and chuckled.
“Alfred called and gave you instructions about what I should eat, right?”
The woman seemed a bit surprised for his insight but soon got over it.
“He also told me to remind you to not wear yourself out and to return to the
Manor before noon.”
Bruce nodded with a stoic and amused expression.
“As you can see, Ms. Philips, I’m not doing heavy duty so…” he lowered his
voice collusively “if Alfred secretly calls to get updates, please tell him
that I’m following doctor’s orders.”
Ms. Philips smiled also amused.
“Your dedication to the Enterprises is truly inspirational but you need to be
careful, Mr. Wayne.”
“I know, Ms. Philips.”
When his secretary left the office Bruce turned to his tablet. His presence at
the office shouldn’t keep him away from his investigation. He entered the
database of Metropolis’ police: Gotham was his main priority, always, yet those
people used Luthor’s guns so if Morgan Edge was indeed Luthor’s collaborator
then the lab raids could be explained. And if this mobster had bought guns,
could he have bought also those strange beings that attacked him? Could Edge be
the Intergang’s leader?
But above all, Clark was active in Metropolis and being Superman didn’t make it
safer so Bruce wanted to eliminate as many dangers as possible.
He doubted that Edge was the leader of Intergang. Intergang was a ghost gang
and hit so openly and stupidly didn’t suit them; more so with their leader in
the battlefield! Not even the most fanatic terrorists act like that: they use
people-tools to execute their plans. On the other hand, Edge wasn’t a terrorist
but a known gangster; he had his own gang so the Intergang scenario should be
crossed out.
If Morgan Edge was alive he could have given some answers or his sudden change
in tactics could be explained through psychological evaluation. But he was in
the scene and although the super heroes were there and the outcome was decided
he chose to stay and fight: well, that was completely out of character –
mobsters had one thing in common: fleeing when things go awry and save their
ass. He knew that from Falcone and his colleagues.
Bruce perused through the files from the shooters’ interrogation. Incoherent
rants: most of them refused that they had done anything, others mumbled some
extremist clichés that definitely didn’t understand; according to the police
officers and the FBI they seemed to be in confusion and shock. Which was usual
for amateurs or people with mental disorders who do such things, yet these
people were thugs: attacking or even killing was their routine yet always
having a professional reason not just spilling blood…
He pressed his lips and scrolled down the data scanning those thugs’
testimonies without finding anything explaining the massacre or who ordered it
other than admitting that they belonged to Edge’s gang; which was the same
pattern from the thugs who raided the labs: admitting they belonged to a gang
but not knowing who gave the order.
His eyes narrowed on an entry: officers reported that Morgan Edge was killed in
a fight with Wonder Woman and Superman and judging by the wounds it was the
former that did it.
Bruce twisted his lips: Clark’s friend had a bad habit of killing people while
being able to apprehend them; and mostly when useful information could be taken
from them. He rubbed his chin: he definitely didn’t like her role in that but
Clark was there; he saw everything. If something was amiss he’d have noticed…
He shook his head: Clark was very fond of her so Bruce doubted if he’d think
ill for anything she did. He told off Bruce just because he was investigating
her through Oliver Queen. Clark had changed… Maybe it wasn’t because of the
Amazon but because of the adventure they suffered all these months. Maybe Clark
was emotionally tired of living daily the weakness of a human being and when he
met her, he was happy meeting someone like himself… Maybe it was just
temporary.
And then he opened the site of Gotham’s Gazettefor catching up with the news
from his city but there as well, the last night’s assault was head news. They
had pictures from last night via the Daily Planet so Bruce returned there:
photos from the massacre, the injured, the officers, the super heroes saving
the day and photos from the kiosk where Edge was killed.
Bruce knew that both Superman and Wonder Woman was engaged in battle with him
yet there was no picture of them together. Which was odd. Jimmy Olsen had
covered the massacre and from what Clark had told him, the youth always shot
hundreds of pictures from an incident – besides there were loads of shots from
other scenes of the incident; so since he was in front of the battle scene he
definitely would have taken a lot of pictures especially with the two
superheroes – that would be a big hit for the Planet.
Yet there were only pictures of the ruined kiosk and Edge’s body. Strange…Bruce
tapped his lips. As if some pictures were emitted… But why? He recalled Clark’s
odd behavior last night: fine, he was definitely affected by the deaths of so
many people but… There was always a ‘but’ when the Amazon Princess was
involved…and Clark gave him the impression of feeling uncomfortable, upset.
Perhaps those photos were the answer for everything: perhaps Clark was
disappointed with his friend and ally killing with such ease Morgan Edge?
Somehow he doubted that: after all, Clark had scowled him because supposedly he
didn’t trust him about Diana. Bruce wanted to ask Jimmy about the photos but he
couldn’t and there wasn’t a reason why the boy would answer him honestly. At
this point Bruce wasn’t sure that even Clark was honest with him.
He shook off the bitterness that slyly slipped in his heart.
The door opened slightly and Bruce tensed ready to confront an attacker though
he knew that the Tower had the highest security in Gotham – yet last year’s
Joker attack didn’t support that.
A face popped and Bruce relaxed immediately.
“Am I interrupting something?” Selina asked playfully.
“Come in.”
She closed the door and crossed graciously the room to slump in the armchair
opposite Bruce’s desk. Her eyes sparkled gazing at the big, built-in fireplace
which was lit enhancing the temperature of the room.
“I love this fireplace!” she turned her face to Bruce who grinned. “And now
Alfred can be relieved that you are warm enough.”
Bruce lolled his head.
“Don’t tell me Alfred sent you?” he asked amused.
Selina shrugged.
“No, but I’m sure he is worried and would prefer it if you stayed at the
Manor.”
“I don’t want to settle in the “ill person” psychology.”
“As if you ever had such psychology…’’ she rolled her eyes smiling.
“I’m not ill, Sel, but paraplegic – I want to readjust” he inhaled deeply “and
there are things to be done” Selina was nodding though a bit exasperated. “I
missed you.”
She put her legs over the armrest.
“C’me on, sweetie… I was with you last night…”
Bruce’s lips twitched in a smile.
“I guess I got spoiled in Thasos and I expect that you’d sleep at the Manor and
eat breakfast with me” he cocked his eyebrows. “I know I’m selfish…”
Selina pressed her lips.
“You’re not selfish, sweetheart, and I had a great time being with you 24/
7…but…” it was difficult to explain and the truth was that she still wanted to
be all the time with him carefree after all these years’ agony and misery.
But Bruce nodded smiling because he understood without her even telling.
“You need your independency…I understand and I want you to do what you feel:
when you’re happy I feel happy too.”
Selina’s eyes flashed touched; she shook her head.
“I know you do…and…I missed you too…And Alfred’s cooking of course! And
Hero…Mmm…maybe I’d come and stay the weekends as kids do. Speaking of which, I
was cat-strolling last night and I saw your protégé.”
“My protégé?” his puzzlement was genuine but Selina rolled her eyes.
“Little Dick Grayson.”
Bruce frowned.
“You said ‘cat-stroll’ so Catwoman saw him so it was real late.”
Selina gave him the thumbs up.
“After midnight. He was on a rooftop with a pal – a little smartass punk” she
smiled amused on the remembrance. “They were drinking beer and the little rogue
was smoking.”
Bruce intertwined his fingers on the desk and leaned towards her.
“Dick is drinking? That’s awful!” he shook his head and a deep wrinkle formed
on his brow. “And the other boy was smoking…’’
Selina jerked her legs off the armrest and leaned towards him.
“Don’t you dare blame yourself for Dick! Besides every teen does such stuff… He
has a tough time but his grandmother will help him.”
He sighed.
“Poor Ms. Turner! I’m sure she doesn’t know anything…” he pressed his lips. “I
wish I could do something…speak to him but he hates me. Maybe Batman could do
that…”
Selina shook her head.
“Dick believes that Batman died at the factory – he was saying that to his
friend. I told them that Batman is alive” she shrugged “he might believe me
because he remembered me.”
Bruce arched his eyebrows.
“He isn’t so wrong” he said thoughtful. “Batman almost died that night and
weren’t for Superman…What about the other boy?”
Selina chuckled.
“Oh! He is one of those charming Narrows’ urchins. His name is Jason Todd, I
think he is a little younger than Dick and…the little fella is a pilferer” she
winked “and has a big mouth.”
Bruce ruffled his hair.
“You think that the boys are in trouble? Maybe the other boy is deep with the
wrong kind of people…”
“You mean Jason?” she laughed and shook his head. “No, he’s very independent to
be working for others and I think he is a nice chum and Dick seemed at ease
with him – actually, they remind me of us a bit…”
Bruce smiled.
“Except the beers and the fags… Remember the guy who stalked Dick and his
grandmother the other day?” she nodded. “His name is Tony Zucco and is Dick’s
father’s cousin and trainer.”
Selina arched her eyebrows.
“His uncle… Then why he didn’t go to them and stayed away?”
Bruce pursed his lips and shrugged one shoulder.
“Maybe he doesn’t get on with Ms. Turner: there are some gray areas in his
relationship with John Grayson, Dick’s father. I read that there were rumors
that John wasn’t satisfied by his coaching and degraded him; yet Zucco remained
in his team till the end. Sure thing, Zucco has the means to live an opulent
life.”
“So what does he want from them?”
“I don’t know; maybe he wants to help the kid after his family was murdered.”
Selina lolled her head on the side with a stare yelling ‘bitch please!”
“We live in Gotham, Bruce… Because you care for the kid and act as his secret
guardian angel doesn’t mean that everyone thinks like this.”
Bruce looked at his hands.
“However I wish we have to do with the better case scenario: Dick deserves to
have caring people around him…Of course I must find more info about this man.”
He was deep in thought and Selina wanted to change the subject.
“I saw the money you put in my account” she locked eyes with him. “What were
you thinking, sweetie?” her voice was accusing. “It’s too much! And I’m not
doing any of it for money!”
“I know, Sel, but I’m occupying you all the time and that forbids you for
working” he felt awkward speaking about such things “and you actually work for
me – so giving you a check is proper and eases my guilt.”
Selina shook her head slightly amused.
“Speaking of which” Bruce continued with new energy “since you’re my
bodyguard…”
‘And chauffer…” she remarked slyly and Bruce nodded.
“I’m invited to the Thanksgiving party the Haven’s children are throwing and I
need not only a bodyguard but also some company.”
Selina chuckled and cocked an eyebrow.
“I understand the need for a bodyguard because these fellas are really devious
and dangerous” Bruce laughed. “The day after tomorrow, huh? Wow! I can’t
believe that this time of year has come…” she twitched her lips. “Not that it
made much sense the previous years…”
Bruce pouted and shook his head thoughtful, his mind going back to all these
endless years in Dolcetto when days seemed the same in their ugliness. Or
worse.
“Your first Thanksgiving in freedom” Selina sighed and then jolted from her
armchair full with energy “we must make it special!”
Bruce grinned broadly.
“I’ll spend that day with all of you and without fearing that Falcone or Ra’s
might see us – it will be special… And we’ll share with the kids at the Haven.”
Selina came to him in a playful manner and sat on the desk beside him.
“And…you have also the hot super hunk to make the day even more special, huh?
Or I should say the night? Even if he won’t be with you at the party, I’m sure
he’ll wait eagerly to wrap those sculpted hands around you after…’’
But Bruce’s eyes became blank for a second as he recalled the last night.
Selina noticed immediately and cupped her friend’s chin bringing his eyes on
hers.
“What? He didn’t wise up? What has he done this time?”
Bruce shook his head.
“Nothing, Sel. He had a hard time last night with the hit in the Metropolis’
subway: ten people died” he pressed his lips. “He was sad and a bit shaken.”
She frowned.
“He didn’t take it out on you, did he?” she asked and her voice was grim.
Selina couldn’t forgive anyone who would impose his anger on Bruce: her friend
had had enough of that and his boyfriend was not going to act like all these
motherfuckers who used Bruce as their punching bag. Only the thought made her
blood boil.
Bruce caressed her forearm: he could sense her fears and irritation. He smiled
soothingly.
“Everything is fine, Sel. Clark acts a bit funny but these months had their
toll on him as much as on everyone. Yet he hadn’t done anything wrong.”
Selina pursed her lips.
“You’d tell me if he did?” she inquired disbelieving. “Or you’d try to protect
him?”
Bruce chuckled: protect Superman from Selina’s wrath…Actually, it made sense –
when Selina was angry not even Superman had a chance!
“Don’t worry, Sel. Everything is fine.”
However deep inside there was a toxic doubt that he struggled to silence.
Thankfully, his Cosmos played the tune for Clark’s calls and offered the
perfect escape.
“Hey, Bruce; how are you?”
“Perfect, Clark.”
Selina rolled her eyes and stood from the desk slithering to the armchair in
front of the desk to give some privacy.
“So perfect that you are in Wayne Tower working” disapproval was evident. “You
didn’t sleep well last night so it’d be better if you stayed home.”
“You’re watching me?”
“Your heartbeat is my favorite sound and I can locate where the beating comes
from unless there’s lead. But you’re changing the subject.”
“I don’t feel tired, Clark” he took in Selina’s snort. “And…”
“Never mind…” Clark cut him with a sigh. “I called to tell you that I won’t
come tonight…”
Bruce could picture him rubbing the bridge of his nose.
“It’s everything alright?”
“Of course not, Bruce…” he snorted. “So I want to be in Metropolis to watch
closely in case the remnants of Edge’s gang want revenge – Gotham isn’t too far
yet it’s better if I’m in Metropolis. I’m sure you understand.”
Of course he did…yet even when he was in Greece, in the other corner of the
planet that didn’t stop Clark from coming. He pressed his lips but finally
shook his head because even silently he was whining like a spoiled brat:
innocent lives were more precious than his indulgence.
“Absolutely, Clark; I was looking at the photos Jimmy shot from the incident
and I noticed that there are no pictures of you and the Princess while fighting
with Edge…”
It was a grunt that?
“Listen, Bruce, I really don’t have time for your detective muscles
stretching…”
Bruce frowned and Clark heard the abnormal intake of air.
“Jimmy’s camera collapsed or something; at least, that’s what he told me” he
replied calmer and softer.
“The kids at the Haven invited me to their Thanksgiving party.”
“Have a great time, Bruce: I can’t be there either as Clark Kent or as Superman
since our relationship is secret. So I’ll go have dinner with Ma.”
Bruce nodded.
“That’s nice…She must feel pretty lonely especially during holidays; give her
my greetings.”
“She’ll be pleased. And then I’ll come to spend the rest of the night with you”
it was the first time Bruce could discern a smile in Clark’s voice.
“Okay, Clark: I just hope you find time to drop by sooner…”
Clark huffed.
“Me too, Bruce. I have to go now…”
And with that the dial was ended. Bruce still gazed at his tablet’s screen
rethinking their conversation.
Selina coughed to draw him out of his thoughts. She looked at her Fendi
wristwatch – Bruce’s gift.
“Time to go home, sweetie. You don’t want Alfred worried and reprimanding.”
Bruce shook his head; his neck felt a bit stiff and his eyes stung from the
lack of sleep.
“I suppose you’re right…”
 
Alfred leaned for his young master to wrap his arms around his neck and slither
in his wheelchair which wasn’t the one Clark made for him but Tony’s – they
didn’t want people suspect that his wheelchair was of alien technology though
Tony’s creation was much out of the ordinary too. For once, there were no
visible wheels but they were built in the sides.
Snow was heavily falling and Alfred muffled carefully Bruce’s legs with the
quilt blanket because the 28th of November was a very cold night; the assembled
reporters pushed the Haven’s security men to approach. There was no official
notification that Bruce would attend the party that wasn’t a social event after
all, but the most cunning of the Press figured that the young tycoon would want
to be with the kids that night: his soft spot for those children was known.
When Selina who arrived sooner informed them about the flock of awaiting
reporters, it was Bruce’s decision to not evade them: he’d speak to them in
order for them to leave the kids and the guests to enjoy themselves. So he led
his chair to them with the control screen on the armrest.
All the cameras flashed at once and microphones were stretched to him.
“Mr. Wayne, is your paraplegia curable?”
“The League of Shadows did that?”
“Is Superman really in love with you?”
Selina hidden behind a wall laughed on that though she felt annoyed by those
maniacs bothering Bruce.
Bruce raised his hands appeasing.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I promise to answer all your questions in a press
conference. But not here. I’m sure you’re sensitive enough to feel those
children’s need to celebrate Thanksgiving as homey as possible. So I’ll be
grateful to you if you let us spend that night as every other person” he saw
their expressions softening. “I’m sure your families will be more than happy to
have you with them for the dinner” he smiled cordially. “Happy Thanksgiving!”
They returned the wish and closed cameras and microphones, gathering their
stuff to leave: nobody wanted to seem rude or insensitive with Gotham’s orphans
and everyone preferred to spend the night with loved ones. Since Wayne promised
to answer their questions they could grand him that small favor – besides the
majority of Gotham had a soft spot for the tortured Prince and the reporters
didn’t want to become hateful – their relentless chase the last days had caused
already uproar.
“Thank you” Bruce smiled.
Alfred took the handles and turned the chair towards the building.
“Sometimes having inherited Lilith’s charm isn’t so bad, right, sir?” the
British whispered and Bruce chuckled.
The party was hosted in the Haven’s highly equipped gym obviously for having
enough space. As they were ready to enter, Selina intercepted them and like a
flash leaned and kissed Bruce’s cheek.
“You play them in your fingers, huh?” she took Bruce’s kiss closing her eyes.
“Yet I think that they were happy enough with your pictures because you’re
gorgeous!”
Bruce eyed her body.
“You’re very beautiful, too, Sel!”
She smirked and shook her head.
“Hm…Casual attire, darling: skin tight skirt, wool turtle neck blouse, long
coat. I’m Mr. Wayne’s nurse so I must be sightly” they had agreed to present
Selina as his nurse.
Alfred cleared his throat.
“You’re gorgeous too, Alf!” Selina chirped and gave him a kiss.
“Well, I’m most grateful, Miss Kyle but what I wanted to tell is that it’s
bloody freezing here so better conclude that discussion inside” with so much
cold Alfred felt almost regretful for bringing Bruce here.
Right on point a good looking young woman came to them smiling and led them
inside. The vast gym was decorated with wreaths made with dried flowers on the
walls under long ribbons reading ‘Happy Thanksgiving’ and ‘Give Thanks’; some
turkeys made from multicolored paper were hanging from the roof along with
pumpkins while the floor was covered with leaves made from brown paper.
At the far end there were two long tables with every kind of traditional
delicacy from turkey to pumpkin pies and beautiful round shaped candles inside
lanterns made the scene warmer. A band played joyful music.
Bruce was gaping around because it was like reliving some of his childhood
holidays …before Falcone.
“Wow!” Selina exclaimed as impressed as Bruce.
The social worker smiled.
“The kids made all these! They were so happy and they wanted to give their
thanks…”
But Bruce was now looking at the other half of the space where gymnastic
equipment where set. The gym was so big to allow the party taking place without
having to remove those but there were people with athletic wear around the
organs.
“The city’s gymnastics team offered to make a show for the kids…”
Selina gasped seeing what Bruce was now seeing: almost thirty kids rushing to
them laughing, among them Billy who was the older – a young man actually. Bruce
knew most of these children either from the opening ceremony or the night Joker
captured them. Thankfully, the rest of the kids remained scattered around the
place and only after hearing the commotion approached.
“They’re really dangerous…” Selina chuckled in Bruce’s ear but he was smiling
around.
On the opposite corner of the gym, Dick with Ms. Turner and Jason waited among
his teammates for the performance to start. The commotion caught their
attention and Ms. Turner smiled.
“Bruce is here and the children surrounded him…” she was looking there yet Dick
felt that these words were for him. “They really love him…”
The boy snorted to Jason.
“They don’t know who he is; if they did would have run away…” his voice was
filled with poison and Ms. Turner stared him with disapproval.
“Dick, you’re unfair! If you tried to be reasonable you’d understand that Bruce
did nothing wrong” Ms. Turner protested.
Dick shook his head mocking and Jason pursed his lips disapproving.
“You always make excuses for him!” he snapped to his grandmother. “Ugh! You
don’t want to see the truth!”
Ms. Turner looked him almost desperately.
“What truth, honey?”
But Dick shook his head and seeing Jeff waving at him darted away. Ms. Turner
lowered her head and Jason patted her back.
“It’s alright, Ms. Turner…He didn’t mean to yell at ya. He loves ya.”
The old woman turned her eyes to the boy and smiled.
“I know, Jason…” she cupped his chin. “I’m glad he has you. Where’s your mom?”
Jason a bit uncomfortable from the caress craned his head looking for his
mother.
“There! She works here an’ every employee was invited to the party with their
kids.”
A young man came out of the mass of kids bumbling around Bruce.
“Br-Br-Bruce, h-how are y-you?” it was Billy.
“I’m fine, Billy, thank you – everything is so very beautiful!”
“You-you-you like it?!” the mentally retarded youth asked with bulged eyes.
“We-we did it our-our-ourselves: all the kids!”
Bruce realized that his eyes were on the verge of watering because he was so
touched from all these children’s happiness.
“Then I think you deserve a reward…” he grinned broadly and looked up to
Alfred.
“Most definitely, sir!” he pulled out his cell and pressed a button.
Several men and women dressed in Wayne Enterprises’ uniforms entered the gym
carrying packages wrapped in shiny paper and multicolored ribbons.
“For you” Bruce said loudly and the Haven’s kids turned ready to rush to the
gifts.
But the teacher coughed loudly and miraculously she was heard; tens of sweet
faces turning to her.
“What do we say?” she asked half amused and half reprimanding.
“Thank you, Mr. Wayne!” an out of tune chorus yelled and Bruce bit his lower
lip to not laugh loudly.
“You welcome! Happy Thanksgiving!” he gestured to the waiting presents and the
crowd of eager boys and girls looked first to their teacher and after she
nodded they stormed there where social workers and teachers distributed the
gifts.
“Alfred, do you think that the presents would be enough for the kids from the
gymnastics’ team? I didn’t know.”
Alfred smiled reassuringly.
“Do not worry, Master Bruce: the presents are more than enough.”
Bruce gazed at the giggling boys and girls, both orphans who lived in the
Haven’s village and children of the employees and the other beneficiaries.
The social worker who had escorted them excused herself and headed to the
commotion to help her colleagues.
“Why that boy isn’t with the other kids?” Bruce gestured with the head towards
a raven haired boy with blue eyes.
Selina chuckled.
“Because this, sweetie, is no other than Mr. Jason Todd: he is a man so he
can’t be acting childish…”
“Then his parents must be working in the Haven – because although the party is
open for every kid in the Narrows from what you said, I don’t think he’d come.”
Selina lolled her head and raised an eyebrow.
“I’m surprised he did come even with his parents…” she snorted.
Something twitched in Bruce’s guts.
“Maybe Dick is here too and that made Jason come…” he stretched his head but
being seated in a chair made it difficult to see to every corner of the vast
gym – especially to the far end where the athletes were warming up. “He trains
in the city’s gym and he is a member of the junior team.”
Selina leaned her head to Alfred winking.
“Did he sound proud to you?”
The butler grinned and Selina nodded.
“I knew it wasn’t my impression…”
Then Bruce caught a glimpse of Ms. Turner.
“Yes, Dick is here…” but that made him feel a bit unease: he knew how much the
boy hated him. “I hope at least he has fun…” though he doubted now that he had
appeared.
When Bruce turned his head Leslie was there chewing a piece of pie.
“Oh! Here you are!” she squatted in front of Bruce. “I didn’t know that it
would be so cold tonight” she touched her hand to Bruce’s forehead to assess
his temperature.
“There was no chance I wouldn’t have come, Leslie! And I’m fine. Now, I’m
hungry so let’s see if the food is any good.”
“Actually, it’s delicious!” Leslie said standing.
He had hardly eaten a piece of turkey when he heard a ripple of enthusiastic
cheers and the kids left the presents and gathered in front of the entrance.
Bruce couldn’t discern what was going on but then a red and gold android flew
above the youngsters who goggled.
“Anthony Howard Stark…” Leslie said shaking her head mock disapproving. “Who
else?”
Bruce smiled.
“He knows how to make an entrance, huh?” he asked winking.
A fuming but stunning as ever Pepper Potts emerged from the commotion and
approached them.
“That Stark!” she rolled her eyes. “Always showing off!”
“He gives joy to the kids, Peps…” Bruce came to his friend’s defense.
Pepper shook her head and huffed.
“With you as a lawyer he knows that there’s nothing to fear…”
Yet she immediately smiled cordially.
“I missed all of you; how are you? Bruce, is everything alright?”
“Perfect, Peps; I’m glad you could make it: the Haven is your creation as
well.”
“I didn’t do anything…”
Leslie shook her head.
“Of course, you did, dear: I was there, remember?”
“Miss Potts is modest but we all know her contribution to all of this” Alfred
smiled.
Selina chuckled.
“And only the fact you have to do with Stark all the time is enough…”
Pepper cast a sideways glance behind her where Tony got awed exclamations from
his fans.
“Tell me about it…” she cocked her eyebrows.
And then she leaned and hugged Bruce planting kisses to both his cheeks.
“If I didn’t trust blindly both of you, I’d misapprehend your stance…” a cocky
voice came behind them as Tony strutted there.
Pepper stood and frowned at him while Bruce smirked.
“Is the veteran facing an age crisis?” he remarked snidely.
Tony’s eyes bulged and his mouth twitched.
“What age?!”
“You want me to state your age?” Pepper said arching her eyebrows crossing her
arms.
“Oops! No way, missy! This is a secret of highly national importance…Mmm!
Pumpkin pie! It’s been years since I last ate…Yummy!”
Suddenly, the band stopped and the social worker who had escorted them walked
in front of the gymnastic organs, the spotlight following her.
“Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, the local team of gymnastics was so kind
to offer us a demonstration of their talent. Please give them a warm welcome!”
she clapped first and the whole gym erupted in applause.
The athletes some of them senior and some of them junior, just kids, performed
impressive programs in pommel horse, still rings, high bar, vault and balance
beam. Many times the acrobatic moves caused screams of excitement or made the
audience hold their breath.
For Bruce the most challenging was watching Dick Grayson executing a
particularly complex and difficult set of exercises on the high bar with giants
(revolutions around the bar), release skills, twists, and changes of direction.
His eyes were narrowed and he barely breathed as the boy jolted high above the
bar to hold again the bar in the last second.
Alfred who had sensed his agony squeezed his young master’s shoulders.
“Master Bruce, you should relax” he whispered and Bruce turned his eyes on him.
“They shouldn’t let so young kids do such things…It’s dangerous!” he protested
and Tony looked at him confused.
“He is young mister Grayson” Alfred explained and Tony nodded because a couple
of months ago Bruce almost died to save that boy so his intense reaction was
understandable now. “If I may, sir” the British lowered his voice “you do more
dangerous things.”
“I’m trained, Alfred…” he replied though his searching eyes had located a
familiar face: the man that had stalked Dick.
Tony cocked an eyebrow.
“He is trained too, buddy; his coach wouldn’t have let him do these things if
he wasn’t perfectly able…”
Bruce gasped as the boy jerked to the air, made two backflips and landed on his
feet causing the enthusiastic applause and the cheers from the crowd.
“His grandmother must be very proud” he remarked catching Ms. Turner applauding
her grandson tearful.
Selina lolled her head on the side.
“She isn’t the only one…” she commented smirking with her eyes pointing Bruce.
Dick ran to his coach who covered him with a towel and sent him to the showers.
Bruce saw Ms. Turner suddenly striding to the other side of the gym.
“Where is she going?” Selina asked frowning.
Bruce nodded towards a man standing in a corner watching from the shadows.
“Tony Zucco was watching Dick’s performance…” Bruce whispered to her because
their friends were occupied watching the athletes performing.
Ms. Turner had to bury her pride on her grandson as soon as her eyes fell on
Zucco sneaking on the boy from a corner. She covered the space between them
with furious strides and stood before him.
Zucco didn’t change his position from leaning his back to the wall with his
arms crossed. A faint smirk was formed over his face that was covered by the
shadows. He watched amused the old lady approaching.
“Well, hello, Ms. Turner! Happy Thanksgiving.”
She pursed her lips and her eyes flashed.
“What are you doing here?”
He pouted innocently.
“It’s obvious I think…I marvel at my nephew.”
Ms. Turner raised her index finger angrily.
“Leave Dick alone! I won’t let you destroy him as you did with his father!”
His eyebrows jerked upwards and he gestured to himself.
“Me? Destroyed John?” he said exasperated and the sound of the music and people
talking muffled it. “John was my relative and my friend: I wanted the best for
him.”
But Ms. Turner didn’t buy that; she knew him.
“You slipped illegal substances to his water and stole his money!”
Zucco’s eyes bulged and his face contorted.
“That’s a lie! I didn’t steal his money: I heard of some good investments and I
shared my info with him: it was his decision to invest on these companies! And
I didn’t give him illegal substances – John never believed that; it was never
proved!”
Ms. Turner frowned.
“John had degraded you and was ready to fire you when he died in that accident”
she growled.
Zucco sniggered.
“Are you going to accuse me of that too? Accusing someone of murder needs
proof, Ms. Turner!”
“You know how to cover your traces but I don’t need proof to know who you are!
And I want you away from Dick!”
Zucco lolled his head on the side and looked her smugly.
“Or else?”
Ms. Turner clenched her fists.
“I’m not a scum like you to threaten you; but I’ll tell everything to Dick so
he stays away from you.”
Zucco laughed.
“I don’t think he’ll listen to you…I detect that he is rather displeased with
you; on the contrary he is very fond of me so I think that your effort will
lead to the opposite result…”
Ms. Turner’s breath became pants to the man’s amusement.
“I can go to the police.”
He shrugged a shoulder.
“I’m the boy’s uncle and that would make Dick angrier with you; he could even
sneak out to find me…The boy loves my company…”
The old lady jerked her head clenching her jaw: indeed, Dick had a soft spot
for that man to the point that he didn’t believe her.
“What do you want?”
Zucco widened his eyes innocently.
“Me? What could I want other than being close to my nephew? Besides, what could
a pensioner have that I’d want?” he frowned. “Though…that apartment you live,
Dick’s clothes, his gadgets are pricy for your financials” his eyes shone
wickedly.
Ms. Turner shook her head.
“You want money – say how much you want to leave us alone and I’ll give you.”
He smirked.
“I wonder…where you’d find the money” he cocked his eyebrows “if supposedly
that was what I wanted. Poor John lost almost all his money, Mary’s new husband
wasn’t wealthy and you…well, you are only a pensioner with no other fortune –
John had told me.”
Ms. Turner’s eyes were cold: so that was his catch. He smelt money and came to
cash in endangering her grandson’s wellbeing.
“It’s none of your business! Tell me how much and you’ll have it.”
Zucco licked his upper lip grinning.  He met the old lady’s eyes.
“Why taking a portion when I can get everything?” he hissed like a real snake.
“The boy is the goldmine…”
He walked away from her leaving her in a state of shock; her eyes bulged and
her heart began pounding cutting her breath. Only one thought prevailed in her
brain: Zucco had targeted Dick and like John he wouldn’t leave the boy alone
till he extracted everything he could. She remembered with dread John’s tragic
accident: the inquiry, the investigation, the assumptions…But nothing was
proved and John would never come back to meet his unborn son: her heart
convulsed in the suspicion that Zucco could do the same to her grandson if he
thought that there was nothing else to take or was afraid of being exposed.
She sought support to the wall.
 
Superman was hovering over Metropolis watching everything. His hearing was
focused on catching the familiar voices of Metropolis’ thugs: they were
chatting about Edge’s crazy deed and either they laughed for his blunder or the
wisest of them cursed him because police hardened the security and their
vigilance all over the city.
Thankfully, there was no hint of violence in the city as if the blind hit at
the subway had never happened. He landed on the Daily Planet’s rooftop under
the globe’s model. Two days now he wanted to meet Diana and tell her everything
about Bruce and him but she didn’t show up.
He just returned from a wonderful dinner with his Ma: she was so happy that her
son came to spend the holiday with her and more when Clark gave her Bruce’s
greeting and wishes. She told him that she’d like to meet the young man…
Superman smiled: he could imagine Bruce’s reaction – he was so shy and uneasy
with meeting new people. Especially, Clark’s mother. But maybe Clark could
manage to persuade him.
He closed his eyes inhaling the cold air; unlike Gotham, there it wasn’t
snowing. His mind went to Bruce and his outing: he knew the man’s love for
those kids but still maybe he should have stayed inside; his organism was too
sensitive.
Clark arched his eyebrows: nobody could change Bruce’s decision to attend and
at least he hoped that the young man had a great time right now.
 
“Ms. Turner?”
The old lady heard the voice like it came from another world but it made her
feel safe.
“Ms. Turner, are you alright?”
She turned to see Bruce Wayne staring at her worried. Ms. Turner smiled
reassuringly.
“I’m fine, dear; thank you…”
Bruce turned to Selina who was watching the old lady as much worried.
“Selina, can you bring some water and Leslie?”
His friend nodded and hurried to the long tables.
“That wasn’t necessary, Bruce…” the old lady panted but Selina was already
gone.
Bruce gestured at the chairs; he would have supported Ms. Turner but being on a
wheelchair didn’t allow him.
“It is better you’d sit down, Ms. Turner” and since he couldn’t do much he gave
her his hand to grab.
Her smile was fool of gratitude as she followed him to a secluded corner of the
gym. She sat down and slowly her breath returned to normal.
Dick had just come out of the showers dressed in his casual outfit when Jason
rushed to him.
“Wow, man! Ya’re fantastic!”
Dick blushed.
“Thanks, Jay!”
“Ya must be hungry: fancy some turkey?”
Dick chuckled.
“I think you fancy the turkey…”
Jason shrugged pouting.
“I tucked in tons when I was with mom – but there’s always room for more!” he
rubbed circles over his belly.
Dick put his arm over the boy’s shoulders smiling.
“Have you seen my granny?”
Jeff, the coach, who was talking with some girls he was training heard him and
approached.
“I saw Ms. Turner during your performance but then she went somewhere…” he
craned his head. “Ah! She’s there” he pointed at the chairs in the corner.
Dick frowned seeing his granny slumped in a chair: he couldn’t discern much
because people were moving around and children were dancing again after the
demonstration.
“What happened, Ms. Turner? What do you feel?” Bruce inquired.
She shook her head still smiling stoic and waved off his worry.
“I’m fine now, my child…”
Selina who just arrived gave her the glass of water and she took it with a
smile.
“Thank you, my dear girl.”
Bruce looked at Leslie that came along.
“Leslie, this is Ms. Turner: she is a bit pale, can you…?”
“Of course, Bruce.”
“Ms. Turner, this is Dr. Leslie Thompkins, my doctor. She can examine you –
just to be sure.”
Ms. Turner sipped from her glass and shook her head.
“Who doesn’t know the best and kindest doctor in the city; but I’m fine now,
Dr. Thompkins, and I don’t want Dick panicked.”
Leslie sat in the chair beside her and narrowed her eyes.
“He won’t have a reason to panic if we examine you making sure that everything
is alright.”
Ms. Turner closed her eyes and suddenly a boy rushed there kneeling before her;
his blue eyes searched scared her face for any trace of illness.
“Granny, what happened? Are you feeling alright?”
Bruce gulped uncomfortable and his eyes darted to the other boy that came with
Dick. Their eyes met for an instance and the boy turned decisively his head to
Dick.
“I’m fine, sweetheart” Ms. Turner told him caressing his face. “I just felt a
bit dizzy and Bruce with his friend helped me” Dick’s mouth twisted ugly on the
mention of Bruce’s name and cast him a sideways hostile glance before driving
all his attention to Ms. Turner. “And Dr. Thompkins is here…”
Leslie despite the woman’s objection had already touched her fingers to the old
lady’s wrist to calculate her pulse.
“Your granny’s pulse is normal now and her color is back but I suggest that you
take her to a hospital for a checkup.”
Dick nodded.
“Can we leave now, granny?” he didn’t like being so close to Wayne. “Are you up
to?”
“We can stay a bit more” she replied wanting to make Dick stay with Bruce in
hopes of him changing his mind for the man.
But Dick narrowed his eyes and stiffened reading her intention. And it was so
easy for Bruce to understand and feel a painful clench in his guts.
“I have school tomorrow, granny and Jay’s mother waits us – also, you need to
rest…”
Ms. Turner pressed her lips sad and stood up, Dick helping her. The old lady
turned to Bruce.
“Thank you, Bruce, and all of you” she looked at Selina and Leslie.
“There’s no need to thank me, Ms. Turner” Bruce met Dick’s cold stare.
“Congratulations on your performance, Richard.”
The boy jerked his head away and made to leave but he came across Alfred who
carried two presents.
“All the athletes took their presents, young master Grayson: this is yours” he
gave him the package smiling and turned to Jason. “And that is for you, sir.”
“I don’t want anything bought with his money!” Dick spat and threw away the
gift storming away from them Jason following.
Ms. Turner lowered her head.
“I’m sorry for that…” she said shaking her head.
“It’s okay, Ms. Turner” Bruce replied. “I understand.”
She pressed her lips and patted his shoulder.
“You’re such a good boy: I hope Dick sees it soon…It was great meeting all of
you” she smiled. “I must find them now, excuse me. Good night!”
“Good night, Ms. Turner…”
Selina kneeled at Bruce’s side and hugged him.
“Don’t mind him, sweetie…he’ll regret it someday!”
Bruce held her hand.
“No problem, Sel: I just want the boy to be happy – if that means that he’ll
hate me, let it be.”
Leslie stood up.
“He should learn who pays everything for him…” she said grimly annoyed from the
boy’s attitude.
But Bruce looked at her determined.
“No way, Leslie! He won’t find out ever!”
“What’s the matter?” Tony strolled to them with a glass of fruit punch in one
hand and a turkey leg in the other. “A furious little brat – I think he was
Grayson - ran into me and almost toppled me and then another one…”
Pepper followed him.
“And they didn’t even ask for an autograph…” she snorted and Tony nodded.
“Exactly! Gotham’s youth are hopeless!”
He frowned seeing Selina cuddling Bruce.
“You finally decided to shoo Supes and admit your feelings for Sel” she cast
him a death stare. “Or something happened.”
Bruce shook his head.
“Nothing really…”
“Don’t give that to me, little guy…Unless you don’t trust your Tony” he cocked
his eyebrows complaining and Bruce huffed defeated and told him. “What an
ungrateful brat!” he spat outraged.
Bruce lolled his head on the side.
“He’s a good kid, Tony” his friend nodded in a manner implying the opposite.
“Alfred” he looked at his butler “can we go? I feel a bit tired.”
“Of course, Master Bruce. Let me bring your coat.”
Impressed exclamations and excited giggles filled the gym and they looked
around to see the reason: which wasn’t so difficult since a really huge – six
feet tall - torte, with many layers, was pushed inside by several delivery
boys. It was orange, in the color of the pumpkin and decorated with cream and
white chocolate. Drooling kids stared awed at the candy.
Bruce exchanged frowned puzzled looks with the others because none of them had
ordered that. But then an impeccably dressed man with a beautiful young woman
at his arm entered the gym and approached the teachers and social workers
talking to them.
“Thomas Elliot…” Leslie mumbled shaking her head. “And Kelly, one of our
nurses.”
Thomas took the microphone that one of the staff gave him.
“I hope I’m not ruining anything…” he chuckled. “I’m Dr. Thomas Elliot, if you
don’t know me already. Well, I was thinking that Gotham’s children deserve
everything someone has to offer, so since my old friends Bruce Wayne and Tony
Stark generously offered so much, I decided to add a little something.
Bruce cocked an eyebrow on the ‘little’ and met Tony’s eyes that had an amused
shine.
“I used to do such mummeries…” the tycoon from Malibu snorted.
“Used?” Pepper cast him a haughty look.
Selina leaned to Bruce’s ear.
“He reminds you of someone?” she snorted.
Indeed, Bruce remembered that he had a suit like this; the one he wore at the
police’s ball. And Thomas’ hair was groomed like his. He nodded.
“Before I shut up to let you enjoy the cake I’d like to say something I wanted
for much time. I’m happy that Bruce Wayne, our angel of the Narrows, came back
from the dead and Hell to give a ray of sunlight in our lives and inspire us
into being better people.”
Bruce lowered his head and rubbed his temple annoyed. He absolutely hated that
and if he wasn’t trained to control his respiration he’d be panting now feeling
so many eyes on him. His other fist was clenched as his jaw: he wasn’t doing
anything from what Eliot was saying.
Tony was frowning too because that was like re-watching Luthor the day of the
opening ceremony: the scumbag was saying the same things to flatter Bruce and
create an alibi.
The women of the company weren’t much convinced either.
But Thomas was grinning broadly.
“I admit that I was absorbed by myself all these years despite the fact I
helped a lot of people. However my personal dramas kept me away from Gotham and
made me close my eyes to the city’s misery. And then I heard about Bruce’s
return and his generosity to the city and the people. I thought: hey! If Bruce
can put the other people’s misery above his traumas I can do it too. So I
returned to my homeland to offer whatever I can to Gotham and her people in
need…” he shook his head. “And the children are the priority here because the
children are our future so we’re obliged to make those cute faces bear huge
smiles… The smile of one kid is worthy of all our efforts…and Bruce taught me
that.”
Inside he was smirking in disgust because he hated children; especially, those
with cute, sweet faces like Brucey. However, he had to play his act to the end.
“For that, I donate five hundred thousand dollars to the Haven hoping to help
the brilliant work Bruce Wayne started…”
“Actually, Tony started the Haven…” Bruce mumbled between his clenched teeth.
“At least, he chose a different amount of money…” his friend whispered to
Bruce’s ear sniggering.
Thomas beaming opened his arms to the gaping crowd.
“Please, applause those who created that Haven for Gotham’s less fortunate:
Bruce Wayne and Tony Stark!”
The entire gym echoed from the loud clapping and Tony waved to the people.
“A bit of standing ovation never hurt anyone…” he said to Bruce through gritted
teeth forming a stunning smile.
But Bruce was tense.
“Master Bruce, is everything alright?” Alfred who just returned with Bruce’s
coat immediately took in his young master’s upset.
Bruce nodded and took hastily his coat to wear it; Alfred helped him.
“Calm down, little guy” Tony said. “It’s not bad being praised and you know
that there are far more for which you should be praised.”
The younger man ran his fingers through his hair.
“I’ll bid good night to the kids and the staff and I’ll return home – Hero is
alone.”
Selina winked.
“Do you think he found the way down and terrorized your other pets?”
Bruce smiled.
“Thankfully, they are out…”
Tony laughed.
“I’d like to watch the little fur ball in action…”
As Bruce was congratulating the staff for the party and saying his goodbyes,
many of the kids left the huge dessert and came to him. Among them Billy.
“You-you leaving, Br-Bruce?” he asked disappointed and the same was evident to
other little faces.
“I’m a bit tired, Billy…But for Christmas we’ll throw another bigger party!”
The faces around him lit on that.
“Bruce, are you leaving already?”
Bruce turned to the voice’s direction to see Thomas Elliot with his date. His
childhood ‘friend’ approached detaching himself from Kelly and stretched his
hand for a handshake.
“I’m sure that after eighteen years you can’t recognize me” he smiled “But I’m
sure that Leslie informed you.”
Bruce took his hand grinning.
“How are you, Thomas?”
The young doctor’s became broader.
“Brilliant now that I finally met you again…” he shook his head. “My…You’re
more gorgeous in person” Bruce’s smile faltered and Thomas bit his lower lip.
“I’m sorry – sensitive topic…” there was some irony that Bruce didn’t miss
Thomas turned to Tony.
“Tony! I’m so happy to see you after all this time! Of course I know all about
your action. Wow! From our childhood you were the protector of the weak!” he
shook hands with Tony who stretched his lips in a tight smile. “I remember how
you’re constantly saving littl’ Brucie from the bigger boys and…me…”
Tony’s smile now was genuine.
“That’s still the most entertaining part: crushing the bullies!” he nodded.
Thomas laughed but inside he was gritting his teeth: that bragging arrogant
bastard!
“Miss Potts!” he took her hand elegantly and touched his lips on the back of
the palm. “You’re dazzling as ever!”
“Thank you, Dr. Elliot” Pepper answered.
 “Call me Thomas, my dear. And who’s that beautiful young lady?” he asked
looking at Selina who rolled her eyes but only inside.
“She is my friend and nurse” Bruce replied “Selina Kyle.”
Thomas was ready to kiss her hand too but she pulled it abruptly from his grip.
The young doctor licked his lips a bit irritated but smiled.
“Pleased to meet you, Miss Kyle.”
I can’t say the same…Selina thought and Bruce who was looking at her smiled
knowing what she was thinking.
“Me too, Mr. Elliot.”
Thomas was upset for his title’s omission.
“It’s Dr., dear…but after all I prefer being called just Thomas. Leslie,
finally I see you in a context different than the clinic; I hope you’re having
a great time.”
“I do, Thomas” she nodded.
“Alfred! So nice to see you again after all these years!”
“Likewise, Dr. Elliot” Alfred replied in his pride, collected demeanor.
“You must be very happy now you got Bruce back: everyone knows how much you
love him”he was always running to you whining… Alfred didn’t answer and Thomas
finally remembered Kelly. “Oh! This is Miss Kelly Lawrence.”
“Nice to meet you, Miss Lawrence” Bruce said smiling. “But I must be going
now.”
Thomas pouted.
“Of course. You’re still recovering and you have already taken so many
responsibilities – as if anyone would blame you for resting.”
“Some things have to be done.”
Thomas nodded and gave him again his hand.
“I’d like to see you again, Bruce and you, Tony, for some catching up.”
Bruce smiled.
“Sure…Thank you for everything you did for the kids, Thomas” he shook his hand.
“It’s really nothing, Bruce – my pleasure…”
Alfred pushed the wheelchair to the exit and Thomas watched them.
 
Superman heard soft feet landing graciously behind him; he knew who was it –he
had come to recognize the breath, heartbeat and perfume. Clark crossed his arms
and yanked his head inhaling deeply: suddenly, the thing he was eager to do
those two days, now seemed too difficult.
The Princess walked proudly towards him and stood by his side.
“Happy Thanksgiving” she said. “I learnt that this day is an important holiday
for humans in this country” Clark nodded. “So – though you’re not like these
people - I’m hoping that seeing me will make the night special for you” she
cocked an eyebrow.
Clark looked at her.
“I’m always happy seeing you…Actually, I wanted to talk to you.”
Diana smiled.
“So you changed your mind about our kiss…”
Clark licked his lips and closed his eyes.
“No, Diana; I didn’t and I wanted to talk to you about that.”
Her displeasure was clear in her face but quickly she regained her smugness.
“Talk to me then.”
Clark pressed his lips; his heart was drumming in his chest.
“What happened in the subway – the kiss - must not be repeated, Diana. We can’t
continue that” she frowned and Clark met her enchanting eyes. “I have an
affair.”
Her eyebrows arched and she pouted.
“I know you’re not with Lois Lane” then something flashed in her eyes and her
mouth twisted “don’t tell me it’s Wayne after all…”
Clark clenched his jaw for the contempt he saw in her face.
“Yes, we are together.”
The Amazon crossed her arms and nodded.
“You denied it several times…”
“We wanted to keep it secret – you saw how much Bruce’s connection to me
threats his life.”
She cocked an eyebrow mocking.
“Is just that? I’m not one of your enemies neither I would ever betray your
secret.”
Clark nodded.
“I know but still…”
Diana wasn’t listening anymore: she erupted in a jeering laughter that hurt
Clark.
“Excuse me…” she said when the laughing fit stopped. “But I’m content because
your hesitation to admit it shows that you’re aware of how ridiculous this is.
Superman, Kal El of the noble House of El, in a sexual relationship with Bruce
Wayne of all mortals! For Zeus sake, Kal! How can you being trapped in this?!”
Clark was fuming.
“I wasn’t trapped! I love him and he deserves it!”
She shook her head.
“You forget his past?”
Clark jerked his arms in the air.
“It’s his past that makes him the bravest, the best human being I ever met!”
“Please, Kal! That’s nonsense! His past? He was a pleasure slave all his life –
a whore! His body is overused, sucked up: his flesh carries the memories of all
these filthy men that fucked him daily! He must be infected by many disgusting
diseases!”
Clark knew that Bruce had gonorrhea.
Diana shook her head.
“Oh, Kal! His body isn’t worthy to take you inside: you’re pure as the sun,
great like the Olympians – you can’t degrade yourself in this man’s body… I
know about some enchantingly beautiful slaves who grant their masters some
really breathtaking moments of carnal pleasure…But only to that point:
beautiful beings like Wayne are made only for being used for pleasure and
nothing more. However now his use is over: he is an overused, filthy whore whom
even a mere human wouldn’t condescend with; and you are more that all these
mortals together: you’re a walking Sun. Heck! Even Falcone would have gotten
rid of him sooner or later…”
Clark closed his eyes; his temperature had increased from anger and
embarrassment.
“Stop calling him a whore! He was captured by Falcone and held prisoner all his
life: they were raping him!”
Diana nodded patronizingly.
“Fine, I understand that you feel for that poor victim; for the tortures he
suffered. But the fact that he was abused doesn’t change the fact that he is a
whore.”
“He is not!” he hissed and his eyes took a red hue.
But Diana didn’t seem shaken; she held his shoulders and looked him deep in the
eyes.
“I know stories from my era: of many princes who were captured at childhood and
became slaves and whores…it is tragic but can’t be undone. And once a whore
always a whore – Bruce’s body is unholy, Kal; he defiles you…He is beneath
you…”
Clark shook her hands off of him and turned his back to her; Diana yanked her
head and watched cold.
“You don’t know him…”
“And I don’t want to know him: I saved him once; I might do it again but I
don’t want any more contact with him. I guess this was the way he tricked you
into fall for him: you saved him and he touched you with his drama queen story”
her voice was jeering.
Clark’s face contorted and his fists clenched; he was sick and tired of her
insults. He turned to her and the air of his movement waved her hair.
“He didn’t trick me! I was the one who pleaded with him to accept my love!”
On that her eyes widened in surprise and while Clark expected her to admit her
mistake, she began cackling again. Superman’s cheeks became hot.
“And you fell for that? My dear Kal, you’re so innocent…He might have been
captured and imprisoned but this doesn’t change the fact that he grew up in a
whorehouse. The only teachings he had – even unconsciously – were of whores
seducing their potential clients; and he knew deep inside that his ass was the
only asset he had to survive. So even without his will; even without knowing it
he used what he was learning from his environment. Cheap whores were all the
family he had but even the cheapest whore knows how to emanate some charm to a
client. And Wayne has also his extraordinary looks to add to this allure:
willingly or not he used the tricks he learned all these years to make you bent
for his sad story and think that you’re in love with him… While in reality you
just pitied him.”
Superman’s face was trembling from anger that deformed him and a fire of
another kind deep inside ate him slowly – the doubt, the irrational doubt, that
maybe she was right. He grabbed her upper arms but the Amazon regarded him
pitying him.
“That’s disgusting, Diana! Bruce is the purest being I ever knew: he’d prefer
to die than using his looks to save his life – even when a child. He never
tried to allure me! He resisted my advances!”
“That was his best trick! Persuading the others that he is a wild mountain to
conquer! Oh! You’re in denial, Kal! Even if he doesn’t want it that whorehouse
is his childhood and first youth: all his experiences come from them. He was
forged hearing whores seducing their clients, their tricks soaked his body and
mind – even if he wanted to he couldn’t shake off his whore self…”
Clark remembered the sensual, breathtaking dance Bruce did on his groing…that
was masterful and not the feat of an amateur… And Ra’s definitely trained Bruce
as his whore and to seduce other men too: Ra’s’ enemies. Ra’s was training
Bruce to seduce Superman…
Diana smirked smugly as if reading his mind. Her eyes sparkled amused.
“Do not have a worry, Kal El: I would never fall as low as to compete with a
whore for a man – even if this man is you!”
His lips twisted in wrath and he took off before he acted violently. He flew
away from her. His destination only one: the Wayne Manor, Bruce’s bedroom,
Bruce’s holy body; his salvation, his life giving sun. He wanted to forget all
these things he heard; to quench the doubts that burnt inside him.
Diana let her arms fall loosely to her sides and watched Superman moving away.
Her face was curved by a glorious confident smile and her eyes shone gleefully.
 
Bruce sat before the fireplace petting Hero who was sprawled on his lap. He was
pondering over everything that happened that night. Yes, he was really tired
though he enjoyed the children’s cheerful fuss. But his short encounter with
Dick, Ms. Turner’s collapse and Elliot’s presence made him tense.
Even though the window was closed and he was turned to the fireplace he caught
immediately the sound that he had connected with happiness…
He wheeled the chair to the window and opened for Clark who immediately lifted
him gently from the chair along with Hero who meowed; Clark and brought them to
the bed keeping his lips locked with Bruce’s which opened to take in his hot
tongue.
“I love you” the Man of Steel breathed.
“I love you too” he replied and saw flabbergasted Clark in a blur taking Hero
and his basket, leaving the room and returning without the kitten. “Why you did
that?”
Clark untied the belt from Bruce’s robe and slowly removed the cloth off him.
“We don’t want him to see what is to follow…” he said playfully already
unbuttoning Bruce’s pajama shirt.
Bruce couldn’t understand Clark’s sudden enthusiasm but he was certainly
grateful for the change: the last days Clark seemed so uninterested. But
suddenly his wristwatch beeped and his body tensed.
Clark felt it immediately and locked eyes with him inquiringly.
“Jim has turned on the Bat signal!” Bruce said and Clark felt the younger man’s
relaxed body becoming iron ready to jolt upright despite the impairment.
Clark touched his palm on his chest and returned him to the mattress.
“I’ll don the cape and cowl” he said determined. “No madness this time.”
Bruce’s eyes narrowed and flashed.
“It wasn’t madness with the children, it was necessary!”
“Now it’s not” he stood up.
“Jim knows the Batman.”
“I’ll stay in the shadows” he spat and stormed out of the room and to the cave.
Bruce brought his body in sitting position, wore his robe and slithered in his
wheelchair that in the meantime had come to the bed. He rushed out of the room
and to the secret passage. Hero whom Clark had left to the corridor ran to him
and Bruce took him in his lap.
Clark had dressed in super speed but still Bruce caught up with him before he
flew out: it was so awkward for him seeing Batman.
“Be careful!” he yelled and Batman turned his head with a smile so unfitting to
him.
“Go to your room and rest – you’ll need it for when I come back!”
Bruce rolled his eyes and huffed. There was no chance he’d return to the
bedroom. He led the chair to the computer and Hero jumped off his legs sniffing
around and storming to the walls.
“They are out, Hero! And you should not attack the bats: they are our friends”
he tried to reason with the kitten as his fingers hacked into the police’s
frequencies to find what was wrong.
In the meantime, as the results flooded the screen, he pressed the button that
would stop Batman’s hologram from appearing – Lucius had given him the control
now he was back. He turned to the results: there were several alerts for
burglaries, brawls, domestic violence but among them only one alert could have
made Jim lit the signal.
“Arkham Asylum…”
***** Chapter 24 *****
The sting in his neck shocked him: it was the same he had felt in the Manor
before his entire body went paralyzed; he knew that Ra’s injected him again to
keep him unable to react and fight.
Bruce didn’t know where he was: except from the paralysis his head was dizzy,
muffled in a thick fog. He was just vaguely aware that Ra’s had took him away
from his home, the Wayne Manor – exactly at the moment he thought that he got
it back; he shoved him in a car to what must be a private airport. There two
men came to meet him and Ra’s dropped him over his shoulder and embarked a
small plane.
Bruce wanted to struggle, to writhe making his mentor’s effort difficult but
his body was completely unreactive; stubbornly immobile. He could have screamed
but Ra’s had gagged him: the only positive thing was that the Leader of the
Shadows had given him the antidote to Crane’s fear toxin – after some time and
after Al Ghul enjoyed himself watching his disobedient student suffer from
nightmarish images.
He heard the plane’s engines turn on hoping against hope that something would
stop Ra’s…but in vain… Superman was completely subdued by the Kryptonite,
Alfred was wounded and Tony didn’t know anything about his friend’s new
adventure.
He felt a jolt in his stomach and from the corner of the window he could
glimpse he saw that they had taken off. He clenched his jaw and fought the
tears that threatened his eyes: he lost, he was defeated the moment he believed
that he had won – that his plan worked and at last he could be free…
It was torture, all these hours on board; counting every minute that took him
away from Gotham and his loved ones. Far away as the minutes dragged slowly…He
was so close to achieve his goal; so close to triumph over all his enemies…and
now he was captive once again – a slave…No, never, ever again he’d become
anyone’s slave no matter what.
Ra’s every now and then was staring at him, a huge smirk all over his face. His
wild satisfaction beamed: he managed to capture the one who planned his
destruction. His League’s branch in Gotham and his plan to destroy the city was
ruined but he still got his prize…And now he devoured seeing in his student’s
face the realization of that and the emotions that tainted him even though
Bruce was trained to conceal them.
Bruce never lowered his eyes before his teacher’s stare – he wasn’t afraid of
him. He might be feeling a wide range of negative emotions but terror wasn’t
among them: Ra’s caught him but didn’t hurt fatally his loved ones. Fine, he
was ready for his revenge which certainly would be horrid yet Bruce had the
console that Gotham was free from Falcone’s reign and saved from the slaughter
Ra’s had planned. And he had the chance to speak again with Tony after all
these years; he had met Superman: a smile formed concealed from the gag: he was
his Star… Plus, he didn’t have to pretend the frightened, subservient slave
anymore.
He knew that Ra’s wouldn’t kill him: he’d have done it already. And his
punishment however cruel would let him the opportunity to prepare his escape.
If he had managed all these after eighteen years of captivity he could make it
now as well. He just had to keep his courage and his mind strong because his
mentor had already hinted that he was going to attempt to control his brain and
will with drugs or League’s long tested methods.
 
Despite the fact his determination flared up his courage, exhaustion and
disappointment was eroding him slyly; the thought of what he had planned for
the day after his liberation ached.
The shaking was unstoppable as the car sped up to its destination. He was
thrown in the trailer, Ra’s Al Ghul always with him. The man’s eagle eyes
always fixed on him amused; Bruce hated that stare even when he still believed
that the man would help him gain his freedom. When he realized that the lion-
like man would never allow him to be free that hatred became even stronger,
fuelling his passion to defeat him and Falcone.
The same acid bite in his heart, mocking him for his failure, for his
inadequate plan: he wasn’t good enough... No, he shook off that thought:
nothing had ended…
 He could see outside from the trailer’s dusty door windows: Ra’s didn’t care
about Bruce seeing where they headed – on the contrary, this was his purpose:
Bruce realizing how far Ra’s was going to take him from his city and sinking
into despair.
He could see only sand for endless miles. A dessert; of course, the League had
its net all over the world. It wasn’t difficult for Ra’s to hide in a hole till
his enemies stopped searching. But Bruce knew that both Tony and Clark wouldn’t
stop; plus, he wouldn’t stop either: he could and would save himself again.
His wild eyes watched Ra’s taking a small, plastic bottle out of the mini
fridge and standing from the bench. The tower-like man kneeled beside him and
removed the gag; Bruce at last was able to breathe easier. Yet his first action
was to yank his head away from Ra’s who smirked and fisted his locks
immobilizing him.
“I thought you’d cherish some cold water after so many hours” the Demon’s Head
arched an eyebrow. “I don’t want you dehydrated. At least for now.”
The cool aura the bottle emanated and the water’s light smell was tantalizing
to Bruce who hardly stopped his tongue from licking his dry lips. Yet he knew
better than taking water from his mentor who was a master in poisoning. So when
the rim of the bottle touched his lips, he fought the powerful urge to drink
and jerked his head more.
Ra’s closed his eyes disappointed and tightened his grip, yanking Bruce’s head
violently towards his.
“If I wanted to poison you, child, I wouldn’t have used tricks: I’d have done
it openly and enjoy myself immensely…” his voice had the familiar hue of mixed
affection and sneering that always confused the young Bruce. “I suggest you
take that generous gift because it’ll be the last for long…” a crook evil smile
dag his half face.
Bruce bore his stare to Ra’s’ in a battle of wills and then with pride began
swallowing the water slowly though his dried body wanted to take it all at
once. Ra’s was watching him with a smile on his face between amusement and real
care.
“Generous gift…” Bruce cocked his eyebrows in sarcasm. “You never make gifts
and your supposed generosity is a trick to gain what you want.”
Ra’s caressed some water drops on Bruce’s jaw and neck relishing the contact.
Bruce could resist only by thrashing his head yet Ra’s’ grip was strong.
“You know me so well, Bruce…” he hissed continuing his caress. “I am the one
who was fooled by his student” he shook his head. “I underestimated you even
though I considered you my best ever student. And though I’m outraged about
your treason, I’m also thrilled about what I still have in my hands. So you’re
right: the water wasn’t a gift to you: it just serves my purpose to keep you
alive and tame you – for real this time.”
Bruce clenched his jaw and his lips formed a tight line.
“You’ll never succeed that! I’m not your slave or pet – I won’t ever again
serve you!”
Now Ra’s grabbed his chin continuing his hold on Bruce’s hair with the other
hand.
“I love challenges, Bruce’’ he breathed “you’re my life’s biggest challenge and
most fascinating  – especially now I know everything…The unyielding spirit
under the compliant body I fucked whenever I desired…” he smirked.
Bruce bared his teeth.
“You know nothing about me…” he growled.
Ra’s’ grasp on his chin loosened and his gray eyes dove into Bruce’s.
“Batman’s infamous growl…” he mumbled not a hint of anger there. “I was so
blind not suspecting that my wayward student, my untamed possession was the
mysterious demon of the night – but I didn’t think that you were still untamed:
I believed that your punishment the last time was enough” he smiled. “But on
the contrary, it was the motivation for you to perfect yourself and your plan…”
he squinted. “Why bats, child?”
Bruce’s eyes narrowed, glimmering menacingly.
“You bragged that you know everything now… Asking that just implies the
opposite…Your ignorance and your stupid, empty arrogance.”
Ra’s released Bruce and sat again on the bench.
“In fact, Bruce, I know why your persona of revenge was a bat – even if you
don’t know… As a matter of fact, it’s so obvious that I laugh at myself for my
blindness…It was natural for you to go for something nocturnal: a demonic
element of the night – even unconsciously” he cocked his eyebrows to Bruce’s
defiant stare. “After all, night, demon and wings are in your DNA – as well as
irresistible charm… Every answer in your seductress ancestor…”
Suddenly, the scenery changed and he was dragged outside the van into a
military camp: rectangular buildings surrounding an enormous space where ninja
clad people and soldiers trained. A tall building towered the other buildings
and although simple it was obvious that it housed the leader. Bruce instantly
pegged the watchtowers and the men there and the vehicles in the carports at
the far end of the yard.
Ra’s dragged him to the pole exactly at the compound’s center. Bruce turned his
eyes to him.
“Is this how you consider taming me?” he asked because this pole’s use was
obvious.
Ra’s chuckled.
“I’m too predictable, huh?” he said and threw Bruce on his knees in front of
the metallic pole.
Bruce would have struggled but the paralysis was still too strong and his
head’s moving range was minimal.
Some of the people who were training came closer to help their leader yet he
waved them off. He grabbed Bruce’s wrists, stretched his arms above his head
and closed each wrist to the metallic shackles that hanged on the top of the
pole. After that, he shackled Bruce’s ankles as well.
“Of course, you are an expert in every kind of torture and I know that you
aren’t afraid of pain – yet I must entertain myself and…punish you” he
whispered gleefully in Bruce’s ear.
“You can torture me as much as you want to have your…entertainment but you
won’t tame me – you won’t make me serve you again with or without my will.
Tortures or whatever brainwashing technique you have will fail!”
Ra’s trailed Bruce’s sweaty neck with his finger.
“My brainwashing techniques have been updated…” he breathed making Bruce’s skin
ripple.
“Crane…” he cracked an ironic smile.
“Exactly but I’d never rely only on a psycho doctor for the success of my
plan…” Bruce frowned. “I have another ace in the hole to keep you grounded till
your taming is over…and forever.”
There was a confident shimmer in Ra’s’ eyes that Bruce didn’t like at all; it
was a bad omen or a bluff. Bruce wouldn’t make again the mistake to believe
Ra’s so easy.
The Leader of the Shadows detached and clapped his hands.
“First, a traitor must be punished for his treason: usually, the punishment for
this is death but I know that for you death isn’t the worse thing…And I won’t
give up on my investment so quickly…”
He gestured with his fingers and Bruce saw Bane coming out from the shadows of
a carport. The giant was strutting, highlighting his enormous body and his
bulging muscles. His face as always was covered with black silk and Bruce
wondered how he handled it with the unbearable heat of the place.
Before his eyes floated Bane’s horribly deformed face that day Ra’s ordered
Bruce to beg the giant to…use him… Nausea pierced angrily his stomach enhancing
the existing nausea from the long trip, the heat and the drugs Ra’s used to
immobilize him. Maybe Bane’s face in this state couldn’t feel the temperature’s
changes. Which was actually a blessing since this heat was really annoying
after Gotham’s cold.      
Bruce looked at Ra’s with contempt.
“You didn’t think of anything original?” he cocked an eyebrow and shook his
head. “So much for your resourcefulness: borrowing from the criminals you
despise…”
Ra’s smiled.
“There’s not much originality when you want to chasten your disobedient
property – yet you’ll get to know my…original ways soon.”
Clenching his jaw wasn’t enough to subdue the devastating pain that flooded his
entire body beginning from the deep line that was burrowed from his left
shoulder blade to his right kidney. Yet he managed to swallow the scream that
wanted to escape his lungs. Maybe if he could clench his fingers too he’d have
achieved to fight the pain better.
Ra’s made a gesture to Bane to hold and fisted Bruce’s hair.
“It’s not original but it’s definitely entertaining…” his tongue licked his ear
and Bruce head butted his mentor since now his head had more mobility than
before.
Ra’s laughed but there was irritation; he didn’t expect that from Bruce. He
threw Bruce’s head to the pole and moved away.
“Continue!” he barked to his minion.
The pain was reaching unknown levels as the whip tilled his back; he kept his
mouth stubbornly shut and his teeth gritted not wanting to give the
satisfaction to Ra’s who was watching avidly for any hint of weakness; neither
to the crowd of ninjas and soldiers that have gathered to watch the show nor to
Bane. The giant’s breath revealed his enthusiasm for what he was doing and his
wrath because he failed to make Bruce scream or beg.
But he wasn’t going to give them the pleasure…even if the pain made his body
convulse and his heart pound desperately in his chest. His jaw and teeth ached
from the clenching and his breath was burning in his lung. He could hear his
flesh shatter and blow in hundreds of little particles; he could hear every
drop of his blood showering the soil. But he swore that he’d endure as
always…Even though every lash was stronger and more devastating than the
previous.
“I have a large collection of whips from all the eras of the humanity’s torture
history” Ra’s scoffed. “Guess who’s going to try them? So, child, I suggest you
let some screams out of your system because you’ll do it sooner or later and
it’ll help you fight the pain…”
His voice reached Bruce’s ears shattered between the hair rising sound of the
whip ripping the air and then his flesh exploding under the weight.
“You wish…” Bruce growled through gritted teeth, his eyes already seeing red
from the pain and his mouth tasting copper.
Suddenly, the sound stopped and the hot air of the dessert grazed his bleeding
wounds.
“I can skin him alive with the whip” Bane hissed to his master who obviously
ordered him to stop.
“I’m sure” Ra’s retorted amused and a bit contemptuous “but if you’d do this
then what you’re going to whip in the afternoon? Let the pain sink in…”
Bruce on the verge of losing consciousness didn’t hear Ra’s approaching so the
hand petting his wet hair was a surprise. His mentor’s eyes were in his and
Bruce met his stare defiantly.
“That’s all?” he asked in a throaty voice.
Ra’s smirked and caressed with his finger Bruce’s hot, sweaty cheek.
“Bring salt for his wounds…” he ordered in a nonchalant way and although that
panicked his heart Bruce kept his stare unfazed.
Even when the acid, stinging pain throughout his throbbing back intensified in
a mind crushing way causing his eyes to water and his teeth to grind. Yet the
pain wasn’t recessing in the least and his body shook.
“I can’t let you faint…” Ra’s whispered and his sadness sounded almost real
“you must absorb the pain in every cell of your body and mind and then the
other things that await you…”
He brought a small vial to Bruce’s nostrils that stung and made his brain jolt
with energy. Energy that just fuelled the pain locations to impale his cranium.
His hands and legs were tied in a way that his chest touched the pole and that
became a new torture to add to the rest as the boiling sun that now was burning
exactly above his head had heated up the metal. His flesh was already burnt by
the contact while his back was totally exposed since his T-shirt was rags
hanging around or stuck in the fresh wounds.
He was dizzy and his head ached as if the pain from his wounds wasn’t enough.
And thirst had dried his neck making it hard even to swallow the little saliva
he was left. Sometimes his head weakened slumped to the pole for support but
the hot metal made him jerk causing worse stings from his open wounds where
various insects already crawled.
Sweat ran his body…The shackles binding his wrists had heated up so much that
the metal burnt his flesh; actually, his entire body felt as if broiled. Yet he
couldn’t faint even if he tried…His boiling mind brought back the cold weather
of Gotham that he had left behind only a few hours ago.
He was alone in the yard; till now there were many people training or making
chores but as the hours passed and the noon arrived, nobody was out except the
guards on the watchtowers around the camp. It was better this way because all
these hours they were drinking water or washed themselves in the wells – Bruce
had desperately counted and re - counted the ten wells that were scattered in
the vast yard until he realized that this made his thirst and body heat worse
and his eyes were unable to see clear.
Bruce now that nobody was going to see and jeer him closed his eyes and licked
his dry lips. The only positive thing was that slowly his body seemed to
overcome the paralysis from Ra’s’ drug – with full mobility he might be able to
escape.
It was really a shock when he felt a presence right beside his head. He opened
again his eyes mastering their defiance only to be met with a chuckle. Ra’s.
Dressed in a clean all white training outfit; he looked rather cool and
refreshed. Probably, he had just showered and drank loads of cool water…
His mentor’s hand fell hard on his back which cried not only because of the
open wounds but also because of the burnt flesh and the salt going deeper.
Bruce bit hard his bottom lip until it bled and Ra’s ran his thumb over the dry
flesh.
“Your master can be really forgivable and generous if his slave admitted his
fault and begged for forgiveness…”
It was difficult to find his voice in the dry well that was his throat.
“You really believed that you could bend me so easily?” he saw the reflection
of his eyes in Ra’s orbs and was relieved to see still power in them. “I’m not
your slave…”
Ra’s’ annoying smirk made its appearance.
“Yes…It’s too easy and too soon for your admirable willpower to kneel before
me. And yes, you’re not my slave’’ he laughed “though if your pride allowed it
you’d admit that you’d beg to be one of them now…You see, my servants and
slaves are inside this time of the day, well fed, well hydrated and without any
pain.”
Bruce snorted.
“Serving you is the worst pain anyone can get!”
But then he felt a tiny pinch in his neck and his body went limp and paralyzed
again. Ra’s fisted his hair and made Bruce look him in the face.
“The effect of the drug I shot you with was almost over so I had to make you
harmless again…”
On hearing ‘harmless’ Bruce yanked his head to butt Ra’s but this time he
avoided him; the drug’s effect was too strong and the motion too weak. Ra’s
smirk was triumphant.
“Not this time, child…” something stabbed the inflamed skin of his neck and
Ra’s showed him a syringe “mixing business with pleasure…Dr. Crane suggests
that his medicine has better use when the subject is tired and in pain…I’m
going to break your body and mind and reshape them as I want.”
And invisible as he came, Ra’s disappeared leaving him with only company the
burning sun, his collection of pains and his headache that was throbbing for
hours due to the heat and now became worse obliterating everything around him.
The hissing and horribly crushing sounds of the thick, heavy leather string of
the whip reached as a distant echo to his drumming head; the pain although
excruciating wasn’t enough to make him scream as his former master wanted or
come back to his surroundings.
Of course, it was afternoon: the sun although still hot began slithering to the
west but the heat was unrelenting.
Every new stroke was stronger as his body went weaker stroke by stroke. Every
howl of the lash, every devastating blow crushed his chest to the pole. People
were gathered around the pole staring, clearly savoring the torture: his body’s
desperate writhing, his clenched jaw, his blood raining the dry sand, his
defiance that only prolonged the torture.
He convulsed as the merciless burning of the salt filled the gashes left by the
lashes. This time Bane sniggered in his ear, his nail digging the bleeding
flesh.
“Finally, the whore getting what he deserves…” he hissed. “You now wish Chill
had finished you off that night in the sewers…”
“Not really…” Bruce panted but his voice was surprisingly steady. “I’m glad I
didn’t miss your League’s failure in Gotham…”
Bane’s enormous hand clenched his blood stained locks and hit his forehead to
the pole.
“Is still early, bitch…You will beg for mercy soon – the mercy of death…”
Liquid slithering in the middle of his forehead – blood. The first hammers of
migraine.
“You’re too little to make me beg!” he spat in his torturer’s face and Bane
left him cursing.
Now the heat had recessed the cold invaded rapidly his body; his hot flesh
cooled pleasantly but soon he began trembling as the nights in his cell down at
Dolcetto’s basement. He thought that cold would be the best thing for him yet
now his bones felt like shattering – his teeth rattled.
The compound had scarce lighting for not drawing unwanted attention and from
what Bruce caught they also had some kind of protection from satellites…As the
night crept the cold gradually became freezing and Bruce though he knew that
tomorrow would change his mind prayed for some warmth. The blood slowly dried
and now froze in his wounds but the pain hadn’t decreased to the slightest.
And he was hungry: pangs tormenting his stomach after the nausea of the day.
Thirst was skinning his brain…
This time he heard Ra’s’ light footsteps: the lion-like man made circles around
him inspecting his work. Yet Bruce noticed something else: his old mentor held
a leg of roast chicken. Bruce all these years had almost forgotten the taste of
well cooked meat or anything cooked; it was Ra’s that fed him properly to
sculpt his body. And now that crust looked so tantalizing and the smell made
his stomach churn and his mouth watering.
But Ra’s smirk made Bruce shake himself: he wouldn’t give him the pleasure. He
gazed at the black sky instead; the stars glimmering while the moon was just a
slice.
“It’s for the dog anyways…” Ra’s snorted and threw the meat on the soil.
A dog rushed from a hangar and began devouring the roast flesh. Bruce didn’t
let his eyes dart there though only the wet sounds of chewing was enough for
the pangs in his stomach strengthen as his migraine.
Ra’s came closer and kicked Bruce’s knees to draw his student’s attention.
“Gobi desert is the worst desert in the planet: during daytime it may reach
temperatures of 119 Fahrenheit degrees to fall at – 40o degrees at night” he
arched an eyebrow. “The best place on earth to harness your unbowed slaves.”
 Bruce stared at him unfazed.
“Is that how you believe you’ll break me?” he retorted defiantly. “I’m used to
the cold…”
The Leader of the Shadows chuckled and his eyes flashed in the dim lights of
the camp.
“Of course you are, my warrior” he snorted and Bruce unable to react saw again
the shine of thin metal – a needle stabbed his neck and hot liquid flooded his
veins. “Goodnight.”
It was colder than anything he had experienced; maybe it was the sudden
transition from extremely hot to extremely cold; maybe it was the drugs Ra’s
injected him. But his mind became misty and in his exhaustion he didn’t have
the mood to make it clear up. His body was paralyzed, able only to feel but not
move so he couldn’t try to escape.
As the mist slowly lifted Bruce cursed the blazing sun that even in the dawn
was burning the place. The camp had awakened from the first light colors of the
dawn and everyone was engaged in different chores: brushing the military cars
and vans, the artillery, the premises; some of them sparring. They cast
fleeting glances to him but nothing more: their interest was picked only during
his whipping hours.
After three days Bruce had learnt his brutal program: twenty lashes early in
the morning, twenty at afternoon and twenty at evening. With different whips
every time: the worst till now the cat o’ nine tails each tail with spikes.
That made him finally scream: it was during the third part of his daily
‘treatment’, at the final ten blows, each blow stronger than the last one…His
flesh roasted by the all day sun; the blood spilt from the morning had
exhausted him – the hunger digging his insides. They were giving him some
crumbs and some drops of water to not die and to worsen his hunger and thirst.
Fever fuelling everything…
No, it wasn’t just three days… Was much more because he had a full beard by
now…
It was the fifteenth or sixteenth stroke when his teeth unclenched and he
screamed with all the assembled pain of those days. He could feel Ra’s who was
standing behind him closing his eyes in relish; the audience gaping surprised
but not in the least disinterested. Bruce knew how to keep his audience’s
fascination: during the last strokes he just groaned; he’d have fainted but his
punisher didn’t allow him that temporary relief.
Suddenly, between the reality of his surroundings and the dim world of his
blurred mental scenes’ hurricane, he heard feet approaching. He pushed his
brain to focus on the environment and saw small feet walking on the perimeter
that was stained with his blood.
He lifted his head and saw that his visitor was short but well built, dressed
in blinding white clothes that would suit to an Arabian Prince. From the feet
Bruce concluded that his staring visitor was a teen or younger.
He couldn’t tell if it was a boy or a girl because the head was covered in
white scarf with only the eyes visible: blue eyes in sapphire’s color sparkling
gleefully conveying to the prisoner contempt and even hatred. Bruce wondered
who that kid might be: the eyes weren’t similar to Ra’s. They were almond
shaped with long, silken eyelashes.
His visitor sent him a last scornful look and turned away from him retreating
to the building that was Ra’s’ residence. So definitely the kid was someone
important for the Leader of the Shadows…He tried to make his brain riddle this
but immediately confused scenes of his past and present made his cohesive
thoughts scatter. That migraine was the worst he had experienced till now. And
the fever was a hot, howling wind that broke the chains holding things
together…
It was dark around, the dim lights blurring more his vision. He heard the echo
of many feet approaching the pole and blinked several times to clear his eyes.
His audience was gathering again for another show.
And then Ra’s was next to him unlocking the shackles from his wrists and
ankles; his body completely uncontrolled collapsed to the soil and Bruce saw up
close thousands dried drops from his blood. He wondered what new torture his
mentor had prepared for him and wished his body wasn’t paralyzed so he could
attack him.
Ra’s twisted his arms behind his back and handcuffed them while he used rope to
tie his elbows. Finally, he stood up heaving Bruce along.
“My men need different entertainment – educational recreation” he said snidely.
“So I decided to let them meet the Bat” his smirk was broad “and grant myself
the pleasure of watching your true skills. You’ll face them with tied hands but
I release your body.”
Bruce was staring at him expressionless: he was in pain, weak, ill yet it was
still a chance. During Falcone’s imprisonment he donned the cowl and faced
criminals in similar condition: while Ra’s was training him, Bruce realized
that his mind filled the gaps of his body’s suffering.
 He glared at Ra’s and his mentor smiled.
A touch to his neck was the only thing needed to feel his control over his body
returning – and it was a great feeling even if his arms were tied and at least
ten opponents among them Bane waited to beat him up.
Ra’s stopped supporting him and Bruce tottered and fell on his scraped knees
but he clenched his jaw and stood up; he staggered a little more till he
maintained his balance.
The Leader of the Shadows walked away, gesturing nonchalant to his minions.
“Let the show begin!” he snorted.
Bruce’s eyes flashed seeing his opponents, circling him like hungry wolfs: he
read in their eyes the ambition to make the stubborn prisoner break so to win
their Leader’s praise.
 The pain from endless days of torture, the burnings all over his body, the
hunger and thirst, the shivering from the fever, everything was put in a dark
corner deep in his mind to not interfere with his battle. His hands were tied
but he still had his legs, head and teeth to use.
He clenched his teeth and ducked the punch one of them launched to his face
while in the same time kicked another who attacked him from behind. The first
man made to punch him again but this time Bruce head butted him in the chest
using his impetus to catapult his opponent on the two men who were charging
behind the first. But he couldn’t waste more time on them because several
others were simultaneously attacking from behind, right and left.
Bruce closed his eyes and jumped to the air astounding his opponents who felt
the force of his legs and fell back. Yet that wasn’t enough for Bruce who
propelled his legs to kick chests, necks, heads and ribs like a mill of flesh.
As he went for landing his knee broke a jaw the same time the back of his head
hit a ninja attacking from behind.
It felt so great: the power, the thrill of the fight, the wave of iron will
flooding his body washing away all the eroding things. He planted his feet on
the ground and with a final twist he got rid of the handcuffs and the rope
binding his elbows.
Ra’s clapped, smirking.
“Well done, Bat! They took a great lesson but they are just trainees: you’re
not done yet…”
Bane with his toned, broad chest naked trotted to him; his eyes shone
gleefully.
“I’m glad you passed them unscathed because now you won’t say that I smashed
you because the others exhaust you. And you lose your restraints so you won’t
whine about that being the reason you lost.”
Bruce lolled his head on the side, his fists clenched on his sides.
“You talk too much, Bane!”
His old trainer growled and charged at him with his enormous fists ready. But
Bruce while looking at Bane had the corner of his eye estimating the distance
to the camp’s gate where a van was parked – conveniently ready to leave.
Bruce jumped at the last moment before Bane’s fist squashed his liver. His bare
heel stabbed the giants’ nape. It seems that the driver was ready to leave for
some mission but stayed to watch the show. And then on the balcony of Ra’s’
residence the same white clad figure watched. Bruce felt the mystery
fascinating him but there were more urgent matters.
“C’mon, Bane” Bruce spat as his feet touched graciously the soil. “It’s easier
when your opponent is paralyzed and you only have to maneuver the whip, huh?”
“You’re a warrior or an exotic dancer, Bat?” Bane sneered. “Or you’re afraid to
measure your power with mine?”
Bruce cocked an eyebrow and Ra’s did the same.
Bane bared his teeth and stormed again this time keeping his eyes locked with
Bruce’s who didn’t avoid him; this time he stopped the giant’s fist with his
hand and he kicked Bane in the ribs only to have his foot slapped by the
giant’s other hand the same moment that Bane launched his head to smash it to
Bruce’s forehead; the younger man dodged and his own head found Bane’s neck.
Bane growled and retreated a bit coughing and moving his head to shake off the
impact of the hit. Bruce watched him hearing more men crawling closer to attack
him.
“No!” Bane barked. “This whore is mine!”
Bruce smirked.
Bane this time attacked with a stampede of punches targeting Bruce’s torso. The
younger man met every punch with his hands blocking them yet Bane’s foot fell
devastatingly on his kidney. Bruce grunted because there the skin was many
times flayed by the whip and the wound was still open.
His breath was cut in his lungs and his eyes saw red but he didn’t need his
vision to duck Bane’s grip that wanted to break his cranium taking advantage of
his momentary weakness. Using his former trainer’s attempt to hit him as
distraction he kicked him with his calf in the belly.
Bane growled surprised and Bruce jumped in the air, his legs stretched to blow
his opponent’s chest. But his trainer caught Bruce’s feet before they made
contact and pulled Bruce to him but the younger man used the force of his pull
to head butt again the giant and twist out of his grip kicking him in the face.
The giant staggered but an instant before Bruce jolted away he clenched the
younger man’s hair and drew him to his chest choking him with his other
forearm.
Bruce’s breath was instantly stopped and his eyes began watering, he tried to
punch Bane to get some release but the giant just tightened his grip.
“What is it, little Bat?” he sniggered. “Now that acrobatics are over you have
a hard time?”
Bruce felt that he was seconds before fainting and behind the mist of his eyes
watched the men getting closer to have their fun afterwards; their fists and
legs ready to break all his bones. He felt dizzy but still the van was in his
focus…
It was now or never…He closed his eyes and focused…he managed to make his hands
that hanged limp on his sides grab in a swift movement Bane’s neck and use the
press point to make the giant’s body paralyze. He grinded his teeth and heaved
the giant over his body and crushed him to the men that had approached.
In the fuss of curses and confusion Bruce ran as fast as he could towards the
van. He was a foot away when something pierced his neck and he collapsed at
once: Ra’s…
He heard Bane’s footsteps and he was heaved from his hair to get dragged before
Ra’s feet who nodded with respect.
“You’re a great warrior, Bruce…But I couldn’t let you escape: now it’s more
urgent that I tame you” melancholy was again all over that smug face as he
cupped gently Bruce’s chin.
“You won’t!” Bruce spat and Ra’s caressed his bearded cheek with affectionate
shine in his eyes.
With an abrupt nod gave his order to Bane who tossed Bruce into the waiting
men. His arms were clenched behind his back and the man holding him stretched
Bruce’s torso.
Bane stood before him; his naked torso glistened from the sweat of their fight
and some bruises had already begun to appear. His eyes showed his wild joy.
Bruce knew what to expect so the first punch in his exposed face was hardly a
surprise though it almost broke his nose. Blood flooded his nostrils and became
more when the enormous fist hit again his nose. Now his nose was definitely
broke and he felt like the night Chill sank him in the sewers. His former
trainer hammered his mouth next tearing his lips and shattering his jaw – the
taste of copper was nauseating and the blood was choking him.
And then the giant began breaking his ribs with his palm stretched forming a
blade: one at a time, the cracking sound sickening. His stomach was next taking
the giant’s fury in a stampede of punches.
Bruce couldn’t do anything else than be the receiving end; his body was
completely paralyzed and held tight by a minion. He felt the pain flooding
every cell of his body and mind…His mind that once again filled with mist and
blurred images of his father and Ra’s smiling at him…until a new blow made his
body twitch in his holder’s arms and fall. The blood like rainfall slithered
through his neck to his chest that was sparsely covered by the rags of what
used to be his T-shirt.
At some point he collapsed, almost unconscious but still with a clouded
perception of his surroundings though everything seemed far, so far away.
Like Al Ghul whose face loomed over him but through a thick veil; his torturer
looked sad.
“I wish your spirit would break so easily as your flesh and bones…”
The rest felt unreal as in a dream – a dream where you could feel pain and
touches. People carried him in a cool place and he was put in liquid – not
exactly water but he honestly couldn’t be sure. Every particle of his body
screamed in agony as hands washed away the fresh and dried blood, the dust that
covered him. Even washing his hair was agony; his migraine worsening with every
brush, the images twirling inside getting faster in their mixing, more absurd,
meaningless.
He was leaving and coming back…
New stinging all over and Bruce realized that they were applying medicine in
his injuries: he was used to this as all the years under Ra’s’ wing they always
smeared things on his body. He moaned as pressure was applied to his ribs –
he’d have coughed but he didn’t have the strength. They were gauzing his wounds
but this was honestly too much: he didn’t want to be anchored in reality
anymore and darkness was once again his haven…
His eyelids flattered weakly permitting light invade his eyes. He could feel
his body erect, stretched spread eagled; his wrists and ankles were tied but he
could also feel a depressing weight around his neck: a collar, he concluded,
though his skull was echoing from hammers. He was dressed in soft, clean
clothes and his face was clean shaven.
Someone was there…
Bruce opened his eyes and something clenched his heart: he was inside a shining
cage that hardly contained him in its asphyxiating dimensions; the cage was in
the middle of an enormous bedroom elegantly decorated similar to the suite
where Ra’s claimed him for the first time. He looked at the presence outside
his cage; it was the same white clad child, this time his face uncovered: his
face, because it was a boy though his raven hair was reaching his shoulders.
He was a very beautiful boy at his twelve years, strongly built. His cheekbones
were high and his eyes almond shaped. He reminded him of someone but that
spiteful sparkle in his icy eyes was ruining the connections.
The door opened and Ra’s dressed in a white attire like the boy’s strutted to
them beaming.
“I see you met your warden, Bruce” Ra’s chirped. “Let me introduce you” he put
his hand on the boy’s shoulder and he yanked his head arrogantly. “This is my
son, D…The Prince…” he made a dramatic pause stabbing his eyes to Bruce’s “of
Shadows…”
Bruce couldn’t discern the rest of the boy’s name because his ears buzzed worse
that exact moment: Ra’s’ son? He wondered as his mentor patted the boy’s
shoulder. As far as Bruce knew Ra’s had lost his wife five years before he took
him under his wings; he haven’t heard anything of a new wife.
“D…, you can leave us now” Bruce still couldn’t discern the rest of the name as
if someone was lowering the volume to torment him.
He watched the boy retreating out of the room, their gazes met for an instant
as he closed the door.
“Just the two of us…” Ra’s said circling Bruce’s cage “my pet-bat in a golden
cage…” he taunted but Bruce didn’t even look at him.
His mentor unlocked the cage and pressed a button on the roof releasing Bruce
from his restraints, even the collar; yet he didn’t have any control of his
body. Ra’s wrapped his arms around his waist, heaved him and dragged him to the
king sized bed.
Bruce clenched his jaw.
“Not even think about it!” it was easy to figure what Ra’s wished to do.
“I wish I could, child” he chuckled “but it seems that you defeated me in one
thing” his mouth touched his ear “I can’t command my body stop pleading for
yours: isn’t it ridiculous? Being enslaved to my own slave?” he whispered
moisturizing his ear “But I need you, Bruce…I wish I didn’t but I do…you give
me more life than the Lazarus Pit…”
Bruce jerked his head but not away as Ra’s expected but to hit his mentor’s
forehead. The momentary shock made Ra’s grip loosen and Bruce collapsed, every
injury yelling in agony.
Ra’s instead of being angry, chuckled and squatted next to him clenching his
upper arm.
“Charming…” he said slyly. “Let’s consider this as foreplay…I always suspected
the fire burning inside you, the inferno waiting the chance to explode but I
thought that you were subservient to me. All this time, I was fucking Batman
believing that I just penetrated a caged canary; only smelling the fire, the
power and get more enchanted by the unknown…Now I’ll have the pleasure bending
your defiance, your pride, your powerful spirit; the fire that always
infatuated me.”
Bruce shook his head.
“You won’t get anything! The only thing you managed was to exploit a frightened
kid, as much as the perverts you supposedly punish. You won’t touch me again!”
Ra’s heaved him with one hand grabbing his upper arm and the other clenching
his locks.
“I couldn’t let your body rot anymore even if you deserved to be left to feed
the worms; but this body is too precious to be wasted in your stubbornness; and
I need that spirit becoming mine.”
He tossed him on the mattress and Bruce’s teeth grinded from his despair to
resist.
“You’re sick and twisted…” he growled as Ra’s turned him on his back and began
undoing his black training robe.
His torso was naked now and Ra’s watched with eager eyes; he was ready to plant
his mouth on Bruce’s neck but the younger man jerked his head butting him once
again causing much pain to himself as well. Ra’s roared.
“I love it! Subduing your resistance – taming the wild animal: my distant
ancestor slew the demon and I will tame the spirit and body of that demon’s
last descendant!” his eyes shone fervently.
Bruce shook his head pitying him.
“You’re crazy!”
The older man smirked.
“I saw your beautiful mark on your right foot’s big toe, the one that this
bastard, Falcone chopped – you remember the little leaf?” Bruce’s eyes were
fixed on him and it was obvious that Ra’s relished that. “The mark of Lilith…I
should have taken you from the moment you were born…”
Ra’s’ lips were trailing his neck, sounds of lapping filling the room;
demanding hands fondled his torso aggressively, feeling every ripple of muscle
as if it was the first time. As his tongue licked the younger man’s pectorals
and his teeth grazed his nipples, his hands slipped under Bruce’s waistband and
lowered his training pants.
Bruce attacked his ear biting with all the might his nausea gave to him. Ra’s
grabbed his face with both hands and captured his lips violently tasting his
own blood.
“My Bat demon…” he roared thrilled. “Your body gives me energy, life! You’re
mine…”
“I’m not!” he panted and thrashed his head trying to escape; Ra’s’ ruling hands
pushed his pants off his pelvis and groped his testicles. “You can’t keep me
here! You know that I’ll run away!”
Ra’s was nibbling his abdominals and Bruce could hear the man’s heart beating
frantically in overflowing desire.
“Yes…” he mumbled between licking and sucking the taut flesh. “I know you’ll
try to run away, unwilling to serve your rightful master…”
“You’re not my master! I don’t have a master!”
But Ra’s didn’t seem to be listening, his fingers already penetrating Bruce’s
anus sending the youth’s heartbeat to peak.
“But this time you won’t run away; you won’t want to escape…”
“Of course I will! Ugh!” he gritted his teeth and yanked his head desperately
in hopes of getting some opening to hit Ra’s who was opening his legs. “Stop!”
He felt Al Ghul’s mouth sucking his thighs’ insides and bile filled his mouth.
“You won’t want to leave me…” his fingers played inside him as he always liked
to do “because I’m your father…You always knew that; you trusted me from the
first moment because you sensed that I’m your real father…”
“No!” he stretched his neck trying to breathe since Ra’s’ ministrations were
sickening him. “You’re not my father…”
“Really now…” the older man hissed and his fingers became more painful,
stretching and digging his rectus. “Are you sure? Your memories aren’t so
clear, right?”
It was true: from the day Ra’s brought him there the memories of his dad became
blurred with the lion-like man; Thomas’ face taking Al Ghul’s features; the few
happy years of his childhood echoing from Ra’s’ caring voice.
“It’s a lie! Crane’s drags make that to my memory but I won’t ever believe it!”
He saw the older man’s eyes sparkling above his groin.
“You don’t believe it now but as I continue giving you drugs what I want you to
believe will become your only reality…And having your father – that’s me – fuck
you won’t seem pervert to your harnessed mind.”
Bruce thrashed and his head’s power pulled along his shoulders.
“You won’t harness me with cheap tricks!”
Ra’s smirked with his confident way and Bruce felt his thighs stretched. His
old mentor invaded him with one swift, strong movement that made him clench his
jaw to fight the pain. He kept his teeth gritted as the lion-like man began
thrusting in a steady pace each time more painful than the previous.
Bruce controlled his breath because he didn’t want to give the satisfaction to
Ra’s who was panting, his sparkling eyes and beaming face betraying the
pleasure he was feeling. Bruce dreaded that indeed his body was giving energy
and life to this man…
“It’s the last time you touch me” he said determined. “Crane’s poisons will
fail.”
Ra’s pushed harder and Bruce felt as if he was impaled by a hot metal; images
from his first time with Chill in the alley and the countless times they put
things in him swimming before his eyes and re-opening the wounds in his heart.
“Every time it pains like your first time…You’d never learn to make it easier
for you…Who was your first, Bruce? Falcone or that filthy gorilla Chill?” Bruce
didn’t answer and Ra’s chuckled. “You won’t leave me again, child, with your
will…”
Bruce tried to keep his focus on what Ra’s was saying and not in the thrusts
that hammered his insides and made his body writhe.
“Because you wouldn’t want to abandon in my hands…your son!”
Bruce’s heart gave a really painful kick and his breath stopped abruptly.
“My…what?”
Ra’s sniggered.
“Your warden…He didn’t remind you of anyone? Of course you didn’t look in many
mirrors when you were at his age but still the resemblance is striking; he has
your eyes minus the emerald stars, he has your cheekbones, your lips; your
extraordinary beauty – even his scent borders your. Unfortunately, he doesn’t
have Lilith’s mark which still makes you unique. He is perfect though…As I
wanted him…”
Bruce shook slowly his head in negation.
“You’re lying…”
“I told you that if you were a girl after Bagdana used you you’d have been with
a baby…But then I thought it better: you didn’t need a womb to give me a
child…and Luthor’s technology made it possible: your DNA that had absorbed the
demon’s seed, and my DNA…”
“All these are filthy lies: you just took another innocent child and use him to
manipulate me!”
The older man fisted his hair and lifted Bruce to have their bodies glued;
their eyes collided and Ra’s smirked.
“You know it is true, Bruce…You know it because apart from the striking
resemblance you feel your connection with my son…Our son, Bruce. With our child
I have you eternally bound with me!” his eyes shone evilly as his ejaculation
burnt Bruce’s insides. “As long as this child is alive I’ll be alive as well;
you will always see me in the shine of his eyes…”
The dark haired boy tossed a bowl with water through the bars of his cage.
Bruce was slumped on the floor, his arms and elbows tied behind his back and
the collar around his neck with a chain connected to the bars. His brain was
heavy with tons of thoughts and taunting images.
“Drink!” the boy ordered angrily in his still unripe soft voice; yet his
smugness eliminated the softness of his child voice. “Like an animal…” he
sniggered “even that is too much for you. My puppies’ life is more worthy than
yours!”
Bruce noticed that the boy had only a slight accent. He wanted to stand up or
at least kneel yet he had no control over his body. So he met the boy’s eyes
with his stare: indeed, there was much resemblance.
“You’ve been born here?” he asked wanting to learn more about the boy.
The boy snorted; he crossed his arms and raised his head arrogantly.
“You honestly believe that I’ll speak with you?” he chuckled. “As if you were
equal? You’re just a filthy traitor, an ungrateful whore; I understand that
father has needs and you’re really beautiful but you’re not worthy of his
lenience and grandeur.”
“Ra’s Al Ghul just uses people – I didn’t betray him: he lied to me. He used
me. I was captured by villains and Ra’s Al Ghul came to me with promises of
salvation and justice for my parents’ murder…”
The boy made a stopping gesture with his hand.
“I don’t care for your backstory or…your lies…I’m your warden: I know your
crimes and that’s all I want to know.”
“He never freed me from them” Bruce continued unfazed by the hatred in the
boy’s eyes. “He just used me for his needs and trained me to serve his
purposes.”
“You should consider that your honor!” the kid said haughtily, his eyebrows
cocked.
“Really? Being the slave of someone who collaborates with every kind of
criminal to achieve his goals? Someone whose idea of justice is annihilating
entire cities and slaughtering innocent people?”
“Shut up!” the boy in a swift movement had a shining blade touching Bruce’s
neck. “I might seem too young and naïve to you but I’m not – I was trained as a
warrior from my five years and I have no hesitation to cut the throat of
lowlifes like you” he hissed. “You won’t speak again about my father because
you defile him!”
Bruce clenched his jaw and yanked his head proudly.
“I’m not scared of death, young Prince; I have died many times in my life –
every day was a horrid death…”
The boy pressed his lips.
“Do you expect me to take pity on you?” he raised an eyebrow. “You deserved
everything you suffered – and you shall suffer even more for what you did to my
father!”
Bruce shook his head as little as much as the chain permitted.
“Your father…He just uses you as he did with me. You’ll realize eventually.”
The boy growled and moved his small sword just to nick Bruce’s neck.
“I’m his son! I’m a Prince: don’t speak for me and don’t compare yourself with
me, you scum!” he was panting and his eyes despite their coldness had something
else like curiosity.
Maybe the boy was intrigued about him as Bruce about him.
“Father loves me!”
Bruce nodded.
“I’m sure…but he has his unique way to ‘love’ people as long as they’re doing
his job!”
The boy returned the blade under his clothes and turned his back furious, ready
to leave. He spat on Bruce’s body.
“I’m belittling myself only by listening to you, whore!”
But then Ra’s opened the door and walked towards them; he was smirking.
“What is it, D…? Is he creating problems?”
The boy took Al Ghul’s hand and kissed it.
“No, father; I don’t listen to him – he is filth! You should kill him!”
Ra’s’ eyes fell on Bruce. His satisfaction glowed.
“You’re trying to turn my son against me, Bruce? Really?”
“Just telling him the truth” he retorted.
“D…, leave us…” he patted the boy’s back and he left.
Al Ghul unlocked his cage, untied the chain of the collar and dragged him
outside holding the chain. He lifted him on his feet and pushed Bruce face
first to the bars.
“You’re intrigued by him, huh, Bruce? You know he is part of you – you care for
him even though he hates you…” he pressed his body hard on Bruce. “Finally, I
have the means to keep you bound to me…”
His hands found swiftly Bruce’s waistband and pulled the pants down along with
the underwear. Bruce felt Ra’s’ aroused groin rubbing on his buttocks and
jerked his head to hit him but his mentor grabbed the chain and immobilized
painfully his head.
“Still fighting me?” Ra’s’ lips nibbled Bruce’s cheek and something sharp
pierced his temple – a needle; something acid burnt and slowly the burning
invaded his brain stirring the blurred images that disoriented him.
The pain from Ra’s’ thrust was excruciating; this time the older man didn’t
waste time to prepare him, besides this was his preferred way. Bruce grunted
and as if that triggered Ra’s, he started thrusting cruelly, still holding
tight the chain stretching Bruce’s neck for his mouth to suck and lick.
“You know, child; if you surrender to me, you not only would be spared from the
pain but also we would be a lovely family…” he licked the youth’s cheek. “Our
Prince would learn to love you as much as his father…”
The boy was pacing nervously before his cage.
“Eat!” he ordered but Bruce really had no appetite; his head felt completely
unfamiliar on his shoulders and his stomach was clenched.
As soon as his bones mended after Bane’s onslaught, Ra’s had his minions beat
him every now and then – not as severely – but enough to keep him in pain. But
what bothered Bruce was that he had difficulty remembering his father’s face –
the real face; because Al Ghul’s face had replaced it. He needed to escape…but
he couldn’t leave the boy behind: Ra’s was right in that. Whether the boy was
indeed connected with him or not, he couldn’t leave him in Ra’s’ manipulation:
D…was already trained and a fanatic.
“I don’t want to eat” he replied calmly. “I’m not his slave or his whore: he
just took him when I was in your age and used me…He tortured me when I tried to
escape and he threatened to kill my loved ones: innocent people who hadn’t done
anything wrong. Just to make me not try to run away again…But I fought him and
almost defeated him.”
The boy shook his head irritated and clenched his jaw so much like Bruce was
doing it.
“Why are you bothering me with your shit? I’m here to give you food – if you
don’t want to eat” he shrugged “suit yourself.”
“I just want you to know the truth – so he doesn’t brainwash and continue using
you…” his arms ached stretched behind his back and he was tired from the
beatings and his agony to free himself and the boy.
His warden frowned.
“What do you care?”
Bruce licked his lips. He couldn’t tell him what Ra’s revealed because it was
too soon and probably D won’t believe him.
“Because you remind me of myself” he smiled – it was true. “I don’t want Ra’s
exploiting another kid.”
The boy huffed and shook his head amused.
“He isn’t… I’m his son while you’re…nothing! I don’t know why you’re fooling
yourself believing that you can seduce me as you did with father or that I
could buy that I need your help from all people!”
“Because he is indeed one of your begetters” Ra’s chirped suddenly.
A nasty frown creased the boy’s forehead as the color left his face. Bruce fell
deeply sorry for him and was furious because Ra’s obviously was poking fun at
both of them.
“Father you’re kidding me…” the boy’s eyes were locked with Ra’s and for the
first time Bruce saw weakness there.
Ra’s smiled and flounced till the cage where he cast his smug glance on Bruce.
“Not at all, child… Your half DNA is indeed his…” his eyes sparkled gleefully
in a staring combat with Bruce whose face was distorted from wrath.
The boy shook his head in denial, running his hand through his locks.
“No…” he mumbled almost desperately. “He…he is a man and you too…he can’t have
delivered me…You…you told me that my mother was royal, special…”
Bruce wished he could stand up and hug the poor kid. Ra’s blinked and nodded.
“I didn’t lie: Bruce is special – his parents came from the oldest and noblest
families of Gotham…and entire humanity’s; he is more than special…of course he
didn’t carry you in his body neither gave you birth: you were created in a lab
with the DNAs of him and mine” Ra’s laughed. “Everything he told you is true:
his parents were killed by a mobster who spared his life and held him as his
sexual slave. But I knew already who Bruce Wayne was and I persuaded the
mobster to…lend him to me. I couldn’t let the last descendant of an ancient
demon in the wrong hands…”
The boy’s frown became deeper.
“He is not!”
Ra’s patted his shoulder.
“He is, child…I summoned another ancient demon and he copulated with Bruce
leaving his entire seed in his body. You see now, D… that I couldn’t let the
opportunity go waste? I took his DNA: a DNA that combined the genes of an
ancient demon, the sperm of another demon and Bruce’s extraordinary beauty and
skills that I was discovering rapidly. I mixed it with my DNA and using Lex
Luthor’s know - how I set off to create my perfect offspring…Several of the
embryos died sooner or later but one survived…the strongest, the most
special…You, my son…”
D growled.
“He is too young to be my…my…whatever!” he spat.
Ra’s Al Ghul bowed his head slightly.
“When I summoned the ancient demon and he copulated with Bruce, he was fourteen
years old” he waved his hand. “You see now that the ages match? Besides” he
arched his eyebrows looking in the boy’s stormy eyes “your father wouldn’t lie
to you.”
The boy clenched his fists and rushed out of the room without a word.
Bruce lifted his head and glowered at his old mentor; his eyes flashed angrily.
“You’re heartless…” he growled. “What you gain from his suffering?!”
Ra’s squatted and caressed Bruce’s forehead holding him still with the chain.
“He can take it: he is tough” he smiled. “You’ll be proud of him as we raise
him together to serve the League of Shadows.”
“Never! I’ll take him away from your poisoning!”
Ra’s grabbed his face with both hands and captured his lips to a painful kiss,
shoving his tongue deep inside, conquering his mouth and throat.
“No, child…You’ll stay here for all your life to be with your child and protect
him…because D…won’t ever leave me…”
The boy looked daggers at him as Bruce writhed from the pain in his head –
every explosion in his head released a flood of false memories that
progressively was more difficult to make out their falseness…to the point his
breath became pants from his agony. He had to escape.
“I know you’re disappointed with what Ra’s told you…” he managed to control the
pain to address his guard and son.
The boy pursed his lips.
“I’m not disappointed…I’m disgusted…” he pursed his lips “I would cut your DNA
of me if I could even if I was horribly maimed for the rest of my life …but
father thinks so high for your qualities that I’ll use them to give him the joy
you ungratefully deprived him of.”
Bruce gulped and huffed.
“You don’t belong to him, D… You spent your entire life here; you know nothing
about the outside world because Ra’s doesn’t want you to develop your
independence: he may say that you’re his son and that he loves you and you’re a
Prince but actually he loves you to serve you and he needs you to keep me
here…”
The boy planted his foot on the floor.
“He’d love me even if I couldn’t serve him and I don’t want to know anything
else for the outside world – I know the only thing that matters: the world is
corrupted and father struggles to clean it and I shall continue his work.”
Bruce shook his head.
“He says that but in reality he is as corrupted as those he opposes: he is
collaborating with terrorists and mobsters like the one who killed my parents
and abused me. He admitted that!” he inhaled. “You’re a clever young man, you
can see the truth; you can’t believe unquestionably everything Ra’s says… There
is corruption to the world, sure, but there are also good people, innocent
people, brave men and women who fight injustice everyday…”
He saw doubt in the sapphires of the boy; D…was thinking about all that.
“Why your father doesn’t let you see the world? Meet other boys and girls of
your age? Why he keeps you here constantly as if you’re a prisoner? Doesn’t he
trust your intelligence?”
D crossed his arms and stared at the window behind Bruce’s cage. Bruce smiled
though it took much strength.
“I was held a prisoner for almost all my life…But I knew that outside my
prison, lay my city…Gotham is a wild city…beautiful with her unique kind of
beauty…It has many skyscrapers but also old beautiful buildings, decorated with
gargoyles watching the streets; there are rivers crossing the city: at nights
the city’s lights are glimmering on the waters…and parks that are packed with
people chatting and children playing…You feel the air of danger but this only
increases the charm of the city. When Ra’s began training me I swore that I’d
fight criminals and bring them to justice, clear the city and help people be
happy again…”
The boy didn’t look at him but his eyes were interested.
“I accepted being used by him because I naively believed that it was the least
I could do to save the city and myself; the least gratitude I could show to my
savior. And then one day he told me that he planned to destroy Gotham and slay
all the people, good and evil; he wasn’t going to let me be free ever
again…That was why I tried to escape him because he is a liar, cruel and
twisted. I think that you’d love Gotham. And there’s Alfred who loves me as if
I was his kid” he smiled on the memory “and there’s Selina, my best friend, and
Tony who fights crime and…Superman, the strongest being on Earth who devoted
his life to protect humans…and Leslie, and Lucius…I’m sure you’ll like them and
they will love you…”
D…turned his eyes to him; he was deep in thought and craved for some human
contact outside the micro-world of the camp.
“You like puppies?” Bruce asked smiling. “I had a kitten once…when still around
your age; a good friend of mine had found him very small and weak and ill” D
was looking at him really interested. “We saved him and my friend – Selina –
was bringing the kitten every night secretly and we played…”
D pressed his lips.
“You still have the kitten? I mean back at Gotham…”
Bruce inhaled.
“No…They discovered that I had a kitten and killed the poor thing…”
The cage was a blur and his head was a throbbing muscle. He couldn’t stay
more…If he stayed more Crane’s drugs would control his mind – Bruce sensed that
he was hardly resisting anymore.
He was tied and his body paralyzed but he sensed that he had the power to move
his limps if he used his mind’s power. He knew that in a couple of minutes D
would come to give him his night food and after Ra’s would arrive for another
dreadful night.
D entered the room and approached the cage where Bruce lay slumped. He left the
disk and he was ready to speak when he felt a hand covering his mouth.
He turned his bulged eyes and saw something that made him gasp. Bruce was
holding him and lying in the cage at the same time.
“Hush…” Bruce whispered “we’re leaving this place…”
“How?” the boy whispered his eyes darting from the form in the cage and to the
man that held him. “You’re indeed a demon’s descendant!” he gaped “Nobody else
can manage the reflection technique – father told me…And you moved and freed
yourself from the bindings though father had paralyzed you and they beat you
frequently and…”
Bruce turned the boy to look him in the eyes.
“You’ll be free, D…You’ll see the world and Gotham and you’ll be free to make
your own decisions.”
The boy nodded and they ran to the door; Bruce knew that outside two guards
stood. He didn’t want to knock them out because either slumped in front of the
door or disappeared would raise the alarm; so he opened the door and as they
turned expecting to see D, Bruce used his skill of temporarily affecting his
enemies’ perception.
They ran to the corridor and then to the attic; Bruce looked from the window at
the carports. He opened the window and along with D climbed to the roof. Bruce
felt the suffering of all this time hardening his moves but he put everything
in the back of his mind and continued slithering like a shadow through the
roofs with his son…
They slipped at the first carport and Bruce smiled seeing the tank he was
seeing all his days at the pole. It was locked but Selina had taught him some
very useful and…illegal things so he easily got inside, D after him. He checked
the indicators and the vehicle’s gas tank was filled; he pressed his lips. With
the tank they’d easily broke the gate and leave.
He could hear the first angry roars from Ra’s and the alarm howling.
He turned to his son; his eyes were sparkling in the dark.
“Now it’s the time, D – we’ll make it…” he ignited the engine.
But now he noticed that the boy’s eyes were cold, blank.
“I can’t let you leave… My sister, Talia, warned me about your tricks” he
hissed coldly and Bruce grunted as a blade stabbed his kidney and another his
stomach.
Bruce held his son’s upper arms feeling his energy evaporating as the copper
taste filled his mouth. His eyelids had almost buried his vision with the boy’s
gleeful, cold eyes his last impression of the world…
 
Alfred heard the cave’s lift and rushed there wearing his robe. Someone was
coming upstairs from the cave. Could be Master Bruce? But he hadn’t heard him
going down… He was getting old. He bit his lips: and that boy…
He opened the passage and saw the empty lift; now he was more worried. He
jumped in and rushed down.
Upon stepping out of the lift his mouth gaped: Hero was running from the lift
to Bruce who was slumped on the computer bench.
Alfred ran to his young master and scared took the youth’s face in his:
thankfully, he was just asleep. He took off his robe and muffled meticulously
Bruce who was cold. He looked at the kitten which had climbed on the bench and
then jumped to his master’s lap.
“You sent the lift upstairs, huh? To alert me” he cocked his eyebrows “You’re a
unique kitten, don’t you? You’ll be handsomely rewarded, master Hero.”
He took the handles of the wheelchair and embarked the lift. His heart beat
with agony throughout the way to the master’s bedroom.
Alfred was ready to transfer Bruce on the bed when he heard a noise outside the
window and saw Batman floating there. Of course, it was Master Kent.
He opened for him and returned to the bed only to find the fake Batman already
there lifting Bruce and placing him gently on the mattress.
“He slumbered in the cave, huh?” Clark asked pissed but mostly worried. “You
need rest, Alfred: leave our naughty boy to me. Don’t worry.”
Alfred made to object but finally left the room: Master Kent knew how to take
care Master Bruce – he did it alone for an entire month, the most difficult
month.
Clark was staring at Bruce’s sleeping face when the younger man began panting;
tears running from his eyes. With a really painful gasp Bruce’s torso jerked
upwards before Clark could stop him and his sapphire emerald eyes popped open.
***** Chapter 25 *****
Two strong hands were clenching his upper arms sinking him to the mattress
despite his struggle; his mind had lost control over the bottom half of his
body and the pain in his upper half was spiking especially in his stomach and
kidney. His hand cupped his stomach but his priority was to escape those hands.
Ra’s had again his hands on him…
His eyes were covered by a water veil and he blinked nervously to chase away
the tears; he would have used his hands but they were trapped by the force
holding him.
The water had subsided from his eyes and the vision in front of him made his
heart beat frantically: Batman was staring at him through white lenses. He knew
that this couldn’t be true: another clue that Ra’s captured him again and gave
him a stronger dose of Crane’s poisons to blur his perception into seeing
Batman so to believe that Batman was someone else, not him. Ra’s’ face blended
with Batman’s.
“No!” he clenched his jaw and thrashed desperately though that worsened the
pain from his various injuries. His mind was racing setting off to make his
body to work even from the waist and down.
Clark got panicked realizing that Bruce hadn’t fully gained his awareness: he
was still living in his nightmare. He could apply more strength and still him
but that would bruise the human bad or worse break his still healing bones;
also, Bruce’s heart was already pounding and if he became more violent he might
cause something nasty… And there was pain in the younger man’s brain: pain from
different areas where Clark couldn’t discern any injury.
His eyes behind the lenses widened because he sensed Bruce’s brain waves became
more intense than usual – and that wasn’t good… Bruce was ready to apply his
mind force to the paralyzed part of his body.
Hero stood on the mattress looking nervous at his master and began meowing. But
Clark doubted if Bruce in his condition could hear him.
Superman’s despair urged him to do the only thing he could think: he wrapped
the shivering man in his arms, nestling his head in his shoulder and caressing
gently his wet locks – he cursed the gloves that thwarted a closer contact but
at least he had deactivated the lenses.
“Bruce, it is me, Clark…” he pleaded. “You’re safe now; I’m here…” but the
struggling became stronger, more frantic and panicked.
Clark’s voice was reaching his ears but he knew that it was a lie; another
hallucination Crane’s drugs and his mind’s desire created. He must get out of
that powerful hug, from this mind numbing caress before they harnessed him
again.
“Let me go!” tears ran from his eyes and he hated it because he didn’t want
Ra’s sneer him; he tried to escape that gentle hand.
“Please, babe, don’t hurt yourself… You’re in the Manor; it was a nightmare…”
Clark’s voice was soft and affectionate and Hero meowed and rubbed his head to
Bruce’s stretched palm.
And then Clark began murmuring the melody he used to sing every night at
Bruce’s side when the human was fighting for his life in the Fortress of
Solitude; maybe Bruce would remember that sound and realize that he was safe.
His hand massaged tenderly the back of Bruce’s head.
The sweet murmur reached his ears spreading a numbing sense of safety where
everything seemed clearer. A nightmare… He realized that there was an animal’s
head rubbing his palm – a familiar meow. Clark gave him Hero some months ago
when he woke up from the coma.
And that smell so strong that prevailed the smell of Kevlar… Clark’s natural
perfume. He blinked and his eyelashes pushed away the tears: it was definitely
his bedroom as Alfred redecorated it after Ra’s’ defeat. And the paralysis he
felt was from injury not drugs…The Joker… The factory…He began breathing
through his diaphragm slowly and calmly…
Clark was indeed holding him…He had worn Batman’s armor to go to Jim’s call…And
now he was rubbing soothing circles to his back that still hurt. He relaxed his
body; he was ready to apply his mind’s force to his marred legs and this was a
mistake.
He patted Hero’s head and caressed Clark’s shoulder blade though he felt weak.
“I’m okay now, Clark…” he said calmly controlling his shaking.
But Clark though he sensed the man’s caress and the relaxing of his muscles,
was afraid to let go in case this was a trick to jolt away once finding the
chance. He cupped Bruce’s head with both hands and locked their eyes.
“Tell me the date, Bruce…”
Bruce’s eyes sparkled and Clark felt the dazzling effect but stayed adamant.
“November 28th 2015…” but then he remembered that it was after midnight “no,
29th.”
Clark closed his eyes relieved yet he didn’t let go.
“Where are we?” he asked.
“Wayne Manor, Master bedroom” Bruce answered.
Clark sighed in relief and planted a kiss in Bruce’s cold cheeks, the salty
taste of his tears so delicious that he felt the urge to lick but instead he
compromised with nuzzling that smooth cheek.
Bruce’s heart slowly was finding the normal pace as if the soft kisses and the
purring from Hero were guiding. He felt calm and content being enclosed in
Clark’s arms yet the echo of the pain was still there and he didn’t want his
mate to realize.
“Don’t try to hide your pain from me…” Clark said. “Where does it hurt?”
Bruce stilled his eyes in Clark’s.
“It’s not real pain: my body just reacts to the dream…”
Clark wasn’t satisfied and though a minute ago he hadn’t found anything
alarming in Bruce’s body, placed him carefully on the mattress and scanned
meticulously.
“You see?” Bruce asked and his seriousness broke when Hero began nuzzling his
face. “I told you it was nothing. Hero…Hero…” he protested chuckling but in the
end petted the animal.
Clark trapped Bruce’s body between his arms and loomed over him seeing himself
reflected in Bruce’s eyes in the menacing form of Batman. The view of Batman in
Bruce’s eyes was so arousing that he wanted to make Bruce forget the nightmare
in a rather sensual way.
Batman’s face lowered and Bruce felt soft but demanding lips claiming his lips.
He tensed and the eyes of the Bat were fixed on his eyes.
“You have hypothermia – I must warm you up…” Clark said mimicking Batman’s
husky, sexy voice. “Hero, go to your basket…’’
But the kitten was stubborn as his master and remained there so Clark rolled
his eyes in a completely non-Batman way and for the second time that night took
the kitten and the basket to settle them in the drawing room. He was back in
less than twenty seconds – bless that super speed – and he sank again his lips
to Bruce’s neck; the vein there beat rather excited.
“You took Hero out!” Bruce protested with a deep frown that flared up Clark’s
already crazy heartbeat. “Stop doing that!”
“The drawing room is very warm; he’ll be alright…” he said hastily to continue
sucking Bruce’s collar bone. “I always wanted to fuck Bruce Wayne wearing
Batman’s armor…” he grunted sucking the cold flesh that with that phrase became
colder.
Clark frowned because along with that drop in temperature, Bruce lolled his
head to the other side blocking the access to his neck; his breath was angry.
“Joker was saying things like this!” the younger man snapped without looking at
him. “He wanted to have a threesome with Batman and me…”
Clark chuckled on the absurdity of this but immediately swallowed it because
Bruce fuming used his hands to move away from him. Clark cursed himself: he
laughed with one of Bruce’s traumatic experiences a few minutes after the man
had endured an awful nightmare. The nightmare’s impact worsened the impression
of his laughter because in other circumstances Clark was sure that Bruce would
have laughed too.
Bruce wanted to take off of him the gloved hands that held tenderly but
determinedly his upper arms. But he realized that he was overreacting – Clark
didn’t jeer him…Actually, himself had laughed sometimes recounting Joker’s
futile fantasy. Yet he wasn’t up to this tonight and Clark expressing such
a…desire made him feel uneasy.
“Okay, babe…” Clark nibbled his nose keeping his fervent eyes locked with
Bruce’s. “We return to the good old nudity…”
In less than a second his completely naked body bent over Bruce who felt dizzy
not only from Clark’s breathtaking body but also from the speed of his movement
and…the images of Ra’s’ naked body from the dream. He didn’t want to show
weakness; he didn’t want to let a nightmare render him powerless. He touched
his fingers on Clark’s bulging biceps.
But Clark didn’t need to hear it to sense that Bruce was anything but aroused.
He ruffled his own hair and blinked.
“Okay…fine…” though in his groin nothing was fine. “Let’s talk about your
nightmare or was it a flashback?” it was so difficult speaking about these
things when your body was so close to Bruce’s body and yelled to be allowed to
get in – at least, he knew that after listening to Bruce’s flashback any
appetite for sex would be replaced with disgust.
Bruce let his head sink in the soft pillow; he didn’t want to speak about those
dreams to Clark – the Man of Steel was too bright to be messed with his
darkness. He rubbed his temple.
“It was one of those bizarre dreams between flashback and nightmare: reality
and thoughts and projections of my fears.”
Clark pursed his lips and nodded.
“Crane’s drugs…”
Bruce found the distraction he wanted.
“You found him?” falling asleep had stopped him from following the
developments.
 
Scarecrow stood amidst the sewer’s narrow, rusty tunnel with his arms spread:
he made it. His smirk under the sack mask wasn’t visible to anyone but anyway
there was nobody there to see him except some rats. He was a genius…Who would
have guessed that ol’ Jeremiah’s Mansion had a secret chamber that led to the
city’s abandoned sewers?
His smirk became wider and the light blue of his orbs glimmered from the holes
of the mask even in the deep darkness; this part of the sewers was not only
forgotten and unused those days but also was made of lead and other old,
unhealthy, rusty metals that would blind every scanning eye or machine.
Scarecrow knew that Superman was Wayne’s stud and would search for him; the
same went for Stark too. Both of them would want to recapture him to avenge
what he did to their pet. And there was always the Bat-man: more dangerous than
both of those morons.
But Scarecrow wasn’t going to linger to the sewers: a mastermind like him
deserved a better establishment than those stinking tunnels. Away from the
places those stupid cops would be looking for him: in the old industrial area
where the blessing interferences were even stronger. The Police had cordoned
the place after Joker’s arrest.
The remembrance of the jester made his face contort from aversion: the idiot
thought that could treat him like a tool, like a puppet; that Jonathan would
serve his moronic purposes; that Jonathan would be his minion! Scarecrow, a
genius like Scarecrow, being the minion of a clown. He would have spat but the
spitting would have smeared his own face.
He laughed; he cackled loudly much differently than Jonathan’s restrained, smug
chuckle. Joker never believed that Jonathan would manage to ruin his plans. But
Scarecrow beat the arrogant clown; he ruined his intention to escape because
now Police and the Asylum’s staff would tighten the security: the clown would
stay trapped in his box and the Scarecrow would be free to finally show that
city his true power. Because till now Crane was only the guy running the
errands of the big ones – but now it was his turn to be the biggest one.
“Take that, Joker!” he hissed and imagined twisting sadistically the clown’s
testicles as Joker had done to him numerous times. Not that this kind of
revenge suit a brilliant scientist like him but the moron needed to taste his
own techniques before Jonathan showed him that there were worse things…
His plan had been brilliant and Jonathan’s cringing attitude was the best
covering in order to nobody suspect anything. His ordinary orderly fell ill
abruptly and with no obvious reason: he sniggered… only he and Ted knew the
reason: some of his most ordinary toxin slipped by Ted’s hand to fellow
orderly’s food and in a few hours that ox collapsed. And Ted was the only
available to replace him.
After the lights went out to the inmates’ cells, Crane got cramps in his
stomach and his new orderly came to escort him to the infirmary – it was so
convenient (and so preplanned that Ted had also the night shift in Crane’s
sector.) In the middle of their route, in a corridor badly lit, since most of
the lights went off this time of night, Crane sprayed the unsuspecting orderly
with his fear toxin sending him to a beautiful journey to the Terrorland. He
did that because he didn’t want the officials to realize that Ted was plotting
with him all this time; that he was his man. He wanted to protect Ted not from
kindness of course, but because he needed loyal minions and because he doubted
that Ted if pressed by the Police wouldn’t sing – not that he knew anything but
if the man stayed free then Scarecrow would find a new use for him…
From there it was easy for Crane to maneuver in the Asylum’s corners; he knew
the place as the back of his hand. He reached the basement and from there
opened the passage to Jeremiah’s beautiful laboratory – Ted didn’t know the
passage nor the place so even if he squealed he wouldn’t know to lead the cops
or whoever else there.
He found his Scarecrow mask there and put it; it was like returning home…
Crane had studied and explored the place and knew that Jeremiah’s hideout ended
up to the old sewers…
And now he was there free having brought with him some of his creations that
were stashed in Jeremiah’s shelter. Of course he could return to the old
laboratory whenever he wanted to but for now he’d walk to the old industrial
area that wasn’t too far from here and the best? Some of the old sewers’
bifurcation led to that exact area…
So it’d take only some walking in the filth to reach his destination and begin
orchestrating his next steps without mind numbing pills that might have not
quenched his genius but didn’t let it unfold its intelligence to the fullest.
And without that pest clown trying to force Crane to work for him and his
stupid obsessions. He had his one and only obsession: fear. And
psychopharmacology, his beloved science would help him explore; experiment and
rule this drenched in fear city.
 
 
Clark yanked his head backwards, his eyes rolling to the back of his head: of
course, he had to report for his outing as Batman.
“I told you to return to your room and sleep and you remained in the cave to do
your investigation: for Rao’s sake, Bruce! The cave isn’t the proper place for
you to linger: you see, what happened: you dozed off and stayed in the cold!
You could have frozen there!”
Bruce pressed his lips; he detested being reprimanded for doing his job,
especially from Clark. His eyes were indeed frozen and unmovable staring at
Clark.
“I hadn’t intended to stay much but my medication is too strong and at some
point lulled me.”
“Your medication just exposed your scheme…and it wasn’t for Alfred who found
you, you could be ill – if you don’t fall ill by morning!”
Clark huffed because he didn’t like seeing that unreadable expression in which
Bruce resorted when he felt disappointed or pissed with someone he loved. It
was like a frost barrier was built between them.
“What am I going to do with you, Star?” he saw Bruce’s eyes leaving their icy
stillness.
Star…Bruce felt a warm wave inside him hearing that calling…Lately, Clark used
that small word too rarely if not at all.
Clark licked his lips because he loved that sparkle in Bruce’s eyes.
“I’d have told you everything…” he arched his eyebrows. “But you couldn’t wait,
huh?” he smirked evilly and tickled him in the ribs causing a giggle. “Control
freak!” he laughed.
“So you found him?” Bruce managed to regain his seriousness.
Clark bit his bottom lip.
“No, the Asylum staff and officers searched the entire premises and I scanned
carefully the establishment and I searched every corner of this damn…” he
swallowed hard seeing Bruce’s insulted glare. “Every corner of Gotham…But no
trace of Crane. Who would have thought that he of all the inmates would escape?
When Gordon mentioned the Asylum I thought Joker.”
“Before I slept there was no report of casualties: is this the case?”
Clark brushed tenderly Bruce’s cheekbone.
“We were lucky; the orderly that was escorting Crane was only sprayed with a
gas that knocked him out. Police investigates how the gas reached Crane. Don’t
worry, Bruce; it’s a matter of hours we’ll find him and thankfully, he isn’t of
the dangerous ones…”
Bruce’s eyes became blank, deep in thought and Clark understood…Crane’s drugs
and experimentation tortured Bruce when he was captive and still now his Star
was faced with the consequences in a period where he needed all the calmness
and rest he could get.
“Crane conducted experiments to the Asylum’s patients: poor, tormented souls
whose suffering was exploited and worsened to satisfy the twisted imagination
of the man who was supposed to soothe their pain. He wore a scarecrow mask and
sprayed people with a toxin intensifying their worst fears…”
Clark nodded; Tony had told him that Crane had at some point used the same
toxin on Bruce too…
“I’m sorry” he said softly massaging Bruce’s shoulder “He is indeed dangerous”
Clark corrected himself. “And we’ll find him before he hurts anyone else.”
Bruce refocused on Clark’s beautiful face.
“What you told Jim? Because I don’t want to make a blunder when I’ll talk to
him and reveal that there are two different Batmen.”
Clark narrowed his eyes.
“I stayed in the shadows and just shook my head or give one word answers; you
can’t say something that we’ll show you’re not the man he spoke too” he purged
his lips. “Tell me that you’re going only to speak to him through phone…”
Bruce shook his head.
“We must find Crane and of course I must be in contact with Jim through phone”
he acknowledged Clark’s grim look manifesting that he already knew Bruce’s
intentions. “But you can’t dress every night as Batman – you have Metropolis,
the entire planet…”
Clark however shook his head.
“You don’t believe I can ferret him out, huh?” he asked accusingly.
Bruce smiled.
“Gotham and her bad guys aren’t ordinary…”
“Neither am I…” he said slyly and slithered his lips all over Bruce’s neck. “I
have super hearing, 100 different types of vision, super speeding…”
“Yet you didn’t find him tonight…”
Clark closed his eyes a bit pissed and huffed.
“Some things need their time…”
Bruce’s eyes were glimmering with determination.
“I was thinking…”
“No!” Clark cut him abruptly, his face contorted. “No! No! No way!”
Bruce shook his head exasperated.
“At least, let me finish” Clark could think another way he’d prefer to let
Bruce finish – more pleasant and sensual and safe.
“I know what you’d say.”
“No, you don’t!” Bruce spat and stubbornly supported his body in his elbows to
sit. “I can take the Tumbler and patrol the city searching for Crane – inside
the Tumbler I’m completely out of danger.”
Clark rolled his eyes and slumped on the mattress: he had feared that hearing
Bruce’s nightmare would ruin entirely his erection but this was much more
effective. He shook his head.
“And you’ll stay in there…” he said frustrated in complete disbelief. “You
won’t come out… Bruce, nobody is gonna swallow that shit and nobody is gonna
agree with that so forget it.”
Bruce’s face was of stone; his eyes narrowed like a cat ready to attack and
Clark always felt a pleasant fire in his groin seeing that stare. He touched
feathery the younger man’s cheek and Bruce stubbornly yanked away.
“It’s only one week you returned to Gotham and already you work too much: you
wake up early, go to the Enterprises and then train with your physiotherapist
before exhausting yourself with investigation. And now you think to prowl
Gotham during the nights…When do you plan to sleep?”
“Only till Crane is busted” he snapped dryly avoiding the answer to the last
question.
Clark jerked his head and his hand moved to Bruce’s neck caressing the
throbbing vein there.
“And” he continued “your sleep is disturbed by nightmares…How long do you think
you can last like this?” he inquired in a low voice. “Your body will collapse,
Bruce and all of us the people who love you won’t last through this.”
Bruce knew that but he also knew that he wasn’t doing anything so extreme: he
had to be himself at least with that minimum of effort. He moved his body to
distance himself but Clark’s arms of Steel were trapping him between them.
Clark cupped his face and turned it to bring their eyes together.
“You can’t expect me to idle around because I’m paraplegic” Bruce retorted.
“People all over the world without my resources are doing the same – and more!”
Clark nodded.
“After their recuperation…You’re still healing, babe: just don’t let your self-
sacrifice ruin everything.”
Bruce frowned: he hated the term ‘self - sacrifice’ when attributed to him.
“My what?! I’m not self-sacrificing!”
He thrashed in Clark’s hands and the older man touched their foreheads
together: for Clark the most important thing right now was that Bruce shivered
from hypothermia without giving a shit about it…well… and Clark was aroused
like when he didn’t know Batman’s identity and his defiance and vexatious
attitude excited him.
Bruce felt Clark’s lips claiming his like the thirsty soil sucks the rain; it
was soft, sweet and passionate as every time and Bruce followed nibbling that
flesh and allowing Clark’s tongue enter his mouth. The last days Bruce enjoyed
every time Clark manifested his passion; he felt relaxed and relieved because
his fears were denied. He wanted Clark’s love but tonight unlike other nights
he didn’t feel for it so he hoped that Clark kindly would settle for kisses and
soft touches.
Yet with dread his body’s healthy part felt Superman’s strong, unstoppable
desire: Bruce smelt the perfect body’s arousal; he felt dread because he didn’t
want that tonight and also he didn’t want to deny this to Clark who had needs
that he neglected for four months…
Clark took hold of his upper arms and lowered him on the mattress, unable to
detach his sucking mouth from the human’s lips; their tongues’ play was so
pleasant. His hands hastily pushed the robe off Bruce’s body; his
disappointment and frustration were huge when he realized that there was a
second robe: Alfred of course had muffled him in his own robe… His body was
screaming in impatience wanting to meet Bruce’s naked flesh…
And his despair made his kisses stronger, almost violent to Bruce’s neckline
and then on his collar bone… He wanted to be slow and gentle but that fire
inside him fuelled his hands to undo the buttons of Bruce’s pajama in super
speed. Because his chest, his breasts needed to touch, to rub with Bruce’s taut
but deliciously smooth breasts – he had to warm the human who now shivered
more.
“We need to stop hypothermia, Bruce” he mumbled licking his lips which action
ended up licking Bruce’s breast since his mouth was sunk there. “I must fix
your temperature…” as in agreement his torso began moving sensually on Bruce’s;
his insatiable hands fondling Bruce’s ribs.
Bruce closed his eyes and cursed through his teeth; the taste from his
nightmare was so strong in him that his insides were twisted in the prospect of
an intercourse. He lolled his head on the side but Clark took that motion as an
urge for him to suck more his neck. And Clark’s ministrations were so
passionate and strong, almost violent as Ra’s’ in his nightmare and Bruce’s
breath was pressed.
“Clark…” but Clark continued probably believing that this was a moan. “Clark,
I’m not in the mood…”
Now that hurt…But Clark understood Bruce’s hesitation: he just had a nightmare
and he was still upset. He lifted his sweaty face, his messy hair framing his
fevered eyes and regarded Bruce’s so beautiful, so irresistible face…
“…beautiful beings like Wayne are made only for being used for pleasure and
nothing more.”
He shook off that voice and noticed that Bruce frowned obviously taking in
something.
“I’m here for that, babe…” Clark panted because his groin was really impatient,
throbbing viciously. “I’ll change that mood…” he cocked his eyebrows “this is a
job for Superman…’’
His hands grabbed on their own accord Bruce’s waistband and lowered at once
both pants and underwear and…oh! His groin relished the contact with that soft
pelvis! So much that he inhaled deeply and his mouth was suddenly sucking
Bruce’s abdominals panting because his length was already erect and he wanted
to get more from that shivering, so pleasantly cold body.
“I need you, Bruce…” he whispered huskily. “I need to be inside you again…Your
body is sacred: a temple of Sun – I need that energy you give me…And besides
you don’t feel anything below the waist…I’ll do everything…”
Bruce frowned because Clark was raving…He had no feeling under his waist and
though Clark’s head thwarted him from seeing he was hearing everything: the
clothes being dragged to his knees, Clark’s groin rubbing his… Now he had to
use all his control to stop his breath from becoming pants; he could feel for
Clark’s need but just…
“Not tonight, Clark…” he said not too loud because Clark even in this state
could hear everything.
Clark heard but his body’s screams were ferocious and his length throbbed
hungry and pained…
“That was his best trick! Persuading the others that he is a wild mountain to
conquer!” Diana’s solemn, scientific voice told him again.
Bruce’s eyes widened when instead of Clark detaching himself, he saw Superman’s
head covering his genitals and heard the so familiar sound of powerful fingers
clenching his thighs and his anus being spread.
Clark held Bruce’s thighs bringing them to touch his hips: he needed to feel
real contact as when his body rubbed with Diana’s hot, strong, delicious, round
shaped hips. But Bruce wasn’t able to do it himself so Clark would do it for
the weak human: he began rubbing the unresponsive thighs to his stretching the
anus he wanted to conquer.
Bruce’s heart gave a painful jolt and his stomach filled with nausea. The
realization almost frozen his brain: Clark didn’t care about what he told him
and was going to penetrate him without his will…
But then the part of himself that they were telling him that was going to
destroy him made him clench his teeth and grab Clark’s wet locks using them as
support to heave his torso.
The smell from Bruce’s entrance was so intoxicating, alluring him to cross that
mystic entrance that avoided for four torturous months…His fingers clenched
stronger the dead thighs as his frantic heartbeat buzzed in his ears…His length
was drawn there like the metal to a magnet, like a fly to the fire…Bruce was
pulling his hair; Clark smiled: of course, once again he managed to help Bruce
overcome his past and moan for more, even though he wouldn’t feel his
ministrations in his rectus.
But then the pulling became stronger and Clark sensed anger; he raised his
glimmering eyes, his hands were holding Bruce’s legs heaved…Bruce’s grim,
flashing, angry eyes sent a stone to his chest.
“Not tonight, Clark!” the voice wasn’t too loud but strength and resolution
made it pure steel; and the emerald stars in Bruce’s orbs was like molten gems
ready to explode. Not only anger was there but also bitterness.
Clark realized that he was grabbing Bruce’s thighs, his saliva coating the
younger man’s genitals and his rock hard erection was already poking Bruce’s
anus that with dread remembered that he hadn’t lubed or prepared in any way.
The Man of Steel flushed and felt his heart stopping. What was he doing? No, he
didn’t even want to acknowledge what he was ready to do…and Bruce’s body was
colder than before…
He touched Bruce’s legs gently on the mattress biting his lips on taking in his
fingers’ marks.
“Clark…”
He couldn’t even bear Bruce’s eyes; he took softly the younger man’s hands that
still were fisting his locks and kissed the palms but stood abruptly up because
that erection made him want to cut his penis.
“I’m sorry” he said without looking at Bruce and used his super speed to get in
the bathroom and fix that annoying erection.
Bruce hastily took his underwear and pants from the floor where Clark’s
impatience had tossed them and wore them continuing with his pajama shirt and
robe; now he was realizing how cold he was – his body trembled violently and
even his teeth rattled. The sound of the shower filled the room and he closed
his eyes; he didn’t want things to get like this but Clark seemed like being in
a trance like the days he was affected by what Ra’s had done to his body.
Bruce shook his head and rubbed the bridge of his nose; maybe he shouldn’t have
engaged in a relationship with Clark… These things weren’t for him; he knew it.
The bathroom door opened and Clark appeared dressed in a bathrobe. There was no
erection and his face was calm albeit crestfallen and broken.
Bruce watched him coming closer and couldn’t stop the defensive expression from
his eyes.
But Clark wasn’t annoyed by that; he was angry with himself. Bruce was
shivering from hypothermia and he almost…took him against his will!
“May I sit?” Clark asked shyly pressing his lips.
Bruce lolled his head.
“Funny you ask that…”
Clark closed his eyes and nodded snorting for himself.
“While I didn’t ask you for the other…”
The younger man shook his head and gestured for him to sit.
“You know you don’t have to ask for the other as well…but tonight I just…”
Clark nodded.
“You weren’t in the mood: that nightmare upset you and I…didn’t listen; I
ignored…I didn’t care…” his face contorted in self disgust.
“Clark, you should ask Jor El to have a check on you.”
He frowned but Bruce continued.
“Your behavior has changed the last ten days…It might be just fatigue from all
this adventure, from all the care you took of me” Clark opened his mouth to
retort that he doesn’t get tired but Bruce touched his fingers to Clark’s lips
– Bruce loved these lips. “Emotional fatigue, Clark…or some kind of PTSD. Or
could be something else…” his mind was racing and in its race strange
connections were made with events of the last days; of mobsters behaving out of
character, of Amazon Princesses flirting Clark…
Clark nibbled Bruce’s fingers.
“You’re thinking Diana…”
Bruce’s smile was bitter but for Clark was better than nothing.
“Yes…because you seem to be infatuated by her…”
Clark shook his head in negation.
“No, Bruce: she is my ally, my friend…I don’t deny that I have a good time with
her but I’m not infatuated” Bruce nodded disbelievingly and Clark held his
upper arms and looked him in the eye – he knew that it was the time of honesty.
“You were right, Bruce.”
Bruce frowned.
“She had other intentions about me…She…she kissed me on the lips…”
Bruce nodded pressing his lips.
“In Metropolis’ subway station, the night of the assault at the curve where
Morgan Edge was killed.”
Clark was flabbergasted.
“You knew?”
Bruce pressed his lips in a tight line.
“It was curious that you two got secluded behind that wall to fight a single
man; and then Jimmy Olsen having pictures from the scene and not one of you two
together…” a faint smile trembled in his lips. “And then you telling me that
Jimmy’s camera broke down and this was the reason he didn’t take shots of you
two…though some of the pictures were obviously taken after the supposed
breakdown” his eyes flashed piercing Clark’s. “You deleted those pictures.”
Clark pursed his lips: it was so hard having a relationship with the World’s
greatest detective.
“Why you didn’t confront me?” his voice was a bit pissed because he had
embarrassed himself lying.
Bruce felt his body freeze but his stare was fervent.
“I wanted to give you some time to tell me yourself…but you didn’t.”
Clark ruffled his hair.
“I tell you now; I could have hidden it but I chose to be honest.”
“Or you just thought that I’d find out eventually and wanted to manifest your
honesty to prolong what we have” he crossed his hands, his face was grim.
“Really, Clark: what do you want me for? I don’t even satisfy you.”
Clark blinked and caressed Bruce’s upper arms.
“I love you, you know that: I didn’t tell you that night because I wanted to
clear things with Diana first…”
“You liked the kiss?” Bruce demanded acknowledging the throbbing pains from his
nightmare seizing his body again.
Clark shook his head: how he messed things so much?
“I…” he couldn’t lie “at first” Bruce just pressed his lips and gulped but
Clark tightened his grip on his upper arms. “But then I pushed her away – I
hated what happened - and I told her that it was wrong.”
“You still deleted those photos…”
 “I deleted them because I didn’t want you find out by the news and the gossip,
stupid shows: I wanted to correct this mess and then tell you things as they
really were. I told her everything about me and you.”
Bruce was rubbing his temple; the scenes from his dream with Diana blaming him
for Clark’s misery replayed.
“Selfish human, do you believe that you’re worthy of him? You’re worthy of his
love and misery?!”
“And I explained that I love you and that nothing can happen between me and
her. Is any better now?” he whispered suavely, his finger brushing Bruce’s
neck.
“Are you sure?” Bruce asked.
“W…What?”
“Are you sure that you don’t want to be with her?” Bruce couldn’t forget
Clark’s strange behavior since he met the Amazon and when he was with her Clark
was obviously content unlike with him. And as his dream haunted his mind Bruce
couldn’t blame Clark if he indeed wanted – besides, he had admitted that he
liked the kiss.
Clark cupped Bruce’s face with both hands and his thumbs caressed the cold
skin.
“If I wanted why I’d make all this fuss to hide it from you only to reveal it
when I ended this nonsense?”
Bruce’s gaze pierced him.
“Because you still can’t decide… Because you’re confused.”
“No, no, Bruce; don’t even say that…” he hugged him and he was shocked by how
cold Bruce was. “I’ll go to Jor El to run every kind of test on me to see
what’s wrong – if anything. And you’ll see that from now on everything will be
like before; like when you woke up from the coma…” he smiled “remember?”
Bruce reluctantly rested his tired head on Clark’s shoulder. He closed his
eyes.
“How can I forget?” he whispered and the different pains all over his body,
echoes from the nightmare, made his breath light.
Clark rubbed soothing circles on his back.
“Then can I ask you to forget everything bad I did?” he caressed the back of
Bruce’s head. “Do you want me to never see her again?”
Bruce exhausted but without letting that be shown moved his head from Clark’s
shoulder and looked at him.
“She is your ally…Besides if you need to kick her out completely to be…” he
huffed “faithful to me then things are too serious: you’re already in love with
her…”
Clark panicked on that and cuddled Bruce desperate.
 “No! I’m not in love with her! It’s you that I love!”
Bruce shook his head.
“You need to keep her around but with a safe distance between you - since
you’ve told her about our relationship this distance won’t raise any suspicions
and we’ll gain precious time. Do not trust her before we investigate her and
find out who she is and where she came from.”
Clark frowned.
“You think that Diana did that to me?” he hardly hid from his voice how
ridiculous he thought this was.
“Everything started when she arrived and though it can be a coincidence, we
must investigate her: we don’t know anything about her.”
Clark thought that Bruce’s attitude was bitchy and this paranoid suspicions of
Diana doing something nasty to him was just jealousy: fine, she was attracted
to him and maybe Clark was a bit attracted to her but that was normal – things
like this happen all the time without ruining true love and without being the
product of malicious deeds… However he felt relieved that he wouldn’t have to
never see Diana again; he might not want her as a romantic partner but he
wanted her as an ally and friend and maybe in the meantime Bruce having
satisfied his paranoia and found nothing awry with Diana, would accept her.
 But now he realized that Bruce’s brain was filled with pain signals.
“You’re in pain though there’s no injury…”
“It’s from the nightmare” he said nestled in Clark’s flesh. “My mind
unfortunately sometimes projects the pain from there into reality.”
“I know I didn’t earn it but…if you spoke to me about the nightmare maybe you’d
feel better” he cupped Bruce’s face and looked him with his puppy eyes.
Bruce blinked and gulped; he didn’t want to speak about his demons.
“Bruce…I know I was late to talk to you about what happened but I did because I
trust you. You, on the other hand, never talk to me about your dreams – and I
know how much they trouble you.”
Bruce licked his lips.
“Remember the night we executed the plan to take over Falcone and Ra’s Al
Ghul?” Clark nodded. “Remember that Ra’s had made it to the Manor and paralyzed
me while he crippled you with Kryptonite?”
“Yes; it seems like ages ago…”
Bruce’s eyes sparkled.
“Well, in my nightmare Tony never came. Ra’s took me away from Gotham to one of
his secret bases” Clark frowned. “He punished me for my treason and used
Crane’s drugs to control my will” Bruce didn’t want to speak to Clark about his
suspicion of Al Ghul having created a child with his DNA – he didn’t want to
trouble him with a vague possibility. “There I met someone I ended up loving
and trusting” he took in Clark’s jealous expression and snorted. “Not
romantically. In the end, I managed to overcome my injuries and incapacity; I
ran away with…that person and when I was ready to take him and myself away, he
stabbed me in the kidney and stomach…”
Clark nodded thoughtful.
“What a dreadful scenario…I’m grateful everything went smooth that night and
that awful man didn’t take you again…” he caressed with his thumbs Bruce’s
temples. “We must talk to Leslie about the dreams to do something with your
medication because it seems that it can’t offer you the quality sleep and rest
it should…”
Bruce shook his head escaping Clark’s hands.
“No, I don’t want any more drugs; they already make me too sleepy and slow.”
“I doubt it…” but he saw Bruce ready to retort and touched his lips. “We must
warm you, babe” Bruce’s eyes widened angrily thinking again of Clark’s forced
ministrations “a hot shower will help with your hypothermia” he sighed “and you
wore your pajamas from the floor; that’s unhealthful” he scratched his head
“and is my fault but we’ll fix it.”
He made to touch the buttons of Bruce’s pajama but the younger man stopped him
with a sharp glance. Clark pressed his lips.
“Okay…” he realized that he deserved that, being forbidden to strip Bruce. So
he raised his palms in surrender and watched Bruce slipping to his wheelchair
and going to the bathroom.
Clark didn’t follow him though his body once again kicked him; hearing the soft
sounds of clothes being slithered on Bruce’s skin and then discarded at the
floor, excited him; even more when the sound of the shower’s waterfalls reached
him mingled with the ethereal sound of water drops grazing Bruce’s naked flesh.
He clenched his head and huffed; to forget his body’s desire he set off to
prepare new clothes for Bruce. Warm underwear and pajamas. But then he slapped
himself: the human was trembling from hypothermia – what if he collapsed in the
shower. Of course, he’d have heard the sound if he had fallen but Bruce made
shower sitting so he might not have fallen.
Clark ran to the bathroom – the water was still running and he hesitated. But
then he listened carefully and Bruce was sleeping.
He opened the hydromassage cabin, closed the water and took the sleeping man in
his arms carefully: how could those stupid drugs make Bruce doze off like this
and then letting him being tortured by nightmares? He cursed: Crane’s
experiments. He swore to find the insane shrink and make him cure what he did
to Bruce.
Bruce in his sleep wrapped his arms around Clark’s neck and nestled his head in
his shoulder so trustingly, so exhausted from everything that he did. Clark
felt his heart warming: Bruce loved him so much and he always failed him.
He muffled Bruce in a fluffy tower and took him to the bed where he dressed him
admiring his body and cringing on the signs of the past injuries and the
bruises of his own fingers. At least, now Bruce didn’t feel the pain from his
dream and his temperature began rising. Clark placed him in his side of the bed
and tucked him meticulously with the blankets.
He had something to do; with super speed he rushed to the drawing room and
brought Hero back to the bedroom. The kitten looked at him complaining.
“Sorry, buddy; I’m an asshole! But I promise I’ll fix everything” he whispered
and placed him next to Bruce who was fast asleep with all his vitals radiating
exhaustion.
Then Clark took off his bathrobe and lied beside Bruce spooning him tight and
softly. He didn’t dress because he wanted his alien temperature warming the
human without a second pair of clothes in between. He nuzzled Bruce’s warm
cheek closing his eyes.
“Cheap whores were all the family he had but even the cheapest whore knows how
to emanate some charm to a client. And Wayne has also his extraordinary looks
to add to this allure…” Diana’s voice returned to spoil his moment.
Clark slapped himself hard in the face to stop his mind recounting Diana’s
speech.
“I’ll go to Jor El, Bruce; and if anything is wrong I’ll fix it. I’ll be a
better man for you…”
 
It was easy for Joker to sniff the oddity in the atmosphere of the morning
Asylum and he didn’t need the stroll in the corridors till the cafeteria to be
sure that something happened last night. He was the Agent of Chaos; the Prince
of Irregularity so he didn’t need alarms and sirens to sense that something was
of.
His orderly, Scott, for instance, was stiffer and duller than usual and that
said a lot since a brick wall was more exciting than him the good days. He
giggled loud on that thought and good, ol’ Scott flinched and tightened his
grip on his upper arm as if thinking that he’d start running. Maybe it was just
that? Some loony hit the road?
“Easy, muckoooox; this velvety skin bruises aaaaaa lot: I use the program for
the sensitive in the washer.”
The orderly rolled his eyes and just grunted pushing him ahead. Joker shook his
head nodding with his eyebrows arched.
“You know: broooooad vocabulary is what I loooooove in you!”
The scent of disturbance was dense in the cafeteria and Joker loved disturbance
of every kind but this was a booooring disturbance. So whoever caused it was
amateur and lacked any talent…
He took his disk from the orderly serving and scanned the huge space: his boys,
Joker’s littl’ clowns were all there, and the other usual regulars. He
scratched his hair which all this time itched very much without their
nutritious green paint. Anyways, he’d ask Johnny boy: he was a gossipy so he
surely knew what happened.
But as he approached Crany’s favorite corner he realized he wasn’t there.
“HEHEHEHEHEHEHE! Oh, boooooy! Jooooohnny tries to steal the show heeeere…Nah-
nah, that’s bad…Every--one knows that the clown al--ways steals the show!”
He sat in his usual chair because he was so irregular that sometimes went for
regularity and stared at Crane’s empty chair with a menacing sparkle.
“I guess you think that you outsmarted me and got away…” he shook his fork in
the negative, took a bite of scrambled eggs and chew. “No way, buddy…You played
with Brucie…the only reason you’re still alive is that I need you to get in his
beautiful mind and make it scrambled like those eggs; if you’re not to work for
me you’ll die, Johnny boy…”
He was sure that Crane’s goal was to escape first and make Joker’s escape more
difficult or even impossible. But Johnny despite a shrink didn’t know anything
about him. His attempt to make a fool out of the jester made Joker angry, so
angry that he started laughing again and jolted to his feet hopping like a
schoolgirl to a table where his goons were eating.
When Scott came to manhandle him to his cell for his session with his Harlequin
he was watching Bugs Bunny kissing Elmer Fudd on the lips and Joker was
giggling slapping his thighs. He didn’t like to copy others but he glued his
lips to his orderly making loud noises. The orderly tried to detach him but
Joker let go instantly twisting his lips in disgust.
“Ewww!” he spat on the floor. “You taste like poooooop – yuck! Ich! Where’s my
ciiiiinnamon?”
The other orderlies laughed and Joker bowed.
“You know, gents. That was a huuuuuuge sacrifice for youuuuur enter--tainment:
he truly tastes like poop…” but Scott grabbed him from the upper arm and
dragged him. “You’ve got nooooo humor, musky ox…”
The giant gritted his teeth.
“I have much humor: it’s 1,200 volts; do you want to try it?”
Joker giggled.
“Though I appreeeeeciate your effort to entertain me because it’d be a
heeeeeluva kick I don’t want my shrink waiting…” he pouted thoughtful. “I’m a
true gentle--man.”
His orderly huffed and shook his head; now that the initial anger passed, he
regretted speaking like that to Joker. He knew how dangerous the man was even
if he behaved like a stupid clown; also, he was sure that it was a matter of
time before Joker escaped and spread again his terror. And he didn’t want the
nutcase to have a grudge on him: Scott had a family and remembered the Phelps
family…
So he let Joker’s arm causing the jester’s grin.
“You’re a smart guy, huh?”
The orderly didn’t answer and stayed silent tolerating Joker’s singing all
along till his cell. On Joker’s approach the metallic bars opened automatically
and then the same happened with the energy beams that formed the second
barrier. Joker twitched his eyebrows proudly.
“Doors open for meeeee wherever I go! Hurrayyyyyy! Happens all the time but
each time I get a hard oooooon.”
His orderly didn’t say anything and once both barriers shut again he left
saluting Dr. Quinzel that was coming.
Joker clapped with enthusiasm seeing her.
“Gooooooood mooooorning, Haaaarlequin!” he made an impression of Robin
Williams. “And it’s a good morning, huh?” his eyes glimmered evilly and
innocently at the same time.
Harleen took the chair from the corner and dragged it in front of the cell. She
sat down and set her small recorder on.
Joker cocked an eyebrow.
“Right on business, huh? Soooooo it’s not a good morning for you, huh? Cranes
fly to the open sky…” he sang.
Harleen knew that Joker had already figured out; maybe Crane had said it to
him. So she didn’t find the reason to not show her cards.
“You two spoke a lot: did he mention anything?” she asked grimly.
Joker cackled.
“Nooooope! Johnny boy was intro--vert – not like me… Hehe! I hope now you
realized how misunderstood I am” he pouted and blinked cutely. “Stark put
aaaaall this shit on me and it was Crany the real meeenace – pour, pour Joker…”
Harleen didn’t answer and kept her face expressionless: she wouldn’t make Mr. J
the favor to follow his tricks.
“The day you attacked Lou Garfield you were speaking with Dr. Crane” she wanted
to search the possibility that Crane triggered the attack along with the news
footage. “What were you talking about?”
Joker squinted and scratched his head.
“Lou Garfield? Who’s that?”
“Your former minion” she looked him in the eye.
“Oh! You mean Pooooorky!’’ that was his name in Joker’s gang.
“What’s the reason you attacked him?”
Joker’s face opened in a Cheshire smile. He raised his index finger and shook
it.
“Nah…nah…nah…You’re asking about Craaane and now you ask about Po--porky?
Youuuu, doc, con--fuse me…” he whined.
Harleen shook her head.
“Not at all: Crane was in the scene; you two were talking before you attacked
the man: so why you did that?”
“It’s none of your business…” Joker hissed completely serious; his eyes
flashing.
“It was something Crane told you?” she insisted.
Joker lolled his head on the side frowning.
“Do you interrogate me?”
She met his gaze.
“It’s better me than the police or worse…”
Joker cocked his eyebrows and giggled catching the meaning of that worse.
“Worse? You mean beeeeetter, Harlequin, ‘cause, nooooo offense, but between
youuuu and the woooorse, I prefer that tall, dark, pointy eared worse! HaHa!”
Harleen cocked an eyebrow.
“Are you cheating Bruce?”
Joker exploded in a loud fit of cackling and Harleen watched him annoyed but
without showing it. Joker fell on the floor and hugged his belly still laughing
twitching his legs: cheating Bruce with Batman! He stopped abruptly, stood up
and approached the energy barrier dead serious.
“This is personal and we’ll solve it with Brucie as soon as I’m out” he pursed
his lips and shook his head. “Couples have some issues…”
Harleed stretched her body.
“You know that you won’t leave these premises unless reformed” Joker rolled his
eyes and made a noise with his lips. “Or Crane’s escape was planned by you so
he helps you out?”
Joker’s eyes widened mock hurt and slapped his hands on his chest dramatically.
“Meeeee?! Aaaalaaaas!” he exclaimed. “You offend me, Dr. Harle--quin: Joker
doesn’t need the help of a nutcase…Byyyyyy the way…Do you fancy being our
couple therapist once I be reunited with my hoooooney?”
Harleen lolled her head.
“Mr. J, you must concentrate on your reform and therapy and forget all about
escapes and…being with Bruce…”
Joker shook his head purging his lips as if cajoling a baby.
“Oooooh, Dr. Harlequin, don’t be jealous of Brucie…He is the most fascinating
thing in this boooooring world – once you meet him” his eyes drilled hers
“aaaaand see what I saw, you’ll want toooo analyze him as much as I…Well, I
nooot only analyze him buuuut anal--yze…” he winked. “But for you it’s only
analysis, okay?”
“My interest here is you, Mr. J.”
Joker touched his heart in a theatrical way and shook his head.
“I’m flattered, Doc…”
Harleen pressed her lips.
“So let’s speak about you instead…I think that you have to say more interesting
things than anyone.”
The jester pouted.
“Deeeeeefinitely! You know the ooooone about Superman and Batman’s shampoo?”
Harleen arched her eyebrows.
“I mean the real Mr. J, not the jester” she leaned towards him and Joker became
solemn. “Once we had started a very constructive discussion about your
childhood.”
Joker yanked his head and regarded her calculating.
“Thaaaat discussion began in relation to Bruce” his voice was nasal and flat.
“If I geeeet Bruce opening hiiiiis heart I would do the same…” he licked his
lips feigning that he felt uncomfortable.
Harleen knew that already; she sighed inside: if Wayne wasn’t a coward and had
agreed she would have achieved miracles. But he refused.
“We have to work alone, Mr. J; you must detach yourself from Bruce.”
Joker twisted his mouth and jerked his hands upwards.
“I’m doing every--thing to manage get attached to him” he leaned his head to
her with a sly expression in his eyes “you know what I mean: very- very
intimately” he made a very talkative and very rude gesture but Harleen kept her
composure. “And youuuuu sugest to de-tach?” he stressed the word exaggerating
his mouth’s movement.
“We can’t force him to participate in a session with you.”
Joker shook his head pouting.
“Of course we can! After all, the boy is in suffering after all the shit he
experienced: it’s youuuuur duty as a therapist to help him even if he denies
it” he licked his lips piercing her with his acid stare. “Dr. Harlequin, would
you join our couple therapy if I…mmmm….persua--ded Brucie to take it?”
Dr. Quinzel felt in the air the dangerous criminal coming to the fore; she
could understand what he meant: calling and pestering Mr. Wayne was the lighter
option.
“You’re not allowed to contact anyone while in here” she retorted.
Joker cackled and rubbed his nose.
“Oh! Dooooc! Who said anything about allow---ed ooooor being in here?”
The young psychiatrist fixed her eyes on him.
“If you try to escape and hurt again Mr. Wayne you’ll fail and probably hurt
yourself – leave that man alone: he has suffered enough. It’s time to reform
your life and the best start is by acknowledging your past.”
He crossed his arms and looked at her blankly: hurt himself… With Stark’s
stupid tricks? Now he knew how Stark’s littl’ security bullshit worked and he
knew also how to overcome it. Stark and all these idiots believed that they
were smarter than him but you can’t be smarter than the chaos; you can’t be
smarter than something that doesn’t follow any routine.
He smiled like a devil and his eyes shone as devilish.
“Is this the reason you don’t want to tell me about Crane’s escape? Because
your plan is to escape yourself, find him and use his help to…” she arched her
eyebrows “cure Mr. Wayne?”
Now Joker’s smile became broader, his teeth glistening.
“Doooooo I look like a man of plans?” he shrugged. “John--ny boy sold me…I
didn’t know anything.”
“Prove it then: talk to me about your childhood.’’
Joker tilted his head to the side.
“Do you want my ooooorigins movie?” suddenly he erupted in a fit of giggles.
“Huhuhuhuhuheheheheee! I’m afraid I soooooold the rights to Warner Bros!
Ahahahahahahahahahaha!”
Harleen nodded.
“Have it your way, Mr. J” she stopped the recording. “We’ll have plenty of time
to discuss things. I let you calm down and think about it.”
She stood up, dragged the chair to the corner and turned to leave.
Joker smirked: not so soon, dear.
“What dooooo you want to hear?” he cocked an eyebrow seeing her stopping. “That
my dad--dy was a drunk and abused me? Or that I was an orphan raised up in a
horrible, filthy orphanage? Or that I grew up in a perfect American family but
I was born rotten and ran away? Which version suits better your diatribe?”
She turned to him with an interested stare.
“Which version is the truth?”
Joker pouted and blinked.
“Nooooone! I’m still working on it…”
 
Selina slipped graciously inside the drawing room from the window. Her friend
was there, sat in Clark’s wheelchair, wearing his robe above his jeans and
blouse. He was absorbed in his tablet and Selina smirked thinking that she
would startle him.
Bruce who was perusing a ton of information in his Cosmos lifted his head not
surprised at all.
“It’s supposed to be burglar proof…” he smiled. “Tony’s thing…”
She cocked an unimpressed eyebrow and walked closer.
“Not Catwoman proof…” she widened her eyes for emphasis “Big mistake!”
Bruce nodded.
“You know…we have a door and you’re always welcome and I already heard your
car.”
“Uhu…” she agreed. “But sometimes it’s too tempting and I need to stretch my
legs…” she squatted to hug Hero who ran to her.
She sat on the armrest of the couch relishing the sweet warmth from the
fireplace; she looked at Bruce while Hero slithered to her shoulder.
“You seem pale and tired…That’s the reason Alfred locked you inside?”
Bruce chuckled.
“You went to the Tower?”
She shrugged.
“I’m your bodyguard and nurse and…” she frowned “you came up with anything new
for me?” Bruce shook his head in denial. “So I have to know where my boss is so
I went to your office and your secretary told me that you stayed home” Selina
blinked. “Is everything alright?”
Bruce huffed.
“I suppose you know about Crane’s escape” she nodded. “Jim lit the signal and
Clark wore Batman’s suit and went; I stayed in the cave to get intelligence
about what happened” he rolled his eyes seeing Selina’s stern look “and those
damn drugs made me doze off there…Hero pushed the button of the lift sending it
upstairs alerting Alfred” he opened his hands “and Alfred took me back to my
bedroom. I woke up this morning running a little fever and Alfred raised the
alarm…I worried him too much last night so I decided to give him a break today
and stay at his watch.”
Selina detached Hero from her shoulder and kissed him in the nose.
“So our Hero is a true Hero” she laughed as the kitten licked her face. “And
Alfred must be celebrating for having you here…”
“Not when he is glued on his tablet, Miss Kyle” Alfred came in carrying a
silver tray with brunch for two. “Good morning, Miss Kyle; maybe you can reason
with him to really have some rest?”
Selina widened her eyes.
“Is anyone capable of doing this?” she asked and Alfred sighed. “At least, he
reasoned with himself and stayed inside.”
“Only to appease me and Leslie; he slept for God knows how many hours in the
bloody cave and his body went in hypothermia” he shook his head. “If Hero
hadn’t notified me…Of course, young Master Hero for his feat will get a big
salmon fillet for lunch.”
He brought the thermometer in Bruce’s ear and looked at the indication.
“Thank Goodness, it’s almost normal.”
Bruce turned his eyes on him.
“I’m fine, Alfred. Don’t worry…”
But the kind man shook his head and sighed making Bruce’s heart break.
“Miss Kyle, would you make sure that your friend will eat and take all his
medication? I have some chores to take care…”
“Of course, Alfred” she took a bite from her turkey sandwich.
Alfred couldn’t keep his cold demeanor towards Bruce; the youth returned to him
from Hell only ten months ago and the dark, nightmarish past had still its
frostbite mark on the British’s heart. He pressed his lips meeting at last his
young master’s eyes.
“We shouldn’t have attended the party…” he said clearly blaming himself.
“Perhaps your fever resulted from last night’s cold.”
“C’mon, Alfred” Bruce rubbed his forearm “it was so beautiful and I had a great
time and the kids were happy” his eyes became like a puppy’s. “We couldn’t
disappoint them, right? The fever was entirely my fault – I’m sorry: I didn’t
intend on staying so much down there but the drugs made me sleep.”
Alfred shook his head.
“Please, do not apologize, sir; but for Goodness’ sake you must be more
careful” Bruce pressed his lips and nodded. “Thankfully, Master Kent took great
care of your hypothermia” Selina widened her eyes amused to Bruce. “Please, do
have your rest, sir…”
Bruce held Alfred’s hand.
“I will…Thank you for everything, Alfred.”
“I did nothing, Master Bruce…If you need anything, ring for me.”
As the butler left the room Selina slithered closer to Bruce and kneeled by his
side with a hungry expression in her eyes.
“Master Kent took great care of your hypothermia?” she laughed. “So finally he
overcame his fear of shattering you? Is the fever the remnant of a really hot
night and not of cold?” but suddenly worry shadowed her eyes “Did he cause you
any pain?”
Bruce tilted his head and chewed his bottom lip: that kind of discussion made
him uncomfortable, even with Selina.
“He wanted to…you know…” Selina chuckled with his shyness “but I couldn’t…”
She frowned.
“Why?”
“I saw a nightmare…and as every nightmare of mine it was very real; I saw that
nobody stopped Ra’s that night from taking me away from Gotham and in one of
his secret bases…”
Selina inhaled deeply because she could imagine what that awful man would have
done to Bruce if he succeeded that night and her friend nodded.
“And also there was a kid…My son and Ra’s’ and he hated me but I had managed to
make him…at least, I thought so…it felt like he came closer to me; that he
liked me. But then when I tried to escape and take him with me, he stabbed me…”
he rubbed unconsciously his stomach.
Selina brushed his forearm sad.
“You believe that the dream is an omen?”
He shook his head and pinched the bridge of his nose.
“What I saw was just a projection of my thoughts and the events of the previous
day: being with so many kids in the Haven triggered the dream and Dick’s…” he
hesitated “dislike made me see the boy so hostile – not that he wouldn’t be
hostile, if exists and has grown up with League’s and Ra’s’ propaganda. But
it’s obvious that the boy was a projection of Dick” he chuckled bitterly.
“Imagine that even the boy’s name began with a D, I couldn’t hear the rest…”
Selina felt his sorrow and kissed his cheek.
“How you felt? I mean about the boy…”
Bruce shrugged one shoulder.
“There was an instant bond between us…like…I knew that boy years…I liked him
and his harsh words pained more than any curse I’ve heard all these years” he
recounted to Selina what D was telling to him. “And when he stabbed me I really
wanted to die…”
“The super-hunk learnt about the dream?”
“I woke up in his arms, so yes, he wanted to learn and I told him.”
“About the possible child?”
“No, everything else but that; I told him that I made a friend who stabbed me
in the end” he shook his head. “I don’t want to tell him or anyone else about
the child unless I found him/her – I don’t want to cause them more torment…” he
arched his eyebrows. “They have enough to bother them because of me…”
Selina nodded and Bruce took his own sandwich and bit.
“We were right” he said indifferent.
“About what?”
“About the Amazon Princess being in love with Superman.”
Selina rolled her eyes and snorted.
“In love…More that she begs for a super fuck…But how?”
Bruce was looking at his tablet where he had hacked the database of the prison
where the League members from the Gobi desert base had been jailed.
“Clark admitted what I already knew…”
“And you didn’t tell even to me…” she added accusingly “which is?”
Bruce lolled his head.
“I didn’t tell you because I wasn’t sure and I didn’t want you to get
aggressive” Selina prompted him to continue with her eyes. “The Amazon kissed
him behind the wall in Metropolis’ subway station.”
Selina jumped on her feet and Hero jerked away surprised.
“The bitch! The fucking witch! People were dying around and she only thought of
smooching with Supes! Ugh! I must get her! Wait, wait…” she cocked her eyebrows
“she kissed him? He didn’t? And the missing pictures you mentioned in his phone
call were indeed missing, huh? And his job, I’m sure! The sly motherfucker!”
Bruce closed his eyes.
“He admitted that at first he liked the kiss…”
Selina’s eyes bulged and her face became red.
“The scum!”
“But then he pushed her away and told her that it was wrong. And, yes, he
deleted those pictures because he wanted to tell me himself.”
Selina clenched her waist and huffed and puffed.
“He is taking advantage of you! He is playing you like a fool! He didn’t tell
you!”
Bruce rubbed his temple.
“He talked to her about our relationship; he wanted to clear everything before
confessing what happened.”
Selina after her outburst felt regret; the only thing she managed with her
reaction was to sadden more Bruce: her sweetie didn’t know anything about these
things. She squatted beside him and hugged him, Hero approaching them.
“You believe him?”
Bruce pressed his lips.
“I don’t know what to believe, Sel…I…Clark’s eyes seem so honest, so clear” he
didn’t want to tell her about what Clark almost did to him last night. “I know
that he loves me – at least, this is what he believes as well; he doesn’t want
to hurt me. But I feel that something is wrong…” he met Selina’s caring eyes
“and he promised that he’ll go to his Fortress and run some tests to see if
anything is off…and the fact that he admitted all these – even with delay – and
promised, makes me believe in him.”
Selina touched her head to his shoulder.
“You always believed in him…” she mumbled. “You love him so much that I’m
scared, sweetie; I’m afraid that he will hurt you…”
Bruce petted her hair.
“Don’t worry about me, Sel” he chuckled. “An entire building fell on me and I
survived…And Clark’s heart is of gold and he cares about me…” at least he hoped
so. “He wouldn’t have spoken to her about our relationship if he wanted to be
with her instead.”
“So you gave him another chance…”
Bruce sighed.
“She kissed him; he stopped her.”
Selina couldn’t hold back her retort.
“If that’s true because he deleted those pictures…”
Bruce ran his fingers through his hair.
“Indeed. But time will show…It’s up to him: I love him, I…I need him but if he
continues like this” he inhaled and shook his head. “I’ll finish it.”
Selina looked at his eyes and was happy for the determined shine in there but
also she was really worried for the consequences if Clark betrayed his trust
and love. Because Bruce had made many leaps of faith with Superman and she knew
that the fall for him would be devastating. So she really hoped that Superman
was honest; from the beginning…
“He should be running behind you jealous and not you being worrying about Clark
loving someone else…”
Bruce frowned.
“What do you mean? I don't worry: if that is what he wants...he is free.”
She pouted and twitched her eyebrows playfully.
“Okay, okay... I just mean that you’re so beautiful that jaws drop when you
appear and drools have to be moped…so why not reminding that to Supes? He seems
to believe that you’re his possession and has you in his safe for whenever he
fancies playing again with you. Maybe you should make him feel threatened…” she
pursed her lips. “If he plays with the Amazon bitch you can play to…”
Bruce blushed and pressed his lips.
“You know that being…desired disgusts me…the only one that made me feel
comfortable with his desire was Clark…I…I can’t flirt, Sel…I can’t play that
game…I never wanted to be in such situations…” he waved his hand. “Love and
everything…it’s only for Clark that I engaged in that and…it already began to…”
“To?”
He smiled to her patting her hand.
“To not stir the emotions it used to.”
She cupped his face and kissed him.
“Believe me, relationships have their lapses but then things become better.”
“Or worse…” Bruce chuckled and kissed her cheek.
She laughed and handed him his glass of juice and his pills.
Bruce huffed.
“I wanted my medication decreased and now I have my antibiotics increased;
Leslie took blood sample for analysis and I have an appointment in the clinic
for tests.”
“That was prearranged” she shook her index finger sipping her own juice. “As a
multiple injury patient you need to be tested at least twice a month…”
Bruce dropped his head and looked at her amused.
“You parrot Leslie now?”
Selina chuckled and downed the rest of her juice.
“I’m adaptable and inquiring, baby.”
Suddenly, hurried footsteps sounded from the corridor and Selina tensed. Bruce
frowned.
The door opened and a flushed, fuming Tony stormed inside.
“They’re gonna release Luthor!”
***** Chapter 26 *****
“That’s preposterous!” Selina spat with her narrowed eyes flashing.
Tony’s eyebrows twitched upwards.
“That’s an understatement, Sel” he shook his head.
Bruce was calmer than both of them so much so that Hero was pacing back and
forth in his lap purring.
“How do you know, Tony?”
His friend walked closer and took one of the carrot slices that accompanied
Bruce and Selina’s brunch.
“I’m S.H.I.E.L.D.’s director, little guy; I have connections” he lolled his
head to the side, cocking his eyebrows smugly and chewed the carrot slice. “Not
bad…” he murmured. “Well, actually” his voice became conspiratorial “it’s Peps’
connections…” he shook his head rolling his eyes. “Those guys in Justice
Department don’t think so high of me…yet…” he huffed.
Selina chuckled and lifted an eyebrow.
“It must be your public orgy at the Museum…”
He crooked a smile and widened his eyes.
“No, actually that increased the number of tourists” he jerked his arms in the
air “I was the exhibit with the most visitors, kitty!”
Bruce brushed Hero and smiled but his eyes were serious.
“So what Peps learnt?”
Tony scratched his goatee.
“Yeah, that…” he sighed returning to what had upset him. “One of her pals there
informed her that there’s a decree for Luthor’s immediate release; the guy knew
my personal interest on the case and called her as soon as the order came to
their office.”
Bruce frowned and put Hero on the sofa to search at the news’ outlets for any
coverage.
“It’s not known yet…”
Tony sat at the armchair next to him.
“No; it’ll take some time – hours – for the decree to be put into effect.”
Bruce nodded and rubbed his mouth with his finger.
“Based on what? I mean they need a legalistic rationale and these things must
pass from the judge.”
Selina sat on the arm of the couch and crossed her arms watching Tony shaking
his head infuriated.
“That’s the most outrageous! His attorney had made an appeal about mental
instability and horseshit but the psychiatrist’s evaluation didn’t persuade
many so it was pending for more evidence – which would have taken months.”
“Then?” Selina asked.
Tony pursed his lips and then leveled them.
“This is an immediate order coming from the highest levels” he twisted his lips
angrily. “Peps’ connection didn’t know exactly from whom but his department is
in a haste because they just can’t ignore thatorder.”
“We knew that Luthor had very esteemed and powerful friends but till now nobody
managed to achieve his release…” Bruce brushed some keys on his tablet’s screen
to enter the Department of Justice’s secret database. “I wonder what has
changed and who so highly situated would risk his status and reputation to save
Luthor’s ass…”
Tony pinched the bridge of his nose.
“I can always burst in Blackgate and beat the shit out of Luthor till he spits
the name…” he shook his head. “I can’t believe that our system is so corrupt
that frees so provocatively a scum like Luthor that was found guilty by court
and jury!”
Bruce shook his head.
“I’m sure Luthor would get his newspapers and TV stations to find and ballyhoo
very loud and reasonable reasons to justify his release…” his voice was dry.
Tony punched the couch.
“I have also friends in the higher levels of hierarchy and my own newspapers
and stations to make them regret that!” his black eyes flashed and his voice
was a growl. “I’ll expose their intention and the outcry will make whoever did
that to take it back!”
Bruce stared him resolute.
“You will expose Peps’ informer…”
Tony slapped his thighs and shook his head.
“They won’t know my source and I doubt they’ll dare to touch him.”
Selina cocked an eyebrow.
“If they are so corrupt to shamelessly order the release of a convicted bastard
without solid reasons I don’t think that they’ll hesitate to punish the guy who
ruined their surprise.”
Tony huffed.
“Then sit and watch as Luthor gets away?” he growled. “That’s fucking
disgrace!”
Bruce moved his wheelchair to face his friend and Tony’s eyes softened: seeing
Bruce moving relying on the chair’s help always made his chest hurt. The
younger man patted his shoulder.
“We’ll wait the official statement of Gotham’s DA office; then you can use your
media army to face Luthor’s paid reporters.”
Tony cupped Bruce’s hand on his shoulder and pressed his lips.
“I expected this to infuriate you more than anyone else…”
Bruce’s other hand unconsciously touched the spot in his cheek where Luthor’s
ring had left the ‘L’ that was engraved on the gemstone when the tycoon from
Metropolis had slapped him in the face. During the month of his treatment in
the Fortress Jor El had erased the mark but Bruce remembered it too well; as
the violent kiss Luthor had forced upon him.
“It does because Luthor has been cooperating with Falcone, Ra’s Al Ghul, Talia
and many other known and unknown criminals. Yet this will be our chance to take
the wraps off the man who set the wheels in motion to free Luthor.”
Tony nodded pursing his lips.
“So you think that this isn’t Luthor playing his biggest ace in the hole?”
“He is yet I believe that the order wasn’t made from someone who was pressed by
Luthor” his eyes were introspective and Tony smiled.
“Why not?” Selina said hugging Hero. “Luthor must be desperate to get out;
especially, since all these months he failed to do so and LexLabs are in your
control.”
Bruce rubbed his chin and turned his wheelchair to face both of his friends.
“Exactly because I took his labs and the 20% of his corporation four months ago
he’d have exploited sooner this powerful agent who can order his release
without giving any reason; he certainly would want to be outside in order to
make damage control and fight back: Falcone was telling that Luthor isn’t a man
who waits when he has a great weapon at his disposal.”
Tony stood up.
“Maybe he wanted to leave this till the very end when everything else failed;
usually, we keep our strongest weapon for when everything other didn’t work
out. I’m sure he didn’t want to reveal how high his connections reach.”
Bruce shook his head.
“I doubt that a person with such status and power in society would risk to be
exposed for bailing out a convicted criminal; especially, in such outrageous
way.”
Tony took another carrot slice.
“Those are quite good – I didn’t believe they would…” he commented on the
carrots. “Anyway, perhaps our man knows that nobody will discover his identity:
even in the Department nobody can say who ordered that; so either they are
trying to cover that big guy or…”
“They really don’t know” Bruce said with a wicked smile.
Selina jolted to her feet too holding the kitten.
“How is this possible, Bruce?” she asked dumbfounded.
Tony stared at his friend interested.
“Clark told me that in Metropolis some really nasty criminals were released
from jail in similar ways, without anyone be able to say who ordered it. Of
course, they weren’t such limelight names like Luthor but…”
Selina frowned.
“You mean the Intergang?”
Bruce smiled.
“How you know about that?” Tony asked her “This is supposedly classified as
highly confidential.”
Selina rolled her eyes and locked them with Bruce.
“A cat slips in places where no man can and there she hears too many things
that even CIA would kill to learn.”
Bruce lolled his head towards Tony with a grin.
“She found me first when the League took me – thanks to her connections…”
“Touché!” Tony admitted.
The young woman let Hero on the thick carpet and crossed her arms.
“Even in Gotham there are rumors about a big new gang in Metropolis that is
recruiting the worst scum regardless if they are in prison or out – of course,
nobody knows much but they say that many of Gotham’s muscle that was working
for the local mob, after the ‘big three massacre’ moved to Metropolis in hopes
of getting hired by the new, big player.”
That coincided with Tony’s and S.H.I.E.L.D.’s intelligence. He turned to Bruce.
“So you believe that Luthor was working with the Intergang and now the ghost
big boss pulled some favors to free his partner?”
“I can’t be sure of that” Bruce answered his glance fixed on Hero who was
stretching but otherwise abstracted in his thoughts. “I just say that the fact
remains that Luthor in his despair has changed two attorneys the last one using
the trick of the mental instability to achieve a release with restraining
conditions. If the man that ordered his release was in his list of friends this
would be the perfect opportunity to exact his power pressing discreetly so that
Luthor’s appeal becomes accepted but he/she didn’t. Instead while his appeal is
suspended, this decree comes from nowhere, totally irrelevant to the
instability pledge, and demands his release. And that reminds me of Clark’s
sayings about Intergang. And something else…”
“The burglaries at the LexLabs…” Tony offered.
Bruce nodded.
“That wave of raids began from Luthor’s labs approximately when Luthor was
imprisoned and I acquired their control – of course, later other labs were
raided too but it seemed like someone was trying to make us believe that
LexLabs weren’t actually the target. So maybe someone is looking desperately
for something in the LexLabs but the raids hadn’t any result since we changed
the security and already have secured the most peculiar items of unknown use.
So maybe Luthor truly played his last ace by having info that his partner wants
too much and the only way to get it is by securing Luthor’s freedom.”
Tony loved hearing his buddy manifesting his detective thinking and from
Selina’s smile she loved that too.
“So it was Luthor’s powerful collaborator that recruited the guy with the
authority to order Luthor’s release” the older man added.
“And manage making everyone ‘forget’ who gave the order like what happened with
the thugs who raided the labs or the shooters at Metropolis’ subway assault.”
Tony paced.
“If you connect Luthor’s partner with the assault and the raids then we speak
about Morgan Edge because he was the one who ordered the hit. And he is dead.
So our boy has the luck to get the order for his release before his savior was
killed.”
Bruce tapped his fingers on the armrests.
“I’m not convinced that Edge is Intergang’s ghost big boss or that he indeed
ordered the blind hit in the subway” he pressed his lips in a tight line and
shook his head “it just doesn’t fit the man…”
Tony lolled his head.
“Maybe he got mad.”
Bruce lifted his eyebrows.
“We won’t find out thanks to the Amazon Princess…but still I’m not convinced.
His henchmen’s interrogations are ravings or people say that they don’t know
how they got there.”
“As with the guys that made the burglaries to the labs” Selina offered and took
the carrot slice Tony gave her like a flower.
“Exactly!” Bruce beamed. “So even if Luthor gets released we’d have the
opportunity to watch his movements and get a glimpse of the mysterious man
behind all these.”
Tony raised his eyebrows.
“Even if gets released? You believe that Gotham’s DA will manage to block this;
especially, since he isn’t Harvey Dent?”
Bruce brushed the Black Butterfly on his chest under his clothes.
“We’ll see…” he mumbled. “Either way we’ll get what we want.”
Tony snorted.
“What we want?” he cocked his eyebrows.
Selina watched Bruce.
“Either he stays in prison where he belongs or is free to lead us to the bigger
fish and thus get once again in prison along with that dangerous new menace. So
there’s no reason anger takes the better of us” he grinned to Tony.
The billionaire from Malibu made an impressive dive into the couch and set his
hands behind his neck.
“It’ll be too bad for your plan if I break his mug?”
Selina sat at the armchair next to Bruce.
“I don’t like admitting it but I must agree with the playboy…”
Tony cocked an eyebrow smugly and tapped an imaginary hat.
“Thank you, my beautiful lady!”
Bruce looked at both of them affectionate and smiled.
“Actually, I think that this would serve perfectly our plan to look outraged
and defeated…But you’ll be in trouble…”
Tony waved indifferently.
“Next time Harvey and Jimmy was looking at the wall and didn’t ‘saw’ my
magnificent punch to Luthor’s ugly face” he pouted. “I’ll do it in a similar
way and I’ll combine once again work and fun.”
Bruce glanced at the screen of his tablet that was covered with data from the
Mongolian prison where the Leaguers where transferred after their base in Gobi
desert was conquered. He didn’t find the information he wanted and actually
only Tony could provide him with any possible additional intelligence.
“Hm…Tony…”
The Californian squinted.
“I don’t like that look…Damn! It’s exactly the same as I remember it from our
childhood…” his cheerful voice dropped a bit from emotion and Selina smiled.
“Don’t keep it in, littl’ guy!”
“When you, Clark and Hulk attacked the League’s base in Gobi desert in Mongolia
did you find any children warriors?”
Tony’s face became dead serious because his friend’s face became a shade paler,
a sign that this was important for him. He racked his memory to give an honest
answer.
“Is what you look for at your tablet?”
Bruce could have hidden it but he doubted if Tony’s mind would take that dark
detour suspecting that Al Ghul created a child with his DNA.
“Yes.”
“No, there was no kid warrior or any kid; everyone was adult” Tony sensed that
there was something crucial there for his friend. “May I ask why you ask?”
Selina petted Hero’s belly to not show anything to Tony.
“I had some suspicions about the League training small kids to become
brainwashed warriors…”
Tony crossed his arms.
“No, this is what ISIS does. In none of the bases we raided were any children”
he lolled his head on the side. “It seems that you were the only kid that Al
Ghul exploited” he said grimly.
Bruce nodded.
“I’m glad…” if they did find a child, his uncertainty would have ended; but at
the same time this didn’t mean that the child didn’t exist. Yet he could feel a
temporary relief from the fact that no kid suffered what he did.
Tony stood and squatted before him.
“Are you alright, buddy? When I left in the morning Alfred told me that you
were still sleeping and I was happy but now I see you’re pale.”
“It’s nothing serious, really…I just slept on the cave and I got some
hypothermia.”
Tony yanked his head and sighed exasperated.
“I heard on the news about Crane’s escape and Batman’s appearance last night
and I was reassured that since Kent did the job you were alright! Damn it,
Bruce! Getting hypothermia in your condition is dangerous! And why nobody
notified me?” he gritted his teeth really pissed.
Selina knew she had to intervene.
“Calm down, handsome; they didn’t inform me either. Alfred and Leslie had as
their first priority taking care of his fever and when everything went smoothly
they thought that there was no need to raise the alarm. As for our buddy not
speaking about his sufferings…well, you know him…”
Bruce looked at her disapproving and Selina winked and shrugged innocently;
then he locked eyes with Tony’s.
“Because it wasn’t something serious to worry you; we’d have told you in the
lunch.”
Tony shook his head.
“As you told me you were alive only after eighteen years?” he spat.
The younger man put his hands on Tony’s shoulder.
“You’re doing so many things for me that I feel bad to distress you every time
I have a little fever…I’m fine” he chuckled. “If I was very sick I’d have
called you – you know how I love to throw up in your presence…”
Tony closed his eyes and dropped his head; he just couldn’t fight the broad
smile off his face. He caressed Bruce’s hair.
“I must return to the Tower: we work on your spine pieces with Lucius” he
winked “and I want them to be finished soon to see you walking again” he cupped
Bruce’s cheek. “You’ll call me if you need anything, huh?”
Bruce leaned to his ear.
“You know, this would be an insult to Alfred” he whispered and Selina chuckled.
“You’ll come for lunch, you and Peps, right?” he asked with a shine in his
eyes.
“You betcha!”
When Tony left the room Bruce took his Cosmos and called Clark.
The reporter had on his screen the Gotham Gazette site hoping to read a
positive development on Crane’s escape – that is to say, his arrest. But
nothing… so he just minimized the window to continue his article when his smart
phone rang with Bruce’s ringtone.
He teetered his way out of the office to get some privacy more so since Lois’
curious eyes were on him.
“I was ready to call you, Bruce” he said in his true, no stuttering voice. “How
are you? When I left you were a bit warm but it didn’t seem serious…” uttering
this, made Clark realize how indifferently he had acted: a bit warm? That could
evoke to something serious and he not only didn’t stay with Bruce and left but
also didn’t even inform Alfred.
Bruce almost heard Clark biting his bottom lip.
“Alfred called Leslie and she increased my antibiotics; she took some blood
sample just in case; but all in all, it was indeed nothing serious: the fever
already fell” he answered in a breath.
Clark yanked his head closing his eyes relieved. Yet his apathy that morning
was another sign that Bruce was right and he had to be checked.
“I’ll do what we discussed last night as soon as I finish here…”
Bruce nodded.
“Well, I didn’t call for that…I trust you after all…” however last night came
back to him to prickle.
The moment he realized that Clark wouldn’t stop…That instance his chest
clenched from that dread of being violated but it was worse than all the other
times together because there was also the hurt of betrayal: having the man you
believed that loved you doing the exact same thing that your abusers did.
Clark couldn’t discern any irony on Bruce’s voice even a talkative inhale of
air since Bruce could perfectly control his vitals into not showing his
emotions. Yet his eidetic memory made him see again the younger man’s face when
he was ready to penetrate him against his will: Bruce’s face was cold as his
entire body, stony in anger however in the flashes of his eyes behind the veil
of anger and determination, there was the hint of little Bruce’s terror every
time his abusers raped him and…the bitterness of being betrayed by the man he
trusted.
“Thank you…” Clark whispered, the coldness of his voice targeting himself but
thinking that Bruce would take it differently he smiled. “So you wanted to hear
my voice, babe?”
Bruce cleared his throat and Selina stared at him curious.
“Uhu…But there’s something else Tony learnt: someone really powerful – and
really elusive – ordered Luthor’s release.’’
Clark’s teeth clenched.
“No! That is impossible! There’s not even a rumor around…”
“Peps has some connections in the Department of Justice and they informed her
about that – the decree will arrive at Gotham’s DA at any moment.”
“Damn! We’ll expose them at the Planet; we’ll vilify them.”
Bruce shook his head.
“No, you do nothing. I just wanted you to be ready when the news comes out –
it’s better if we don’t reveal our knowledge before the DA announces it
officially. We don’t want them to know that we have informers; and this way we
would be able to watch Luthor’s movements and find his associates.”
“I still I hate it that this man will be free after everything he did to you!”
“I know – he is convicted by a court of law after all. But…we must use that to
our own interest.”
Clark ruffled his hair but nodded.
“Okay…I get that you’re at the Manor; nice! You need rest after all…Well, I’ll
drop by after my visit there and we’ll talk this better.”
“Be careful, okay?”
“I’ll be…for you…”
 
Jim Gordon was reading Montoya’s report on Ted Bradley’s testimony; the Arkham
Asylum’s orderly was transferred at Gotham’s General Hospital after being
sprayed with Crane’s toxin and for the entire night it was impossible to be
inquired by the police. His doctors were adamant about that and his condition
was definitely unfit for any coherent answers.
Fortunately, Mr. Fox of the Wayne Enterprises had the antidote since his
employee’s encounter with the insane psychiatrist had made the brilliant
scientist able to decompose the toxin to its ingredients and create an
antidote. So Bradley was in position to testify early in the morning.
Not much actually… The man was still shaken from what he experienced under the
toxin’s effect and the shock of being attacked by a patient ‘as obedient and
mild as Crane’. He told Montoya that his colleague who was appointed with Crane
fell ill and he was the only available to fill his position; last night he had
the night shift so when Crane began whining about stomach cramps he took him to
the infirmary. The Asylum’s Head, Dr. Quinzel, had made it clear that the
inmates must be well cared and after Crane’s orderly fell ill Ted thought that
maybe Crane was contaminated with the same virus.
All of a sudden, Crane turned and sprayed him with something that made him see
horrible scenes and collapse in a fit of spasms; he had lost completely any
contact with his environment and he thought that he was again in the shipwreck,
ten years ago…He almost drowned then and he watched many people die that way or
burn alive as the ship exploded…
Montoya had asked him if he saw the direction Crane took but he said that the
only thing he saw was flames eating the ship’s walls and the dark, cold ocean.
Which was confirmed by the doctors who examined and watched him all night: the
man was in delirium.
When he was asked if Crane had acted strangely the last days, the man shrugged
saying that his colleague, Martin Sanders, was the orderly responsible for the
fallen doctor. Ted only knew that Crane was speaking with Joker because he was
seeing them.
And of course he had no idea how the toxin was found in Crane’s hands.
In the meantime, the GCPD was looking for Crane scouring the city though it was
a difficult mission since the man wasn’t a common criminal to have his hideouts
in the Narrows or the Decks. And he was an introvert man without friends and
places where he frequented; of course, they already put his apartment in
discreet surveillance in case he ended up there but Jim doubted that: from the
times he dealt with the man, Crane definitely seemed a clever man to do that
mistake.
Maybe he had managed to leave Gotham or he was going to attempt that so from
the first moment he order to put checkpoints in every exit of the city and
alarmed neighboring cities and states. But that had no result yet…
“Which means that either he has already reached another city under our noses”
Jim said in his calm but firm voice to the officers gathered in his office at
MCU. “Or that he is going to attempt that later when he believes that our
vigilance will be lower; or he has the intention to remain in Gotham believing
that the hideout where he is right now is safe.”
On the wall behind his desk a projector played the footage from Crane’s
transfer to the infirmary and his attack to the orderly; however after the
first feet the former doctor ran after the orderly was out he was lost from any
camera.
Bullock scratched his neck.
“He definitely knew that loony bin better than anyon’… So he knew how to avoid
the security cameras.”
Another younger officer intervened.
“We searched the place thoroughly; no trace of him or the way he left the
building.”
“Maybe ol’ Jeremiah’s ghost took him” Bullock snorted and cocked an eyebrow.
“I’m sure they’ll have loads to share…”
Some officers chuckled but Montoya twisted her lips with disapproval to her
partner while Jim was perusing the info Asylum’s security had sent him about
Crane’s visitors. Which was none because Crane had no visitors; the doctor had
no family after all and no relative or friend ever made an appearance.
“Will find him, Commissionaire” Montoya said to her chief. “Every cop has his
picture and teams are searching the entire city; it’s a matter of time before
we return him to where he belongs.”
Bullock made a step forward.
“And though a sonovabitch he isn’t as dangerous as Joker…”
Jim left the report he read, this time about Crane’s orderly Martin Sanders,
and fixed his eyes on his trustee.
“Tell that to Wayne…” he said dryly and Bullock nodded. “The man is insane and
has a talent in creating dangerous toxins: he tortured his patients when he was
the Head of Arkham Asylum; he provided highly hallucinatory drugs to Falcone
which were sold to people, collaborated with the League of Shadows to torture
Wayne. So we can’t afford to wait he strikes again.”
“Of course, Jim” Bullock answered.
Montoya began recounting to her colleagues what Crane’s psychiatrist had said
to her when the phone rang; Jim lifted his index finger to make her stop and
answered the call.
It was Robert Hatchet, Gotham’s temporary DA after Dent’s resignation. Jim’s
eyes darkened as his frown deepened.
“Thank you, Mr. Hatchet.”
He hung up and dismissed his officers with a gesture.
“Be careful: this guy is dangerous – do not underestimate him. Keep me
constantly updated” his officers nodded and departed. “Montoya, Bullock stay”
they halted interested. “Close that door!” he said arching his eyebrows.
His trustees approached intrigued.
“What’s going on, Jim?” Bullock asked chewing his toothpick.
Jim took off his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose.
“DA is going to release Luthor…”
“No way! He is bought too?” Montoya exclaimed.
Jim shook his head.
“All this time he does everything to keep Luthor behind bars.”
Bullock frowned.
“Then?”
Jim pouted.
“He received a decree from the Department of Justice that can’t be ignored.”
“From whom?” Montoya said clenching her waist.
“Nobody knows but it’s too high in the hierarchy and worse: the law makes it
obligatory to abide by the order.”
Bullock rolled his eyes.
“Don’t tell me the President risked a scandal and his ass for that scum
Luthor?” he fumed.
Jim put again his glasses.
“I don’t know if it’s the President but definitely someone very high…” he
mumbled.
“Even the President isn’t above the justice!” Montoya protested.
Jim placed his hand on her shoulder.
“I didn’t say it was the President but the Department makes it clear that the
order is covered by the law – even if that law is unfair… The DA is giving a
Press Conference to announce it.”
The veteran officer stood before his window and watched Gotham underneath
living her daily routine.
“What are you thinking, Jim?” Bullock asked.
“That the tide changed again” he sighed. “After the deaths of the crime lords
and the League’s arrests our city found her peace for some time but now it
feels like something is coming. Again.”
“We’ll stop it, Commissionaire, as we always do” Montoya said determined and
Bullock nodded frowning angrily. “And we have Batman.”
Jim smiled to both his trustees and nodded.
 
Luthor’s grey eyes glimmered and his smirk was icy. His attorney, Larson raised
an eyebrow: as a matter of fact, he didn’t except a different reaction from
this man – he was sure that his client was already plotting.
“Right now Gotham’s DA office announced that they will hold a Press Conference;
obviously to announce your release.”
Luthor punched the metallic table clenching his jaw.
“How?” he asked then looking at his attorney suspiciously. “Last time you told
me that your appeal for release due to insanity was put in pending; what
changed?”
Larson shook his head pursing his lips indifferently.
“I have no idea: I just got a call from the Department of Justice informing me
that your release order is ready. They didn’t say more but I think it’s the
result that matters.”
Luthor gave a grin and his teeth shone. He had already an idea about who had
managed that small miracle when his esteemed friends had failed till now: so
that nightmare wasn’t a nightmare after all…He had really hit the jackpot with
Mannheim this time.
“How much it’ll take to be out of here and back to Metropolis?”
“I don’t think that it will take much time; usually, it needs a month or two,
but since that decree commands your immediate release and there’s no way to
block it, I’d say no more than a week.”
Luthor nodded.
“Mercy Graves along?”
Larson shook his head.
“Certainly. But perhaps for her it’ll take a bit more.”
Luthor pierced him with his icy stare.
“Take care that she gets out the same day as me.”
“I’ll do my best, Mr. Luthor.”
Luthor smirked and inhaled deeply.
“I want to be at the head of the board at the annual meeting to face that brat”
his smirk became meaner. “If he dares to leave his Manor now that he is pegged
in a wheelchair. I bet the bastard won’t have the courage to look me in the
eyes once he knows I’m free again.”
Well, Larson was a lawyer, he was paid by Luthor who was his client but he
didn’t like hearing horseshit. As everyone, he had learnt the story of Bruce
Wayne and being the last period between Metropolis and Gotham he watched some
things. So he raised an eyebrow at Luthor’s comments because Wayne wasn’t a
coward in any way and even when he was aboard healing his wounds, he took great
care of his newly acquainted LexCorp shares and LexLabs.
“I’m sorry to disappoint you, Mr. Luthor, but Mr. Wayne from the day he
returned in Gotham goes daily to his Enterprises and Mr. Fredericks had handed
him every responsibility” actually, he wasn’t sorry at all, especially when his
boss’ bottom lip trembled slightly – a hint of a great anger that Luthor
managed to keep in control. “As for the later, it remains to be seen…”
He looked at his Rolex.
“The Press Conference begins in half an hour and I must be there. I’ll inform
you for any news.”
 
Bruce was watching on the 60’’ plasma TV in the living room the DA approaching
the auditorium under a loud murmur of questions; Luthor’s media had already
spread rumors about ‘justice finally served’ and Luthor being vindicated in a
triumphant way. So when the DA’s office announced the Press Conference Gotham’s
media began raving about it and Tony’s news sites and stations blasted the
possibility of Luthor’s release citing every major crime the tycoon was found
guilty of: the video of Luthor harassing Bruce at Tony’s party almost a year
ago and Bruce kneeing him in the groin was a great stroke. Now that Luthor’s
media leaked the news there was no risk of exposing their informer.
Bruce’s eyes were completely still, focused on the screen, Alfred on his side
and Hero lying on his lap rubbing his head on Bruce’s arm.
 He knew that Luthor’s release would serve their purposes so Luthor’s joy would
be futile yet his stomach was clenched reading the caption on the bottom of the
screen:
“Lex Luthor exonerated and released?”
Bruce had worked for his arrest and conviction; he had gathered the evidence;
he had endured his attack. And the worst: he knew the man’s crimes and that man
had being convicted by the court only to be discharged and free to do the same
and continue his collaboration with the menace that managed to overcome the
law. Because this wasn’t an acquittal as Luthor’s media presented it but a
blatant and provocative show off of power and corruption; well, show off indeed
but without the person behind it really showing off.
Of course, he/she (Talia came to his mind as a recent example) was too clever
to reveal his identity and being targeted from law enforcers – because still
there were honest and dignified people who wouldn’t like that: he never had
forgotten that even in Falcone’s cage…
Alfred was watching too and from his slight frown it was obvious that he was
really pissed: Luthor, although unknowingly was serving Bruce’s plan, did plot
to surrender his young master to the League of Shadows.
Watching Robert Hatchet settling with ease in front of the auditorium, Bruce
got the impression that the man was rather content and not grim as Bruce
expected him. Harvey had vouched for this man but what if he was wrong?
“As several of news outlets had being hinting the last hours, the Department of
Justice forwarded to Gotham’s DA office a decree for Lex Luthor’s immediate
release…”
The uproar that till now was boiling under the surface exploded in a confusing
fuss of angry exclamations and questions.
Robert raised his hand for them to silence.
“The order demands from Gotham’s judicial system to accept Luthor’s release
without further examination” he inhaled deeply. “And we are obliged by the
federal legislation to abide by that decree…”
 Bruce’s heart would have been drumming in his chest if he wasn’t trained to
control his heartbeat; on the other hand, he was sure that there was a ‘but’
coming.
“But in our great country’s 1788 Ratification of the Constitution, 1791’s
Seventh Amendment there’s a paragraph that gives to Gotham’s highest judge the
right to not accept as orders the decrees which lack solid reasoning in their
claims and intervene to decisions already taken by the courts of law; therefore
this decree has the power of an appeal” the temporary DA heaved a really old
looking parchment with the infamous seal and signs.
Bruce pressed his lips in a tight but content smile while the crowd in the
Press Room cheered or protested since there were some reporters from Luthor’s
media.
“Thus Gotham’s judicial system will re-assess Mr. Luthor’s case; but until the
Gotham’s court new verdict, Mr. Luthor will remain in Blackgate Prison” he
clenched the papers he was holding. “The said paragraph and our official
announcement will be distributed to all of you. Thank you.”  
“This was a very satisfying development, right, sir?” Alfred said and Bruce
turned to him smiling.
“Right! And I know who I must thank for this.”
Alfred lifted an eyebrow interested and watched his young master taking his
tablet and making a call.
“Harvey, it’s Bruce Wayne.”
Harvey on the other end laughed.
“How are you, Bruce?”
“I called to thank you for stopping Luthor getting loose.”
“Damn! How you figured this out?”
Bruce chuckled.
“Well…I thought that only a Gothamite would have known such a tiny and ancient
detail to the law.”
“When Robert called to inform me about the decree, I remembered my old
university professor – an avid law researcher. He told me about that forgotten
but never repealed paragraph. Hm…Bruce? It was actually your great-grand
father, Solomon Wayne, whom we have to thank: he was such a great man of the
justice and such fervent fighter for the country’s independence that the law
makers made that exception to honor him and his city.”
Bruce’s eyes were lost back to his dream about Nemesis and her fleeing priest.
Her words echoed”
“…and your descendants shall bring justice…”
Harvey’s voice shook him out of his thoughts.
“Of course, this will be only a delay” Harvey added. “We know that someone
really powerful wants Luthor free and it’s a matter of time before he presses
more people into freeing Luthor.”
“Sure but at least Luthor will stay in prison and out of criminal action a bit
more…and…his expression when he learns the news will be priceless…”
Harvey snorted.
“I wish I could see his face…”
“Thank you, Harvey; more so because you confirmed my belief that you never
stopped caring about Gotham.”
A pause.
“Gotham knows how to keep bound everyone that is associated with her” he
answered thoughtful.
“So…if the people of Gotham vote that they want you back are you willing to
return?”
Harvey was deep in thought.
“I don’t know, Bruce; I have to think my father and Rachel…Joker targeted
them…”
“I understand…and I am with you whatever you decide – I want you to know that.”
“Thank you, Bruce…” he stared absent minded at the coin he kept rubbing in his
palm.
 
Darkseid was pacing the vast hall under his Mansion; the fires in the vessels
framing the tiled corridor to his throne flared up till the high ceiling every
time the new God passed them, fueled by his wrath.
His enormous fists were clenched and his minions were cowering around; Granny
Goodness closer but still with her head bowed. Real flames were emitted from
his nostrils.
Bagdana suddenly emerged in the middle of the corridor just two inches away
from the gigantic God who had his real form. Darkseid looked at him furious but
the ancient demon didn’t seem shaken but rather amused. He made a bow that
Darkseid knew that was sarcastic.
The demon’s presence made him roar and some pillars cracked making the entire
building shake and dust twirl around.
“You’re amused!” Darkseid accused his partner.
Bagdana pouted his big lips.
“Why not?”
Darkseid gritted his teeth and stormed at him; Bagdana not even flinching and
at the last moment Darkseid changed his course to crush in his fist the necks
of three Parademons whose bodies he threw carelessly at the far corner. The new
God lolled his head towards Bagdana who smirked.
“I thought you could kill them with only one breath?” the demon asked mock
innocently.
“I enjoy the physical contact more” Darkseid growled.
Bagdana shook his head.
“Fair enough…”
Darkseid calmer after taking his anger on some of his minions crossed in a few
strides the hall and sat at his throne.
“I’m sure you already know the reason of my wrath.”
Bagdana stretched his perfectly sculpted granite colored body.
“Though earth matters aren’t my main interest sometimes I keep myself updated –
especially, when my ally has open businesses.”
Darkseid’s stare was on the floor but his eyes sparkled.
“Master!” he commented.
Bagdana raised an eyebrow as if he didn’t catch that.
“It’s Master not ally!” Darkseid elaborated grimly. “Do not forget that!”
The demon shrugged.
“As you prefer it…You must want Luthor free way too bad.”
Darkseid clenched his fist and turned his eyes up to pierce the demon.
“Of course! Otherwise I wouldn’t have bothered! He owes me something; once I
get it he’ll have the same fate as every other human.”
“You trusted that double-crossing worm?” Bagdana remembered the way Luthor had
touched Bruce and sent him to that cursed woman. “You should have known better
and crushed him with your foot…”
Darkseid’s bottom lip cracked his face with a smirk.
“I will; his release would have made that sooner but even my power was
thwarted!” the last word was roared and Darkseid’s fist’s reflection demolished
a pillar that Granny hurried to rebuilt with a movement of her hands.
Bagdana’s grin was jeering and somewhat proud.
“Gotham is a tough place even for almighty new Gods!”
Darkseid stood furiously.
“Gotham and Metropolis will be the first cities I’ll smash!”
The demon’s stare now was so intense that flames danced in his orbs; he locked
eyes with his ‘master’.
“Don’t forget what I was promised…” he hissed like a snake.
The new God blew in front of him and a round crystal emerged out of thin air
with Bruce’s image in the center; the youth sat in his wheelchair between a
bunch of happy kids. Bagdana’s eyes focused there unable to resist Bruce’s
beauty and charm that emanated even through Darkseid’s mirror.
“He is a lame sample even for human standards – a miserable weak cripple…”
Bagdana smirked with the new God’s stupidity and ignorance.
“Everyone has his eccentricities” he chirped “and demons even more.”
“Luthor will be free whatever Gotham or anyone else does; my plan will be
executed perfectly: those pests won’t stop Darkseid.”
The demon couldn’t care less about Darkseid or human beings as a whole; the
only thing that mattered was getting Bruce and extirpating Superman.
 
Alfred opened the door for Tony and Pepper and the billionaire bowed to his
assistant letting her enter first; Alfred cocked an impressed eyebrow on that
gesture of gallantry.
Tony patted his shoulder cheerful.
“I’m happy, Alfie; and I’m always a knight with ladies – I made Ironman
inspired by the Medieval knights.”
“You told me your inspiration was C-3PO from Star Wars; you just added red to
not be kitsch…” Pepper remarked snidely and Tony sighed rolling his eyes.
“Me and my big mouth! She uses her knowledge against me…Fancy that!”
Alfred closed the door.
“Where’s my little guy?” he opened his arms in the air as Pepper was already
kissing Bruce.
Pepper took Hero from Bruce’s lap and let Tony hug his friend. The billionaire
from Malibu lifted Bruce off his chair for a second and the younger man
laughed.
“Your rugby team won?” he teased him.
“No; Luthor was fucked right in the ass!”
Bruce blushed and Alfred coughed.
“So much for the gallantry…” the butler sneered and retreated to the kitchen.
Tony squatted and ruffled his hair.
“You need to put on some more weight, little guy…” he commented. “Don’t tell me
you don’t feel excited after what happened at the press conference or you
didn’t watch it?”
Bruce nodded.
“You know it’ll be only temporary though: his powerful protector would
eventually set him loose.”
But Tony’s mood wasn’t spoiled; he lolled his head on the side.
“Uhu…But then – as you said – we’ll watch his steps and find this big guy and
send both of them to the joint once and for all” he touched his lips to Bruce’s
forehead. “Your temperature is normal – of course, Alfie told me but you know
me: I want to know things firsthand.”
Bruce smiled.
“I did enjoy the Press Conference.”
“Oh! I wish I could see that motherfucker’s shit face when his lawyer tells him
the news…” he huffed, his eyes taking a wishful glint; but then he remembered
something. “You’ve got mail, buddy…” he gave Bruce an envelope.
The younger man frowned; it was a very formal invitation. He looked at Tony’s
eager eyes and opened it.
“Invitation to a party at the Avengers’ Tower…” Bruce mumbled.
Tony cocked his eyebrows.
“It’s the event of the year, little guy; and I want you there! It won’t be the
same without you there…”
Bruce licked his lips uncomfortable and Tony understood.
“C’mon, buddy…You went to the kids’ party…” he pouted making the puppy eyes.
“Can you bear breaking my heart? Peps always says that I’m a big kid…”
The younger man sighed.
“I can’t let you down, can I?”
Tony hugged him caressing the back of his head.
“No, you can’t, kiddo; I’m so lucky! Alfie, is the lunch ready?” he yelled
towards the kitchen. “I’m starving!”
Bruce let his childhood friend lead him to the kitchen feeling his heart warm
from Tony’s cheer: he was touched that his friend could get happy so easily and
radiate his joy all around lightening even Bruce’s world.
 
“Is yar granny okay?” Jason asked Dick after he sipped his Irish coffee.
“She went to the hospital for some tests – I had to threaten her that I
wouldn’t go to school if she didn’t show me the receipt today. And she did
exactly that.”
Jason shook his head.
“She loves ya, man; ya’re lucky…”
Dick nodded and took a sip from his juice.
“I know, alright…” and wanting to change the subject. “How’s your mother?’’
The younger boy shrugged.
“’kay, I guess…She still drinks but not so much to get sick…”
Dick gulped sensing his friend’s well hidden hurt.
“Maybe having a good job and enough money make her not wanting to drink as
before…”
Jason twirled his straw in the glass.
“Guess so…From the day Wayne got her to work in the Haven, she has changed…She
doesn’t cry in her sleep an’ stopped hangin’ around with these creeps who
passed her pills; for a time she was sellin’ drugs for them to give her
stuff…Pigs arrested her an’ she ended up in the joint for a bit.”
Dick pursed his lips: Jason had a tough life from the day he was born. So he
could call himself lucky that he got to have a happy family even for so little.
“Wayne helped many people like my mom, ya know…” Jason said making bubbles
blowing with his straw.
Dick rolled his eyes and huffed exasperated.
“Jay, don’t even start with that! Or I’m leaving!”
Jason shrugged and crossed his arms nonchalant.
“Cool down, dude! I’m not tryin’ to defend him or somethin’; I’m just sayin’
what I know. An’ ya saw the kids…they love him an’ they say that kids have
instinct.”
Dick crossed his arms too.
“Well, I’m a kid too and my instinct tells me he’s a fucking hypocrite! He
pretends the nice guy to…to…to fool people and not see his true face.”
“What for, man? He doesn’t gain anythin’: the others gain from him.”
“Exactly! He buys them to become popular, to make people forget what he truly
is…to forget his past.”
Jason crooked his lips and cocked his eyebrows.
“It’s not his fault Falcone used him like this; Wayne was younger than me when
that dickhead got him.”
Dick fumed; he leaned towards his friend.
“Yes! But it’s his fault my family died! If he had stayed Falcone’s prisoner my
parents and Brian would be here now and my granny wouldn’t be forced to cope
with all these!”
Jason shook his head challenging.
“Which ya make worse for her with yar insist on hangin’ out with that loser
Zucco!”
“He’s not a loser! He is my uncle and my father’s friend.”
“I think yar granny is right ‘bout him – ya should listen to her. I live in the
Narrows all my life an’ I can smell rotten fish…”
Dick rolled his eyes.
“Yeah…but you failed to sniff Wayne’s bad smell…”
Jason lolled his head.
“Maybe ‘cause he doesn’t have one!’’ he wasn’t particularly fond of the guy nor
he wanted to defend him but Dick had pissed him with his stubbornness to not
hear him or his granny.
Dick growled and jumped to his feet.
“I thought you were my friend not his! Did he buy you out with that petty gift?
Like those whiny littl’ brats?”
Now Jason’s eyes flashed angrily and he jerked upright clenching his jaw and
fists.
“Nobody can buy Jason out, ya dork! Ya’re fuckin’ moron! I’m tryin’ to get ya
think but ya’re stuck in yar bullshit!”
Dick cocked his eyebrows sarcastic.
“Littl’ Jay can think and I can’t…what humbug!”
The other customers from the tables around looked at them sternly and Jason
answered the stares with a glare of his own.
“What do ya look?”
But Dick sat in his bench and gestured to his friend to do the same.
“Sorry” he mumbled to the people around. “You’re acting like my granny: she
struggles to brainwash me about Wayne and chased away Tony, the only person
that made me feel a bit loose and happy. You’re my friend, you should be more
understanding.”
Jason crossed his arms and fumed: he felt a pang from Dick saying that Zucco
was the only one who made him feel better; he hoped that Dick enjoyed his
company more.
“Yar granny didn’t chase him away: he was at the party last night – I got a
glimpse of him.”
Dick frowned.
“And why he didn’t come to say hello?” Jason shrugged. “Ugh! Sure he didn’t
want to have a quarrel with granny – he is much considerate.”
“Yeah…Sure…” the younger boy snorted. “Yar granny!” he craned his head towards
the register where Ms. Turner was paying their drinks.
Dick shook his head.
“Yeah…She told me that she’d come to pick us: now that that loony Crane escaped
she’s afraid. As if he knows me personally or gives a damn about me. If it was
Joker in his place however, I’d pray he’d come to get me…”
Jason rolled his eyes and snorted again.
“Why? What would ya do? Kill him? Ya don’t have a gun an’ I doubt ya’d use it;
me on the other hand…”
Dick laughed.
“Yeah, Dirty Harry in a miniature…” he sneered.
Ms. Turner approached the two boys and offered to take Jason home but the boy
refused because he had his bike which made the old woman twist her lips
disapprovingly.
“You must be careful with that thing, Jason; it’s quite dangerous and you’re
too young to have one of these.”
Jason yanked his head proudly.
“Don’t worry, Ms. Turner; Jason isn’t afraid of anythin’ an’ knows his shit…”
he blushed “I mean…thing.”
“Your mother must be very worried…”
Jason scratched his head uncomfortable.
“Nah…” he smiled bitterly but then shook it off. “She knows her son is a tough
nut! Good night, Granny…mmm…of Dick! See ya tomorrow, Dick!”
“Good night, sweetheart” Ms. Turner greeted smiling and watched him
affectionately as he mounted his bike, wore his helmet and left.
On the way home, silence fell inside the car. Ms. Turner glanced at her
grandson.
“Are you angry with me, Dick?” she asked softly.
The boy turned to her startled.
“No!” he protested. “Why?” he frowned.
She smiled.
“Because I like Mr. Wayne.”
Dick lolled his head on the window’s side and watched the cars passing the
street that was already lightened by multicolored lights since it was already
twilight.
Mr. Turner bit her bottom lip.
“Why do you hate him so much, honey?”
Dick huffed and rolled his eyes: as if she didn’t know!
“For once again: Because he is the reason my family was murdered by Joker!
Because if he never had appeared I’d be still playing with Brian! We were
playing together just a few hours before he was tortured and murdered! For
God’s sake, granny; you already know…”
Some tears rolled from Ms. Turner’s eyes on the memory of her little grandson:
he was such a cheerful little boy and so sweet! And if she had taken him with
her along with Dick, her little angel would be alive and maybe his parents too…
Dick caressed her arm gulping; he realized that he wasn’t the only one who felt
pain.
“Mr. Wayne, Bruce, was at Brian’s age when Falcone kidnapped him, chopped his
toe, killed his parents, shoot him and jailed him abusing the poor kid daily
for all his life.”
Dick crossed his arms frustrated: he didn’t want to listen about Wayne.
“Why are you telling me all that? I don’t care! I wish Falcone had killed him
with his parents! Then my family would be alive!”
“If Falcone had killed Bruce or if Bruce was still Falcone’s captive, Gotham
would have been still under the reign of terror of this mobster and all the
children which last night were so careless and happy would be still in that
horrible old orphanage hardly surviving; the Narrows would be still a place
where people starved to death or die from cold or Falcone’s thugs. You know
that in the Haven all these people have found accommodation, training and a
decent job? Weren’t for Bruce, Jason’s mom would be bullied by Falcone’s thug
and probably in jail away from her boy and Jason would lose also his mom.”
Dick stared at her.
“Jason spoke to you about his mom?”
Ms. Turner shook his head: yes, the boy had opened his heart to her.
“I’m telling you all these to make your golden heart soften a bit about Mr.
Wayne” she continued. “To set aside your dislike for just a bit and see him as
he is…He didn’t do anything, Dick…I’m sure he suffers too because your family
died due to Joker’s lunacy. He is a good man, Dick.”
“Can we not speak about him?” he snapped and retreated to his memories of his
family even if these memories made the pain worse when he returned to the
cruelty of his reality.
Ms. Turner clenched more the wheel hoping that her grandson would eventually
let free his kind heart to feel for Bruce Wayne and understand how wrong he was
in his hatred.
 
Superman was flying south to Gotham. He had just stepped out of the light blue
examination chamber at the Fortress of Solitude.
“The indications show nothing wrong” Jor El said to him in his deep, solemn
voice. “However, our systems are set to Kryptonian conditions and Earth has her
peculiarities so I’ll need to monitor you for some time. There are still things
I don’t know about this planet and her ways.”
Superman smiled relieved and happy that he could shove that to Bruce’s face to
prove him wrong and paranoid in his suspicions and assumptions about Diana. Of
course, in this case it was all Clark’s fault – his character that needed fix;
maybe fatigue or PTSD?
“Jor El, you know I don’t have the luxury to stay here for monitoring; I have a
daily job to maintain and with Bruce’s injury I got too many sick leaves.”
“There’s no need for you to be constantly here – once a day would be enough.”
Superman huffed; he didn’t consider it necessary since the examination failed
to show anything but he ought to make it sure. For both his and Bruce’s sake.
So he nodded.
“What is it that worries you, Kal El? What happened to make you suspect that
something is off?”
Superman licked his lips in uneasiness: he didn’t want to admit it to Jor El.
He was ashamed of himself.
“Lately, I’m not myself” Jor El’s frown was deep. “I act a bit strange…in
relation to Bruce and he,…we thought to make sure that there’s nothing external
affecting me.”
“As with that special Kryptonite and the substances Bruce’s body secreted…” he
said thoughtful.
“I don’t know if it is something like that or something else or nothing at
all…I just wanted to be sure.”
“In order for us to be sure, you must undergo examination every day for some
time” Superman nodded. “And in the meantime, you should be extra careful.”
He was floating over Metropolis to check his city just before he headed to
Gotham. Suddenly, a beautiful, mind numbing smell dazzled his nostrils and
paralyzed his body. He frowned because it wasn’t Bruce’s cinnamon flavored
perfume.
His body turned towards the aroma as if a powerful magnet had drawn the steel.
He knew that perfume.
His eyes relished the spectacle of Diana’s tall, muscle bound body with its
sharp curves; her rich, round breasts, her hips, her perfect calves enclosed in
skin tight boots. No, he should be angry with her for every word she uttered
about Bruce.
So he clenched his waist and looked at her forcing his eyes to take a glare.
But the woman was unfazed; she smiled broadly and her teeth shone in the
darkness since Metropolis’ lights were feet under them.
“I see you’re still angry, Kal El” she said in a slightly sneering voice and
Clark was lost in the shine of her blue eyes.
“Of course I am. The way you spoke about Bruce was…”
She cocked an eyebrow and twisted her ruby, heart shaped lips.
“The truth” she cut him. “But you’re in love with him so I must respect your
choice, right?”
Superman watched her narrowing his eyes. The Amazon Princess floated next to
him and as the wind sent her perfume in his face, he felt his heart stopping.
“Well, how is the Prince of your heart?’’ Clark would prefer it if her voice
wasn’t so filled with sarcasm.
“He is fine” he answered coldly. “I’m sure he’d appreciate your interest.”
She chuckled.
“I doubt it…He is clever to achieve conquering the heart of the finest of this
world” Clark frowned at the ‘conquering’. “I’m sure he wouldn’t want so close
to you someone who is impervious to his charm…”
Superman involuntarily heard again Bruce’s speech about keeping Diana under
watch because they supposedly didn’t know anything about her or her intentions.
But not get to close to her or show any trust. The same feeling of ridicule
crashed over him. Maybe Bruce’s paranoia wasn’t paranoia after all; maybe it
was just plain jealousy and an effort to make Clark suspect her so that Bruce
wouldn’t have to worry about losing him to her.
A rush of anger hit him: could Bruce do that? Endangering such a valuable ally
to succeed his selfish goals? But then he shook himself because Bruce never had
selfish goals.
“Actually, Bruce prefers people who don’t drool over him.”
She snorted.
“Then why is he with you?” she cackled.
“I’m not drooling!” Superman spat. “I love him for his personality; for his
value – for me he isn’t a piece of meat.”
He turned his back to leave though that perfume that seemed like being
extricated from every flower in the world made it more difficult than it should
be.
Diana touched her hands on his shoulders and Superman shivered; an electric
current running his spine to his brain.
“You’re going to him…”
He nodded abruptly.
“I hope that at least he satisfies your needs…and he does not torment you all
the time with guilt that’s not yours” she whispered and her velvety breath
smelling of flowers caressed his neck.
Superman turned his head to her frowning.
“This isn’t an appropriate discussion: this isn’t your business!”
She patted his shoulders and he felt her strength.
“Touchy subject, huh? He made your gallant heart fall for him and now leaves
you thirsty…unsatisfied, famished…But it is your choice, Kal El” she pouted.
“Maybe he makes your life difficult because he is jealous of me…If that’s so,
you can assure him that I have no love interest in you: I’m an Amazon not a
wrecker of couples…All this human pettiness is beneath me.”
Superman shook his head, his lips in a tight line. He was both happy and
disappointed with Diana’s last words: the lack of interest from her.
“That’s the best, Diana…I wish things were different but I love Bruce so
nothing can happen between us. However I will be honored with your friendship
and alliance.”
She smiled and her smile was the purest smile in the world.
“The honor is mine, Kal El” her fist hit her chest in the place of her heart
and Superman’s heart gave a jolt.
From far, thanks to his zoom vision, saw Bruce on his wheelchair before the
fireplace working in his shiny tablet; Hero was sleeping on his basket.
The window opened automatically at Clark’s approach and in a blur he put the
tablet on the table reading what kept Bruce up till now: information about the
two orderlies closest to Crane. He gritted his teeth: he had forgotten that
scum; he cursed the timing because an Asylum escapee was the least Bruce’s
recuperation needed.
Bruce glared at him.
“That’s unfair…using your speed to take my tablet and read what I was working
on.”
Clark lifted him and was happy to find that his temperature was normal.
“If you wanted you’d have stopped me” he replied calmly. “And what is unfair is
you working late instead of sleeping. That day was fool of intense moments.”
As he placed Bruce at the mattress flat on his back, the younger man raised his
torso.
“I was waiting for you…”
“You shouldn’t…Tomorrow is Sunday and I will stay the morning” as he was
looming over his face, he nibbled the younger man’s lip.
Bruce giggled because Clark’s hands that had him trapped between them touched
his armpits tickling.
“I wanted to learn what Jor El told you…’’
Clark lolled his head on the side.
“I’m astounded you didn’t hack the Fortress’ crystals to find out” he planted
small kisses all over his nose.
“Hm…That’s a good idea…”
Clark cackled smugly.
“On your dreams, buster…you can’t pass the Fortress’ firewalls…”
Bruce smirked evilly and his eyes sparkled menacingly.
“You want me to try?”
Superman got rid of his suit in a flash and his eyes sparkled self-proudly
seeing the younger man admiring his perfect body; aroused by Bruce’s craving
eyes sucked long Bruce’s neck.
“I don’t want you defeated and heartbroken…” he continued arrogantly moaning.
Bruce wrapped his arms around Clark’s neck and fondled his shoulder plates.
“You know I won’t be” he said challengingly.
Clark chuckled but didn’t answer; his focus on lapping the minimum of chest
skin that Bruce’s neckline left exposed. He’d have started unbuttoning the
buttons but he was afraid of himself; his reverie from last night that made him
almost violate Bruce gave him cold feet and he could feel some slight
inhibition in the man beneath him too.
“I want to spread butter on your body and gobble you…” he groaned with his
mouth deep in human flesh.
Bruce moaned because Clark’s power made his heart beat joyfully before a cold
grip clenched her reminding him of last night.
“Don’t tell me that in Krypton you ate human beings?” he inquired between
joking and worrying.
“Mmm…I doubt they ever got such a yummy sample like you…I’m the luckiest of my
species…”
His hands drifted again lower and Bruce tensed feeling again the anger and
dread of their last encounter. But Clark stopped abruptly when his fingers
matched the bruises on Bruce’s thighs: he didn’t need his sight to know they
were there. He closed his eyes and slumped at Bruce’s side. He wouldn’t touch
Bruce before that reminder of what he almost did disappeared.
Bruce was both sad and relieved that Clark didn’t proceed. Sad because he felt
the man’s regret for his deeds.
“They’ll soon vanish…” he said guessing the reason of Clark’s abrupt stop.
“What Jor El said?”
Clark had put his forearm under his head for support and stared at the ceiling.
“I hope that at least he satisfies your needs…and he does not torment you all
the time with guilt that’s not yours…”
He sighed.
“That there’s nothing wrong: you were wrong. The effect your body had on me was
the first and last external influence. Nobody is messing with me as was the
case with you…”
Bruce could detect some aggressiveness.
“Then?”
Clark raised his torso.
“I’ll visit the Fortress every day repeating the exams to be sure. But probably
is only something psychological so I’ll work it out.”
Bruce supported himself in his elbows and rose from the mattress.
“Together, Clark. We’ll work it out together” his voice was adamant and Clark
smiled.
He grabbed the human’s torso and locked their lips in a long, passionate kiss.
Clark unlocked their tongues before the last air was finished in Bruce’s lungs
and laid him gently on the mattress.
“Now I must take care that you never undergo hypothermia again…” he chuckled
and spooned Bruce’s body.
The younger man brushed his face with eyes that shone.
“Clark, you’re so beautiful…”
“Thank you…” he whispered and his lips trailed Bruce’s neck.
Suddenly, as in a nightmare a mixture of foul smells attacked Clark’s nostrils
wrecking Bruce’s intoxicating perfume and turning it into a disgusting pong.
Clark’s hypersensitive smell could discern the scents of Falcone, Chill, Ra’s
Al Ghul, Bane, Talia and some others unidentified.
“He was a pleasure slave all his life – a whore! His body is overused, sucked
up: his flesh carries the memories of all these filthy men that fucked him
daily! He must be infected by many disgusting diseases!” Diana’s voice echoed
in the chambers of his mind filled with worry for him.
And truly: Clark could see all these different people using Bruce’s body in
disgusting ways. He had seen Chill’s erection hammering Bruce’s insides and
then being cleaned by Bruce’s obedient tongue. That same tongue that only
seconds ago was tangled with his…He felt his hairs stand on edge…
He could bare that smell and stop breathing to not cause Bruce’s suspicions; it
wasn’t Bruce’s fault, right? He didn’t want to sadden him; to make him return
to those days he considered himself filthy. Even though this smell made Clark
think that Bruce… No; he brought back the most beautiful perfume his mind
offered first: all the flowers of the planet blossoming in the clear spring’s
fields…
Bruce tensed feeling Clark’s discomfort and the healthy part of his spine
froze.  He cupped Clark’s jaw.
“What is it?”
“Mmmm…I was thinking…why don’t you change your perfume?”
Bruce frowned.
“You know I rarely use cologne…and I thought you loved my natural smell…”
Clark sighed and ruffled his hair.
“Of course I do, babe! But a change never hurt anyone, huh? Try something
flowery. Maybe a bath foam.”
Bruce felt awkward and stupid for discussing such meaningless things when he
could do so much useful work.
“I won’t change my bath foam” he retorted; it was the foam his mother used to
bath him with.
Clark collapsed on the mattress huffing.
“You know…using the foam your mother used to wash you when you were a kid won’t
bring her neither your childhood back …”
Bruce supported his body on his elbows and loomed over Clark. His blood was
boiling.
“If you want someone with flowery perfume, go to him…or her!” he stressed out
the last word.
But Clark wrapped his arms around Bruce’s torso and brought him on his own
body; he kissed him on the forehead.
“I don’t want anyone else, babe…It was just a suggestion; nothing more.”
Bruce thrashed in his arms and Clark relished the resistance; he caressed his
locks planting soft kisses to his cheek.
“You said that we’ll work this out together, Bruce” he whispered.
But Bruce was feeling a tight knot with big prickles making his insides bleed;
it was the same not of all these days never leaving his insides…
“Maybe you don’t want that after all” he replied sternly and his eyes flashed.
Clark closed his eyes because as Bruce’s heart beat onto his heart a deep pain
was transmitted; suddenly, that stopped and Clark knew that Bruce hid his pain
out of pride. The Man of Steel touched the human’s heart.
“God, I do want it, Bruce. I don’t want to lose you…”
But Bruce’s eyelids were too heavy from fatigue and drugs and emotion. And as
in the years of Falcone’s captivity, sleep offered an escape. He preferred his
caves and his bats but he couldn’t reach them now and that made his healthy
body spasm urging him to set it in motion to get there: his body knew that he
had the power. Yet Bruce was aware that doing that would only make things
worse… So he fell asleep on the body he still loved and struggled to keep
trusting…
Clark closed his eyes, the feeling of Bruce’s hands on his chest and his calm,
hot breath on his flesh making him numb. He loved that human but his past
sometimes ruined things so ugly. He thought about Diana: no, she didn’t cause
all that; she just warned him. It was just a coincidence this crisis emerged
after her appearance: if she was evil she wouldn’t have saved Bruce, her rival;
she’d have let him die in his attackers hands.
He kissed feathery Bruce’s silken locks.
***** Chapter 27 *****
Chapter Notes
     This chapter wasn't supposed to be so lengthy but as I was giving it
     a final reading I had some inspiration. I hope you like it.
     Also, thank you for reading, commenting and leaving kudos.
The first impression was salty, male scent – irresistible male scent -
and…donuts. Then he felt the soft thing he was glued on and how warm and nice
it was. Fast but not as fast as he’d have wanted he realized that his face was
nestled in Clark’s bare chest and Superman’s arm was loosely wrapped around his
back keeping him really close. The warmth flooding his body rushed to his
cheeks and that was ridiculous: after all these years of being fucked twice a
day (at least), every day, blushing because someone holds you in his arms was
stupid. Well, knowing that this someone must be staring at you sleeping
probably for hours didn’t help matters…
A sweet mouth kissed softly the tip of his nose and then his lips.
“Good morning…” Clark’s voice revealed his smile and Bruce opened his eyes.
His eyes were met with Clark’s stony chest and his cute curly hair there yet he
didn’t let his hands brush because along with waking the feelings from last
night returned.
Clark didn’t need Bruce’s touch to feel pleasure: certainly, it would be a nice
addition yet all this time Bruce’s mouth was touched to his flesh and the
feeling of his lips and the air leaving gently his lungs had rendered him
spineless.
He kissed the younger man’s forehead where some messy hair had fallen.
“Morning…” Bruce replied and his voice’s throatiness wasn’t only from the
sleep.
The leaner man made to move away from Clark’s arms but he didn’t let him. Clark
tightened slightly his hold and uplifted Bruce’s chin with his finger. Bruce’s
eyes sparkled as they met challengingly the bigger man’s happy eyes.
“Why?” Clark asked almost whining. “Because of last night’s stupid slip of my
tongue?”
Bruce arched an eyebrow.
“It wasn’t a ‘slip of the tongue’…Let me go.”
Clark closed his eyes but didn’t relent; he nuzzled Bruce’s cheek.
“It’s Sunday morning, Bruce; I was looking forward to this the entire week to
be able to be with you when you wake up – to do the morning routine together.
Let’s not ruin this because of my stupidity… I was tired…” well, that seemed
odd from him. “Please…”
His arm passed over Bruce and returned bringing a donut to Bruce’s lips: a
fresh baked donut, still warm and with a scent that made Bruce’s stomach growl
and his mouth salivate.
Clark smiled on hearing his stomach reacting, like this.
“I know, I know…I’m committing bribery here but when a boy is desperate… Almond
filling and white chocolate top…” he purred seductively. “The Prince’s
donut…Now, crack a smile and I’ll give it to you” he took the delicacy away.
“I’m not hungry” Bruce detached his eyes keeping his grim expression.
“Your stomach says otherwise…C’mon, babe; don’t do this…”
Bruce heard little paws running there and Hero meowed before climbing the bed
his eyes predatory on the donut.
“No, Hero” Bruce turned to the kitten though Clark still kept his body captive.
“You should not eat sweets…”
But Clark had foreseen that; he left the donut in the paper bag on the
nightstand and took from a second smaller bag a cat biscuit.
“Catch, Hero!” he threw the biscuit in Hero’s basket and the kitten hurried
there. “Now, your turn, Prince” he brought back the donut and frowned in deep
thinking. “Mmm…maybe we should follow the Fortress feeding tactic?”
Bruce pressed his lips frowning.
“Open for the airplane to land…” Clark moved the donut like an airplane to
Bruce’s mouth and the younger man opened his mouth taking a big chunk.
Clark sighed.
“It felt as nice as when you started eating after the coma…” he captured
Bruce’s mouth to share the mixed taste and smell of two candies: Bruce and
donut.
“I don’t stink today?” Bruce asked coldly and Clark froze because last night he
thought that had managed to not show it.
Clark shook his head.
“You never stink, okay? It’s my fault; can we forget all about this and
continue with having a great day?”
He brought the delicacy to Bruce’s mouth for him to bite again. This time Bruce
didn’t protest and Clark rubbed soothing circles to his back.
“How long it’ll continue, Clark?” he asked eating from his hand as he was doing
in the Fortress the first days after his awakening: remembering that time in
the Fortress and how much Clark did for him made his heart warm and let aside
the latest events.
“What?”
“Saying or doing something and then trying to correct it by being super
affectionate and caring…You know, this only makes things worse: it’s like you
try to drive me insane.”
Clark would have ruffled his messy hair if both his hands weren’t occupied with
holding the donut and Bruce.
“I’d never try to make that to you…Alright?” he whispered. “This is my true
self; these are my true feelings about you. My…strange behavior is exactly
that: strange because it isn’t me. I don’t know what comes to me and I act in
that manner but then I get over it. Scratch all these, Bruce; I don’t mean
them.”
Bruce shook his head, pursing his lips.
Clark read his disbelief and it hurt. He jolted off the mattress holding Bruce
and shoved the paper bag with the rest of the donuts in the top drawer.
“We don’t want our prowling four legged friend reach them…” he said showing
Hero who was approaching slyly the nightstand.
Bruce smiled at the kitten and then looked at Clark.
“What are you doing?”
“Shower” Clark answered nonchalant and in a second they were already in the
vast bathroom, the door closed.
Clark was completely naked but Bruce stubbornly fought the temptation to enjoy
the spectacle and the Man of Steel realized and sighed. He leaned Bruce on the
wall holding him from the waist and touched their foreheads together.
“Don’t tell me you stopped liking what you see?” he asked in his most sexy,
raspy voice nibbling Bruce’s bottom lip.
Bruce felt Clark’s hands fondling his dressed ribs and though his throat filled
with moans, he stubbornly choked them. Clark sighed defeated.
“Okay, buddy; but it’s shower time and I still love to see you naked” his hands
blessed with super speed were sensationally slow as they removed Bruce’s rob
and then unbuttoned his pajama shirt, one button after the other.
He slithered extremely slowly the pieces of the shirt to Bruce’s shoulders
accompanying his moves with small kisses and then pushed the fabric till the
wrists and then on the granite tiled floor devouring how the human body
shivered in his ministrations. Then supporting Bruce’s body with his fell on
his knees slowly, taking along Bruce’s pants. And then when only the black
boxer stayed hiding the human body body he took it off dragging that clothe
down.
“Damn!” he sighed raising his eyes appreciating the human body. “How can I
survive without seeing that body every single day?”
Clark hooked his one arm around Bruce’s waist and brought both of them inside
the hydromassage cabin that had more than enough space for two people. He set
off the seven different body jets and supporting Bruce he began sucking his
chest mingled with the artificial rain. His free hand fondled the younger man’s
abs shivering with Bruce’s shivers.
“Tell me that you like it as much as I…” he sucked Bruce’s lips closing his
eyes.
Bruce liked it; actually, he loved it but the knot in his stomach was there
throbbing reminding him constantly that things had changed and might change
even more. He closed his eyes and controlled the feeling of discomfort.
Clark cupped his face with the hand that didn’t hook Bruce on him. He brushed
his eyelashes that dripped water.
“There’s no hope then?” he asked locking his eyes with Bruce’s blank eyes. “I
made your heart close again?”
Bruce focused on Clark’s eyes, on the clear, unique blue and their sadness. He
remembered how this was the first thing he saw after he woke up from the coma;
how these blue irises made the ice in his insides melt that night in the
greenhouse; made him trust. He clenched his jaw: he didn’t know what was to
come but he wanted to live this moment.
He wrapped both his arms around Clark’s neck and nestled his head in the crook
of his neck kissing feathery the flesh there.
Clark shuddered from the abrupt movement and the way Bruce’s torso glued on his
agitating his already aroused nipples; and then the little kiss there, the
feeling of Bruce’s face there; the water running caressing and massaging his
body.
“I want things to stay like this…” Bruce mumbled and his shy lips nibbled lower
to Clark’s bulging pectorals.
“And they will, babe!” he cupped his face with both hands because he could
support Bruce without having to hold his waist; he yanked Bruce’s face and
stormed his lips kissing almost violently, needy, hungrily. “I won’t lose you…”
His lips felt like being drawn by a powerful magnet and continued battling with
Bruce’s delightful defiant lips till his thirst and the mixed smell of human
flesh and water led him to ravish cheeks and jawline causing melodic moans from
the younger man who was choked from the power of lips that sucked his flesh and
hands that squeezed sensually his torso.
And then suddenly Clark’s hands were tousling his drenched locks without
stopping burning him with his mouth. His body although under the waterfalls of
seven different faucets felt feverish making his torso writhing in his heart
pace; he wished his hips were writhing like this but everything stopped in his
waist.
Clark’s groin throbbed unbearably; his penis that anyways was half erect due to
his morning glory now was already dripping despite the water or maybe more due
to the water…Taking advantage of the fact that Bruce’s hands were clutching his
neck to withstand the force of Superman’s passion, he grabbed Bruce’s thighs
and heaved them to hug his hips; his penis shuddered as if electric current ran
through it.
Bruce locked his eyes with Clark’s, his eyes batting from the water’s force
giving him his silent consent.
Clark grasped his wrists, took them from his neck and since Bruce’s legs left
his hips lacking any strength, turned the younger man face first to the cabin’s
wall. He heard the human’s heart jolting from excitement and…hesitance when
Clark put Bruce’s arms on the wall above his head.
“Don’t be fret, Bruce…It’s Clark…”
“I’m not afraid” he answered.
Clark massaged gently Bruce’s shoulders accompanying every stroke with a
fervent kiss; he wanted to be fast but forced himself to be extra slow because
he felt that slowness aroused more his mate.
“Do you remember that day at Thasos…in the shower? What you did to me?” the
sensations from that intercourse often returned with the help of his eidetic
memory to torture him…the things Bruce’s mouth did to his body…The work of a
professional…Clark froze.
Bruce sensed that slight change though the healthy portion of his body was on
fire.
“Do you want me to do that again?” he asked in his most arousing rasp.
A professional…
“…beautiful beings like Wayne are made only for being used for pleasure and
nothing more. The only teachings he had – even unconsciously – were of whores
seducing their potential clients; and he knew deep inside that his ass was the
only asset he had to survive. So even without his will; even without knowing it
he used what he was learning from his environment. Cheap whores were all the
family he had but even the cheapest whore knows how to emanate some charm to a
client.”
Clark wished Diana’s voice and sayings didn’t sound so truthful…
“No, babe…” his penis was rock hard and ready to storm inside that body he
missed so much; but he knew he couldn’t, he shouldn’t…His mouth found Bruce’s
ear and panted as he rubbed his aching member on those delightful buttocks. “I
won’t get inside you…” the words came out pressed, mixed with moans and grunts
as his penis’ sensations peaked “though I want it so much…but I’ll
wait…because…it must…be…perfect…for you too…”
His hands left Bruce’s wrists and hugged the youth’s waist sticking their
bodies together as his rubbing moves became frantic, the friction from Bruce’s
buttocks offering a satisfying substitute. Their hearts beat in the same pace
till Superman’s beats surpassed any human rhythm and his penis exploded.
Clark was breathing hard on Bruce’s shoulders and the human felt burning in a
sweet fire and then began shaking uncontrollably in his own arousal that would
stay without any relief. The Man of Steel stroked his locks tenderly.
“Relax, babe…” he planted small kisses all over the back of his neck and then
his back that under his super vision showed every sign of the fatal injuries
Bruce undertook and Jor El’s treatment. “Now, we’ll bath…”
Bruce controlling at last his breath and heartbeat closed his eyes choking the
moans that still climbed his throat. Experiencing his lover’s orgasm felt as if
he also had ejaculated – Clark’s content made him satisfied too.
“No flowery bath foam!” he growled and Clark chuckled.
“No…I love your perfume, Bruce…” he took the bath foam and poured some on
Bruce’s shoulders, spreading the soft cream with gently movements along with
the water. “And then we’ll eat the donuts…I’m starving…” he roared and bit
lightly Bruce’s rib causing a small laugh.
Bruce was happy and forbid the knot form again so soon after this happiness.
 
Joker watched behind his spoonful of cereals the orderlies watching something
really interesting in their smartphones. His eyes sparkled wicked. The
orderlies of duty were stiff as always in their positions around the cafeteria
but some others behind the door, in the corridor were playing with their
gadgets. The thing is that the door had round shaped windows and the morons
were visible from inside to the keen eye and Joker’s eyes were very keen in
locating interesting things.
He shrugged; he’d investigate it after that delicious breakfast. Brucie’s
donations to the Asylum and Dr. Harlequin’s love for her patients granted them
a different breakfast every day. In hopes of not boring Joker and leave their
premises…
He leaned on the back of his chair and yawned; on the built-in TV screen Tom
was chasing Jerry ending up with a lot of lumps and bruises.
“He! He!” he screamed and swallowed his juice.
But then the stupid mouse blew up the entire house and the cat found himself
under a pile of debris. Joker’s wide smile curled downwards. In real life, this
would have disabled anyone…Even Batman. He saw again the young man descending
from the jet confined in a chair and his eyes darted to this buffoon Lu… His
hand clenched so tight around the spoon that some blood spurt.
Well, the establishment was fine and the stuff very friendly yet the
entertainment became boring, annoying and he’d have to soon leave…He sighed…He
always got melancholic when he had to leave behind a place or a person…He
scratched his head frowning: no, that was a lie. He never felt melancholic; on
the contrary, he always felt crazy happy when he left behind a place – in ruins
– or a person – in a bloody mess.
He was like a bird, he’ll only fly away; he didn’t know where his soul was, he
didn’t know where his home was… Wait, that was a song…Hm…He rubbed his chin: he
would sing that song to Brucie as soon as he met him.
He jolted from his chair and walked to the door.
“You're beautifuuuuul, that's for sure/You'll never eeeeeever faaaaade/You're
loooooovely but it's noooooot for sure/That I won't ever chaaaaange/And though
my love is raaaaa--re
Though my love is trueeeee…” he hummed shaking his head in the rhythm.
He halted in front of his personal orderly – his bodyguard.
“Mmm… Scotty, can I go out? Pppppppleaaaaaase!” he batted his eyelashes cutely
and showed him his bleeding hand. “Hoooome accidents…” he lolled his head.
Scotty grimaced but moved his mass pushing the door for them to pass.
“Uuuuuuuu! Thank youuuuuu! What a gentle--man…”
As they walked to the toilets Joker’s eyes narrowed predatorily scanned the
corridors and when he found what he looked for locked eyes with him sending the
message.
Inside the first toilet cabin of the vast raw he found Malcolm, one of the non-
criminal residents, waiting for him. Scotty waited him outside the room so they
wouldn’t have any disturbance.
Joker knew that Malcolm had more privileges than anyone because he was obedient
and very cooperative – and a really old customer; the poor fella must have
spent almost all his life in the Asylum. The only drawback was that these
traits that made him so loveable to the staff also made him extremely easy to
manipulate. And for Joker was even easier…So the guy offered him a nice
connection to the outside world since using a smartphone was one of the
privileges the old guy enjoyed: poor guy couldn’t do anything with it than
goggling at the wallpapers changing. Well, Joker definitely could do more…
“Thank you, Goofy…” he said snatching the phone; Goofy was the grandpa’s
favorite cartoon.
He roamed Gotham’s news and perused the fresher.
“Hm…” he read about Luthor’s imminent release. “The baldy looooover boy has
reaaaaally strong friends, huh?”
And then he scrolled down until he found an article about the temporary DA’s
announcement of the release. Well, the article had a video and honestly Joker
loathed reading news articles so he pressed the little arrow and watched the
video gritting his teeth on the authorities’ inability to keep inside jail that
creep who touched Bruce.
“C’mooooon, guys! You need meeeee to show you the way?” he murmured and already
began to plan his chaotic ‘justice’ on Luthor – the lover boy really shouldn’t
appeal for his release. “There’s a jungle out there, Mowgli and I’m Shere
Khan!”
But then he focused his ears on that dork DA who strangely seemed satisfied;
Joker frowned.
“But in our great country’s…”
Joker began whistling the National Anthem pretending to throw away a tear.
“ …1788 Ratification of the Constitution, 1791’s Seventh Amendment there’s a
paragraph that gives to Gotham’s highest judge the right to not accept as
orders the decrees which lack solid reasoning in their claims and intervene to
decisions already taken by the courts of law; therefore this decree has the
power of an appeal” the temporary DA heaved a really old looking parchment with
the infamous seal and signs.
Joker scratched his head fascinated waiting the punch line of the joke.
 “Thus Gotham’s judicial system will re-assess Mr. Luthor’s case; but until the
Gotham’s court new verdict, Mr. Luthor will remain in Blackgate Prison” he
clenched the papers he was holding. “The said paragraph and our official
announcement will be distributed to all of you. Thank you.” 
Joker jumped on the cubicle giggling.
“Huhuhuhuhuhuhu-hahahahaha! That must have huuuuuurt, baldy…Ouuuuuuuch!”
He imagined Luthor’s pan upon hearing the news and then his screams of outrage.
“Poor thing…I want to peeeeeet your bulb…aaaand then give you a smack and open
it in twooooo…Oooooh! I sniff good ol’ Harv behind it…Ugh! I miss him and
Rach…We would have a veeeeeery funny time together.”
He scratched his head and took in Malcolm’s bewildered expression.
“Hm…Maybe they’ll come back to play, huh, Goofy?”
And then suddenly he began giggling again hoping on the cubicle making Malcolm
cower on the corner.
“Ooooooh! My paaal Luthor! HeHeHeHe! Ow, pooor guy! You were ready to fuck
again the world but the world fucked you instead…Muhahahahahahah! It must
huuuuurt…” he rubbed his nostrils together and sobered.
He handed the phone back to the old guy and jumped off the cubicle flushing.
“Thanks, pal! It’s been months since I had such a fun time and till I’m out…”
He opened slightly the door of the toilet compartment.
“You know the process: I’m leaving now and you’ll wait ten minutes before you
go back to the yard, okay?”
The old man nodded and Joker slapped friendly his cheeks.
“Gooooood boy!”
He crossed the toilets hoping like a school girl and whistling: now he was
ready to get out and spread some Joker regularity to that chaotic world.
Releasing Luthor?! Outrageous injustice – for that he paid taxes to the state?
Scott stared at him frowning; the big guy leaned on the wall with his arms
crossed.
Joker winked.
“It must be something I ate…” he leaned his head towards the toilets. “Good
thing that fluuuuuush is strong…Do you think that they took Brucie’s money and
pocket them instead of buying us good food? Villains!”
Scott didn’t answer and nudged slightly Joker to walk.
 
“The reasoning behind that party is to show the public that S.H.I.E.L.D. is no
longer the ghost organization with the vague agenda and even vaguer goals and
connections” Tony explained to the people sitting at the kitchen island of the
Wayne Manor.
Clark was pushing gently Bruce’s wheelchair inside, Hero at their heels and
Bruce lifted an eyebrow. Apart from Tony, Alfred had served breakfast to Pepper
and Leslie.
“Good morning” Bruce and Clark greeted them receiving the same greeting as
response.
Clark settled Bruce’s wheelchair at the island and took the stool right next to
him causing Tony’s roll of eyes. Alfred cast a lopsided glance at the
billionaire from Malibu and served breakfast to the newcomers and Hero who were
already waiting at his bowl.
“He has eaten already some biscuits, Alfred” Bruce warned his butler and Alfred
shook his head.
“He’ll need a diet soon…”
Tony chuckled.
“He is already like a ball with legs!”
Pepper lolled her head on the side.
“You, mister, are no better; you have already a bump. You’re lucky your armor
adjusts to your body.”
Tony dropped his head and looked at Bruce.
“Much job, no action and no fun, little guy, and the one who forces me to work”
he cast a sideways look at Pepper “exposes me like this…” he shook his head
disappointed.
Pepper cocked an eyebrow.
“It’s better me here between your friends than you unknowingly – we know that
you don’t have the most objective view for your looks – exposing yourself in
front of your female fans. Imagine their reactions and the endless chats on
twitter…” she shook her head. “I can already picture the memes…”
Tony’s eyes bulged in terror and his lip trembled, causing Bruce’s chuckle.
“Buddy, I’ll start workout with you…Those memes are cruel!”
“I’ll need a diet soon, as well, if I keep eating twice breakfast” Bruce
replied shrugging.
Clark blushed under everyone’s stare; their late arrival already had raised
suspicions about what kept them in the bedroom. And now everyone figured out
that he fed Bruce as well…Actually, after the happenings in the hydromassage
cabin they needed food and specifically sweets so the donuts were massacred.
“Not at all, Bruce; you need to put on some meat…” Clark replied nonchalant
deciding that it was stupid to feel embarrassed for things he loved.
Leslie sipped from her juice.
“Agreed, as your doctor I believe that some more weight would be beneficial”
she said in her scientific way but then her voice became sly. “Of course, Clark
knows better your body…”
Clark choked with his juice and Bruce hurried to slap him in the back. Leslie’s
smile was wicked.
“I meant after you’ve been treating him for an entire month…”
Pepper laughed too and Alfred looked amused so Clark decided to loosen up. Yet
Tony’s cheerfulness was lost; he still didn’t like thinking of someone like
Kent touching Bruce.
“Anyway” the billionaire decided to change the subject “we were talking about
the party.”
“I heard what you said about showing the people how changed the new S.I.E.L.D.
is” Tony nodded. “So you open the Tower for the public?” Bruce’s frown was very
talkative.
Tony waved his hand determined to not get pissed by his friend’s paranoia.
“For a couple of hours” Bruce opened his mouth to say something but Tony caught
him “only a portion of the building” Bruce made to say something again but his
friend stopped him again “with all the safety measures taken. They will be
prominent members of society.”
Bruce crooked his lips and Leslie said what her patient was thinking.
“Falcone and Luthor were prominent too…”
Tony rolled his eyes.
“I’m not a moron, alright! We were very careful with our choices.”
Pepper shrugged innocently.
“I’m his personal assistant and I have to do my job…”
“Don’t tell me Fury was okay with that?” Bruce asked.
Tony crossed his arms and stared at Bruce with arched eyebrows.
“Actually, he didn’t oppose the idea.”
“And the Avengers?” Clark asked and Bruce turned to him nodding.
Tony pouted.
“No problem. We are actually cheerful guys” he scratched his ear “maybe except
Black Window and Hulk…but we all want to have people trust us, so we’ll attend”
he pouted thoughtful “well, except Hulk who anyways wouldn’t fit the building.
After all, Superman attends various parties” he pointed out. “Aaaaand he’ll
attend that too…”
Clark jumped on his stool and Bruce frowned.
“Mmm…I hear about a party?” the kitchen’s door that led to the grounds opened
and Selina slithered inside. “Sorry, I’m late…” she kissed Bruce’s cheek and
petted Hero before settling in the stool. “I hope you don’t mind I entered
without knocking” she asked Alfred while he was serving her.
“Not at all, Miss” he replied in his placid style “it is the reason I left the
door unlocked; what’s the point of locking when a certain Catwoman is to drop
by?’
“You’re the best!” she exclaimed and planted a kiss to the man’s cheek.
Alfred cocked his eyebrows.
“Well, I certainly am grateful, Miss.”
“So who’s throwing a party?” she asked chewing a pancake.
“Tony” Pepper answered.
Selina rolled her eyes.
“Who else?”
“At the Avengers’ Tower” Bruce said sharing knowing glances with Selina who
gulped hastily her mouthful of food.
“That’s great news!” she exclaimed and Tony frowned at her enthusiasm. “It was
about time! Am I in the list of guests?” she asked eagerly and Bruce choked his
laugh.
But Clark who had stayed aloof thinking finally asked.
“You said that Superman will attend?” he frowned. “I’m not an Avenger.”
“Bruce will be there too” Tony stared at Bruce who wasn’t as thrilled as Selina
in the prospect.
Leslie intervened.
“I don’t know if Bruce is capable of doing again a flight and New York has the
same cold weather as Gotham. He just got over the cold from the Thanksgiving
party – I don’t want him ill again: he managed to overcome it easily this time
but I don’t want to put his organism in trial.”
Pepper looked pointedly at Tony who huffed.
“Leslie, you know that he fell ill because he slept in the cave and not because
of the party so from that aspect he is more at danger getting ill here than in
New York. As for the trip, he travelled here from the other side of the planet
and nothing happened – the trip to New York with my jet is nothing. And I’ll
take care of him and you are invited to the party as well.”
Leslie shook her head.
“I can’t abandon my clinic for so long and especially for a party.”
Tony pouted.
“Les, you realize that Falcone is gone for good?” he cocked his eyebrows.
But the firm doctor answered him with a sharp glance.
“That’s irrelevant!”
Tony closed his eyes defeated.
“Don’t tell me Batman will be at your party?” Selina chuckled because she saw
Bruce’s discomfort and wanted to ease up the vibe.
Alfred who after Bruce’s gesture had sat too cocked an eyebrow.
“Do you wish that I prepare your best Bat suit, sir?”
Bruce pinched the bridge of his nose.
“Well, Batman might be an animal but a party animal, right?” Tony explained.
“So Bruce Wayne will be at the party.”
“Bruce Wayne isn’t a party animal, as well…” Bruce commented and Tony began
losing his good mood afraid that his friend changed his mind.
Clark locked eyes with the billionaire.
“Okay, I understand Bruce attending: he is your best friend…”
“And I owe my life to the Avengers” Bruce added “so it is the least I can do to
saw my gratitude and support them in this new beginning”  he fixed his eyes on
Tony. “Right?”
Tony shook his head.
“I want you there because you are my friend – only that. Actually, we owe you
our lives” he said soberly. “Weren’t for you Bagdana would have killed us all.”
But Bruce shook it off.
“What I said wasn’t sarcasm: I really feel gratitude to you and your friends
for fighting the League of Shadows and saving me and the world.”
Tony chuckled.
“Well, thank you on their behalf. That means you didn’t change your mind…” he
narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
“You know I don’t like parties, Tony…But I’ll come.”
“After all, I always need help with Tony in a party” Pepper snorted.
Clark huffed impatiently.
“Excuse me: what did you mean by Superman attending?”
“That Superman is a guest too” Tony said casually and drank his espresso.
“Avengers worked with you in that battle and Ironman fought alongside you in
Metropolis’ subway station; so it’d be rude to not ask you to join us.”
Well, Clark wouldn’t have given a damn if he wasn’t a guest but Bruce would
attend too so even if Superman wasn’t a guest he’d have gone as Kent to watch
for…’tresspassers’. He felt Bruce’s eyes on him and blushed because probably
the younger man figured him out.
“I want to show” Tony continued “our true intention to cooperate with every
force of good in this planet. So I thought that this guy Flash would be a very
welcome addition to the list – Superman knows where to find him.”
Clark shook his head pressing his lips.
“He has a demanding day job and Central City is his domain – I’ll contact him
but I can’t guarantee…” then he heard something strange: Bruce was chuckling.
Soon everyone’s eyes were on him.
“Master Bruce?” Alfred inquired softly and Bruce bit his bottom lip.
“It’ll look like the biggest costume party in the world…” he laughed. “You
should have thrown it at Halloween…”
Tony ruffled his hair troubled.
“Says the man who dresses like a huge bat…” he spat and showed his tongue to
Bruce. “And we won’t be wearing our suits…”
Bruce seemed shocked by that.
“What about secrecy?”
“Not everyone shares your obsession with secrecy.”
Clark lolled his head on the side.
“It’s not his only obsession…” he said snidely.
Bruce snorted.
“You keep your true identity secret as well” he snapped at Clark.
Tony nodded.
“That’s true, little guy. So the dress code in my party is quite free to
choice. Mmm, I wanted to invite Wonder Woman too – she saved many people, in
many different occasions most recently at Metropolis” he stared at Bruce almost
apologizing “I mean if the UN honored her it’ll strike badly if we didn’t
invite her. But I doubt she’ll condescend to our humble party…”
Clark seemed lost all of a sudden, the remembrance of Diana returning back to
him like a flood.
“I’m sure she’ll be eager to come when she hears that Superman will attend”
Bruce commented having seen Clark’s expression.
Clark turned to him as if someone punched him with a Kryptonite glove but Bruce
was chewing a pancake.
Tony who had an immense experience with relationships in trouble pouted
narrowing his eyes.
“Ow! Ow! Did I miss an episode or something?” he asked a bit pissed because if
Kent was making his little guy unhappy, he had some Kryptonite stock from
Luthor’s labs.
“Many episodes, handsome!” Selina said dryly.
But Bruce pressed his lips.
“I mean that she is Superman’s ally and I dare say friend so if she knows that
someone she cherishes so much will be there, maybe she’d bear the presence of
mortals for his sake.”
Clark nodded relieved that Bruce meant that because from the moment Stark spoke
about heroes who helped people he was feeling it’d be a big injustice if Diana
wasn’t there; and the truth was he wanted her there.
Yet Tony wasn’t so convinced and Selina even more.
“I’ll inform her the next time I’ll see her” Clark said with a grin. “It will
be great for the world to see so many heroes united with only one purpose: save
humanity and serve justice.”
Selina snorted and Leslie, Alfred and Bruce chuckled because it was like
hearing her saying ‘bollocks!’.
“Well, let’s come to the point” Selina said petting Hero who had climbed to her
lap. “Am I invited or I have to break and enter?”
Alfred lifted an eyebrow and chuckled.
“That would be a spectacular event, Master Anthony: Catwoman breaking into the
safest building in New York amongst the Earth’s superheroes.”
Tony rubbed his chin.
“Mmm...A hot staff dressed in skin tight black leather highlighting delicious
curves, carrying a whip…mmm…it’ll be the best event in any of my parties…better
than that all naked stripper dancing on stage while Luthor bragged about his
corp in that boring entrepreneurial congress. Of course nobody was hearing his
bullshit not even the women in the crowd because I had arranged for an all
naked male stripper too…Hehe!” he sighed. “Good times…” he exclaimed
melancholic.
“She is my bodyguard, nurse and friend, so she’ll accompany me. Forget the
leather and whip attraction” Bruce said and Selina sent him kisses.
 
Jonathan Crane stood before a rusty, old industrial working bench that already
had transformed into his working bench – a handmade, sloppy, shitty laboratory
but Scarecrow didn’t care about luxury only for effectiveness. And with the
material he had brought with him from Jeremiah’s secret lab he could proceed
with his creative genius.
In Jeremiah’s hideout chamber Jonathan Crane had established his own stock of
chemicals and other material for his work; that started from the good years
when he ran the nuthouse. Yet he was a leery man and always prepared for the
worse: well, his childhood and teen experiences had forged him this way and he
was really glad for that.
That was that made him stash in the old industrial area before Falcone’s fall a
quite large amount of food with distant expiry date and of course water, drugs
and…some guns, just in case. Also, a small TV set: the old industrial area was
rich with generators so Jonathan had no problem watching the latest
developments in Gotham.
Even now that he carefully mixed different liquids in tubes his one ear was
focused on the news: everyone had forgotten him and discussed the news about
Luthor – that dork billionaire. Well, that was good but still Scarecrow was
angry that he overshadowed him. He’d make Gotham regret for underestimating
him.
“I’m here for that, dude!” Jonathan frowned because although he was accustomed
to hear Scarecrow’s voice this voice wasn’t in his mind and wasn’t familiar.
It was a sly, amused voice that echoed to the large storage room of the factory
only a few buildings away from the ruins of Chickey’s factory where that
nutcase Joker was captured by Batman. Jonathan was startled but his hand jerked
instantly to his loaded gun and turned to the intruder.
Who with a lazy wave of his hand made the gun flew away. He had an annoying
smirk in his face as he rolled his eyes.
“That’s not very polite from a scientist, huh?” he cackled.
Jonathan gritted his teeth and his lips trembled in rage. His uninvited guest
wore strange attire that reminded of ancient times: black leather leggings, a
green long tunic and a golden vest. His shoulder length greasy raven hair fell
forward framing his narrow face where two eyes sparkled slyly as regarded him.
“Another loony escaped the Asylum?” Crane cocked an eyebrow and lolled his
head. “The security was better in my days…”
The stranger walked towards him stretching smugly his body.
“I like escaping but Arkham wasn’t one of my residences though a very charming
establishment and with very intriguing company…”
Crane narrowed his eyes.
“Who are you?”
The man lolled his head on the side curling his lips.
“I’m sure if you saw Thor you’d have recognized him at once…” he said snidely.
Crane’s eyebrows arched in sarcasm and he snorted.
“So…you claim that you are a…god?” he asked his voice cracked with amusement
and his guest pursed his lips annoyed.
Suddenly, Crane’s tubes began exploding and the mad doctor noticed how focused
the stranger was on the working bench.
“Stop it, you idiot! You’ll get us killed and you’ll bring cops here!” he
twirled to his bench but he was too clever to try to intervene.
Then as suddenly as they began, the explosions stopped and the tubes returned
to their previous condition. Crane turned his head looking lopsided at the
smirking man.
“Who are you?”
The other snorted and rolled his eyes frustrated.
“Not much general knowledge in your CV, huh? Loki Laufeyjarson of Asgard.”
Crane shook his head unimpressed.
“A god with surname?” he snorted. “No wonder you’re not a celebrity…”
Loki began laughing entertained causing Crane’s puzzled look: this self-
proclaimed god reminded him of a certain clown and he didn’t like it at all.
“You, humans, are very entertaining! I’ll give you that!” he shook his index
finger and pierced Crane with his wicked stare. “Yeah, I’m not a celebrity…yet
but I’m new to the field…and I’m up to an aggressive breakthrough.”
Crane turned his back uninterested and began meddling with his tubes. He
shrugged.
“And to be here, you want something…”
Loki approached him.
“I like people like you, Dr. Crane…”
Crane turned to him with a smug shine of self-satisfaction in his eyes.
“You know me?”
Loki smirked.
“You consider yourself a celebrity, right? SCARECROW?!”
Jonathan saw in his mind himself with Scarecrow’s mask injecting his patients
with multicolored liquids or spraying them with his fear toxin; and then he saw
Ironman raking the floor around him with bullets terrorizing him. He knew that
this Loki guy was in his brain.
“Well, it happens that I can penetrate anyone’s mind” except little Bruce’s“and
you’re not” Loki arched his eyebrows and nodded. “I mean you’re not a celebrity
but you’re interesting as your pal, the clown.”
Crane’s eyes widened as he remembered Joker’s mumblings about a god visiting
him in his cell.
“You’re the god Joker said that he saw in his cell.”
“Who else could it be? Aphrodite?”
Jonathan rolled his eyes.
“Nice…” he snidely remarked. “That dork forced his presence on me so much that
now I share his hallucinations…”
“Bitch please…” Loki crossed his arms and a throne appeared behind him.
He sat and looked at Crane.
“Do I look like a hallucination?”
“Absolutely!”
Loki laughed and the second floor of the warehouse cracked and began descending
rapidly. Crane’s eyes bulged and made to run for cover but he realized that his
ankles were bound together by something like a cloud; he stared at his visitor
whose grin had reached his ears.
“Do I look like a hallucination, Jonathan?” he asked calmly as if an entire
floor wasn’t falling on them – on the other hand, he was a god so he couldn’t
die contrary to Jonathan.
“Okay, you’re not!” he screamed. “You’re real! Damn it!”
The ceiling stopped in midair and returned in its place as if nothing happened.
Jonathan’s breaths began normalizing.
“Can you release my legs?” he asked.
Loki leaned his head towards him and laughed. Jonathan ankles were free and he
walked closer to the throne that was made of gold and wood that resembled
nothing Jonathan had ever seen.
“I know it’s a bit showing off” Loki said looking sideways to his throne “but
when you start your career you need some moves of bedazzlement.”
“What do you want, Loki of Asgard?” Scarecrow took control and raised an
eyebrow with confidence.
Loki pouted innocently.
“The same with you: to become a celebrity” he pointed his index finger towards
Jonathan and the doctor felt it without the finger making any contact with his
chest. “And you, my friend, have talents I need… So are you in?”
Jonathan lolled his head on the side and stared sarcastic.
“Do I have a choice?”
Loki yanked his head and eyed the human.
“Always…but not today” he laughed. “C’mon, Scarecrow, it’ll be lovely; and
you’ll have your revenge on…” he pouted thoughtful “whatever…” he settled.
“Besides, what better you have to do? Wait for the cops or the Bat to bust you?
Or playing with poor nutcases? I offer a freelance contract” a modern looking
paper with a big signature saying Loki emerged “you offer me your services but
you’re not bound to me – frankly” he squinted “you’re not my type. All in all,
free to do whatever you want! By the way, I like your mask!” suddenly his head
was in the Scarecrow mask. “Spooky!”
Jonathan rolled his eyes but the prospect of being in the same team as a free
partner of a god was very interesting.
“Deal” he said flatly and his mask left Loki’s face.
The god stood and his throne vanished; he turned to leave but lolled his head
to Crane.
“Your hideout is nice…but staying in here is too risky – someone could figure
out…and I don’t want a precious partner being captured. So I’ll offer you a
safer safe house. At least, till we end our cooperation…then you can choose
where you want to go.”
 
Bruce was reading the logs Arkham Asylum kept about its staff.  Ted Bradley and
Martin Sanders were the names that interested him: the first had been attacked
by Crane and the second was responsible for the former doctor but one day
before his escape, he fell ill.
Bruce could hear Clark and Tony snorting at him that he was paranoid for
searching the victims. Yet this job needed some paranoia – especially, when
you’re dealing with paranoid criminals.
Martin Sanders was a veteran orderly, much experienced and hired by Dr. Cooper
before Crane was positioned in the head of the Asylum. On the other hand, Ted
Bradley was hired during Crane’s management. Of course, that didn’t mean that
the man was fond of Crane since working for someone can make you either his
supporter or his hater. Ted wasn’t married and lived with his brother Casey.
Bruce put Casey Bradley’s name on his own search software and it gave results
that included police records. Investigating the relatives of someone who was
involved in a case was necessary because sometimes it shed light to the most
unexplainable aspects of the case. And Casey was a difficult case himself:
several arrests for drug use even during Falcone’s reign – obviously the youth,
only 16 then, didn’t have connections with Gotham’s Emperor and didn’t enjoy
preferential treatment from the police. Yet he was released sooner due to being
underage; he was committed in various rehabilitation clinics in Gotham – cheap
ones – but soon after his releases he lapsed again.
Till his brother, Ted, was hired at Arkham Asylum. After that there was no
results concerning Casey neither from police nor from clinics for addicts,
which meant two things: either he miraculously came over his addiction or he
found other ways – under the radar – to get his dose. And a psychiatric
institution offered an amazing stock of psychotropic drugs and in big
quantities. However, if Ted had stolen drugs from the Asylum, he’d be caught
eventually and fired. And in his file there was no mention of any disciplinary
slip: the orderly was exemplar.
Bruce rubbed his chin and for an instance turned his eyes to the flames dancing
inside the marble fireplace. He chose the study instead of the cave because he
didn’t want to make his people worry since only yesterday he ran a fever. But
he definitely missed his cave and his monstrous computer though the Cosmos
tablet was convenient enough since it was connected with the giant processor
downstairs.
It was after the splendid lunch Alfred offered them that Bruce found the chance
to slip in his study and do some work.
He opened the file about Martin Sanders and scrolled down to the report about
his health that was attached to his petition for sick leave. There was no
specific diagnose but the doctor of Mercy General Hospital was firm about the
man’s need to stay in the hospital for treatment; in his description of
symptoms were extreme nausea and vomit fits, vertigo, migraine and stomach
cramps. That last one made Bruce frown: Ted Bradley had said that Crane had
complained about cramps and he thought that maybe the former doctor had been
infected by the same disease with Martin – that’s what he said to the police.
So Crane knew which symptom would make his temporary orderly think he probably
had the same illness like his colleague. Only the said colleague fell ill while
out of duty, outside the Asylum’s premises…one could say that between
colleagues such things are learnt fast. But that doesn’t change the fact that
Crane knew what symptom to fake to make his orderly transfer him to the
infirmary.
Which made Bruce wonder if it was another Crane’s substance that caused
Sanders’ illness. If Crane managed to possess his fear toxin inside the Asylum
then why not some other substance too?
Bruce drummed his fingers on the oak desk that was an exact replica of the one
his father had. There was no doubt that Crane had planned this: he slipped the
substance to his orderly to make him ill knowing that he’d be replaced by
someone who probably was lenient to him.  And since Crane had no access to
Sanders’ food another orderly could have done it…Damn! Of course Sanders’
illness and Crane’s escape could be connected by chance but when you’re dealing
with these people nothing happens at random.
Ted Bradley was the key because he might have been attacked by Crane but that
might have happened to shake off any suspicion – Crane wasn’t a fool. Moreover
who else could have given Crane access to his toxins than an orderly?
Bruce pressed his lips: if only Batman could interrogate Bradley! But that was
impossible and Clark might wear the armor but this wasn’t his thing. Of course
he would share his insights with Jim yet even if the Police took the man in for
interrogation, Bruce doubted that they could keep him jailed based on some
assumptions and a hunch.
And there remained another question: how Crane got out of the Asylum. Fine, he
knew the ancient Mansion better than anyone and could conceal himself in some
crypt through a trapdoor since the old manors had many of these: Wayne Manor
was a fine example. But even if he crawled in a crypt Clark would have found
him with his vision since all the lead had been removed from the building some
months ago as part of the renovation…
Wait! That’s it… If Crane used trapdoors and secret passages then he might
ended up in a crypt so ancient and so unknown that was still rich in lead. Of
course…Bruce didn’t have the chance to do much reading all these years but from
his childhood he remembered the spooky stories about the secret chambers deep
down on earth where Jeremiah Arkham tortured his patients. What if Crane had
discovered those chambers? And where these chambers might lead?
Bruce looked around: he needed a diagram of the Asylum and an ancient map of
Gotham. The first was easy but Bruce didn’t want the diagram of the modern
building and he didn’t trust much the ancient maps that libraries had which
were made in the twentieth century: Gotham’s deception was everywhere.
His eyes fell on the whole wall library behind him, one of the few things of
the Wayne house that Falcone left in its place because it was really precious
and impressed his guests. Bruce remembered like a dream his father perusing
through the pages of really ancient books.
He began reading the titles: thank goodness, his father had signs carved in
wood that named each category of books. Medicine wasn’t what he was looking
for; neither gardening; nor painting, sculpture; ancient classics, no;
philosophy, no.
It was a blessing that Clark made that chair to satisfy his every need so only
with the thought of needing to reach the top levels, the chair hovered and
brought him where he wanted. Thankfully, he didn’t fear heights…
History…Maybe that but maybe something more specified. There: Gotham’s old
maps. There were four books and Bruce took them and willed the chair to bring
him down.
He browsed through the books and finally he found a map that depicted the city
of Gotham the era of Jeremiah Arkham. He focused on the portion of the map
where Arkham’s Mansion was; then he brought a map showing the city’s urban
design of the time. He licked his lips and took the hand scanner that wasn’t
bigger than a common flashlight and sent the two maps to his processor in the
cave, giving the order to cross them.
He eagerly waited, watching his tablet’s screen for the results.
“Sonova…” he exclaimed.
The city’s old sewers – that was long abandoned – where running under the
Asylum. It was very possible that Jeremiah in his madness prepared an escape
route connecting his secret chambers with the sewers: an ancient blueprint of
the old Mansion showed that the foundations reached too deep – and Crane having
explored the place knew it and followed the path. Much like Bruce had explored
the underground cave system to wage his war.
He took a piece of paper and scrabbled down where the sewers ended and realized
it was a tricky business: the old sewers’ system was rambling ending up in many
locations. The good thing was that the sewer system of Narrows those days was
separate from the rest city’s so Crane could walk out only somewhere in the
island. Of course from there he could head to the rest of the city but police
was watching every street and bridge.
So the old sewers in the Narrows ended at the surrounding shores – that is to
say, the docks and the abandoned warehouses. But there were also various
manholes – thankfully, the design had their locations – and someone using them
could emerge even at the Haven. That thought froze his spine; but he
immediately crossed it out: the Haven had much security and too many people
swarmed the place.
The most possible places for a wanted man was the docks/warehouses but there
frequented small time crooks, addicts and creeps and Bruce doubted that Crane
would want to meet them – more so since the police already had the docks under
discreet but close surveillance. And then as he studied the map created from
the crossing of the designs, it dawned to him: the old industrial area!
Images of dense smoke, giant tongues of fire and beams collapsing invaded his
mind and his lungs felt squeezed by lack of air and his heart convulsed from
agony for the life of the child he protected under his cape…
He closed his eyes and breathed calmly. The industrial area was one of the
points with manholes and it was near the Asylum; also, it explained why Clark
couldn’t locate Crane since the old factories and warehouses were full with
lead and every kind of minerals and chemicals. Joker had chosen the exact area,
so why not Crane too?
He called Jim in Batman’s voice and told him about the industrial area. Of
course, Bruce would prefer busting Crane himself…
Now he had to wait…and if this had no result he’d focus on Bradley. In the
meantime, he could work other things: he maximized the window with Wonder
Woman’s interview to Lois Lane.
LL: First of all your English are quite impressive for an inhabitant of a
different world.
WW: Thank you. I have the blessing of Athena, the Goddess of Wisdom so for me
it is as you say a piece of cake to coprehend and use the language the people
around me speak.
LL: What made you abandon your island and decide to inhabit our world?
WW: I found a human almost dead in a deserted island; I brought him to my
island and treated him to health. I had many discussions with him till he was
alright and we returned to his city. But all this intelligence I took from Mr.
Queen made me realize that I couldn’t stay indifferent to the suffering and
injustice in a world so near mine. Amazons are great warriors to thwart any
menace coming from the outside world to ours yet my divine, noble ancestry
didn’t let my conscience at peace knowing that innocent, weak human beings howl
to the deities for help.
Bruce pressed his lips and shook his head in disapproval.
LL: So…is this a charity case for you?
WW: It is exactly what it is for Superman: responsibility. We owe to fix this
world and show the humans the right way.
Bruce snorted and he was sure that Lois had done the same.
LL: It is your care for humans what guides your actions then?
WW: What else?
LL: What are your intentions about your action? I mean Superman cooperates with
UN; Avengers and S.H.I.E.L.D. made new agreements with the government and the
global organizations.
WW: I’m here to help humankind; if Superman believes that cooperating with UN
is an effective way to that purpose, then why not?
LL: From your sayings I get the impression that you opt for an alliance with
Superman.
WW: Who else? I mean his fame has reached even Themyscira: he is a noble,
worthy warrior for an Amazon Princess to fight alongside.
Bruce could imagine Lois’ eyebrows arch in sarcasm thinking ‘only fight?’ but
she was a respectable reporter and kept an objective stance at her interviews.
LL: You mean that you don’t want to fight with other heroes like Ironman or
Captain America?
WW: Who are these?
Her smug face flashed before Bruce’s eyes.
LL: Human superheroes who saved the planet from dangerous criminals.
WW: Nice…But I consider humans a liability during battle; I love humans but
they are weak so it is best to stay behind and let the true warriors do the
job.
LL: Humans are not weak. Besides, Amazons are human beings too and you, as
their Princess, fight side by side with them.
WW: You can’t seriously compare the Amazons with common human beings. Human
heroes can do their things but when real threats appear Superman and me will be
there to secure that nobody would endanger innocent lives.
Those soft knocks on the door was definitely Alfred’s.
“Come in.”
“I’m sorry to interrupt, sir” he arched his eyebrows “though it is Sunday…”
“Sunday is a day of rest for those who work all week and I had the entire
Saturday for rest – besides, I’m not doing hard work.”
Alfred remained expressionless.
“You have a visitor, sir.”
Bruce frowned.
“I didn’t have any meeting arranged…”
“Indeed, Master Bruce; but I believe that you’ll definitely want to see this
visitor.”
 
Superman was heading north to his Fortress for his daily tests and finally
could understand Bruce’s loath every time someone pressed him to do this. Of
course, his own tests weren’t as inflictive as Bruce’s: Clark knew that when
Leslie examined Bruce for the first time after Falcone’s fall, certainly must
have him undergo a full examination in his private areas – he was a rape victim
after all…
Clark shuddered, imagining Bruce’s feelings as a stranger was searching the
parts of his body that caused him the greatest pain and humiliation. He really
admired that human…
Suddenly he heard cries from Metropolis and then the noise of a fight: one was
fighting with many and those many fired but the battle continued. He pressed
his lips and dived towards the earth. A hundred feet away his smell told him
what his vision was to tell few seconds later: a being with superb perfume was
fighting with stinking thugs.
Diana had no trouble fighting those thugs even if they were a pack yet Superman
was so angry that stormed at the few standing and sent them in a second to
slump unconscious.
They had attacked a couple of tourists that cowered in a corner – Gotham wasn’t
the only city with criminality and after Intergang’s ghostly appearance small
timers became more aggressive hoping to be picked for members.
“Are you alright?” he asked Diana seeing her porcelain upper arm bleeding from
a scratch above her gold bracelet.
Superman cast a fast glance at the alley and immediately understood; the thugs
in their panic for having Wonder Woman pounding them opened fire and the Amazon
to protect the humans used her body to shield them. Diana must have used her
lasso to shatter the bullets but some shrapnel hit her – the golden rope was
still clenched in her fist unfolded and smoking
Police sirens were approaching.
Diana smiled in her enchanting smile.
“I’m fine; they can scratch me but nothing more…” she said bravely. “I thought
that you would be with your chosen one…Humans cherish Sundays.”
Superman nodded.
“People’s needs never stop.”
Police cars entered the alley and Diana wasn’t too happy to see them.
“I don’t like being crowded” she answered to Clark’s questioning look. “Would
you join me?” she was already flying out of the alley. “If you don’t have
something else to do of course” she winked.
Clark thought about his destination: he would go later. Diana should look that
wound. He followed as the cops handcuffed the thugs and took care of the
frightened couple.
He was side by side with Diana in the blue sky and she stopped. The scratch in
her upper arm had healed and the velvet skin was perfect again. Suddenly Clark
noticed another scratch in her right breast: the bullet had torn the fabric a
bit and a part of her nipple was visible and bleeding. Think, brown nipple with
drops of blood that seemed like calling him to clean the porcelain breast that
was so round and juicy…
He shook his head and Diana laughed eyeing her breast that instantly returned
to its unmarred condition as the fabric.
“I guess you don’t see much of this, huh?” she remarked snidely and Clark
blushed. “Oh, c’mon…it’s not a crime to look, is it? Don’t tell me Bruce is so
ungrateful that is jealous of such things?”
“He is not…actually, he is perfect. And I wasn’t staring at your…breast – I was
worried about the wound.”
Diana nodded amused.
“If you say so…Care to accompany me to a fly or Bruce would make your life
difficult?”
Clark laughed.
“No, on the contrary” they began flying as the sun started setting. “Tony Stark
is throwing a party at the Avengers’ Tower in New York and he’d like to invite
you…I’ll be there too” he hastened to add “and almost every Avenger.”
She cocked an impressed eyebrow on the last while her eyes shone when Superman
told that he’d be there.
“Bruce will be there too?”
Clark nodded.
“Then I’ll come. I’ll offer my help to your human since he is afraid of people
knowing your relationship.”
“He isn’t afraid; it’s just…How you’re going to help?”
She yanked her long hair and some blue shine hit his eyes.
“I have heard what people say about you and me…It might not be the truth but
definitely serves Bruce. If I am there people won’t think that you came for
him…So your enemies will target me not your frail Prince – unlike him I’m not
afraid of your enemies and it would have been my honor if the whole galaxy knew
you loved me.”
“You’re unfair to him, Diana” she smiled patronizingly. “He isn’t afraid and he
is proud of our relationship but we don’t need the whole world to know.”
She clenched her jaw and nodded, disbelief sparkling in her eyes.
“He doesn’t have a problem with my invitation?” she cocked an eyebrow.
“Of course not. I think that if you two speak you’d become friends.”
Diana shook her head laughing and with a sharp descend dived to the dark, cold
waters of the ocean. Superman descended too and floated above the water
surface.
She emerged after a while, her long shining her sticking to her face dripping
water to her half opened mouth enhancing her beauty.
“I love icy water!” she panted as if aroused. “In Themyscira, the sea is warm
but the island has three waterfalls, the one of them coming from Hera’s
mountain which is the highest. The water there it is frozen, the best for
strengthening the body.”
She raised her blue eyes to him smiling.
“Don’t tell me you’re scared of cold water?”
Superman’s eyes were fixed on hers but he could hear every drop of water
travelling her gorgeous body. He dived too and the icy water didn’t feel cold
at all.
“I used to stand under the rushing waterfall completely naked” Diana purred
closing her eyes in remembrance. “Nothing compares with the brushing of the icy
water in your bare flesh…” she chuckled. “But I wouldn’t strip here because
Bruce would be so jealous…”
Clark was really happy for that as the corner of his eye fixed on her breasts
that bulged from the cold and her thick nipples rock hard pushed the fabric of
her bosom. Her laughter was like melody as she dived and then emerged from the
water.
 
“Do you have a problem with Diana being at the party?”
Clark wrapped his arms around Bruce’s waist that dressed in his pajamas
insisted on working on his damn tablet even at bed.
“Why would I have a problem?” Bruce replied still focused on the data that
filled his divided screen: he was working both on Intergang and Crane.
“You know Intergang is my jurisdiction” he said playfully kissing Bruce’s ear
but the truth was that he was a bit irritated because sometimes it felt like
Bruce showed off.
“Not if they are behind the raids at LexLabs – LexLabs belong to Wayne
Enterprises so that makes Intergang my problem too.”
Clark huffed.
“It can wait till tomorrow…”
Bruce stopped typing and inhaled.
“They didn’t find Crane…”
Bruce had told Clark about his suspicions that the escapee must be in the old
industrial area.
“You’ll find him…” he breathed in Bruce’s ear and took the tablet from him
using his speed to place it in the vanity to the other end of the room.
In a second he was back stripping Bruce completely and laying him flat on his
back. He straddled him and leaned over his face.
“I was thinking that you might don’t want her there because you’re…you know
jealous of her…”
Bruce felt as if he was hit by a lash. He narrowed his eyes.
“If you’re true to what you constantly say to me, then why being jealous? On
the other hand, if you lie to me and you fell for her then what’s the
difference if she isn’t in the party?”
“I’m always true, Bruce…” he whispered and let his naked weight touch Bruce’s
flesh. He was glad Selina took Hero in her apartment for the night…
His mouth plunged in Bruce’s neck and began sucking rubbing his body sensually;
after the hours in the water with Diana he really needed Bruce’s body.
Bruce wrapped his hands around Clark’s livid body and moaned but Clark grasped
his wrists and pinioned his hands on the mattress above his head; Bruce grunted
from the goosebumps this move caused and Clark laughed massaging with circling
motions his breasts.
His hands were held there by Clark’s one hand grip and the Man of Steel with
burning intensity lapped his pectorals like a thirsty animal. Bruce moaned more
and closed his eyes enjoying his lover’s gentle sucking of his nipples. When
the sucking became stronger almost painful and his heart began pounding
remembering before his brain.
Bruce tried to free his hand to touch Clark in order to make him go slower but
the grip was unrelenting if not stronger. He had to remind to his panicking
mind that this was Clark…
“Clark…” he tried to catch his attention.
Bruce’s nipples were pink and small but using his mouth he could make them
bigger, more satisfying – besides Bruce loved those ministrations.
The sucking became harder and stronger and Bruce had to clench his teeth to not
scream.
“Stop that!” he growled.
Clark lifted his head and looked puzzled.
“What do you think you’re doing?!”
Clark could see Bruce’s face drenched in sweat and his eyes glistening angry;
but he wasn’t doing anything wrong, damn it!
“Make love to the one I love…”
Bruce shook his head defiantly.
“Free my hands!” he spat and Clark did it immediately noticing that he had
reddened the flesh.
Clark took the fragile hands and kissed the wrists.
“Bruce, people do these things while having sex” he said softly as if teaching
a virgin. “And I know you love nipple playing…”
Bruce had calmed his heart but not his rage.
“Not like this! I know what this is!” he abruptly shut his mouth unwilling to
say more but Clark understood.
He cupped Bruce’s head caressing with his thumbs; he wanted to plant soft,
reassuring kisses but his condition wasn’t fit.
“They tortured you through your nipples?” he whispered with his voice heavy
from sharing the same pain that boy must have experienced.
Bruce lolled his head on the side and didn’t answer, his eyes blank, lost in
his past. Clark pressed his lips.
“I’m sorry, baby…I should have…”
Known? How could he possibly know the range of cruelty those men inflicted to a
child? He wasn’t a pervert…And Bruce wouldn’t speak to anyone. It was Bruce’s
fault actually…If he had told him, Clark would never have done this…
He sighed; he felt so tired fighting every moment with Bruce’s ghosts. He
wanted them to be happy but times like this it felt like a lost battle…and
Bruce was dragging him along…
“I hope that at least he satisfies your needs…and he does not torment you all
the time with guilt that’s not yours…He made your gallant heart fall for him
and now leaves you thirsty…unsatisfied, famished…But it is your choice, Kal
El…”Diana repeated in her sad but firm voice.
He eyed Bruce wearing his clothes in a hurry and he helped him. Clark cuddled
his cold body and settled him on the mattress spooning him and rubbing soothing
circles to his back.
“What Jor El said?” Bruce asked calmly.
Clark’s heart dropped; being with Diana made him completely forgot about the
tests. Nothing bad happened – he’d go tomorrow.
“Everything fine, like yesterday.”
Bruce turned his head to him and Clark nibbled his bottom lip.
“It’s always your Clark…”
But Bruce’s eyes were turned inside; his soul floated to Gotham's sky.
***** Chapter 28 *****
The bright sun warmed his skin even under the thick shadow of the intertwined
trees; he was calm, his soul free from every trouble and sadness as if he was
in Heaven, except he knew he was in Earth and well…he was very much alive. Some
distant clangs reached his ears as if people were training with swords but what
towered every other sound was the echo of the waterfall reached his ears
alluring him there…
A small lake lay seductively in the heart of the mountain amongst the ancient
trees; the water fell from a steep hill forming a crystal curtain. The
refreshing smell of icy cold water enchanted his nostrils as his steps took him
there and then every other smell vanished as the intoxicating perfume of every
flower in Earth sprang boldly.
His eyes which were mesmerized by the natural scenery popped out as the flowery
perfume became stronger and clenched his melting heart: the waters split in
half in the middle of their descent and from a huge cave in a niche of the rock
a figure walked elegantly to the edge of the narrow ledge: she was completely
naked but the sun was blinding him forbidding his eyes taking in every detail.
Suddenly she jumped some feet above the rock and bent her body in a gracious
dive descending rapidly to the lake. She stayed under the surface for some time
and he worried that she might have hurt but then she emerged inside the
waterfall gasping with pleasure.
Her long black hair was plastered to her back and head, blue shines emanated in
the sun’s rays. She was tall and lean but perfectly shaped muscles built her
body: shapely, endless legs ended up to juicy, sturdy thighs and then with a
breathtaking curve to her hips. She was standing profile and he could admire
both the protruding, firm buttocks and her groin…Her flat, covered with layers
of iron abdominals belly supported strong ribs and a broad back; he could see
only one of her breasts that had bulged from the water’s coldness; its brown,
thick nipple erect dripping water that had done a pleasant trip over the hill
of her breast.
She leaned her neck backwards to lead the water to fall abundantly to her
chest; her face was beautiful with heart, shaped rich lips promising pleasure
beyond heaven…
Suddenly, she turned towards him having sensed his presence. A bright smile
dazzled him as she moved her body to face him, confident in her complete
nakedness.
“Kal…what a pleasant surprise! Join me!”
It was like an order and Hell, he couldn’t disobey. Encouraged by her easiness
in nudity, discarded his own uniform that anyways was too suffocating from the
moment he cast eyes on that Amazon goddess…
He walked effortlessly in the shining waters overcoming easily the resistance
and she moved from the waterfall towards him. He could float but he needed to
feel the cold water cooling his body.
He stood before her and neither of them had any problem for being exposed to
the other’s eyes…as if it was meant to be.
“Diana…” he breathed and she gave a toothy smile that made her face even more
beautiful.
“I knew you’d come…I knew you eventually would see the truth…” her voice was
firm as always but somehow lower, sexier.
She wrapped around his neck her strong built arms that were still adorned with
golden bracelets in the upper arms and locked eyes with him sending flames to
rapidly burn his entire body. With her usual braveness attacked his lips with
her wet ones and began gently caressing, exploring his intentions.
His breath had halted in his lungs, his heart raced; he knew it was what he
wanted, what he always wanted. At first, he hesitated: a small, shy corner of
his mind still nudged him and filled him with regret. But he was certain that
this was the real thing for him; the one that when he’d emerge in happiness
will erase every bitterness, every misery, every gray sky…He saw Gotham’s gray
sky and for an instance his good mood almost evaporated yet Diana’s eyes were
there to bring back the jubilant sun and her soft, delicious lips the optimism,
life’s energy…
He enveloped her powerful body in his arms and her breasts brushed his chest as
her smooth hips his waking groin. He chased hungrily her lips and locked them
in a fascinating dance till their tongues got entangled exploring each other’s
mouth. Their bodies rubbed together harshly and for just a fleeting moment he
was afraid of hurting or causing injuries to a healing fragile human body…but
this body was as strong and invincible as his and his heart jolted happily,
free at least to enjoy what he should.
Now their hands were fondling each other’s body with violent almost brutal
movements; their lips still locked twisting in desperate pleasure, without any
fear for the lack of air in their lungs – their healthy strong lungs and their
healthy, strong hearts that could dive into excessiveness fearless…
His length was half hard and Diana’s nails that scratched his deltoid in her
passion to get the body she longed for made him go rock hard. Her other hand
was tousling violently his wet locks as his hands grabbed her rock firm
buttocks. She moaned in synchrony with his grunts and ground her slightly hairy
pubis to his groin.
It was too much for him and she felt his need laughing.
“What you wait for, Kal? I’m not a scary little boy…”
He grabbed her thighs and heaved them slightly because Diana didn’t need more.
She wrapped her endless legs around his hips and God! it was the best feeling
in his life! His dripping penis storming at her waiting entrance with a hard,
swift motion that made him worry that he hurt her.
But Diana was cupping his face glowing, her moan the only indication that she
was just entered. She was towering him the way he held her thighs high and her
happy face felt like the sun behind her. He thrust in her and Diana clenched
more his face moaning delighted…
“Stronger, Kal…” she whispered in his ear and began lapping his neck. “I’m not
going to break…You’re free at last…”
Her melodic and stern voice was the fuel for his passion: he began thrusting,
in and out, in and out, stronger, deeper as she pulled his locks brutal to lead
him, strengthening at the same time her legs’ grasp around his buttocks almost
painfully…How he enjoyed that sense! But she pushed him to go faster and
stronger moving her hips and sucking his length in the deepest of her body
clenching her vagina…Her hot, warm, velvet insides felt like heaven…and her
inner thighs rubbed on his pelvis like the finest silk in the world.
But she wanted more…she had been waiting this for too long and her insides
burnt like a thirsty sun, an exploding sun and his body obliged free to act
without any fear, to satisfy its needs…cause Diana’s frantic grunts and groans
and her legs more tightening surely would have shattered any human bones; as
her nails that dag his back would have stabbed a lesser being…
Yet there was no fear…just jubilation, just explosive passion and wet breaths
and his tongue licking her breasts that were dripping wet but from sweat; his
hands fondling brutally her body’s curves and secrets; his pants faster than
ever, her heart leaping from exhilaration upon his; his penis more alive than
ever; his body was floating above the waters without knowing.
He moved them under the waterfall and Diana gave out an excited yell, bending
her neck backwards. He took advantage to trail the curve of her neck and then
the dimple leading to her chest; the running water made her taste and smell
even more captivating…His mouth ended up in her swelling breasts so soft and
delicious that he was gnawing to Diana’s immense pleasure that showed off by
her violent clutch at his buttocks.
She was moving up and down to increase her pleasure, panting and groaning
loudly pushing his buttocks forwards to give more impetus to his thrusts.
He was drinking the water that fell from her nipple and it was the most
delicious liquid in the world that intoxicated him and made his length throb
frantically ready to explode mimicking the sound of the waterfall…
Clark jolted upright from the bed and stormed to the bathroom; he hardly made
it to the bathtub before he ejaculated. He stayed before the porcelain tub numb
because he felt the greatest satisfaction of his life; he was panting as his
mind remade the sensations of the soft, strong body of his dream.
He closed his eyes and ruffled his hair; it was wrong…he was acting like a
horny teen that was carried away by his hormones. He opened the faucet and his
semen was washed off; he raised his eyebrows – it was too much even for his
standards and he was grateful that had managed to get in the bathroom on
time…He’d have soaked the whole bed, the mattress and poor Bruce. And then
apart from the embarrassment he’d have to explain; imagine Alfred trying to
clean his mess. A nightmare.
Thankfully, he had slept naked so his clothes were safely hanged from the back
of an armchair. He stepped into the tub and opened the shower though the
falling water was a constant reminder of his dream; however he had to clean
himself and lower his temperature.
He wore a bathrobe and returned to the bedroom to dress. It was still five in
the morning but he’d go to work earlier – after all, Bruce wasn’t supposed to
wake before eight.
Bruce…His heart ached for him contrasting the avalanche of carnal pleasure
before. That dream alone offered him more pleasure than Bruce ever did…He bit
hard his bottom lip chastising and cursing himself because that was unfair.
Bruce was so much more than just a body to satisfy his needs – Bruce was
everything: his salvation, his soul mate…
“Pump it more! I want them really big!” Falcone barked to his number one
henchman who happily obliged.
“No! No, please, no; no more, sir; please, master…” his voice was really young
and pitiful begging like this but it hurt so much…
His arms were tied above his head, outstretched and even his good arm pained
while his cripple right hand was crucifying him. But the pain that towered
everything else was of his chest. And then became even worse as the sucking was
stronger, as Chill obeyed his boss. His small legs shook violently tied spread
in the two corners of the table bent in the knees.
He cried like a baby with sobs and whines but the worse was feelling that he
was ready to piss himself…
“No…” he begged but it sounded like a meow.
He had his eyes closed but he felt immediately his master’s gunpoint pressing
his left arm.
“I know ya like it, ya littl’ bitch…ask for more or I’m gonna fill yar arm with
bullets an’ then ya’ll be moping the floor with yar tongue! Say it!” he roared
and the gunpoint stabbed his flesh as Chill pumped more stretching his nipples
to their limits.
“M…more…” he mumbled because his right arm hurt too much and he didn’t want his
left hurting the same – and then how he was supposed to do his chores? His
heart pounded and that increased the pain in his breasts.
“Louder!” Falcone screamed in a mix of threat and delighted laughter.
And he obeyed asking for more and then begging for more till his master was
satisfied from his swollen nipples and black and blue breasts. Falcone took off
the glass- like things that were stuck to his breasts and his body convulsed
violently because it hurt more…his face was drenched from tears and saliva had
dripped from his mouth to wet his neck – he was sobbing.
Sobbing and whining and groaning louder and faster between his gasps as Falcone
rubbed the swollen nipples between his fingers, thrilled from his feat.
And then Chill brought a strange tool that looked like a gun and gave it to
Falcone who grinned.
His eyes bulged and his breath became even faster because he knew that there
was more pain coming.
“No…” he whined between his sobs shaking weakly his head; he saw his master
bringing the strange gun to his right nipple.
Falcone smiled and pulled the trigger. His pitiful howl echoed in the room as a
nail pierced the base of his nipple splashing blood in the air.
“Please…” a second nail to the tip of his swollen nipple was his answer and his
stretched body jerked from pain and violent sobs.
Both of them were sniggering when Falcone did the same with his left nipple;
their amusement became greater as his body was trembling uncontrollably and his
pants became louder. He had his eyes closed and his left fist clenched but that
wasn’t enough to fight the pain as the nails in his right nipple began burning
him.
He widened his eyes and saw flames behind the liquid curtain over his eyes:
Falcone had ignited his lighter and burnt the nails sending the burning through
his tortured nipple. Falcone glanced at Chill and the giant lit his lighter
doing the same with his left nipple.
“Please! I beg you, master, stop!” he yelled as the metal inside his tender
flesh burnt him; his stretched legs convulsed in a futile effort to escape.
“No! No! No!”
A slap made his head spin on the metallic table and the mobster clenched his
jaw forcing him to look at his face.
“Whine an’ moan an’ sob like a good slut or else I’ll pump yar tiny willie an’
make a hedgehog after!”
He gulped and nodded, clenching his jaw as they continued their entertainment
lashing his breasts with a crop…it was minutes later or hours – he didn’t know
for sure because his mind was slipping in and out of consciousness.
The so familiar and so horrific sound of Falcone’s fly lowering made his tired
heart sank…the grip of the enormous hands in his tied hips were like a
tombstone and his master casually but brutally impaled him with his rock hard
member leaning his weight upon him to bite hard his battered, bleeding nipple.
He whined and sobbed causing a cruel snigger and an even crueler thrust…He
cried and his body writhed desperately…
Clark who was buttoning the last of his ugly shirt turned like a robot when
heard the thrashing; it wasn’t a very violent movement but his senses could
catch every detail as well as the brain waves in Bruce’s brain. He knew these
brain waves and was terrified from them every time because this meant that
Bruce had a flashback.
“Damn!”
He hurried to the bed and sat. He petted the younger man’s locks hoping that
he’d offer some comfort even in the depths of Bruce’s flashback.
Clark pressed his lips and cursed himself sensing his lover’s distress. He was
wet dreaming, ejaculating in wild satisfaction while Bruce lived the eternal
Hell of his past…because of Clark’s actions of last night.
He caressed Bruce’s neck that was drenched in sweat and trembled from his
frantic heartbeat and breath.
Chill had bent him over a barrel and lowered his pants hastily.
“My turn, Prince…” his foul breath moisturized his ear.
His breasts and nipples pained like Hell still pierced with nails since Falcone
wanted him to bear them all night. Still the violent spreading of his thighs
was worse after Falcone’s endless hammering. He could feel fluids still
dripping on his inner thighs and his blood was among those liquids; yet the
giant didn’t care and stormed inside his shaking body…
A tender hand brushed his hair and it was as if the sun entered Dolcetto’s dark
and humid basement; as if the sun chased away that painful night, same as every
other night…His Sun…A kiss in his sweaty forehead dripping affection…
“Clark…” as soon as he opened his eyes he was met with Clark’s kind, beautiful
face.
Clark admired Bruce: he just woke from a tormenting flashback and his stare was
strong, unflinching, solemn. Only his messy hair and his slightly elevated
heartbeat revealed what he’s been through and soon his iron willpower
controlled that too. He even tried to hide from Clark the signals to his brain
about pain.
“I know you’re in pain” he whispered tenderly. “Don’t tire yourself trying to
conceal it from me…” he caressed his cheeks.
Bruce gave a faint curl of his lips.
“It’s not real pain; just my mind playing tricks with my body” he huffed. “Ra’s
would have scoffed at me for not being able to keep my dreams from affecting my
body…”
“Ra’s Al Ghul was a fool” Clark said disgusted on the memory of the man. “You
surpassed him in every field!”
Bruce smiled and kept his hand the last second before it twitched to caress his
screaming breasts. It’s not real, he kept repeating to himself without showing
anything to Clark.
“I provoked that” the Man of Steel said remorseful understanding. “With my
carelessness last night!”
Bruce didn’t want him blaming himself. He used his elbows as support to lift
his torso.
“Flashbacks aren’t new to me.”
But Clark shook his head.
“But after you woke from coma they vanished until I…” he sighed.
“Maybe the Fortress kept them at bay but as its effect wears off they come
back.”
Clark didn’t like the prospect of Bruce being again tormented by those violent
flashbacks. He helped him settle in a sitting position, placing a pillow on his
back.
“Do you want to speak to me about your flashback? You’ll feel better…”
Bruce smiled and Clark noticed how pale he was. The younger man pushed some
stray locks from his forehead and shook his head.
“No” he pierced Clark with his stare. “I don’t want to share such filth” his
voice was firm “besides if I tell you, I’ll stink to you worse…” he chuckled.
Clark blushed and felt deeply ashamed.
“You never stink, Bruce!” his hand jerked to pet the side of his face.
“C’mon, Clark…” he answered nonchalant “I might not have your super senses but
I know how you breathe and the little changes when you like a smell or you’re
disgusted. And lately your breath when you nuzzle me is abruptly cut as if you
can’t bear my smell.”
Bruce’s eyes sparkled into his, not angry but demanding from him to be honest.
“Sometimes I catch their stink on your body…” he admitted locking eyes with
him.
Bruce nodded; he didn’t seem hurt but Clark knew that it was a blow and he was
ashamed of himself for giving so much value to these things and letting them
ruin what he had with Bruce…while Bruce was struggling to heal.
“Falcone’s, Ra’s’, Chill’s, Bane’s, Talia’s…” Bruce counted pressing his lips.
“I understand your aversion: it’s too much.”
Clark knew what he was going to say next: I told you, Clark…And Clark didn’t
want Bruce to believe that he was right then for trying to hold him away; for
denying himself a chance in love.
The Man of Steel locked their lips together and massaged softly.
“I don’t want you even to give a second thought about that, okay?” his eyes
were almost in agony and Bruce felt for him. “Something is wrong with me lately
and I’m acting like a creep; and I cause you distress and discomfort. But I
love you and that’s the only truth. I won’t let anything stupid ruin what we
have” he found his breath. “I almost lost you up there” his voice was a hoarse
whisper “I held you dead in my arms for 189 seconds…” he felt shivers and
sensed that Bruce felt the same.
Bruce cupped his jaw and kissed his lips feathery.
“I got the impression that something affects you, Clark. Like then with the
substance in my body or the special Kryptonite.”
Clark’s eyes widened.
“Do you think that my immunization worn off?”
“I’m not sure. Lucius said that the results would be permanent but given your
alien physiology we can’t be sure. Or maybe what happened at the factory and my
treatment afterwards might have changed something in my body and the substance
my cells produce. I already had Lucius take some samples to test but I think
you should do the same along with your tests with Jor El.”
That would explain his sudden aversion to Bruce and then his sex maniac
attitude towards him but it couldn’t explain his attraction to Diana. Maybe
that change eased him to see the truth and long for her? No! The only truth was
his love for Bruce; that damaged, wounded but so beautifully strong man…Who now
was staring at him reading him to the core.
“Sometimes I feel like a schizophrenic…” Clark chuckled. “Like always battling
with some voices…Do you think I’m crazy?”
Bruce wrapped his arms around Clark’s neck and rubbed his hot cheeks to his
neck.
“You’re not crazy but you have to promise me that you’ll listen to me till we
find out what’s going on. Okay?” his eyes shining with honest love locked with
Clark’s.
Clark felt his entire body being flooded with the warmth that only Bruce was
capable of giving him. With Bruce he was safe…from himself. He remembered the
dream and how wonderful he felt…he had brought Diana into this too. And she was
gorgeous, desirable but Bruce was his love.
“I promise: I gladly surrender my life to your hands” he nodded chuckling. “I’m
yours to lead…” he touched his forehead to Bruce’s. “Promise me that you won’t
give up on me however stupid my behavior – promise that you’ll always bear in
mind that this jerk isn’t the real Clark?”
“I’ll stand by your side throughout this unless you decide otherwise…”
Clark shook his head.
“I won’t! There’s no chance I’ll ever decide to leave you” he cupped Bruce’s
face and licked his own lips determined. “Tonight I’ll take you to meet my Ma”
he wouldn’t let that crazy phase of his life thwart his relationship with
Bruce.
Bruce’s eyes widened.  Clark could see his surprise, hesitation and…fear.
“Clark, are you sure?” he asked and Clark could read Bruce’s doubt about his
feelings for Diana – Bruce was more than insightful.
Clark tousled Bruce’s locks.
“Of course I am! Ma wants so much to meet you and I think this is the best
timing!”
Bruce shook his head.
“The best timing?”
“Definitely.”
“Don’t you want to wait?”
Clark shook his head.
“Nooope! You’re my only truth, Bruce…” he saw Bruce thoughtful and frowned.
“You sound like you’re afraid, Batman!” he said challengingly. “Besides it’s
fair: I already met Alfred so it’s your turn to meet my mother; I met Tony and
Selina but I don’t have any siblings for you to meet. So your work will be
easier: contrary to the 2/3 of your family, my Ma is an easy case. And you’re
already her sweetie.”
Bruce felt happy but still that annoying knot prickled his insides. Clark as if
sensing it leaned and caressed his cheekbone.
“Be ready: after the work I’ll drop by to take you there…”
Bruce could feel that his enthusiasm was true and Clark was beaming like a
little boy as he walked to the window. He turned to wave him goodbye but then
he changed his mind and rushed to the bed engaging Bruce in a kiss that took
his breath away.
“Don’t stretch yourself much in the office” he said warning “and dress warm:
outside is icy cold and that goes for our flight too. And sleep a couple of
hours more – it’s still too early.”
True. The sky was still a dark blue black as Superman took off for Metropolis.
But Bruce couldn’t sleep anymore: his breasts ache and his mind was racing
searching explanations for Clark’s attitude: it was some effect or just he was
in love with someone else and his kind heart was struggling to not hold back on
what he promised to Bruce; to not hurt him.
Bruce sighed and almost wished that Clark was just ill or affected by something
or someone so they could fight it together. But immediately felt ashamed
because this was selfish; because there was a simpler and safer possibility for
Clark and Bruce should wish for that instead: Clark could be just in love with
someone else…the Princess, and Bruce didn’t want to admit it trying to find
excuses to avoid letting go of Clark…
He closed his eyes: for the time being what mattered was that Clark wanted to
be with him and the Man of Steel was adamant about his love.
 
His first job when he arrived at the Wayne Tower was to ask Ms. Philips to
arrange a Press Conference for tomorrow: as much as this felt like a real
burden, he had promised Gotham’s Press to answer their questions if they left
the children enjoy their party – well, reporters kept their end of the deal and
now it was his turn.
Then he visited the legal department where Mr. Collins, the Head of the
Department, almost berated him for not calling him to come to his office
instead. Obviously, the man thought that Bruce shouldn’t tire himself with
unnecessary runs.
Bruce thanked him for his concern and asked him to prepare the papers for the
really urgent matter they had already spoken about yesterday.
He ended up to Lucius’ laboratory: the man though nowadays his position in the
company was strong still spent many of his working hours in the lab. So when
Bruce went to his office first, Lucius’ secretary told him that he was at the
Research and Development.
“Good morning, Mr. Wayne” Lucius greeted him as soon as he left the lift and
Bruce greeted back.
The scientist was engrossed in the flood of data in his flat screen and
although cheerful as ever the way he looked at his boss seemed a bit scolding.
“You could have asked me to come to your office.”
Bruce smiled.
“It is the second time I hear that today…I run the company, Mr. Fox so why not
doing that also literally since I have this very handful chair doing it for
me?”
Lucius grinned.
“So how can I help this time?”
“I’m aware that I loaded you with too many things…”
The scientist frowned.
“I gave you ever the impression that I was overloaded?” he chuckled.
Bruce shook his head a bit embarrassed.
“No, of course not!”
“Glad to hear because I feared that age caught up with me and I disappoint
you!”
Bruce laughed.
“No way! So…about the samples you took from me?”
Lucius sobered and took off his glasses.
“I see it is rather serious…Good thing I began the tests immediately” Bruce’s
eyes shone eager and Lucius pressed his lips. “I don’t want to be intrusive but
is everything alright with Mr. Kent?”
Bruce touched his hand to Lucius’ working bench and glanced at his screen.
“From the moment I told you to take the samples I saw you understood…I’m
grateful you were so discreet.”
“Till now…” Lucius chuckled. “But I might be able to help more effectively if I
know what’s going on…and I do care for your wellbeing.”
The younger man nodded.
“I know, Lucius; and you’re not intrusive – as a matter of fact you have every
right to ask besides it is pretty obvious when I come here asking you that.
So…There are some changes in Clark’s behavior lately.”
Lucius fixed his solemn eyes to Bruce’s.
“Violence against you?” he asked.
“No…” he licked his lips uncomfortable wondering if indeed there wasn’t any
violence in Clark almost penetrating him without his content – but he realized
that Lucius was very focused watching him. “Just some aspects of his behavior
are a bit changed and he has realized it himself so we want to see if there’s
an organic reason.”
Lucius put his glasses on the bench.
“Organic reason in you?”
Bruce gulped.
“Actually, I thought that maybe this substance my cells create has mutated
again due to my…accident and the following treatment so Clark’s immunization
isn’t entirely effective anymore.”
Lucius was nodding thoughtful.
“If we want to have this possibility tested accurately we need samples from Mr.
Kent too.”
“I know and Clark will come to give you samples – actually, he is already doing
some tests in the Fortress. But I thought that we could start with me.”
Lucius pressed his lips.
“I had warned you the day you came that exacting tissue sample wasn’t the best
procedure for you to undertake at this stage – if Dr. Thompkins knew I’d be in
serious trouble.”
Bruce was shaking his head huffing.
“I know, Lucius; but a small discomfort is really nothing. Did you find
anything?” his agony was evident.
“I need to observe your samples more, Mr. Wayne but from what I’ve seen already
there’s no change in the substance or the way your cells work in general” Bruce
was watching avidly, no relief in his features. “But I need time and fresh
samples from your friend to test them and watch their interaction with yours.”
Bruce nodded determined.
“He’ll come soon” he said confident. “Lucius, I saw the updated list of the
items found in LexLabs” Lucius’ eyes sparkled with understanding “and your
separate report about some ‘special’ objects.”
“I see you were quite active even being under the weather; as we register more
items from those labs some of them present a pattern.”
Bruce looked Lucius pointedly.
“For everyone or just you?” he asked teasingly and Lucius grinned.
“I hope you won’t consider it bragging if I say just me…”
“Not at all…Tell me more.”
Lucius put his glasses on and tapped some keys bringing several photos on the
screen.
“They were found in various labs all over the states stashed as items of no
importance.”
“But you beg to differ…”
A flashing smile revealed Lucius’ white teeth; the scientist shook his head.
“You know me so well, Mr. Wayne! And things of “no importance” in Luthor’s labs
persuade me for the opposite…” he nodded. “Indeed, I see a pattern in these
objects and probably there are more of them; I think that they form something
bigger…”
“Like what?” Bruce asked intrigued.
Lucius pressed his lips.
“I’m afraid I can’t answer that for the time being: they don’t fit anything I
know; and even Mr. Stark who is engaged in every kind of breakthrough
technology doesn’t have any answers…”
“I bet Tony isn’t happy about this…”
Lucius shook his head.
“No, he isn’t…So we decided to gather these items in a totally safe vault in
the Wayne Tower till we find all the items and discover what they build
together…”
Bruce’s mind was racing.
“It might be what all these raids targeted.”
“It’s very possible.”
“And this could explain the interest of the unknown big player who dictated
Luthor’s illegal release” he rubbed his chin.
Lucius raised his eyebrows.
“They couldn’t imagine that Gotham had a hidden ace and would stop them.”
“For the time being: we won’t be able to keep him in prison for much longer.”
“This doesn’t change the fact that our friend is furious” Lucius chuckled and
pressed some keys bringing on screen a video from GCN’s morning news.
On the bottom of the screen a caption flashed: Lex Luthor sues Gotham’ judicial
system. Bruce snorted.
“This outrageous violation of Constitution and federal justice won’t stay
unpunished” Luthor was speaking through a phone to the newscaster and his voice
although icy, cold and composed as ever, still had a small almost imperceptible
tremor that hinted an indescribable wrath or despair. “The denial of my release
with the ridiculous citing of an obsolete and illegal parchment is violating my
human rights and every sense of democracy this country fought to maintain.
Therefore I’m suing the state of New Jersey and Gotham in particular and I
won’t stop before I’m justified and receive restitution for the time I’m
illegally held in prison.”
Lucius stopped the video and looked at Bruce.
“That long forgotten paragraph really ruined Luthor’s mood” Lucius chuckled.
“And his partner’s” but there was another thought in Bruce’s mind. “Lucius, you
found something that is unknown to everyone in Luthor’s labs and that reminds
me that the beings that attacked me were also made of unknown material.”
Lucius frowned and nodded.
“You think that they are connected? We didn’t find anything in his labs that
imply the creation of those beings.”
“Yes, I know; yet maybe the beings were already delivered to his partner or
belonged to him from the start. We know Luthor’s loath about both me and
Superman so he could have asked from his partner to attack me in exchange for
his services and the promise to deliver him his ‘thing’.”
Lucius lolled his head to the side intrigued.
“Still…how they knew where you were?”
“Someone who has the power to take a decree that arbitrary orders the release
of a convicted criminal can have the means to locate someone.”
“Even with Mr. Stark’s concealing systems?”
Bruce shrugged.
“We don’t know who we dealing with.”
Lucius huffed.
“You shouldn’t be stretching yourself, Mr. Wayne; I’m sure that Batman
discovered that Crane had found refuge in the old industrial area: you should
rest a bit.”
Bruce smiled.
“Unfortunately they didn’t find Crane…”
“The police found his DNA, tubes with chemicals and an open TV: Crane must have
escaped just before the police reached him” Bruce shook his head. “Yet that
doesn’t change that you must focus on your recovery.”
“I am. But reality doesn’t wait for me to overcome my disability and I don’t
have the luxury to stay in front of the fireplace and read novels or watch
movies while villains plot” he inhaled. “This is the reason I asked for that
special armor” his eyes flashed hopeful “is there any development?”
Lucius blinked.
“I was expecting you to ask about the development of your spine parts…” he
pressed one key and the large screen filled with a projection of his body – the
flashing light blue parts throughout his spine, pelvis and legs were the alien
energy casts that connected his fractured bones. Around the body floated the
pieces that would be adjusted to his spine to enable him to walk again.
Bruce clenched his jaw. He knew how badly shattered his body was but still
every time he saw it, a punch was delivered in his guts and he had to gather
again his courage into chasing away the dread that that grave damage couldn’t
be restored.
“This can be delayed, Lucius” he said determined though he craved to walk again
“this has to do with Bruce Wayne – Batman on the other hand can’t wait.”
Lucius cocked his eyebrows.
“I think that Mr. Stark would have a different opinion…”
Bruce fixed his eyes on him.
“Is he putting the armor behind?”
The scientist closed his eyes and sighed.
“We both set as our priority your healing, Mr. Wayne” he took in his employee’s
frown. “If you walk again then the new armor would have a better use than if
you wear it while being still a paraplegic.”
Bruce yanked his head frustrated.
“I can’t believe it, Lucius! After everything we discussed Tony has talked you
out of this!”
The scientist held the younger man’s upper arms.
“Calm down, Mr. Wayne…We didn’t cancel the project; we work on it too” he
blinked “I work on it and Mr. Stark has an advisory part. We just set as first
priority the bionic parts of your spine so that your healing coincides with the
delivery of your new armor.”
Lucius’ eyes were reassuring but Bruce’s heart fell.
“I don’t have time, Lucius” he said dead serious, his eyes piercing the
scientist’s. “Either you two make the armor or I build it myself.”
The vibe of betrayal was so intense in Bruce’s voice that Lucius’ hands fell
and the younger man turned to leave. But in front of the lift Bruce looked
again at his loyal scientist.
“I know you want the best for me and I won’t force you to act against what you
believe…I don’t forget what you did and what you’re doing for me.”
Lucius inhaled deeply and pressed his lips.
“I’ll build your armor, Mr. Wayne; you’re right – building the armor won’t take
much time and Mr. Stark and the other team can continue focusing on your spinal
parts.”
Bruce nodded.
“Thank you, Lucius.”
The scientist smiled.
“You’re welcome, Mr. Wayne and…be careful with Mr. Kent.’’
The youth smiled.
“He’d never hurt me, Lucius…” he got into the lift and the doors closed.
Lucius eyes were blank.
“I hope you’re right, Bruce.”
 
Lois eyed suspiciously under a deep frown Clark approaching her desk with his
casual fake clumsiness. He was holding a rose that gave to her.
“What have you done?” she cocked her eyebrows “Again?”
“Nothing!” he smiled and hoped on her desk throwing to the floor her pencil
case and phone. “Oh! Mmm! S…Sorry!” he slumped to the floor to gather her
things and bring them back causing the laughter of their colleagues.
Lois rolled her eyes.
“Enough with the show… Is really necessary doing your act with…MY THINGS?” she
brushed affectionately her things. “That phone is the first cell phone I
bought!” she inhaled. “Anyway, speak! What have you done this time?” she asked
in business matter.
Clark crossed his arms, shook his head and beamed.
“I’m taking Bruce to Ma.”
Lois widened her eyes.
“So, indeed, you did something awful and want to appease your guilt…” she shook
her head.
Clark’s stare was hurt; he lolled his head on the side.
“You’re mean! I wanted to do that for ages! Ma wanted so much to meet Bruce but
I waited till he is better.”
Lois crooked her mouth in disbelief and Clark huffed, standing from her desk
which to Lois’ relief didn’t have a dimple from Clark’s butt made of steel.
“Ugh! I’m stupid for wanting to share my joy with you!” he spat mock angry.
She patted his upper arm pressing her lips.
“Good luck, farmboy. But be careful…”
Clark gave a huge grin and nodded before returning to his desk, Lois shaking
her head.
“Ouch!” she exclaimed suddenly realizing the pain in the hand she was patting
Clark with.
 
“That’s enough for today, Bruce” Matt said looking with narrowed eyes to the
control panel; his patient had done only one walking movement with the
machine’s help.
Bruce had been doing his routine working out for an hour and now was the best
part: walking again even if his legs were helped by exosceletons and the orders
were given by machine. His new Batman armor would use exactly the same
technology albeit more advanced.
He frowned at his physiotherapist who put a large towel on his drenched in
sweat back.
“Why?”
Matt seemed troubled but tried to keep a nonchalant expression.
“We’ll do our massage section – I think it’s better after two days of non-
action.”
The blond man assisted Bruce to sit to the working out chair and removed
carefully the exoskeleton parts. Bruce was already thinking what he said about
only doing the massage: while taking shower in the morning he noticed that the
bruises on his thighs from Clark’s violent ministrations were still blue-black
and…striking. He couldn’t strip or wear shorts else Matt would notice and ask
questions.
“No massage, Matt.”
It was the other man’s turn to frown.
“May I ask the reason, Bruce?” he asked softly. “You feel any discomfort?”
Bruce looked him straight in the eyes.
“Why you stopped the walking and didn’t mention swimming? If it was the two day
lack of working out, you wouldn’t have let me do the other exercises.”
Matt pouted and crouched before him.
“Because Bicep Femoris and Adductor Magnus – the muscles in both your thighs –
are badly contracted: the control panel connecting with the exoskeleton showed
it” Bruce’s eyes widened. “Your energy casts thwarted any further damage but if
we continued walking we could have worsened things” Matt smiled to reassure his
patient. “A couple of massage sections and the cramps will be eased.”
Bruce shook his head.
“I can’t have a massage…”
Matt locked eyes with him.
“Bruce, what’s wrong? You don’t trust me anymore?”
“I do.”
“So can I have a look?” he asked softly, carefully and Bruce dreaded that his
physiotherapist was seeing the rape victim he had read about.
Bruce nodded and Matt unbuttoned the sides of his gym pants and revealed his
thighs. Matt’s gasp wasn’t really a gasp but Bruce heard it immediately since
he anticipated it. He watched the young physiotherapist lick his lips
uncomfortable and trying to hide his anger taking in the ugly blue-black finger
shaped bruises; controlling his breath, Matt examined the other thigh. He
looked Bruce in the eyes.
“It’s not what you think” Bruce said firm.
Matt shook his head and blinked.
“Bruce, that’s…” his outrage was now evident.
“Matt, you don’t understand…Sometimes I feel so frustrated from the lack of any
sensation in my legs that I dig my fingers to feel some pain from the areas
that still have neurons. And sometimes I overdo it and bruises.”
He could see in the blond man’s face that he didn’t buy that: he would have met
such marks before if that was true.
“Those fingers are bigger than yours, Bruce…”
“No, no…Listen, Matt: it’s not fingers; it’s connected bruises that look like
fingers…” this sounded lame even to him.
Matt held his upper arms.
“Okay, calm down, Bruce…you don’t need to explain anything to me” Bruce lolled
his head huffing exasperated. “Let’s examine those muscles, huh?”
Bruce couldn’t feel anything but by watching Matt’s ministrations he could tell
that his fingers were feeling his bruised muscles very softly and carefully.
Softness that left Matt’s features the more he continued: Bruce could tell that
the youth was enraged.
“The muscles are badly contracted…and this is three days’ old” he mumbled more
to himself. “Listen, Bruce; take a shower and then we’ll massage those muscles
properly” he was afraid that his reactions had panicked his patient and his
hands remained on the bruised areas. “Nobody has the right to treat you like
this, Bruce” he said calmly.
Bruce was happy that Selina wasn’t there – at first he was a bit worried and
disappointed she hadn’t brought Hero back yet. But right now her absence as
well as Tony’s and Alfred’s were welcomed.
“Matt, I told you…”
Matt’s hands were massaging his cramped muscles and the blond man was looking
him in the eyes.
“You don’t have to tell me anything, Bruce; but you could speak to Tony or
Selina or Alfred or Leslie…There are so many people who love you…”
Bruce’s stare was so intense in Matt’s eyes that the physiotherapist stopped
speaking abruptly.
“Matt, you won’t tell anything to Tony or anyone else” his voice was steely.
“Bruce, there is nothing to be ashamed of in that – you didn’t do anything
wrong.”
But Bruce’s eyes were determined.
“Matt, you won’t tell anything” he repeated.
Matt huffed and shook his head defeated.
“Okay, I don’t want you upset; I won’t do something you don’t want. But you
should tell them if these things are happening” his voice was soft like talking
to a child. “I understand that there might be someone in your life…”
“That’s right!” a stentorian voice vibrated the gym and Bruce who had heard the
whoosh looked at Superman’s imposing form in disbelief.
Superman’s face was contorted in anger; he had entered from the master
bedroom’s window and hearing what they were saying and that sly man’s touches
rushed in the gym where the spectacle disgusted him: Bruce’s pants undone and
that guy fondling him.
Bruce stared at Superman flabbergasted and angry; his lover’s eyes were lined
by red and his arms were crossed evidently clenched.
Matt was accustomed to be in the presence of super powered beings but still
seeing Superman there – despite the fact he had heard the rumors – startled
him. And the hero’s posture emanated wrath. Yet the young man wasn’t a coward
and if Superman had bruised Bruce and now was dangerously jealous he wouldn’t
let his patient helpless.
He stood up.
“Superman?”
Superman’s smirk was poison.
“Exactly! Bruce is mine and nobody touches him!”
Matt shook his head.
“But I didn’t…I mean…I did but this is my job: treating muscles. You can’t
honestly think…”
Superman uncrossed his arms and made a step forwards, a wave of hot anger
hitting the physiotherapist only from his movement.
“You think you can fool me?!!”
An outraged, jealous Superman was the most terrifying thing to face but Matt
wouldn’t flinch; he strengthened his body in front of Bruce.
“Superman, stop!”
Matt’s eyes bulged; he couldn’t believe it. His patient sitting on his
wheelchair stood between him and Superman, not a flinch of fear in his voice
facing the most powerful being on the planet angry as Hell. He always admired
Bruce for his strength and courage but that bravery really caused him goose
bumps. Especially, when Superman stopped in his heels: not appeased, still
angry but somehow mesmerized by those eyes that pierced his.
“Matt, you can go” Bruce said to him calmly without breaking eye contact with
Superman whose face was still contorted.
“I’ll call…”
“You won’t call anyone” Bruce ordered and Matt knew that he couldn’t disobey
even if his conscience urged him to. “Everything is alright – I’ll see you
tomorrow.”
“As you wish” he answered and gathered his things ashamed for leaving Bruce
alone; Superman engaged in that eye contest with the impaired human didn’t even
glanced at him leaving the room.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Bruce asked after Matt closed the door and
the sound of his steps vanished.
Superman squinted and his face muscles’ spasms made him almost ugly.
“That’s my question!”
In a flash he grabbed Bruce’s upper arms and lifted him from the wheelchair
covering the distance to the master bedroom in less than thirty seconds and
settled the human in a sitting position on the bed. Bruce’s stare didn’t flinch
even though this time he could feel the bruising grasp on his upper arms that
Superman didn’t let go.
“Can you calm down and release my arms?” Bruce asked completely unfazed by
Superman’s panting breath that burnt his face as his enraged eyes locked with
his calm ones.
But Superman didn’t seem to have listened at all.
“Is that why you made all these fuss about me and Diana? Is this why you made
me feel ill? To run around doing tests letting you free to fuck with your
physiotherapist?!”
Bruce’s eyes widened.
“You still smell Falcone on me; if what you say was true you’d have smelt that
as well” he controlled the feel of insult that boiled inside him.
Superman laughed really snidely.
“You’re cunning! You definitely found a way to cover the smell of fucking with
him!’’
“Clark, it’s happening again – you’re out of your mind.”
He shook his head and tightened his hold.
“You’re out of arguments already, babe? Matt, you won’t tell anything to Tony
or anyone else”he mimicked Bruce’s voice. “Bruce, there is nothing to be
ashamed of in that – you didn’t do anything wrong” he did the same with the
physiotherapist’s voice. “I think it’s pretty obvious – I’m not thatdumb, you
know…He is fucking you months now and he wanted to tell Tony and the others but
you didn’t want because Stark would brag and mock me and you didn’t want me to
know!”
Bruce closed his eyes.
“Why would I want to do the nonsense you say?” he asked tranquil in sharp
contrast to Clark’s frantic rant.
“Because you want the blond hunk who is a human like you but you don’t want to
lose Superman either” Bruce was staring at him with eyes unreadable like
shining walls.
“You consider me a slut, then…” he said so calm that Clark even in his enraged
condition was baffled.
Superman shook him.
“I heard you, Bruce! Damn it! I saw you!”
“What you saw?”
“Your pants unbuttoned and he fondling your thighs! Fire him right now!”
Bruce yanked his head in defiance.
“He only does his job.”
“Oh, yeah?” Superman snorted. “And what’s his job? Giving you blow jobs, as
right before I came in? You might not feel anything but I’m sure he definitely
had a helluva party!” he hissed.
It stung because it was unprecedented; the pain wasn’t much but the shock was
greater; he didn’t see it coming but Bruce had just slapped him in the face. He
looked at the human who ground his teeth, his hand left on the mattress
carelessly.
“Master Bruce, is everything alright?” Alfred’s voice behind the door was
composed but there was a hue of wariness; he must have heard the ruckus.
“Fine, Alfred” Bruce mastered calmness back in his voice. “Please, go now and
I’ll call you.”
He waited with his ears on Alfred’s retreating footsteps and then stabbed
Clark’s eyes with his.
“Scan my groin, you fool! Is there any signs of saliva?”
“Then what he was talking about? Why he was fondling you?” his voice was still
raspy.
“He wasn’t fondling me: he was massaging the cramps in my thighs’ muscles. The
muscles three days now are contracted…badly.”
The shock of Bruce’s slap was nothing in comparison with that: Clark quickly
scanned Bruce’s almost naked thighs and ruffled his sweaty hair. Indeed, the
muscles in Bruce’s thighs were like stones from cramps that remained unrelieved
for three days …
“I didn’t notice…” he mumbled what he was thinking looking up at Bruce’s stern
eyes.
Bruce nodded.
“You’re preoccupied with other things…” he said coldly.
“What you forbade him to tell to Tony?”
Bruce blinked.
“He saw the bruises over my thighs and wanted to tell my friends because he
though” he inhaled “that someone abuses me…”
Clark bit his bottom lip: it was obvious that his violent grasp that night in
his thirst to spread Bruce’s thighs provoked the cramps and since Bruce
couldn’t feel the pain his cramps remained unsolved. He jerked his head
backwards and huffed.
“I fucked up again, right?” he muttered but Bruce wasn’t looking at him
anymore: his eyes were expressionless gazing at his hand that had slapped
Superman.
Clark took gently Bruce’s hand and scanned: hitting Superman’s face was more
painful to you than Superman leading to broken bones and this time Clark
actually felt pain which meant that the human had used considerable strength.
Thankfully, there was no cracked or broken bone but it’d certainly bruise.
“How?” he asked puzzled about the lack of injury.
Bruce still didn’t look at him.
“Ra’s. The last years of my training had me punching bricks and pillars made of
steel: he was preparing me to kill you…in bed. Whenever my bones cracked or
broke he was giving me his brews.”
Superman brought Bruce’s palm to his mouth but Bruce twitched it away.
“I’m sorry, Bruce…”
Bruce didn’t look him.
“Every time you repeat that it sounds less honest.”
Clark closed his eyes and brought his palms to his face.
“I mean it, Bruce…You know I don’t believe anything from what I told you.”
“Really?” he snapped.
“I was afraid that you wanted him – I don’t want to lose you to anyone.”
Bruce crossed his arms; his hand throbbed from the slap.
“The only one you can lose me to: is yourself!” he spat and Clark agreed.
Bruce looked around: he wanted to take a shower because the sweat from his
working out stack on him and because he wanted to distance himself from Clark.
But his wheelchair had stayed in the gym and was too far to come to his mind’s
calling.
Clark took in Bruce’s glances around and understood. He flew back in the gym
and brought the wheelchair in front of the bed for Bruce to slip in.
He stood there watching the younger man entering the bathroom and then heard
the water running, sliding over Bruce’s body. His deeds haunted his mind but
one thing shadowed everything else: he grabbed Bruce’s thighs to penetrate him
and not only caused him cramps but also didn’t scan it for three days! That
could have made serious damage to Bruce’s recovery. Thank Rao! The energy casts
must have protected him!
Bruce sat on the special seat the bathtub had and let the water fall on his
lowered head keeping his eyes shut: such moments he wished there was a way to
press a button and shut his mind as well…
“Promise me that you won’t give up on me however stupid my behavior – promise
that you’ll always bear in mind that this isn’t the real Clark?”
“I’ll stand by you throughout this, unless you decide otherwise…”
Clark jerked when the bathroom’s door opened; Bruce was muffled in his bathrobe
so meticulously that no part of his bare skin was uncovered except his neck,
hands and feet. Like that night in the greenhouse before this brave being
defeated his demons to gift Clark the greatest present: a present that Clark
just threw on the floor and trod on it.
Bruce kept his eyes away from Clark.
“I thought to leave; spare you from my presence” Clark decided to speak “but I
didn’t want you to take that for indifference. You…you said that you’ll stand
by me throughout this unless I decided otherwise…If still matters” he gulped “I
want you by my side.”
Bruce didn’t answer and Superman rushed to him falling on his knees and taking
carefully his bruised hand in his.
“If you say it, I leave” he kissed his throbbing palm. “I’ll call my Ma and
cancel the dinner…”
It was the first time Bruce looked at him though not in the eyes. Clark’s
mother did nothing wrong and Bruce didn’t want to sadden her. On the other
hand, if he pushed Clark away now whatever caused the change would gain the
total control to unpredictable results. At least, Clark still listened to him
to realize what he was doing.
“Don’t…” Clark’s eyes flashed with disbelief and then joy and gratitude. “Your
mother expects us. I’ll dress and notify Alfred to not worry.”
Clark nodded and hastened to fly outside to give Bruce some privacy.
When dressed Bruce went to the grand salon where Alfred was speaking with
Selina, Hero rubbing to her legs but as soon as he saw his young master ran to
him and climbed to his lap. Bruce smiled and petted him.
“I missed you, buddy. Hi, Sel: why so late? I’m going to take your visiting
rights back!”
“Ha! Ha!” she exclaimed. “Why you don’t admit the truth? That you missed me?”
she kissed his cheek but frowned noticing how he had his hand on his lap.
“What’s wrong with your hand?”
Alfred was watching their chat with a grim look; his eyes tense and knowing.
“Work out” Bruce answered nonchalant. “I overdid it with those pushups.”
“Matt didn’t restrain you?”
Alfred walked closer.
“Mr. Leench seemed rather nervous when he left.”
Bruce shook his head.
“You both know me… I can be completely uncontrolled” Selina shook her head
rolling her eyes but Alfred remained stone faced to Bruce’s rue; however he
chose to not address his butler’s evident knowledge. “Sel, I’m sorry I won’t be
here for dinner but I must leave.”
“May I ask where?”
Alfred already knew.
“Master Bruce is going to meet Master Kent’s mother.”
Selina’s eyes widened and she laughed.
“Your mother-in-law? Wow! You’re gonna ask his hand?”
Alfred just shook his head, definitely completely out of good spirits.
Throughout the entire flight, Bruce never let his head rest on Superman’s
shoulder; he didn’t let him take him in bridal style but remained erect holding
his waist rather lukewarmly.
It was dark and very cold without any stars and moon since heavy clouds covered
the entire sky. However as they entered the Kansas state the cold became milder
and the sky clear with an abundance of stars and a moon of three quarters.
“Do you like it?” Clark asked carefully.
“When I planned to escape with Alfred, we intended on stopping to Smallville
before heading to California…” his voice was still flat but his eyes were
taking in greedily the rural landscape even in night as Clark began descending.
“This is the farm I grew up” he said putting his feet firmly on the soil and
heaving Bruce to hold him in bridal style: now they didn’t have another choice.
“I wanted to show you my home under better conditions…even today, I was
constantly planning it…but…my stupidity ruined everything” he sighed because
Bruce’s tenseness hadn’t ebbed throughout the trip.
“When would you go to the Fortress?”
“As soon as I place you in your bed back in Gotham.”
Clark hadn’t ascended the entire front stair to the porch when Martha hurried
outside, her face beaming.
“Welcome!” she greeted them cordially. “Come in! It’s cold outside.”
She was so happy and Clark was afraid that Bruce’s gloominess would spoil her
mood and made her suspicious – which was his own fault. But Bruce as soon as
they entered the warm, small house filled with delicious smells, changed his
expression and smiled to the kind lady.
Clark placed him carefully in the most comfy armchair of their humble living
room and helped him took off his coat, Martha rushing to muffle his legs with a
soft blanket.
“This is for you, Ms. Kent” Bruce gave her a beautiful wrapped packet that took
out from the inside pocket of his coat.
Ms. Kent gaped.
“Oh, Bruce, you shouldn’t…”
“So, you two don’t need me to introduce you…” Clark said grinning relieved and
hanged the coat to the carved coat rack.
“It’s nothing…” Bruce blushed.
Martha ripped the paper and her eyes sparkled: it was a very old and rare
edition of Emily Dickinson’s poems.
“She is my favorite poet; how did you know that, dear?”
Bruce smiled.
“In the Fortress, Clark used to read me poems from a book and I noticed that
the book had some notes in handwriting that wasn’t Clark’s and seemed feminine.
Then one day I noticed in the first page the initials M.K. and I presumed that
it belonged to you.”
Clark chuckled.
“You could have just asked!”
But Martha gaped and looked at her son.
“This young man is very clever…”
Clark nodded.
“This edition is very rare, dear; from the first 19th century publications!”
“There’s a bookstore in Gotham – it was my mother’s favorite, Alfred had
recommended it. She used to take me there with her…” his voice cracked the
slightest and Martha let the book on the couch and cupped his face.
“My sweetheart…Can I kiss you?” Bruce nodded and she pecked his cheek. “Your
parents are very proud of you, dear” she looked him in the eyes and her
sparling eyes were wet “don’t you ever forget that!”
She served them her homemade pink lemonade till the meal was ready.
After the dinner Clark brought Bruce back in the living room and Bruce took his
handful of pills as he had promised to Alfred. Martha’s eyes were sad watching
the youth; she was outraged by the lengths of human cruelty that rendered him
paraplegic: she had heard in various discussions many gruesome theories about
what tortures could have caused such grave damage.
Her host had tea ready and cinnamon biscuits – without knowing that cinnamon
flavored biscuits were Bruce’s favorite. Bruce had to admit that they were as
delicious as Alfred’s.
“But don’t tell him!” he warned Clark who smiled though the coldness that still
larked in the depths of Bruce’s eyes was like punch.
When they finished, Martha stood to take the tea set to the kitchen but Clark
stopped her.
“I’ll wash the dishes; stay with Bruce” he didn’t want to force his presence to
Bruce when alone; besides, he really did dishwashing while at home.
“What is it, dear?” Martha asked Bruce softly when the water in the kitchen
would muffle her voice.
Bruce was startled because he believed that had covered it perfectly.
“Mmm…Nothing, Ms. Kent.”
“Call me Martha – and yes, you know how to hide your emotions but I’m a
mother…” she smiled. “Is anything wrong with Clark?”
Bruce pinched the bridge of his nose and shook his head.
“No; I’m just a bit tired and your house is so beautiful and warm that I’m a
little drowsy like I am home.”
“I’m happy to hear that, honey. Clark told me that you saved his life…more than
once” Bruce knew that Clark didn’t reveal to her that he was Batman. “I know
that with you my son will be always safe and happy.”
Bruce wished he could share her certainty.
“Ms. Kent…Martha…” he hesitated.
She took gently his hands in hers.
“It’s alright, dear…Clark is very lucky to have you and if he ever does
something to hurt you, call me to put him in his place” her voice was stern.
Bruce grinned.
“You found an alien baby and raised him as your shild whereas someone else
would have given him to the police…” Martha pressed her lips because Jonathan
and she knew what would happen to the baby if they handed him to the
government. “His good fortune is you and only you…Me, I am ephemeral and can be
gone from his life” Martha frowned. “But you will be always there to look after
him – I can be reassured knowing that he will always have you…”
She hugged Bruce; her hands caressed his locks.
“You’ll walk again, sweetheart; and nothing would shadow again your life…You’re
not ephemeral, Bruce: you won’t be gone from his life because he loves you and
you’re too important for him” Bruce sighed, his eyes blank gazing at the farm’s
yard through the small window. “I always feared for Clark…He was always bullied
by the other kids and then as an adult he was mocked all the time and although
he never seemed to care and helped humans…I always had the dread that someday
he’d lose his path: all this power can corrupt and the way some people sniff at
him may take the better of him; or someone could find a way to control him into
horrible deeds” Bruce jerked at that.
“But then he met you” Martha continued “and since then I’m peaceful because he
speaks about you in a way that shows his admiration, his respect: how much he
cherishes you…I’m not good in this…You’re his moral compass, Bruce; his
anchor…The warmth in his heart: a star that shows him the way. As long you’re
by his side he is safe.”
Bruce patted Martha and looked her.
“Your son is kind and generous and a beacon of hope and morality of his own; he
always has been like this” he smiled. “He doesn’t need me…You’re the pillar of
his life…You raised a remarkable man and a formidable protector of people” the
woman although proud for his praise seemed a bit shaken because she regarded
Bruce as her ally “But I promise you that whatever happens I’ll always care and
be there for him” even if he throws me out of his life.
The old lady cupped his face with both hands.
“Thank you…” she whispered relieved from his promise.
Clark upon emerging from the kitchen frowned at the scene.
“What’s going on? Bruce, are you alright?”
Bruce nodded.
They couldn’t stay much longer. Martha touched went with them till the fence.
“You’ll come again?” she asked and Bruce felt his heart clench not only because
he felt the deep loneliness of the kind lady but also because he couldn’t
promise her that.
“We’ll do, Ma! Christmas is for certain and we’ll stay the entire day!”” Clark
replied confident and beamed to Bruce who just averted his gaze to look at Ms.
Kent.
“Thank you for everything, Martha”.
“Don’t mention that, dear: thank you for the book – the ladies in the
literature club will be ecstatic. Clark, be careful with Bruce – hold him
tight!” she yelled as they took off.
In no more than ten minutes Bruce succumbed to sleep; he was exhausted, Clark
could sense that as the contracted muscles in his thighs that he would massage
as soon as they reached their bed. Even in sleep, Bruce kept his head lolled in
his own shoulder and not nestled in Clark’s neck – and Clark missed the senses…
***** Chapter 29 *****
Chapter Notes
     I always feel nervous when I get to write a chapter that I had in my
     mind from the start of the story.
“I thought you wouldn’t come back.”
“I never abandon my patients” he chuckled “unless they boot me out – am I
fired?”
Bruce mirrored Matt’s smile albeit more restrained.
“I don’t think that any of your patients gave you the ax…”
Matt raised his eyebrows.
“I have a good CV…but there’s a first time for everything” he crouched next to
Bruce’s wheelchair. “If you want me to leave” he said serious looking Bruce in
the eyes “I’ll find a good excuse for Tony to not find out that it was your
decision and ask questions” the blond pressed his lips. “I don’t want to cause
you problems with Superman.”
Bruce shook his head.
“Thank you, Matt; you don’t cause me any problems and I’m sorry about what
happened” he inhaled. “It wasn’t your fault. But I’d have understood if what
happened yesterday made you decide to not come back.”
Matt laughed.
“You mean to save my ass from being kicked by Superman?” he ruffled his hair.
“I admit that an angry, jealous super guy is a…terrifying spectacle especially
when he glares at you with red eyes but your bravery is” he shook his head
“mind blowing.”
Bruce closed his eyes.
“Inspiring…I mean if you’re so brave to stand your ground in front of him then
I won’t resign either…I’ve never been more inspired in my whole life, Bruce…and
I’m the Avengers’ physiotherapist.”
Bruce rubbed his temple.
“I’m not so brave…I know that Superman won’t hurt anyone including me.”
Matt shook his head in disbelief.
“I don’t know, Bruce…He was emanating animosity ready to explode” he clenched
his jaw. “And if I see a mark on you ever again I’ll go straight to Tony” any
sign of fear vanished. “He might have treated and saved your life but he has no
right to lay a finger on you!”
Bruce frowned.
“You knew?”
“I’m not a fool, Bruce; I know that Tony’s work is phenomenal and pioneering
but your energy casts…” he shook his head “are definitely alien. And as a
physiotherapist I know that people with traumas like yours in the majority of
the cases…” he stopped abruptly not wanting to utter it but Bruce who had
already understood urged him with his eyes “die immediately or within some
days” Bruce pressed his lips. “In that video on the clinic’s roof, you seemed
fine but I know that sometimes the lapse can be sudden and sharp: so Superman
saved you twice – once from that League and then from death and we’re all
grateful to him but that doesn’t give him authority on your life.”
“He doesn’t think like that – it was a bad moment” Matt huffed. “I appreciate
that you didn’t speak to anyone about this.”
The blond man chuckled.
“If I was the gossipy type now the talk shows would have been babbling about
anecdotes from the Avengers’ lives and I would have been at hospital with
broken bones…” he rolled his eyes. “At least…”
Bruce laughed.
“Can we proceed to our massage session? Also, you’ll take some muscle relaxants
for a couple of days and we’ll be okay!”
But Bruce didn’t reflect Matt’s radiant smile.
“You told Leslie?”
“Of course not. I used some scientific mumbo jumbo to explain the need of
muscle relaxants.”
Bruce felt a bit guilty for not sharing everything with his friends but it was
necessary and there was no reason to complicate things more. He steered the
wheel through the streets of New York; his sleek black car first seen there was
causing the awed stares of people. The GPS system was guiding him to the
Avengers’ Tower for Tony’s party.
Tony wanted to take him there himself but Bruce refused pointing out that he
was the host to this party so since his goal was to make a good impression for
the new S.H.I.E.L.D. he ought to be there for his guests. His friend had
grunted rolling his eyes on the ‘ought’ but Bruce told him smiling that he had
missed his masterpiece car and he didn’t want to miss any chance to drive –
especially, on unknown streets.
Tony was appeased and Bruce read in his eyes that his friend felt for his need
to act independently despite his disability. Alfred had stayed at Tony’s
mammoth penthouse at SoHo: inside the Tower Tony had established rooms for
every member of the team and his own was – of course – the biggest and most
luxurious (“they call me a cocky, spoiled rich brat” Tony had explained with a
lips’ purse and a shrug, “so why not leaving up to my reputation?”). Yet the
billionaire didn’t want to be restricted to a place and besides he had owned
this penthouse before Ironman was even a sperm in the genius’ mind.
Bruce’s heart felt heavier thinking his loyal butler. Alfred didn’t come to the
party to babysit Hero. Bruce had told him that there was no need for him to
leave Gotham and accompany him to New York but the Englishman was adamant.
After the incident with Matt and Clark, Alfred became more worried about him:
although the esteemed butler knew how to keep his composed demeanor, at times
Bruce caught him staring at him almost scared – his worry matching the first
days after Clark brought him from the Fortress to Tony’s villa in Thasos.
Some other times Bruce felt that Alfred was on the verge of asking him to open
his heart but the wise man didn’t do it granting him the right to decide
himself – and Bruce wished he could speak to him or Selina or Tony about what
he was experiencing but that would only worsen things and Bruce after those
perfect days hoped that their life with Clark would be again like before.
“Gotham Radio News24” he ordered the car’s AI.
He hoped to hear any update on Crane; after the unsuccessful raid at his
hideout the former doctor remained untraced. Giving that he flew from the old
industrial area just before the police arrived, someone would expect him to be
less careful with his movements in his effort to find a new refuge. Yet that
wasn’t the case: despite police’s increased efforts and raids in shady places,
the doctor seemed to have just vanished.
Bruce wished he had his new armor…that Tony had delayed behind his back. He
huffed. He didn’t confront his friend but he was sure that Tony got the message
when Lucius began fully working on the armor. Bruce wasn’t angry with Tony – he
knew that his buddy wanted the best for him – yet he felt…Not betrayed,
definitely not betrayed.
“I don’t think that people care to know the details of what the League did to
me – Police’s reports are more than enough.”
His own voice on the radio startled him. It was from his Press Conference three
days ago; his answer to a really crude question about what League did to him to
cause such injuries to him. He rolled his eyes exasperated even now though then
he didn’t: really? He was supposed to answer that? Even some of the guy’s
colleagues cast him hostile and disgusted glares.
“Gaining LexLabs’ control and the 20% of the entire LexCorp was a brilliant
move – especially, since you were kidnapped when this was done. Did you have
any insight about Luthor’s collaboration with the terrorists and his imminent
arrest so you planned it beforehand?” Alex Knox asked really intrigued.
It was one of the hardest questions yet Bruce couldn’t say that he didn’t
expect that.
“If I had any insight, I wouldn’t have even approached that suite” he smiled
and some of the reporters chuckled. “Mr. Fox has my complete trust to do what
he thinks best for the company when I’m gone: so he saw the opportunity and
exploited it.”
“That goes for Daggett, too?” Knox’s eyebrows were raised; obviously he didn’t
completely buy the Fox-did-everything thing.
Bruce had shrugged.
“You have to ask the Police about that: I was shocked when I was informed that
Mr. Daggett was plotting with Luthor.”
“What are your plans about LexLabs?” Lois Lane’s distinct voice uttered the
next question.
“Make them a scientific groundbreaking firm completely abiding by the law.”
“So you did know about Luthor’s more than shady activities” Vicky Vale had
remarked snidely.
Bruce completely calm lolled his head on the side.
“I do now along with all of you”
But her next question was what everyone wanted to ask and of course after the
Press Conference it was constantly replayed in every TV station, in news and
talk shows; the various videos at Youtube marking record views.
“Do you have a love affair with Superman?”
Bruce remembered that despite the fact he was prepared for that, he had blushed
and didn’t try to hide it because it fit. And although his answer was agreed
with Clark, he still felt odd uttering it: however this was for the best.
“I saw your video, Miss Vale and I don’t understand how you could create such a
love story out of this. Superman has saved millions of people: I have seen him
carrying people exactly like he carried me but no love story was made up for
any of them.”
“He seems to be pretty involved in anything around you” she pointed slyly.
“I don’t think that Superman’s activities have anything to do with me: League
of Shadows was a terrorist group that threatened the entire planet; Falcone was
a federal criminal. I just happened to be in the crossfire…”
The recorded abstract stopped and some song began playing offering soundtrack
to the broadcaster.
“Well, history will prove if our Prince is honest or he is trying to hide the
elephant – well, the Superman – in the room. We know it’s not our business and
all that jazz but tonight at the year’s greatest event, the party in the
Avengers’ Tower people will be watching the two lovebirds – sorry, savior and
saved – to see the truth.”
 Bruce grunted. Really? He thought that this station was serious! He closed the
radio. Clark and he had agreed to keep appearances and with all the superheroes
and heroines there surely people wouldn’t solely watch them. And the Amazon
would be there too…
Those four days after the incident with Matt, Clark was perfect like the time
before the Amazon invaded their lives. He even went to Lucius for those
samples; Bruce anxiously awaited the results. But now that Clark would meet her
again Bruce felt the knot forming again in his guts because he knew that
Clark’s attitude around her wasn’t just a pretense and although he asked him to
keep a distance he dreaded that Clark wouldn’t do it.
As the Tower became nearer, Bruce was tempted to drive directly to the secret
entrance and the garage on the back side of the building. But it’d be
pointless: avoiding the press in the entrance while in the reception hall would
be plenty of reporters mixed with the guests. Besides, people seeing him
confined in a wheelchair, was good because nobody would connect him with the
Batman who roamed Gotham unhindered by any injury.
On the other side, although he never accepted what the others said about him of
being a role model of courage, he didn’t want any paraplegic in the world to
think that he was ashamed of his disability.
As he took the path leading to Manhattan’s center, he regarded the Tower. He
had seen the building again in the blueprints and during daytime but night made
it glitter like a gem with its thousands sparkling lights fueled – as the
entire premises - solely with renewable energy that was provided by an arc
reactor.
At 105 floors the Tower was the highest building in New York. It was narrow and
rectangular for the 90 floors but the last of the building was shaped like an
ellipse; the ellipse hosted in the base floor the reception area which was half
surrounded by a sharp balcony; in the middle nine floors were the headquarters
and the Avengers’ apartments – well, Tony kept for himself the whole – floor
apartment on top of the others – and the last five floors of the building was
actually a landing area for jets and helicopters.
Of course nothing indicated that the giant golden ‘A’ that covered the front of
the ellipse area opened the dome to accept aircrafts or permit others to take
off. In the center of the ellipse’s dome a thick and tall telecommunication
antenna bleeped constantly sending and receiving information from and to every
corner of the world through satellites.
Bruce felt amazed and proud for Tony: his friend was great. Yet Bruce’s first
desire seeing that building was perching on the giant ‘A’ wearing his armor and
dive into the night…
As soon as the dashing, masterpiece car parked in front of the breathtaking
building, flashes were on fire and cameras turned there. They had framed a
spacious corridor for the guests to pass but some security staff was guarding
the noisy herd of reporters.
Bruce regarded the scene with a raised eyebrow: it reminded him of a Hollywood
party and he didn’t like that; yet he recognized his friend’s reasoning behind
that party and he was there to support Tony in this.
Pepper like a formidable queen crossed the corridor that was carpeted in red
and approached the car when the valet opened for Bruce. He took his folded
wheelchair from the passenger’s seat and with the pressing of the button the
chair opened before him – of course, it was the wheelchair Tony had built for
him not Clark’s.
Bruce slipped with ease in his chair ignoring the blinding flashes that rattled
with every movement he made. Pepper shook hands with him and Bruce thanked the
valet who watched astonished as everyone else the car slithering alone to the
parking.
“Tony waits upstairs” Pepper said as they moved.
“No, Tony’s here!” the billionaire from Malibu covered the distance in playful
strides and hugged Bruce. “I couldn’t let you alone.”
“But this is the safest building in the world” Bruce said mocked puzzled. “Or
you’re uncertain?” he winked.
“I wouldn’t have brought you here if I wasn’t sure…” he mumbled to him. “What
do you say?” Tony asked when they reached the great front entrance; like a
schoolboy eager to get his teacher’s praise.
“Tony, I had seen the Tower before and the blueprints.”
“Yeah, but it was daytime; everything looks better in a black scenery” he
winked.
“It’s your masterpiece, Tony…at least, until your next creation! But one
hundred and five floors? You couldn’t resist, huh?” he cocked his eyebrows.
Tony shrugged innocently.
“No, I couldn’t…” he shook his head. ‘But it was only a floor…and you know how
I can’t stand being seconded: I always want to have the biggest things.”
Bruce snorted.
“Freud has a good explanation for your case…” Tony frowned. “Nothing worrisome:
men who want to possess the biggest things need to compensate for length
problems in…” he shook his head with his face deep in sympathy “in their
groin.”
Pepper began laughing and Tony growled.
“I’m glad to see you’re in a spree, little guy…”
 
 
Superman was already in the reception floor chatting with some senators he knew
very well and respected for their integrity.
The entire floor was a huge reception hall with elegantly decorated benches
covered with every kind of expensive food and dessert, booze and flowers. In
the other edge there was a huge dance floor and a famous band played music.
The noise of chatter and giggles was already established mixed with music that
was rather neutral for Tony Stark’s infamous tastes.
Suddenly, Superman turned where everyone was looking. He already knew from the
familiar heartbeat and the aroma but still his sight was dazzled. Well, he knew
Bruce’s beauty better than anyone but seeing him formally dressed always made
something to him. Oh, he hated that tailor! And loved him for creating such
clothes that manifested Bruce’s beauty so irresistibly. But mainly he hated him
because now everyone was drooling on Bruce and he still didn’t know how the
tailor handled Bruce’s body in the process.
He loved every color on Bruce’s body but this classic combination of black
suit, white silk shirt and black silver stripped tie made Superman’s groin
twitch – and that wasn’t ideal, since he was in his Superman suit that, well,
was very revealing of his body’s reactions.
Stark had left his guests to welcome his friend in the entrance and now as he
and Pepper escorted Bruce in the hall, Tony Stark was beaming proud and happy:
Clark cocked an eyebrow – why not? Stark wasn’t forced to watch Bruce from
afar…
Superman’s eyes widened and he gulped his booze in a large gulp –not that
alcohol was of any help… He had sensed a powerful being and…body heading
towards Bruce and upon turning his eyes there supposedly indifferent he saw
Thor in his divine attire and his hammer stashed in his golden belt. The god
glowed with his blond locks giving the impression of sun rays yet what gave the
impression of the sun more was the sweet smile in his bearded face as his eyes
met Bruce.
The Asgardian stood in attention and brought his fist on his heart and Clark
could hear Bruce’s discomfort in case someone could suspect but others were
rather preoccupied with Bruce’s body than Thor’s salute; only Superman noticed
feeling a hot wave of lava ascending his body to his head. Tony cleared his
throat and the Norwegian realized and proceed to shake hands with Bruce who
nodded solemnly.
“I am honored to be in your company again, Mr. Wayne; I hope your healing is
moving smoothly.”
“It is, thanks to you and all the heroes who saved my life.”
Pepper patted Bruce’s shoulder.
“I’ll get you something to drink.”
But she didn’t finish her phrase and a gorgeous woman in a black velvet skin
tight dress that reached her ankles approached them with gracious strides that
highlighted her perfect curves. She held between her lean but lethal – Clark
knew that – fingers a crystal flute and her grey, smart eyes scrutinized
Bruce’s face with fascination.
“That won’t be necessary, Miss Potts” she said in her heavily accented voice.
“I took the liberty to brink a drink to our guest of honor.”
“Who?” Tony shook his head mock frustrated. “It’d be better if you killed me,
dear…” he said dramatically to her. “You know: by wrapping your thighs around
my neck…” he winked. “Little guy, I wouldn’t drink anything she offers…”
“No alcohol…” she said her eyes fixed on Bruce’s, her juicy lips moving slowly.
“I’m sure you’re still on medication.”
“Indeed” Bruce answered and took the offered glass. “Thank you, Ms. Romanova.”
Her eyes glimmered and a satisfied, impressed smile curled her lips.
“Finally, a person from West says it right.”
Bruce lolled his head.
“Tony had me do my homework…”
Tony coughed again and waved his hand in front of her face to get her
attention.
“Yeah, I’m here too, doll…”
“I didn’t notice you, Stark’’ she retorted to Thor’s chuckle and Tony huffed
opening his arms in the air.
“It must be the suit…” he turned to Peppers cocking his eyebrows “Remind me to
not wear grey again.”
Clark felt a torturous fire inside him; he should have been proud that people
admired and respected Bruce even without knowing about Batman but still…
“Avoiding greeting him would be more suspicious…” Lois whispered slyly ending
up to his side after a ‘patrol’ for news-fishing.
He didn’t need more: he left his glass in the tray of a passing waiter and
marched there stretching his impressive posture – he was as sturdy as that
Norwegian and more… But suddenly a company of teens ran to him ecstatic yelling
his name awestruck: Stark had the Tower open for the public for the day and
invited the schools that have come to stay for the party.
“I’m afraid that I don’t have any autographs, guys…” Superman said smiling and
his eyes locked momentarily with Bruce’s eyes that pretended indifference.
Yet the fleeting second of their eyes’ locking it was enough for Clark to
understand how proud Bruce was of him and how much he loved him – Clark didn’t
need Bruce’s lips twitch to know that he was smiling.
Superman smiled cordially feeling his heart floating and spoke to the teens,
which soon were reinforced by younger kids – keeping constantly the corner of
his eye on Bruce’s company which moved inner. To worsen Clark’s torment.
Because he could see eyes goggling at Bruce and the rest of the company of
course; but still the youth who returned from the dead intrigued people –
especially, since he was so stunning.
“Bruce!”
Superman didn’t need to turn there to know who was: Matt Leench. His heart
began beating faster; he knew that Bruce didn’t have anything with his
physiotherapist and that the blond didn’t grope Bruce but still…And the worse
was that Leench didn’t emanate any sign of hesitation or fear knowing that
Superman was also there, watching.
Clark mumbled an answer to a kid’s question and bit his lip: he didn’t want
anyone to fear him and he actually felt grateful to the man for not running to
Stark or anyone and saying everything about the cramps he caused. Also, with
Leench’s ministrations Bruce’s muscles were fine again and he began again
walking exercises and swimming.
“Matt, finally, I get the chance to meet Lilly, your lovely fiancé” Bruce said
beaming. “He speaks all the time about you – he showed me your picture once.”
Clark’s heart from beating heavily began flying and he wanted to sigh in relief
when he heard the young woman chirping.
“He likes to brag about me all the time – sometimes I feel embarrassed.’’
Tony cocked an eyebrow and looked at the young woman.
“No need for that, dear” he said in his sexiest voice and Bruce bit his bottom
lip to not laugh. “He has every reason to brag though he didn’t brag to me
about his stunning fiancé…” he took gently her hand and feathery touched his
lips on the back.
Matt nodded.
“Because I know you, Stark!” Matt said mock angry and Pepper nudged Tony in the
ribs.
Tony pouted.
“Excuse moi; I must tend to my guests. Bruce, I’ll be back in a moment: till
then, you’re in good hands.”
Superman snorted inside: yeah, a gorgeous ballerina-spy-assassin, a god hunk, a
nice looking physiotherapist. Thankfully, Rogers wasn’t there because he was
sure that he would be glued to Bruce too…
“That Bruce Wayne is really gorgeous, huh? Even in a wheelchair…”
He caught a giggling feminine voice from a corner of the space.
“And those clothes on him…I mean Armani is a master but I think he should pay
the man for wearing his suits not vice versa…”
Another woman.
“No wonder Thor and Romanov is with him – this body certainly needs to be
guarded…”
A harsh man’s laugh.
“Next time Stark didn’t guard his puppy it ended up to the wrong hands.”
“Not just hands…Imagine what this pelvis suffered for the poor thing to end
with paraplegia.”
“I don’t think he is a ‘poor thing’ – actually, partnership with Wayne
Enterprises seems now more promising than ever” a woman intervened. “It’s time
I introduce myself.”
“You won’t wait for Stark to return?”
Superman could hear the rolling of her eyes.
“We’re talking about the man who kneed Luthor’s balls and sent him to prison
snatching his Labs…Wayne doesn’t need a guardian.”
Clark with dread heard the others agreeing and walking with the woman to Bruce.
He felt the urge to take Bruce and take him somewhere to spend the night alone…
“Sorry, kids; Superman is needed elsewhere” Lois’ voice cheerful but firm
addressed Superman’s little tormentors. “There’s ice cream in the fridge -
fountain.”
“Thank you!” he sighed when they were left alone.
Lois rolled her eyes and shook her head in despair.
“You’re helpless…Now, go to Bruce…” she whispered.
Superman was ready to cross the space to speak with Bruce even playing an act
but then a frame of the wall opened. The wall was entirely made with bullet
proof glass reinforced with a special alloy Tony invented and whenever a flying
guest arrived, a frame rose to permit entry.
Clark’s eyes bulged on the figure that landed softly and graciously – and well
he wasn’t the only one as a stampede of camera clicks roared. Almost every
person in the enormous hall goggled on the newcomer.
Diana stretched her breathtaking body and raised her head eyeing not without a
hue of arrogance the place and the people. She wore a dress – yes, a dress!
Clark insisted on that because he couldn’t believe it…but he certainly
appreciated it. A flaming red silken dress that reached her hips and ended
wispy in her knees; her dress was strapless with a deep cleavage that let half
her porcelain breasts bulge free; the fabric was airy but still stuck on her
body’s muscles revealing every detail of how perfectly ripped she was. Her arms
were naked with a golden bracelet like lace covering her right wrist to the
elbow; she wore golden high heeled sandals that their strings hugged her entire
shapely calves. Her waist length locks were free and her tiara embroidered her
forehead – the ruby star sparkling.
Clark hadn’t seen her from that night he was returning to Gotham from the tests
Jor El had run on him; he had spoken a bit rude to her and since then she
didn’t appear again except in the dream at the waterfall in Themyscyra… 132
hours and 46 minutes…Wait! He was counting the time unconsciously? He felt
immense guilt and…dread but his joy for what he was seeing silenced everything
else. And her perfume hit his deprived nostrils more intoxicating than ever.
Her eyes were ablaze, indifferent for the crowd and the stares she was
receiving. She nodded when Stark rushed there with his confident stride and
brought his palm to his chest bowing slightly his head in respect.
Diana curled slightly her upper lip with satisfaction and brought her palm over
her heart to show her respect.
“Princess Diana, it is an honor for us and me personally that you grace us with
your presence.”
“The honor is mine, Mr. Stark, to be among such noble heroes and heroines.”
A genuine smile lighted her beautiful face when Superman came to her side
without everyone catching his fast motion. Superman grinned too and Tony
frowned – for the first time suspicion gnawing inside him.
Even though people tried to approach Diana to see her from up close, the two
Avengers didn’t move from their place around Bruce: Steve Rogers now added to
their company accompanied by Peppers. So Tony led the way for her and Superman
to his teammates.
“Let me introduce you” Tony said obliged as a host but definitely his voice was
completely out of the mood. “Natasha Romanov, the infamous Black Widow, Steve
Rogers, Captain America our leader and Thor, well, the God of Thunder” he
frowned “maybe you’ve met before in a congress or something?”
Thor laughed lighthearted but Diana remained cold.
“No, unfortunately, I didn’t have the pleasure.”
“Your glory has reached Asgard” the blond god commented but Diana replied only
with a tight smile.
Tony coughed uncomfortable for the Princess’ lukewarm handshake with Natasha
who just cocked an eyebrow sarcastic and Steve mumbled a ‘nice to meet you’
reflecting her lack of interest for meeting him.
“And my best friend, Bruce Wayne” Tony avoided referencing to their previous
meeting due to the attack.
But Diana smirked locking her eyes with Bruce who didn’t blink.
“We meet again, Mr. Wayne” she said uncaring for Tony’s intention to keep
secret that they already had met; she cocked an eyebrow and her eyes shone
gleeful. “I see you managed at last to accumulate strong people around you:
that’s perfect – that way you won’t need to cower behind trees to save your
life…”
Tony clenched his jaw and Pepper’s eyes flashed angrily; the rest were shifting
nervously, their irritation clear.
But Bruce was completely calm focused on her eyes but scrutinizing her.
“I don’t select people according to what you consider strength and weakness,
Princess, because people have many more qualities than just physical strength.
Except for some people that evidently have nothing more to show off than their
supposed strength for which they brag like kids in a playground” he uttered
keeping his unflinching stare locked with hers.
Tony mouthed ‘Ouch!’ knowing that nobody was seeing him, his cheerful mood back
again while Lois raised her fist in the air in a gesture of vast satisfaction.
Superman’s eyes widened feeling Diana’s body tremble in anger while Bruce was
composed as ice. The Princess was snarling at Bruce minus the growling but the
human was indifferent already detaching his eyes to continue his discussion
with Matt’s fiancé.
“Diana, let me suggest you some really great beverage” Superman said to her to
lighten the mood – what was Bruce thinking talking like this?
But she was still glaring at the human.
“We don’t have any nectar but I believe that you’ll find something satisfying
in our esteemed bartender's selection” Tony chirped remembering his host role.
Diana nodded to him but turned to Superman.
“Yes; I’ll trust your taste, Kal El.”
Superman smiled to her and both strode the space to the buffet standing out
among the crowd that swarmed around them.
“Your pet is quite insolent” the Amazon leaned to Clark’s ear.
“He isn’t a pet” he answered through his teeth beaming at people.
“You approve his behavior then?” she arched an eyebrow shaking hands
indifferently with the Mayor.
“Of course not…”
“You spoiled him…” she snorted and bypassed the crowd to get to the bar,
Superman hurrying to follow her.
“Bitch!” Natasha spat and Steve looked at her reprimanding but not disagreeing.
Tony whistled.
“I’d like to have a ladies’ fighting in my party…” he looked at the ceiling
thinking. “Mmm…some mud would be awesome! Now I need some hard rock…’xcuse me,
boys and girls, have to speak to the band…”
 
Bruce splashed some water to his face: Tony had provided that the Avengers’
Tower offered a perfect friendly environment for people with impairments so
some sinks where set lower and some cubicles where made with the latest
developments for the needs of people with special needs – Bruce felt actually
joy that his disability became the reason for his friend to be more sensitive
to these issues.
He had crossed the reception floor to the corridor leading to the rest rooms
unnoticed, his training in stealth useful even in civilian settings. He needed
privacy to take his medication – he had promised Alfred to not neglect this and
even if he had planned to, Tony had managed to slip his guests and bring him a
dish with freshly cooked food.
“Alfred sends his regards…” Tony had winked.
“You’re kidding me!” he had gasped and Tony pursed his lips shrugging.
“New York has some awesome delivery services…Bon appétit, mon ami!”
He had searched the room for Selina though he’d have sensed her presence
without seeing her: she should have been there by now…
Suddenly the door opened and Bruce saw in the mirror Superman approaching him
with a frown. Bruce’s heart sank – from the moment he spoke with the Amazon,
Clark hadn’t given him even a glimpse - but he turned immediately to face him.
“Hi, Superman: do you have a good time?”
But Clark had no time for this.
“Nobody is in hearing range” he snapped. “What do you think you’re doing?” he
asked standing in front of him, imposing like a tower.
“Surviving through the party?” he arched his eyebrows.
Clark lolled his head and licked his lips.
“I think you have a better time than just surviving…” he remarked snidely, the
sting from all the people swarming around Bruce still hot. “You know what I
mean! Why you spoke to Diana like this? You said you had no problem with her
being here!”
Bruce narrowed his eyes, a crease settling at his forehead.
“I don’t” he protested.
Superman crouched in front of him and held his shoulders.
“Really, Bruce?! Why? To get the opportunity to insult her?”
Bruce shook his head.
“I didn’t insult her: I just answered to her – you certainly heard what she
said.”
“Do you have to reply like this? Showing off your wit and giving the chance to
malevolent chat about her? Get a grip, Bruce! She saved hundreds of people in
just few months! Hell! He saved your life and you didn’t even thank her once!
And now you offend her like this!”
Bruce’s eyes were blank but shone as Superman’s rant unfolded.
“For the strong person she declares to be, she definitely gets easily hurt –
especially when she so lightheartedly insults others” he lolled his head on the
side. “At least, she has you to comfort her…”
Clark pressed his lips and caressed Bruce’s bangs that were wet from the water.
“There is nothing to be jealous of, Bruce; she doesn’t know anyone here apart
from me and the Avengers are too preoccupied drooling at you.”
“People are drooling at your Princess, too; she could socialize if she wanted
but she just needs to have you fixed on her” Clark closed his eyes huffing
frustrated. “Have you revealed to her that you’re Clark Kent?”
Clark widened his eyes.
“Of course not!”
Bruce nodded relieved.
“Nice” he was aware that lack of trust couldn’t be the reason he didn’t tell
the Princess yet the result was that counted.
Clark pecked his lips and rose.
“Please, speak better to her next time…” he turned to leave the restroom but
stopped hearing Bruce’s intake of air signalizing that he was ready to say
something.
“You know, Kal El” he chose on purpose that name “I was expecting you to speak
then – to say something about the… ‘weak’ human beings. Not specifically about
me but all the human beings who love you and believe that you help them not
just in a showboat of your superiority.”
Clark didn’t turn.
“How can you believe that she helps people for that?”
Bruce rubbed the bridge of his nose.
“Because she admitted it – c’mon, Kal El; haven’t you read her interview?”
“We’ll talk after the party, Bruce” his entire posture vibrated from his haste
to return to the party.
“Superman, keep your distance from the Princess” Bruce had noticed some things
about her that made him worried. “Until we clear things about what’s happening
to you” Clark yanked his head huffing in frustration. “Please.”
Superman shook his head in disbelief.
“I can’t believe this, Bruce! Stop being jealous…”
 
Bruce didn’t return to the hall; the corridor had an exit to the elliptic
balcony that hugged half of the floor dangling over New York. He relished the
freezing breeze brushing his face – below the city sparkled with all her night
glory: Tony’s railing was almost invisible so even someone sat in a wheelchair
wasn’t thwarted to enjoy the view.
He was relieved to be alone – he cared about people yet being among them made
him uncomfortable because he still felt that he didn’t belong. There were
people that really liked him – it wasn’t their fault he felt like this. It was
only his… He wasn’t normal by any means…
Inside, the intermission of rock music had given its place to calmer melodies
as the youngsters left the party. Excitement reached easy his secluded spot at
the balcony since he stood on the very edge of the tongue like balcony and from
there he had a prefect view of the dance floor. He turned because the melody of
“Fly me to the Moon” was very familiar to him: Frank Sinatra was Tony’s
favorite singer. So it was no surprise to him that Tony was dancing with Pepper
in the center of the stage – Bruce smiled fondly for his friend when Tony
rested his head on Pepper’s naked shoulder licking his lips.
Soon more couples joined them and Bruce distinguished Captain America and
Natasha, Matt and Lilly, Fury and Maria Hill…he paled…Clark and the Princess.
He closed his eyes and turned his eyes to the sky: they were supposed to
pretend that they didn’t have an affair but he warned Clark to keep a distance
from her. And he didn’t listen…
Bruce had noticed that her hair emanated an artificial glow that was common in
dyed hair: why a goddess – especially, an Amazon – dyes her hair? And her eyes
seemed a bit odd…
“I can’t believe this, Bruce. Stop being jealous…”
But Clark asked him to don’t give up on him during this: he ought to protect
Clark. This was the reason or he just satisfied his own need to keep Clark? He
inhaled: he wished to stand on the railing and dive to the void opening his
wings and flying – it seemed ages since the last time he did it…
Someone was there and Bruce knew that he could reveal his awareness to him; he
turned and Thor’s impressive figure approached him.
“I’m sorry I interrupt your thoughts” the blond said with a smile.
“No problem” he answered and looked again at the sky.
The god stood beside him following his gaze.
“I don’t agree with anything the Amazon Princess said – I can’t understand why
she spoke like this.”
Bruce rested his forearms on the transparent railing.
“Not all gods are so generous and kind to humans as the God of Thunder.”
Thor turned his eyes to him slightly frowning.
“I don’t consider it generosity and kindness being respectful to humans –
especially, to a unique human being as you, Mr. Wayne” Bruce locked eyes with
him. “She insulted you personally and I wanted to shove into her face who are
you really …but I respect your will to keep it secret.”
Bruce nodded.
“I appreciate it. But her words were really nothing…I have heard much worse.”
Thor pursed his lips.
“I was shocked Superman didn’t say anything: after all, he has witnessed your
braveness in more situations than me.”
“He respects my decision for secrecy too” he replied and wished this was the
truth. “Besides I prefer people consider me weak and coward.”
Thor’s eyebrow twitched and he shook his head; his baby blue eyes twinkling
with fondness.
“But you are not: Bruce Wayne is the bravest, strongest person I’ve ever known.
Even though severely injured you fought and defeated the most powerful demon to
save your friends and…me; and then though you should have stayed in the
hospital you used the power of your mind to make your body fight an insane
criminal saving innocent lives…You almost died there” he shook his head
clutching the railing. “Even gods wouldn’t do that…”
Bruce didn’t like praising him so he decided to change the subject.
“Don’t tell me that gods are afraid of dying?” he smiled.
The blond turned to him, his locks framing his bearded face.
“Gods can die too but…it is more difficult.”
“So gods are just beings with special skills and powers and not the
supernatural entities most people think.”
Thor gave him a toothy smile.
“So…you’re denying my divine nature?”
Bruce arched an eyebrow.
“Mmm…more I’m putting it into perspective” Thor blinked captivated. “Are you
going to burn me with your thunders?”
Thor chuckled.
“I’m not the God of Wisdom but I’m not so stupid to burn my general in battle”
he crouched before Bruce and placed his hands on his shoulders. “I don’t long
for battles but I wish when the next comes I’ll be honored to fight beside
you.”
 
“Hm…It’s so nice seeing a God kneeling before a mere mortal…” Lois said
wickedly to Superman who was staring dumbfounded at the balcony.
Most of the reception hall didn’t have a view to the balcony because of the
stage floor’s interval yet from some spots you could get a glimpse.
“That’s preposterous!” he whispered to her but Lois pouted innocently and
shrugged.
“Why? You’re glued to the Princess’ skirt so someone has to entertain our
Prince” she winked. “And the Avengers team has a breathtaking selection of hot
bodies…”
“But we agreed to keep appearances this is why I stick to Diana.”
“Cut the crap, Supes! Keep appearances doesn’t equal making out with someone
who openly fancies you.”
Clark licked his lips.
“I’m not! Diana knows that I’m with Bruce and has accepted it.”
“Really? That’s why she insulted him in front of everybody?” she sniggered and
cocked an eyebrow in glee. “At least, she tried…”
“Did you have to post it at Planet’s site?”
Lois sipped her mojito.
“I’m covering the party, right? Besides, it was the highlight.”
He shook his head.
“I don’t believe how many haters of her commented already…” he had found a
moment to peruse on one of the built in tablets Stark had throughout the Tower.
“Haters? Nah…Just clever people who see through her…” her demeanor became dead
serious. “Go to Bruce even for a typical handshake or watch others appreciating
what you are too damn to appreciate!”
Lois left to speak to a senator and thankfully Thor was moving away from Bruce
probably to give him some privacy to answer his phone. Superman began walking
towards the window frame that opened to the balcony when Diana intercepted him.
 
 
Moon river, wider than a mile
I'm crossin' you in style some day
Old dream maker, you heartbreaker
Wherever you're goin', I'm goin' your way
“You know you should have been sleeping…”
Clark’s voice was stern but in his beautiful eyes it was obvious that he was
happy he hadn’t slept.
“You spoiled me; I need you to cuddle me to fall asleep – so basically is your
fault.”
Superman crouched and lifted him from the chair easily as a baby.
“I’m so happy I finally spoiled you!” he exclaimed heaving him in bridal style
and flying again through the open balcony door of his bedroom in Tony’s villa
at Thasos.
“Where are you taking me?” Bruce chuckled and Clark leaned his head over his,
locking their eyes.
“To spoil you more…”
They floated over the black sea; the full moon was sending silver to sleep over
the black slithering silk. And then in the peaceful thrashing of the small,
lazy waves, Bruce heard some very familiar words that made his heart beat
faster.
“Moon river, wider than a mile…”
He stared at Clark who blushed and stopped.
“I know this song” Bruce said.
“No kidding…”
“I must have heard it in Tony’s house: Sinatra is his favorite singer…but this
song feels more important” Clark was looking up, pursing his lips. “What?” he
asked grinning.
Clark gulped and looked him in the eyes completely solemn.
“I used to sing to you that song…every night…at Fortress…when you were…” he
inhaled deeply “far away from me…when I wanted to persuade you to come back so
to see the world together…to not let me see such a vast world alone…”
Bruce felt his eyes watering and Clark smiled.
“It seems they’re right about people hearing us even when…” he caressed Bruce’s
cheek “they’re far…Don’t cry, Star…we’ll cross that river together” he captured
his lips.
“Sing it again…”
Clark began singing as before mimicking perfectly Sinatra’s voice but Bruce
touched his fingers to his lips and he stopped.
“In the Fortress…don’t tell me you sang using Sinatra’s voice?”
Clark blushed.
“No…”
Bruce closed his eyes.
“I want to hear it with your real voice…”
Clark coughed embarrassed and began singing with his own voice and it was the
loveliest voice Bruce had ever heard; he murmured appreciatively without
opening his eyes and felt Clark change his position hugging his waist and
holding him erect upon his body. Moving slowly to the rhythm of the song…Bruce
nestled his head to Clark’s heart keeping his eyes closed to suck the verses,
Clark’s voice and his heartbeat.
Two drifters, off to see the world
There's such a lot of world to see
We're after the same rainbow's end, waitin' 'round the bend
My huckleberry friend, Moon River, and me
Bruce had stayed with his smartphone clutched in his hand and turned his head
towards the hall hoping to lock eyes with Clark sharing that memory; the
feelings of that night; of that song.
His heart beat desperately and it was as if he heard the cracking. Clark was
dancing with Diana, his hand clenching her waist, her fingers digging her
shoulder plates; their eyes locked.
Two drifters, off to see the world
There's such a lot of world to see
We're after the same rainbow's end, waitin' 'round the bend
My huckleberry friend, Moon River, and me
Bruce’s breath halted for some seconds.
“Mr. Wayne, there’s nothing wrong with Superman’s cells – and no strange
reaction between his and yours cells…Of course, there could be other reasons
for the behavioral changes you observed – external reasons we can’t identify
through lab techniques. But your friend isn’t ill.”
Lucius had worked till late to ease his agony. Bruce thanked him for everything
and wished him a great evening. Nothing wrong…
“Is this why you made me feel ill?” Clark accused him.
Bruce’s eyes were fixed on the couple dancing as he slipped the smartphone to
his inside pocket; he turned his back shutting his ears to anything other than
the ruckus of the city underneath. He had made Clark feel ill? To not lose him?
“Promise me that you won’t give up on me however stupid my behavior – promise
that you’ll always bear in mind that this isn’t the real Clark?”
 
Tony patted cheerfully New York’s Mayor and keeping his big grin on his face he
strode to Pepper who has just distanced from a company of guests. She was the
only one that noticed that his flashing smile didn’t reach his eyes. Actually,
Pepper knew that he was fuming.
He stood before her.
“What is it, Tony?”
He scanned the entire hall without seeing or caring about anything.
“What is he thinking!” he spat and gulped his bourbon.
Pepper followed his stare to no avail.
“Who?”
“Superman!” he lowered his voice and grinned carefree to some guests who looked
at him. “You saw him with that arrogant bitch!”
Pepper pressed her lips; she had seen them dancing.
“Maybe it’s some plan of Bruce’s.”
Tony shook his head.
“Plan my ass! No plan would have included Superman snuggling her…” he blinked
huffing. “I knew that the UFO was interested in her but…how things got here?
Bruce didn’t tell me anything!” he ruffled his locks with one hand. “Of
course…I’m all the time away…”
Pepper held his shoulder and looked him in the eye.
“Maybe it’s not something serious, Tony…”
But he cocked his eyebrows.
“Yeah, sure…You forget to whom you talk? I warned the bastard to not hurt
Bruce!” he clenched his fist.
“Maybe Bruce doesn’t see it as you do…”
Tony looked around.
“Where’s Bruce?”
“I don’t know” she shook her head.
“Alone!” he snapped and headed furious to find him in the enormous pack hall
but some senators cut him in the middle and though he sighed he couldn’t shun
them.
 
“Are you nuts?!” Lois was now seriously mad at him and thankfully she kept her
voice whispering so that nobody noticed.
“What now?” he rolled his eyes.
The song had ended and Diana went to speak with Oliver Queen who just arrived.
“Bruce is alone and you dance with her such a song?”
“People are drooling at Bruce; he is fine – everything goes according to the
plan.”
Lois shook her head exasperated.
“You know better than me that Bruce hates people goggling at him – that’s why
he secluded himself there: to get some privacy and maybe some word with you.
You’re the only one that counts for him!”
Superman frowned seeing her face ease with a satisfied grin watching Bruce.
 
“Can I have this dance with the party’s most beautiful man?”
Bruce smiled and looked at Selina slithering to him: a sparkling star in her
deep blue silk thigh-long dress.
“This chair isn’t made for dancing and…anyways I was never a good dancer.”
Selina gave him her hand and he grasped it.
“Peps says otherwise…and I’d never let a chair stop me.”
She positioned Bruce’s hands in her waist and hers over his shoulders beginning
moving slowly to the music; their eyes locked each of them reflecting the
other’s smile.
 
Superman saw what Lois had seen: a stunning Selina had gone to her friend and
they were dancing.
“They are so cute together!” Lois chirped delighted. “Same age, same beauty,
she was there for him throughout his Hell” Clark had told her about Selina and
Bruce. “They are a match made in Heaven!”
Clark understood her intention to make him jealous and rolled his eyes.
“They are like siblings…”
Lois pouted and arched her eyebrows shooting a picture of them with her
smartphone.
“You’re not going to publish that?” Superman asked exasperated.
“Of course not! Bruce deserves some discretion: I just want to have him with
his new love interest.”
Clark’s face contorted in irritation.
“I told you they’re like siblings!”
“Oh! That easily changes: I have seen it many times: childhood friends coming
closer to each other when one of them gets a broken heart…”
 
“You’re late, Sel…”
Selina pressed her lips cutely and blinked.
“I know, sweetie…I’m sorry but I thought that you won’t be in danger with so
many heroes around so… I put business before pleasure.”
Bruce frowned and narrowed his eyes.
“Do you have something to tell me?” he caressed her slightly curly hair that
fell to her shoulders.
She licked her lips and chuckled.
“You know me so well…I had to free a precious gem from its kidnappers…”
“You didn’t tell me anything.”
Selina kissed his cheek.
“A girl has her secrets…”
“From me?” her friend asked almost hurt and she tapped her fingers on his
shoulders.
“You’re right but the chance came all of a sudden and I couldn’t resist…”
“You returned it to the Police?”
Selina blinked seductively and curled her lips.
“After I pet it a bit…”
Bruce lolled his head to the side and smiled.
“Old habits die hard, huh?”
“I won’t keep it, sweetie…”
He grinned.
“I know.”
Bruce felt her hold tightening.
“I saw him dancing with her…”
He shrugged.
“So?”
“It’s Your song!” her eyes widened – Bruce had told her about the song.
“It’s okay, Sel.”
“It’s not! You can hide from everyone else but me, Bruce! I know your eyes!” a
crease formed on her brow. “And there’s sadness…”
Bruce rubbed soothingly her back that stayed uncovered from fabric and smiled.
“Let’s dance, my beautiful lady…”
 
Superman pressed his lips and made to march there to Lois’ amusement when he
saw something and stopped abruptly.
 
Steve Rogers had noticed that Bruce was alone in the balcony and he didn’t like
it. Besides he wanted to speak to him.
Of course when you’re Captain America people unaware of your wishes stop you
constantly to shake your hand and pat your shoulder. So when he finally got to
the balcony he saw Bruce Wayne dancing with a lady who from the back side
looked more than beautiful.
He blushed and made to leave to not disturb yet Bruce had already seen him.
“Captain…”
Bruce amused took in Selina’s eyes bulging and her lean body going stiff.
“I don’t want to disturb…” Captain mumbled ruffling his hair. “And it’s Steve,
Mr. Wayne.”
“Bruce. You don’t interrupt anything…” Selina turned to Steve and the hero’s
eyes sparkled fascinated, which Bruce was sure that Selina noticed as well.
“This is my best friend, Selina Kyle – Selina, this is Steve Rogers.”
She gave him a dazzling smile and walked to him graciously offering her hand.
“Who doesn’t know Captain America?” she said seductively. “Thrilled to meet
you.”
“Me too, Miss Kyle…” he was actually blushed and Selina’s smile became wider.
“I didn’t know Mr. Wayn…Bruce had such a brilliant friend.”
Bruce smiled.
“Steve, Selina is a great dancer and I’m not the best to escort her” he
chuckled. “So could you replace me?”
Selina lolled her head to him with a glance screaming ‘bitch please!’ But Bruce
was happy for the first time in the party.
“With pleasure!” he offered his upper arm to Selina who wrapped hers enjoying
the sense of bulging biceps.
But soon her big smile faded and she turned to Bruce.
“I don’t want to leave you alone…”
“In a minute I’ll get inside too…Do not worry and enjoy yourself!”
She pressed her lips again and Steve looked at Bruce also indecisive.
“Go…” Bruce gestured to the stage and they hesitantly left him alone.
 
Now that Bruce was alone again Clark could go to him and maybe when nobody was
looking take him and have a dance up to the sky as they did wrapped in aurora
borealis back at the Fortress or washed in the silver moon in Thasos.
After Selina left with Rogers, Bruce had watched them for a minute and then
turned his back to the party doing stuff in his smartphone – Clark could hear
it even though Bruce’s back hide it. The stubborn human was working even now!
His strides were decisive as he headed to the exit but a hand caressed his
forearm. He turned frowning and his eyes met Diana’s.
“Don’t tell me that you’re tired of dancing?” she smiled.
He cast a glance at Bruce and then at Diana – Bruce loved loneliness and it’d
be better to speak at the safety and warmth of their bedroom. He nodded to
Diana and she beamed gripping his upper arm and guiding him to the dance floor.
 
Every time their twirls brought the balcony to her eye range Selina was trying
to get a glimpse of Bruce though it was difficult with dancing couples getting
in the middle.
Steve met her eyes and smiled.
“I feel there’s a great bond between you two…You know Bruce since he was
Falcone’s captive, right? You stayed at his side all these years…You’re as
admirable and brave as he.”
She pressed her lips.
“I was just a witness…” she said hoarsely. “Pain, starvation, humiliation,
despair…he endured alone.”
Steve blinked.
“I think that your presence there galvanized him…fuelled his courage; even the
bravest and strongest of people need someone…”
Selina grinned.
“What about you? Do you have a special person in your life to galvanize you?”
“It’s difficult being with someone in this job…”
Selina cocked her eyebrows.
“That’s why I won’t ever become a super heroine!” she chuckled and she felt
with a thrill Steve’s arms tightening around her.
“You’re already super, Miss Kyle…”
Selina couldn’t stop a snort.
“If you’re taking flirt lessons from Stark, you must change tutor, handsome…”
Steve chuckled.
“So…I wasted my money, then?” he said flushing.
Selina slithered on his body and touched her lips in his ear relishing the
goose bumps throughout his body.
“A secret…With such eyes and body you don’t need any teacher” she whispered in
his ear exciting his heartbeat. “Do you want me to show you?”
 
“Someone like you shouldn’t be alone.”
Bruce had heard the footsteps turning the curve to his spot but didn’t move
hoping that the stranger would leave. But instead the steps came closer and the
stranger leaned on the railing focusing his intense green stare to Bruce’s
uninterested eyes that gazed at the sky.
He had been perusing data in his smartphone from several sources about Diana of
Themyscira: he had already searched many times for her but now his focus was on
plain descriptions of her from ancient authors – he had also taken many photos
of her from the party for further scrutiny. Upon hearing the footsteps he
slipped the phone in the jacket’s inside pocket.
He intended to go inside and bid good night to Tony and then return to the
penthouse for a hot shower and some lifesaving sleep. So Bruce wanted nothing
more than getting rid of the intruder as soon as possible.
“I’m not alone” he replied indifferently turning his eyes to the stranger only
to be met with a figure that actually was very familiar.
During his research for the Amazon, he came upon many pictures and videos of
Oliver Queen: he should have recognized his voice but the videos must have
altered it a bit. The man was definitely more handsome from up close – standing
at 6’3’’, being muscle bound and sturdy with broad shoulders his presence
radiated power as much as his face emanated charm.
His short hair and stubble was a dirty blond and his green eyes stared with an
intensity that gave the feeling of being X-rayed; his lips were always curled
in a smug faint smile that accompanied perfectly the smugness in his piercing
eyes.
Queen looked around pouting.
“I don’t see anyone…” he shrugged innocently.
“I don’t want to monopolize my friends” Bruce replied nonchalant.
Queen cocked an eyebrow and his grin made his face even smugger.
“If I was so lucky to be your friend, I’d crave to be monopolized by you…” he
offered his hand for a handshake “Oliver Queen.”
Bruce shook his hand without showing that he knew him already.
“Bruce Wayne.”
“I know…” Queen answered and his eyes sparkled mysterious. “It’s only three
months I returned from the dead” he said keeping his eyes on Bruce’s “but your
story reached my ears and fascinated me.”
Bruce shook his head.
“There’s nothing fascinating in my story.”
Queen arched his eyebrows smiling.
“I beg to differ…You survived through deprivation and tortures that even an
adult wouldn’t and you managed to get your family’s company back sending your
tormentor to prison. I admire you, Mr. Wayne.”
“There’s nothing to admire…” he spat and turned his wheelchair towards the
curve leading to the frame for inside. “Excuse me but I’m tired…”
The man grinned knowing.
“I ruined your solitude…” he nodded. “I’m sorry for my intrusion – I cherish
loneliness too but my desire to meet you at last subdued my discretion.”
“There’s no need to apologize; after all, I was leaving… The balcony isn’t my
property.”
But Queen’s tender hand on his shoulder stopped his movement and Bruce frowned
at the man’s annoyingly confident but charming smile.
“What do you want, Mr. Queen?”
“To discuss potential business partnership; a friendship; sharing our feeling
of not belonging…But mainly a promise to meet again.”
Bruce shook his head.
“Mr. Queen, Wayne Enterprises will gladly study the possibilities of a
partnership with you” the man gave a toothy smile that was filled with
amusement for the younger man’s evasion.
“I confess that my interest is greater for you than Wayne Enterprises” Bruce’s
blushing wasn’t an act and he saw fondness in Queen’s enigmatic eyes. “I think
that we can understand each other, Mr. Wayne: we might be surrounded by our
friends, people who care and love us, but they can’t understand…Right, Bruce?”
his eyes pierced Bruce’s and it was as if the older man tried to invade him.
Bruce detached his eyes searching the dance floor since the rest of the hall
wasn’t easily visible especially for someone in a wheelchair.
“I must find Tony…”
“Let me come with you then.”
Queen moved along him to cross the curve when the sound of glass smashing and
gunshots made the older man grab Bruce’s shoulders to stop him; he definitely
felt how tense those shoulders have become. The ruckus of terrified shrieks
made Bruce’s blood freeze and his body rebelling to get there; his eyes were
wild focused on the inside but panicked bodies moving aimlessly covered even
the small view he had.
Suddenly, Queen crouched before him and his eyes locked with Bruce’s.
“I’m going in to see what’s going on” he grinned. “I can’t think of anyone so
insane to attempt anything here… With so many super heroes it’d be oven in a
minute. However stay here and take cover in the shadows” he showed the sharp,
too narrow end of the elliptic balcony that was drenched in the shadows from
the neighboring building.
Bruce wanted to go inside but he shouldn’t raise suspicions so he nodded. But
Queen waited and Bruce knew that he wouldn’t leave if he didn’t go where the
man have showed him. Grudgingly he did and the older man smiled and moved
inside winking…
Bruce watched him leaving and tried to get a glimpse of what was going on
opposite the dance floor in front of the gathered crowd of guests. Well, he
could think of someone so insane that could hit here but his insanity wasn’t
enough to break the security and he was supposed to be in Arkham, right?
***** Chapter 30 *****
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
The guests in the reception floor of the Avengers’ Tower gaped at the
improbable spectacle of windows smashing in thousands shards and guys with
Disney characters’ masks landing among them with firearms aiming at them.
For the first seconds, surprise and shock didn’t let the reality sink in – this
building was the safest in the US and probably the world AND almost every
fucking superhero was there! But when the nightmarish bang of exploding glass
registered and the waterfall of shards flooded the floor women screamed and men
moved from there taking women along, leaving unwillingly empty a space which
looked like a stage.
The Avengers, Superman and Wonder Woman dispersed in the hall watched
dumbfounded, angry but unable to do anything as if someone had paralyzed them.
Pepper who stood with Tony in a corner, squeezed his hand, but Iron Man looked
at her outraged.
“I can’t do anything!” he gritted his teeth.
“Call Jarvis” she whispered but Tony shook his head in denial, his burning
narrowed eyes fixed on the intruders.
“Not even this…”
Pepper tried to contact Jarvis from her StarkStell, only to realize that her
phone was dead. She met Tony’s knowing stare.
“We’re fucked!” he mumbled pissed.
The Disney cartoons took their places surrounding the crowd and then one last
jumped through the nonexistent window landing on his knees slipping through the
floor.
“I’m gooooonna make aaaaa brand newwwww start of it in ooooold New York! New
York!” he sang in a dissonant nasal impression of Sinatra spreading his arms in
the air.
People goggled at him: he wore a dark purple suit with green shirt and vest
matched with the purple Sinatra-like fedora on his head. Clark and Tony like
some of the reporters knew him.
Joker jumped on his feet: his face was perfectly painted in his clown face.
“Whoa! I aaaaalways wanna dooo that!” he frowned. “Wait! I have al--ready
entered a building thaaaat way but not in Brooooadway style…” he lolled his
head towards the reporters with the cameras. “Wha’? No pictures? No standing
ovaaaaation?! Tough audience…”
His eyes flicked to each superhero in the room and waved his hand in
frustration.
“Theeee toughest audience, huh? Bi--ceps, del--toids, pecs and ster--oids,
HeHe! Well, I doooon’t like repeating myself but since you’re new to this: I’m
tonight’s entertainment… aaaaaand by the way: I LOOOOOVE NEW YORK!” he showed
around the ‘I ♥ New York’ badge on his lapel to be met with perplexed stares.
Joker pouted and looked at the badge which read not New York but Gotham.
“Oooooopsy, daiiiiisy!” he cackled maniac only to stop abruptly sobering with
an apologizing expression. “Small technical inconveniences – happens all the
time in live shows…”
Tony had had enough and despite the fact he couldn’t make his armor activate or
contact Jarvis he crossed the space, clenching his jaw. Joker’s goons pointed
their guns at him and Tony’s teammates followed by Superman and the Amazon
moved though like Tony they felt their powers gone or just unable to make
anything with them.
“Oooooh! Toooony, dear!” Joker stretched more his grotesque scars and turned to
him.
They stood opposite each other in a breath’s distance. Tony’s eyes were cold
piercing the clown who towered him. Joker licked his lips.
 
Thankfully, nobody was in proximity because the moans and wet breaths certainly
passed the restroom’s locked door.
“I told you that you don’t need Stark’s lessons, handsome…” Selina mumbled
between her pants and moans.
Her neck was stretched permitting full access to Steve’s mouth to suck as he
was thrusting harder in her. She clenched his powerful shoulder blades and
tightened her thighs grip around his buttocks urging him for more.
Captain America’s shirt was tossed away – Selina had gotten rid of it from the
start: she wasn’t going to lose the golden chance to grope such meat – and the
man really enjoyed the young lady’s hands fondling him stronger and more
arousing than any other woman.
“Are you sure you don’t have any super powers?” he panted looking in her green
glimmering eyes and she chuckled.
“Apart from my exceptional beauty and sharp wit, none…” she grabbed the nape of
his neck and brought his lips to her own chewing them with all her lust.
“No need for more…” he whispered smiling and his mouth stormed at her naked
breasts.
Selina didn’t care about the mangled state of her dress: Steve had rolled the
sleeves down until her breasts were freed and the down half of the dress was
upturned to her waist when Captain settled her against the tiled wall. She had
immediately lifted her legs to wrap his thighs staring him in the eyes.
Well, he might be from another era but he wasn’t stupid! He grabbed her black
silk pants and in the frenzy of kisses and touches he lowered it along with her
black fishnets to the knees just to gain access to what he wanted. Yet Selina
moved her body tossing away with impatience the clothes and her stiletto heels.
Steve’s arms were protectively wrapped around her naked back to keep her from
being crashed to the wall because his thrusts were exactly what she had
expected from him. And she showed her appreciation with moans, grunts and
prompting for more.
“Did you hear something?” she frowned. “Like shattering glasses?”
Steve raised his blond head from her breasts; he was all flushed and horny for
more; his eyes almost black.
“Tony…” he panted trying to find the words fast “some…crazy stuff…”
She smirked and her eyes shone gleefully; she shook her head scolding him.
“Mmm…I think I get the SMS, handsome…” a stronger thrust affirmed her thought.
“Let’s continue OUR party…” she moaned lustful mouthing Steve’s lips and
stabbing her nails to his deltoids to outer her immense pleasure.
 
Bruce covered in the shadows pulled out of his pocket his Cosmos smartphone and
brushed the upper right corner transforming the gadget into a tablet. He had no
intention to oblige to Queen’s suggestion but first he had to gain intelligence
about what was going on: those yells definitely weren’t from excitement.
His fingers began flying on the screen and eventually he gained access to the
building’s control system. Only to realize with a frown that the control system
was out of order and the entire Tower was locked from the outside world and
inside. Which was to be expected since the Tower had his own security staff and
the reception hall should have already been swarmed by them.
So the one who organized this took good care to trap them somewhere in the
building – there! He saw the figures of armed people locked inside their
offices or elevators as they were heading to the reception floor. Even the
headquarters were locked along with the control panels and the
telecommunication antenna was also out of order.
Bruce bit his lip: that was a major blow for Tony…and definitely it wasn’t the
work of a common criminal. He tried to get a view inside the hall from the
surveillance system but of course this was disabled too… And the oddest of all:
there was no indication of the system being hacked or attacked by a virus.
However, even if the Tower was completely breached its greatest defense was the
Avengers and they were inside, Superman and Wonder Woman with them. Yet there
was no sign of a battle and even if there were hundreds of civilians and
hostilities would endanger them still all these heroes could stop the invaders
in a minute or less…
He pursed his lips…unless they couldn’t fight… The electronic attack could have
rendered Iron Man useless; Kryptonite would have the same effect to Superman –
his guts clenched for Clark. But the rest? Thor and the Amazon were Gods,
Natasha’s abilities were independent of any external factor and the same went
for Captain America… How could someone incapacitate all of them?
He still couldn’t see inside… He clenched his jaw and dialed a code.
“Jarvis?”
“At your service, Master Bruce.”
“Can you contact Tony?”
“I’m afraid I can’t, sir; something blocks any communication path with Master
Anthony.”
Bruce nodded huffing.
“Get me view inside the hall through any satellite you can.”
“Yes, sir.”
In two minutes, he had on his screen delayed image from a satellite from the
moment when the invaders smashed the windows. Though the image was much snowed
he certainly could make out the Disney masks.
So he didn’t need the next image to know who attacked: with his purple suit, a
purple fedora and his face covered with the known makeup, Joker in all his
glory entered last.
“Damn!” he exclaimed and his eyes darted towards the whole-wall windows of the
hall.
How he managed to escape with the new knocking-out system Tony had in him? He
wouldn’t be able to make a threatening step not to mention escape Arkham and
come to New York. He shook his head snorting: of course if someone could render
useless this Tower, the Avengers, Superman and Wonder Woman, disabling Joker’s
security measures wouldn’t be a problem. But the news of his escape should have
leaked…
“Jarvis, can you activate Iron Man’s armor from distance?”
“I’m afraid it is impossible, sir” the AI sounded really sorry. “There is too
much interference.”
Bruce pressed his lips – of course, the guy behind all these took his
precautions.
“But I know that Tony can sustain the armor with his mind’s power.”
“Indeed, sir, yet it seems that something messes with Master Tony’s mind
because he can’t contact me.”
Bruce nodded: if Gotham’s crime world had interfered in that then things
weren’t simple.
“Okay, Jarvis. I let my Cosmos open for you to get access: through it you’d
have proximity to keep watching the entire Tower as much as possible and try to
overcome what blocks the systems. I’ll go inside.”
“Sir, I strongly suggest that you do not go there: the danger is too high and
Master Tony would be furious.”
Bruce smiled.
“Do not worry, Jarvis: I don’t intend on going back to the hall but getting
inside the building might make it easier to find a way to help” a thought
crossed his mind – how can someone strip heroes from the ability to use their
skills without something evident? “Jarvis, I want you to scan the reception
hall for anything odd – especially the air.”
“I’ll do my best, sir, though it might be difficult doing that through the
satellites.”
“Thank you, Jarvis: I let our line open…”
Holding his Cosmos with one hand, brushed the control panel on the armrest of
the chair and slid to the curve heading for the entry frame at the corridor
bypassing the hall. He had already a theory: he knew of one brilliant but
deranged genius in psycho-pharmachology, who with the proper help could achieve
that – and that man had just escaped arrest in a miraculous way.
Someone powerful must have intervened and that reminded him of the decree about
Luthor and the Metropolis’ released criminals and of course the attack against
him. Intergang? He pursed his lips. He didn’t believe that Edge, the mobster
that was killed during the subway attack, was the leader; yet the real
Intergang obviously wanted people to believe that so they wouldn’t make such a
spotlight move destroying their own scheme…
And with Joker from all people? Joker would never work for a mobster…
“Well, well, well!” a sniggering voice and a body blocked his way. “Look who’s
her’.”
Bruce made his eyes widen from fear as he faced a man of average height and
weight aiming at him with a machine gun. He wore a Disney character mask.
“Please…” he muttered feigning fear.
“Boss, will be soooooo happy to get his Brucie!”
 
“What are you doing?” Tony spat at Joker through his ground teeth.
Joker lolled his head on the side and spread his arms towards the smashed
windows.
“A spee--ctacular entrance! I thought you of all people would understand…” he
pouted.
“Take your pathetic gang and beat it before we kick your lame ass!”
Joker craned his head backwards and stared at his ass intrigued.
“Well, I’ve got to admit it’s not the beeeeest butt out there – not with Brucie
in the contest” he licked his lips. “But laaaa--me? You’re so cruuuel – let’s
ask Brucie…”
Tony clenched his jaw and tried to fist his hand to punch the clown in the face
– armor or not – but slightly panicked realizing that his body wasn’t obeying.
Thor made a step at his side.
“Leave Bruce Wayne out of this!” he’d have grabbed Mjölnir yet he had already
found out that he couldn’t even yield the weapon – and that hurt as if he was
left half.
But he wouldn’t let that discourage him nor the fact that his body didn’t obey
him to fight: Bruce fought Bagdana while paralyzed and then defeated that clown
being severely injured. Thor wouldn’t fail that brilliant human: he’d protect
the innocent among them even somewhat disabled.
Natasha stood beside the two men, her eyes two flames sending daggers at Joker.
“Let the people go, mu`dak!”
But joker spat his glove and fixed the locks that fell in his face.
“Uuuuh, ho--ney! Russian sweet words turn me oooon but I’m married…” he pouted
and stretched his hand to pet her cheek but she spat at his fingers.
“Hahahahahehehe! I’m gonna have fun tonight! I LUUUUUUUUVE …where are we? – ah,
yeah – NEW YOOOOORK!”
Superman who exactly as the rest felt deprived of his powers without feeling
extremely ill like when a Kryptonite was present stepped forwards. He hated
that Thor spoke protectively of Bruce and besides his goal always was to
protect people and in this hall were many innocent people. He just hoped that
Bruce would remain in the balcony till they cleared this mess.
“What do you want to let these people leave unharmed?” he asked calmly and
Diana strut proudly at his side – the heroes forming a half circle – which
oddly was like a smiley - with Joker in the middle.
People in the enormous space were already terrified about the fact that a small
army and a nutcase had crushed the specific party; and the fact that all these
superheroes didn’t do anything to beat them only increased their panic. Of
course some guests with more cool reasoning attributed that to the heroes’
intention to not cause casualties.
And actually that was the reason Tony and Superman didn’t ask Joker how in hell
he managed crippling them: they knew that admitting that would shatter any
thread of composure the crowd had.
Yet Joker didn’t have such worries. He leaned towards Superman squinting and in
a swift move took his cape and covered the hero’s  head.
“Heya, Papa Smurf!” he giggled and then sobered. “I aaaaalways wanted to do
this” he said turning to the puzzled people who held their breaths. “Don’t tell
meeee you didn’t want that too? Seeing these super baboons rendered useless?”
he inhaled deeply and yanked his head closing his eyes. “This is a night of
mir---acles! Your heroes are their true selves: useless!”
The guests exchanged fearful glances and a collective scream shook the hall
when Joker pulled out of his jacket a gun aiming at Superman: people knew that
their heroes were indeed powerless otherwise these bozos would have been
already stopped.
“We have some unsettled business” Joker hissed humorless and met Superman’s
glare with his own. “You just can’t keep your balloon hands away from other’s
property, huh?”
Superman snarled: Joker calling Bruce his property was outrageous and he’d have
smashed him weren’t for that damn thing that dampened his ability to order his
body to act. Joker’s finger was tightening around the trigger and Clark knew
that it’d hurt or kill him but he didn’t care.
The others looked appalled at the scene.
“He isn’t…” Superman began uttering through gritted teeth and Joker clenched
his jaw twitching to press the trigger.
Tony frowned: of course something didn’t work with the precautions he set
inside Joker’s system but witnessing that was worse.
Diana made a step and stretched her imposing body between Joker and Superman,
glaring arrogantly at the jester.
“He has no connection with that pathetic human” she said stentorian and Tony
wasn’t the only one who suddenly forgot Joker to hate her. “Bruce Wayne said
publicly that he has no relationship with Superman!”
Joker lolled his head to the side and eyed her intrigued with a glimmer in his
acid green eyes. He let the gun dangle from his finger.
“HeHe! Another token of spouse fidelity…” he frowned eyeing Diana from feet to
the head. “Ow! Ow! Ow! The ooooldest heeen in the room!” he lolled his head to
the crowd and winked “aaaaand the planet…” he added collusively.
He leaned his face close to her who sniffed as if smelling something really
rotten.
“You’re holding up pretty good for a 5,000 old, huh?” he giggled “Tell me,
granny, can I have your plastic surgeon’s name?” he winked. “Might need him in
1,000 years – this face” he gestured to his face “must be preserved…”
She gritted her teeth and fumed as Tony couldn’t fight a chuckle as many of the
bystanders. Diana wanted to raise her arms and hit him but as every other hero
she found it impossible – Superman held her upper arms.
“Easy, sugar…I’m not gonna hurt you – I cherish UNESCO’s protected monuments –
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAA!” Joker hopped around.
“How you disabled our powers?” Tony asked really pissed but not for Joker’s
spree on Diana – that he had enjoyed.
Joker scratched his nape with the point of his gun and hopped to his direction.
He tilted his head on the side and pursed his lips.
“C’mooooon, Tony-boy…You’re a fuuucking genius ooooor a genius in fucking –
find it yourself.”
He made a circle-like gesture to the small army of goons he brought along and
they threatened with their firearms the crowd who cried.
“Enough!” Thor roared. “Leave before this ends badly!” his eyes casted fires at
Joker.
The jester began shaking and then pouted.
“Uuuuuuu! I luuuuuuve tough…” he squinted. “You’re supposedly a god, huh?
Brrrrrrrrrr! Now, let’s get serious…BUHAHAHAHA!” he cackled. “Oh! Boy! Meeeee?
Seeeerious? This is out of character…Sorry, ‘bout that!”
He strolled through the room, his goons pushing the guests to the perimeter. He
scanned every corner licking his lips, scared people following his gaze.
“Daaaaamn! I feel like that evil fairy in Sleeping Beauty: uninvited,
misunderstood, scaaaaaring people…” but suddenly he raised his voice in a roar
“WHERE’S MY SLEEPING BEAUTY!”
Tony approached him with confident strides, determined, ignoring the gunpoints
turned at him.
“He’s safe away from here and you!” he clenched his jaw. “Bruce has already
left the Tower. So take money and get the Hell out of here!”
Joker closed his eyes and shook his head disapprovingly.
“Hooooow rude! Is this a way to treat your broooother-in-law?” Tony’s face
contorted in puzzlement and repulsion. “Bruce is your brother, I married him
sooooo we” he moved the hand with the gun between them causing a gasp from the
crowd “are now brothers” his eyes stopped blinking playfully and turned into
ice. “I know he didn’t leave and I’ll find him!” he gritted his teeth.
And then his eyes found the shining bar – the barista freezing in his spot.
“Oh, my!” he screamed like a thrilled school girl. “Do you haaaave a bar?”
 
Alfred sat in the white leather semi-circle couch at the salon in Tony’s
penthouse. He was sipping a fine wine that he had taken from Tony’s oaken bar
and Hero was purring folded like a fur ball next to him casting drowsy glances
at the butler who smiled at him.
“Our master will be back in short; he said that he wouldn’t stay till late. He
doesn’t want to admit it but lately he gets tired rather easily – you noticed
too, don’t you?” he petted the kitten’s belly and Hero played with his hand.
“This will stay between us, right, young master Hero? An esteemed, serious
butler can’t play with a kitten even as adorable as you” he looked warily
around. “Do you think Master Anthony has an AI here too, watching?”
He turned on the huge built-in TV.
“CNN has a splendid documentary on wines” he explained to Hero. “Indeed, he
gets easily tired, Master Hero, and this is due to his emotional state – he
covers it perfectly (that boy had to hide his emotions his entire life to
survive) but I sense it: I see it in his eyes even when he smiles…” he sighed.
“I wish his parents were alive so he could talk to them at least…”
The huge plasma screen filled with peaceful French scenery: green fields, vast
vineyards and then small, traditional cottages hiding at their underground
endless rows of beautiful barrels priceless wines that the documentary’s
experts tasted narrating their stories.
“The best to relax yourself, Master Hero…” but the kitten looked to him rather
bored and Alfred twitched his lips. “Next time we’ll watch something about
fish; mice documentaries are pretty unwatchable…”
But suddenly the peacefulness of cava was abruptly cut for breaking news and
Alfred although away from Gotham felt his guts clench reflectively. Avengers’
Tower was the safest building in the world: what could go wrong?
“The Avengers’ Tower is breached!”
The caption under the clear image of the flashing building was enough for
Alfred to stop listening to anything the newscaster said in a awestruck face.
He gripped the armrest of the couch.
 
Bruce stared feigning panic at the firearm’s point that aimed at his chest. The
guy didn’t sound like the usual goons which in most of the cases were mental
patients. However the man made a move towards him and it wasn’t the smartest
thing to do – on the other hand, how was he supposed to suspect that weak,
paraplegic Brucie was ready to knock him out.
“Please…Put that away…”
But the goon – Donald Duck – rushed to him and grabbed viciously his arm.
“Move your ass, ya cripple!” he spat.
“I wish I could…” Bruce murmured and was ready to knock the man out getting the
proximity he wished for.
Yet his trained hearing caught the almost imperceptible sound of a twang and
then a twish and whoose; he knew these sounds too well because Ra’s loved
archery and many times after his training or sex sessions made a demonstration
to him. But an archer in New York?
He pulled his arm causing the goon to lose his balance just a second before he
thunk of the arrow declared that met flesh; Bruce’s eyes bulged supposedly
surprised; he couldn’t see the goon’s eyes yet his yelp and jerk to the glass
wall were eloquent enough. Instantly, a small pond of blood formed under the
man from the spot in his shoulder where the arrow’s head protruded. The goon’s
mask muffled his screams but his twitching said everything.
Bruce knew that he was watched and brought his palm to his mouth appalled and
shocked; he didn’t want his stalker realize that he wasn’t the weak Bruce Wayne
or that he knew about the arrow before it hit the man. And of course he was so
petrified to look around to locate the archer who was perched on the railing.
But when the man’s light feet landed on the balcony he couldn’t ignore him. He
casted his fearful, shocked eyes on him and cocked an eyebrow but only inside.
The stranger wore dark green pants and tunic with a hood of the same color
casting his face in shadow; there was a black eye mask and from the slits two
green eyes like fire daggers pierced Bruce who stared flabbergasted hiding his
amusement: Robin Hood?! The bow was looped over the man’s right arm and the
arrow case was distinct in his back.
The archer straightened his posture and keeping his eyes on Bruce’s face strode
to him. Bruce flinched to the back of his chair and the archer put his hands on
the armrests trapping him between them.
“You pushed him away from my arrow…” he said in a low but almost threatening
voice.
Bruce shook his head in denial narrowing his eyes.
“I…what? I didn’t…”
The archer smiled in a tight line.
“I never have missed my target.”
Bruce’s eyes sparkled.
“It seems that now you did…” the stranger laughed and shook his head
appreciatively. “What was your target?”
The man’s eyes bore into Bruce’s.
“His heart, of course.”
Bruce gasped.
“You wanted to kill him?”
“Of course, he’s a bad guy” he said indifferently. “I thought that you of all
people would agree with that.”
“I don’t want people getting killed, even bad guys. He might have a family: by
killing him you would have increased the possibilities his kids follow his path
while if you help him reform he would keep his kids out of this.”
The man rolled his eyes and snorted.
“Wrong hour you chose to deliver sociology lectures…” he remarked snidely.
“Anyways, you might have saved him but I’ll finish him before he informs his
boss.”
In a swift motion, he extricated his bow and an arrow was already positioned
ready to launch to the fallen, writhing man.
“No…” Bruce said and the archer licked his lips frustrated and glared at him
sideways.
“You’re stupid, you know that?”
Bruce nodded and the archer put his gear back.
“You can go now” Bruce said.
But the man trapped him again between his arms so rushing that Bruce jerked
backwards.
“WE go” the man stressed the pronoun and settled his one arm around Bruce’s
back and the other under his knees ready to heave him.
But Bruce stared at him with widened eyes and his body stiffened.
“We need to be stealth so no chair” Robin Hood explained. “Putting your arms
around my neck will help…”
Bruce shook his head: that man ruined his plans – he couldn’t work with him
around. Robin Hood frowned puzzled.
“If you stay here the guy there will get you” he gestured to the hall. “He is a
Gothamite like you and I’m sure he’s looking for you – his goon said it. And
you’re cold…Paraplegics should be careful with hypothermia.”
Indeed, fat snowflakes were falling thickly and Bruce for the first time
realized that he was indeed cold but he didn’t want this man attached to him.
“I’m not going with someone who kills people…”
“Give me a break, will you?” he retorted annoyed.
“I give you one – go!”
But the archer gritted his teeth and tightened his grips on him already lifting
him off the chair. Bruce repelled him by pushing his shoulders with his palms.
The green eyes flashed.
“I don’t believe it!” but then he softened his voice. “I won’t hurt you, okay?”
“Leave me alone!”
The man despite his resist lifted him in bridal style Bruce still struggling.
“If you don’t stop struggling” the stranger warned him with a hiss “I’ll knock
you out! Do you want to be unconscious in a stranger’s hands?”
Bruce knew that there was no use: he had to find another way to do his work
with him around. So his face filled with fear on the hint and stopped writhing,
clutching his Cosmos. However his eyes fell regretting to his chair as he was
lifted – it was his greatest chance in mobility and independence. The archer
taking this in pressed his lips.
“I’m here to help not hurt you. Relax” his hoarse voice became soothing and in
a swift motion they were running into a blur to the building’s inside.
 
Joker staring at the bar gestured to his henchmen who armed their firearms
ready to shoot the crowd; the heroes hurried to put their bodies between the
guns and the people but it was clear that if those firearms shot the heroes
wouldn’t be the only casualties.
The jester indifferent hoped on a stool before the bar and slumped on the
shining surface.
“I’m not here to kiiiiill anyone” he uttered in a sweet, melancholic way gazing
at the plethora of bottles behind the petrified barista. “Of course, it could
juuuuust happen – because of…mmm…how scientists put it? Chaaaaaos Theory…”
Tony rolled his eyes and snorted: this loony speaking about science? How shitty
that night could get?
“Tony, ol’ pal” Joker giggled. “Stop rooooolling your eyes! Well, back to the
gist: I’m a poor artist with need of funding for his dream project…soooo, all
in all: give wallets, jewelry, Rolex to my fine gentlemen before chaos erupts…”
his voice sounded tired.
“What do you want, Joker?!” Superman demanded infuriated by his irritating
state to stand and just witness thugs robbing people as, in less than minute,
small piles of valuable items formed.
Joker rolled his eyes to the barista shaking his head.
“He’s as dumb as his suit, huh?” he waved his gun gesturing to the young man to
approach and put the hand holding the gun on his shoulder causing the barista’s
trembling. “Listen, dude…I’m a cinnamon addict” he told him in trusting way and
the barista widened his eyes: it was the first time he heard something like
this. “Aaaaaaand I’m in withdrawal” he touched the gunpoint to the man’s
temple. “Do something, wiiiill ya?” he pleaded.
The barista nodded panicked and rushed in his bottles to make a proper beverage
with cinnamon, his trembling hands made the bottles rattle.
Tony yanked his head towards Joker.
“Let the man alone, clown!”
Joker yawned.
“With you in a moment, Iron-y…Mmm…Let’s see what you did there…” he took the
glass that trembled in the barista’s hand and everyone in the space watched
breathless. “Cheeeeeers!” and made to drink but stopped abruptly, his eyes
glaring at the man above the glass. “I hope it’s not poisoned…Nah! You’re a
good kid!”
He gulped the liquid making loud sounds and the crowd followed every gulp.
“Mmm…” he licked his lips putting the glass on the bar. “Noooot bad…” he
stashed his gun in his inner secret pocket and the barista along with the
guests sighed in relief.
Suddenly, a flash of movement and people understood what happened only when the
barista jerked violently backwards and crushed at the wall behind him. A bare
blade slightly protruded from the center of his chest that fast drenched in
blood.
“WHERE’S MY CINNAMON?!” Joker yelled to the barista’s crystallized, bulged,
dead eyes.
The heroes in the room moved as one against the clown and every firearm turned
on them, arming to shoot. The guests yelled, their shock from the barista’s
death fuelling their new horror.
But Joker turned to them calm.
“Easy, children… I want myyyyy stars alive for the show.”
“Where’s Rogers?” Natasha mumbled to Thor’s ear.
 
Steve held Selina in his arms having just experienced his second climax; their
hearts were beating one upon the other, relaxing slowly, their eyes locked in
ecstasy.
“Oh, Captain, my Captain…” Selina exclaimed and Steve laughed.
But then the echo of frightened cries reached them and for the first time the
lack of music hit them hard.
“That definitely wasn’t Tony’s tricks…” Steve said determined and carefully put
Selina down on her feet.
“Bruce…” she gasped worried and fixed her dress gathering at the same time her
dispersed clothes.
Steve who was dressing too looked her in the eye.
“Tony won’t let anything bad happen to him!”
Selina hastily gathered her messy hair in a ponytail and lolled her head.
“When he obviously wasn’t able to stop someone scare his guests?!”
Steve nodded.
“This is impossible…” he muttered. “In that hall, are so many heroes: why they
don’t do anything?”
Selina putting her feet in her stilettoes marched determined to the door.
“I don’t know but I’m gonna find out!”
She unlocked the door and made to open but frowned finding it to be locked.
Steve who stood by her grabbed the handle and shook it to no avail.
“Someone locked us…” Selina mumbled and made to extract a special pin she had
in her hair for breaking locks but Steve touched her shoulder to get her away.
Which Selina accepted gladly because she didn’t want him to realize her special
skills.
“I don’t need my armor for that…” he said and with one kick the door collapsed
in its hinges.
“I just noticed…” Selina purred and winked.
Steve smiled getting out helping Selina pass the debris.
“The restrooms’ doors are not as durable as the other doors in the Tower; that
explains why the security staff isn’t already storming the floor to stop
whatever is happening; if they are locked as we were, they can’t get out.”
“I must find Bruce” she said already gazing at the frame leading to the
balcony. The corridor wrapped the ball room but the frame leading to the
balcony was in the opposite direction.
Steve looked her in the eyes and nodded.
“I’ll go inside to help” he already turned but Selina held him.
“The hall’s entrance not being guarded means it’s a trap. And whatever made
your pals unable to confront the menace will hit you as well. Better come with
me, find Bruce and think.”
Steve took one of the built-in tablets to call anyone in the building but it
was of no use.
“It’s dead” he said to Selina.
She nodded.
“Expected: they must have caused an electronic blackout to the entire Tower.
Let’s go find Bruce. I hope he stayed at the balcony.”
She was sure for her friend’s extraordinary skills but still he was in a
wheelchair and definitely she didn’t want him using his mental power on his
body AGAIN.
 
“We don’t have any contact with the Tower, Paul – it seems that everything is
shut down including the phones of the guests and the building is locked in and
out. We see Special Forces rushing here but what they can do when the Avengers,
Superman and Wonder Woman can’t do anything?”
The Afro-American journalist from the entrance of the mammoth Tower was
relating to the newscaster while the cameraman showed the vans with Special
Forces and the local police flooding the road pulling away the reporters to a
safe perimeter. Bystanders added to the frantic crowd of reporters gaping
curious at the building.
Thomas Elliot sat on his elegant, corner couch, dressed in his silken,
expensive robe; he took the glass of whiskey Kelly gave him and grabbed her
waist to settle her in his lap.
“Is this…” she asked pointing at the TV set.
“Yes, babe: the Avengers’ Tower is breached” his eyes shone gleeful but he
didn’t want to reveal his joy to her.
“We have some satellite pictures from the intruders…” the newscaster said a bit
baffled by the depicted people. “And this must be their leader…According to the
FBI…”
A picture of Joker under much snow was on the screen and Thomas laughed.
“This guy is sick, huh, babe?” and very interesting in his obsession with
Brucie… Searching information about Bruce, he learnt everything known about
Joker. “And I was pissed I wasn’t invited…” he snorted and sucked Kelly’s
shoulder causing a giggle. “Lucky me, right, babe? I just hope that poor Bruce
is alright.”
Kelly looked curious on a thick parcel which seemed to enclose a CD or DVD.
“What’s that, Tommy?”
He looked at the parcel and a real evil smile carved his beautiful face.
“Something I was waiting for a long time!”
 
The archer kicked the door and miraculously opened. It was a bedroom – one of
the guestrooms, Bruce knew from the tour Tony has given him on the previous
days. It seems that whoever locked up the building didn’t care about the
guestrooms.
The man put Bruce on the bed but he immediately grabbed the armrests of the
nearest chair and pushed his body to slip there. The stranger regarded him.
“You really hate beds, huh?”
Bruce didn’t answer and grabbed his Cosmos off the mattress.
“I had the impression that every phone in the building is dead?”
“Not this one – this is new…” he mumbled an answer and when a blip was heard he
turned it in private calling and brought it to his ear.
“Master Bruce, you were right: there is a strange toxin in the air that
probably prohibits Master Anthony and the rest of the heroes use their powers.”
“Of course…” that explained why someone saved Crane from the Police. “Can you
dissolve it?”
Bruce caught the archer’s intrigued stare but he couldn’t stop now.
“I think I can, sir: the ventilation system has a backup, auxiliary control
system that the saboteur didn’t know.”
“Do it, Jarvis.”
He met the man’s gaze.
“It’s business. You won’t go back to help?” that way he’d be alone and his
hands would be free.
The archer shook his head.
“That room is fool with fucking superheroes – they’ll manage. And frankly I
don’t care much.”
“But there are civilians, too…”
The man looked at him deeply in the eyes.
“I did what I wanted to do – that’s all!”
Bruce frowned.
“Me? But you don’t know me more than anyone in that room.”
“Some people don’t need to know each other…”
He turned his back ready to open the door.
“I’ll be outside guarding the door” he said gruffly realizing Bruce’s need to
be alone.
“Thank you, Arrow…” he was glad that he decided to give him privacy.
The man turned to him, his mysterious eyes sparkling interested.
“How did you call me?”
“Robin Hood is copyrighted” Bruce grinned.
The stranger smiled and nodded.
“I like it – I’ll keep it.”
As the door closed behind him Bruce dialed Alfred’s number; his poor butler
must be distressed.
“Alfred, I’m alright. Safe. Don’t worry. Yes, the others seem to be fine, too.
We’ll clear this mess up. I must hang up now.”
 
Selina and Steve saw shocked Bruce’s wheelchair empty at the balcony. A pond of
blood was in the curve and some red footsteps leading away from the balcony.
Selina kneeled before the chair and caressed the back and the armrests, her
eyes ready to water. But Steve squeezed her shoulder soothingly.
“I’m sure he is alright…Bruce is a fighter; he came out of this. Look…”
He gestured to a second pair of footsteps almost covered from the fresh snow;
it was different than the bloody one and headed to the inside of the building.
From the snowflakes that almost hid the footprints, they had formed before the
bleeding man left.
Selina frowned and followed with Steve the traces. The footprints stopped at
the frame opening to the corridor and thankfully not the one to the main hall.
“Someone took him?”
Steve nodded.
“And I’m positive that he wasn’t a bad guy or else he’d have taken him inside
the hall.”
Selina shook her head.
“Unfortunately, not only one bad guy wants to get Bruce…” Steve pressed his
lips. “Let’s find him…”
Steve hesitated casting an eager stare to the main hall. But Selina gripped his
upper arm.
“If you go inside now, you’ll be unable to help like your teammates – we must
wait and find Bruce.”
 
“What do you mean?” Tony asked the clown, his patience running thin with each
moment.
Joker jumped from his stool and walked towards the heroes, forming a square
with his fingers and eyeing Tony through it like a director. People flinched at
his approach.
“Ugh! I aaaaaalways wanted to direct my ooooown superhero movie…’’
The heroes frowned staring at the jester.
“You’re crazy!” Thor roared but his lost contact with Mjölnir was bothering him
as Hell.
Joker lolled his head to him smiling and batting his eyelashes.
“We artists are crazy, blond hunk” he uttered dramatic and frowned. “Where’s
Captain…how was it? I caaaaan’t remember thaaat country…Oh, yeah! America” he
shrugged disappointed and huffed. “Never mind, we’ll do this without him – we
can’t recast him at this stage.”
He continued scanning the place through the square his fingers formed.
“Mmm…I wouldn’t mind a little black in the equation – no offend for your
splendid black dress, dear” he said to Natasha. “But a rodent would be a
gooooood addition: I feel that Bats brings cash…” suddenly, he caught Fury’s
eye that flashed from wrath “Right, Mr. Fury?”
He spread his arms to the crowd and closed his eyes.
“Aaaaand I have my audience ready for the movie of the decade!” he casted a
sideways narrowed glance to the frozen members of the band. “Nooooo soundtrack?
Naaaah!”
Superman felt his body charging and his powers returning swiftly; he could tell
that the same was happening to the others as well because they were already
casting daggers to Joker ready to tear him apart. Tony’s armor already covering
his body.
The goons instead of shooting at the heroes turned their firearms at the band
after their boss’ gesture.
“I waaaant a draaaaamatic, overwhelming score” he hissed at the band and they
nodded fearful. “Beeeeenny Hill Show!”
The infamous music filled the space and Joker giggled crazily observing with
his acid, frantic eyes the heroes. Then he raised his hand dead serious.
“Shut up, people! Aaaaaaand…ACTION!” his raised palm fell on his opened palm
like a clapboard.
Superman frowned seeing Thor with his face distorted in wrath attacking Diana
who was taking a defense-attack stance and the Kryptonian clenched his fists
and jaw tackling the Asgardian. Thor was enraged that an ice giant dared to
thwart his attack on Adva who was there smirking at him ready to launch her
attack.
Meanwhile, Tony saw in the spot Joker stood, Peps. How couldn’t he notice her
before? And Iron Mongul was storming at her ready to hit taking his revenge for
Tony defeating him over the ocean. His body fully covered in Iron Man’s armor,
he stormed at the giant who in fact was Natasha at first attacking a horribly
misfigured Joker but then he became Snapdragon who was surging against her;
Natasha gritted her teeth, tore her dress to get freedom of movement and
changed her body’s stance to face him.
Diana was helping Superman confront Thor.
The guests watched flabbergasted the heroes blowing each other and then as the
blows and beams began launching and the heroes’ features transformed into
grotesque monsters terrified screams vibrated the vast hall and people ran
around looking for cover, punching other people in their path because everyone
was a monster from their worst nightmares.
Pepper though frightened from what she was seeing took cover behind a fallen
bench.
Joker laughed delighted.
“My masterpiece! Noooo CGI, no special effects: MAYHEM PRODUCTIONS PRESENT:
DESPERATE SUPERHEROES – THE FACE OFF” he scratched his green, freshly dyed
locks “or maybe FUUUUUUCK OFF – I wiiiiish my audience could help meeee decide”
he sighed watching the chaos. “Anyway, I was sure that my flick would make
crowds delirious – AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAA! Aaaaand I looooove the soundtrack
– soooooo fit!”
He turned to his goons who giggling watched the spectacle of superheroes
battling each other and people punching, kicking and smashing bottles and
glasses.
“Children! Grab the stuff aaaaand go: we have my cinnamon to find” he lolled
his face to the side watching touched his creation – he took a tear that wasn’t
there and threw it away. “The cameras will record everything for the next
generations…OH! I’m so proud!”
He kicked one goon who was passing in front of him and then stopped in his
heels seeing one of his men shuffling his feet towards him, stained with blood,
an arrow piercing his shoulder. Joker cocked his eyebrows.
“B…boss, Wayne was…at the balcony…I…was bringin’ him when a dude shot me…He
took Wayne…” he panted.
Joker cursed and slapped the goon to the floor.
“Why you didn’t come earlier?!’
“I was dizzy, boss…” he whined “and I went through the other door and lost my
way” Joker rolled his eyes impatient “and I passed out at some point…”
“Moron! They’re still in the building – it was locked till now. I’ll find them.
Chaaaaarge!” he yelled at his henchmen who turned their heads dumbfounded.
 
“Jarvis, any progress in dissolving the toxin?” Bruce asked the AI.
“I was ready, sir, but there’s no need for that now…”
Bruce frowned but he heard something behind the door.
“Jarvis, wait…” he couldn’t do much than wait and if it was some of Joker’s
men, knocking him out when he’d come to grab him. But probably it was just the
Arrow.
When the door opened hesitantly at first Bruce’s eyes widened from pleasant
surprise. It took only seconds for Selina to envelop him in a tight embrace
kissing his cheeks and tousling his hair.
“Thank Goodness! You scared me, sweetie!”
Bruce patted her upper arms.
“Are you okay, Sel? I thought you’re caught in there…” but then he regarded
Steve and understood.
Selina lolled her head to the side and cleared her throat.
“We wanted to talk in private…and left the room…”
Bruce noticed Steve’s blushing but the hero immediately noticed the tablet in
Bruce’s hands and sat at the bed frowning at the gadget.
“I thought that every gadget in the Tower was dead?”
“It’s new tech developed from Wayne Enterprises.”
“What are you doing?” Captain asked and Bruce knew that he didn’t have the
luxury of lying.
“I’m in contact with Jarvis” he replied and Steve’s eyes sparkled hopefully.
“Tell me, Jarvis” he put the AI on speaker.
“The toxin that was previously in the air is dissolved but it’s not my
doing”Bruce frowned and gestured to Steve not interrupt with asking. “The Tower
is finally unlocked, sir; but inside the hall most insane things happen: Iron
Man fights with Black Widow, Superman and Wonder Woman with Thor. People are
running around frantic, screaming and cringing from fear and hitting each
other.”
Bruce closed his eyes concentrating his thoughts.
“How the Tower got unlocked?”
“I can’t answer that, sir; it seems that the same thing that locked the systems
and the doors, simply unlocked them as well.”
And the heroes faced each other instead of chasing Joker and his thugs; and the
guests indicated being in delirioum. This pattern reminded Bruce something.
“Jarvis, I send you a chemical compound and I want you to check if this is in
the hall’s air.”
He brushed the indication on the screen sending the synthesis for Crane’s fear
toxin that Fox had analyzed when the doctor used it against Bruce.
“It’d be easier this time, sir; since I can get access to every system in the
Tower.”
Steve was staring at Bruce intrigued but the later even though was aware of
that, couldn’t address that now.
“The chemical synthesis you sent me, Master Bruce, is at large portions in the
hall and includes one more element”Bruce nodded knowing already “Kryptonite.”
Bruce bit his lower lip.
“That’s why they dissolved the first toxin letting the heroes use their skills
and powers and that explains why they unlocked the elevators and every door.”
Steve and Selina frowned.
“They want a bloodbath” Bruce told them but didn’t explain, hasty to address
Jarvis. “Jarvis, I want you to disable IronMan’s weapons and strengthen his
defense” he hoped to thwart his friend from hurting innocents.
“I can do that, sir; but Thor’s hammer can’t be controlled” the AI replied
understanding his intention.
“I know; let’s hope Superman and the Princess can take the force…” his guts
clenched from agony for Clark. “Jarvis, I have the synthesis for the antidote –
and I know that Tony has it stashed in the Tower’s ventilation system along
with his selection of antidotes” he stopped to gain his breath. “Find it and
disperse it to the hall.”
“I’ll do that, sir. The Tower’s security staff is heading there from the
elevators and the Special Forces just entered the building; also, I detect a
police helicopter approaching. With heavy artillery.”
Bruce looked at Selina and Steve.
“The bloodbath: they unlocked the building and spread the fear toxin to drive
the guests and the heroes mad into fighting each other. When the security and
the Special Forces arrive, the heroes will see them as nightmarish monsters and
will strike them hard – they will answer the fire and the guests will be in the
middle.”
Steve was appalled from all these but also puzzled.
“How do you know all these, Bruce?”
Selina locked eyes with Bruce and he huffed.
“This toxin is the creation of an insane doctor called Crane; I know what his
toxin does because he used it on me.”
Steve stood.
“I’ll go there and try to stop them from killing each other till the antidote
gets administered.”
“Master Bruce, Joker and his gang left the reception hall and wander the
building…”
“They’re looking for you” Selina spat.
“Jarvis, focus on the toxin.”
Steve looked indecisive.
“I can’t let you alone now that Joker is coming for you…”
“I’ll be with him” Selina stood so confident that Steve was impressed and
perplexed.
“Go, Captain” Bruce urged him. “These people need you more.”
Steve held Bruce’s upper arms.
“I already knew that you’re a hero and tonight you confirmed it.”
Bruce grinned shyly.
“Jarvis is the hero…”
Steve laughed and nodded totally unconvinced and stormed out of the room in his
super human speed.
Selina sat again at the mattress.
“Who brought you here, Bruce? Don’t tell me you used…” her disapproval was
clear.
Bruce on his screen watched the footage from different parts of the building
having hacked the central system.
“You didn’t see him? He was standing outside the door.”
Selina shook her head.
“Nobody was there.”
Bruce nodded: of course, the Arrow left as soon as he heard them coming.
“It was an archer dressed like Robin Hood” he shrugged at Selina’s puzzled
eyes. “At least, vigilantism doesn’t lack variety and imagination.”
He brushed some spots in his Cosmos’ screen.
“What did you do?”
“I stopped the elevators caring the Special Forces and the security people – it
won’t last much given that the central control is unlocked but it should give
Steve some time to get there and Jarvis to free the antidote.”
“Can you locate Joker?”
Bruce pressed his lips and locked eyes with her.
“I don’t have the luxury to care about him right now – besides the building is
huge; he won’t find us easily.”
 
Leslie’s voice was panting on the phone and Alfred couldn’t blame her.
CNN was broadcasting that blasts sounded from the building and sparkles were
seen.
“He called me, Leslie, he is fine; calm down…And I’m sure Master Anthony knows
how to protect himself. I’ll call you when they get back.”
He petted Hero who looked at him and meowed.
“You’re certain as well that they will be alright, huh?”
 
Superman felt for the first time in his life exhausting of fighting: dodging
that Asgardian’s blasts sent from his hammer was a constant challenge and
actually some of them burnt him. But he was happy that his heat vision had
managed to hit the God while Diana exchanged punches and kicks with him. Her
beautiful face was scratched and bleeding but Thor wasn’t better. Suddenly,
Superman’s heart stopped as his lungs: Thor shoved his blazing hammer and the
blow at Diana’s head was so hard that the Amazon flew through the hall and
slumped at the wall.
Superman stood there paralyzed; dead, his eyes melting in hot tears. The entire
world got dark and he was floating in the void: Diana was dead! He ground his
teeth and launched against the Asgardian deciding to kill him or get killed.
Suddenly, his mind began clearing and in front of his eyes Thor’s grotesque
face became the known mild, kind face. The baby blue eyes of the god looked
puzzled at Superman who had gripped his torso lethally. His Mjölnir vibrated
angry and vibrant in his grasp but he wouldn’t hit Superman.
“Superman?”
“You killed Diana…”
Tony saw suddenly Iron Mongul transforming into Natasha. Whose dress was ragged
and some gushes and burns ran the visible parts of her body and face. Her eyes
were two menacing slits as her legs stretched like catapults hit him square on
the chest throwing him down.
She stormed at his fallen form with her fingers ready to snatch the arc reactor
from his chest but Natasha stopped abruptly as Tony was ready to kick her away.
“What are we doing?” the Russian asked.
“Foreplay?” Tony chirped.
Fury ran there; he was dizzy and still confused but due to his training was
able to get over the effect sooner than the other guests.
“Joker did something to us: are you alright?”
Superman felt a strong hand in his upper arm. He turned.
“I’m here, Kal El” her smile was radiant and Clark’s heart began beating again.
Her dress had gashes as her arms and cheeks but she was fine. His relief was so
grand that he couldn’t stop himself from hugging her.
 
Bruce had just managed to get image from the main reception hall and his eyes
were narrowed into slits on the mayhem – Jarvis had informed him that there was
also a man dead.
Selina watched over his shoulder.
But then Bruce’s finger stayed numb over the screen as he got image from the
Superheroes’ fights. He heard Superman accusing Thor of having killed Diana: so
that was his greatest fear? And then she touched Superman and he hugged her
desperate and relieved.
Selina bit her bottom lip and slipped her hands to hug her friend’s upper arms.
Her eyes were sad when met with Bruce’s but he grinned shaking his head.
“Let’s see elsewhere…” he changed into another camera’s image and Selina knew
that Bruce really suffered.
 
Fury turned at the big elevators right in front of the hall’s main entrance. He
frowned at the indicators showing that the lift was there.
“The attackers came back to finish the job” he said to the heroes. “Protect the
civilians.”
The heroes marched to the entrance, the guests just overcoming the toxin’s
effect were trying to make head or tail from the wreckage around them and the
bruises they had.
Lois dizzy and battered shuffled to a better spot readying her smartphone to
shot the scene – Jimmy was already getting pictures.
“I have some missiles with their names on” Tony spat really pissed. “No” he
frowned “I don’t have any missiles…” he said as realized that his artillery was
blocked.
“Stay behind, kid…” Natasha snorted at him.
The elevator doors began opening and Thor raised his hammer as Superman, Diana
and Natasha stormed at them. The men from the elevators seeing attackers aimed
at them but a tornado tackled them throwing their firearms away.
“Stop!” Steve yelled both to security men and teammates.
Everyone stopped and Superman helped the security men stand.
“There’s a helicopter coming and there are Special Forces in the Tower heading
here – so we must be ready to neutralize them because they might be ready to
fire…” Steve snapped.
The distinct sound of a helicopter filled the space and Tony ran there; he
could stop the helicopter if he gained control over his hacking systems.
“Jarvis! What the Hell are you doing blocking my systems?!”
“Following Master Bruce’s orders” the AI replied nonchalant.
The helicopter were a breath away from the smashed windows and Ironman stood
there ready to tackle them even without missiles but the helicopter turned
around and left.
“Where’s Bruce, Jarvis?” Tony asked as Pepper hugged him. “Nice hair, dear” he
teased her because her perfectly groomed locks were like having survived a
hurricane.
But before receiving an answer from Jarvis he heard Superman informing the
others that the coming Special Forces had their guns down – someone had
contacted them about the situation being in control.
 
Joker stormed the floor with the guestrooms ahead of his goons; some of them
were carrying sacks with their loot.
“The only place where someone could take Brucie were the guestrooms that were
unlocked…Hoooooney, I’m hooooome!” he lolled his head and licked his lips.
“No, you’re not!”
A sweesh sound pierced the spacious corridor and Joker was carried away by a
force and stabbed to the wall.
“Wow!” Joker exclaimed and along with his flabbergasted goons saw that the
force was indeed a thick arrow. “Phiew!” Joker said relieved as the arrow
pierced only his jacket on the shoulder.
Simultaneously, several arrows pinned his goons like dolls to the corridor
walls.
A man marched towards them fixing his bow on his shoulder.
“Roooobin Hooooood?” Joker asked thrilled. “Huhu! I like it!”
“It’s ARROW” the man hissed at Joker’s face.
Joker giggled to the man and looked upwards.
“Um…Houuuuuuston? We got a prooooo—ble--mo…” he said in a singsong voice and he
along with his men vanished.
 
Loki moved his butt to make himself more comfortable on the cloud he sat cross-
legged in the place where his golden throne usually stood. Opposite him the
wreckage of the Tower’s ball room played live on thin air till the god bored
switched off with a snap of his fingers.
He regarded almost indifferently Joker and his gang that just landed on his
palace.
Joker noticed the several huge containers of popcorn thrown around empty.
“So what’s out Rotten Tomatoes’ score?”
“It was fine I guess” he pouted “I’ll give you 78%.”
Joker lolled his head.
“Everyone’s a critic…”
“The end was underwhelming...”
The clown raised an eyebrow.
“I know who ruined my show – he does that!” he sneered.
Loki raised an eyebrow.
“I’m content with what you achieved even if it’s the half from what we wanted…”
Joker clenched his fist.
“I didn’t get Brucie…”
“No, you didn’t!” he huffed. “And that would have led to a great chaotic
sequel.”
Loki unfolded lazily his legs and stood from his cloud; he strut to the clown
and patted his shoulder laughing.
“Next time, mate…”
 
Tony had deactivated his armor and ran to the balcony where Superman said that
last saw Bruce, leaving Pepper and Fury handle the mess. He froze seeing
Bruce’s chair empty covered by thick snow though he knew from Jarvis that his
friend was safe.
“Damn!”
“He must be fine” Superman said having followed puzzled about where Bruce was.
After all these Clark couldn’t find the concentration to locate the man’s
vitals and Diana’s hand on his shoulder, causing warmth and goose bumps to his
body, wasn’t of any help.
Tony’s face was distorted from anger when turned to him.
“What do you know?!” his anger from what witnessed Superman doing with the
Amazon returned. “You filthy…”
But Thor was there patting his shoulder.
“Calm down, Tony. Bruce is tough.”
Tony nodded; Jarvis had told him that Bruce gave him orders so the little guy
was definitely alive and kicking but his empty chair gave him chills: maybe he
was hurt and the AI didn’t know?
“Mr. Wayne knows how to preserve his hide” Diana said slyly her eyes shining
gleefully and Tony casted her a lethal glare before focusing on Superman who
was also annoyed by the billionaire’s stance.
“Put a gag on her filthy mouth!” Tony spat to Superman.
“I care for Bruce as much as you!” Clark yelled and thankfully the outsiders
were in the hall answering police’s questions.
Tony marched to him gritting his teeth.
“Where is he then?”
“Here!”
They both turned to the curve of the balcony. Steve Rogers was carrying Bruce
in his arms, Selina beside them. Superman felt a rush of jealousy seeing Bruce
in someone else’s arms.
But Tony was beaming; he ran to his friend and took him from Steve’s arms
managing in his joy to throw both of them on the floor, keeping Bruce safe on
his body.
“Are you comfortable, little guy?” he asked cocking an eyebrow.
“No offence but I prefer Captain’s arms…”
Tony laughed happily and Selina brought the chair having cleaned it from the
snow – thankfully the material was water proof.
Thor took Bruce carefully off of Tony and settled him in the chair muffling him
in his cape because the snow was still falling pretty thick.
Diana casted a sideways glance to Clark’s almost red eyes – she cocked an
eyebrow and slipped her hand in his trying to calm him.
“Mr. Wayne, I was looking for you.”
A man around fifties approached them Oliver Queen following him to answer his
questions – Queen was ragged, disheveled and battered as every other guest.
“Mr. Wayne, I’m glad you were far from this mess…” Queen exclaimed to Bruce.
“NCPD, Lieutenant Johnson. I’d like to have your testimony, Mr. Wayne” the man
that came with Queen showed them his badge.
But Tony intervened.
“Lieutenant, my friend is under heavy medication and all these events exhausted
him. He really needs some rest so if you would agree to get the testimony
tomorrow morning, I’d be obliged to you.”
Everyone at the balcony had the same shocked expression for his diplomatic tone
and Tony scowled at them. The Lieutenant nodded looking at Bruce.
“I understand…Tomorrow, Mr. Wayne” he grinned.
“Thank you, Lieutenant.”
The New Yorker left and Tony grabbed the handles of Bruce’s chair.
“I’ll drive you to the penthouse.”
“No, Tony, you have a lot of things to do here – and you can’t let everything
on Peps: she had a really rough night. And you’re the director.”
“I won’t leave you alone when Joker is free.”
“The car you gave me is a fortress…”
Tony shook his head.
“So this Tower…” his disappointment was evident and Bruce squeezed his hand.
“It wasn’t your fault” he smiled though a man had died and that was a heavy
burden for everyone.
“I’ll go with Mr. Wayne” Superman said marching to the young man who met his
eyes with a cold stare. “I’ll fly him there because his car is known and could
be watched.”
“Thank you, Superman” Bruce replied emotionless. “But there’s no need for
that.”
Superman stood still frowning.
“I’m coming with you, sweetie” Selina said and took him away. “And I’m
driving…”
 
As soon as they arrived at the penthouse, Alfred hurried to open the door:
relief beaming in his tired face.
“Thank Goodness! You’re both alright! Master Anthony? Miss Potts? Master Kent?”
Hero ran and climbed to Bruce’s lap rubbing to him and purring. Bruce petted
him along with Selina.
“They are safe and sound, Alfred; Tony and Peps will come later.”
“What happened, sir?”
“I’ll tell you everything tomorrow because now I need a hot shower and some
sleep” Bruce muttered patting Alfred’s forearm.
The Englishman could see the exhaustion in his eyes but he felt that it wasn’t
only from the tension of the night. Selina nodded to him confirming.
As Bruce settled on the mattress, his back ached from the night’s fatigue. He
had just drunk a glass of warm milk with a spoonful of honey – Alfred brought
him – and his eyelids were really heavy.
Hero climbed swiftly on the bed and sprawled on his chest, purring smoothly.
Bruce caressed him affectionately.
He thought about Crane and Joker working together under the high protection of
someone powerful but as his conscious mind was rapidly falling to deep sleep
one thought prevailed over everything: Clark didn’t care anymore to be the
fastest to come for him…
Chapter End Notes
     Well, watching Captain America: Civil War, during the battle in the
     airport I felt a bit like Joker laughing at the oddity of these
     heroes fighting each other. So I thought to give Joker the chance to
     direct such a scene.
     I hope you liked the chapter.
***** Chapter 31 *****
“How am I always ending up in your arms?” Bruce chuckled staring at Clark’s
eyes; Superman’s face was smoked, dirty and bruised but Bruce found it
gorgeous.
“Because I’m the fastest” he frowned “are you complaining?”
Bruce drew a deep breath.
“Of course not – I missed you…”
Clark closed his eyes and sighed.
“You have no idea…” he whispered.
Superman couldn’t be the fastest this time even if he wanted to…
And I wouldn’t want him to abandon innocent people in danger just to come and
cuddle me…I was safe, far from imminent danger… People must still be Superman’s
priority not his lover…
“You killed Diana…” a crestfallen but angry at the same time Superman told
through gritted teeth to Thor, holding the god in a bone crushing grip.
And then at the sight of the Amazon, his face gained again its color and beamed
from utter relief and happiness.
His greatest fear IS Diana getting killed…that’s what he experienced under
Crane’s toxin…
Exactly…It was the toxin…This – the worst fear thing - doesn’t necessary apply
to normal conditions…
I know the toxin…I experienced it twice…
Diana’s locks shone oddly like they were dyed; and her eyes had something
unnatural…
The four days Clark was away from her he was normal; and then as soon as she
appeared again, Clark slipped…
Superman and Diana were dancing passionately under the melody of that song;
their eyes locked, their bodies united – unaware of the rest of the world… they
were floating over a black sea that reflected the silver shine of the moon…
And he watched fixed in his chair; at a balcony; and his throat felt like
burning…
A young man dressed with black trousers, black vest, white shirt and black bow-
tie lay sprawled on the shining floor under the glass shelves packed with all
short of booze; his hazelnut eyes were bulged but didn’t move; he was looking
up to nothing or better to death – a bare blade slightly protruded from his
chest: the blood had dried absorbed in the white fabric… He must have been
cheering when he got the job of the barista in the biggest event of the year –
Tony Stark was generous after all…
“You lead lined the Tower, right?” Superman’s voice sounded really pissed not
too far and to pass the sound proof walls of the penthouse meant that he was
shouting – or maybe it was just his trained hearing.
“Of course!” Tony retorted equally pissed and heavy with sarcasm. “It ought to
be protected even against Superman: that building is the safest in the world!”
Now this couldn’t be possibly heard but Bruce could picture Clark cocking his
eyebrows snidely.
“I just experienced that tonight!”
A palm slapped hard the dark blue granite surface of the kitchen’s island and
Bruce raised slowly himself in a sitting position. Hero a ball on his chest
opened his eyes puzzled and regarded him even though the room was completely
dark.
“Sleep, buddy…” he whispered and took the kitten off of him and laid it on the
mattress.
He didn’t clap for the secret lighting to illuminate the corners of the vast
bedroom, he just casted a glance at the hologram pyramid shaped clock on the
nightstand: 2:16 in the morning.
The wheelchair Superman made him came to the king sized bed obeying his wish
and he slipped in it; he wore his robe because Alfred was adamant about that:
being warm from sleep could make the slightest difference in environmental
temperature get him down with the flu.
“It wasn’t the lead that thwarted you from running to Bruce!” Tony spat at
Clark’s tense face; he was still in his Superman attire. “Damn! You’re the
fastest man in the planet! You could have swept the Tower and found Bruce but
you preferred to stay glued to the Amazon’s skirt!” 
Superman’s more than friendly interactions with the Princess were still in
Tony’s eyes and that kept his anger red hot. Clark could see it.
“And you could have located him too with Ironman’s systems!”
“They were still restoring! But the point is that you cared only for that
Amazon who insulted Bruce in every given occasion!”
Clark widened his eyes in irony.
“You make me a scene on Bruce’s behalf?!” he cackled. “Bruce during the night
was constantly surrounded by drooling Avengers and I’m sure you happily would
cover your friends if they wanted to make advances on Bruce.”
Tony gritted his teeth.
“They weren’t drooling! They respect Bruce for his power of character and his
quality as a human being. You were the one drooling stupidly over her! You
failed to realize that Bruce got isolated to that balcony because of your
actions!”
“And that saved him from the Joker and then saved all of us!”
Tony sniggered and tilted his head on the side.
“You’re really insensitive, aren’t you?” he leaned forward so their intense
stares collided. “You hurt him, you dolt!”
Superman raised his index finger and pointed at Tony’s chest, his face
distorted in anger.
“You blame me of being indifferent to Bruce but I didn’t see you running for
him when Joker made his appearance” he twitched his eyebrows challengingly.
“You had better things to care about, huh?”
“You fuckin’ motherfuc…” Tony’s fist rose to punch even though Superman
wouldn’t feel a thing – Clark actually watched amused with his arms crossed
over his chest.
“You both did perfect to not come for me!” Bruce slithered the wheelchair into
the kitchen.
They looked at him almost embarrassed; Tony ruffled his hair.
“We woke you up?” he asked regretful.
“I thought that your drugs were so strong that you couldn’t wake during the
night…” Clark walked to him a bit hesitant and Bruce noticed.
“They are” he nodded “but the tension of the last hours didn’t let me muster
deep sleep. You should stop speaking so loud or else Alfred will be up too – he
needs his rest. And Selina as well.”
“You’re right, little guy” Tony nodded twitching his mouth. “Sorry ’bout that.
I’ll make you some warm milk.”
Bruce smiled.
“Thanks, Tony, but Alfred already forced me to drink one glass – I can’t take
another, really…” he stretched his eyebrows appalled and Tony chuckled
forgetting his previous rage with Superman.
Superman crouched before Bruce and looked him in the eyes.
“I’m sorry I didn’t come for you…”
Tony rolled his eyes.
“Is this really the only thing you feel the need to apologize for?!” he
snorted.
Clark turned to him exasperated.
“I don’t take lessons from you, Stark!”
Bruce rubbed the bridge of his nose feeling the beginning of a headache.
“Nobody needs to apologize for anything, okay? Both did the best staying with
the guests – I was safe” his voice dropped a tone: “A man was killed a couple
of hours ago…that’s what matters.”
Tony pressed his lips because he sensed his friend’s exhaustion, mostly
emotional: Superman’s interactions with the Amazon definitely had an impact on
him but he was stubbornly ignoring his own discomfort for what he considered
more important things. And for Tony the death of that young man was also a
heavy burden: he was supposed to guarantee that everyone was safe in the Tower.
The billionaire walked to his friend and squeezed his shoulder, pursing his
lips.
“Weren’t for you, buddy, there’d be many more casualties and our hands would be
drenched with blood of innocents” their eyes locked. “Jarvis recounted to us
everything.”
“And I’m sure your Avenger buddies were raving about Bruce…” Clark snorted,
towering the other two.
“Of course… they know to appreciate the people who worth it.”
“Tell your friends to keep their hands away from Bruce!” Clark snapped.
Tony widened his eyes and shrugged.
“Why? You didn’t seem to care much during the night” he pouted. “You had your
company so Avengers chose their company too…”
Superman looked at Bruce.
“He put lead in the Tower so I couldn’t locate you.”
Tony crossed his arms over his chest and cocked an eyebrow.
“Actually is a new alloy based on lead which increases lead’s qualities.”
Clark inclined his head to Bruce raising his eyebrows.
“You see? I’d have found you sooner than Rogers.”
Bruce shook his head: that discussion was improbable.
“That doesn’t explain why you didn’t go to Bruce once during the night and why
you didn’t retort when the Amazon insulted him.”
After the dramatic events of the assault, Bruce had almost forgotten the scene
Clark made in the toilets reprimanding him for insulting Diana.
“Tony…” he tried to smoothen again the tension but Clark was angry.
“That’s irrelevant! I should have reached first Bruce and I should have carried
him! Rogers has no job laying his hands on him.”
Bruce closed his eyes and huffed.
“Then why you didn’t run the building?”
“Please, stop this quarrel!” Bruce spat. “It’s…it’s inappropriate when a family
mourns their loved one and when there are more serious things to contemplate
like who was behind Joker and Crane.”
“Yes, but…” Clark insisted.
“Captain America already knew where I was so he just came and brought me to
you” Bruce retorted to stop all of this.
Clark frowned and narrowed his eyes.
“So…he was with you all the time…that’s why he wasn’t in the hall during the
entire thing…he had better things to do…with you!” his darker suspicion was
evident in his tone and Tony snorted.
“No, actually the handsome was with me!”
Tony and Clark turned at the rectangular frame of the entrance where Selina
traipsed graciously in the kitchen. She wore a white knee-length flannel
nightdress with long sleeves; the neckline was just above the collarbone and
from her chest to her belly Duchess, the beautiful white cat from the
Aristocats smiled charmingly.
Tony looked at her widening his eyes impressed: seeing the always sexy Cat
dressed so…casually just enhanced her beauty and highlighted her young age.
“I envy that old guy…What has he that is better than mine?”
Selina came very close to him and her flat slippers brought her to the same
height as him.
“Do you really want me to tell you?” she breathed sensually to his face.
Bruce managed to chuckle despite his emotional turmoil and Clark smirked.
“Never mind…” Tony waved off.
Selina tilted her head to the side and cocked her eyebrows.
“I was gonna say the shield…” she chuckled. “Anyway, jealous boy” she casted an
irritated glance at Superman “Steve was with me when Joker attacked and we
decided to find Bruce before doing a hasty move which was the best choice
because Bruce was completely in control of the situation. After everything
settled down, Steve came back to us because – obviously – there was no means
for Bruce to leave the guestroom we were in.”
Clark seemed relieved and caught Bruce looking at him interested; however
something was lacking.
“Yes, but how Bruce got there in the first place? His wheelchair was at the
balcony… You didn’t use your brain to force your body to move?” this time real
wrath colored his voice.
“Buddy…” Tony tilted his head to the side, his disapproval and frustration for
Bruce doing this was evident.
Bruce shook his head.
“I didn’t do that: I was heading inside the building when a goon blocked my way
wanting to take me to Joker but then an arrow hit him.”
“An arrow?” three voices exclaimed at once.
“Yes, an archer dressed like Robin Hood took me from the balcony and took me to
a guestroom; guestrooms were the only spaces that remained unlocked. Then he
left telling me that he’d stay guarding outside the door.”
“He probably left when we reached the guestroom” Selina commented.
Tony frowned, rubbing his goatee.
“Security found arrows stuck in the walls of the corridor at the guestrooms’
floor; unfortunately, we don’t have surveillance cameras there due to privacy
issues but there was no blood. And judging from the sacks with jewels
there…Joker and his goons headed to the guestrooms to get you but your
mysterious friend stopped them.”
Superman was annoyed that another admirer was added to last night’s army…
“He’s a seductress…” Diana had breathed in his ear as he watched Thor placing
Bruce in his wheelchair, careful as if he was handling the most precious thing.
She definitely had felt his jealousy for Rogers carrying Bruce – his jaw had
clenched and now his eyes became almost red. “You can’t honestly blame the
others when Superman himself was seduced…Wayne is a rare seductress…”
Even in his boiling state of mind Superman got the use of ‘seductress’ instead
of ‘seducer’ and Diana’s sneering tone – she definitely referred to the fact
that Bruce attracted mostly males. But honestly at this state he didn’t care:
he was pissed with Bruce. And indeed, Diana was right on spot: Bruce was a
seductress: he carried in his body the DNA of a female demon who was an
irresistible seductress, attracting men and destroying them.
“Who was that man?” Tony asked. “And how he got in the locked up building?”
“Maybe he was already in?” Selina raised an eyebrow and Bruce nodded.
“I think that this council would better take place in the morning” Alfred
offered marching to Bruce’s place. “All of you need some rest – except if you
want me to prepare something before you return to your beds.”
It was new seeing Alfred in his velvet mahogany robe which was embroidered with
golden fine stripes.
“No, Alfred, thank you” Bruce replied.
Superman leaned on him and looked him in the eyes.
“May I carry you to your bed?” his eyes almost pleaded.
Bruce pressed his lips; his heart was still numb from what happened but he knew
that Clark needed him. He nodded and wrapped his arms around his neck causing a
pleased smile in Clark’s face and he heaved him with new energy.
Alfred grabbed the handles of the chair as Clark was already trotting to the
bedroom.
“I’ll bring the chair” the butler said.
“Good night” Bruce bid his friends and they bid back.
Selina filled a glass with mineral water from a glass bottle over the shining
sink bench and sipped. Tony tilted his head to her furrowing his brow.
“Can you tell me why this bastard is so lucky?” he asked pissed. “Not only
Bruce gave him his love…”
“And not only that…” Selina commented slyly cocking her eyebrows, her comment
adding more annoyance to Tony.
“But also the little guy is so forgiving with him! He was snuggling with the
Amazon all night!” he shook his head. “I got yelled and slapped for less…”
“I’m sure…” Selina smirked and raised an eyebrow in disbelief.
But then she put the glass in the sink and huffed.
“I wasn’t there from the start but what I saw was enough…Superman dancing with
that bitch” she had her back turned to Tony for a bit but now she twirled to
look him. “However I trust, Bruce: I’m sure he knows what he’s doing – he
always does: he proved it tonight.”
Tony shook his head pursing his lips; his hands crossed over his chest.
“I trust him too, Sel; but he is in love for the first time in his life” Selina
lowered her eyes because she was thinking the same. “And maybe his better
judgment falls under his love for that sneaky bastard” he crossed the distance
between them and held her upper arms. “I feel that things will end very badly
and I’m afraid for the impact this will have on Bruce…” he gnawed his bottom
lip. “I wish I could protect him…to open his eyes and make him realize that
Superman doesn’t worth it.”
Selina inhaled deeply.
“Maybe is not as serious as we think …Maybe our overprotectiveness makes us see
monsters surrounding Bruce.”
Tony brushed his lips with his finger skeptical; he lifted an eyebrow.
“But aren’t these monsters really there?”
Selina pressed her lips in a tight line and patted his shoulder before heading
to her bedroom.
Superman opened the bedroom’s door holding Bruce only with one arm; Alfred
clapped once and the room was casted under pleasant pale white light from the
corners’ secret lighting.
Clark that didn’t need light to see placed Bruce gently on the mattress and
Hero hurried to lick the alien’s face. Bruce petted the animal and Clark took
his hand and kissed the palm.
Alfred settled the wheelchair beside the rectangular black bed from Bruce’s
side and glanced at the scene feeling relieved as every time he witnessed Bruce
and Clark interacting affectionately; yet he couldn’t ease the clenching in his
chest.
“Would you like anything else?”
Bruce turned to his butler.
“No, Alfred; thank you.”
Clark shook his head in denial.
“I’ll take care of Bruce now…” he smiled warmly and Alfred bowed his head.
“I’m very glad to hear that, sir. Have a lovely night!”
“Good night, Alfred” Bruce told him and the British smiled to him before
closing the door.
Clark put on his pajamas in less than a minute and slumped on the bed bringing
his body to meet Bruce’s that was supported on his elbow. The younger man was
petting Hero with his other hand and Clark took off his robe and threw it over
the wheelchair’s back. He leaned and kissed Bruce’s bottom lip.
“Alone at last…” he breathed. “There were moments during the party that I felt
the urge to take you to a place where we’d be just the two of us.”
Bruce pressed his lips in a tight smile: he wished he could believe that and
maybe it was true till the Amazon came to the party and then Bruce was
completely erased from Clark’s awareness if not for berating him for insulting
‘his Amazon friend’.
He didn’t give any reply and just nodded continuing playing with Hero who
twitched his paws to catch his fingers.
Clark understood Bruce’s inhibition. Leaving the Avengers’ Tower to Stark’s
penthouse he had realized that during Joker’s show, he hadn’t thought of Bruce
once…And that cracked him…His only thought and care was Diana – it was as if
Bruce had never existed. Even when Joker spoke about ‘his cinnamon’ clearly
referring to Bruce, he wasn’t enraged – he was indifferent. Well, he could
attribute it to those toxins Joker released in the hall – Jarvis informed them
that Bruce discovered that.
But he had to be honest with himself: even before Joker attacked, from the
moment Diana made her appearance, he was absorbed in her presence, by her
beauty – he didn’t mind her speaking like this to Bruce. He even scolded Bruce
for defending himself.
But he loved Bruce: Clark knew that. He needed Bruce. So he grabbed the younger
man’s upper arms and heaved him slightly to be face to face, to lock eyes and
lips. Clark had no problem kiss him as passionately as ever and Bruce followed
the pace though his heart beat somewhat strange, not joyfully like in the past.
“Thank you for not sharing Tony’s irrationality” Clark chirped wanting to
dissolve every cloud his interaction could have created over their relationship
– after all, he hadn’t done anything blamable: he just was with a friend and
when the danger came and Bruce was safe, he focused on the one that was in the
line of fire. “You know that there’s nothing between me and Diana: we’re just
friends. And I’d have run to find you…eventually, but Rogers caught me on that
and I hate it that he touched you…” he brushed Bruce’s upper arms and he
grinned.
“He couldn’t carry me without touching me…” he remarked dryly.
Clark ruffled his hair laughing.
“Touché. But still I didn’t like it. First, all of the Avengers and then Thor
alone and that unknown guy taking you to a guestroom and then Rogers…”
Bruce looked in Clark’s eyes: Clark definitely wasn’t aware of what he was
doing – being jealous when he clearly flirted with the Princess. Either he was
affected by something or he just wanted everything: keeping him and Diana.
Bruce however didn’t want to believe the second option.
“You know, Bruce, although you took a shower, I can discern the smell of Rogers
and Thor but no third smell.”
Bruce had noticed too during his interaction with the Arrow: his senses weren’t
superhuman but Ra’s’ hard training didn’t leave smelling out.
“I noticed too; but it’s not awkward. His clothes must thwart his smell coming
off, exactly like Batman’s” his voice remained impassionate but he couldn’t
fight the bitterness when realization hit him hard: it was five months he
didn’t done the cape and cowl.
Clark cupped his face with both hands and kissed the top of his head.
“You always are Batman – Tonight Batman saved us all even without wearing his
armor.”
“You don’t give Jarvis his deserved credit” he chuckled and Hero climbed
Clark’s body settling on his shoulder. “Clark, before Joker’s attack, Lucius
called me.”
Clark, who was caressing Hero laughing, sobered and placed the kitten on the
mattress. He understood what would make Lucius call Bruce so late.
“My tests’ results…”
Bruce nodded and seeing the beautiful crystal blue eyes in agony smiled.
“Lucius didn’t find anything wrong: there’s nothing organic.”
“That’s great!” he exclaimed and planted a deep kiss on Bruce’s lips but then
he abruptly became grim. “Then my behavior is…” he pressed his lips – not that
he felt bad about his behavior yet Bruce’s feelings got hurt sometimes
“normal?”
Bruce tilted his head on the side.
“Lucius said that still there could be an external factor that affects your
behavior.”
Clark frowned.
“Like that substance they applied to your body?”
Bruce lifted his eyebrows.
“Well, that is excluded” he inhaled deeply because he knew that what he was to
say would cause some turmoil. “Clark” he looked him deep in the eyes “you must
stop seeing the Princess – being around her.”
Those beloved eyes bulged in puzzlement and irritation. Clark bolted and sat on
the mattress.
“And I thought that you didn’t share Stark’s bullshits!” he huffed frustrated.
“Of course…” he cocked his eyebrows “you’re slier than Stark: Ra’s Al Ghul
taught you how to manipulate people into doing what you want.”
Even if his words stung, Clark not looking at him was worse. He slithered on
the mattress and raised his body in sitting position to be next to him.
“You didn’t start making a scene pretending the cool and understanding only to
present your demand as logical and not jealousy evoked!”
Bruce touched his shoulder.
“I wouldn’t have asked you that if I didn’t have my reasons” he knew that there
was no point in telling ‘you can’t believe this’ because Clark definitely
believed it.
Clark shook his head nervously.
“Of course you have your reasons: you hate Diana and you’re green with jealous
because I was with her at the party: you want everything don’t you, Bruce?” his
eyes were ablaze when he casted them on Bruce’s.
Bruce frowned.
“You want me alone but also you want your superhero admirers drooling around
you! Diana ruined your plans because she just kept my attention away from that
torture you wanted to put me through!”
Hero began meowing distressed and Bruce caressed his back to calm him but his
own heart was beating fast.
“I was only talking to them.”
But Clark wasn’t listening; he grabbed Bruce’s upper arms and shook him his
eyes stabbing the younger man’s motionless eyes.
“I asked you once to fire your physiotherapist and you didn’t do it and now you
have the nerve to demand from me to dump my friend?”
Bruce was glad his tone remained low because he didn’t want Alfred or Tony or
Selina intervening to this.
“Matt is engaged, you saw his fiancé tonight…”
“This doesn’t mean anything…” he said harshly. “Many engaged or married men
cheat their mates.”
Hero hissed angrily feeling the animosity and Bruce hushed him.
“I think we covered this already” Bruce told Clark calmly. “You know that I
don’t have anything with him and I asked you to keep your distance from her
because you asked me once to help you get over what is happening to you – to
not give up on you. Remember?”
Clark loosened his grip.
“I do; but asking that means that you don’t trust me.”
Bruce met his stare.
“Do you trust yourself?” Clark seemed thoughtful and Bruce blinked. “I don’t
ask you that because I want to keep you for myself” some of his sadness flowed
in his voice and Clark looked at him touched. “Believe me if she was Lois or
anyone else I’d have finished this already and let you enjoy it…”
Clark’s mouth stayed agape; his eyes widened in shock and sympathy. He shook
his head and made to hug Bruce but he raised his hands and didn’t let him.
“Bruce, I don’t…”
But the younger man shook once his head in denial.
“I know you’re attracted to that woman but there are things that make me
suspect that she is not who she says” he avoided speaking about their
relationship or his feelings because that was the least: Clark’s wellbeing was
the important.
Clark noticed that and realized that it must hurt Bruce. But Diana not being
who she said was crazy.
“What things?” he brushed Hero’s belly.
“Her hair give out a shine that it’s not normal – looks artificial like in dyed
hair.”
Clark snorted and couldn’t fight rolling his eyes. Really, Bruce?
“Because you know everything about female hair, huh?”
Bruce saw Clark’s exasperated reaction and felt embarrassed because certainly
Clark believed that he was making up lamentable points to justify his jealousy
ridden request. But he didn’t do it for that. He knew he had to keep Clark
away.
“I grew up in a cabaret, Clark; women there dyed their hair all the time.”
Clark pinched the bridge of his nose and shook his head.
“Why on earth a goddess would dye her hair?”
Bruce nodded, licking his lip.
“Exactly! That’s what raised my suspicions! Unless, she isn’t who she says and
wants to impersonate the legendary Amazon Princess.”
But Clark wasn’t convinced.
“You have seen many gods and know how their hair looks like?”
“You, Thor, Loki… Bagdana didn’t have locks but he had body hair.”
Okay…Bruce had his experience with gods and demons.
“If her hair was dyed I’d have detected that, Bruce; and I didn’t.”
“Maybe you can’t…I mean when she is around you’re changed…you admitted that
yourself. And those four days she wasn’t around you, you were perfect but as
soon as she appeared at the Tower…” he huffed. “You changed.”
“Perfect means glued to you?” Clark spat and even he realized that this was a
stab to Bruce’s heart.
The younger man lowered a bit his eyes and Hero purred to him.
“No…It was you that considered that kind of your behavior abnormal…” Clark
seemed regretful of what he told but Bruce felt that it was more urgent to
elaborate on his suspicions. “Also, her eyes are odd…”
Clark shook his head in disbelief: he felt sorry for implying that Bruce said
all these from selfishness but what was he supposed to think when Bruce uttered
such nonsense?
“I repeat that if her eyes were not real I’d have found out first: I’m the one
with the 100 different kinds of vision.”
Bruce knew that repeating the argument about him not being himself around her
wouldn’t do anything to change Clark’s mind.
“The ruby star in her diadem isn’t the ancient Greek star…”
“Because you’re a scholar of Greek mythology, huh?” he smiled.
“Of course not – I searched the ancient texts about the Amazon Princess: the
star in her diadem should be the ancient Greek one with the 8 peaks.”
Clark cupped Bruce’s face with both hands and placed him gently on his back; he
nuzzled his cheek.
“You need some sleep to clear your head from this night’s shit and Stark’s
poison because I’m sure that your brilliant logic mind can’t believe such
nonsense” Bruce narrowed his eyes angry. “You were a hero tonight, Bruce; don’t
tarnish it now.”
The younger man turned his face to avoid Clark’s lips and raised himself
supporting his torso on his elbows. Hero sat on his butt and watched baffled
sniffing the tension between the people he loved.
“If someone needs to clear his head, this is you, Clark!” Clark had retreated a
bit but still kept his arms on both sides of Bruce’s torso as if trying to trap
him – a deep frown formed in his brow from the human’s reaction. “This is why I
asked you to stay away from her! You too believe that you’re not yourself
lately” he huffed slowing down. “Everything started when she appeared.”
Clark closed his eyes and shook his head exasperated.
“But I’m alright – Lucius confirmed it. It was just a difficult period, nothing
more” Bruce was staring him in the eyes. “If you calm down and don’t let others
influence you, things will be normal again.”
“You’re the one who gets influenced – that woman has a bad effect on you and
you need to stay away from her till we figure out what’s going on. Jor El told
you that he needed time and daily tests to be sure. But until then I think it
is safer if you stop interacting with her.”
“Safer for whom? Your beaten up sense of security? The fact you’re fixed in
that chair has made you insecure” he saw Bruce’s eyes widen more shocked than
angry. “If your self-esteem wasn’t so battered you wouldn’t see Diana as a
threat.”
The shine of Bruce’s eyes sent shivers to Clark’s back.
“Safer for you…” Bruce didn’t want to retort to what Clark said about him
because he felt so dried from his words that it seemed totally unworthy of even
replying. “I don’t feel threatened by her” for the first time his eyes moved
softened. “I feel that you’re the threatened here…”
Clark pressed his lips: Bruce tried to justify his jealousy claiming that he
was in danger… He brought his face to Bruce’s face.
“If you want to persuade me to stay away from my friend you must give me a
solid reason and not mumbo-jumbo bullshit: you’re just embarrassing yourself,
Bruce – you’re a detective and yet you make horrible points out of your grudge
for Diana because we danced a couple of songs.”
Bruce’s heart sank: a couple of songs? Clark’s suave, baritone voice echoed
again inside his head accompanied by the sound of quiet sea waves; his heart
warmed like that night when his eyes had watered hearing about the too wide
world that waited them to see it – that night he felt the urgency to travel
with Clark to see all the things he dreamt locked up in Dolcetto.
Now there was only a stab wound…The song Clark was singing to him every night
during his life or death battle was just a song? Clark didn’t remember or just
it wasn’t as important for him as was for Bruce?
“What?” Clark asked narrowing his eyes puzzled from Bruce’s blank eyes.
“Nothing…” Bruce pressed his lips – if Clark didn’t realize the importance of
the song, reminding him would only make the man sneer more at him.
Clark nodded taking Bruce’s silence as a sign of embarrassment for his
attitude.
“You realize that you’re pushing me away?” Bruce said to him with a steady
voice.
Clark frowned; he didn’t like that. Why pushing him away? There wasn’t a reason
to lose Bruce because of his insecurity. He grasped Bruce’s torso and settled
him flat on his back bringing his broader body upon him.
Bruce wasn’t afraid of him but Hero became restless moving around and meowing
nervous without Clark registering anything except Bruce’s defiance.
“I don’t want to hear that again, Bruce: I won’t lose you but I won’t kick out
my friends because of your insecurities. You promised me that you’ll stay with
me unless I decide otherwise – and I didn’t!”
“There are other ways to show your decision than just words…”
Superman was now pissed.
“Damn it, Bruce!” he hissed. “She is my friend – FRIEND! – I didn’t do anything
wrong! Why are you doing that to me?” he lowered his tone to a complaining
purr. “I need you…” Bruce’s pale, porcelain skin was so beautifully stressed by
the light silver colored silken sheet that his mind forgot his irritation.
He began nibbling Bruce’s lips and then his neck, settling his body heavily on
the human’s; his heart was beating fast and strong, demanding: seeing other
people touching Bruce made him angry and… this anger brought arousal that urged
him to reassert his dominance on that beautiful human body.
Clark unbuttoned hurriedly Bruce’s pajama shirt and fondled his breasts, his
mouth sucking hard his neck and when that wasn’t enough biting softly. His
pelvis rubbed longingly on the non-responding hips as Clark’s mouth savored his
lover’s taut breasts moaning through the warm flesh. But Bruce was too tired to
keep his eyes open for longer so he succumbed to exhaustion since he didn’t
have the mood to stay alert.
Yet his sleep wasn’t so deep to not sense Clark’s weight moving away from his
body and laying on his side of the bed sighing because he had the mood for more
but he couldn’t operate when his lover was asleep.
Clark made to brush Hero but the kitten slipped his hand and curled on Bruce’s
side. Clark snorted: Bruce had spoiled the kitten so the animal preferred him.
He clapped once and the room was casted in darkness; he closed his eyes and
slack off as his mind replayed the dream with Diana.
Bruce felt Hero’s tongue licking his hand soothing and heard Ms. Kent:
“You’re his moral compass, Bruce; his anchor…The warmth in his heart: a star
that shows him the way. As long you’re by his side he is safe.”
He had to stay with Clark till the end to keep him safe: the more he stayed
close to Clark the more time he had to present him proofs about the Amazon. And
maybe after Clark saw the proofs, things would return back to the greenhouse or
the island – he just hoped that it wouldn’t be too late until then…
 
Darkseid sat on his gigantic, granite throne that was carved with real small
thunders and tornadoes; his fingers were knitted together in front of his face.
There was nobody else in the vast circular underground hall except than Bagdana
who waved his hand and dissolved the image of the Avengers’ Tower gaping from
the smashed windows on its 90th floor.
The New God looked grimly at his minion.
“You were wrong” he growled clenching the armrests. “Earth’s heroes are simply
pathetic” he arched his eyebrows “even a pitiful clown managed to wreck them. I
can erase them with just a breath.”
Bagdana dressed in his black leather pants and his matched vest turned to his
partner. His square face glimmered with confidence.
“The clown evidently had a powerful backup that rendered these guys and the
Tower’s security useless.”
Darkseid’s bald head jerked upwards.
“Which I can also do. I think you delay my action on purpose to succeed your
own goals” his voice became a deep roar filled with menace.
Yet Bagdana unfazed marched towards his throne and stretched his enormous
posture though the steps leading to the throne still kept a considerable
distance.
“If you didn’t need my advice you wouldn’t have freed me from my prison” he
clenched his jaw and the silver spikes on his head sparkled.
Darkseid arched an eyebrow as his red eyes flashed.
“I might have overestimated your value…”
Bagdana snorted.
“The one who is behind the attack has no ultimate plan – you do. He/she just
wanted to inflict chaos sharing the same desire with Joker – they wanted just
to have fun and mock those heroes. You, on the other hand, want more than just
pulling up a show; you need your machine to fulfill your plans and your machine
is far from ready.”
Darkseid tapped his fingers on the granite of his armrest and the tornadoes
twirled faster.
“I can exterminate all these heroes and then have Luthor create my machine to
fulfill my plan.”
Bagdana shrugged.
“Then do it” he said nonchalant. “If you believe that you’ll manage exterminate
them now, do it – but deep inside you know that it’s not so easy” Darkseid’s
eyes were fixed on him. “That attack may be impressive but it wouldn’t have led
to your enemies’ defeat: maybe to many civilian casualties but the heroes would
be unscathed” Bagdana enjoyed Darkseid’s interest. “And you don’t seem to
consider something else – the factor that should make you wait the right moment
to hit.”
The New God yanked his head.
“Which is?”
Bagdana smirked, his yellow eyes flashing.
“Someone ruined their plan; someone saved the day” Darkseid’s thick blue brows
formed a line. “Would you like having that unknown factor meddling with your
plans when the time comes?”
“Who was it?” he demanded.
Bagdana smiled coyly.
“Allow me to keep that information for myself…something to keep our deal
active” he pressed his lips seeing that Darkseid didn’t like that.
“Batman wasn’t there…” Darkeid sniggered because he knew his minion’s high
opinion for the vigilante and was sure that the demon believed that he saved
the Avengers.
Bagdana’s smile was genial.
“You can’t be sure about that… but you may rest assure that waiting for the
appropriate moment as I suggest you do, will guarantee your success and your
satisfaction because I will neutralize that factor. And you’ll get the
Kryptonian.”
Darkseid slapped his palms together and the granite round shaped pillars that
supported the roof shook.
“And you, your human…”
Bagdana twisted his lips.
“That’s fair…”
Darkseid snorted and real smoke burst from his big nostrils.
“Unless, that pitiful clown makes it to him first” he savored the anger in
Bagdana’s eyes. “He almost succeeded back there” he moved his palm and the
Tower emerged again in the air of the hall. “But that sneaky, coward pest knows
how to hide…”
Bagdana’s eyes were narrowed to slits and the demon didn’t care for Darkseid’s
presence: his hatred for Joker prevailed. Bruce almost died because of him;
Bagdana still felt the ripping of his guts when he sensed Bruce’s body dead…He
wouldn’t ever permit that again.
 
Attack on the Avengers’ Tower: one dead, several injured – How Stark’s love-
child became his nightmare.
The caption at the bottom of the TV screen read.
“Did anyone give a satisfying explanation about how the most secure building on
Earth – according to its constructors’ claims – was breached by a madman and
his gang?” the gray haired newscaster asked his younger colleague.
“He calls himself ‘The Joker’ and he brought mayhem and many casualties in
Gotham some months ago before he was apprehended by the police with the alleged
contribution of the local vigilante, Batman. Joker had kidnapped Bruce Wayne,
the young billionaire, who after eighteen years of captivity was recently
liberated from Carmine Falcone and restored his fortune. Guests testified that
Joker was demanding Bruce Wayne. So speculation is that the young Wayne heir
was indeed what brought the madman in New York.”
A picture of Joker from his first arrest in Gotham appeared on the screen and
Ms. Rose, a short, round shaped old lady, cringed. The clown was still on his
makeup and winking to the camera.
Clark had left New York before the dawn and flew to Metropolis. He wore his
Clark Kent ugly suit and spectacles and took refuge to Ms. Rose’s bakery. The
old lady had some tables in her small store and the bench which displayed her
baked delicacies served as a bar; usually, some clients were there eating her
infamous donuts or cookies but it was still early so Clark was the only client.
He sat on a stool at the bench beside the old coffee machine.
She looked at Clark appalled from Joker’s picture.
“What’s that?”
“A dangerous man…” he muttered recounting Chickey’s factory where Bruce almost
died to save the children from the maniac.
And that brought him back to his thoughts…about last night. He felt kind of
bad…yet he knew he hadn’t done anything wrong: he had few real friends – Lois,
Jimmy and Diana. Okay, someone could say that every human was Superman’s friend
but it wasn’t the same. So Bruce, as much as Clark loved him, had no right to
demand from him to shoo one of his friends just because his disability made him
antsy, cranky, nagging and scared that he could lose him.
Alright, that night he was absorbed with Diana but he was the only one she
knew. Bruce was surrounded by friends and admirers so it was mean of him being
jealous because Clark didn’t let Diana alone in a hostile environment. And big
deal! He danced a few songs…Bruce hadn’t mentioned that – it was Clark
addition. He scratched his head…Damn! It felt so great dancing again with
someone: actually, dancing and not just dragging someone’s dead legs along…
He blushed and got sweaty: that was a bad thought…but a real one: he couldn’t
hide from himself. Yet that thing apart he loved Bruce and he couldn’t afford
to lose him even if he needed Diana too…as a friend. Because although the
immerse sexual pleasure from that only dream with her was still lingering in
his body and her four days’ absence made her return mind blowing, that didn’t
mean that his desire for Bruce was vanished and that he would tolerate to lose
him. Damn! So many sharks waited eagerly to savor Bruce’s gorgeous body and
Clark wouldn’t let that happen.
Especially, when he saw Rogers carrying him in his arms or Thor settling him in
his chair muffling him in his cape. That cape was stabbing his eyes all night
since his stare had stayed fixed on the carefully folded red fabric on the
black dresser.
His love for Bruce was there but recently he often got pissed and frustrated
with the man – falling asleep when he needed some satisfaction, even the
minimum of carnal pleasure Bruce could offer – didn’t help the aggregated
tension. And Bruce trying to make him kick out Diana who was an oasis to his
life right now was preposterous. Especially, when he used such lame arguments
as her not being who she said she was because Bruce thought that her hair was
dyed! Bitch please!
Clark rubbed the bridge of his nose skewing his glasses. And Bruce forced him
to be examined: okay, he went to give samples to Lucius because Bruce would
know if he didn’t yet after the first two times he didn’t go again to the
Fortress. He was just fine and Lucius confirmed it: Bruce was just trying to
make him feel that his friendship with Diana was illness. He huffed.
He loved Bruce, he was lenient and understanding with him but making him feel
ill was…unacceptable, monsterous. The one who needed to be checked out was
Bruce but he would never admit it. Not physically: physically Bruce was many
times examined. However his behavior lately roared that he needed some sessions
with a psychotherapist.
Understandably. He was kidnapped when he was just eight years old; he watched
his parents being murdered, he was shot, almost drown to death and then for
eighteen years Falcone and many others used him as a piece of meat to inflict
every sick and twisted idea they had. And then a couple of months ago, Bruce
almost died – no, he was dead for some minutes and when the brain stays without
oxygen for minutes some damage takes place. Either way, another great shock was
added to the pack.
Maybe the responsible for the crisis in their relationship was Bruce and his
paranoia that now peaked seeing a person getting some of the attention he till
then enjoyed exclusively. So Bruce made him feel ill and now tried to make him
coy towards Diana on the ridiculous assumption that she wasn’t Diana because
her hair seemed dyed! Bruce was definitely a manipulative person: he
manipulated Falcone, Chill even Ra’s Al Ghul but he wouldn’t let Bruce do the
same with him.
“There’s no official announcement, Eric. But I think that this isn’t the only
burning question from the previous night.”
The co-presenter nodded and arched his eyebrows.
“Certainly.”
“The most intriguing part was why the Avengers along with Superman and Wonder
Woman didn’t stop the intruders – it shouldn’t have taken them more than a
minute. And some witnesses say that they were literally powerless just watching
that Joker guy wrecking chaos.”
“Also, Bill, some other witnesses mentioned that at some point heroes turned
against each other and the guests too – of course, there’s no official
confirmation about that or footage but the world is going to wake up this
morning ranting around the rumors.”
“First, the attack at Metropolis’ subway station and now an even bigger hit at
the Avengers’ Tower – a blow in the heart of our sense of security. I tell you,
Eric: people feel a lot less secure and confident about their protectors –
superpowers and all; especially, when these protectors, according to the
witnesses, were ready not only to kill each other but also kill civilians.”
The second newscaster shook his head pursing his lips.
Ms. Rose with one hand clutching her waist upon her laced apron and the other
pouring coffee into Clark’s cup watched the discussion intrigued.
“Is that true, Mr. Kent? You’re a journalist after all; you know more.”
Clark shrugged.
“I don’t know anything more than you, Ms. Rose. Lois was there covering the
event – she and Jimmy sent some coverage but I haven’t spoken with them.”
She nodded.
“I’m glad they’re okay but shame that young man was killed…”
Clark pouted and pressed his lips: he was there watching and didn’t do anything
– all these super powers and in the end he was unable to prevent Joker from
killing a man… His guts were clenched.
Ms. Rose put her hand on his shoulder.
“You’re alright, son?”
He gave her a big goofy Kent-ish smile that she and Bruce adored.
“Yes, Ms. Rose; I just didn’t sleep well.”
The old woman smiled relieved.
“Now, let’s get your order…” she opened the window display and the delicious
smell of the store became heavier, really mouth salivating. “Mmm…let’s see:
‘Prince’s donuts’ as usual?”
Clark’s chest became a stone: almost every day along with his own favorite
flavor he bought Bruce’s favorites too. Ms. Rose had named that flavor ‘the
Prince’s donuts’ out of a whim and she was so right! But today there was no
need for Prince’s donuts…
“No, Ms. Rose…Just my usual…” he registered the kind woman’s surprised look –
Clark had seen then many times smiling pointedly as she picked the best donuts
for his order and he blushed every time…she had guessed that he was taking the
Prince’s donuts to someone…
She put them to a paper bag and Clark paid.
“Have a great day, Mr. Kent!”
“You too, Ms. Rose” he smiled and she reflected his smile.
 
20:01:10;54
The Asylum’s lounge space that included the cafeteria was filled with inmates
watching TV or playing games. It was evening and almost the time to have their
dinner.
The orderlies stood on the perimeter of the rectangular room and some of them
were scattered inside the room between the tables of the cafeteria and the
armchairs and sofas of the lounge room. Crane’s escape had increased the
security measures and now they kept their Tasers clenched ready for use. Asylum
– and Gotham – couldn’t afford a second incident.
Joker was sprawled on the black leather couch opposite the big screen built-in
TV and giggled loudly watching cartoons.
At that moment, the double doors to the cafeteria-lounge space opened and Dr.
Quinzel entered strolling around the patients and talking with some of them.
She stopped in front of Joker and he patted the couch next to him inviting her
to joy him shouting something about a great episode.
She sat completely calm.
Bruce frowned. He had hacked last evening’s footage from the Asylum’s security
cameras – Joker must have escaped around that time; it was the same footage
that Gotham’s police was searching for any clues. If he had escaped earlier
he’d have known because he got updated on Gotham’s developments regularly
throughout the day.
The holographic pyramid-watch at the nightstand read 6:16 in the morning: when
Bruce woke up Clark had already left which Bruce couldn’t attribute only to his
need to fly to Metropolis to get to his job on time…Last night’s dispute played
its role as every dispute lately…and they had a lot of them.
He had sighed but realizing that he couldn’t persuade his mind to stop thinking
and sleep again, he sat on the mattress putting a pillow between his back and
the headboard, and opened his Cosmos to do some meaningful work.
Hero had slept curled at his side and looked at him sleepily.
“Sleep, buddy; it’s still early…What am I saying? Cats woke up early…”
He looked again at the paused frame of the footage. Dr. Quinzel shouldn’t have
sat next to Joker but he couldn’t blame her: she knew that Tony had planted
security triggers in the criminal that whenever he dared to do a threatening
move knocked him out. And she was his therapist so she wanted to construct a
patient-therapist relationship based on trust.
Bruce already figured what happened without seeing the next; yet he pushed
‘play’ in hopes of finding an explanation on how Joker did escape.
Joker’s movement was so quick that the orderlies couldn’t catch it. His forearm
pressed Quinzel’s throat and he stood abruptly dragging her along. Her face was
definitely surprised but still calm even though Joker had a metal pipe with
sharpened edge grazing her cheek.
“Kids, take those niiiiice looking toys from these buffoons aaaand playyyyy!”
The orderlies moved their Tasers threateningly towards the menacing inmates.
“Noooo…noooo…Doon’t be bad boys noooow ooooor I’ll slice the gooooood doctor –
it’d be a shaaaame, huh? Give your toooys – kids should share their toys…”
Bruce was sure that Joker from his previous attempt to kill his former goon had
figured out how Tony’s security worked so this time he was completely tranquil.
Yet Tony had changed that after Bruce’s suggestion making the knock out effect
hit when fear was monitored around Joker. And Quinzel should have been scared –
at least, uncomfortable and distressed. Bruce licked his lips and paid more
attention to her beautiful face that seemed…satisfied? Could the doctor be
enjoying Joker’s rough treatment?
Well, Joker noticed too.
The inmates took the orderlies’ Tasers and guns and aimed at them.
Joker cackled.
“Uuuuuuu! I looooove dramatic escalation!” he leaned his face to his therapist
and licked his lips. “Daaaarling, you liiiike it oooor is my idea?”
He shook his head.
“Then you’re gonnaaaa looove this!!!!” he released her throat only to twirl her
to face him and bitch slapped her with such force that the lean woman slumped
on the wall and collapsed.
Bruce inhaled deeply: Joker had slapped him too in the past but he had the
training to handle it – poor Dr. Quinzel stayed curled on the floor Joker
laughing and hopping around.
“From my paaaart I su--rely loved it! Ugh! I wanted to doooo it for soooo
looong and we shouldn’t keep our de--sires oppressed, riiiight doc?”
But his violent slap to the doctor made the orderlies move forward and the
inmates used the Tasers causing the orderlies’ pained yells and convulsing.
Bruce saw what should have happened earlier.
Joker with a stupid expression upon realizing what was happening collapsed
unconscious to the floor and the inmates gaped at the spectacle.
Bruce tilted his head on the side and grinned in spite of himself: it was the
first time that Joker was truly funny.
The double door burst open and backup from the orderlies that were in the
Asylum’s other facilities surged the space.
Bruce’s eyes narrowed: it should have ended there but suddenly the lights went
off and the image stopped abruptly replaced by thick snows. Bruce nodded
thoughtful – Joker’s ally intervened to save the day. He doubted that Crane
bothered to help: he disappeared miraculously from his hideout literally
moments before police stormed the place so he wouldn’t risk something like that
even if he wanted to – and he definitely didn’t want to.
From all the footage of his interactions with Joker Bruce had watched, the
former doctor seemed rather displeased from the jester’s proximity. So it was
just a coincidence that the attack at the Avengers’ Tower used both of them: a
third, powerful agent recruited both of them. And Bruce was afraid that the
person who unleashed Joker to have his fun in the Tower wouldn’t limit the
clown; Joker wanted him so probably Gotham would be again his performance stage
from now on. So Bruce knew that he had to return as soon as possible…
To do what, fixed in a chair? He could always use the Tumbler to patrol until
Lucius had the armor ready.
He brushed the ‘fast forward’ choice and the footage moved on; the snow
persisted. Suddenly, image returned: a looted, destroyed cafeteria with every
glass display case shattered, food splayed everywhere – mainly on the
unconscious orderlies -, tables uprooted, chairs broken, shards from crockery
over the floor and the ripped couches and armchairs. TV was still playing but
on the screen a huge red smile was sprayed.
It was the moment Gotham’s SWAT surged the space: 22:15:30;09. Bruce pressed
his lips – the Asylum had stayed in lockdown for two hours without the police
having any notice about the breakout – everything went south like in the
Avengers’ Tower. That explained why the news of Joker’s escape didn’t reach
them earlier to take their precautions.
Thankfully, the fugitives didn’t take any hostages; he saw some police officers
taking care of Dr. Quinzel who was evidently in a daze. Batman definitely
wished to have a talk with her but patrolling in the Tumbler was easy while
speaking to someone keeping the image of the unscathed vigilante was an entire
different thing.
He huffed and minimized the window. He grabbed the armrests and slipped in his
chair; he took Hero in his lap.
He missed having breakfast with Clark…that thought brought back the cold
feeling from their quarrel last night. One of these days Clark might not come
back…He pressed his lips to the point that they became white. But he wasn’t
going to send him away even though he felt like being poisoned with little
dosages every day…
However, Clark still hadn’t done anything extreme: his Sun was still fighting
that unknown thing and Bruce was sure that Clark loved him and listened to him
even reluctantly. Clark hadn’t decided to leave him – with words or acts - yet
so as Bruce had promised he wouldn’t give up on him.
He looked down at Hero who was staring at him puzzled and a bit melancholic as
if sensing. Bruce smiled to him and kissed the top of his head.
“Time for breakfast, buddy.”
***** Chapter 32 *****
The palace’s grand hall was empty; the last servant removed the popcorn
containers and left hurriedly. The long corridor leading to the throne shone
pristine, its golden tiles reflecting the green ceiling. The hall was round and
the crystal walls granted view from one side to the great iceberg and from the
other to a peaceful beach with palm trees and exotic birds that reminded of the
Caribbean: Loki loved variety so even if his location didn’t provide that, he
created it himself.
A long satisfied huff cracked the silence as Loki yanked his head to touch the
green velvet of his throne’s back; he had returned his throne to its normal
golden-green grandiose after watching the show – the cloud was great for
enjoying movies and shows but afterwards he craved for showing off; even to his
servants.
He had his eyes opened, upturned to the ceiling, a sly smirk on his face. His
arms flexed on the golden armrests and his fingers clenched the curved edges as
he replayed in his mind how Thor was fighting with Superman and that Amazon
unable to realize that there was no real danger but just a stupid
hallucination. And then when the effect was gone…oh! Their stupid faces with
that dumb expression…
His giggle vibrated through the vast, high ceiling hall. But then his eyes
fixed on the great orgy that was depicted on the dome with dozens of naked male
and female bodies mingled into each other between green branches, leaves and
flowers as snakes slithered on the bodies increasing pleasure; he abruptly
jerked and ruined his relaxed position into bending to support his chin on his
palm. His cunning eyes deep in thought.
“They shouldn’t have come out of the hallucination before real damage was
done…It was too soon; it’d be funnier if Thor, the God of Thunder, had used his
stupid hammer to real business. Someone ruined my fun…someone saved them…”
That clown certainly knew who did but he wouldn’t say – the scum had his
secrets and wasn’t willing to share. If of course Joker himself was aware of
these secrets because Loki had entered his mind…And that was THE experience!
Like riding a roller coaster: complete chaos where concepts, images and ideas
twirled each other without any meaning and then... BOOM! The man’s mind was a
real minefield.
Only two things were distinguished: Bruce Wayne and Batsy but they were mingled
– Joker seriously had an issue about choosing his real love…
Loki sniggered even now with the thought of Joker having a real love other than
disaster, chaos and fun. Surely, he had some ‘philosophical ideas’ surfacing to
the stormy sea of his mind. A stormy sea that became tranquil when the jester
was to execute his attack.
Bruce Wayne was on his mind aiming to find him; Batsy was on his mind when he
realized that their show was ruined. Yet Batman wasn’t in the Tower that night
so probably the clown was thinking of other times the flying rodent destroyed
his fun. Maybe the Bat had become the symbol for every obstacle Joker found in
his way…
He shrugged and protruded his bottom lip tapping it with his finger. Never
mind…That Joker guy was his jester and offered him entertainment.
As when he watched him being knocked out during his attempt to escape that
loony bin. Loki kept an eye over Gotham’s Asylum waiting for the jester’s
movement – he knew that this dude wouldn’t stay for long there: he wanted Bruce
Wayne and was thirsty of wrecking chaos in the world for his fun. Much like
Loki. Not that Loki believed that Joker looked like him…His face distorted in
disgust: for one thing, the God of deceit was beautiful… But they had common
taste for mischief.
So Loki felt excitement when his potential ally grabbed the silly blondie and
sent the other loonies to get the weapons from the orderlies. And he had the
greatest laughing fit when the inmates aimed the Tazers against the orderlies
and they screamed from shock; Loki’s hysterics weren’t for the orderlies but
for Joker whose face took a stupid, astonished expression – eyes narrowed,
eyebrows frowned, mouth agape – before he collapsed to the floor unconscious.
Someone played a brilliant prank to the clown and Loki appreciated the irony.
Yet he had to control his laughter to intervene because the crazies stayed as
cold as their momentary leader and more orderlies burst in the lounge space.
The show would have a premature – and no funny at all – end if he hadn’t
stopped everything in the Asylum and taken the clown to his palace and the
loonies to a warehouse-like place he formed in his territory.
Loki didn’t care if the loonies testified upon being arrested that a god freed
them because…Hell…every insane would have said the same thing. However, he was
selective in his companies so Joker was enough for guest.
Joker began slowly twitching – Loki’s stare still on him having just woken him
with a snapping of his fingers. The clown lay on the marble floor under a
pillar with the shape of a curvy, naked lady several feet opposite Loki’s
throne and his expression was as funny as when he realized that he was going to
faint. Joker’s eyes ascended the marble lady’s body and he whistled.
“Heeeeello, babe! Either you’re a woman shaped column ooooor” he tilted his
head “I must get laid ASAP! HeHe!”
He sat on his butt, gathered his legs and scratched his hair looking around the
rest five pillars that formed the enormous hexagonal with Loki’s throne in the
center – they were shaped as male and female nude bodies. And then he also
stared at the ceiling.
“Oooooh, boooy! Stark sponsored trips become moooore and mooore entertaining…My
roomy-room now looks like the ugly, kitsch palace of a seeex deprived guy…”
Loki stood and his footsteps echoed through the hall, he kept his hands behind
his back, his lips pouted.
“Ugly? Kitsch?” he mumbled. “The same in Louvre and Capella Sistina is called
art…”
“Aaand in your place is called per--vert!” he nodded goggling at the ceiling.
“I know: world is un--fair buuuuuut I know a pervert when I see him…”
Loki smirked.
“You had a lot of practice in your mirror!” he slurred.
Joker’s eyes turned on him and he started giggling, pointing at Loki.
“Niiiiiice outfit! And they say my taaaaste is baaaad! Hehehehehehe!”
Loki rolled his eyes standing beside Joker and towering him. Suddenly, the God
of mischief began trembling, his eyes bulging and his face distorted in fear.
Joker understanding what he was doing raised his palms.
“Wait!”
But Loki screamed and let his heart beat fast in terror and Joker slumped on
the floor unconscious. It was Loki’s turn to giggle pointing at Joker’s stupid
expression.
This time Joker jumped at his feet as soon as Loki revived him; the God looked
at him amused with raised eyebrows. And before Joker could say anything Loki
widened his eyes terrorized and screamed sending Joker again unconscious to the
floor. The raven haired man pouted looking at Joker.
“It’s not my fault your face is horrifying…”
However Loki was in a hurry so he brought round Joker immediately; the jester’s
jump and his irritation were so funny that he couldn’t fight it and imitated
again the scared.
“Not again…” Joker exclaimed rolling his eyes before falling down and Loki
doubled up in laughter.
“I could repeat that for ages…” Loki said and sidestepped Joker’s body to cross
the corridor and settle to his throne; he waved his hand “but we have
business…so…” he snapped his fingers and Joker began stirring.
This time the clown didn’t jolt to his feet but stared from narrowed eyes at
the guy who looked him from the throne.
“I’m glaaaaad someone’s having fuuuun – I’m a jester after all…”
“You can’t imagine how ridiculous you are when you recognize the first signs of
being knocked out…” Loki cackled. “I never saw again such a stupid fainting
since Lorelei saw that she didn’t fuck her beloved fisherman but dear ol’ me…”
he sighed “What a fuck was her!”
Joker lifted an eyebrow and bent his knee to support his elbow.
“Weeeell, you flatter me! Can you sign me a letter of recommendation?”
Loki shook his index finger chuckling.
“Oh, dude, you’re good!”
“Aaaaand you’re that guy who caaaame to my cell – I told you: I don’t work for
others.”
Loki shrugged and widened his arms to show his palace.
“I’m not running a business – and I don’t offer wages, insurance etc.” he
pouted.
Joker frowned and made to stand but hesitated remembering what happened the
previous times; his cautious stare met Loki’s eyes and the god nodded giving
his approval. Joker stood dusting off his butt but taking in it was the orange
suit from Arkham twitched his lips in aversion and stopped.
“I hate orange…” he grouched nasally.
Loki nodded pouting.
“I see your point” he nodded and Joker was dressed in his trademark purple
suit.
Joker regarded himself and batted his eyelids.
“I dooooon’t like strangers dressing meeeee…” he said in a mock girlish tone.
He marched towards Loki’s throne regaining his slightly hunched posture and his
questioning stare.
“I don’t believe you took me from the loony bin to have the pleasure of
dressing me up?”
Loki arched his eyebrows and sprawled in his throne crossing his legs.
“It was a good laugh – and the one that pulled up that prank on you would have
been laughing right now” he squinted and leaned towards him. “Who schemed that?
I bet Stark…”
But Joker seemed thinking hard and Loki getting a glimpse of his mind
understood that the clown was actually capable of rational thinking. And Joker
had Stark crossed out .
“The exe--cution was definitely Stark’s…” the jester mumbled in heavy English
accent grabbing a pipe that wasn’t there. “Yeeeet Stark had made that think
work when I felt the arousal of harming others…and now I get knocked out when
others feel dread…Sooooo the one who thought it knows that I doooon’t
experience agitation when I harm – that’s for booooring people.”
Loki shook his head.
“Do you want a demonstration?” he cackled.
Joker tilted his head to the side.
“Naaahhh…Someone gave him the idea – someone cunning as me who is able to turn
the tables and bring the joke on me…Someone who compleeetes me…”
Loki penetrated his mind to see who that might be but that mind was filled with
explosions, blood and screams and Loki felt bored.
Joker’s acid green eyes were sparkling.
“Sooooo, what’s the catch?” he asked in business matter.
“I’m Loki.”
Joker rolled his eyes and snorted.
“I knoooow – you tooold me then” he made a gesture of dismissal “As if he is
Mick Jagger…Tough!”
Loki smirked.
“I like your style…”
“You’re not the only one: I like myyyyy style too…”
Loki leaned his head towards him, his eyes piercing Joker’s.
“Tonight, at Avengers’ Tower is held the party of the year. Tony Stark and his
pals among them my dear brother, Thor…”
Joker goggled.
“Ooooh…soooo you’re a gooood! Can I have an autograph?” he giggled.
“Yeah…I’m a god: a beautiful one” Joker made a throw up motion and Loki
chuckled. “There will be also Superman, that Amazon, plenty of people…”
Joker scratched his nape.
“Caviar, champagne? Because that fine establishment I was in didn’t satisfy my
gourmet appetite…”
“And Bruce Wayne…”
Joker yanked his head.
“Now you haaave my mouth sa--livating…”
Loki’s face was carved by a huge grin behind his united fingertips that formed
a triangle.
“So…Stark is bragging that his newly built barn is the safest building in the
world…”
“HEHEHEHE…”
Loki arched his eyebrows.
“I get we understand each other?” the God asked slyly. “I want a spectacular
show and I believe that you’re the best to direct it…” his smile was almost
warm and his sneaky eyes bore in Joker’s.
The jester licked his lips and gave a grin of his own.
“Soooooo you’ve read my artistic am—bitions, huh?” he tilted his head on the
side. “Though…” he shook his index finger calculating “the cast youuu provide
me has tooooo many staaaars and you knooow how difficult those stars are
nowadays…” he winked.
Loki waved his worries off.
“Let your talent fly, my friend…I have a gas that will render them powerless.”
Joker’s wicked eyes sparkled hungry.
“Soooooo Johnny – boy is part of our creative team, huh?”
Loki looked him lopsided.
“Jonathan Crane” Joker spat.
“How you figured?” Loki stood.
It was Joker’s turn to wave him off.
“Ppppplease, Loki; haven’t you heard of the crazies’ intelligence? Not that I’m
crazy…buuuut I’m definitely ahead of the curve. The guy escaped before me
aaaaand he’d have been already back in the dumpster if a big guy – like you –
didn’t hire him. Aaaaaand he’s the guy for such psycho-mambo-jumbo.”
Loki yanked his head and cackled.
“I like you, clown…” Joker shook his head and rolled his eyes.
“Little by little you’re gonna staaaart groping meeee…”
The god tilted his head and sniffed at Joker pouting.
“You’re not my type…”
Joker shrugged.
“Youuuur looooss, buster! Back to business, if you have hired Johnny…”
“I don’t hire anyone: he’s a freelance partner like you.”
Joker shook his head nodding several times impatiently.
“I want another one of his gasses…” his eyes had become slits, glimmering and
Loki could hear crazy wheels rotating swiftly in his head.
“What gas?”
Joker squinted more and shook his index finger reprimanding.
“Naaaah, naaaah, naaaah…I need to sur—prise my audience!”
Loki spread his arms and stood.
“Okay, then sur—PRISE me!”
Joker crooked his mouth.
“Aaaaaand I want my ballet to surround the prima ballerina” he gestured to his
chest “that’s me!”
Loki cocked an eyebrow.
“I don’t eyeball you as Rudolf Nureyev…” he sneered and Joker blinked snorting.
“You haven’t seen me in tights…”
Loki clutched his waist and roared in laughter yanking his head backwards.
“In the name of Me! I just ate!”
“Everyone’s got an opinion nowadays…’’ Joker muttered nasally.
Loki stopped laughing and gazed at his partner.
“I parked your goons in a warehouse nearby – you’ll have everything you want.
But we don’t have much time: the party begins in an hour.”
“Dooooon’t fret, Joker’s here – you did provide some kryptonite, right?”
Loki smirked.
“Please. I know my thing.”
“Glad to hear; soooo let’s partyyyyyy, babe!” Joker roared and made a twirl
marching to the other side of the hall.
“Where are you going?”
Joker stood abruptly and tilted his head backwards rolling his eyes to Loki as
if he had asked the most obvious thing.
“To dye myyyyyyy loki-locks, of course…My Brucie doesn’t want me just for my
looks but I want to be daaaashing…Do you have any hair color in this dump?”
Loki blinked.
“You’re heading to the pond with the piranhas” he said indifferently and Joker
spread his arms yanking his head.
“Whaaaat kind of weirdoooo keeps piranhas in a…palace?”
Loki pouted and upturned his hands.
“Well, me…”
“HeHeHe!” Joker shook his index finger. “Finally, a god who’s not boring” he
turned and narrowed his eyes curious. “Doooo you have a forked tongue? It’d
suit you perfect. No flattering but you remind me of that snake in Paradise…”
Loki lolled his head and huffed reminiscently his eyes travelling.
“The fashion of that era was great..!”
Loki cackled remembering the clown prancing in his hall. After the party, he
sent him and his goons back at Gotham as Joker wanted. Loki was sure that there
would be more fun and he was ready to stir things a bit.
 
“Master Bruce, what are you doing?”
Well, the image Alfred saw upon entering the kitchen left him bemused. Of
course, it wasn’t the fact that his young master was working on that tablet at
the kitchen’s island – Alfred sometimes felt on the edge of smashing that
thing!
First, it was hardly half past six in the morning, that is to say very early
for Master Bruce to be awake and that made Alfred very worried. Second, which
caused a hardly contained grin, the shining surface of the kitchen island was
already covered with crockery: toasted bread emanated tantalizing smell piled
neatly in a dish, boiled eggs were positioned in porcelain eggcups; the butter
was in its special dish and honey and jam in small, transparent jars. Also, the
bizarre thing that it was Master Anthony’s newest coffee machine waited on the
bench with its jug filled with delicious smelling coffee.
Also, Hero was eating his own breakfast from his bowl and casted a lazy gaze at
Alfred licking some food of his little pink nose.
Bruce raised his head and acknowledged his butler who was dressed impeccably as
usual. He grinned.
“Good morning, Alfred” he greeted him nonchalant. “Come, join us!”
“Good morning, Master Bruce” Alfred replied and approached him. “Master Bruce,
you realize that you should be still sleeping?”
Bruce sipped from his orange juice.
“I didn’t prepare juice for the rest because I didn’t know when you’ll come and
didn’t want the vitamins to be spoiled.”
Alfred arched his eyebrows.
“I think you’re stealing my lines, sir…” he commented dryly. “You don’t avoid
answering, right?”
Bruce shook his head.
“I woke up and I couldn’t sleep more so I decided to make good use of my time.”
Alfred’s disapproval was clear.
“Preparing breakfast? That’s my job, sir” he smiled “unless you consider of
doing job cuts?”
The youth smiled.
“Of course not – I couldn’t survive without you, Alfred” he took his butler’s
hand in his and squeezed.
Though Alfred was a typical trained to be cold butler this gesture from his
young master filled him with happiness; however, he knew that his boy indeed
survived too many years without him.
“What am I going to do with you, Master Bruce?” he squatted to be at the same
height as him.
Bruce tilted his head on the side.
“Eat breakfast?” the youth replied shrugging and Alfred huffing sat at the
stool beside Bruce.
The Englishman took one of the toasted slices of bread and spread some butter.
“This is absolutely the first and last time you prepare the breakfast, sir.”
Bruce widened his eyes mock shocked.
“Why? You don’t believe you’ll survive my cooking?”
Alfred couldn’t stop a big smile cracking his face; he wanted to caress the
youth’s disheveled hair – Bruce was still on his dark blue pajamas and matched
robe. But he didn’t do it although his master’s effort to hide his emotional
turmoil of the last days for his sake touched him.
“We do need to change your medication, Master Bruce” he said looking into
Bruce’s frustrated eyes. “These drugs are supposed to ensure you at least eight
hours of solid, restful sleep and lately you don’t sleep enough.”
The younger man pressed his lips.
“Maybe I don’t need so much sleep anymore” his voice was a bit uninterested.
“We’ll speak to Leslie, Master Bruce.”
Bruce gulped and nodded re-focusing on his work at the tablet.
“I don’t see your milk, sir” Alfred changed the subject but Bruce just nodded
and the butler smirked for his avoidance. “Let me bring you some” Bruce sighed
defeated when Alfred stood and opened the silver double door closet
refrigerator. “How on earth you know how to boil an egg? My egg is near
perfect. And toasting bread?”
He handed Bruce a big glass of milk which he began sipping rather disgusted his
eyes fixed on the misty city’s view from the frameless window at the wall
opposite the island – the way the city’s millions dim lights still sparkled had
something mesmerizing. Alfred smiled remembering the toddler Bruce closing his
nose with his tiny fingers to drink his milk before leaving for school.
“I…” Bruce hesitated for an instance but then continued “when I mopped the
kitchen’s floor in Dolcetto food was smelling so tantalizing that I couldn’t
help but stare – when nobody was looking of course” his gaze fell on the
tablet’s screen but was seeing elsewhere. “I knew that I wouldn’t get anything
from that to eat but still…” he smiled. “I guess I was fooling my hanger
imprinting the process of cooking…”
Alfred pressed his lips and continued eating his egg.
“Wow! Delicious coffee straight ahead!” Tony exclaimed striding in the kitchen
in his pajamas with Garfield’s huge head smirking wickedly from his shirt.
He stopped abruptly seeing Bruce.
“What are you doing off your bed so early?” Bruce casted a lopsided glance at
him.
“Everyone is going to ask me the same?”
Alfred and Tony exchanged a hopeless stare.
“And how you managed to operate my coffee machine?” he asked rubbing his goatee
and squinted at his friend. “Because Alfred couldn’t.”
Alfred blushed and cleared his throat dignified.
“Master Bruce prepared the entire breakfast.”
Tony lifted his eyebrows and pursed his lips.
“Thankfully, Peps stayed at the Tower so she’ll take care of everything while
I’ll be in hospital with poisoning…”
Bruce yanked his head backwards and snorted.
“Very funny…”
Tony opened the transparent cupboard, took a huge square porcelain mug with
Ironman’s head on it and purred coffee.
“Mmm…You hit the target, little guy. Mmm…the finest espresso I have ever
drunk!”
“You made a damn good machine there, Tony” Bruce replied engrossed in his
tablet and Tony leaned to see.
On screen, Bruce compared photos of the Amazon from last night with various
ancient depictions from mural paintings and vases. The Californian tycoon shook
his head exasperated and huffed.
“What are you looking for?” he asked slumping into the next stool laying down
his coffee and grabbing a slice of bread.
“Isn’t it obvious? I want to compare the Princess we have with the real one.”
Tony pinched the bridge of his nose and bit his bread.
“You realize that these are not pictures and the painters did them hearing the
legends and not seeing the real thing?”
Bruce lifted his eyes to him.
“Of course but it is clear that the one we have, tried to imitate these
characteristics.”
Tony spread some honey on his bread and bit.
“You think that she isn’t the Princess of Themyscira but an impostor…”
Bruce nodded, his eyes fixed on the diadem’s star in the ancient depictions
that was with eight and not five peaks. And in the ancient depictions the face
had a different bone structure making it sterner and wiser.
“Her hair seem dyed and her eyes fake.”
Tony jerked in his seat.
“What?”
“You didn’t notice how her hair emanated artificial glow?”
Tony had to take a large gulp from his espresso looking to Alfred for help.
“No, I didn’t.”
“Don’t expect from a billionaire playboy to notice woman’s locks…” Selina’s sly
voice entered the space. “His focus is on other things…downwards!”
She purred some coffee to a mug and sat on a stool. Hero rushing to her and
climbing in her lap.
“Why so early, Bruce?” she asked.
“I couldn’t sleep more and I have to go to the police for my testimony.”
Tony frowned.
“I thought they’ll come here?”
Bruce shook his head.
“I prefer to go myself. I already called Lieutenant Johnson and he’ll be
waiting me at 9.”
“You want me to come with you?”
“No, Tony, thanks; you have a lot to do” he took in Alfred’s expression and
caught him before asking the same “I appreciate it, Alfred but I’ll go alone.
We need to get ready to return at Gotham by afternoon.”
Selina narrowed her eyes.
“Why such haste?”
Bruce shrugged a shoulder.
“Joker and Crane are free and probably plotting new ordeals for Gotham.”
“Let police handle it” Tony said coldly, his eyes saying that he didn’t want
his friend getting in these things.
Bruce looked him in the eyes, reading his displeasure.
“Jim lit the Batsignal last night – yet Batman didn’t go…” his voice was heavy
with regret.
Tony was ready to ask him what he thought he could do in his state but honestly
he was afraid to ask.
Selina took a spoonful of her egg.
“Mmm…A perfect boiled egg! Well done, Alfred: as always” she wanted to lighten
the mood.
“I didn’t do anything, Miss Kyle: Master Bruce prepared the breakfast.”
She cocked an impressed eyebrow and whistled.
“Another talent?! I gladly marry you, handsome…”
Bruce chuckled and sighed dramatically.
“I came second after Captain America” but then he became serious. “Speaking of
which, Tony, we agreed with Steve to not tell anything about my involvement
last night: it was Jarvis who used my tablet to get access to the building and
analyzed the toxins neutralizing them.”
Tony nodded but his eyes were solemn.
“I want people to know the hero you are.”
But Bruce pressed his lips.
“I’m not a hero. Besides it was indeed Jarvis who made the work: I think you
should give him a raise or something.”
Selina chuckled.
“Maybe a female AI?”
Tony scratched his nape.
“Hm…I don’t know but I have a hunch that Jarvis is actually gay…” Bruce and
Selina laughed but Tony unlike himself was serious thinking what Selina had
said. “Actually, it’d be great if you two ended up together…”
Bruce and Selina exchanged puzzled stares.
“How you came up with this?” Selina asked.
Tony gulped the rest of his coffee and Alfred stared at him understanding that
what was coming wasn’t nice.
“I hate seeing Superman treat you like this and you tolerating it.”
An uncomfortable silence fell and Bruce looked at his friend.
“Tony, I know what I’m doing…”
Tony pursed his lips and shook his head.
“I doubt it, little guy…If you knew you’d have kicked this asshole’s ass! How
can you stand this, Bruce? He is openly flirting with that bitch who insults
you with every chance – and he doesn’t give a damn! And then he makes scenes
and treats you like dirt! ”
Bruce inhaled deeply and yanked his head.
“If I was ill and behaved awkward to you, would you turn your back on me?”
Tony lolled his head and blinked.
“Of course not” but he narrowed his eyes. “Is he ill? Because he looks quite
fine to me.”
Bruce pressed his lips feeling all eyes on him.
“We still try to figure out” and seeing Tony running his fingers through his
hair “Clark loves me” Bruce said calmly and Tony slapped his face. “You don’t
understand, Tony…He is affected by something and I…”
But Tony interrupted him.
“Exactly! By his dick! Sorry, Alfred…” he locked eyes with his friend. “Stop
making excuses for him! He is a prick…he feels you’re his possession and now
looks for more. So, Bruce: admit the reality, finish this thing and move on.”
“I won’t abandon Clark now that he needs me. Besides he hasn’t done anything
with her: he is with me.”
“That’s what every victim of abuse says!”
“I’m not a victim!”
“Then stop acting like one! You…you make feeble theories about impostors and
bad witches wanting to harm him only to deny the truth that he is an asshole
and just follows his dick’s whims.”
“I won’t turn my back on him – not while he is still with me. He needs help.”
“You know what I see, Bruce? That man has alienated you – you’re not yourself
anymore! Joker took away your mobility and Superman your personality!”
Bruce’s eyes were blank, emotionless but for a sparkle.
“Master Anthony…” Alfred stood up and Tony followed towering Bruce.
“I can’t bear seeing him being treated like this after everything he’s been
through” Tony gestured to Bruce.
“Clark isn’t cheating on me and hasn’t done anything… He tries to fight this
and listens to me so I won’t deny him my help.”
Tony closed his eyes and shook his head disappointed.
“He’s playing you like a fool, little guy…and you create conspiracy theories
about the Amazon not being the Amazon to justify his behavior allowing him to
laugh behind your back. You can’t believe these things, buddy, because if you
do then the one that needs help it’s you…”
Bruce grabbed his tablet and steered his chair to the exit. He stopped at the
threshold.
“Thanks, Tony! I’ll consider your advice…” he said without turning his head.
“Excuse me, I have a meeting with Lieutenant Johnson” he continued.
Tony bit his bottom lip.
“He isn’t worth it, little guy!” he yelled to his friend’s retreating form.
Alfred stood and began gathering the things off the island, completely
expressionless and silent. Tony’s head slumped in his chest and sighed
regretful. Selina approached and patted his shoulder.
“You aren’t helping this way…” she remarked with sympathy.
 
Battery Park.
At half past seven, only a few bystanders were scattered around – most of them
jogging before getting to their works. It was a bit humid so even they wouldn’t
see him clearly.
He steered his chair through the paved path, under the tree branches that by
now were completely bare of leaves. He stopped before the railing. The public
lantern above him still casted its dull light since the fog was dense and the
cloudy day didn’t help dissolving it fast.
The view of the Harbor was eye-catching though the mist made the Statue of
Liberty looking like a dark mystic creature from a horror child story. Although
he wore a black long coat and woolen black cap and gloves, he could still feel
the humidity gnawing his slowly healing bones but he liked the feeling of the
morning cold in his hot face.
Bruce missed Gotham’s docks though most people would consider that crazy… His
guts were clenched in a tight knot: Clark’s attitude and words from one side
and Tony’s scolding from the other. Bitterness was really acid in his throat
and erosive in his mind. Maybe both of them were right: maybe he was the one
with the problem. The one who didn’t want to accept the facts and made up
stories to avoid facing the truth.
But which was the truth? Clark didn’t want him anymore and fell for the
Princess, as Tony said? Or Clark still loved him as always and Bruce was
exaggerating what he was seeing feeling insecure?
“That man has alienated you. Joker took away your mobility and Superman your
personality!”
So he wasn’t exaggerating the signs – other people saw them too. Yet Clark was
honest when he said that he loved him and that his behavior was stupid and this
wasn’t himself…
Bruce sighed and a small round cloud of breath was formed.
Or maybe Clark just didn’t want to hurt him by dumbing him and tried to cover
the truth wanting to keep both…But this hurt him more. And he knew that
something was wrong with Clark from the moment she appeared – even Clark in the
start had admitted it.
He yanked his head and his gaze fixed on a lonely seagull. How was he supposed
to handle this? He didn’t have any previous experience of relationships – with
people who loved him romantically. His reasoning sometimes urged him to kick
Clark out – much like Tony said – but then he was realizing that this wasn’t
his reasoning; rather his boiling emotions of jealousy, of feeling
marginalized, out of the center of Clark’s attention, not his entire world
anymore: it was his bleeding selfishness…
His real reasoning calculated the facts coldly and prompted him to use his
current proximity to Clark to protect him from what was affecting him; and try
to keep him from tumbling down this steep road. If Diana just wanted Superman
for her lover Bruce would have let them be together; but if she used other
means to charm Superman – especially, if his suspicion of her being an impostor
was real – then he couldn’t let Clark fall into this. He didn’t know what more
could she have in mind for Superman.
“Clark is affected by something.”
“Exactly. His dick!”
Bruce licked his dry lips. What if this was the thing? He was disappointing his
friends permitting this to continue but did he disappoint himself?
He inhaled deeply letting the cold air cool his lungs. No, he knew he was doing
the right thing; he knew that something was going on and that Clark deserved to
be trusted and supported through this…Like Clark did for him…
The mist dissolved to be replaced by the relaxing light blue fluorescent color
of the Fortress; the two huge rectangular crystal columns vibrated at the edges
of the medical chamber and Bruce knew that their vibration was dictated by his
vitals.
He was lying on his rectangular, crystal white bed that felt soft like a cloud;
on the triangular nightstand was placed the Black Butterfly – the gem’s glow
surpassing the crystal’s. Bruce looked fondly at the black diamond which was
laid on his heart till he woke up from the coma.
He still felt exhausted to the point of lapsing again to an uninterrupted
sleep; and sometimes he felt on the verge of slipping but his joy for being
again with Clark erased the darkness that wanted to engulf him.
The door rolled upwards and Superman dressed in his ceremonial attire- the same
Bruce wore - entered the chamber shining like the sun. His face beamed with a
huge smile and his eyes sparkled like a child’s when fell on Bruce.
Bruce noticed that he held one of the odd, sphere crystal bowls and that meant
that it was time to eat; his eyes lost some of their shine and Clark took it
in.
“What’s wrong?” his frown was deep as he sat at a chair that the Fortress
conjured for him.
“I can’t eat” Bruce sighed eyeing the bowl.
“Jor El says that you can eat this.”
Bruce licked his lips and yanked his head on the fluffy white pillow.
“I know that the Fortress can sustain my needs in nutrients.”
Clark leaned above him and caressed his forehead, planting soft kisses.
“I know it’s difficult, Bruce; after all this time, food disgusts you and your
stomach feels like a stone; yet you should start eating - a small bite at a
time…For me?” he smiled and Bruce was dazzled by his beauty.
He nodded gulping but when the spoon approached his mouth, his gag reflex shut
his throat stubbornly. Clark pressed his lips and Bruce was sure that there was
some wetness in his eyes so he opened his mouth and took in the food wanting to
see again Clark’s blinding smile.
“I’m not a baby, you know…” he commented pleased by Clark’s happiness.
“I beg to differ: you’re my baby!”
Bruce snorted but couldn’t stop a smile that became a pout when Clark brought
another spoonful at his mouth.
“You said a small bite at a time…” he muttered displeased.
“Ooops…” Clark blushed and left the spoon back in the bowl on the nightstand.
He placed his hand over Bruce’s hand that still had some strange things
attached on; most of the bones of his arms were fractured and he couldn’t move
them. But at least he could feel them, unlike with his body below the waist
that simply wasn’t there.
Clark’s eyes that were more clear and shiny than the crystals in the Fortress
captured Bruce’s tired eyes; he was serious and his hand squeezed gently
Bruce’s.
“You need to start eating as normal as possible in order to regain your
strength and leave this bed” he tilted his head with a guilty expression as he
regarded Bruce’s body “though I don’t mind you on a bed…But not this one!” he
nodded. “Too many bad memories…”
He took again the spoon and shook it like a flying plane.
“Vzoooom…vzoooooom! I’m asking permission to land!” he yelled in a tough voice
and Bruce chuckled. “Open the hangar or we’ll crash!”
Bruce opened his mouth and gulped the food that was in jelly form and as a
matter of fact delicious. But his organism still didn’t want it as if still
doubting that he was alive.
“If you’re a good kid and eat all your food, when you’re ready, good ol’ Clark
will bring you something special…” he said mischievous and Bruce narrowed his
eyes.
“What?”
“Almond praline filled donuts with white chocolate topping – The Prince’s
donut!”
Bruce closed his eyes and huffed reminiscently.
“Now we’re talking!”
Bruce was still smiling as the fluorescent blue was replaced by the gray sky
and sea of the Harbor. Though he knew that these moments of affection were
over, never to come again; and that realization clawed at his guts.
“Bruce?”
 
Tony stopped his Audi in front of the Avengers’ Tower; he decided to come early
to avoid the reporters but even at this time – hardly half past seven – the
street was crammed with them. He could have gone from the back entrance yet he
didn’t want them to believe that he was afraid to confront them. He put on his
designer sun glasses and got out giving the keys to the valet.
The press flock stormed at him launching questions and the security stuff
struggled to hold them off. But Tony stood and looked unfazed at his
masterpiece that stood wounded; the gap at the 90th floor visible even from the
ground. Of course, Tony’s mood was dark not only from the disaster but also
from what he had said to Bruce.
“How they managed to breach the Tower?”
“Safest building in the world and getting hijacked by a clown?”
“With world’s mighty superheroes in it?”
Tony overlooked them and proceeded stretching his posture in his brown long
coat.
“You can’t protect the world!”
“Superheroes are nothing!”
Tony stopped and turned completely expressionless to the yelling mob.
“You’ll get your opportunity to bark appropriately at the Press Conference
we’ll schedule in due time. Till then” he thought to say ‘fuck off’ but now he
was S.H.I.E.L.D.’s new director and should keep appearances so he stretched his
lips in a fake smile that exposed his gritted teeth “have a nice day!”
He twitched his mouth in disgust as the double door opened to his approach and
walked in the shining foyer. People there were also gloom but greeted him so he
did the same.
The silver spacious elevator stopped and the artificial female voice announced
the 90th floor – reception hall.
He pouted and marched his way inside the hall unbuttoning his long coat. He
stood in the middle, took off his glasses that threw in his pocket and looked
all over.
At the far end of the vast hall, opposite him, five frames of the whole wall
windows were smashed – the shards still all over the floor. Throughout the
hall, the buffets lay upturned bearing marks of blasts – thankfully, their
shots found the tables and not people; on the floor, broken crockery, bottles
and knives, spoons and forks, flowers and tablecloths’ torn pieces. The stage
were the band was playing was filled with pieces of instruments – Tony would
have to compensate these.
His eyes stopped at the corner of the bar where every bottle was shattered
since the selves had collapsed – probably from some blast. The bench was
cracked in many places from bottles that terrorized guests had smashed
believing that they were hitting monsters. But what made Tony close his eyes
and rub the orbs was the sketching of a body the police had made…A young man
had died last night.
A compassionate hand squeezed his shoulder and he looked – although he already
knew – at Pepper dressed in her usual business attire, energetic as always
despite the fact she had to handle the mess afterwards.
“Stark Industries are covering the hospital expenses of the injured and the
funeral of Nathan Keaton” she said calm. “I contacted everyone for the meeting
at 9 o’ clock.”
Tony cupped her hand and nodded pressing his lips.
“I fucked things up, Peps…” he mumbled and she rolled her eyes.
“That’s not original, Tony” she shrugged a shoulder.
“With Bruce” he stressed the name arching his eyebrows and Pepper sighed.
 
Bruce stared at the spot where the voice came and through the mist saw a tall,
very broad man approaching; he was blond and Bruce could make out that he had a
long ponytail. He couldn’t discern his features but he wasn’t sure it was due
to the fog…
Something inside him clenched his heart with terror: little Bruce could combine
a ponytail only with one man…The Vulture…And though Bruce knew that he was dead
through the mist Chill’s jeering smile returned.
“Bruce, are you alright?”
Bruce blinked to clean his eyes from Chill’s form. In front of him stood…Thor
dressed in jeans and a brown leather jacket, his long blond locks tied in a
loose ponytail.
“Fine…Nice outfit!”
Thor looked at himself and ruffled his hair.
“Mmm…I finally admitted defeat with suits and decided to go for more casual
clothes. I got it this time?”
Bruce nodded smiling.
“I prefer jeans too – but Alfred wants me dressed as a noble…and I hate ruining
his mood…You’re perfect!”
Thor seemed proud of himself.
“You shouldn’t be here at this time, alone” the god remarked.
Bruce shrugged.
“It’s not Gotham…”
Thor leaned his waist at the railing looking at Bruce.
“Yes, but New York is still dangerous” he shook his head. “And Gotham seems to
hunt you everywhere.”
Bruce pressed his lips.
“It seems so…but I wanted to clear my thoughts – hoping that my cap would
conceal my identity.”
Thor crossed his arms over his broad chest.
“Not only your cap” he raised an eyebrow.
Bruce placed his forearms on the railing and gazed at the gloomy gray sea.
“I wouldn’t expect a god strolling at a park…”
Thor followed Bruce’s gaze.
“We have a meeting at the Tower and till then I thought to walk a bit…I love
the view from here…” Bruce nodded. “You should come to the meeting.”
Bruce turned his gaze on him.
“I’m not an Avenger neither a hero.”
Thor chuckled.
“Poor Fury! He wanted so much to make you one of us…And it’d be a huge honor,
Bruce…but I respect your wishes. However in that meeting you should be: I’m
sure that it was you who figured out their plan and saved all of us. Again.”
Bruce shook his head.
“Jarvis did that.”
Thor nodded smiling completely unconvinced but respecting the man’s wishes.
“I should have with me your cape to return it…”
Thor licked his bottom lip.
“Please, keep it…I know you prefer the red cape of another hero but keep mine
too as a token of my gratitude, friendship and alliance.”
Bruce nodded.
“Thank you, Thor” he narrowed his eyes thoughtful and Thor stared at him
interested. “Can I ask you something?”
“Certainly.’’
“Can you check on Bagdana?” he met Thor’s gaze.
“Has anything happened?” he asked worried frowning but Bruce shook his head in
denial.
“I guess I’m a bit insecure lately…” he crooked his lips and shrugged; Clark’s
words still stinging him. But the dream he had seen some days ago where Bagdana
saved him from the factory instead of Clark still occupied the back of his busy
mind.
Thor nodded.
“It doesn’t hurt to be sure, right?”
Bruce arched an eyebrow.
“My thought exactly” he grinned.
Thor reflected the smile and Bruce looked at his wristwatch: he felt nice with
Thor’s respect and genial friendship yet there was some uneasiness.
“You are emotionally tired…” the Asgardian said sad “and sorrowful…”
Bruce smiled.
“Reading minds is part of your special abilities?” he asked playfully to change
the subject.
“No, actually, this is Loki’s area of expertise” Thor replied understanding
Bruce’s intention. “He can’t invade my mind though.”
Bruce frowned and Thor looked interested.
“What?”
“A thought…Last night Joker had definitely help.”
“Jarvis told us something about toxins created by some Dr. Crane.”
Bruce gave an affirmative nod.
“Other than that he needed someone powerful to breach the Tower’s security and
stop every activity locking the building inside-out” Thor watched fascinated.
“I’m thinking…Joker isn’t the kind of gun someone would hire and definitely
Joker wouldn’t have worked for any usual mobster – the show he created
manifests just that and also shows that his partner has a knack for chaos and
‘fun’ as well. I watched the surveillance video from Joker’s escape and it
looks like someone intervened without showing himself shutting off the building
for two hours. Crane was just as ‘miraculously’ saved from arrest some days
ago. A Deus ex machina…” Bruce locked eyes with Thor whose eyes sparkled.
“Loki!”
“He has a rivalry with you so he could want to ridicule you and your teammates
that way.”
Thor shook his head.
“And he showed an interest for you, which could lead him to Crane and Joker.”
Bruce grinned.
“Loki can invade and control minds – he could do that with the Avengers,
Superman and Wonder Woman – into rendering them unable to use their powers and
skills. Yet he can’t do that with your mind so he used Crane’s genius in
toxins…”
Thor clenched his waist with both hands and yanked his head grunting causing
some clouds to move swiftly.
“I can’t believe it! The rascal! I always tried to treat him better than the
other Asgardians do and even made excuses for him but now…”
Bruce raised his palm in an appeasing gesture.
“That’s a theory – we can’t be sure and if you surge and confront him we’ll
never know.”
“What do you propose?”
“Watch him discreetly and that way he’d lead us to his partners before they do
more damage.”
Thor furrowed his brow.
“Lead? Joker and Crane must be with him.”
Bruce tilted his head on the side.
“I’m sure that both Crane and Joker wouldn’t act as a god’s lapdogs…they
probably are back in Gotham under Loki’s protection.”
“Do you want me to say all these to the Avengers?”
“Of course but…” Thor smiled.
“You want me to not reveal that you thought it…”
Bruce nodded and Thor shook his head crossing his arms over the chest; his eyes
filled with warm admiration.
“I must head for the one police plazza: I have an appointment” Bruce muttered
feeling overwhelmed from the god’s admiring eyes.
“Do you want me to accompany you?”
Bruce shook his head and chuckled.
“I wouldn’t want you to be late in that meeting: Tony is a very strict
director” a shadow ran his eyes on the remembrance of what happened at the
kitchen.
Thor thought of replying that as a god he could disappear and reappear in the
other corner of the planet in a second yet he sensed that the youth wanted to
be alone. So he just nodded and stretched his hand for Bruce to shake it.
“I’m glad I met you, Bruce; whenever you need something…anything…” he lowered
his eyes shyly. “Think of my name or call me and I’ll be there.”
“I appreciate that, Thor.”
The Asgardian turned to leave as Bruce did but stopped and looked at the
human’s back. Bruce sensed that and turned too.
“Last night when I was unable to make use of my skills and Mjolnir felt
suddenly strange…I felt…disabled” he pressed his lips “and realized how you
feel” Bruce’s eyes flashed as they collided with the god’s baby blue eyes. “It
was overwhelming getting a glimpse of what you experience every moment and even
more shuddering, realizing your willpower, the strength being a hero even in
that chair, fighting the difficulties…” the god smiled. “I feel weak in front
of you…”
Bruce blinked uncomfortable and clutched the armrests.
“Superman is the luckiest being in existence to have you…” he placed his palm
on his heart and continued his road.
 
“Bruce, I didn’t believe that I’d say it, but I’m glad you didn’t attend the
party: if you were affected by the fear toxin, the green Thing would have
demolished the Tower and casualties would have been way more – even some of us
among them…” that was the only attempt on humor from Tony throughout the
meeting and even he knew that it was lame – he didn’t need Dr. Banner’s gloomy
stare to confirm it.
Tony stretched in the back of his chair; the conference hall had emptied as
Thor, Steve, Dr. Banner, Natasha and Fury left. Steve had kept his agreement
with Bruce and didn’t reveal his friend’s true involvement; of course, Thor
knew already that Bruce was Batman so he certainly figured who was guiding
Jarvis through all. Natasha had kept an eyebrow arched throughout the meeting
and Fury…Good ol’ Fury had always believed that Bruce was the Batman but his
face stayed cool and expressionless.
And then Thor began analyzing his theory of Loki being behind the attack and
Tony detected Bruce’s deductive thinking. As well as in Thor’s suggestion to
not confront Loki immediately because a theory was a theory and they didn’t
have proofs…
Tony tapped his fingers at the enormous, round shaped glass meeting table; a
deep frown had settled in his brow throughout the meeting even if he chose not
to think about his attitude in the kitchen. Now the frown became deeper and his
eyes though focused on New York’s skyline from the whole wall windows, saw only
Bruce’s back.
A stupid god was messing with them and implicated Bruce in this using Gotham’s
scum in his plans. Bruce had told them about that strange creature that came
across in that forest in Thasos moments before Bruce was attacked. Loki had
helped him then till his friends came to stop the green things; but maybe this
was just a camouflage. Maybe he had organized the attack to act the good guy
and…Bring the Amazon in the whole picture.
Tony rubbed his goatee deep in thought feeling Pepper’s intense gaze on him.
Maybe Bruce was right and the Princess wasn’t the Princess after all? Loki
could control minds so he could be either controlling the real Princess or
using someone else as a puppet – and he could also be affecting Superman’s
mind.
He had his arms crossed over the chest, stretching his legs under the table. He
was pouting. No, even if Superman was affected by something that couldn’t
exonerate him for his behavior to Bruce…
He slapped his face with both palms and Pepper narrowed her eyes and stood from
her seat at the side of the table. Thinking Superman’s ass behavior to Bruce
brought his own behavior to stab him in the back. What was his excuse for
speaking to Bruce like this? He meant no harm…He only wanted to make Bruce get
a grip…Feeble excuses…
He roared and jerked from his leather-metallic chair, his motion bringing him
face to face with Pepper.
“I’m an asshole!” he exclaimed.
She shrugged.
“That’s not news…”
Tony smirked and held her upper arms planting a soft kiss on her lips. But then
something flashed in his mind. Thor had met Bruce before their meeting: that
was the only way he could have listened to his friend’s deduction.
“I must see, Thor, doll!”
Pepper squinted.
“Don’t be an asshole, again…” she spat to his retreating back and he nodded
without stopping.
Fury intercepted him as the double doors opened simultaneously for him to enter
and Tony leave. His consultant made to tell him something but Tony raised his
index finger graciously.
“With you in a moment…” he mumbled hastily and ran to catch the elevator; the
young lady inside holding it for him.
He stepped out at the floor with the Avengers’ apartments – the other Avengers
because he had an entire floor as his apartment (he wasn’t so cocky but he
needed the space for his personal lab…and snooker area…and Jacuzzi).
Thor was leaving his apartment in his god attire – he had come to the meeting
dressed in civilian with his hair tied in a ponytail which was a huge
improvement from his suit choices. His hammer safely stashed in his belt. The
blond eyed him curious and Tony strode to him.
“Did you see Bruce this morning?” he demanded stretching his neck to decrease
the height difference.
“Yes, I did” he answered simply. “Why?”
Because we had a quarrel and Bruce took his car and disappeared…
“What do you want from him?” Tony demanded and the Asgardian seemed utterly
insulted.
“Why would I want anything from your friend?” he frowned. “I cherish and I’m
honored from his company but I don’t try to inflict my presence on him!” his
calm demeanor prevailed and looked his comrade in the eyes. “Our meeting was by
chance – you have my word!” he squeezed Tony’s shoulder – and that hurt.
“What’s wrong?”
Tony crossed his arms and arched his eyebrows.
“I just don’t want another god circling him – he has enough already…”
Thor’s kind eyes filled with honest concern.
“Does Superman treat him badly?” he asked and the thunders he had under his
orders surfaced in his voice.
Tony regarded him suspicious and uncrossed his arms.
“Just watch over that nutcase, Loki…”
He turned on his heels and marched to the elevator, Thor watching him lopsided.
 
Bruce slid his wheelchair on the foyer of the One Police Plaza, the New York
City Police Headquarters. He had given his testimony and now he was heading to
the front door and his car; he was determined to leave for Gotham at once.
“Mr. Wayne!” he heard a known voice behind his back and took in several
interested eyes on him from bystanders who knew the name.
He turned his chair and as he already knew Oliver Queen came to him having just
left the elevator. A big radiant smile was on his face and he stretched his
hand for a handshake immediately.
“Mr. Queen…” Bruce greeted him with a courteous nod and shook his hand.
“I couldn’t fancy finding you here – I was sure that Lieutenant would have come
to your residence to spare you the inconvenience.”
“I like being treated like every other citizen” Bruce grinned.
“Mmm…better move on…” the tycoon said catching with the corners of his eyes
people staring at them. “I came for some additional information – you see, last
night most of us were transmitted to the hospitals for check up. But
fortunately, the antidote that was dispersed in the hall was great and there
were no side effects.”
He held the door open for Bruce to get out and inhaled deeply the cool air; the
mist had vanished but still the sky was cloudy and the day very cold.
“Well, Mr. Queen, it was nice to see you again but I must go.”
Oliver’s face fell though his eyes had still their familiar smugness.
“I’m sure your schedule here in New York isn’t so crammed to forbid a nice cup
of hot coffee.”
Bruce felt the urge to refuse: he wasn’t in the mood after all. However, his
mind recounted the videos and the interviews of Queen where he spoke about his
rescue and the Amazon. Maybe he could answer his questions.
“Why not?” Bruce smiled.
“I know a place with the best coffee in town – it’s not far from here. We can
stroll there” he put on his cashmere light brown gloves and made an inviting
gesture to Bruce who wore his woolen cap and his black woolen gloves.
The place wasn’t too big but it was cozy, its walls painted in peach color
while the corners were highlighted in maroon making the feeling of warmth
greater. The center was occupied by a round shaped bar which shining wood was
chocolate brown; rectangular marble small tables were scattered around, comfy
round shaped small armchairs luring the customers with their maroon velvet.
Though it was day the secret lighting behind the maroon lines of the walls was
on and the sphere shaped metallic table lambs were lit due to the semi darkness
the heavy cloudy sky casted.
Oliver helped Bruce took off his coat and eyed intrigued his jeans and black
woolen turtleneck blouse for an instance before he led Bruce to a corner table
where the rectangular window that ran the middle of the entire world gave a
spectacular view of the Brooklyn Bridge. Yet Bruce’s gaze was captured by the
newspapers in the stands right next to the bar as Queen placed their order to
the waitress.
“Ironman rusts” one read above Tony’s beaming face from last night; beside him
a picture of the Tower gaping from its 90th floor.
“Superheroes for laughs! Clowns in Joker’s show!”and in smaller letters
underneath: “Who saved the day?”
“One dead, 35 injured in Avengers’ attack: the world isn’t safe even with
Superheroes – After S.H.I.E.L.D.’s recent revelations, the protectors’
inability stresses the need for reevaluation.”
Bruce remembered Tony’s outburst and felt for his friend: Tony was in his
greatest moment believing that he established something valuable and Joker
smashed everything, turning the triumph into failure…And then having to endure
Bruce’s problems as well…It was understandable that Tony would snap.
Queen followed his gaze and shook his head.
“They’re too harsh” he arched his eyebrows. “But that’s what those journalists
do. Stark must be distraught.”
Bruce yanked his head.
“No, Tony is very strong to let this get to him.”
Queen smiled and watched the waitress serving their order and then Bruce taking
a sip from his hot coffee.  
“Well? How’s your coffee?” Oliver asked intrigued “Was I right?”
Bruce licked his lips.
“It’s quite delicious but honestly I can’t judge because I don’t have much
experience with coffee – Alfred insists on milk and juice because they are more
nutrient.”
The older man nodded.
“Right…You need the best quality food there is after all these years…” he said
thoughtful but taking in Bruce’s discomfort sipped his own coffee. “I hope
Alfred isn’t waiting you in the car.”
“No, he is at the penthouse. I came by myself.”
Oliver cocked an eyebrow.
“What a brave young man!” he exclaimed.
Bruce took a bit of his cake.
“Mr. Queen, I was watching some coverage over last night’s events and the
reporters recounted your story…”
Queen crooked his mouth and sighed dramatically waving his hand dismissively.
“They do it all the time” he leaned towards Bruce locking eyes with him. “I’m
sure you know the feeling” he stretched back in his chair. “But call me Oliver
– I know I’m older than you, but you’ll make an old man a favor.”
Bruce grinned.
“You’re quite young, Mr. Queen…Oliver.”
Queen changed his crossing leg and turned to the waitress.
“Another cake to my friend, please! My gratitude, Bruce.”
But Bruce was eager to ask.
“I wanted to ask you about the Princess of the Amazons.”
Now the full of Queen’s smugness returned to his sculpted face and an enigmatic
grin shaped his lips.
“I think I just caught our fair Prince lying…” he said mock accusing.
Bruce narrowed his eyes.
“Lying?”
The older man chuckled.
“A couple of days ago you declared in public that you’re not having an affair
with Superman but now you asking about the Princess because she clearly fancies
him.”
Bruce shook his face.
“It has nothing to do with Superman” Queen nodded snidely. “I was just curious:
she said that she took you to Themyscira to heal your wounds.”
“Exactly” he replied nonchalant sipping more from his coffee.
“You saw the island?”
Oliver’s smile was huge.
“Of course, Bruce – I stayed months there: she found me almost dead. Weren’t
for her I’d be dead now. I strolled this island a lot and I was mesmerized by
its mountains – Hera’s mountain, Aphrodite’s lake, Are’s canyon, Hephaestus’
caves. It’s like heaven: crystal waters running in streaks and waterfalls from
the guts of the mountains; thick forests where birds song obliterate anything
else. But what shadows every other thing are the Amazons” his eyes closed in
nostalgia. “The most beautiful women sparring with their perfect bodies half
naked – and among them a real gem, their Princess.”
Bruce’s heart fell: he hoped that Queen hadn’t seen the island or the Amazons.
That he was kept blindfolded in a building. But he had witnessed everything. He
pressed his lips: unless he was fooled as well?
Oliver tilted his head on the side perusing the face of the younger man, a sly
grin forming. He leaned forward intertwining his fingers on the table.
“I know she isn’t the easiest person; she is arrogant and her politeness is
only for those she considers equals. And definitely she doesn’t persuade for a
philanthropist. But she saved me and since she brought me back, Diana helps
people every day. She is good but she doesn’t like to show it to everyone. She
is strict because that’s her role: she trained her sisters in Themyscira to
defend themselves. Amazons aren’t many and they must be perfectly trained:
Diana can’t manifest softness because then her warriors won’t be tougher than
men: her people wouldn’t have survived thousands of years.”
Queen’s eyes stayed fixed on Bruce’s and to avoid his peruse he began eating
his cake indifferent.
“Talk to me more about their temples, their buildings, their outfits” he said
to the older man hoping to detect things unmatched with the legends.
Oliver squinted.
“Hm…That demands of a second meeting for dinner” he said slyly. “Perhaps in
Gotham?”
Bruce was ready to reply when his Cosmos smartphone rang from his pocket and
Queen huffed but then reflected Bruce’s frown.
“Mr. Collins, I’ll call you as soon as I land to meet me there.”
Bruce ended the dial and opened his wallet hastily – his eyes were dark and his
face pale. Oliver cupped Bruce’s hand when he put the money on the table.
“Please, it’s on me…” his eyes lost their smugness to honest concern. “Is
everything alright?” he asked warmly.
Bruce looked at him but not in the eyes.
“I must return to Gotham immediately.”
***** Chapter 33 *****
Clark rushed to the office’s entrance along with most of his colleagues acting
eagerness to welcome the newcomers; even Perry White came out of his office and
his journalists opened up to give him a path.
Lois Lane marched to them unscathed but for some superficial scratches
accompanied by Jimmie Olsen who unlike her seemed a bit shaken: Jimmie was too
young and less experienced in tough situations. Yet the youth didn’t have an
obvious injury apart from some bruises, disheveled hair and dazed eyes: Clark
could tell that Jimmie was still shocked from the things he experienced under
the fear toxin despite the fact that the antidote forbade the toxin from
causing any long lasting side effect.
Clark patted the shoulder of the youth who was totally neglected by the others
their attention on Lois. He smiled affectionate to him and the boy reflected
the smile encouraged.
“Everything will be fine, Jimmie; you’re the best, buddy…”
The youth nodded, gratitude filling his eyes.
“They took the guests immediately to several hospitals in New York to make sure
that there wasn’t any residual damage from the toxin and the…” Lois rolled her
eyes recalling “ruckus. But the antidote was perfect and I was perfectly fine
and I told them so but they grabbed me and put me in an ambulance though I
kicked them hard” she was ranting, still pissed.
Perry laughed in his dry way.
“Probably that convinced them that you were still under the toxin’s influence.”
Lois clutched her waist with both hands, lolled her head on the side and
snorted.
“I lost precious time of reportage!” she huffed and her colleagues chuckled –
leave it to Lois to put the reportage over her wellbeing.
Perry patted her back patronizingly.
“Both of you are safe and sound and that’s what counts; after all, your
reports, the video from Rogers tackling the ready to attack security staff
stopping the bloodshed, and Jimmie’s photos were great – not to mention your
exclusive video from Wayne dumbfounding Wonder Woman: you can’t imagine how
many hits we get” he nodded.
“Yes, I do” she replied.
“And I’m sure that while in hospital you did some field work” he winked. “Which
I expect to see very soon in an article, since yourself said that you’re
alright.”
He turned his back to a huffing Lois who had crossed her arms over the chest.
“Jerk…” she spat in a low tone and Perry who had crossed the half distance to
his office turned grinning.
“I know you love me, honey…”
As their colleagues dispersed after welcoming Lois back, the young woman strode
to her desk ignoring pointedly Clark who followed her twisting his lips.
“I’m glad you’re alright” he said after she settled in her chair and Lois
glared at him.
“You knew that already from last night” she whispered and then tilted her head
arching her eyebrows. “Oh!” she exclaimed dramatically. “I forgot you were too
engrossed in the Amazon to care about your friends…” she lowered more her voice
“or your boyfriend.”
Clark sat carefully on her desk and rolled his eyes.
“Not a scene from you as well..!”
Lois chewed the tip of her pen and her eyes flashed.
“Don’t tell me that Bruce finallygave you hell for your behavior?” the glee
dripped from her voice that came distorted from the pen in her mouth.
Clark crooked his mouth irritated.
“I should have made a scene – and actually I did” Lois batted her eyelids
interested. “Captain America was carrying Bruce in his arms – bridal style! –
and Thor muffled him in his cape!” he had to put an effort to not raise his
voice – his sense of being treated unfair boiling.
But Lois’ eyes bulged thrilled and slapped her desk making her nearest
colleagues look surprised at her.
“I’m gonna sue New York police! I should be there taking pictures! It’d be the
exclusive of the year!” she narrowed her eyes which had the sparkle that told
Clark that she had something on her mind. “Is there a way to use your eidetic
memory to print images?”
Clark closed his eyes shaking his head exasperated.
“I come without provision for connectivity with printers…” he remarked snidely.
But Lois crossed her arms over the chest and casted a lopsided glance at her
friend.
“I know a place where I could put that plug…” she said slyly with a gleeful
shine in her eyes and Clark blushed. “You seriously made a scene to Bruce?” her
voice became dead serious and scolding. “He is a paraplegic, Clark: without his
chair he must rely to someone to carry him – also, despite the fact the
snowfall stopped rather quickly at New York, it was freezing cold last night so
Thor – gallantly – protected him with his cape. You see, you were too
preoccupied to do any of that…”
Clark ran a hand through his hair thinking hard. Lois smirked.
“It seems that our Prince has a talent in attracting superheroes…Though some of
them” her voice pointed at him “don’t appreciate what they have.”
“C’mon, Lois…” he huffed. “That night was a mess with all these toxins…I was
affected” Lois smirked in disbelief.
“Thor was affected by the same toxins…” she snorted and Clark huffed.
“And Bruce the entire night was exchanging compliments with the Avengers and
had people goggling at him so he didn’t have any right to ask me to shove away
Diana.”
Lois frowned – that info was new.
“Wow!” she exclaimed though in a low tone to not cause stares. “Finally, the
kid learnt some things…” Clark yanked his head backwards. “And you, buster,
know very well that Bruce was just polite with Stark’s teammates: what did you
expect? To insult them as your…” she arched her eyebrows sarcastic “Diana did
with him? And Bruce doesn’t give a damn about other people goggling at him;
that’s why he got isolated at the balcony – for which I’m very glad because I
wouldn’t want the poor thing being attacked by that nutcase, especially when
you don’t give a damn about him.”
Clark pinched the bridge of his nose and frowned.
“I do care for Bruce and though Diana is a friend and I care for her too, Bruce
is the one I love. I don’t want to lose him.”
Lois nodded.
“Then prove it. Because you may see the Amazon as a friend but it’s clear that
she wants more…”
Clark shook his head and licked his lips.
“No, she doesn’t – she told me.”
Lois lolled her head at him with her gaze shouting ‘bitch please!’
“You’re sooooo idiot?” she shook her head exasperated “what am I asking now?”
she told to herself twitching her fingers in the air. “Of course, she’d tell
you that to not be the bitch who separates a couple but she continues working
just that.”
She locked eyes with him.
“If you don’t want to lose Bruce you have to do this. You have to choose
between the Amazon and him – you can’t honestly expect to continue playing
Bruce like a fool – we both know that the boy is very clever” she blinked
“despite the fact he fell for you…”
Clark cackled mocking.
“Very funny…”
Lois tapped her fingers at the desk and looked him solemnly in the eyes.
“If you lose Bruce because of your attitude it won’t be any funny… Think
carefully, Smallville…”
Clark pressed his lips recalling the way he had spoken to Bruce last night…He
was so harsh on him and Bruce didn’t deserve that…even if his arguments were
laughable: it’d have been more decent if Bruce had admitted that he was jealous
than making up all these. Yet Clark had taken his decision.
“You realize that you’re pushing me away?”
Bruce’s calm voice told him again and he saw Rogers, Thor and a shadow figure
that was the unknown stranger of last night circling Bruce – if he let Bruce
leave they would have their chance…and Clark couldn’t tolerate even the thought
of their hands touching Bruce’s naked body – this beautiful body was only his
and would remain that way.
 
The soft, almost imperceptible humming of the engines lulled Bruce in and out
of dozing off with his eyes fixed on the gray, crying clouds outside the strip
window that covered the wall’s center throughout its length. The cup at the
white oval table in front of him was half with coffee; he asked for a second
coffee though he wasn’t a fan hoping that this would help him fight back his
fatigue that weighted down his bones.
He could have lain down at the comfy bed of bedroom on the backside but he
doubted if his agitation would let him sleep even for a few minutes, much more
throughout the journey to Gotham. But he settled for stretching his body in the
big, white colored armchair, the blue pillows increasing his comfort.
Oliver Queen had offered to fly him to Gotham with his private jet but Bruce
refused politely to the man’s half grin and arching eyebrows.
“I understand…After the unfortunate incident in Luthor’s suit, you don’t want
to be isolated with a stranger…” he pressed his lips nodding. “I don’t blame
you… But maybe, in due time, I’ll manage to earn your trust.”
Bruce could have rent or bought a jet but doing so he would increase the gap
between him and Tony after the morning exchange and he didn’t want to solidify
coldness in their friendship. Tony was one of his life’s pillars and didn’t
want anything to ruin their relationship. Misunderstandings must be quickly
dissolved.
He could discern Tony’s initial surprise and then joy receiving his call.
“I hope I don’t interrupt anything, Tony.”
He could imagine his friend running his hand in his messy by now hair but
Tony’s relief was clear in his voice.
“Are you kidding? Nothing is more important that you, little guy…Everything
alright? You left…” because of me – Bruce could hear his guilt “and it’s
freezing cold today.”
Bruce chuckled.
“Not inside your car…” Tony laughed but Bruce was in a hurry. “Umm…Tony, I need
to get to Gotham ASAP.”
“What’s the matter? You make me worry – you want me to come with you?”
“No, Tony; you have already too much to cope and there’s no need to worry. I’ll
tell you later; but I need to leave right now.”
“Okay” Tony sensing the urgency didn’t insist. “Happy will be at the private
airport in ten minutes – he’ll arrange everything to leave at once. Is Alfred
with you?”
Bruce pinched the bridge of his nose.
“No: he packs our things and I don’t have the luxury of waiting. I called him
to not worry.”
Tony made an affirmative sound.
“Leave the car to the airport’s parking and I’ll arrange its transport home.”
“Thank you, Tony!”
Tony sighed.
“No, I thank you, Bruce for speaking to me again after what I say in the
morning.”
Bruce chuckled though his mood was really bad.
“I don’t have another friend with a private jet…”
Tony laughed: as if Bruce couldn’t rent or buy a jet…
“Thank Goodness then I’m a filthy rich bastard, huh? Have a great trip, buddy
and try to get some rest – you didn’t sleep much last night…”
“I’ll try, Tony; hold on, buddy…”
 
The double door opened and Tony strode inside the conference room ending the
call with Happy Hogan. He threw casually his StarkStell in his jacket pocket
and looked at Pepper who had taken his seat at the head of the table working on
her tablet. Fury – predictably – wasn’t there waiting.
Tony trotted to Pepper, leaned and kissed her cheek.
“You’re attempting a take-over against me?” he asked seriously locking eyes
with her.
“I’m glad your mood is better…” she muttered indifferently continuing her work.
“I prepare your press conference.”
Tony dived on the next chair and tied his hands behind his neck. He sighed.
“I told Bruce off because he is so indulgent with Superman and…in the end Bruce
is doing the same with me. And I’m very happy for it!” he frowned “that makes
me a hypocrite, huh?”
Pepper lifted her eyes looking disapproving at him.
“And a scum…”
Tony pursed his lips and nodded.
“Thanks!”
Pepper shrugged.
“Don’t mention it…” she kept looking at him expecting. “Well?”
Tony yanked his head backwards and sighed.
“He called me saying that he needed to return to Gotham” he cocked his
eyebrows. “He could easily find another way to do it but he just wanted to show
me that he wasn’t angry at me…”
“While he should” Pepper spat.
Tony ran his hands through his hair.
“Yeah, I’m so lucky…”
“I’m looking now at Gotham’s news outlets for anything that could cause Bruce’s
haste but other than Arkham’s last night escape there’s nothing.”
Tony nodded.
“I searched too and we knew about the escape from last night so this wasn’t the
reason for Bruce’s departure.”
“Something personal then.”
Tony sat upright.
“He’d have told me.”
Pepper shrugged.
“Maybe he couldn’t right now…”
The door opened revealing Fury’s imposing form.
“Tony, have a moment?”
“Sure. Anything for my favorite baldy.”
Tony gathered himself and stood following Fury outside leaving Pepper to resume
her work.
 
Mr. Collins was a man at his sixties with white hair and wise brown eyes;
average at height and weight he didn’t give the impression of one of the best
lawyers in US and the head of Wayne Enterprises’ legal department.
He leaned back at his dark blue car’s hood and with arms crossed watched
Stark’s private jet landing at the airstrip of Wayne Enterprises’ small private
airport. The premises belonged to Thomas Wayne and then fell into Falcone’s
hands along with everything else but now the platinum ‘W’ welcomed passengers
in the front and jets in the five hangars. At the moment, the small airport
hosted jets of other owners because Bruce Wayne didn’t want to spend yet a
large amount of money to buy his own plane after he sold Falcone’s: the youth
believed that the company’s priorities lay elsewhere.
Mr. Collins had parked his car in the hangar that was permanently given to Tony
Stark. He stretched his posture watching the wonder that was Stark’s unique jet
entering; his machines were almost soundless in comparison with other crafts
but what caught the eye was the curvy cabin part that ended up with a sharp
decline to the cockpit that reminded of a shark’s snout – however the cockpit’s
dark to the exterior big windows reminded the proud glare of an eagle.
In a few minutes, the door opened and the crew helped Bruce descent the ramp
with his chair. The young billionaire thanked the crew by handshake, wished
them a nice trip back and headed to Mr. Collins that he had noticed as soon as
the door opened.
“Good morning, Mr. Wayne” the man hastened to meet him and shook hands with his
employer.
Bruce smiled.
“Good morning, Mr. Collins; I see it’s a very cold day in Gotham too…
Thankfully, Tony’s jet isn’t thwarted by elements! You didn’t have to come; I
could take a cub.”
Mr. Collins chuckled.
“That would be a disgrace, Mr. Wayne, leaving our president take a cub when
Wayne Enterprises have so many cars.”
They moved to the car and Mr. Collins kept the passenger’s door open for Bruce
to slip there from his wheelchair; Bruce pressed the option in the control
screen at the armrest and the chair folded for Mr. Collins to place it to the
trunk.
“Thank you, Mr. Collins” Bruce said to him when he sat at the driver seat.
Collins smiled warmly.
“You’re welcome, Mr. Wayne.”
It was indeed a very grim day even for Gotham’s standards and the gray streets
seemed grayer under the cloudy sky and the constant soaking of the rain – it
wasn’t a heavy rain; raindrops fell scarcely with a steady rhythm but they were
frozen drenching to the bone those pedestrians who didn’t carry umbrellas.
Hurried footsteps crushed the small puddles on the cement and the water
splashed around.
Bruce loved the rain and the way it hued Gotham’s imposing buildings and gloomy
streets – the way the water dampened the sharp lights of the city. He had the
impression that the water from the sky cleaned the grim city from filth and
sins…exactly as he wished the rain could do to his soul and mind. His mind was
calculating his options and his plans as the wipers danced up and down to push
away the drops.
Mr. Collins parked the car in front of a modest height building with stern
rectangular lines; it was a public building and people were coming in and out
constantly from the main entrance.
“Everything is under control, Mr. Wayne” Collins reassured his employer seeing
his agitation.
Bruce nodded.
They entered the building; Bruce from the side ramp and Mr. Collins holding his
brown leather briefcase from the small cement staircase. The veteran lawyer
didn’t need to ask at the information desk; he gestured to the small elevator
that barely contained Bruce’s chair – which was a really slim chair in
comparison with the common wheelchairs. Obviously, the building was very old
without any renovation to cover the modern needs – even the external ramp was
constructed really recently.
The department they wanted was at the second floor; a small square gray label
read ‘Social Service’ with black capital letters. Bruce’s heart skipped some
beats and Mr. Collins patted his back and led the way.
There were many offices with shut doors forbidding indiscreet stares since the
services referred to sensitive cases. Yet Mr. Collins knew where to go and
knocked confidently the door.
A young woman around her thirties sat behind an old, small, simple wooden desk
with a PC screen on her right. She was speaking to a shaken boy who was
clenching the armrests of the metallic chair in front of the desk. At the
second chair, another woman a bit older was watching the exchange.
The boy shook his head stubbornly denying; his sweet cheeks were flushed.
“It can’t be…She took me to school a couple of hours ago…she can’t…”
The social worker inhaled deeply.
“Police found your grandmother’s car abandoned but no trace of her, Richard”
her voice was cracked with real concern. “You understand that you can’t stay by
yourself so you’ll be housed temporarily at the ‘Thomas and Martha Wayne Haven’
– which is a very warm and wonderful place - till either your grandmother is
found and returns or…” she hesitated to continue.
The boy’s eyes widened and he gasped.
“She is not dead!” he ground his teeth and the social worker nodded pressing
her lips in a reassuring smile.
The social worker finally acknowledged Collins and Bruce but before she
addressed them the door opened without a warning knock. Bruce was looking at
Richard who in his distress hadn’t noticed him but then he eyed frowned the
newcomer.
“He isn’t going to any orphanage, I’m his uncle – he’ll come with me” Tony
Zucco said and Dick’s eyes sparkled hopefully meeting his uncle’s form.
But this relieved sparkling became angry when he finally saw Bruce. The boy
jerked upright, puzzled by Wayne’s presence but hiding it under his ire.
“What are you doing here?! It’s not enough you saw me burying my family? You’re
an evil demon! Get out of here!”
“Dick…” the second woman who was his school’s social worker held the boy’s
upper arms. “Calm down, dear.”
Bruce felt a stab in his chest and the curious stares on him after the boy’s
reaction increased his uneasiness – but he was determined to not retreat.
Zucco approached Dick and ruffled his hair.
“Do not worry, Dick. You won’t have to see him again” he casted a snide
sideways glance at Bruce.
He turned to the social worker who was still baffled from the boy’s angry
reaction to Bruce.
“As I said, I’m the boy’s uncle – his only relative. I’ll take Dick with me” he
gave his ID to the social worker who perused it.
She fixed her glasses.
“You have to fill some papers and bring some documents; you can take Dick with
you and then the court will decide about his guardianship.”
Bruce stiffened but Collins squeezed his shoulder.
“Mr. Grayson won’t go with Mr. Zucco” the lawyer said calmly.
Zucco jerked his head at him unpleasantly surprised with his eyes narrowed in a
threatening expression.
“Why?” he demanded.
Bruce straightened his head.
“Because I’m his guardian.”
Mr. Collins after forty years practicing law he had countless connections in
every public service and people respected and trusted him that he wouldn’t make
ill use of inside information. So when Mr. Wayne called him a Sunday afternoon
asking him information about the procedure for becoming a kid’s guardian and
the following morning came to his office to give him more details, Collins
informed his contacts to let him know if anything important happened concerning
Ms. Turner or Richard Grayson.
Upon being informed that Ms. Turner’s car was found abandoned at the outskirts
of Gotham, he immediately called his employer and the social service’s
director.
“No way!” Dick snarled at Bruce.
But Mr. Collins walked to the social worker’s desk, laid his briefcase on the
desk, opened it and gave some documents to the woman under Zucco’s frown that
Bruce knew that covered barely restrained wrath.
Bruce watched the social worker reading the documents and realized that
everyone in the room did the same. Dick was clutching his cheeks and Bruce felt
really bad he caused such turmoil to the boy.
“Well, Ms. Jhonas?” Collins asked her using the name of the golden plate on her
desk.
She took off her glasses.
“The documents are completely legitimate” she nodded. “Indeed, Mr. Bruce Wayne
was given the guardianship of Richard Grayson by Ms. Melanie F. Turner, his
grandmother. So, Richard should go with Mr. Wayne.”
Dick’s eyes flashed angrily and he clenched his fists.
“I prefer the orphanage!” he growled, glaring at Bruce.
Bruce moved closer.
“Richard, please” he said calmly “I assure you that everything is going to be
fine.”
But the kid gritted his teeth and clenched his uncle’s waist; Zucco caressed
his hair.
“Don’t talk to me! Because of you I lost my family and now my granny! I won’t
go with him!”
Mr. Collins met Bruce’s tired eyes and the younger man raised his hand in a
waiting gesture.
“It is what your grandmother wanted, Dick” the social worker from Dick’s school
said softly. “We must respect her wishes. She wanted the best for you.”
“I’ll stay with Tony! Granny was wrong! I won’t go anywhere with Wayne!”
But Zucco cupped the boy’s face with both hands and looked him in the eyes.
“It’s alright, champ – go with him for the time being: it won’t be for long. I
won’t let him keep you” he smiled to the boy and Dick pursed his lips
determined nodding reassured.
 
“I’m listening” Tony said to Fury as soon as the door to his office closed
behind him automatically.
The panoramic view of New York’s skyline from the whole wall windows behind
Tony’s back indicated that weather’s sullenness wasn’t going to subside soon.
Fury raised his eyebrows, his face as serious as ever.
“I think it’s high time we recruited Batman.”
Tony pouted and widened his eyes flabbergasted.
“You’ve schmoozed with him?” he mumbled.
Fury smirked, his eyes regarding Tony estimating.
“Says the man who had the Bat at his party.”
Tony understood where Fury was taking it but lifted a shoulder and lolled his
head looking lopsided at the veteran.
“I had many party animals at my party but not a real animal…or a dressed up
one.”
Fury chuckled showing off his pearly white teeth.
“C’mon, Tony, I think we understand each other… The Bat saved the day last
night” Tony rolled his eyes. “You’re a good director after all: you took care
to secure a contingency plan in case our safety measures failed.”
Tony nodded.
“Of course! I created a fucking genius AI: Jarvis.”
Fury shook his head.
“Jarvis just executed: a strategic genius was guiding him. And we know that
this strategist is your friend, Bruce Wayne” he decided to stop Stark’s
avoidance game.
Tony huffed and pinched the bridge of his nose.
“That again…I thought you were cured from your obsession…I know a super
therapist who specializes in compulsive preoccupation. Of course, there’s
always Arkham Asylum as a contingency…”
He sank in his ergonomic chair behind the desk and tied his hands behind his
neck, crossing loosely his legs.
“And you wanted to see me just for this?”
Fury crooked his mouth and sat at the comfy armchair in front of Tony’s desk.
“Till now Wayne had every reason for not wanting to join Avengers – his hunch
proved right and I clap him for his insight to see through S.H.I.E.L.D. But now
the League of Shadows is exterminated and S.H.I.E.L.D. sanitized.”
Tony stared at him keeping his fingers intertwined in front of his face. His
eyes intense but unreadable and his lips pursed. Fury leaned forwards.
“His best friend is the director” he widened his eyes stressing his words. “He
trusts you so he shouldn’t have any objection to join the organization you
lead” he shook his head “He does trust you, right? He doesn’t have any reason
to believe that your motives are shady or anything different than fighting
injustice. So why not accepting to join us?”
Tony uncrossed his legs and leaned forwards as well.
“Maybe because Batman isn’t my friend and as a matter of fact he doesn’t trust
me or any other person?”
Fury leaned back in his chair huffing.
“We both know that Bruce Wayne is Batman; he proved it last night!”
Tony rolled his eyes.
“You do realize that you’re speaking about a man confined in a chair? The same
time that Batman soars Gotham’s sky every night; even last night, some reported
that saw him...in Gotham.”
Fury cocked an eyebrow.
“I know you could have found a way to make Batman patrol Gotham while he is
disabled. Bruce is a master of deception and you as well as Mr. Fox master
inventions” he blinked and shook his head. “I don’t care about revealing
Batman’s identity; I’m just thrilled from the prospects of him joining us.
Imagine it yourself: the man who defeated the League of Shadows twice, the
first time while being their slave, channeling his genius in our cause.”
Tony who till then was watching almost avidly cocked an eyebrow and tapped his
fingers on the glistening silver surface.
“Was Batman League’s slave?” he squinted. “How you came up with this? AND my
genius is more than enough for S.H.I.E.L.D. We don’t need such darkness in our
team.”
Fury lolled his head on the side and watched him squinting.
“You consider me inadequate for my position?” Tony asked him lifting his chin.
“Not at all; I just believe that you’d like your friend being safe in a
legitimate organization instead of being a wanted vigilante facing not only
villains’ bullets but also those of the cops. And we both know that Batman can
really offer to the Avengers…Not to mention that Batman joining the Avengers
will elevate S.H.I.E.L.D.’s and Avengers’ prestige – you know that although a
vigilante he is a legend.”
“As every Avenger… For one last time: I don’t know who Batman is and I don’t
give a damn. My priority is helping Bruce walk again. Now I have an important
Press Conference to prepare and I suggest you look thoroughly the re-
arrangements of our sectors’ security.”
Fury stood up and saluted Tony military style with a slightly ironic smile.
“Aye, aye, sir…” he narrowed his eye. “Think what I told you.”
Tony under furrowed eyebrows watched him leaving. He wouldn’t ever push Bruce
join his team even if S.H.I.E.L.D.’s own survival depended on that.
 
It was late afternoon and Bruce was in his father’s study for a couple of hours
when Alfred knocked.
“You have a visitor, sir.”
Bruce frowned.
“I didn’t have any meeting arranged…” it was a Sunday afternoon after all.
“Indeed, Master Bruce; but I believe that you’ll definitely want to see this
visitor.”
As his wheelchair slid from the elevator to the grand salon he could see the
back of his visitor’s head slightly above the back of the black couch. Alfred
was following in his butler posture.
Bruce learnt from his childhood to be observant so that back of head was enough
for him to identify his visitor. He frowned.
“Ms. Turner, how nice to see you!” he said as soon as they faced each other.
The old lady shook Bruce’s offered hand. He could detect her agitation and
distress.
“Mr. Wayne…” she inhaled deeply “Bruce” she remembered his old request and
Bruce nodded. “I’m sorry I came without an appointment…” she upturned her hand
in hopelessness “or a call…”
Bruce waved her worries off.
“No problem, Ms. Turner. Is anything wrong? Is Richard okay?”
Ms. Turner touched her cheek but seemed unwilling to start talking so Alfred
having already served tea to the old lady made his excuses to let them speak
alone and Bruce met his butler’s eyes communicating his thanks.
“Well?” he asked softly.
Ms. Turner pressed her lips.
“Bruce, you’re a great young man and I know how much you love Dick…”
Bruce nodded without saying anything to let her to continue. Ms. Turner seemed
hesitant but then as if something nudged her she licked her lips and gathered
her courage.
“I’d like to ask you” Bruce was watching her face’s twitches that cried her
agony. “If of course you want…to be Dick’s guardian” she exhaled.
Bruce was shocked: he never expected to hear that. The woman took in his
astonishment.
“I know, sweetie…You’re too young…more like Dick’s big brother…and you have too
responsibilities already and problems of your own…”
Despite being surprised he could tell that the old lady was too upset and
disheartened so he approached her and smiled at her.
“Please, calm down, Ms. Turner: drink some tea.”
She reflected his smile and cupped his hand on his chair’s black leather
armrest.
“You have a golden heart, dear” she lowered her eyes. “And I’m taking advantage
of that…”
Bruce shook his head in denial.
“No, you’re not: it is an honor that you trust me with that yet Dick hates me…”
his sadness was clear.
Ms. Turner took the blue royal porcelain cup and sipped from her tea.
“He is still young and grief stricken…he’ll understand that our family’s murder
wasn’t your fault and he’ll realize the great man you are.”
Bruce brushed his chair’s armrests.
“Ms. Turner, what’s going on? I assure you that your trust is flattering” he
smiled “though I have to admit that the thought of being a child’s guardian it
is overwhelming too. Yet I know that something distresses you: at the
Thanksgiving party, you almost fainted…” he leaned forwards and met her eyes.
“Ms. Turner, I know it is indiscretion, but is something threatening your
health? Because my company develops some really miraculous drugs.”
“You’re not indiscreet, sweetheart. And no, Bruce, I’m not ill.”
He inhaled with relief yet his puzzlement was now bigger.
“Then?”
She ran a hand through her short curly gray hair and sighed.
“There’s a man…Tony Zucco” Bruce knew the man but didn’t make a move to show
his knowledge “he is Dick’s uncle – John’s cousin. He never saw Dick from his
birth and now he came back at Gotham and approached the boy befriending him.”
She stopped to catch her breath and took another sip from her tea, Bruce
refilling the cup.
“Thank you, dear. Well, this man is anything but good and I don’t want him near
Dick but the poor boy is quite fond of him since Zucco was – he pretended to be
– his father’s best friend. But actually he hurt John; Zucco was also his
trainer and at some point John was found drugged with illegal substances…and
John didn’t do it. Someone slipped the drugs in his drink and the only one who
could do this was Zucco…It was when John’s career had declined and he had some
major failures; he was unhappy and Zucco tampered with his drinks so that John
wins some championships and signs new contracts. You see, John had listened to
Zucco and made some very bad investments losing almost all his money.”
Bruce shook his head: at the same time Zucco’s investments gave him loads of
money.
“Zucco was a good friend only when John was working for major advertising
companies and had money to spend and trust to his cousin for investment… After
the doping scandal, John hired again his old trainer and he was ready to fire
Zucco – his only fault was that he kept him to his training team…John died in
an accident during his training when Mary was pregnant…”
“You believe that Zucco caused the accident?”
Ms. Turner rubbed her palms together and locked eyes with Bruce.
“Nothing was ever proved: neither for the doping nor for John’s death” she
gulped “but I know he is an evil man and…” he upturned her eyes inhaling. “I
don’t want – if something happens to me – I don’t want Dick in his hands” her
eyes met Bruce’s and his guts clenched from the despair and agony he saw there.
“He never cared for the boy and I’m sure that he came back now because he
sniffs money…he admitted to me.”
Bruce took her hands in his.
“You’ll live many years more, Ms. Turner and you’ll be very proud for all the
medals and the championships Dick is going to win” the old lady beamed, tears
slithering her wrinkled cheeks. “But if you insist, I’ll gladly accept Dick’s
guardianship –” he grinned shyly. “Though I don’t feel competent for…the job.”
Ms. Turner smiled and hugged Bruce.
“Believe me, honey: no parent feels competent for this…job. And if someone
feels overconfident, then he/she probably won’t be a good parent…And you’ll be
a great guardian and father, Bruce…With you I’m sure that Dick will be safe and
happy…I can be calm that Zucco won’t harm him as he did with his father…”
Bruce clenched his teeth.
“I won’t let Zucco hurt Dick, Ms. Turner – I promise…”
Bruce ran his hands through his hair watching behind the wipers’ up – down
movement a bunch of boys of various ages that were chatting and smoking in a
shadowy alley at the Narrows. School had ended for the day and those little
swaggers were enjoying their freedom – of course  Bruce didn’t know if all of
them attended school though the Haven’s project ‘Back to School’ had managed to
bring back on class a spectacular percentage of the Narrow’s kids.
He had parked his car at the road side opposite the alley’s opening and waited;
he had located the bike he wanted and stayed a few feet behind.
Bruce had called Leslie to the social service to drive him and Dick at the
Manor because Mr. Collins had to stay there to settle the formalities. The
doctor stayed with the boy at the Manor since Alfred hadn’t arrived yet and
Bruce took the red Renault Clio which was adjusted to his impairment. After the
League attacked the Lancia to grab Alfred they bought this car to replace the
Lancia for their needs in being undetected.
A kid no more than 11 walked out of the alley throwing his half cigarette to
the wet cement and ran to his bike.
Bruce turned on the engine and slowly approached the boy who frowned at the car
that stopped some inches from him. That part of the Narrows was still
underdeveloped with hardly any traffic and the shining, clearly brand new car
was an odd spectacle. Not to mention that, even though Wayne had made Narrows
safer perverts still lurked to make their move. But, hey, he wasn’t a victim.
The boy saw the dark window from the driver’s side lowering and then his eyes
widened. It was that Wayne guy – he remembered him from TV and the party.
Bruce smiled.
“Hey, Jason.”
The boy crossed his arms over the chest and took a badass posture that made
Bruce’s demolished mood lighten.
“My mother told me not talk with strangers…” he cocked his eyebrows.
Bruce nodded.
“Ms. Todd was right. I’m Bruce Wayne” he offered his hand for a handshake and
Jason took it. “We’ve met at the Thanksgiving party in the Haven – I don’t know
if you remember me” the kid didn’t answer.
“And?”
Bruce pressed his lips.
“I’m here for Richard” Jason seemed not understanding and Bruce hurried to add
“your friend, Dick. His grandmother has disappeared” Jason gaped obviously
shaken by the news. “And he’ll stay with me till Ms. Turner is found” Jason’s
eyebrows reached the roots of his wet, raven hair. “Ms. Turner made me his
guardian.”
The boy snorted.
“Oh, boy!” he knew Dick’s hatred for Wayne. “I’m sure he isn’t too excited…”
Bruce shook his head.
“You betcha… The think is that Dick is distressed and I can’t help him so I
thought that he’d want his best friend with him – you.”
Jason lolled his head on the side and eyed him.
“So if you want to come to the Manor to do him some company, I’d be grateful.”
The boy arched his eyebrows and pointed his index finger to his chest.
“To me?”
Bruce nodded.
“Sure…but my mom…”
“I spoke with Ms. Todd and if you want you can stay as much as you want –
tomorrow it is Saturday so you can stay for the night” he offered him his
smartphone. “You can call her to confirm that” Bruce remembered that day in
front of the schoolyard when Chill and Earl tricked him to enter the car; how
desperately he tried to reach someone he trusted to confirm that it was safe
and how his failure to do that led to disaster.
But Jason didn’t take it.
“I trust ya, dude” he said pompous.
Bruce pressed a button and the passenger’s door opened yet the boy shook his
head.
“I’ll come with my bike – lead the road!” he ordered and Bruce chuckled and
obeyed.
Bruce parked the car in the enormous underground parking of the Manor and Jason
goggled at the Ducati Monster motorcycle completely ignoring the cars; he
rushed there and brushed the beautiful bike while Bruce sat in his wheelchair
and approached him smiling.
“My friend has a Harley Davidson – she loves bikes like you…Come.”
Leslie opened since Alfred wasn’t there and stared curious at the boy who
accompanied Bruce. However she held the door wide open for them to come inside.
“This is Jason Todd, Leslie” Bruce introduced “Dick’s friend. Jason, this is
Dr. Leslie Thompkins.”
“Nice to meet you, young man” she said and offered her hand.
“The same” Jason replied shaking her hand uncomfortable gaping impressed at the
elegantly luxurious manor.
Bruce smiled.
“I’ll take you to Dick’s room” he said and made an inviting gesture.
Jason walked with Bruce to the elevator stumbling a bit from his unstoppable
goggling at the stunning house. After his tenth stumble the boy stretched
proudly his posture, coughed and pretended indifference.
Bruce opened the elevator door, let him enter first and then slithered his
chair.
“It’s okay” he smiled to the boy “I mean, to be impressed…I was too when I
first came here.”
Jason frowned.
“Impressed when you first came here?”
Bruce shrugged.
“For eighteen years I lived in a cave-like underground cage…”
The boy’s eyes filled with understanding and he nodded.
“Here we are” Bruce said as the elevator stopped and he touched the door that
opened.
He led Jason in front of a thick, dark brown oaken door with carved squares and
knocked.
“Go away!” Dick growled from inside and Jason chuckled meeting Bruce’s eyes.
“He is in a helluva mood, huh?” he gestured with his thumb inside smirking. “I
feel for him: granny was really good…”
Bruce took in the use of ‘granny’ and understood that Jason loved the old lady.
He nodded.
“Ms. Turner IS great” he arched his eyebrows. “She is missing not dead – I’d
like you to remember that and remind it to Dick. I don’t want him to lose his
hope.”
Jason shook his head.
“But…in Gotham?” in Gotham when someone disappeared then probably was as good
as dead.
Bruce nodded.
“Even in Gotham” Jason pressed his lips. “Richard, Jason is here to see you” he
gestured with his head to Jason to enter and smiled to the boy before leaving.
“Thank you, Jason.”
The boy shrugged a shoulder.
“’S nothing” he replied and opened as Bruce steered his chair to the elevator.
 
Bruce stared at the cowl in his hands and his eyes became blank focusing on the
empty eyes of the cowl that somehow gripped his soul that cried for salvation.
So many things squeezed in his mind; in his soul…
He gazed at the cave and it seemed deserted, depressive…or maybe it was his own
emotions. The freezing cold and the humidity were attacking him – the low
humming of the processor accompanying his thoughts. Bats had fled away for
hunting; he sighed wishing he could follow them as he was doing all these years
even under Falcone’s slavery.
He eyed the individual pieces that constituted Batman’s armor; sitting on the
wheelchair made them look so distant, unfamiliar…
“This man has alienated you! Joker took away your mobility and Superman your
personality…”
No, they didn’t! He lowered the cowl to hug his head in familiar safety.
 
Alfred was watching a recorded coverage of Master Anthony’s press conference in
the huge flat TV sat in an armchair at the Manor’s living room; Hero was
rubbing at his legs and purred demanding his attention.
They had arrived a couple of hours ago and the first thing the butler did was
to cook something. Now apart from his young master, in the Manor were housed
two children – one of them was to stay since he was Master Bruce’s legal ward.
He served them dinner at Master Richard’s room after the boy completely ignored
his invitation to come down to the kitchen. The butler justified the boy’s
rudeness, exactly as Master Bruce did – the poor boy suddenly learnt that his
grandmother disappeared few months since he lost his family – he was left
alone. Being at the house of his ‘enemy’ wasn’t the best addition to that…At
least, Master Jason, Alfred chuckled, - if you could call that little rascal a
master – was with him.
Alfred learnt about the guardianship as soon as he entered the Manor. Master
Bruce informed him and Alfred answered with ‘very well, sir.” Actually, he was
afraid that this was too much to be added to his young master’s already
difficult situation yet he knew that he’d never let an orphan boy unprotected,
especially since he promised to Master Grayson’s grandmother. But Alfred like
everyone knew that the boy detested his master so the thing was even more
complicated and his young master’s absence at ten in the night was indicative.
He sighed and tickled Hero’s belly since the kitten had rolled in his back and
moved his paws in invitation. The solemn butler forgot his worry for a moment
as the kitten stretched his paw to play with his finger.
Alfred jerked at the ring of the sat phone Master Anthony and Master Bruce had
set to communicate without the fear of being watched.
“Good evening, Master Anthony.”
“Alfred, where is Bruce?” Tony’s voice was angry.
Alfred fixed his stare on the fireplace opposite him.
“I’m afraid I can’t answer that, sir.”
Tony huffed.
“Batman is out with the Tumbler, right? I set a transmitter in that tank and
now is off – Bruce obviously realized and deactivated it. Iron Man is coming
there right now to kick his ass back home! What was he thinking, Alfred?!”
“Master Anthony, I’d suggest you don’t do that…He really needs that, sir and
I’m certain that he won’t put himself in danger” he heard Tony’s sigh and
rolling of eyes. “Let him have his outlet, Master Anthony. I assure you that he
will be back in a couple of hours safe and sound so there’s no reason for you
to neglect the important things that demand your attention.”
 
Batman had already stopped three robberies, one rape and two beatings. He
didn’t come out of the Tumbler – he couldn’t: Lucius didn’t have his new armor
ready. He used sedative darts to knock them out and the net launcher to
incarcerate the assailants. Afterwards he notified the police to gather them.
He patrolled the Narrows and the docks in his car watching constantly the chats
in hopes of learning anything about Crane or Joker but nothing. Of course if
Loki was covering their tracks…
It felt nice being at the streets even though he couldn’t walk them or soar to
the sky or fight.
Suddenly, his scan caught something descending right in front of him. He
steered the Tumbler backwards because he didn’t want to encounter the newcomer.
“Stealth lead mode” he ordered and his stalker soon lost him.
Superman landed in the middle of the wet street and crossed his arms in the
chest shaking his head in disbelief.
“You shouldn’t be in the streets, Bruce…” he mumbled inside his mouth so that
only he could hear.
 
When the Tumbler stopped at the rock surface inside the cave, it felt like all
the weight of the world fell again on Bruce’s chest. He summoned his wheelchair
to wait next to the monstrous car and stripped to his gym pants and T-shirt
that wore under the armor. Batman wouldn’t sit in that wheelchair.
But as soon as he slipped in his chair a wave of air rushed to him and he was
elevated with the chair in the air.
“Put me down!” he demanded and pierced his ‘assailant’s’ eyes. “I can manage on
my own.”
Clark’s blue topaz eyes stared at his face sad and he obeyed.
“I’m sorry…” he bit his lips “for everything” he twitched his eyebrows. “I said
horrible things to you…I’m a scum. But believe me, Bruce, I love you and I
don’t want to lose you.”
Bruce’s eyes sparkled but he was hesitant.
“And?” he could read that Clark wanted to say something else.
Clark licked his lips and squatted to be at Bruce’s level and locked eyes with
him, sad for the coldness he saw in Bruce’s eyes.
“I won’t see Diana ever again’ I’ll stay away from her. Nothing would stand
between us.”
“So…you believe me?” Bruce was uncertain if Clark meant what he said; after all
the times things went so awry…
Clark lolled his head on the side.
“You want that and that’s what matters to me…I won’t let anything cast a shadow
to what we have and upset you in your recovery” he leaned his face forward with
his lips slightly parted waiting for an invitation.
Bruce seemed a bit hesitant at first but then decided to reward Clark for his
determination and truth be said, he needed Clark’s kiss after everything. He
closed his eyes and brought his lips to entangled Clark’s soon leading to a
passionate kiss. The Man of Steel made to lift Bruce in his arms, hasty to take
him to their bedroom but Bruce held his forearms.
“Clark, Richard Grayson and his friend are in the Manor so we must be careful.”
“I know; the Planet got some info but we didn’t publish it yet.”
So Clark left the cave to reach the bedroom flying and Bruce used the lift,
scanning the corridor for any presence before exiting. He found Clark sitting
at the armchair next to the window, already dressed in his pajamas.
The Man of Steel felt the urge to take Bruce in his hands but after every shit
he had done to the younger man he felt he ought to not be pushing so he let
Bruce get inside the bathroom to strip and shower calming his heartbeat as he
imagined the water caressing Bruce’s bare body. Bruce’s defiance to get out and
patrol Gotham as Batman worried but also aroused Clark – he knew that it was
too dangerous for Bruce yet that feeling of danger made his body writhe and
crave for the human.
Yet when Bruce came out of the bathroom dressed in his dark blue pajamas
Clark’s arousal fell back because his worry covered everything else. As the
younger man lay flat on his back at the silken sheets Clark looked at him
reading clearer the signs of his exhaustion all over his body; his back must
being aching.
“Can I join you?” he asked scratching his nape hesitant to speak about Bruce’s
condition. “I swear I don’t have dirty things in mind” Bruce gave a smile.
“I’ll only massage you – I can see that your back aches…” he said carefully
because he knew that Bruce didn’t like to address pain issues.
Yet the younger man nodded.
“A bit…”
Clark helped Bruce turn on his stomach, rolled his pajama shirt off him and
began rubbing the flesh softly almost like caressing extricating small moans
from the man under him; moans that intensified when Clark planted small kisses
all over his shoulder line. He was straddling Bruce’s pelvis but his knees were
sunk in the mattress so that his body didn’t touch Bruce’s; Clark didn’t want
to burden the exhausted body with even a grammar of his body.
He sucked Bruce’s earlobe.
“It was great being out there again, huh?” he whispered in his most husky
voice; Clark felt for Bruce despite his agony for the man’s safety: it was
months since he last patrolled his city – he last breathed the air of that city
which for everyone else might be an evil witch but for Bruce was his love. He
shared for a moment his mate’s agony at being away from her and from Batman and
he smiled at the relief that this short escapee offered the man.
Bruce let his eyelids cover his stinging eyes and his cheek sink in the silk.
He recalled the feeling of Batman’s armor against his skin – above the waist –
the feeling of the cowl, the smell of the Tumbler’s interior. It was hope…
“Uhu…” it was the only affirmation he had the strength to give.
Clark leaned over Bruce’s face to see what he already knew: Bruce was asleep.
 
***** Chapter 34 *****
Dick was pacing up and down on the same strip of velvet, dark blue with white
designs carpet; his arms were crossed over the chest and his entire face
tightened in a frown. He wore his pajamas: Dr. Thompkins had driven him and
Wayne at his granny’s flat to grab some clothes; his granny had given Wayne a
set of keys along with his guardianship…
Jason was sprawled at his side on the bed, supporting his head on his palm. It
wasn’t a king size bed but even so it was much bigger than the children beds
Jason and Dick had; light blue, matching the room’s painting with a mattress so
soft and strong that Jason at first spent ten minutes trampolining.
He, as well, wore one pair of Dick’s pajamas – they didn’t differ so much in
height or weight. Jason yawned lulled by his friend endless pacing.
The hands of the round, black and white clock on the right wall showed 1:35.
The old man who introduced himself as Alfred and insisted on calling
them…’masters’ – Jason still chuckled every time he remembered that – came
around ten o’clock. He had told ‘master Jason’ that he had prepared for him the
guest room right next to ‘master Richard’s’ but the boy retorted that would
sleep with his friend.
Alfred nodded courteously saying ‘as wish, sir’ and prepared the bed laying
blankets so fluffy and thick that Jason cocked an eyebrow; then grandpa took
the tray he had brought them dinner – since Dick was adamant about not going to
the kitchen – and left wishing them ‘goodnight’, clearly relieved that at least
both boys ate their food.
“Man, cut the pacing!” he exclaimed “I get giddy!”
Dick stopped at his heels and glared at him.
“Then stop watching me and open that TV on the wall!’’
Jason rolled his eyes.
“I’m here for ya, man – not the damn TV…though that screen is the GOAT” he
pouted at the flat, shining 40’’ screen over the rectangular built-in fireplace
opposite the bed. “C’mon, pal, calm down…I’m sure yar granny is okay an’
they’ll find her an’ ya’ll return with her at yar home.”
“Do you honestly believe that?” he snapped at his friend, upset but with a tiny
hope in his voice.
Jason scratched his head remembering Wayne’s words.
“Ms. Turner is missing not dead…I don’t want him to lose his hope.”
“If a scum had killed her cops would have found her now.”
“Then she abandoned me?”
Jason closed his eyes and jerked his head upwards huffing.
“Wouldna blame her…” he snorted and Dick ground his teeth because his friend
was poking at him. “Ya know that she wouldna do that – something else happened,
man. An’ she took care of ya even in her absence…”
Dick lolled his head at the side and snarled at him.
“Seriously now!”
“Ya’re safe her’, man” he stretched his arm at him. “She didna let them take ya
to an orphanage – though I hear that the Haven is pretty cool…”
Dick finally slumped on the mattress.
“She put Wayne as my guardian!” he shook his head exasperated. “She hates me,
Jay!”
Jason quirked a bit his lips on the use of present tense that indicated that
his friend believed that his granny was alive. He gathered his limbs and
kneeled on the mattress patting his friend’s back.
“She doesn’t hate ya, Dick, an’ ya know it. She trusts Wayne that he’d take
care of ya if she was forced to leave…”
Dick shook his head.
“Tony can take care of me better than Wayne: he is my uncle, he loves me and
I’m happy with him. But she is biased against him and chose that spoiled brat
over Tony.”
Jason raised his eyebrows.
“That Zucco guy is bad news, Dick; yar granny didna trust him an’ I agree…”
The older boy crossed stubbornly his arms and set his jaw.
“Speaks wisdom of life incarnated…” he jeered showing with his hand Jason’s
small body although he was taller than most boys in his age.
Jason snorted.
“Ya call Wayne ‘a spoiled brat’ but actually, ya’re acting like one,
man…Refusin’ to go down to eat an’ forcin’ the old man bringin’ ya food here…”
he shook his head and gestured to the door at the left, next to the built-in
white closet. “Thankfully, the bathroom is inside the room otherwise ya’d pull
out yar willy and pee from the window…”
Dick gazed at the arch shaped balcony door which offered a spectacular view of
the grounds from the window panes its white frames formed; the frozen raindrops
that fell all day long had turned into thick, fluffy snowflakes that fell
graciously on the perfectly groomed lawn, the bushes and the big, round light
bulbs which emanated strong white light along the perimeter of the brown slated
paths.
Alfred had closed the heavy light blue curtains for the boys to sleep but Jason
had watched where the mechanism was and as soon as the butler was gone he
climbed the wooden rectangular table and opened them again. He planned to get
out from the balcony door to the Narrows…but the door was unbreakable.
“Definitely! If Wayne was underneath!” Dick snarled but hearing Jason chuckle,
he couldn’t help but chuckle himself. “She didn’t tell me she made Wayne my
guardian…” he said sober.
“Because she knew how woulda reacted – an’ ya’d have run to Zucco an’ tell
everythin’ – which I bet they didna want.”
Jason hugged him.
“Everythin’ is gonna be fine, mate. Yar granny is okay an’ she’ll come back.”
Dick smiled at him and Jason yawned again.
“Let’s sleep now, pal – I cannot break outa this fortress to go to the Narrows
so I’m sleepy…That fireplace an’ ya goin’ up an’ down lulled me.”
The older boy nodded.
“I’m sleepy too” he admitted. “Dr. Thompkins told me that she’d give me some
mild sedative with my milk to help me sleep – it seems it took effect…”
Dick fell back on the soft mattress and Jayson made a spectacular dive causing
his friend’s grin.
“It’s a good bed!” Jason exclaimed patting the cotton sheet.
“Not if you continue jumping like this…” he muffled both of them with the
blankets Alfred had laid.
“I’m baffled ya drank the milk with the sedative.”
Dick stretched his arm and pressed the button over the soft headboard to turn
off the lights leaving only the fireplace’s dancing flames illuminate the vast
room.
“Granny wants me to sleep well…” he muttered staring at the balcony door; from
its rectangular frames he could see snowflakes falling graciously. “How Wayne
found you?”
Jason rolled his eyes and knocked Dick’s temple.
“Are ya connected with yar brain? He saw me with ya at the party an’ he knew
that mom works for him; so he asked an’ found me – big deal!’’
Dick blinked and sighed.
“I feel I’m trapped with my worst enemy…”
Jason whistled and snorted.
“Cut the crap, Dicky! If someone’s trapped that’s Wayne – with ya!” he shook
his head “an’ me, I guess…”
Dick chuckled and ruffled his friend’s messy hair.
 
Clark didn’t need sleep so he preferred watching awed and affectionate Bruce
sleeping. A big smile was stretching his lips: it was the most beautiful image
in the world – Bruce sleeping peacefully. An angel as the tranquility of sleep
caressed the beautiful lines of his face: eyelids softly covering the orbs,
silken, long eyelashes caressing sharp cheekbones, bangs falling carelessly
over the forehead and the cheeks – rosy, velvet lips slightly parted as he
inhaled and exhaled.
Superman felt the urge to trap these lips in his mouth and suck mercilessly…but
he didn’t want to disturb his much needed rest.
Clark spooned Bruce having the younger man’s face in front of his, in a
breath’s distance; his arm hugged Bruce’s broad shoulder, travelled his back to
end on his waist – the other arm finishing his loop touching tenderly the
younger man’s pelvis.
He held Bruce’s body tight because the day’s fatigue led to abnormal muscle
tone and Clark massaged gently to relax the tension: last night’s events at the
Tower, then only a few hours of restless sleep – thanks to Clark’s behavior -,
then a flight to Gotham, running all day to take care of Dick Grayson and then
patrolling… These could exhaust a healthy person; for a paraplegic still in
recuperation could be devastating.
Clark sighed silently to not disturb Bruce and rubbed soothingly the back
muscles that were trembling slightly from fatigue. Bruce was an extraordinary
individual and wouldn’t let his body’s needs stop him from doing what he
believed was his duty.
Sometimes, like now, Clark had the feeling that he was dealing with a child:
innocence and power in one fascinating body. He leaned carefully and placed a
tender kiss on Bruce’s temple.
A boy around eight years old, with brunette hair and dark blue eyes lay on the
floor over a cheap carpet, at the right wall of a small, ordinary living room;
the TV was still on, broadcasting a stupid show.
The boy’s eyes were left open but not watching the dull TV program: they were
looking up, at nothing…two blue orbs crystallized in the terror of the imminent
death and the unbearable pain. His small arm flexed on the floor in an odd
angle was pierced by two bullets and his face was carved with two scars
beginning from the corners of his lips to the middle of the cheeks, giving for
an instance the ridiculous impression of a smile – lines of blood had dried as
the two wounds had bled unstoppably. But it was a huge hole in the place where
his heart was once beating that killed the boy.
Bruce could see where the boy’s eyes pointed – a message written in red, huge,
capital letters – the paint leaking from the edge of each letter: “Kids must
permaneeeently smileeee – Brucey, I’ll mak’ you smileeeee!”
The paint wasn’t paint – Bruce could smell the peculiar, iron, horrific smell
of blood. The message was written in Brian’s blood…
A tiny white casket was descending slowly to a freshly dug pit under Gotham’s
gloomy gray sky that cried unstoppably; another boy similar in looks with Brian
cried and shouted to his brother, storming at the casket to stop the descent…
Clark saw in the dark something glittering trapped between Bruce’s eyelashes: a
tear that sparkled like diamond. And then the eyelashes began thrashing
brushing the cheekbones – first, slowly but then fast till Bruce opened his
eyes abruptly. Without a gasp as Clark expected after a nightmare: Bruce was
calm though his heartbeat was elevated. Clark knew that his mate wasn’t afraid
of the darkness but immediately turned on the night lamp on Bruce’s nightstand
without letting go of his embrace.
Bruce stared at Clark’s face and brought his hand to rub his eye without moving
from his enveloping arms.
“The boys…” he muttered worried and Clark caressed his messy hair.
“They are sleeping like angels. I hear their breaths – calm, restful,
children’s sleep…” he whispered reassuringly, tenderly, understanding that
Bruce has seen something about the boys.
Bruce gulped and nodded but made to disentangle from Clark’s safe nest.
“I must check on them” he said determined to Clark’s frown.
But Clark tightened a bit his one arm hug and with the other hand brushed
Bruce’s cheek.
“Alfred did that ten minutes ago…”
Bruce closed his eyes and huffed.
“My good Alfred…”
Clark rubbed his back.
“Does he know that you skipped your midday medication?” he asked smoothly but
mildly scolding at the same time.
Bruce pressed his lips.
“I guess Leslie told him…I didn’t do it on purpose but there were so many
things to do that I couldn’t find the time to eat or take my medicines. It
won’t happen again – Alfred knows that.”
Clark shook his head and stretched to the floor the arm that was over Bruce’s
body. The younger man watched intrigued and finally Clark presented him with a
white fur ball with a thick black ‘V’ on his lower back.
“Look who’s here!” Clark exclaimed and Bruce’s eyes sparkled; Hero jerked in
Clark’s hand and he let him jump to not hurt the kitten.
Bruce caught Hero in the air and touched his lips on the animal’s head. Clark
chuckled.
“He sneaked out of Alfred and came to your room” he said watching Bruce
tickling the kitten and play with his ‘threatening’ paws.
“He couldn’t get inside…” Bruce remarked.
“No, but he was scratching the door…”
Bruce’s eyes bulged.
“If he clawed the door Alfred will be furious!”
Clark laughed.
“I think that Alfred took his measures because your bedroom’s door has a layer
of something that protects the wood from lethal claws” he teased Hero’s paws
and the animal chased his fingers. “Your friend wanted so much to see you that
I brought him in…”
Bruce kissed Clark’s lips.
“Thank you!”
“I did nothing” he shrugged though he enjoyed the joy in Bruce’s eyes that for
a change was caused by him – he cupped his face with both hands to gain his
attention from Hero. “Promise me, Bruce, that you won’t do that again.”
Bruce looked at him puzzled.
“What?”
Clark shook his hand.
“All the package of those past 24 hours.”
Bruce touched his lips on Clark’s neck and he felt goose bumps throughout his
body.
“Many of the things that happened weren’t my doing – I just reacted: Joker
crashing the party…” he supported his body on his elbow and rose a bit without
losing Clark’s arm from his back and waist. “We discussed it with Thor and
there are clues that his brother, Loki, is working with Joker and Crane.”
Clark’s eyebrows became a line and his eidetic memory brought back Thor
muffling Bruce with his cape.
“You met again with him after last night?”
“Yes, I had to go to 1 Police Plazza for my testimony and I was strolling a bit
at Battery Park till my appointment – Thor was there too before getting to the
Avengers’ Tower for their meeting. We discussed what happened” his eyes watched
carefully Clark’s tense face.
The Man of Steel felt his heart pounding from ire but he knew he shouldn’t show
anything, shouldn’t outburst. He licked his lips.
“A chance meeting?” he hardly contained his boiling jealousy yet Bruce
understood.
He caressed Clark’s cheek.
“What else it could be, Clark?”
Clark gathered Bruce tighter to his body.
“Bruce, I told you that I’ll do what you asked: I won’t see Diana again.”
The younger man saw that Clark said that to stop him from disengaging himself
and approach – as Clark thought – other men. This was the only reason and that
stung not only because Clark didn’t see his reasoning but also because he
considered him eager to give himself to another man. He pressed his lips.
“But you don’t believe that she might not be who she says.”
Clark chuckled and his stare became blank.
“Of course not! But since that is what you want…I’ll do it…to not lose you…to
Thor or anyone else…”
Bruce shook his head and narrowed his eyes.
“Clark, I didn’t ask you that out of jealousy…There are clues and you said
several times that you feel odd so it’s better if you stayed away till we
figure this out” he gulped. “Anyway, even if you don’t believe me, you’ll be
safe keeping a distance from her and maybe Jor El’s tests help us find out.”
Clark didn’t say anything – he hadn’t done any test after the first and had no
intention to do another. He wasn’t ill; all this was Bruce’s effort to draw him
away from Diana and now that he was going to do that – he snorted inside –
Bruce would consider him healthy again. He took Hero to his basket and in a
couple of seconds he was back resuming his exact position cuddling Bruce.
Bruce could see that Clark was thinking hard. He brushed softly Clark’s broad
chest and the man came out of his thoughts to look at him serious and a bit
gloomy. Bruce met his eyes.
“You don’t seriously believe that Thor and I…?”
Clark lifted an eyebrow and Bruce kissed him softly on the lips.
“You’re the only man I ever loved, Clark” he said quietly; he had so many
things more to say but he didn’t. “I met Thor by chance.”
Clark nodded and smiled.
“I believe you…” he captured Bruce’s lips in a passionate kiss that took the
human’s breath away.
He brushed the locks that had fallen over Bruce’s forehead and brought them
back with the other hair.
“Now…sleep again…you’re exhausted. I’m here.”
Bruce really felt his healthy body cry in aching fatigue begging for some rest.
He wrapped his arm around Clark’s shoulder letting the warmth of Superman’s
body relax his own suffering muscles; his head nestled in Clark’s chest and let
his heavy eyelids cover his eyes.
Clark watched Bruce as sleep swiftly took over. He wouldn’t let anyone get from
him that man…
 
Bagdana looked at the crystal, transparent surface of the pond in the middle of
his cave. The waters turned pitch black but he could discern the bottomless
black cave walls, the deep silence, the sound of boiling lava, the pillar- like
narrow stalagmites that became wider to support the ceiling which was the
Earth’s surface. Tartarus: his prison, his company in solitude and suffering.
A sparkling, blue, vibrating light moved in the labyrinth - like steep, narrow
paths the thick walls formed. Bagdana recognized the light and the energy:
Mjolnir – he was there when the powerful hammer was forged. Suddenly, the
figure that marched his prison was visible, his beautiful face tense in
determination. As he knew already it was Thor. The formidable warrior god of
Thunders; the ancient demon remembered the blond god fighting him along
Superman and Stark to save Bruce…
He smirked and closed his eyes: his body jerked from an ancient fire. In Bruce
lay Lilith’s irresistible charm…even gods couldn’t resist. Yet Bruce’s charm
had a different quality from his distant grandmother: innocence, unwillingness
to seduce, shyness, real care for the others and their emotions.
Thor turned the steep corner to the chamber of the demon’s cave-cell: a well
going even deeper, humid with its dark green walls dripping humidity and acid
water; sharp like razors rocks emerging from the floor, in the middle of them a
rectangular stone where a hunched shadow sat manacles at wrists and ankles
sinking in the walls and the floor holding the figure still.
Bagdana smiled as the god of Thunders saw the chained demon and turned his back
tricked by the demon’s reflection. Bagdana’s decoy seemed exactly the same with
him, emanated even the same aura, had no smell like the demon.
“Bruce, you sent him there to check on me…” he cackled and shook his head
amused, the silver short spikes shinning on his head. “You’re way too young to
be so wise, child…This world isn’t worthy of you.”
 
Clark gathered his arm gently from Bruce’s body to not wake him up and settled
the younger man on the mattress muffling him carefully with the blankets since
he was to leave and he wouldn’t have his warmth to keep the cold away – not
that the room wasn’t warm…
Bruce’s pajama had the top three buttons undone and Clark was absorbed by the
visible flesh; he couldn’t fight the urge so he leaned and sucked that flesh
closing his eyes in delight. A shine caught his eyes as he opened them
reluctantly: the round, black platinum frame that held the Black Butterfly…
He touched with his fingertips the diamond and remembered the blinding light
that night at the Fortress when Bruce was fighting for his life and Clark had
set the gem on Bruce’s heart. A black light containing every color of the
spectrum in its range, diming every other light in the Fortress – the most
beautiful light he ever saw: Bruce’s tortured soul that emanated every kind of
kindness and benevolence.
Even if Bagdana was securely imprisoned in Tartarus, Clark felt gratitude for
the powerful gem that dangled proudly on Bruce’s chest protecting him.
He stood as soundlessly as he could and placed his index finger on his lips
seeing Hero staring at him. It was 6 o’ clock but cats wake early.
“Shshsh…we don’t want to wake Bruce…Watch him…I’ll be right back…”
He wore his civilian clothes in a spin and flew out of the window closing
behind him. It had snowed last night but it stopped too soon so the lawn, the
trees and the bushes had only a thin, sparkling layer of ice that reminded of a
priceless fabric under the still dark sky.
Upon landing at the deserted alley two blocks from Ms. Rose’s bakery, the
delicious smell of fresh baked delicacies intoxicated his sensitive nose. Clark
followed the smell like mesmerized, his stomach growling threatening.
The old lady was surprised to see him so early.
“Good morning, Mr. Kent! Saturday today – you should be sleeping…”
He smiled.
“Journalists work at Saturdays too.”
She nodded.
“I know but still at Saturdays you come much later.”
“Mmm…I didn’t want to lose the hot donuts…”
Ms. Rose chuckled and took the paper bag.
“Your favorite, huh?” she asked looking Clark pointedly and he understood that
she wanted to ask other things too.
He nodded.
“And…” he blushed “the Prince’s Donuts.”
Ms. Rose’s face radiated from a big smile and she hurried to put the delicacies
in the bag.
“Now I see why you were in a hurry to get your donuts…” she winked giving Clark
his change. “I’m so happy things are fine again, Mr. Kent…”
Clark widened his eyes and gulped: he was so obvious? He grinned to the good
lady and nodded.
Back in the Manor, Bruce was still fast asleep and Clark could sense the man’s
fatigue but fortunately not last night’s erosive light pain. He put on his
pajamas again and took his side on the bed cuddling Bruce, wrapping him
securely in his arms. Only for Hero to climb and settle between them rolled in
a ball; Clark glared at the smirking kitten.
“You’re indivious!”
Bruce stirred half an hour later and frankly Clark wished the man had slept
more. He kissed him on the lips massaging the hot flesh and Bruce’s lips
engaged him in a slow, sensual dancing.
“I’m glad you’re here…” Bruce murmured sleepy and then narrowed his eyes
sniffing the air. “Is this…”
Clark took gently his chin and brushed his cheek with his fingers.
“Freshly baked donuts” he said locking eyes with Bruce and relishing the same
enthusiastic, child-like, sparkle that crossed his eyes every time he treated
him with donuts. “I deprived you of them lately…” he pressed his lips regretful
but waved it off. “And since I can’t be in the kitchen to eat breakfast I
thought we can eat something here…”
Bruce nodded.
“The boys…We’ll find a way for you to join us in the common rooms” he chuckled
because all these seemed rather funny as if they were mischievous teenagers.
Clark chuckled too.
“I don’t mind being…banished from the other rooms of the manor if I still have
the master bedroom…and the owner” he said and brought Bruce’s body closer to
him planting a deep kiss on his accepting mouth. “Mmm…I think the thrill
of…breaking the law is arousing.”
But Hero meowed annoyed and both of them looked at him, Clark ruffling his hair
and pressing his lips.
“Outlaw or not I still have to share with this little rascal…”
 
Jason was already dressed and was slumped on the big blue foof chair, his legs
on the table staring at his friend who sat on the edge of the mattress with his
arms crossed and his jaw set.
“I’m hungry, man.’’
“The old man will bring us breakfast here – there’s no chance I’ll go down to
see Wayne’s shitface!”
Jason snorted and lolled his head on the side.
“Sooooo…ya’ll make the grandpa bring ya food upstairs while you can take yar
lazy ass an’ eat downstairs…Ya realize that ya’re becomin’ a fuckin’ diva?”
Dick twitched his lips.
“Where did you learn that word?”
Jason shrugged.
“I’m an informed man…An’ I don’t wanna stay here like being in detention – it’s
enough that I didna get out last night.”
Dick pouted.
“So get out! I’m not stopping you…”
Jason hopped from his place and sat next to his friend.
“Ya stay shut in here believin’ that ya’ll annoy Wayne that way. But it is as
if ya admit that he cares…else why shoulda give a damn if ya stay here for all
yar life?”
Dick squinted at him and Jason smirked.
“If ya want to get on his nerve ya’ll go downstairs an’ made his life
difficult!”
 
“Selina is still at New York…” Bruce muttered gazing around at the kitchen.
“And Tony has too much work to do…”
Only he and Alfred were there for breakfast and the big kitchen seemed even
bigger. He was eating breakfast on the black shinning island – well, not eating
because he had too many donuts earlier, but drinking milk and juice.
“Sir, if I may…” Bruce nodded prompting him. “Yesterday at Master Anthony’s
penthouse you said that Master Kent isn’t himself lately and that you wouldn’t
abandon him…”
“Yes” he sipped from his orange juice.
“Also, I noticed lately that you’re very tired and sad…” Bruce shook his head
in denial. “Please forgive my indiscretion, sir, but like Master Anthony, I get
the feeling that all these are due to Master Kent’s” he stopped looking for the
right word “changed behavior” Bruce pinched the bridge of his nose
uncomfortable from this subject. “I know I don’t have the right to say this but
perhaps Master Anthony is right and you must protect yourself from Superman?
You said that he isn’t himself lately and you do remember what happened the
last time he was under a similar situation…”
The man’s agony was heartwarming for Bruce but he didn’t want his loved ones
being distressed because of him.
“Do not worry, Alfred; he might be facing some problems but he won’t hurt me”
he smiled “he cares for me, Alfred; he listens to me and so I can help him as
he did for me. I don’t feel threatened…and he loves me.”
Alfred nodded.
“I’m relieved to hear that, sir.”
“The boys?”
Alfred raised an eyebrow.
“They woke up but I guess they’ll take breakfast in their room…”
Bruce pressed his lips and nodded.
“I don’t want them to stay shut in the room like jailed…” he looked up at
Alfred. “I hoped that Dick would take it easier…I mean staying here…but I guess
I ask too much.”
Alfred patted his shoulder.
“Patience, Master Bruce: do not lose your hope” Bruce smiled at him.
“At least, Hero is here to keep us company…” his eyes fell on the kitten who
had emptied his bowl and now was playing with one of his multicolored furry
toys kicking it between his front legs.
Hero sensing Bruce’s stare, left his toy and ran to him climbing to his lap.
Bruce laughed and began petting the animal’s back causing its loud purring.
Alfred smiled at the scene craning slightly his head to them; he had opened the
black wooden cupboard at the right of the sink to gather the crockery for the
kids’ breakfast: thank Goodness for that kitten…he thought.
“Sir” he said filling with milk a jug “in 20 days it’s Christmas.”
Bruce lifted his eyes to him puzzled and Alfred felt a pang because he could
see that for his young master Christmas made no difference.
“It is your first Christmas out of Falcone’s grasp” he had to try “in my humble
opinion, the Manor should be decorated accordingly…by its rightful owner for
once.”
Bruce was so dumbfounded that when Hero mouthed his finger playfully, he
twitched startled. Which Alfred noticed.
“Also, a child is staying now with us” Alfred used his last argument and Bruce
nodded grinning a bit hesitant.
“Of course, Alfred; yet I’m completely useless in decoration stuff…” he took in
his butler’s eyes getting sad “maybe Dick and Jason can help you and perhaps
Tony or Selina.”
Alfred nodded: well, the purpose wasn’t to have others helping.
“Indeed, sir” he choked a sigh because Bruce wasn’t in the mood to celebrate.
“You’ve got a kitten?!” a thrilled voice entered the kitchen and Dick’s
fascinated eyes were on Hero while Jason’s hungry ones were on the delicacies
on the long island.
Bruce had heard them coming – now that the Manor guested someone… ‘non-
initiated’ he had his ears set for the tiniest indication of his coming.
“He is Hero” Bruce replied petting the animal watching with the corner of his
eyes Dick approaching to have a closer look to Hero. “Hero, this is Richard.”
The kitten looked curious at the newcomer, sat at his butt and twitched his paw
as if wanting a handshake. Dick beamed and gave his index finger to Hero –
Bruce smiled but his smile was vanished instantly seeing his ward frowning and
pursing his lips upon because of Bruce’s smile.
Jason hopped in one of the chairs and grabbed a piece of vanilla cake.
“Can we eat?” he asked. “I’m starvin’!”
Dick stretched his posture.
“You can eat – I’m not hungry; I’ll return to my room…” Jason rolled his eyes
and Alfred pressed his lips in disapproval.
But Bruce moved his chair towards the kitchen’s exit.
“No, stay; I finished my breakfast and I have some work to do…” he stared at
the kitten in his lap. “Mmm…I guess you can keep Hero company” he grabbed the
kitten from the armpits and gave him to Dick who although still sullen took the
kitten. “Hero gets bored when I’m working and Alfred doesn’t want him rubbing
at his legs while housekeeping…”
His chair slid to the exit.
“Later, I’m going to visit the GCPD to be informed about your grandmother” he
saw the boy’s eyes sparkle. “You and Jason can come along” he pressed his lips
“if you want.”
Dick gave a cold nod, Hero nibbling his chin. Jason snorted.
“Cops…Nice way to spend a Saturday morning…” he mock spat at the floor and
Alfred cleared his throat scolding him.
Bruce was taking all the information he wanted hacking the police’s system yet
Dick couldn’t know this so he had to take the boy to GCPD to learn any news and
being sure that police searched for his grandmother.
When they entered the garage, Bruce’s sleek black car was there brought by the
shipping company last night. Jason goggled.
“Wow!” he whistled impressed and began stroking the magnificent car causing
dismay to Dick who crossed his arms and looked to the other side. “Can we take
that beast, dude?” he asked Bruce and he smiled like every time Jason called
him ‘dude’.
He lolled his head on the side.
“Well, I had something subtler in mind…yet…why not? But you’ll have to share
the same seat because she has two seats” of course if the seat could contain
him and Tony so it could two boys.
“No problemo, man!” Jason stormed at the passenger’s door trying to open but it
was futile. “Damn! That house is a fortress; the same the cars!” he huffed
frustrated.
Bruce touched his thumb to the invisible receptor in the door and it
automatically opened. He gestured inviting them inside.
GCPD’s building was old, tall and grim with its rectangular shape radiating
rigor and till few months ago cruelty. The walls were a faded maroon that at
some places let the bricks be seen; there were too few windows increasing the
depressing air of the building.
The last night’s snow stopped so fast that now at 9 in the morning there was no
snowflake on the wet pavement; only the fierce cold reminded last night’s
snowfall. Bruce was glad that the two boys had dressed warmly with coats, cups,
scarfs and gloves – they were very cute.
During the road there through sideways glances Bruce could see Dick’s agony –
the boy was absorbed in this thoughts about what the police would say about his
granny and only Jason’s bickering about the car made him leave his reverie.
Detective Curtis was in charge of the disappearances’ department; her desk was
one of many stationed in a section of the second floor, separated with windows
covered with blinds. She glanced bored at Bruce and the two boys.
“We don’t give info to minors and non-relatives, Mr. Wayne.”
“I’m Richard Grayson’s legal guardian” Bruce retorted calm showing her the
document. “So I’m some kind of relative.”
The woman nodded. Ms. Turner’s car was found abandoned at the country road near
Wong’s lighthouse. Dick frowned.
“But she had just left me to school…and she definitely had no reason to go
there…”
Curtis shrugged.
“Did you find anything?” the boy asked and the detective looked him over her
small glasses.
“Kid, disappearances are not easy cases…especially, in Gotham.”
Bruce intervened.
“We know that, Detective Curtis, but Ms. Turner is Richard’s grandmother, his
only relative.”
She twitched her lips and eyed a young woman entering the office. She was a
Detective and Bruce recognized Renee Montoya who immediately greeted him with a
handshake.
“We’re here for Ms. Turner’s disappearance” he explained to her “she is
Richard’s grandmother” Dick rolled his eyes because it was the second time
Wayne was saying the same thing.
Yet Montoya’s stare at Curtis made the latter’s tongue loosen.
“There were no traces of robbery or attack – any violence” Bruce took in Dick’s
relief. “Yet we have no traces as to where she might be – we have given
pictures of her to every patrol car and to the TV stations” she looked at the
boy. “You know if your grandmother had being diagnosed with dementia? Senile
people often get lost and they don’t remember their identity or their
relatives.”
Dick Jerked.
“No, granny’s mind was perfect!”
Bruce nodded.
“I can confirm that too” he caught Dick’s glare and in his expression Bruce
could see that the boy considered dementia to explain why his grandmother made
him his guardian. “But if you have doubts Ms. Turner had run some tests in
Gotham General recently.”
Detective Curtis eyed Bruce and took off her glasses.
“Mr. Wayne, the fact you’re her grandson’s guardian shows that you’re pretty
close to this family” Bruce frowned suspecting what was to follow and Dick
snorted “so we could be facing a case of kidnapping.”
Dick slapped his thighs and huffed causing the stares of Curtis and Montoya.
“The story of my life! Losing people I love because of him!” he gritted his
teeth.
Curtis frowned because she knew nothing about Dick being the second child of
the murdered Phelps’ family but Montoya who worked at the MCU knew and looked
Bruce with sympathy. Jason elbowed his friend and the older boy snarled at him.
“Mr. Wayne will notify us if anyone contacts him for ransom” Montoya said. “In
the meantime, we’ll continue our efforts to locate Ms. Turner.”
An officer from the desk on the right glanced up at them.
“We’ll search the nearby shores too” the man said bleak shaking his head.
“Because most of the disappearance cases end up there…eh, Montoya, Curtis?”
Dick’s eyes bulged and he stiffened which made Bruce forget his hesitance and
take the boy’s hand in his.
“Your grandmother is alive and we’ll bring her back…I promise, Richard.”
Jayson wrapped his arm around his friend’s shoulders and the two women glared
at the sturdy officer who shrugged.
“Is better to be ready for the worse…this is Gotham: people who disappear…”
But Bruce yanked his head and glared at him.
“Once, I was disappeared as well and police declared me dead; they stopped
searching and considered me dead for eighteen years yet here I am: pretty much
alive!” he nodded. “As Richard’s grandmother!”
Curtis pressed her lips and exchanged glances with Montoya while her male
colleague got sweaty. On the other hand, Jason smiled to Dick enjoying Wayne’s
outburst to a cop.
Bruce took the kids to the lift hasty to leave the building which feeling knew
that all of them shared. But Montoya caught up with them.
“Richard, will do everything to find your grandmother” she said locking eyes
with the pale boy and he nodded.
Yet Jason crossed his arms and cocked his eyebrows.
“Yeah…now that big money told ya off…”
Montoya looked at the little rascal with a mix of irritation and amusement;
Bruce met Jason’s eyes.
“Boys, can you take the elevator and wait for me at the foyer?”
“Gladly!” Jason grabbed Dick’s hand and dragged him along to the elevator.
“Mr. Wayne, I’m sorry about Detective Spencer: he is pessimist and cynical but
quite effective in his job.”
“I’d prefer it if he kept his personal opinions for himself and not present
them as facts. He shouldn’t have spoken like that in front of the boy.”
She nodded licking her lips uncomfortable.
“I know…We’ll do our best to find her.”
“I’m sure, Detective Montoya; please, keep me updated” he pressed the calling
button at the elevator’s wall.
“Commissioner Gordon assembles a team for your protection now that Joker is on
the loose.”
Bruce lolled his head at the side and blinked.
“Commissioner knows already my opinion on this – I don’t want an escort. I have
Wayne Enterprises’ security and Richard too – I’ll feel better if GCPD’s forces
are fully occupied in protecting Gotham’s citizens so we don’t have other
incidents like the Phelps family…”
The lift’s doors opened and Montoya entered after Bruce.
“I don’t disagree with that” she replied. “But I’m sure that Jim – the
Commissioner – won’t accept it without a battle” she smiled. “You can expect a
phone call…”
Bruce nodded.
“It’s always a pleasure speaking with Commissioner Gordon.”
As Bruce expected, the boys didn’t wait at the foyer as he told them but in
front of the car.
“I’ve got some work at the Wayne Tower” he told them once they got inside the
car. “After, we can go to the shops to choose a desk for Richard.”
Dick snapped at him.
“I won’t stay permanently with you!”
Bruce nodded.
“Yes, but till then, you need a desk to do your homework…”
“I wouldna…” Jason commented pouting and Bruce looked at him.
“And a PC for you to work.”
Dick slapped the seat.
“I already have a PC and a tablet!”
“Okay” Bruce answered calmly. “We’d go to your flat to take the PC, your books
and whatever else you want. Then, we can go to Ms. Todd to ask her if Jason can
stay for the rest of the weekend with us – if of course you want, Jason…”
The boy shrugged.
“Sure, man…But can mom come and eat with us? I don’t like leaving her alone…”
Bruce smiled at the boy’s affection for his mother and the way his sweet cheeks
flushed for letting his softness being shown.
“You’re on my mind, big guy… But till I finish with my work, is there some
place you want to go? Maybe at the zoo?”
The two boys exchanged goggling, jeering glances and Jason giggled.
“Zoo is for babies!” Dick spat averting his gaze and Bruce blushed.
“I…I…I don’t know how bigger boys like to spend their free time” he mumbled.
“When I was eight I loved the zoo…”
Jason pursed his lips posing like an understanding wise man.
“Ya were a baby…” he patted Bruce’s shoulder patronizing. “Being a guardian is
a tough job, kid; but ya’ll learn” Dick glared at his friend. “I can give ya
lessons; first tip for free – bowling” he winked and Bruce smiled.
“Lead me, Jason.”
 
Superman floated outside the whole wall window at Bruce’s office; the glass
didn’t permit view inside but his super vision surpassed that limit. He could
see Bruce behind his desk speaking on his phone to Stark. Of course, they can’t
be left clear from the vapid playboy’s ill influence even for a day!
Bruce didn’t need much time to sense his presence; he finished the call and
hastened to open the window for him to enter.
“I hope your office isn’t banned for me like the Manor’s common rooms?” he
chuckled.
“You’re sure nobody saw you?”
Clark crooked his mouth and shook his head.
“Of course…Superman knows to be unnoticed when he wants – no kiss?” he pouted.
Bruce shrugged and eyed his chair.
“As you can see I can’t reach you…”
Yet Clark knew that rather than that Bruce was still reluctant to open up like
before. And it was time for that to end.
“If that’s the problem…” he grabbed Bruce’s waist and lifted him with one hand
wrapping his waist, the other cupping the back of his head to deepen the kiss
he planted on his lips.
Bruce moaned from pleasure forgetting for a bit everything that Clark had said
to him lately; he closed his eyes and grabbed Superman’s cheeks diving to that
kiss with all his might. Deciding to pretend that they were still at the
Fortress or the island…
Clark’s eyes were locked with Bruce’s sapphire-emerald seas which sparkled in
pure, hot love; his lips were glued to Bruce’s mouth and all his existence
looked for a place…The corner of his eye stopped at the modern desk and he
dragged them there though in the room was a very comfy corner couch – yet Clark
always fantasized having sex on a desk.
He held Bruce’s waist one armed, his mouth locked in a dynamic dance with
Bruce’s and pushed the papers off the desk to lay the younger man there
carefully controlling his mind fogging arousal. Bruce still cupped his face and
pierced his eyes with burning love but Clark detached his insatiable mouth to
suck his neck; his hasty hand undoing Bruce’s tie and opening the first buttons
while the other slipped inside the man’s pants groping his buttocks.
“You know” Clark breathed in a husky voice “I love white shirts on you…” white
on dark.
“You know, I prefer you without the spandex…” Bruce growled raising his head.
Clark cupped the back of Bruce’s head and lowered him to the desk for him to
gain more access to that intoxicating flesh around the beating jugular.
Bruce was ruffling Clark’s hair to let some of his arousal being relieved but
then Clark stopped sucking – rather painfully – and looked him in the eyes
almost fearful.
“Why did you stop, Clark?”
Clark realized that his groin was rubbing demanding on Bruce’s pelvis and
blushed cupping Bruce’s hands that ruffled his hair.
“Not until you’re perfectly fine, Bruce…I can wait…” he looked around and his
stare fell on Bruce’s tablet.
Half the screen had data on Zucco’s financial affairs and the other half a
picture of Oliver Queen with detailed info.
“You’ve met Queen?”
Bruce supported himself on the elbows and Clark lifted him to settle him to the
chair.
“Yes, at the party. And then I came across with him again at New York Police
Headquarters.”
Clark clenched his waist with both hands, his eyes blank. He bit his bottom
lip.
“By chance…”
“Exactly. I tried to get information about the Princess.”
Here we go again…Clark thought feeling a second pang accompanying the jealous
one.
“And?’’
“I asked him to describe the island…”
“And?”
Bruce swallowed hard.
“He described it like the ancient writers did” Clark nodded with confidence as
if saying ‘I told you so’. “But if she is doing something to you then she might
have done the same to Queen…” he raised his eyebrows. “I need to learn more
from him and…”
Clark huffed and waved him off.
“Can we leave this, Bruce? You wanted me to stay away from her and I did but
let’s drop that bullshit…” he turned to the window and Bruce watched him
gnawing at his mouth’s interior.
“Where are you going?”
“To Ma; I’ll come at the Manor late at night.”
Bruce moved the chair closer not minding to fix his shirt and tie – his lips
and neck still feeling Clark’s mouth.
“You’ll go to the Fortress, too, then.”
Clark licked his lips – no, he wouldn’t go! But he didn’t want a quarrel with
Bruce.
“Yes” he said without looking at him and Bruce choked the uncertainty that from
somewhere wanted to cast its shadow.
“Give Martha my regards.”
Clark turned to him beaming.
“I will and she’ll be excited.”
Bruce watched him in the sky till he vanished. He’d have stayed there more but
his phone rang. Lucius’ cheerful voice greeted him.
“Mr. Wayne, your suit just arrived from the tailor.”
 
“If you want an anteater find ants…” a strong female voice said and Superman
halted midair.
He was over the Palisades returning to the Manor; it was late and the sky was
completely black without moon or any star. Only the dim light from the public
lighting bellow cracked a bit the darkness but he didn’t need that to see
Diana’s gorgeous figure – the breathtaking woman glowed. She was floating like
him; her hair waving at the cold wind, her beautiful eyes sparkling. The heavy
rain were sticking her already tight clothes to her body, highlighting her
body’s details and making his heartbeat frantic.
“I knew I’d find you here since you obviously avoid me…” she cocked an eyebrow
and smiled.
Clark stretched his body and looked her in the eyes.
“Diana, this must end.”
She narrowed her eyes.
“What? Our friendship? Our alliance? Because there’s nothing else.”
Superman shook his head.
“There is and you know it better than anyone. You kissed me.”
“I didn’t know then that you had an affair with…Wayne; after you told me, I
think I made myself clear that I don’t want or claim you.”
“Your behavior last night shows otherwise.”
She widened her eyes angry.
“These are your words or his? Is it you that insult me or Wayne?”
Superman shook his head.
“Nobody insults you, Diana; but I must end this. All of this! I’m sorry.”
She began sniggering.
“Oh, dear! I can’t believe that someone like him could control Superman into
making him an obedient puppy!” she clenched her waist and shook her head
amused. “And you follow his orders! Unbelievable! You succumb to his stupid
jealousy.”
Clark set his jaw and turned his back already flying away.
“Has he the right to demand things from you?” she dragged her words not making
an effort to be heard sure that Superman would hear her.
And biting the bait, he flew back to her bringing his face to hers.
“Watch your mouth about Bruce!”
Her lips twitched and she yanked her head proudly completely unfazed by his
anger.
“I didn’t say anything; I just asked…It seems that you had it already in your
mind and don’t need someone else to say it” her lips almost touched his.
Clark frowned.
“What?”
“How can Bruce demand from you to end our friendship afraid of you cheating
him?” her eyes glimmered. “When he already cheated you?”
Superman clenched his jaw and his lips twisted.
“Are you crazy?”
“When the League of Shadows held him a couple of months ago they used his
body…”
“This is rape not cheating!”
She locked eyes with him.
“The result is the same! He let his body being fucked by others…” Superman
shook his head and Diana brought her mouth to his ear. “Why he agreed to meet
with Luthor in his suite? Even a moron could sniff the trap…but your clever boy
went…Maybe he wanted to get caught…imprisoned, chained, being unable to resist”
the air from her words made his body shudder but the meaning poisoned his heart
and mind. “Maybe he craves to be used by others and looks for opportunities
that would render him helpless, controlled by others…Maybe the most powerful
being in Earth isn’t enough for him…Doesn’t satisfy him…Maybe you’re too soft…A
nice puppy but when he wants real satisfaction he gets himself in trouble so to
be…raped…”
She detached from him watching gleefully Clark’s dumbfounded expression; his
narrowed eyes.
“You saw Thor laying his hands on him: for Wayne the god of thunder seems like
the stallion he needs to satisfy him…Oliver Queen is also fascinated…” she said
slyly “and Captain America? You saw how he cuddled him...He is a real
seductress your innocent Prince – and when he feels bored from your tenderness
he can find someone to dominate him, to give him what he wants…take him
violently.”
She pressed her lips and approached Superman; she placed her hand on his
shoulder and met his eyes.
“He is projecting his own thoughts and desires to you – he believes that you
cheat him because he did…It’s not his fault, Clark” she sighed “he was raised
like that: to be a slut. But does he have to blame you of being a slut too? Has
the right bossing you around like that? While he chooses even filthy criminals
like Bane and who knows who else to give him cruel sex? He is filth, Kal; and
dares to project his filth to you.”
She cupped his drenched from the rain face; her eyes shone sad and
affectionate.
“You’re pure, Kal El, and he is defiled; his soul is corrupt and he blames you
for his own corruption…Keep him, Kal, but do not let him have you like his
pet…”
Superman snapped his head angry and flew away from her. Diana’s chest heaved as
she clenched her teeth; she clasped her bracelets together causing sparkles and
small blasts.
“Damn you, Wayne!”
***** Chapter 35 *****
Dr. Quinzel stared at her reflection in the tall, rectangular mirror over the
bathroom’s sink; it was almost eleven at night and in her fluffy, pink pajamas
she had just brushed her teeth to go to sleep: she didn’t work at Sundays yet
her sleeping hours were stable even though after Joker’s escape she had some
trouble sleeping. So she opened the white cabinet at the mirror’s right, took a
cylindrical plastic bottle that read Lexotanil and swallowed one dry.
She touched the angry purple-blue bruise on her left cheek that Joker’s punch
had left. Harleen often recalled what happened that evening when Joker led the
some inmates to escape: most of the inmates were easily recaptured since at the
lounge room, were mostly inmates of medium danger – she couldn’t imagine what
would have happened if people like Zsasz was there at the time…Probably, most
of the orderlies and she would have been dead. Only Joker’s thugs were free
along with their boss: it was evident now what a huge mistake was to gather
them to the same institution with Joker.
She had made so many embarrassing mistakes with Joker that she was baffled she
wasn’t fired yet…Maybe because everyone knew how dangerous and unpredictable
Joker was so they didn’t really blame her. But she blamed herself for Joker’s
escape…
And for keeping recalling the moment he grabbed her and put the metallic,
sharpened pipe at her face. The worse wasn’t that her mind had been stuck there
like someone who suffered from PTSD…no…the worse was that PTSD wasn’t her
case…because for PTSD a traumatic event was necessary and what happened at the
Asylum wasn’t traumatic at all…worse than being suffering from PTSD was that
she enjoyed what Joker did to her…
She caressed the bruise which covered almost her entire cheek and she had to
conceal it when going to work. Joker had spun her to be face to face and bitch
slapped her shoving her to the wall and then to finally collapse to the floor.
Harleen knew that she should be appalled from the man’s deed but far from it:
she was thrilled every time she caressed the bruise and brought back the
feelings of that moment – the pain, the excitement…
The young psychiatrist was aware that this was a disorder but every human was
allowed some if nobody was hurt and it didn’t cause him/her major functioning
problems. And, damn! she loved the energy behind that blow: energy that was
only for her – Joker was interested in her. He could have killed her easily but
he chose just to hit her; the sense of his hand still caused goose bumps…
Harleen had been very popular from her childhood due to her looks, her
intelligence and her talent in gymnastics. She was easily the most popular girl
in elementary, high school and beyond, with boys literally fighting to get her
attention. Her family was a traditional urban family; her parents friendly,
hardworking clerks who adored their only daughter and made her every favor.
Young Harleen had her weekends filled with invitations to parties but this
didn’t thwart her from being the top student of high school so it was easy for
her to get a scholarship for college and then university; her excess in
gymnastics helped tremendously.
She had many relationships with classmates and then fellow students at college
and university however as much as handsome someone was or strong or popular,
soon Harleen found herself bored – lacking something. After her studies in
psychiatry she attributed it to the fact that she always had whatever she
wanted: life always gave her everything without asking. And her lovers which
each of them for every other girl would have been the Prince Charming for her
were like food without salt. They had nothing special, nothing that would make
her shiver and feel thrilled. And they were always posing as something they
were not…
While that man, Mr. J, Joker, Jack or whatever his name was completely
different - fascinating. She knew that her occupation’s ethics forbade that but
she ought to be honest with herself. She was attracted by him from the first
moment: the fact that he was a hard case for any psychiatrist, making him a
challenge for her; the fact that he made her laugh even if she hid it from him;
the fact that he was raw, primitive without any effort to adorn himself; his
violence…
The sense of danger every time she went to his cell for a session aroused her
and when that evening he grabbed her and violently pushed her on his body
slightly grazing her cheek made her heart beat thrilled. When he bitch slapped
her, Harleen fell not only from the force of the hit but also from a pleasant
paralysis to her legs…And to add to the other things: Joker wasn’t an ugly man
despite his scars that actually made his beauty unique…
The trade ring of her stable phone made Harleen jump and ran to her living
room. She had turned off the lights and left only the table lamps casting a dim
pinkish light from their coverings. The warm hue brushed the posters from
various cult movies Harleen loved: Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands, Pulp
Fiction.
“Haaaalloooo, Dr. Harlequin” her heart lost some beats hearing the so familiar
nasal voice.
Harleen didn’t expect that; she had heard that Joker crushed the party at
Avengers’ Tower clearly to find Bruce Wayne. She had to admit that Wayne was
getting gradually more annoying to her: if she managed to save Mr. J from his
obsession, then she was sure that not only Joker could be perfectly reformed
but also hers…Harleen was certain that Joker shared the same attraction towards
her and only this obsession with Wayne kept him from devote himself to her and
his reformation.
“Tut-tut…Blondie-sugar, are you there?” Joker asked puzzled but with his usual
snide tone.
“What do you want, Joker?” she retorted sternly.
The jester’s embarrassed giggled reached her.
“Why soooooo ag-GRESSIVE? Nooot that I don’t like it…” he huffed “I know: it’s
the slaaap, huh?” she heard him licking his lips and when he spoke again his
voice was serious. “I missed my Dr. Harlequin” he stuttered. “Ummm…why not
calling me Mr. J? I really miss how it sounds…”
Harleen’s lips on their own twitched to smile but she pressed them; she
shouldn’t let that clown get into her.
“You escaped: you can’t afford asking things” she said. “And yes, you hit me
and I don’t tolerate that.”
Joker chuckled.
“I told you that I would leave that place – it was way tooooooo
boooooring…nooot your fault, Dr. Harlequin. I couldn’t stay there – I have
sooooooo many things to dooooo” a long pause and a deep breath. “Aaaaand I
slapped you because I knew you wanted it – I sensed it the moment I glued you
on my body…You liked that, doc, didn’t you?”
Harleen rolled her eyes.
“Of course not, Joker! It’s your sadism and your ego talking…’’
“He. He. He…Youuuuu’re lying” he singsonged. “You see, after my farewell, I
realized that our Stark-y had changed his system so that to knock me out every
time there was fear around me aaaaaand when I grabbed you or hit you I didn’t
pass out …Soooooo I think that youuuuu, my dear, liked our…mmm…hot exchange.”
Harleed cocked an eyebrow: Stark should have informed her for the change.
“You’re wrong – your assumption has no base” she spat. “What do you want? I
thought that now you’re free your only care would be to get your Bruce…” she
bit her lip because she sounded like a jealous chic. “Which is bad, Joker: you
must let the man alone.”
Joker giggled.
“A…A…Aaaa…That sounded like someone is jeaaaaalous of little Brucie…” he so
much enjoyed that new game.
Harleen gritted her teeth and pinched the bridge of her nose.
“Joker, what do you want?”
She heard his tongue licking his scars.
“I missed…our sessions, Dr. Harlequin…” a long sigh. “I know you believe that I
was mocking you then but actually talking to you about my past…about
everything…made me feel…hm…nice…” his voice was serious and thoughtful.
Harleen pursed her lips: she wasn’t an easy person to fall for someone’s words
but always focused on the non- verbal signs behind those words. And the way
Joker was speaking manifested honesty: after all, during the escape he didn’t
kill or seriously injured anyone. Okay, he killed a man at the Tower but there
Wayne was involved and the billionaire had a bad influence on Mr. J – while
with her, Mr. J got milder.
Joker from the other end of the line smacked his lips.
“Mmm…Is this aaa therapeutic silence?”
“Joker, if you really want to continue those sessions then I can speak with the
police and arrange your surrender” she heard Joker’s giggle. “I promise I’ll be
all the time there and you won’t be harassed.”
Now Joker’s giggles became a fit.
“Noooooo, doll face; That is uuu--tterly stupid! I…don’t wanna be captured by
the cops and transferred to that loony bin – no offence but except than you it
was rather boring…I was thinking more of an external therapeutic relationship –
this is how youuuu call it, huh?”
Harleen cocked an eyebrow.
“You propose me to do sessions with a fugitive? A dangerous murderer?”
Joker snorted and she could see him lolling his head to the side.
“Now, nooooow” he gargled “…a murderer? What an un--professional way to handle
your patient! C’mon, Harle--quin! I need your help!” he shouted. “But the
Asylum makes me mad…while being free I’ll feel more comfortable to share…”
“Share?”
“Everything. My paaaast aaaand my present. And maybe…you manage to stop me from
hurting other people…Faaancy that feaaat!”
The young psychiatrist squinted: this actually wasn’t a bad idea.
“It’d be easier for me to open up if Brucie opens up too…” he chuckled. “I mean
emotionally not physically – though that wouldn’t be bad, not bad at all…”
“Mr. Wayne would never accept to participate in your sessions.”
“Who said anything about accepting?” he giggled and it was almost choked by his
laughter.
Harleen squeezed the telephone cable between her fingers.
“You talk about abducting and forcing him…I’d never take part in something like
that – leave him out of this and we can have our sessions.”
“Nah…nah…nah…You see, Joker can’t be deciphered without Brucie – HE IS THE KEY”
Harleen frowned – the prospect of deciphering Joker was fascinating. “This man
completes me – if he talks I’ll talk…”
Harleen tapped her finger on her lip.
“Weeeeell?” he asked slyly and innocently at the same time. “If I get
Bruuuuucie’s participation you’ll be our doctor? I’m sure he is as fascinating
as me…Hehe…”
Dr. Quinzel considered the prospects: if Joker managed to capture the young
billionaire her presence there could protect him from getting harmed – and
Joker was right: Wayne was also an interesting case with mystery surrounding
him. And if he was the key for Joker’s reformation and salvation of many
innocent people that Joker could kill, then it was definitely worth it. Not to
mention that she could always claim that she was a hostage too forced to do as
Joker ordered.
“Mr. J, I’d ask you not to attempt anything against Mr. Wayne…They’ll catch you
– they expect you to do something like this.”
“Dooooon’t worry about this, sugar. Now to the Buuuuuut part?”
Harleen licked her lips and nodded her eyes sparkling decisively behind her
rectangular, small spectacles.
“I’ll be your therapist…”
 
Tony was gazing New York’s illuminated skyline from the whole wall window of
his Penthouse at Soho; it was late night and he was dressed in his pajamas; he
needed some comfort and relaxation after that day.
He was absorbed in his thoughts recounting his Press Conference and the
scolding headlines hoping that tomorrow’s press will change its attitude: not
that he cared much about that lousy flock – he knew them too well. Yet the new
S.H.I.E.L.D. couldn’t afford being buried in her first steps… And then he met
the parents of the young man that Joker killed, Steve with him…Tony closed his
eyes.
He heard the soft footsteps that approached him and saw Selina’s reflection on
the window pane getting a mystic hue as the night outside twirled around her
figure; she wore her loose nightdress and the playboy smiled turning to greet
her.
“Tomorrow I’m returning to Gotham” she said.
He sighed.
“I wish I could do the same…but” he lolled his head at the side “I had
obligations here.”
She pursed her lips.
“When you become a director that’s what you get…”
Tony scratched his hair and laughed.
“I guess you’re right: that’s what us, responsible men, get…” Selina rolled her
eyes. “I expected that you would be already in Gotham with all the new exciting
developments. Isn’t overwhelming how fast kids grow up?” he cackled. “The
little guy becoming a father…”
Selina blinked and snorted.
“Guardian, Tony – and Bruce told me that it’d be temporary: he is positive that
the boy’s granny will be found.”
Tony pursed his lips and raised his eyebrows.
“In Gotham though?” he retorted skeptical. “But it’d be for the best both for
the poor boy and for Bruce…that boy hates him and I’m sure he’ll make his life
harder than already it is. And Bruce doesn’t need this.”
Selina shook her head and narrowed her eyes getting what he referred to.
“You really believe that Superman can harm Bruce?”
Tony pouted.
“In many different ways…and if the super-asshole does that I’m going to kill
him!”
The young woman crossed her arms.
“You won’t because Bruce doesn’t want this” her lips twitched in a faint smile.
“But I hope that Superman wouldn’t...” she brushed her neck that was naked
since her long hair was tied in a ponytail. “Maybe Bruce is right and despite
the influence Bruce mentions Superman won’t do something awfully wrong…”
Tony nodded, his eyes widened in sarcasm.
“Because he cares…” he sighed and closed his eyes. “I’m no better…you were
there” he pressed his lips “I spoke so hard to him…but he forgave me…”
Selina raised her eyebrows.
“This can be a lesson for you and next time be more careful…and patient.”
Tony laughed.
“Use the chance Bruce gives me, huh? I hope that fucking alien thinks the same…
Anyway, given that you’re still in New York I expected to find you earlier in
the penthouse.”
Selina cocked an eyebrow and smirked.
“What’s that? Parental control?”
“I’m older but not so much, pretty…” Tony pouted. “Just interest…”
“And curiosity?” she asked slyly. “Well, I had to give back to the police
something that some thugs stole and wanted to sell to a rich bastard – a rare
jewel.”
“The Heart of Fire?” he had read about the necklace with the huge red ruby that
was stolen a couple of months ago. “You could have mailed it or given to me to
hand back.”
She inclined her head half closing her challenging eyes and smiled seductively.
“Breaking and entering the Police Headquarters was more fun.”
Tony brushed her upper arms laughing.
“Of course!”
Pepper’s high heels echoed coming to the vast living room and Tony’s assistant
sat on the couch.
“You said something about watching a movie in your cinema hall!” she yelled at
Tony. “I hope you invited Selina.”
Tony trotted there and jumped into the expensive leather, wrapping his arm
around Pepper’s shoulders. Selina following.
“Mmm…I was thinking a masterpiece lesbian porn…you see, my gorgeous environment
inspires me – and we could do our own movie…” he twitched his eyebrows to the
two women; it was easy to understand that he was joking.
Selina snorted.
“In your dreams, handsome.”
Pepper gave him a smack in the back of his head.
“Being with you tempts me to change my orientation: you sure you want to push
me more into this?” she said snidely.
Selina sniggered.
“I think that this won’t be very flattering for your playboy fame…your
girlfriend ditching males completely after her experiences with you! It’d be so
hilarious!”
Tony gulped.
“Okay, then…” he narrowed his eyes pouting. “Zootopia?”
The door’s bell was a surprise, more so when Steve Rogers smiled to Pepper.
“Good evening, Pepper. I hope I’m not interrupting something?”
Tony jerked his head to him.
“Not at all! Do you fancy lesbian porn?” he chirped. “In HD” he stressed
arching his eyebrows.
Steve blushed and Pepper chuckled.
“Don’t listen to him. Come in! We’ll see animation.”
Steve’s eyes met with Selina’s as the young woman stared at him with a faint
smile.
“Actually, I wanted to speak with Selina.”
She stood up and walked to him, her eyes glimmering taking in his leather and
jeans clad body.
“Yeah…that’s better than lesbian porn or Zootopia…” Tony nodded crooking his
lips.
 
That floor seemed going on for ever today… He was mopping as fast as he could
but doing it with one hand was exhausting and slow…Signora Bruna had cursed him
several times already for being slacking off and when he tried to explain that
he wasn’t but his arm was killing him today more than ever, she slapped him in
the face. She barked that if he continued whining she was going to tell
Falcone.
So he shut his mouth and hastened to rub off the blood that fell on the floor
from his mouth. Hunger was piercing his guts and made him light headed yet he
couldn’t afford to delay more so he clenched his jaw though Signora Bruna’s
slap throbbed and continued rubbing the floor.
He heard the footsteps approaching but he didn’t give much attention: thugs and
cabaret’s people crossed the freshly mopped floor indifferent about his hard
work or on purpose to force him repeat the chore. So he didn’t even look just
sighed – only inside because some of them got angry if he made sounds – and
prepared himself to start all over.
But the footsteps stopped next to him and that was unusual for the store’s
people who just passed him like a pest – only one used to stop and snatch him
for his satisfaction but the footsteps didn’t belong to him…
He didn’t end his thought and a strong arm wrapped his waist pulling him
upwards to glue to a tall, strong body and a palm smashed his mouth to keep him
quiet – not that he ever yelled when people dragged him around but obviously
the man was certain that the boy would understand that it wasn’t Chill who got
him and feared that he might yell.
He was dragged upstairs; the man holding him tight to his body and keeping his
palm over his mouth and half his nostrils almost suffocating him. Thankfully,
he was able to breathe when the stranger stopped in front of a cheap door and
opened, getting him inside.
Bruce knew what they usually wanted from him – the various thugs: rubbing,
fondling, kissing, licking and putting fingers inside him; the other things
were only for Falcone and Chill. He braced himself and wished that at least
they’d be fast so to return to his work soon in hopes of finishing on time and
not get punished. But why bringing him in a room? Usually, they just squeezed
him in a dark corner and did what they wanted to do.
The man who held him put him down on his knees and Bruce didn’t dare raise his
eyes from the carpet that wasn’t very thick or expensive but it was so
pleasantly soft and warm that his eyes watered…actually, the carpet was the
most interesting thing in the room.
Until he heard the creaking of a bed and then soft footsteps approaching and
stopping right before him. He saw two pale white feet with red, painted nails –
female feet; the smell of cheap perfume attacked his nostrils and he cried
remembering his mom’s elegant, sweet perfume…
He didn’t dare look but fingers tousled cruelly his messy, filthy locks and
Bruce after experiencing so many groping from men, he knew that these fingers
were female. The same fingers took his chin and yanked his head, not too
violently but still giving him considerable pain.
She wanted him to see her and his eyes stared. She was tall and lean: Bruce
knew that men considered a body like hers gorgeous. She was dressed in an
almost transparent black nightdress that reached the middle of her thighs and
left the rest of her endless shapely legs naked. The woman yanked more Bruce’s
head and he could see her face: she was beautiful; she had long hair in honey’s
color and blue eyes that seemed not real; her nose was straight and her red
lips heart shaped and juicy.
Bruce’s heart clenched: he knew her. She was Falcone’s latest interest – a
young whore who just came to Gotham and immediately captured the boss’
attention. Without stopping Bruce’s own nightly duty… However the clench became
worse because Bruce knew that woman from somewhere else…She was familiar…
But as she squeezed his cheeks to get his attention Bruce stopped trying to
remember where he had seen her… She frowned and her lips twitched in disgust.
“What does Falcone find in you, kid? Filthy, skinny, ugly…”
She bent to him and nuzzled his cheek.
“Though your smell is special…and very enticing…” her nails dag his cheek and
Bruce gasped. “So…what do you have that makes him leave me to come fuck you?”
She clenched more his chin, her nails scratching his cheeks and her other hand
that ruffled his hair fisted his locks violently.
“Speak!”
Bruce gulped and tried to breathe but his heart pounded painfully as every time
he knew that he was going to be hurt – and he hated this reaction because he
should have get used to it by now…
“I don’t know, madam…Please, let me return to my work…Signora Bruna is going to
punish me…”
The slap in his face came as a flash and he was tossed to the floor rubbing his
busted lip while the woman chuckled.
“I can punish you too if you dissatisfy me” she barked baring her teeth. “And I
can make Bruna and Carmine punish you more brutally than ever!”
Bruce didn’t dare look her at the face but even with the corner of his eye he
could see the manic glimmer in her eyes though still these eyes didn’t seem
real. However what mattered more now was that she could make his masters punish
him – Bruce knew that she had great influence on Falcone… He gulped trying to
calm his heart that squirmed in his chest pushing his whole body to tremble.
She marched right in front of his slumped form.
“I don’t like competition, boy; especially, from a filthy maggot like you! So
I’ll find what you do to get Falcone’s infatuation.”
Bruce didn’t raise his head that was too heavy from her slap.
“Strip him!” the woman turned her head to the thug who served her.
He felt harsh hands grab him under the armpits and heave him to his trembling
feet. The thug took violently the rim of his ragged T-shirt and pulled it
upwards to get it off his body, carrying along the boy’s arms. Bruce gasped and
his eyes filled tears as his cripple arm was jerked upwards with the fabric
that was tossed in a corner of the floor.
“His pants now!” she ordered with her hands clutching her waist.
Bruce as every time felt dread as his pants was pulled down in a swift
movement; he didn’t wear any underwear so his working hand went to cover his
privates. He didn’t do that when Falcone or Chill stripped him because there
was no reason and the first two times he did that they beat him mercilessly.
The thug gathered his pants from his feet and threw it away.
Bruce sensed rather than saw the woman casting a stern glance at the thug and
he slapped Bruce’s hand away from his genitals.
The woman eyed the boy’s shaking body and even circled him staring in a way
that made Bruce wish he was swallowed by the floor. Especially, when he felt
her acid stare focusing on the dried blood on his back from the whipping and on
his buttocks and thighs from his master’s pleasure.
She sniggered and her lips twisted in disgust.
“You’re pathetic, kid! That body is truly disgusting…I can’t understand
Falcone…” she cupped Bruce’s chin and yanked his head. “Look at me, filthy
rat!”
Bruce looked at her gorgeous face swallowing hard not only because his neck was
stretched but mostly because of the cruelty of her eyes.
“Your eyes are unique…” she muttered intrigued “yet I don’t think that a man
like Falcone care much about eyes…” she tapped her lips “let’s see how you’re
in bed.”
Bruce jerked and began shaking his head desperate.
“No, please, madam…” he muttered to her back as she retreated to the bed.
“Bring him, Bart” she turned slightly her head to see the boy but addressed the
man smirking at Bruce.
Bart grabbed Bruce’s waist.
“Please…No…not…again…” he was used every night by Falcone and Chill: he
couldn’t be put into this other times of the day too… his eyes watered as his
stare collided with hers.
Her eyes were frozen and Bruce saw his condemn before she gestured to the
metallic bed for the thug to throw the boy. Bruce pressed his lips.
“Strap him” she said casually to her thug and Bruce’s heart stopped. “Falcone
loves to tie you, huh?”
Bart leaned on the floor and took ropes; he grabbed Bruce’s cripple arm and it
was real agony – he tried to not yell as the man was strapping his wrist to the
tall headboard’s black railing but some sobs escaped because the rope dag into
his bonny wrist and he flexed so much the limp that it felt like being ripped
from its socket…
He sensed two thirsty eyes watching avidly and looked up only to meet her
satisfied evil smirk relishing Bart stretching Bruce’s short legs to reach as
much as possible the railing at the end of the bed.
Bruce shut his eyes and let his head slump on the other side; he knew what was
coming next…he knew it from every time they strapped him spreadeagled to his
body’s limits.
The bed creaked as someone climbed and the woman straddled him letting her
weight on his pelvis. She clenched his hair and yanked his head to look at her.
“I want you to look at me, brat…” she let his hair and pushed her nightdress’
thin straps to slip from her shoulders and arms till her round shaped porcelain
breasts popped out. “You like what you see, kid?” she cocked an eyebrow and
smiled slyly.
She leaned over Bruce and squeezed his mouth to slightly open. She touched her
nipple to the boy’s lips and put the thick brown flesh inside…
“Suck it, babe” she whispered “as you do with Falcone’s dick…”her nails that
squeezed his mouth dag his flesh. “Now!” she ground her teeth “or I’ll make
Falcone flay you alive!”
Bruce began sucking as Falcone liked it and the woman closed her eyes, panting;
he felt her pelvis rub at his groin and the thug’s eyes goggling at the
spectacle hardly containing his saliva as the woman brought her other breast to
Bruce’s mouth.
She sighed and stretched her body.
“Nice enough…but let’s explore you more…”
Bruce’s legs jerked inside their suffocating binds as a nailed finger slipped
in his gaping entrance, the nail scratching his tender flesh. His eyes widened…
“Please, madam…stop…”
But she smiled wickedly and shoved a second finger causing a cry from the boy
who sobbed.
“Don’t play the virgin with me, little slut…” she bent her fingers inside Bruce
and then opened them wide to shove two more.
Bruce’s pelvis jerked upwards as much as the ropes permitted and the woman
pushed him back down to the mattress with her weight. She smiled and caressed
his tears that streaked his filthy cheeks.
“How’s your name, bitch?” she asked emotionless, her eyes stabbing him as she
brought to his mouth the fingers that just pulled out of his anal channel.
“Lick my fingers, boy…”
Bruce closed his eyes and obeyed licked, the smell of his body nauseating him.
“What’s your name, hooker?” she pushed her fingers deeper in Bruce’s throat and
he began choking and gagging.
She withdrew a bit her fingers and her other hand clenched his tiny throat
forcing Bruce to focus his bulging, terrorized eyes on her eyes that were two
pieces of blue ice.
“Your name!” she growled her eyebrows two angry straight lines.
Bruce’s body was trembling and sweating, his heart beating fast and painful…He
couldn’t say to her his name…He shook his head and his eyes were melting in
tears.
“I…” he mumbled because her long fingers thwarted him and she withdrew them
more. “I don’t know…” he whispered between his whines. “Please…”
She grabbed his chin and yanked his head up stretching his neck.
“You want to tell me that your mommy pulled you out and then dump her pup in a
garbage bin?” she asked snidely.
Bruce closed his eyes and felt the tears burning him – no, his mom loved him so
much…His chest was clenched suffocating and sending strong sobs to punch his
fragile bones; his throat burnt. He was crying but the woman fisted his hair.
“Speak!”
He tried to nod because his throat was burning but her grips were too strong to
yield.
“No…but I” he panted “I don’t have a name…” his voice was choked in sobs and
the woman released him only to slap him again on the nose sending his head to
roll.
“Who cares about your stupid name, anyways?” she gritted her teeth above
Bruce’s tightly closed eyes.
He felt her shift a bit over him and then heard a sound like the opening of a
drawer and then a bang as the drawer closed again. The weight left his body but
he knew that she still sat next to him. His heartbeat ached him and made him
breathe as if he had an asthma fit; his body was soaked in sweat and trembling
in his heartbeat’s rhythm because he didn’t knew what was next.
His limbs twisted in their straps as something spanked his stretched opening;
he opened his eyes and gasped at the thing the woman held in front of his face
smirking.
“Falcone has introduced you to these, huh?” she chuckled and raised an eyebrow.
“I want to see you being fucked with this one to figure what’s drawing that
mobster to you…”
She dragged the dildo through his body’s line, from his neck to his groin and
then his opening making him convulse in despair.
“Please, madam…” he raised his head with difficulty to beg her. “Don’t do this,
please…”
He saw her jaw clench and her lips protrude in anger; she lifted the dildo and
hit his opening with such force that his legs twitched trying in vain to escape
and Bruce yelped.
“I know” she rimmed the boy’s opening with the object “that Falcone uses far
bigger dildos than this so you must not complain…Unless” he grabbed his
genitals with the other hand and squeezed and Bruce’s body arched because it
was like his genitals being ripped “you want me angry…”
Bruce bit his lip and swallowed hard; his head slumping exhausted at the
mattress. Only to jolt upwards the same moment as the object that was wide as a
cola glass bottle was pushed inside his opening…
He cried and the woman giggled pushing deeper only to be met with resistance
since the channel was narrow.
“Your asshole is too narrow for a professional whore…” she clenched her jaw and
pushed deeper, the object moving.
Bruce’s body was twitching, convulsing like a dying fish, his hand clenching
the railing where it was strapped…His neck had arched, an expansion of his
torso’s arch, as the object invaded him deeper, intensifying the pain and his
sobs.
“No…” he whined but this made her shove the object in him to the halt.
She lay on the mattress, plunged her elbow and supported her head to be above
Bruce’s. The boy felt his anus beating around the foreign object ready to rip –
there were already tears from other times. His eyes looked at his tormentor
pleading, trembling from agony and pain under shaking eyelashes drenched in
teardrops.
But the woman smiled and tapped her fingers on his chest before she took one
nipple and rubbed hard – Bruce jerked more increasing the pain in his anus. She
grazed the tiny, pink nipple with her long nail till blood sprung and then did
the same with the other nipple; Bruce begging quietly.
“You’re a good sport, bitch” she huffed and raised herself in sitting position
slapping the boy’s tortured nipples.
Bruce groaned but immediately he howled as the woman grabbed the dildo’s hilt
and pulled it abruptly out only to shove all of it again inside with one swift
movement; Bruce was drenched in sweat and his eyes bulged watched the woman
thrusting the thing in his anus fast and deep, gritting her teeth and smirking.
“Why your little willy isn’t flying?” Bruce felt the same excruciating pain
that his masters caused him when their thrusts became frantic.
He let his head slump on the side letting the sobs get out of his throat. The
thrusts continued deeper with every movement; more painful…and Bruce tried to
distance himself by looking at the various plants in the pots on the wall
selves. But then a thrust deeper and more vicious than the other made him shut
his eyes and clench the railing.
Till his anus felt empty and he heard again the drawer. Yet he didn’t open his
eyes because his insides, down there, were burning and stinging…and his body
writhed.
The woman stood and looked at Bart who was goggling at the panting boy.
“Fuck him, Bart” she dragged her words. “I can see your dick is already hard…”
she chuckled.
Bruce’s eyes popped open and he looked panicked at her; he shook his head in
denial.
“Please, no, madam…I beg you…”
Her grin became enormous revealing her white, shining teeth.
“This is your job, little shit…” she cocked an eyebrow and looked satisfied at
the huge rock hard erection that jolted as Bart lowered his pants and underwear
just before climbing the bed.
Bruce stared pleading at the man: his body’s opening hurt so much and if master
figured that someone else used him he was going to be punished harder than
usual.
“Please, sir…”
A punch shoved his head to the other side and the pain set his eyes into
darkness.
“Shut up, ya hoe!”
His thighs were smashed by two clenching hands that kept him still for the man
to thrust at once his entire length inside the boy who yelled and convulsed
unable to escape. His yells became weak sobs as the man rocked him relentlessly
to his in and out frantic rhythm that impaled him deeper irritating every time
his old wounds.
As his fluids burnt his narrow channel Bruce was almost unconscious; he knew
that he wouldn’t be permitted to sleep because he had the floor to finish but
he couldn’t do anything else than tolerating the man’s cruel hands that after
his climax explored his body playing painfully with his nipples and genitals.
“Thanks, Vivian…” he gasped to the woman. “I always wanted to fuck Falcone’s
bitch…”
Bruce opened his exhausted eyes, drenched locks stuck around his face. He
looked at her gorgeous face: they called her Vivian then yet Bruce now knew
that she had another name: Diana…
Clark sat on the bed, his back supported on the headboard; he had just worn his
pajamas and slipped under the blankets only to sit. His face was distorted in a
frown and pursed lips. Clark wasn’t in the mood to gaze at Bruce’s sleeping
form – Diana’s words still echoing in his mind and piercing his heart: can this
man whom Clark considered as innocence incarnated being so rot? Doing
everything to stage his capture only to get hard sex from his enemies? Cheating
him?
His breath stopped and he clutched his face with both hands. The melody he
heard upon entering the room was still playing at Bruce’s tablet; obviously, he
didn’t intend on falling asleep because although the room was dark his tablet
was open to his latest inquiries: Zucco, some other stuff from Lex Labs and as
usual, Diana. He pressed his lips for Bruce’s obsession to defame her and for
the song he was listening to before drowsing off…Clark had asked from Bruce to
tell him about that song he loved so much.
It was about a lover being left alone by his mate…It was melancholic and
beautiful. Clark clenched his jaw: he wouldn’t let Bruce alone…His hand softly
ran the human’s torso…He wouldn’t surrender Bruce to any of those hungry wolfs
waiting…and if Bruce wanted to get laid with them or worse, if he already had
an affair with any of them and made up the whole fuss with Diana to fool him?
Sweat spurt all over his body and he panted: there was no way he’d let the
field clear for them.
Hero stirred in his basket; when Clark entered the kitten’s flashing eyes found
him narrowing angrily but upon sensing his familiar, safe presence, he slept
again.
Clark looked again at Bruce and the human gasped his eyes popping open; his
face was covered in sweat drops and he was panting. Clark switched on the night
lamp over his bed side table and stared at Bruce.
Bruce was blinded by the lamp’s sudden light but when his eyes adjusted and he
could see Clark’s face, a shudder ran his back. Clark was gazing at him but
instead of the worry he always showed every time he woke up like this, now
there was boredom and coldness.
“A nightmare or a flashback?” the Man of Steel asked unable to keep the tired,
fed up tone out of his voice.
Bruce pressed his lips as the coldness in Clark’s eyes – that he was sure that
the man didn’t even realize – froze his heart. However he could understand
Clark’s fatigue and boredom from his constant flashbacks and nightmares – Bruce
was sick of them as well.
“A flashback…” he answered rubbing his forehead with both hands because a soft
headache began throbbing there and Bruce knew that this was the first stage of
a full blown migraine.
Clark licked his lips; he could recognize the distress in the younger man’s
body, besides he was still panting slowly recovering a normal respiration.
“You want to share?” he asked more out of habit than interest and realizing
that made him feel shame; he took in Bruce’s eyes, the remnants of the
flashback’s terror and the puzzlement…which Clark suddenly understood that it
was for his cold stare.
He licked again his lips and forced the coldness out of his eyes but Bruce
wasn’t fooled.
“Are you sure?” the human asked him piercing Clark’s eyes as if reading his
mind.
Clark grinned.
“Of course.”
Bruce’s eyes slipped from Clark’s: he couldn’t say what he saw staring at
Clark’s clear, pure blue topaz eyes – the purity of the man made him feel even
filthier and wouldn’t let him speak… He swallowed hard and began narrating what
he saw; Clark should learn about Vivian/Diana.
Clark’s face was distorted listening to Bruce’s steady but emotionless voice
recounting: he fought to keep inside the sighs. Why Bruce chose to share with
him a flashback now? Now that he just wanted from him so many things, to make
him answer? It could be that Bruce with Ra’s Al Ghul’s tremendous training had
sensed that and through his flashback wanted to soften him reminding Clark of
the Hell he’s been through?
The younger man was staring at the flames that moved idly in the rectangular,
marble fireplace opposite the bed. His voice dragged monotonous as if narrating
the story of a movie yet Clark could hear the heavy thuds of his heart and
could see sweat drops over his forehead – new drops that were added to those
the dream provoked. Clark pursed his lips: could Bruce been acting?
Bruce was engrossed in his narration; unfortunately, even mentioning the
content made him reexperiencing it all over…But he clenched his jaw and fists
because he should continue for Clark to know the truth about Diana. After the
flashback Bruce realized that indeed he had seen her in the past. His eyes
regained some life seeing Hero leaving his basket in front of the fireplace and
climb the bed to curl on his unfeeling legs. His lips trembled in a smile and
began petting the kitten.
“This woman’s name was Vivian…Falcone was fascinated by her but she suddenly
disappeared and they couldn’t find her” he rubbed his temple because as his
narration moved ahead the headache turned into migraine.
Bruce raised his eyes to Clark’s apathetic face which now flickered in an
effort to show some emotion.
“Seeing again that woman, I recognized the Princess…” Clark’s eyebrows jerked
upright as he gasped and Bruce nodded. “I know it sounds crazy…but the Amazon
was in Dolcetto…”
Clark crossed his arms over the chest and let his head drop to his chest
thoughtful feeling Bruce’s fervent eyes watching him avidly, waiting his
reaction. What did Bruce expect from him? To believe that?
He raised his head and met Bruce’s eyes. He inhaled deeply.
“So…another thug got to fu…” he closed his mouth “rape you” he said because
after his discussion with Diana Bruce’s rapes didn’t seem like tortures but
stains.
Bruce narrowed his eyes, his mouth slightly gaping in astonishment. Clark could
discern the hurt in those sparkling eyes and would have felt for the younger
man but this time Bruce had an agenda and Clark wouldn’t get manipulated.
“Is this the only thing you pay attention to?” Bruce said; he had opened his
heart, he had forced his mouth to articulate everything and Clark only focused
on the thug that fucked him? It was a fuck for Clark? He pushed some wet locks
back to his head.
“What else I should have noticed, Bruce?” Clark asked patient.
Bruce’s eyes regained their resolution: it was expected that Clark would doubt
that she was there; he didn’t want to believe anything bad for her. Bruce knew
that he had to fight.
“That the Amazon Princess was in Dolcetto for a time and she called herself
Vivian.”
“What the Hell would an Amazon Princess want to a filthy cabaret?” he tried to
be patient.
Bruce inhaled deeply.
“Exactly! And her hair was honey colored while her eyes still seemed fake. The
fact she was in Dolcetto is another indication that she isn’t who she says!”
Clark shook his head and then jerked it upwards in frustration.
“No, this proves that you have lost your reason, Bruce. And also that your
jealousy and hatred for Diana has turned you into a devious person!” his lips
were pursed in anger as he sent daggers into Bruce’s baffled but mostly hurt
eyes.
“But it was a flash…”
Clark’s head snapped at him rapidly.
“You expect me to take that seriously?” he spat and Bruce frowned. “First, how
you can be sure that this was a flashback?” it was evident from his tone that
he didn’t believe that Bruce really considered that a flashback. “After Crane’s
treatment yourself told us that you see things that balance between real
experiences and nightmares…” he shook his head amused. “It’s obvious, Bruce:
the real experience was that scum fucking you and Diana’s part in the dream was
what you wanted to see of her…”
Bruce’s face tensed in disbelief and insult.
“You think I made that up?!” he asked exasperated though the answer was
obvious.
Hero feeling the tension rose and Bruce petted him and lowered him to the
floor.
“Go to sleep, Hero” he whispered to the kitten that however stayed there.
Clark closed his eyes and then looked at Bruce challengingly.
“Either that or you used one of the bizarre nightmares Crane caused as an
opportunity to accuse Diana” he chuckled. “C’mon, Bruce…till now you never
wanted to share your flashbacks with anyone and suddenly you narrate me
everything?” he arched his eyebrows and then shook his head in disapproval.
“I’d never believe you’re capable of this, Bruce…”
Bruce swallowed his pride that screamed to him to throw the Man of Steel out of
his bedroom.
“Clark, I’m not lying” he locked his eyes with Clark’s. “I really saw those
things! You know when I’m having a nightmare and when a flashback by reading my
brain waves. And you can discern if I’m lying with the same way.”
Clark blinked; Bruce’s eyes were sincere. Yet he couldn’t be sure that he
wasn’t pretending: the man was trained perfectly to deceive people. He cupped
Bruce’s face with both hands and relished the warmth of that beautiful face.
“With the difference that you’re able to change your brain waves to hide the
truth” he smirked and saw Bruce’s eyes darkening.
“I’m not a liar!”
Clark shook his head without letting Bruce’s face.
“I agreed to stop seeing Diana because you wanted, isn’t that enough? Why you
must slander her and embarrass yourself?” his tone was patronizing and almost
jeering.
“You must realize the truth, Clark; and exactly because you already distanced
from her I had no reason to lie…But this is the truth, Clark, and we must
search what this woman hides” it was difficult for Bruce to not yell at Clark
for calling him a liar but he knew that he was under some influence so he had
to tread carefully; if he managed to bring Clark to his senses, to persuade
him…
But Clark’s mind twirled around other things.
“Why you went to Luthor’s suite?” he freed the younger man’s face.
Bruce was flabbergasted: this was…
“I think we covered that issue back then; I explained the reasons to you and
you agreed.”
Clark ran his hands to his hair and huffed shaking his head in denial.
“I didn’t: I just couldn’t change your mind so I followed along trying to
protect you but it was a futile task, huh?” he gave a faint smirk that made
Bruce’s blood freeze. “So, why you took that road? We could have caught the
League with a different, safer way.”
Bruce rubbed again his throbbing temple: why Clark was going back there? And
this expression on his face…
“We discussed that and decided that THIS was the safer way: we couldn’t let the
League continue plotting for much longer…” he closed his eyes really tired:
this migraine didn’t permit him to elaborate on things that he had explained in
the past. “Clark” he said determined “what do you hint at? Say it.”
Clark took Bruce’s hand that was rubbing his aching temple and kissed it
feathery.
“I think” he locked eyes with Bruce “that you wanted to be captured.”
Bruce jerked his hand away. His eyes widened.
“Of course not! Remember how we planned everything? How you were rushing to
assist Selina and me? If Bagdana hadn’t stalled you, you would have been there
on time and Talia and the rest would have been arrested” he saw Clark’s eyes
wary and he brushed his cheek. “Why on Earth I’d want to be captured by a woman
who wanted to punish and enslave me?” he breathed.
Clark pressed his lips.
“Because you’re sick, Bruce…” now Bruce’s eyes bulged and his heart lost
several beats.
The younger man’s body stiffened and he used his hands to distance from Clark
but the Man of Steel grabbed his upper arms and brought him close again.
“Get off…”
Clark shook his head in denial.
“No…” he retorted calmly. “I heard your babbling patiently, now you’ll listen
to me. You asked me to stay away from Diana afraid that I’ll cheat you” Bruce
shook his head in denial. “While you did cheat me.”
Bruce’s cold eyes narrowed to slits.
“I didn’t!”
Clark felt a surge of rage but licked his lips calmly.
“Bane, Talia…both of them” there was a threesome – Bruce’s chest heaved
violently from pressed breaths. He opened his mouth to retort that these were
rapes but Clark knew already and cut him. “Rapes? You chose to be captured
knowing what use they’ll do of you! That seems to me like free will”
Bruce felt hot nausea stabbing his stomach while his head got bleary.
“You can’t believe that I wanted to be raped…” his voice was low from
disappointment and bitterness but harsh and throaty; his eyes turned inwards.
“I knew what they were going to do to me and that’s why I didn’t want to be
captured…but I couldn’t let them continue endanger innocent people: I had to
take the risk and if I was captured their attention would be away from our
project of dismantling the League…” he gulped and looked away. “Have you any
idea how it is to be raped?”
Clark could discern the pain in the depths of Bruce’s voice.
“Then why you keep getting yourself in situations that would render you
powerless to resist?”
Bruce closed his eyes and yanked his head to the other side.
“I don’t but when you try to do what you must things can get awry…”
“But you’re a man of contingencies: why you didn’t have one this time?”
Bruce rubbed his eyebrows.
“I had…” he managed to keep his voice calm and not growl but irritation was
there. “Tony had implanted a tracker to my neck and I wore my special lenses –
and we had ready the plan for the attack so you’d have found me quickly. But
even contingencies are not perfect sometimes…”
“Exactly” he nodded “when you want them to!”
Bruce turned his stare calmly to him.
“Tell me, Clark: you met the Princess in the hours we were apart?” her
influence could explain why he was saying all these things. These weren’t
Clark’s words.
“Diana is always your way to divert things, huh? Is that why you act jealous or
try to persuade me that I’m under some influence? To make me not notice Thor’s
advances? You’re ready to cheat on me again...”
Bruce blinked; migraine was hammering his head.
“You can’t believe that…”
Clark set his jaw.
“I believe my eyes and the facts: why you keep his cape in your closet?”
Bruce looked at the white walk-in closet beside the door.
“You scan my clothes now?”
“Thor’s cape is an Asgardian item – it has a special aura that my sensitive
senses caught.”
Bruce pinched the bridge of his nose.
“I wanted to return it to him but he asked me to keep it as a token of
friendship and alliance.”
Clark snorted.
“However it’s my friendship with Diana that causes problems…” he chuckled. “If
you want to find the reason why some things happen I suggest you turn your
attention to you rather in others” the twitching in Bruce’s eyes filled him
with satisfaction; he nodded. “It was your unwillingness to listen to me for
once, your stubbornness to do what you wanted even though you knew how much
this upset me that made me run away to find the tranquility and strength to
face your new madness not Diana!”
Bruce frowned.
“What do you mean?”
“All this time I have to fight everyday with your defiance and pigheadedness
trying to stick some reason in you and keeping smiling even though I fail every
time because you’re recovering and I don’t want to upset you; and then, the
first time I feel the need to make a time out from this to breathe – remember?
It was when I made” he sniggered “the crime of staying two days away from you -
I’m being treated like I did the worst thing in the world: reprimanded and
jeered and ridiculed by your friends and being on probation like a disobedient
pet! You accuse me of being infatuated by Diana but you never treated me like
your lover: you never confide in me what these people did to you. And the one
time you did it was to defame Diana. You don’t trust me as someone would his
lover…”
He caught his breath watching Bruce who seemed like not taking any air, his
eyes completely still and emotionless. Clark sensed the younger man’s
temperature dropping some more but those things seemed to be suppressed for
time and now exploded.
Clark lolled his head to the side and blinked, his hands moved to cup Bruce’s
cheeks but he jerked away and Clark’s hands stayed on the air.
Bruce felt suddenly all the sleep that the nightmare took away coming back
crushing his bones; the medication’s effect stronger than ever. He used his
hands to lie back on the mattress and then to turn his back to Clark; he
muffled himself in the blankets because he felt cold as if he had returned to
Falcone’s cage in his ragged clothes. His right lung burnt but he wasn’t
worried that it could collapse. He closed his eyes because he wanted to sleep.
“The Kryptonian is just a dream, a stupid dream and you’ll wake and you’ll
suffer!” he remembered Bagdana’s words from that old nightmare.
“You accused me of not trusting you because I don’t share with you what these
people did to me: I think you know everything by seeing my flesh, my bones –
your vision is so acute that you can figure what caused each mark; my body for
you is like a book” his voice was calm but empty from any emotion and that hurt
more than if Bruce had yelled. “You accused me of not sharing but I have shared
things with you that I didn’t with anyone else…”
Clark’s eidetic memory replayed the moment in the greenhouse when Bruce shared
with him EVERYTHING.
“You accused me of not trusting you…when you were under the effect Ra’s caused,
Tony advised me to have Kryptonite with me” Clark stayed completely still. “But
I didn’t because I trusted you that even under the effect you wouldn’t hurt me
and would come to your senses. And then I trusted you with much more…” Bruce
had his eyes closed stretching his arm to the floor petting his kitten who
licked his fingers; he just couldn’t utter the rest. “If she made you believe
that I wanted to be…used by my enemies and cheat you then why are you still
here?”
Clark brushed the younger man’s back that was turned to him.
“Because I want you…Because I won’t let anyone lay his hands on your body” he
whispered in his ear, his hands fondling strongly Bruce’s arm.
Bruce closed his eyes and gritted his teeth.
“I’m not your possession – I love you but I’m not your toy!” he so much hoped
to hear something else.
Clark massaged Bruce’s ear with his lips.
“That defiance…We’ll be perfect again, Bruce, if you let go of your hatred
towards Diana; and I will heal your sick desire of being dominated by others…”
“I do not have that desire! Bruce growled and his teeth rattled.
He felt his insides boiling with anger for Clark’s insults; there was a burning
urge to kick him out of his bedroom; yet he knew that once Clark was ditched by
him then this woman would control him totally and that could bring disaster not
only to Clark but also to the world – they didn’t know what her plan was. And
Bruce felt the responsibility: if someone could stop Superman being turned into
a mindless tool this was him.
So he fisted his hands and set his jaw recruiting all his love for Clark…and
that love was limitless. If thinking that he must heal Bruce from his ‘sick
desire’ was going to keep Superman attached to him till they found the solution
and save him, then Bruce was willing to swallow it – because even manifested as
possessiveness, Clark still didn’t want to leave him and that must be coming
from his true love even this woman’s tricks had cast shadows. Clark hadn’t
succumbed to his woman so Bruce wouldn’t give up on him – Clark’s choice was
still to be with him rather with that woman.
 It wasn’t the first time in his life that he had to tolerate – at least now
was for someone he loved so much; and when Superman was healed and saved from
that influence, things would be as before. Maybe Jor El was already close to
the solution…
“You’re the only one I love, Clark” he said coldly without turning his head to
look at him. “But you should hold true to your word and stay away from her and
don’t let her speak to you.”
Clark closed his eyes. Bruce was unbelievable but he couldn’t let him slip away
and succumb to the advances of other men…So he nodded.
“Rest assured, Bruce.”
Bruce sighed and caressed Hero’s fur; the kitten climbing the bed to lie beside
him.
“You stopped calling me ‘Star’…”
Clark sprawled on the mattress.
“It is really so important?” he felt so tired and disappointed.
Bruce’s eyebrows flickered. Was it? He had so many things to tell to Clark:
about the new armor Lucius finished, about his tonight's patrol and the bug he
put in Dr. Quinzel’s phone to watch in case Joker calls her. But oddly not
being ‘Clark’s Star’ anymore erased everything.
***** Chapter 36 *****
“I can’t function sexually; I can’t have an erection. I’m like a dead body. Al
Ghul tried with every possible way to make my body react – and believe me: he
knew the human body better than anyone - but it was futile.”
Clark smiled.
“Bruce, they were raping you from your nine years; of course, your body
wouldn’t react to them. But if you let me try...” he made a motion to touch him
but Bruce cringed and avoided him.
“No, Clark, I just can’t. And you’ll suffer. You’re blessed with long live and
you’ll have only few decades with your mate. Those few years must be happy. You
can give endless happiness to someone and you deserve someone who can give
something back.”
“You gave it a thorough thinking.’’
“I’m not that person, Clark. Your sun will be quenched by my darkness...
Please, be happy...”
“How can I be happy without...”
Bruce rubbed his wounded forehead.
“You’ll find someone worthy, someone who won’t cringe whenever you motion to
touch her or him, someone who won’t panic whenever you look at him with lust,
someone who won’t feel disgusted even with the thought of you loving his or her
body, someone who whenever you believe that you give him your love and
happiness won’t feel Falcone’s cruel hands instead of your gentle ones, Chill’s
sneering eyes instead of your kind ones, Al Ghul’s punishing thrusts instead of
your pleasant ones, Bane’s teeth instead of your velvety lips... I have nothing
to offer anymore; they took everything my body had to give. I can’t give
happiness to anyone, not even to myself.”
Bruce felt something wet and pleasantly rough brushing his cheek and his eyes
flickered. Though still in the sleep’s fog he managed to identify the feeling
really quickly assisted by that smell which was so similar to fluffy toys: Hero
was licking him. He could listen to his loud purr and feel the warmth of his
furry body right next to his chest.
He smiled and petted Hero’s back with his eyes still closed and the licking
became more insistent.
“Okay, buddy, okay…” he mumbled chuckling because despite the weight over his
chest from last night’s events, Hero’s tongue tickled and forced him to forget
for a bit his sour mood.
He turned his head though he already knew that there wasn’t anyone at his side:
he pressed his lips because although Clark most times left before Bruce woke,
today was Sunday, Clark didn’t work so he could stay…if he wanted to but Clark
didn’t want.
Bruce hoisted himself in sitting position and took Hero from the armpits so to
be face to face.
“You should be lying on your basket, Hero; don’t tell me you slept on the
floor?”
The kitten meowed as if giving affirmation and Bruce gave him a peck on the
small yellow smudge on his nose. He lowered the kitten on the mattress and
settled on his wheelchair which reading his wish came to the bed.
Bruce brushed the almost transparent armrests and looked at the object with
affection although he should detest it but Clark had made it for him so it was
beautiful and vibrated love. He swallowed hard.
“Come, Hero!” he gestured for the kitten to jump gently on his lap.
The young man opened the drawer of his nightstand and threw some biscuits to
Hero’s bowl but the kitten stared at the bag as if demanding more. Yet Bruce
raised his eyebrows strictly.
“No more, buddy – you’ll eat in the kitchen.”
Hero gave an elegant jolt and landed on his paws right next to the bowl
beginning to eat greedily. Bruce smiled and since his friend was occupied,
moved to the bathroom to perform his morning routine.
Once done, he returned to the bedroom and slithered to the rectangular window:
pressed the button to the remote and the heavy curtains opened to reveal a dark
gray horizon with angry clouds that dripped water. The lawn was wet and seemed
crestfallen as everything else on the grounds. He shook his head: typical
Gotham weather and moved to wear his casual jeans and black blouse.
Hero had eaten and sat in his butt watching his human friend.
Suddenly, a thought crossed Bruce’s mind and he brought the wheelchair to his
nightstand. He opened the drawer, pressed his thumb to the socket and the
surface withdrew to reveal a dagger that its blade shone at the dim light of
Gotham’s cloudy sky.
Bruce felt affection for the knife; it was a loyal companion that saved him
twice…The Blade of Justice. He took it respectfully and brushed carefully its
diamond blade and then the hilt of olive tree wood: it still bore his teeth
marks from that night Ra’s used it to gag his screams as he fixed his cripple
arm.
His eyes looked upwards a bit indecisive.
“You trust me, right? Close your eyes and focus on the sound of the sea…” those
clear blue topaz eyes glimmered with love as Clark was holding him gently under
the setting sun’s golden rays.
You still trust him, right? He asked himself and inhaled deeply; his heart
pounding painfully. His eyes stared at the dagger hesitant.
But then he quickly stashed the Blade in the leather case on the headboard’s
backside over his pillow. He knew that if anyone knew that he had created such
a secret case would have called him paranoid but Bruce’s life was paranoid
through and through…
Alfred had already settled the breakfast stuff on the island and now leaned
over the oven. The salivating smell of baking muffins hit Bruce’s nostrils
already from the moment lift’s door opened and Hero on his lap stretched his
head sniffing.
 “Good morning, Master Bruce, Master Hero” Alfred chirped but an imperceptible
shadow passed his features because though his young master knew to hide his
emotions perfectly with him it was ineffective.
Bruce sensed the change and hurried to dissolve his butler’s worry.
“Good morning, Alfred…though the weather is anything but good. The boys?” he
asked and moved his wheelchair to the island to begin eating. “I’m starving!”
Alfred cleared his throat.
“First, let Master Hero down to eat his breakfast, then wash your hands and
then you can start eating. And the boys are not up yet.”
Bruce shrugged and did as he was said.
“Lucius is coming for lunch” he mumbled chewing his cake.
Alfred blinked.
“It is always a pleasure for this humble butler” Bruce smiled “to have more
people at the table but I’m afraid that he is not coming just to enjoy the meal
and our company” he swept a glass with a towel.
Bruce pressed his lips; he had brought the parts of the new armor in a huge
briefcase-like case and had taken it to the cave secretly but nothing was meant
to stay hidden from Alfred.
“It is ready, Alfred” he said dead serious and the butler pursed his lips. “But
I won’t use it before I practice enough with it: Lucius comes to supervise my
first time – last night I didn’t use the new thing, I was all the time in the
car.”
Alfred gave a nod.
“Although you know my feelings about that, I trust your wisdom, sir” Bruce gave
a solemn nod and took a bite from his cupcakes. “Master Bruce, pardon me for my
audacity but is everything alright?”
Bruce narrowed his eyes looking at his butler.
“Of course…Why?”
Alfred cocked an eyebrow and continued sweeping the same glass.
“Because I was expecting you to come for breakfast much later as you did
yesterday. You see, since Master Kent is unable to take his breakfast down here
with you, then like yesterday I assumed that you two would spend some time
together before coming for breakfast.”
Bruce managed to not choke on the cupcake he was eating.
“You know that he has many obligations and he can’t do as he wishes…”
Alfred pressed his lips and placed the glass in the cupboard on the sink’s
left.
“I surely hope that this is the case, sir…”
Bruce indifferently took his glass of orange juice and sipped.
“I dread the moment Jason will leave…” he mumbled and Alfred cocked an eyebrow.
“Everything will be alright, sir. Master Richard will realize how wrong he is
about you.”
Bruce met his butler’s eyes uncertain.
“I just want him to be calm till his grandmother comes back. It’s alright if he
doesn’t like me” he widened his eyes “I don’t blame him; but I don’t want to
worsen his distress.”
“I hope one day he sees how much you care for him’’ Alfred said serious.
“The boys are coming…” Bruce mumbled.
“Morning, guys” Jason chirped and hoped on his stool while Dick muttered
‘morning’ without looking around. “My mouth is watering – what’s cookin’, doc?”
“Muffins, Master Jason.”
Hero left his bowl and climbed on Dick’s legs; the boy couldn’t keep his sullen
face before the meowing kitten and began petting smiling.
“How are you, Hero?” he asked sweetly so much unlike his usual cold tone.
“He likes you” Bruce said.
But Dick didn’t even acknowledge him.
“He is the only one in here that I give a damn if he likes me…”
Jason chuckled.
“Oh! He is on a mood today…I shoulda be like this: he forced me do my homework
last night!”
Bruce smiled and sipped his milk grimacing.
“Actually, I intended to ask you if you’d like to call your school and tell
them that you won’t go tomorrow but I see that you want to attend.”
Dick rolled his eyes and snorted.
“No chance I’ll spend more time with you!” he said haughtily enjoying Bruce’s
uncomfortable blinking; and then lowered his eyes. “My granny doesn’t want me
losing classes…”
Jason scratched his messy raven hair.
“If ya ask me I’d take every chance to scram from school…”
Bruce laughed.
“You don’t like school, huh?”
Jason shrugged and threw a cupcake in the air to catch it with his mouth.
“What normal person does?”
Bruce chuckled.
“I loved school back then.”
Jason rolled his eyes.
“Anotha nerd” he waved him off.
Bruce shrugged a shoulder.
“Other boys used to call me many names but ‘nerd’ wasn’t among them – maybe
because we were all nerds…”
Dick lifted a bit his eyes.
“You were bullied at school?”
“Someone could call it that…” Bruce replied looking his hands “Hm…later my
physiotherapist will come and we’ll swim: you’re both welcome to join – we have
some spare swimsuits” he had bought a couple yesterday because he thought that
the boys would like to swim.
Jason’s eyes bulged.
“You have an internal swimmin’ pool? ‘Cause it’s freezin’ out an’ I don’t think
you’d swim to the pool in the backyard…”
Bruce lolled his head.
“I see you did some exploration, huh?”
Jason pouted and exchanged a guilty glance with Dick but in the end the younger
boy sniffed.
“It’s forbidden?”
Alfred’s glance was crossed with Bruce’s and the young man smiled cordially.
“Of course not! You two feel free to wander the house as much as you like.”
Alfred however cleared his throat sternly.
“To a certain extend…I would not like the two young masters disarrange the
Manor. They should know how to behave.”
Bruce nodded grinning.
“I’m sure they know, Alfred; and they definitely respect your efforts to keep
this huge house in order” he winked to the boys but only Jason smirked while
Dick hastily turned his attention to Hero. “As for the pool” Bruce continued
“is in the backyard from my parents’ era: Falcone kept it and I let it there
though I don’t use it. With my injury we had to build an internal pool for my
therapy. Do you know how to swim?”
“Dick taught me – he is a star in every sport.”
Dick rolled his eyes.
“You exaggerate! And I hate swimming!” he spat and made to take a slice of
bread only to hear a reprimanding cough from Alfred.
“First, wash your hands, Master Richard and let down Master Hero. Petting an
animal even as perfectly inoculated as him isn’t appropriate for the time of
the meal.”
Jason giggled.
“Is the fur ball a Master too?”
Alfred cast him a stern look.
“Some kittens deserve the title more than some humans, Master Jason” he said
and leaned over the oven to pull out the muffins and serve them.
Jason gulped and shrugged attacking the hot muffins twitching from the burning
but not letting the delicacies.
Bruce smiled but Dick glared at him returning from the sink to his stool.
“Some people have everything and others nothing!” he spat glancing at his
friend and Bruce pressed his lips; his eyes darkened.
“I know: for eighteen years I had less than nothing – even now none of these
feels like mine but at least they can be used to comfort other people.”
His sparkling eyes locked with the boys angry ones.
 
Selina yawned stretching her body in front of the window that covered the
entire external wall – the frames of its rectangular panes so thin that didn’t
disrupt the scenery; the view of the vast lake was breathtaking. Only a light,
white robe covered her naked body and behind her Steve still asleep hugged
tenderly her pillow; the blanket covered only the bottom half of his body
leaving his impressively buff torso naked.
Selina couldn’t fight the temptation to cast another glance and smiled slyly
because the rips of abs were dancing sensually following Steve’s breath and the
way his arms hugged the pillow made her body relive his touch last night.
“If I knew you’d come I’d have worn something sexier” she had said to him last
night after they entered her bedroom for privacy.
Steve eyed her body appreciatively and Selina cocked an eyebrow smiling.
“Actually, you’re absolutely amazing in that nightdress…” he blushed.
“Actually, I prefer you with that…”
Selina snorted.
“Men are odd creatures…” she replied slyly and Steve cackled. “So…in what I owe
that pleasant surprise?” she brushed the lapels of his brown leather jacket.
“Do you want to spend our night together? If so, Tony has plenty of popcorn and
won’t wait for us to start the movie.”
He suddenly wrapped her waist and pulled her body to his, locking his eyes with
hers.
“I want to spend not only this night but the next day and the following day
with you but alone…”
Selina pursed her lips.
“Mmm…Interesting; is there a proposal?”
Steve caressed her shoulders and the sense of the fluffy fabric along with
Selina’s perfume brought a pleasant numbness that made him stutter a bit.
“I have a small cabin in front of the Placid Lake…I use to go there when I need
to calm down and recharge my batteries…”
Selina lolled her head on the side and smirked.
“I thought that Captain America was impervious to that…”
Steve shook his head.
“Of course he does… I’m only human if you extract the…you know. So…The cabin is
nothing special – I mean, don’t imagine something like Tony’s accommodations –
but I love it: it is my haven. So…if you want we can go there and stay for a
couple of days” he saw Selina’s eyes a bit hesitant. “One or two” he hastened
to correct “If you don’t have something better to do…”
She sighed.
“I intended to return to Gotham tomorrow…” she said thoughtful, divided between
being near Bruce again and spending two days with Steve.
Steve gave her a tight-lips smile.
“I know how important Bruce is and believe me I’d never try to keep you away
from him.”
Selina yanked her head and smiled her eyes sparkling.
“Well, Bruce always feels bad believing that I’m not living my life as I want
because of him …” she cocked her eyebrows. “And I’m sure he’ll be very happy
suspecting that I had two lovely days…So what time should I expect you
tomorrow?”
Captain America enclosed her in his strong arms and kissed her lips gently.
“Thank you, Selina!” he licked his lips and his eyes shone so pleased that
Selina had the impression that he still enjoyed the taste of her lips. He
ruffled his hair. “I was thinking of going there now…Don’t you like night
travelling?”
Selina’s eyebrows arched and she clenched her hips.
“I enjoy travelling in the night but as far as I know the lake isn’t exactly
near…”
Steve smiled shyly.
“The good thing when you’re an old man” he chuckled “is that you know shortcuts
the contemporary people don’t – even maps don’t have them. Not to mention that
my motorcycle is faster than the common ones – thanks to Tony’s tricks – so in
two hours we’ll be there” he frowned. “Unless you don’t like motorcycles?”
Selina tilted her head and rolled her eyes.
“Careful, handsome: you’re insulting me now…I drive motorcycles since my ten
and I own a Harley…” not to mention Batman’s monster bike, she thought cocking
her eyebrow.
Steve laughed satisfied.
“So, my road queen, we’re ready to leave” he said moving already towards the
door.
She huffed and shook her head.
“Easy, cowboy” she dragged her words seductively “I need some stuff,: can’t
stay two days only with my skin…”
He narrowed his eyes and approached again cupping her face with both hands.
“I wouldn’t mind that…” he mumbled sensually nuzzling her cheek and Selina felt
goose bumps; yet she wouldn’t melt because she wasn’t a fangirl.
So she tapped his nose.
“I bet you wouldn’t, handsome, but I’m a girl with decency” she nodded. “So out
of my bedroom and wait to get ready.”
He made to turn but she grabbed his face and gave him a deep kiss on the lips
that she understood that took his breath away. She arched her eyebrows eyeing
his flushed face and smirked.
“To hold you till I’m ready…and a reward for being a good boy” she said slyly,
her eyes bearing promises.
He smiled and moved fast to the door to stop abruptly and loll his head to her
with a shy shine in his eyes.
“Can you bring this nightdress with you?”
He left closing the door and didn’t see Selina rolling her eyes and chuckling.
“You sure you prefer a night excursion to the lake Placid instead of Zootopia
and popcorn?” Tony asked from his position in the corner sofa, his arm wrapped
around Pepper’s shoulders. His eyes’ glittering and his crooked smile shouted
that even he didn’t believe that there could be a negative answer to that
question and Selina snorted.
“That’s tempting, handsome, but this time I’ll pass…After all, you and Peps
deserve some time alone” she winked.
Pepper smiled.
“Have a great time you two!” she said to both of them and Steve nodded.
Tony tousled his hair with one hand.
“Yeah, old man…Take care of our girl or else you’ll have to face my wrath.”
Selina cocked her eyebrows and Tony pouted.
“And Bruce…This lady is the love of his life…”
Steve nodded.
“I know…”
The violent rush of frozen wind as Steve’s motorcycle tore the asphalt made her
leather clad body excited – she loved the night air and the way the road’s
lights seemed to go dimmer as the hours dragged. She wrapped her arms tight
around Steve’s waist and touched her entire torso to his back nestling her face
to his neck; Selina sensed the shivers that this caused to him.
The young woman had seen his eyes bulging and goggling amazed when she entered
Tony’s living room wearing her skin tight black leather pants and the fitting
short jacket. Well, Tony’s eyes were as much dazzled.
As Steve had said, soon the motorcycle left the central road and took them
through old paths that certainly few people nowadays crossed. Trees had grown
on both sides of the narrow dirt lane and bushes made the whole scenery darker
– especially, since public lighting was nonexistent there: the only light from
the bike’s headlights. But Selina loved the wild environment; the icy cold that
formed curtains of fog among the plants…
And then as they began ascending a mountain lane, in a turn the lake appeared.
Distant because they were on a peck of the mountain, and majestic; lying
peaceful in the night’s silence, illuminated by thousands of small lights
through her endless body – the mountain peaks that surrounded her completed the
impressive view and the feeling of grandeur.
Steve had stopped the motorcycle, took off his helmet and gazed.
“Beautiful isn’t it?” he looked at Selina who took off her helmet as well. “As
many times as I see her throughout the years, she is always breathtaking…If you
want will come here during daytime…My cabin isn’t far…”
Steve’s cabin was small but absolutely gorgeous: made of cylindrical thick logs
with two small square windows at the sides of the door and a triangular roof
completing the feeling of being in a fairytale.
 Of course, after two hours of trip they didn’t lose time with the other rooms.
The bedroom had an abundant view to the lake through the enormous window in the
wall opposite the bed’s side and Selina gaped as soon as Steve opened the
light, white curtains. She walked slowly to stand beside him gazing.
“It’s beautiful” she whispered.
“You’re more beautiful” he muttered and cupped her head to capture her lips
 with all the fever he felt.
Selina wrapped her arms around his back and fondled passionately, instantly
relieving him from his jacket and shirt. He had lit the fireplace as soon as
they entered the room yet they didn’t feel any cold. He did the same with her
clothes and Selina hugged his hips with her legs as he brought her to the bed
that surprisingly was very clean and with fresh sheet – Selina thought smirking
that Captain America had planned it but she had no problem.
She found herself entangled in the strong body she craved, her nails digging
her muscle bound back while he thrust in her…
Selina holding a cup of strong coffee stared at the lake’s waters that
reflected the wild sharp mountains which surrounded the lake and the sky. Clear
blue sky with a few happy fluffy clouds playing with the smiling sun. She
thought the gloomy weather back in Gotham and wished this sun smiled to her
friend too, elevating his spirits. Selina sighed and sipped from her coffee.
A calloused, powerful yet tender hand squeezed her shoulder and a hot mouth
kissed her neck.
“Are you alright?” his voice was raspy from the sleep.
Selina immersed her fingers in Steve’s messy locks and turned to face him
locking her lips with his.
“I was thinking of Gotham’s weather in contrast with this…I wish Bruce was
gazing at the same sun…”
Steve caressed her chin.
“He is alright, Sel…He has your love protecting him even when you’re far away…”
She chuckled and brushed his cheek; Selina hoped that was true.
 
Bruce maneuvered his chair to the grounds; he was muffled in his thick, long
coat – there wasn’t another way Alfred would permit him to wander outside with
such freezing cold. It was afternoon and Clark hadn’t appeared yet forming a
knot in Bruce’s guts. He was worried for Clark’s safety and for the things he
could be thinking alone, recounting that woman’s poison…
He should be angry that Clark believed those things about him, believing her
words over Bruce’s but he sympathized with him: the Man of Steel was affecting
by something and was difficult for him to fight off the impact of these words.
Clark was trying to stay true to his promises and avoid Diana yet Bruce didn’t
kid himself: Clark was attracted to her either due to that mysterious influence
or... due to her beauty.
He hoped that at least Clark had found refuge to the Fortress and was running
those tests… His hands clenched the white roses on his lap, two bouquets. Two
lonely, gray tombstones greeted him from the hill’s top and Bruce got the
impression that they were actually happy every time he went there.
He snorted: two pieces of stone can’t be happy…two dead can’t be happy for
anything; even their own son. He shrugged and sighed; it was just something his
mind made up to comfort his need to feel connected with his parents.
He lifted his eyes to the sky: it was gray and the afternoon was dull except
for a small strip where the clouds had receded a bit, permitting a glimpse of
sun that managed to give a hopeful light to that day. Bruce gazed again at the
tombstones that seemed to call him. Thankfully, Tony had taken care and a lane
was carved to the small hill to allow him to reach the top with his wheelchair.
The humidity was increased even for Gotham’s standards and he felt it deep in
his healing bones but he couldn’t stay inside. Jason had left after the lunch
and although Bruce knew that the boy had to return to his home and his mother,
he felt depressed because he could sense Richard’s misery for being alone in
the house of someone he hated; someone who he considered responsible for every
tragedy in his young life…
He looked down and sighed: Dick had retreated to his room right after Jason
left taking the orphan child’s temporary carelessness; because though his
granny’s disappearance never left his mind, Dick relished his friend’s company
and let his mind escape its despair. The boy was almost happy with Jason around
chirping and Bruce was sure that Dick was reminded of the days with his baby
brother.
His raised his eyes to the balcony of Dick’s room; that room didn’t look to the
hill with the graves. The boy was probably reading or watching TV: Bruce had
asked from Dick’s trainer to excuse him from his training for the weekend to
allow the boy to find his composure after his granny’s disappearance. Of course
Dick used the Manor’s gym to keep his form and let some steam out of his system
– Jason on the other hand joined him in the pool.
“Wow! Dude, ya’re fuckin’ fast for a…”
“Paraplegic” Matt completed Jason’s phrase, chuckling with the boy’s goggling
eyes. “And, yes, Bruce is very fast.”
In the water… Because outside he was lame. He pressed his lips in a tight line.
Lucius came for lunch and exactly like Alfred, Leslie who was there too, looked
the scientist rather angrily and Bruce was afraid that the boys could suspect
something.
He understood their feelings: they were worried that he could do some madness
having in his disposal the new armor Lucius made for him. Alfred and Leslie
dreaded that he could find himself again in a situation like the one that
almost killed him.
And he couldn’t deny the similarities: when he left the hospital to stop Joker
from killing the children he was paralyzed and his mind’s power enabled him to
stand and fight Joker. But then…He almost died…What if something similar
happened? Bruce knew that he wouldn’t let anyone die even if this cost his own
life or body wholeness: his loved ones knew it as well and that increased their
agony…
But Bruce felt so great when he wore every part of the new armor except the
cowl. And then, when Lucius grinning broadly gestured to him to rise from his
chair …
“Make a step, Mister Wayne” Lucius said encouragingly and Bruce didn’t need
more.
Actually, he felt very stable when he rose from the chair and that gave him
self-confidence. He set his jaw and nodded…and then raised his eyes to Lucius
whose eyes sparkled.
“This is…unbelievable…” Bruce exclaimed as his legs carried the step.
Lucius chuckled.
“I see that you didn’t have much confidence in my inventiveness…” he said mock
insulted.
A big smile carved Bruce’s face.
“On the contrary, Lucius: I was sure. But still I didn’t expect it to be
so…easy.”
Lucius’ face sobered and he crossed his arms.
“Actually, it’s not as easy as in natural walking: as you may have noticed
there’s a considerable (in comparison with normal walking) reaction time
between the brain’s order and the actual movement – you see, the nanochips we
use are external. They are the same type that will be used in your surgery,
only they would be more sensitive and incorporated to the new spinal parts that
will replace the destroyed. Thus, I’m afraid, your moves won’t be as swift and
stormy as before – that agility and speed would be restored only after the
surgery and much training. Till then you must tread carefully and be very wise
in choosing how to use your armor because I do understand the irritation and
anger of your loved ones and believe me I’ll hate myself if anything happens to
you…” the man swallowed hard every sparkle of playfulness out of his eyes. “I
hope you’d spare me from that burden…and be as responsible as always.”
Bruce nodded and Lucius came closer pointing to the pieces covering his legs.
“We based that pieces to exosceletons similar to those used during your therapy
with the difference that these pieces have microreceptors sending messages to
the brain and receiving orders executed through electrodes. Exactly as in
virtual reality.”
“And Robocop?”
Lucius chuckled.
“I’m glad the 80’s cinema assists our efforts…”
Bruce made more steps and gritting his teeth raised his leg in a simple kick
that startled Lucius.
“I see you’re getting the hang of it, Mister Wayne.”
Bruce estimated that this simple kick indeed came a bit – a considerable bit
when you’re facing a dangerous opponent – delayed and that certainly would be
more obvious in more complex moves. So he needed more practice if he wanted to
eliminate as much as possible the reaction time that intervened. However
something else stuck in his mind.
“Lucius, you said ‘we’?”
Lucius grinned and lolled his head on the side.
“You didn’t expect Mister Stark staying out of this, didn’t you?”
Bruce shook his head beaming: although he learnt that his friend postponed his
armor and probably would do anything for this armor to stay unfinished, after
Lucius was ordered to move on, Bruce had the secret hope that Tony wouldn’t
hold a grudge…
“Of course before confronting criminals with that armor – I’d suggest normal
thugs – you need to practice a lot…”
“That goes without saying…”
And then as he made more steps under Lucius’ eagle eyes, Bruce thought of his
last night’s flashback and Clark’s doubts. Well, Bruce was certain that it was
indeed a flashback and not a mishmash of reality and horrific fantasy caused by
Crane’s treatment. However, wanted confirmation: he didn’t want to be unfair to
the Amazon neither misled in his searches. So when Lucius left, he called the
only person that could do that.
“Mr. Petrou, do you happen to remember a woman called Vivian?”
The man chuckled.
“Who could forget someone like her?”
Bruce nodded, pressing his lips relieved: so it wasn’t a lie of his brain.
“Do you remember her features?”
“Mmm…I think so…Honey colored long hair, tall, lean with curves but she seemed
strong. Very beautiful face: straight nose, red, heart shaped lips and blue
eyes that had something odd…Hm…I think she wore lenses. Everyone was infatuated
with her but she had eyes only for the boss…although rumor had it that she
slept with a thug called Bart. I think only me and Chill didn’t salivate over
her” he cackled.
“Mr. Petrou, do you know where she came from?”
“Nobody knew, Mister Wayne; it was like she fell from the sky. If she was from
Gotham’s working girls Falcone would certainly knew her but she wasn’t. Even
Bruna who was her friend didn’t know anything about her background.”
“And when she disappeared?”
“Falcone searched desperately for her with no result until he found another
whore that got his interest and forgot her…”
The sky was still gray but it had stopped raining though the cold and the
humidity was torturous. But the weak sun kept trying to light the afternoon.
Bruce placed tenderly the flowers on the base of each tombstone and stared at
the names brushing with his fingers the carved letters. Suddenly, he felt that
he wasn’t alone but didn’t show his awareness until his visitor moved closer.
“I hope I’m not intruding…” a sneering voice said pretending seriousness.
Bruce inhaled. He knew that voice though he hadn’t met the man more than twice.
He didn’t turn to face him and the footsteps came right next to him.
“How sad…” the newcomer sighed “and how poetic: the orphan boy visits his
parents’ graves on a rainy day…”
Bruce jerked his head towards him.
“You don’t give a damn if you’re intruding!” he spat narrowing his eyes.
Loki widened his eyes and raised his hands in appeasement.
“Relax, Bruce…” he sighed. “I see you didn’t miss me a lot, huh?”
Bruce rolled his eyes.
“No…What do you want?”
Loki put his hands behind his back and circled Bruce who remained indifferent.
“To see you” the god said arching his eyebrows. “You’re a sight to be seen
after all” he smirked. “I tried to visit you at your bathroom” Bruce’s eyes
bulged “to have a complete impression but there’s something in this house that
thwarts me from entering exactly as with your mind…” he lolled his head on the
side and eyed Bruce curious like an interrogator. “What is that, Bruce? I’m a
trustworthy god, you know.”
Bruce cocked an eyebrow.
“I doubt that…And I don’t know what are you talking about…maybe you lost your
skill?”
Loki cackled jerking his head backwards and then calmed and shook his head in
denial.
“No, I didn’t lose my skill…But you” he pointed his index finger at him “have
something…”
Bruce looked at his parents’ graves feeling ashamed for all this fuss there.
“Leave” he said “please.”
“You shouldn’t want me to leave and let you alone” Bruce narrowed his eyes
“while Joker is free and wants to get you. You know, it isn’t wise wandering
alone in these grounds.”
“I see you know a lot about me.”
Loki pouted.
“I told you that I like mysteries and you tickle my…curiosity” he looked
upwards “and more bodily parts of me…”
“Curiosity killed the cat.”
Loki laughed.
“Though I can transform into a cat, I’m not one…” he leaned to Bruce’s face.
“Maybe I should help Joker get you…then perhaps it’d be easier to unlock your
secrets…”
Bruce’s eyes twitched as if Loki helping Joker was a surprise for him.
“A god shouldn’t collaborate with a mad criminal who holds no interest on the
human life. He killed an innocent young man just three days ago.”
A wide smirk appeared in Loki’s face.
“A god can do whatever he wants: your mortal morality has no value for us…”
Bruce frowned.
“That’s a lie, Loki!”
Two strong feet made the soil shake as Thor landed; his irritation radiating
from his tense face and the blue sparkles Mjolnir sent around. His eyebrows had
formed a line and his baby blue eyes were dark and angry so unlike their usual
kindness.
He glared at the other god and his fist clenched more around Mjolnir’s hilt.
“I told you to not bother Bruce, Loki!” he gritted his teeth but his brother
crossed his arms, lolled his head on the side and smiled wickedly.
“How is this even possible when you, my dear brother, are so fascinated with
him?” he winked and with a snap of his fingers he vanished.
Thor’s annoyed exclamation created a lightning and a thunder and a distant
‘ouch!’ reached them. He closed his eyes and looked at Bruce who was entirely
calm.
“I’m sorry for Loki’s intrusion, Bruce” he shook his head. “I can inform Asgard
and take permission to jail him if you want.”
“Thank you but for the time being I think it best to let him act till he leads
us to his partners or show us if he is part of a broader plan. He just revealed
his ‘intention’ to help Joker get me” Thor frowned and pressed his lips “he
didn’t want to reveal that he already works with him and Crane.”
Thor nodded.
“Perhaps if we got Loki out of the picture we could catch the others easier.”
Bruce looked him in the eyes.
“Do not underestimate Gotham’s criminals.”
The blond smiled.
“After the incident at the Tower, how could I?”
The human nodded.
“And we must figure out if Loki knows anything about what else is evolving in
the shadows” he furrowed his brow. “Thor, you mentioned once that Loki can’t
invade your mind nor control your thoughts.”
“Exactly and I heard him saying that the same goes for you too” he arched his
eyebrows. “Of course, that is natural since you managed to defeat a mighty
demon. Speaking of which, I went down to the Tartarus and Bagdana’s jail: he is
safely chained there.”
Bruce lowered a bit his eyes and then looked at him again.
“Thank you, I really appreciate it” Thor smiled and gave a courteous nod. “Now
concerning the mind control, can you tell if someone is under Loki’s
influence?”
“Yes, I did it many times when Loki played with other gods to enjoy himself or
get what he wanted” he frowned. “You suspect that someone is affected by Loki’s
control?”
Bruce licked his lips and nodded.
“You met Superman at the party: is there a chance that Loki affects his brain?”
he said determined piercing the god with his stare.
Thor was dumbfounded; he narrowed his eyes with real interest in them.
“No, Bruce, there was no trace of Loki’s influence on Superman” Bruce nodded.
“Things with Superman are so bad that you suspect a foreign influence on him?”
he leaned and held Bruce’s shoulders looking the young man in the eyes.
Bruce didn’t want to admit it – not that his question wasn’t revealing enough.
He shook his head but he didn’t manage to articulate what he wanted because he
heard the familiar whoosh and the soft sound of Superman landing. He turned
immediately to him; his relief evident.
But like many times recently Bruce’s heart sunk. Superman’s imposing posture
was stretched proudly and challengingly, his hands holding his hips. It was his
face – the face Bruce so much loved – that made the young man feel the freezing
cold of the day devastating: Superman’s eyes were filled with sarcasm under two
cocked eyebrows; they had the usual breathtaking blue topaz color yet Bruce
could trace the angry red lurking underneath. His jaw was set upwards regarding
Bruce and Thor who had risen.
“Superman, I’m honored to see you again” Thor greeted him cordially but
Superman answered with a cold smirk.
“Really now?” he hissed.
Bruce’s eyes darkened because he knew that stare.
“I was worried” Bruce said.
Superman marched closer releasing his hips.
“You were worried so you called Thor here to organize a rescue mission?”
Superman retorted snidely and then let his mouth agape pretending surprise.
“But I’m Superman, babe: everyone knows that I’m unbreakable.”
Bruce looked him right in the eyes.
“I wish it was true” he answered.
But Superman rushed to him, his anger visible in his entire face.
“You were posing demands to me, you were telling a bunch of melodramatic things
just to meet with him the next day behind my back! What are you doing with him
after everything we told? After everything you said to me last night?”
Bruce stayed unfazed by Superman’s wrath even if only the air from uttering
those words was burning his face.
“Calm down, Superman.”
Superman grabbed Bruce’s upper arms.
“Don’t tell me to calm down when I catch you…” the rattle of his teeth was loud
and he shook Bruce.
Thor couldn’t stand it anymore: he understood what Superman implied and that
infuriated him. But more he was enraged for Superman’s behavior to Bruce: if he
had a problem he should confront Thor and not a man in a wheelchair. He
snatched Superman’s shoulder and pulled him away from Bruce.
“Enough!” Thor’s voice was accompanied by a thunder and his hammer’s radiation.
Superman chuckled and looked a last time at Bruce’s completely calm eyes before
glaring at the god.
“Don’t you dare touching me again! So…you’re his newest protector?” the Man of
Steel said haughtily.
“Bruce doesn’t need protectors” the god answered meeting Superman’s glare with
his own.
Superman lolled slightly his head backwards glancing at Bruce, smiling
sarcastic.
“Yes, he doesn’t’’ he focused again to Thor “yet we like to protect him once we
take his body…We enjoy so much his body that we like to think that he needs
us…He is quite the fuck, huh, Thor? Even for an Asgardian god… so you naturally
want to protect him – especially from the man he cheated.”
Thor’s forehead cracked in a thunder like wrinkle and his lips twitched
angrily.
“You have no right to speak like this to Bruce! I didn’t do anything with him!
Loki was here harassing him and I intervened because Bruce can’t reveal his
true skills.”
Superman shook his head.
“So you indeed became his protector… And you found the right excuse: or Bruce
thought it? He is very good at making up things. You should have heard him last
night.”
Thor clenched his jaw and his hammer.
“You call me a liar?!”
Superman shook his head laughing amused.
“Not only a liar but a thief too” he moved to meet Thor challenging him with
his eyes.
Bruce raffled his locks and looked sad at his parents’ tombstones: he asked
them to forgive him for that. He looked at the two gods: behind them the clear
slice of sky was covered again with heavy gray clouds and the chirping sun
vanished.
“You’re not worthy of a man like Bruce if you believe such things.”
Superman nodded.
“And you decided that you are the worthy one so you fucked him in New York,
huh?”
Thor raised Mjolnir ready to blow Superman as a lightning cracked the gray sky;
the Man of Steel had already his fist ready to stop the mighty hammer but
suddenly a gentle hand touched his elbow and he felt numb. He looked at his
opponent’s face and he saw the same numbness, showing that a second hand
touched him as well.
Bruce was between them unafraid of their power, his eyes two pieces of rock,
his jaw set in absolute determination.
“Stop!” his voice wasn’t loud but stern as his flashing eyes. “None of you want
to do this…And you tread on my parents’ graves…you disturb their peace. You’re
both better than this!”
Both gods looked at the tombstones and Thor lowered his head; Superman looked
at Bruce angry and took off.
Bruce closed his eyes and inhaled deeply; Thor squatted and rubbed his upper
arms.
“I’m sorry; if I knew that he was so jealous of me I’d have found a subtler way
to repel Loki.”
Bruce shook his head.
“Is nothing you did, Thor.”
Thor bit his bottom lip and gazed at the sky where Superman had vanished.
“Things are indeed serious” he remarked and looked again at Bruce. “I think he
is dangerous for you, Bruce – in this state. Do you want me to speak to him? To
explain?”
The human looked at the same direction.
“No, it’ll make things worse and probably will lead to a fight. “
“You can’t stay unprotected; if you want me, I can guard the Manor…” but seeing
Bruce rubbing his temple tired “or I can inform Tony to take his measures.”
“No, I’ll be alright; Superman won’t harm me. Thank you, Thor – I mean it…But
it’s better if you focus on Loki.”
Thor nodded.
“If that’s what you want but I’ll say it again: if Superman gets aggressive…,
utter my name and I’ll come…”
Bruce smiled and patted Thor’s warm hand on his shoulder.
 
Clark flew anger blinding him; his body knew his destination without his mind
guiding. He saw the Statue of Liberty at New York’s port and halted for a
second before he moved to the Battery Park where Bruce met Thor – by chance; he
snorted.
It was late and the fierce cold made New Yorkers to choose the warmth of their
houses than wander to the park. And it was easy for Superman to conceal himself
from the few that strolled.
Suddenly, he caught a smell: a mesmerizing smell of cinnamon, orange and
hibiscus. Cinnamon…he thought: sweet and bitter like Bruce. He stood in front
of a small, rainbow bridge made of rock.
His eyes saw the same scenery but under the pale, morning light, wrapped in the
icy mist.
Thor held Bruce glued to his body and dragged him under the bridge to pin him
to the pillar. The movement was fast and almost violent yet Bruce’s eyes were
fervent, sparkling with delight as the blond god ripped his clothes off his
body leaving him naked.
The unbelievably blue eyes of the god travelled Bruce’s body awed and gripping
his upper arms, Thor made his own clothes disappear obviously with nothing more
than a thought. Bruce’s hungry hands fondled the Asgardian’s broad back ending
to his firm buttocks; his mouth tasting divine flesh as Thor caressed Bruce’s
wet locks.
“You’re beautiful, Bruce!” Thor whispered to Bruce’s face.
“Do it!” Bruce breathed to him, his mesmerizing eyes sparkling determined.
The god captured his mouth in a passionate kiss that seemed like uprooting the
mortals head; but the Asgardian knew as much as to hold the back of Bruce’s
head to deepen more his kiss without injuring the frail man.
Bruce tousled Thor’s long locks arching his neck for him to suck and bite as
the powerful chest rubbed to his making the cold morning so hot that sweat
streaked Bruce’s breasts.
“Golden hair…” the human exclaimed with adoration.
Two divine hands grabbed Bruce’s buttocks spreading and with one thrust the god
was inside him. Bruce moaned and Thor sucked his neck with abandon.
“Don’t stop!” Bruce grunted biting Thor’s ear, his hands fisting painfully the
god’s locks. “I love your golden hair…”
“I’m thrilled…Oh, Bruce!” he took the paralyzed legs and settled them around
his hips to thrust deeper.
Bruce had his eyes closed, his breaths wet gasps arousing Thor’s skin.
“I feel you in me…” Bruce moaned pleased and surprised. “How…”
“My body has the energy of the thunder – I’m happy this can revive your body.”
Bruce jerked his head backwards and Thor licked the arch his neck created
making the young man groan and shiver , more violently when the god’s mouth
sucked flesh from Bruce’s chest, the facial hair making the human chuckle.
“More…” he growled demandingly digging his nails to Thor’s back as the
Asgardian gave a frantic pace to his thrusts hugging protectively the human
body to not crush in the stone of the bridge.
Bruce’s body was dancing on Thor’s causing moans and roars of ecstasy from the
god and deeper thrusts…
Clark’s eyes became all red; he had seen enough. He clenched his jaw and raised
his fisted hand in the air taking off to Gotham: he now knew the truth.
“Superman!”
He knew that voice and that intoxicating perfume of every flower in the planet
– a pure perfume, a clean perfume; a perfume promising happiness and heavenly
pleasure. A body that this cheating human ordered him to stay away…
He didn’t turn his face to look and flew in full speed.
 
Bruce wasn’t sleeping though his wristwatch on the nightstand said that it was
past midnight: the medicine didn’t do anything to smooth his worry for Clark
and the flashes that constantly cracked the dark sky just increased his
agitation; he had let the curtains tied to have a clear view of the horizon
hoping to catch a glimpse of Clark coming back.
He was working on his tablet for hours when he admitted that this agitation
wasn’t doing him any good so he decided that a warm milk was necessary if he
wanted to stand the night.
Bruce slithered his chair to the door and Hero rushed to him from his basket
placing himself on his lap.
“What? Do you need some milk to sleep too?” he grinned to his friend.
Bruce moved in the darkness of the vast corridor to the lift but as he was
ready to get inside the lift he heard muffled sobs from Dick’s room. He frowned
and went there; he stood before the door listening to the boy’s sobs amidst the
thunders and although hesitant he finally opened the door and got inside.
He maneuvered his chair to the bed and switched on the nightstand lamp; he
placed his hand carefully on the boy’s trembling shoulders.
“It’s alright, Richard” he whispered. “Only a bad dream; wake up.”
Two wet eyes looked at him vulnerable at first but then recognizing him two
pieces of ice.
“What do you want here?” he spat.
“I heard noise…and I came to see if you’re alright.”
The boy ruffled his hair and rubbed his eyes, remembering the nightmare and
then his eyes bulged when a thunder roared.
“Want to tell me what you saw?” Bruce asked carefully. “I have many nightmares
as well and I know how horrifying it is…”
“It’s…it’s nothing” he said coldly. “I don’t want you near me…”
“I know…I’m sorry…are you better now? Want me to get you something?”
“No, go away!”
Hero meowed complaining for the boy’s dismissal but Bruce turned to leave when
a new thunder made the boy gasp. Bruce looked at him and Dick’s eyes narrowed.
“I’m afraid of thunders, okay? Mom used to sit with me until I was asleep and
Brian cuddled me… after they were gone, granny sat with me – but now she is
gone too!”
Bruce cupped Dick’s hand on the mattress.
“It’s not bad to be afraid of things…Braveness is the ability to realize our
fear and face it. You will be again with your granny, Dick: I promise.”
The boy turned his head on the other side and Bruce huffed.
“Do you want me to stay here till you’re asleep? I can’t sleep either.”
Dick jerked his head at him snarling.
“Hell, no! I want you out of my life! It is so hard to get it?!”
Bruce nodded.
“Okay” he took Hero from the armpits carefully and gave him to Dick who hugged
him tenderly. “I guess Hero is a better company than me” he smiled with pressed
lips. “And he likes you…so good night to both of you.”
He turned and smiled hearing Hero’s purring and Dick caressing the animal.
Before leaving the room he went to the balcony door and pressed a button at the
small control panel on the frame. The thunders’ sound was instantly muffled. He
tilted a bit his head backwards sensing Dick’s eyes on him.
“A small emergency trick…” he winked and left the room.
Upon returning to the Master bedroom he rushed to the window: he always knew
when Clark was coming. He opened the window and cold, fierce wind along with
frozen raindrops invaded the room.
Superman hovered outside the open window, his blue eyes locked with Bruce’s. He
was icier than the wind and the lightning on the sky behind him revealed his
distorted in anger features.
“Hello, Bruce…” the creepy bang of the thunder wasn’t enough to conceal his
voice’s anger.
Bruce raised his head.
“Clark.”
 
 
***** Chapter 37 *****
The bedroom was cast under the soft, sweet light of the bluish secret lighting
behind the headboard and the red-yellow dancing flames inside the fireplace.
All other lights were off because Bruce didn’t want to alert Alfred that he
wasn’t sleeping.
Bruce stared at Superman’s imposing, statuesque body hovering outside his
window: an enraged god amidst a storm giving the impression that his ire caused
the thunders. His eyes met Clark’s but those eyes although so familiar and
beloved were also cold; colder that the rush of wind that surged the room as
Superman flew in, causing the curtains to jerk in the air.
Superman stood in front of Bruce with his hands fisted at his sides, his red
cape billowing behind him; water dripped from his body to the thick, expensive
carpet; his messy hair was plastered in his head, some wild bangs framing his
forehead which was creased almost like the bolts creased the dark sky.
Bruce could see the red of Clark’s wrath in his beautiful eyes; and he knew the
poison that like acid burnt his mind… He was angry with him yet Bruce couldn’t
feel terror or even fear although now the most powerful being on Earth stood
before him with gritted teeth and a deep wrinkle in his forehead. The disabled
human kept looking Superman in the eyes calm and unfazed by the vibrations this
mighty body emanated; this body that always gave him love…
“Can you close the window?” Bruce asked him casually.
But Superman didn’t move, not a twitch on his face to indicate that he had
heard; his chest was heaving, his eyes still. Bruce nodded.
“I know you’re invulnerable but maybe you should wear something dry and warm?”
he passed him and brushed the key on the control panel of the window’s frame
and the window closed. “Clark, we need to talk” he tilted slightly his head on
the side gazing at him: Jor El had contacted him a few hours ago.
A rush of wind and his chair was rapidly turned around, Superman grabbing the
armrests and leaning over Bruce so close that the rest of the room was out of
his vision range except from a line of fire that cracked the black sky
foretelling the coming of a thunder.
“No, Bruce” Superman snarled and the ground of his teeth distorted his voice
before the deafening bang of a thunder completed the impression. “For once, I
shall talk and you listen!”
Bruce didn’t flinch even though Superman’s hands from clenching the armrests
passed to clenching his upper arms. His eyes were locked with Clark’s.
“Jor El contacted me and said that you never went to the Fortress since that
first time… you didn’t run the tests again” he set his jaw. “You were lying to
me” he didn’t raise his voice neither used an accusing tone.
Clark’s cheeks bloated from the air his ire held in his mouth and his eyes
became blazing slits. Bruce felt the grip on his arms becoming bruising and in
a rush his body was lifted abruptly and he was crashed on the mattress, flat on
his back, Clark’s dripping body pinning him down; but still he was looking at
him as always without fear and with love.
Yet for Clark Bruce’s eyes were arrogant, challenging, mocking…He felt the
familiar flare of resistance in the healthy part of Bruce’s body; Clark ran it
with his eyes slowly, from the groin up to the chest and then touched his body
on the human’s torso to place his tongue on the dimple of Bruce’s neck. He
licked sensually and a bit harshly along the neck’s line ending up to his jaw
and capturing greedily the younger man’s lips, sucking and chewing brutally,
his hands grapping Bruce’s face.
“Bitter and sweet” he rasped piercing Bruce’s eyes with his “like the cinnamon
the perfume of which you have…” he smirked sensing the trapped body trembling
slightly as every time he hugged him and immersed his fingers in the brunette
locks. “You like being pinned, don’t you?” he asked snidely.
Bruce met his eyes. Clark’s body over his torso felt so heavy like his lover
didn’t do any effort to spare him from the burden.
“Clark, you didn’t do the tests…” he pressed his lips. “You were hiding the
truth from me all this time.”
He massaged Bruce’s head with his fingers entangled in his hair.
“I didn’t need the tests” Clark cocked an eyebrow, his eyes sparkling with
glee. “It was you that demanded those tests and wanted to make me feel ill”
Bruce narrowed his eyes, a deep frown in his forehead. “And that’s the reason I
didn’t tell you: I know how pig headed you are – you never admit you’re wrong
and always want things your way; so I didn’t want your selfishness to worsen
your health or even harm you because I knew how agitated you’d become and how
insanely you’d continue argue about this. Now, my turn!”
Bruce bit his lips and shook his head to evade Clark’s hands that now caressed
his cheeks but in a possessive way that didn’t feel anything like Clark…
“I didn’t do it from selfishness, Clark; I want you protected from any danger”
Clark smirked and his eyes flashed with irony. “And there’s indeed something
going on implicating you” he locked his eyes with Clark’s “Vivian is a real
person, Clark: Mr. Petrou confirmed it.”
Clark yanked his head backwards letting out a cackle.
“That man would say anything you want!” he said exasperated. “So drop that
ridiculous issue – it doesn’t help your case…”
Bruce eyes sparkled.
“My case?”
“Yeah! Let’s talk about you, Bruce: your sins…” the younger man felt Superman’s
body tensing with boiling energy and his pajamas that were drenched from the
intimacy with Superman’s wet body becoming  ice on his skin. “And first of all”
Clark tilted his head on the side and narrowed his eyes imitating puzzlement
“why you closed the window?” Bruce’s eyes filled with bewilderment. “Thor’s
warmth doesn’t linger long enough?” he cocked his eyebrows.
“What has Thor to do with anything?” Bruce knew the newest poison in Clark’s
mind but he wanted him to speak openly.
Clark bared his teeth and his hands that pinned down Bruce’s upper arms
tightened. Yet Bruce remained tranquil.
“Why don’t you say clearly what you’re thinking?”
“I said it clearly, Bruce, already! When I caught you in your parent’s graves”
he snorted. “I’d never expect you to choose your parents’ graves for a romantic
date... or more.”
Bruce’s eyes bulged.
“It wasn’t anything like that!” he shook his head. “You would never have
thought that if your mind wasn’t affected.”
Clark grabbed Bruce’s chin and snorted.
“The fact I’m not naïve anymore is a sign of something ominous that threatens
me, huh, Bruce? How…convenient!”
Bruce inhaled deeply.
“I visited my parents’ graves and Loki appeared suddenly taunting me and Thor
came to stop him: we had talked about Loki’s involvement in Joker’s attack at
the Avengers’ Tower so Thor was watching his brother’s movements” he explained
calmly though Clark’s weight on his torso was getting more and more tiresome.
Clark cocked his eyebrows sarcastic and nodded.
“Of course…” he released Bruce’s chin. “There’s New York…” he brought both his
hands to the younger man’s neck brushing. “So…in Battery Park you discussed
about…Joker and the attack.”
Bruce wasn’t a fool: he knew what bothered Clark’s mind.
“It was a chance meeting, Clark, and, yes, we discussed what happened” he
didn’t try to avoid his ministrations or move away because he wanted Clark to
believe him.
“Bruce, stop playing games with me!” Clark’s shout was a surprise. “The least
I’d expect from you is to be honest and stop mocking me! But you want
everything, don’t you?” Bruce narrowed his eyes as Clark nodded. “Me and Thor
and who knows who other…So you make me feel sick and run around for tests and
you get all the time to…play with gods…You’re really greedy, huh, Bruce?”
Clark was really pissed with Bruce’s hypocrisy; the human using his perfect
training into filling his mesmerizing eyes with honest puzzlement.
“I saw everything, Bruce!” he clenched Bruce’s upper arms and shook him. “Stop
denying it!”
Bruce gritted his teeth; his patience running thin, his hands fisted to
withstand the pain from Clark’s grip.
“Denying what? What you saw, Clark?”
Superman relaxed a bit his grip and nodded.
“So you want to hear it…Okay! I saw you under the rainbow stone bridge at
Battery Park, pinned on the pillar” Bruce frowned and Clark smirked with his
eyes shining gleefully. “Completely naked under Thor’s body…his dick pounding
your ass and you moaning and begging for more…”
Bruce closed his eyes and shook his head exasperated.
“You kept caressing his…” he sniggered “golden locks and dug your nails in his
back urging him to go deeper… What do you say now, babe?”
Bruce opened his eyes that sparkled determined.
“When did you see all these?” he inquired tranquil.
Clark sniggered.
“Today, after I caught you with him at the graves and you ousted me.”
The younger man huffed.
“I didn’t oust you, Clark…And I was at the Park two days ago so what you saw
wasn’t true” his voice was kind and patient explaining again what was obvious.
Clark leaned his head above Bruce’s increasing the weight that the human had to
endure.
“Your smell was strong under the bridge, lingering there: a smell indicating
great sexual satisfaction…”
Bruce bit his lip.
“I didn’t even see the rainbow bridge you mention…and…Clark, get a grip: you
accuse me for something that you say that has happened two days ago but you
imagined it today! That’s crazy!”
Superman growled frustrated and cupped Bruce’s face panting angrily into his
eyes.
“Crazier than you accusing Diana of being an impostor just because you think
her hair is dyed? Crazier than you claiming that she was one of Falcone’s
whores based on a nightmare – if that was a nightmare and not another fairytale
you made up to frame her!” the wind howled wilder than before and made the
downpour whip the window.
Bruce supported himself to his elbows and rose a bit before Clark forced him
back down pressing his weight on the human’s torso.
“I didn’t lie! Mr. Petrou…”
But Clark had had enough and didn’t let him continue.
“You slander her – a noble, brave warrior – of being a whore while you are the
whore!” the thunder’s bang was creepy yet Clark’s words hurt more Bruce’s ears.
His eyes bulged and all the blood left his face and his heart that missed
several beats before starting beating fast and desperately.
Clark pursed his lips and raised his chin disgusted.
“You had told me that you were filthy but I didn’t believe it” Bruce just
couldn’t breathe: yes, he always believed that his abusers left their filth on
him but hearing it with Clark’s voice was a stab in his heart. “I was blinded
by what Al Ghul did to your body to enslave me to you and destroy me; I almost
lost my powers then…Blinded to the truth.”
Bruce managed to control his heartbeat and his breath.
“I told you then…” he inhaled deeply “I repeated that even after you were
inoculated; I kept shoving you away but you…” he licked his lips “insisted…”
Clark caressed cruelly Bruce’s locks, his eyes glimmering insanely.
“You didn’t put your foot down!” that was another stab in his heart and Bruce
hardly held down a gasp. “You knew that the effect was still strong but you
didn’t care…”
Bruce gulped and shook his head, his eyes maintaining his dignity.
“I had told you that it was too soon…”
Clark put his palm over Bruce’s mouth tenderly but decisively.
“But you didn’t refuse when I made advances on you…you let me slip over
indifferent to my condition” he brought his mouth over Bruce’s lips. “Because
it flattered you that someone normal loved you… even if you knew that this love
wasn’t true: you just ignored it.”
Bruce’s eyes had turned into stones: two glimmering gemstones lacking any life.
“Is that what your mind tells you?” he asked coldly.
“Then the effect slowly worn out and my eyes finally opened to the truth…and I
realized that you were right: you’re indeed filthy. Your body thirst for more
than my tender love: you wanted me but you also wanted wilder experiences like
those yours past lovers gave you.”
Bruce detached cocked an eyebrow.
“Past lovers?”
“Falcone, Chill, Al Ghul, Bane and all those random scum that cornered you at
Dolcetto.”
Bruce shook his head pressing his lips in a tight line.
“You don’t believe all these, Clark…someone plays with your mind.”
But Clark grabbed his upper arms and raised him from the mattress to be face to
face; Bruce’s torso rejoicing the lack of weight.
“You admitted all that, Bruce…”
The younger man yanked his head backwards, his eyes shining with decency and
his jaw clenched.
“Yes! I told you that I’m filthy, that I carry those men’s filth in me…but they
weren’t my lovers! I hated what they did to me; I was dying every time
they…used me!” his voice wasn’t loud but a determined growl.
Clark brought his mouth on Bruce’s.
“You missed, you craved for their violent sex: you arranged to get captured by
Bane and Talia so that I won’t suspect anything! So that you could cheat me and
I wouldn’t have the right to say a word” Bruce closed his eyes and shook his
head. “But your need didn’t stay satiated enough” Bruce looked at him with
narrowed eyes. “Thor saw you completely naked during Bagdana’s attempt to take
you and it was unavoidable to fall for you.”
“No” Bruce gritted his teeth. “Thor hasn’t made any advances on me; he never
left any innuendo. Nothing happened at the park” Clark closed his eyes grunting
and then cackled amused shaking his head mocking. “And today at my parents’
graves Loki appeared and Thor chased him away.”
Clark pinned Bruce back on the mattress, straddling him again, his arms
trapping his body.
“The last five months you deny me any satisfaction…”
Bruce frowned: that was unfair.
“I always urged you to make love to me.”
Clark snorted.
“Yeah…knowing that I’d be afraid for your frailty and having Leslie and Alfred
and the gang glaring at me all the time, accusing me even for wanting you. But
the truth is you didn’t want my sex because you found it dull, lukewarm…”
“Clark, no…” Bruce said pressing his lips.
“You needed to be fucked by a god, hoping that you’ll find what you craved for.
What your sinful body cried for.”
Bruce’s face contorted in pain; he huffed.
“For the last time, Clark: Thor came here only because Loki pestered me.”
“I didn’t see Loki but even if that it is true then I see” he smirked and
Bruce’s chest clenched painfully for what was coming “that Bane and Talia
taught you the pleasures of threesome so what better than two gods fucking
you?” Bruce’s eyes bulged and his heart stopped beating. “Maybe if I told you
that Diana and I would both fuck you, there wouldn’t be a problem…But since I
didn’t, you took the first opportunity you found: Thor and Loki: Who got your
ass and who your mouth? Or they changed positions? You’re doing the same with
Rogers and Selina in the Tower? I imagine you prefer to fuck your friend than…”
Bruce couldn’t stand it anymore; nausea was burning his stomach and every word
from Clark’s mouth was acid. He raised his hand and brought it with all his
speed and force at Clark’s face…
But an unbeatable force stopped his hand midair and the Man of Steel pinned his
arm on the mattress above his head clenching Bruce’s wrist. Immediately a
violent slap made Bruce’s head roll on the side and the familiar taste of iron
choked him as blood sprung from his nostril and lip slithering slowly to his
cheek. A deafening thunder worsened the buzz in Bruce’s ear but he looked
through his narrowed eyes at Clark who was smirking smugly.
Superman tightened his grip on Bruce’s wrist, feeling the familiar arousal from
the struggle of the body trapped under him. The human had his jaw clenched
though it must hurt much from his slap; he knew to control his power to not
permanently damage or kill him but also to pass the message across. His mocking
eyes lowered a second to see Bruce’s heaving chest: the human never liked being
defeated.
He brought his face over Bruce’s enjoying the smell of his blood, of his
defeat…His groin twitching from the defiance underneath him.
“I owed you that, Bruce, remember?” Bruce’s blazing eyes stared him unfazed;
certainly he remembered the day he slapped Clark because he accused him of
having an affair with Matt. “My memory is eidetic…” he breathed licking Bruce’s
blood though the younger man turned his head to avoid him. “I know your every
movement…”
But he frowned instantly, his shock great when something sharp burned his
jugular; the flesh protested as a drop of blood dripped slowly. Clark saw with
the corner of his eye the Knife of Justice firmly grasped in Bruce’s free fist;
its diamond blade flashed in the dim secret light of the headboard – a cracking
bolt enhancing the impression of the blade’s sharpness.
Bruce had taken advantage of Clark’s smugness at the moment of his supposed
triumph and slipped his free hand rapidly behind the headboard in a flashing
motion bringing the blade to his pulsing vein. It was so easy to kill right now
the most powerful being in the planet…as Ra’s had taught him…as his former
master destined him to do…
Their eyes collided in a battle of determination.
“You know just the 1/100 of my movements, Clark” Bruce said calm and decisive
but still with affection. “The Blade has defeated a mighty ancient demon: it
can harm you” it was an advice.
Clark snorted and felt the Blade’s menacing presence on his neck.
“Two demons” he corrected cocking his eyebrow. “Two demons who fell for your
body…Well, Bruce? What are you going to do with that? Kill me?”
Bruce clenched his jaw; Clark’s grip on his wrist had loosened under the
surprise of the Knife in his now vulnerable neck. Bruce’s hurt cheek throbbed.
“I just want to stop you before you do something you’ll be sorry for all your
life! Think, Clark!”
Clark’s face was sweaty: the sense of sharp metal grazing his skin was unusual
for him.
“Think what?! For once I uttered the truth and you are ready to kill me!” he
had raised his voice and Bruce’s thought went to Dick; he worried that the
soundproof walls wouldn’t be enough to conceal Superman’s stentorian voice.
“All the time I’m giving to you and you don’t give anything and the one time I
spoke to you about the satisfaction you deny from me, you show your real face!”
he snarled and Bruce felt the urge to cut him deeper. “What about my
satisfaction, Bruce?! What did you offer me?!”
Superman was still here, Bruce thought; perhaps if Clark after all this time
made love to him, maybe he would remember the truth, maybe the poison cleared
from his mind. And then he could keep him away from his enemies and start again
the tests in the Fortress.
“Then take your satisfaction but stop shouting! There’s a distressed boy in the
Manor and nothing of these it’s his fault!” he lowered the Knife keeping his
eyes locked with Clark’s: using the Knife against him would manage only to
galvanize Clark’s beliefs but if he surrender his body to him, then maybe he
would realize that he was true in his love and prove Vivian wrong.
Bruce placed reverently the Knife on the nightstand and Superman found his
chance: he grabbed Bruce’s free hand and pinned now both his hands on the
mattress over his head, stretching his body so beautifully that Superman felt
his groin demanding. Bruce was always looking him in the eyes calm, dignified
and affectionate.
“You know that I didn’t give my body to anyone else” he said steady and jerked
his head upwards capturing Clark’s lips in a tender kiss, filled with love and
agony to help him see the truth.
Clark deepened the kiss, loosening the bruising grip on Bruce’s wrists.
“I can give you everything the others gave you and even better…” he whispered
sucking his lips passionately and then nuzzling his stretched neck and the
small part of chest that the three open buttons left uncovered. “You’re mine,
Bruce…”
Clark was still holding his hands on the mattress in a rather painful way yet
Bruce looked him proudly.
“I love you with all my existence but I’m not your possession…”
Superman closed his eyes frustrated and bit the cotton pajama shirt softly at
first but then in a burst of accumulated anger he tore with his teeth Bruce’s
clothes not minding that he was scratching also the tender skin; his hands
clutching the trapped wrists to not permit any other surprise and to keep that
body flexed.
His skin stung from the violence of Clark’s teeth and although he couldn’t feel
beneath his waist and Clark blocked his vision, he knew that he was now
completely naked; his clothes mangled shreds on the floor. Clark rose a bit and
watched appreciatively the bare body under him and Bruce for the first time
after that night in the greenhouse felt uncomfortable being naked in front of
him.
Superman brought Bruce’s arms down without releasing them and turned him on his
stomach; Bruce felt his healing arms almost ripped from their sockets as Clark
twisted them behind his back.
“I can give you everything the others gave you…” he leaned over Bruce’s hair
and the force of his breath burnt his neck.
And then in a swift, violent motion Clark settled one wrist upon another and
Bruce frowned, feeling hard bounds tightening around his wrists and his elbows.
His arms felt completely paralyzed.
Superman turned him around and smirked smugly to his face.
“The energy casts are Fortress’ property – that is to say mine; they obey my
wishes…You like that, Bruce, don’t you?” he travelled the younger man’s chest
with his palm to end at the ripped abdominals. “Losing control, being
helpless…”
Bruce controlled his heart that cringed remembering every time he had been tied
up.
“Clark, you know what I like…”
Clark shook his hand bringing his fingers lower, to Bruce’s groin.
“I thought I knew, Bruce, but I was wrong; but finally my eyes are opened. I
won’t let you give your body to anyone else ever again…I won’t permit you to
disgrace yourself and me by getting screwed in parks or participating in
threesomes.”
Bruce closed his eyes and yanked his head backwards.
“I never did that! You know it: you’d have caught their smells on me.”
Clark brought his head over Bruce’s groin and began sniffing, the younger man
fighting a devastating wave of nausea.
There was no foreign smell.
“You’re sly, Bruce” Superman raised his head to look at him. “You warned them
to cover their smell.”
Bruce gritted his teeth and raised his torso to bring his head close to
Clark’s.
“Even you don’t believe that! Till the incident at the Tower you didn’t give a
damn about who was talking to me or for Joker being free to get me. But then
when I asked you to stop seeing that woman she poisoned your mind with the idea
of my supposed infidelity and you found the best way to justify your attitude.”
“Enough!”
He grabbed Bruce’s shoulders and threw him on the mattress, settling his body
on him; he captured violently Bruce’s mouth with his and began sucking and
devouring, his teeth chewing cruelly the lips. He licked the drops of blood and
opened his eyes to stare at Bruce’s sparkling ones.
“So beautiful…so rot…a real powerful seductress, indeed” he whispered caressing
with both hands Bruce’s face to finally grab both cheeks and resume his cruel
kiss, this time thrusting his tongue deep in Bruce’s throat choking him.
His body that was rubbing demandingly felt sticky under the uniform and he
raised his body a second keeping Bruce’s body clenched between his knees,
permitting the human to take some air. Superman roared satisfied when his body
stayed bare without the burden of his clothes.
For the first time, Bruce’s eyes stared coldly at Superman’s naked body; the
man’s half erection making his guts clench.
Superman’s body demanded to feel the warm human flesh and he obliged, rubbing
his torso to Bruce’s so hard that it pained…like Superman’s unbearably hot
mouth that trailed Bruce’s neck kissing, biting and licking the little blood
his teeth evoked.
The more he conquered Bruce’s unresponsive body the more the fire in him
rose…An insatiable fire. He fisted Bruce’s hair and pulled his head down
forcing his neck to arch for his mouth to gain better access. He licked and
sucked, his other hand groping the younger man’s ribs.
“Moan for me, Bruce…” he growled. “As you did for Thor!”
Bruce closed his eyes.
“Nothing happened with him; Clark…”
“Shut up!” he cut him tightening more his clench on Bruce’s hair and brought
his face over Bruce’s devouring the fire of his eyes. “You cheated me, Bruce!
But I’ll keep you…” he kissed his cheekbones moaning. “I’ll give to you what
you crave for and you’ll drop your bullshit about Diana…”
“She is poisoning you, Clark…You need to take your distance from her and run
the tests Jor El told you…”
Superman’s gleeful eyes were Bruce’s entire world as he raised slightly his
head.
“You have no right to pose demands! You should be begging me to forgive you and
not trying to defame a great woman like Diana!”
Bruce’s eyes widened and for a second he stopped breathing…
“I did nothing wrong to ask your forgiveness and I’m not defaming her I’m just
stating the facts! Think, Clark!
But Clark indifferent grabbed his thighs and opened them. Bruce couldn’t feel
the pain but saw and heard the violence of Clark’s ministrations even though
the wind’s blowing was wilder than ever; the man he loved was rock hard and
Bruce wished he could be happy for their coming unification; staring at Clark’s
gleeful eyes that looked down at him triumphantly, Bruce wished that making
love to him could lead Clark to the truth…
He didn’t expect that from Clark but the Man of Steel thrust his entire, huge
length in him with one single swift movement, without any preparation, without
any softness or caution just choking by force the resistance his unprepared
insides posed after five months of inertia.
Bruce gasped…It hurt like Hell and his heartbeat peaked…No, that was
impossible: his body didn’t feel below the waist.
Clark cocked a sarcastic eyebrow regarding Bruce’s dumbstruck expression.
“You’re a helluva actor, babe! Pretending surprise…We both know that it is
Thor’s thunderous prick we have to thank for reviving your dead asshole…”
Bruce gritted his teeth: he couldn’t continue listening Clark speaking like a
creep…like all those who used him.
“Stop talking like that, Clark; this isn’t you…We both know that some neurons
survived the injury – it seems that some of them are in my rectum” he tried to
reason with him “but we never tried before…”
Superman smirked and settled his hands on Bruce’s hips beginning thrusting in
him, establishing immediately a fast and hard way that made Bruce’s sensitive
body cry in protest but he pressed his lips and swallowed the pain.
The thrusts became faster rocking Bruce’s body but Superman’s thirst wasn’t
satisfied; he leaned over the sweaty but simultaneously cold torso under him
and swallowed one nipple, sucking so fiercely that Bruce writhed uncomfortable
since this along with the pounding of his anus was overwhelming. But Superman
didn’t care; he knew that Bruce enjoyed that – he needed it like this to be
satisfied…and also Superman relished that too. He bit the tender nipple and
sucked the liquid but more he sucked the violent heartbeat under the human
skin; Superman knew that Bruce stubbornly choked his moans and grunts but he
was stubborn as well.
He bit the other nipple and at the same time sent a low intensity heat beam to
hit the nipple he tortured before and stood erect from his ministrations.
Bruce’s torso jerked but Superman cackling moved his hips inwards smashing the
momentary resistance with a stampede of thrusts.
“You like that to your nipples, huh?” he said smugly to Bruce’s narrowed eyes
and inhaled the delicious smell of a trapped wild animal underneath him.
Bruce bit his bottom lip that was already torn in many places from Clark’s
bites: no, he didn’t like having his nipples tortured – Falcone did that when
he was really young…Clark knew it but that didn’t stop him casting heat to his
other nipple too. Bruce jerked his torso upwards using Superman’s length inside
him as support but the Man of Steel hugged vertically Bruce’s shoulders to glue
their bodies together, impaling him mercilessly, faster, deeper…
Superman was pressing the younger man chokingly on him knowing that the human
breathed difficult but Bruce clenched his teeth to hide his suffering and that
pissed him: his lover denied giving to him what he gave to others. He sank his
teeth to Bruce’s shoulder, blood springing along with a sharp intake of air
from the human. Superman cupped with both hands his head and stared at those
defiant, fervent eyes.
“Don’t hide your pain from me…I know it gives you pleasure and I can give you
more pleasure than anyone…” he breathed and captured the maimed lips kissing
passionately, his body pushing enthusiastic inside Bruce.
Clark’s clenching in his shoulder became bone crushing and the Man of Steel
roared in his mouth as boiling liquid from the alien’s ejaculation burned
Bruce’s wounded insides. He didn’t moan or grunt though a new wave of pain
travelled his spine to stab his head but his weak body convulsed like in the
past when he was a child and adults used him.
Bruce appreciated the softness of the mattress when Superman lowered him
tenderly yet his lover’s length was still inside him, stretching his anus to
its limits and throbbing demanding more. He looked at Clark’s face that watched
him like a hungry vulture; Superman’s locks were wet from sweat and framed his
beautiful features. He smirked to him and placed his body over him kissing his
breasts and digging streaks with his nails on his back.
Superman’s eyes stopped to the Black Butterfly that dangled on Bruce’s chest:
he knew from a long time ago that this rare, precious diamond was like Bruce.
He touched his lips on the sparkling stone…and jerked away because it burned
his lips.
He saw Bruce staring at him as Superman touched his lips shocked: he felt that
the human was mocking him, his gem demonstrating that he could escape him…No…He
grabbed again Bruce’s thighs and began thrusting stronger than before making
the human writhe and sweat from pain and effort to control his restrained
breath – to not moan…
 
When Superman turned him to his stomach, he had already cum in him three times
and Bruce felt his hot liquid filling his anus and the inside of his thighs; he
knew that it slithered lower but he couldn’t feel there. He was also aware that
except from semen something else streaked his body – his own blood…
The sheet was drenched under his pelvis and the stain expanded fast as Clark
started for the fourth time his in-out movements; each time faster, deeper and
stronger than the last. Bruce bit the pillow to stop a scream: Superman’s stone
testicles whipped his stretched anus with every wet sound of flesh invading
flesh. His eyes were covered from thin but annoying mist.
“I have more endurance than any of your lovers, Bruce” Superman said haughtily
setting Bruce’s knees on the mattress for him to get a new, better ankle;
clenching his thighs to crush the human body on him so to get deeper. The sound
of flesh slapping flesh a mesmerizing melody to his ears.
He released Bruce’s thighs and brushed his trembling back, relishing the fine,
strongly bound muscles.
“I should whip you, Bruce” he whispered massaging the covered in cold sweat
human flesh. “I know how much you enjoy that…But I couldn’t stand it…”
Bruce shook his head as much as he could.
“You can’t do that, Clark, because you’re not that kind of person and you know
that I don’t like it…Falcone used to whip me as a child and it was awful…” his
voice almost cracked.
A thunder howled near…
“There’s only one way to bring a rotten child to the right path...” Falcone’s
voice echoed through the thunder’s roaring and the boy’s head dropped and
before his terrified eyes the Gray Wolf took out from his pants his heavy
leather belt.
He closed his eyes desperately as the leather howled and then crushed on his
back a loud scream leaving his exhausted throat as the excruciating pain
flooded his body – the merry melodies and the seducing giggles drowning the
sound; he was crying like a baby and he was ashamed of that but as the whips
continued  progressively faster and stronger, he just wanted the pain to stop,
to pity him... But his pleads only made his master to belt him faster,
simultaneously chuckling or cursing him.
Bruce blinked: it was a flashback – Falcone had died and he wouldn’t cry…
Clark’s hands massaged his trembling back softly now; even his thrusts became
slower and Bruce hoped that finally he had found himself. But suddenly a
powerful hand clenched his hair and forced his body upwards, his neck bent so
much that Bruce was almost choked, his back brushing Clark’s torso. Superman
touched his hot mouth on his stretched neck sucking.
“Beg me like you did with Bane…” he whispered sensually.
“Beg me for what your master ordered you to achieve” Bane sniggered.
Bruce blinked to chase away the mist from his eyes. Clark had no problem
thrusting in him for hours but his body felt like broken – no, his body was
already broken since the factory incident but now it hurt all over.
“I begged him only once…when the lives of my loved ones depended on showing my
obedience to Ra’s – and he had asked me to have Bane use me for him to watch…”
he tried to catch his breath but Clark’s grip and his continuous pounding
wasn’t helping. “I never again begged him…”
Clark’s fingers tightened more uprooting his locks and arching his neck.
“He says to everyone that you begged him for more at the mountain…” he mouthed
Bruce’s earlobe.
Bruce found the strength to snort.
“Of course he does…You believe him?” he sensed Clark’s hesitation. “I won’t beg
you, Clark, because at my parents’ grave…some months ago…you told me that I
wouldn’t have to plead anyone again in my life…” he closed his eyes exhausted
“and I still believe in you…though you don’t believe in me…”
Superman stretched more his neck, biting the soft skin where jawbone met the
ear.
“Who’s the best of your lovers?’’ his wet, hissing breath attacked Bruce’s ear.
He closed his eyes to recruit some air from his stretched neck.
“You’re the only lover I ever had, Clark” he said in such a steady voice that
it was a surprise for him too.
That pissed Superman: he threw Bruce’s head to the mattress keeping his clench
on his hair and pressed his face down.
“You like powerful beings” he hissed through gritted teeth. “I’m Kal El, the
mighty Lord of Krypton, and you’re a cheap human…”
Bruce closed his eyes; his breath laboriously maintained through his pressed
nose and mouth yet he managed to take in some air to speak.
“This isn’t you, Clark; you know that I’m not enjoying this…”
But Superman buried more his face to the mattress and clenching his bare teeth
increased the already frantic pace of his thrusts, drilling the stubborn
human’s insides, enjoying the loud sound of his flesh slapping Bruce’s so
similar to the sound of rain whipping the earth.
Bruce gritted his teeth; the pain was unbearable: he knew that weren’t for the
energy casts inside his body he would have been demolished…He felt his blood
running from his wounds on the foreign length that stretched him to his limits.
The pain was intolerable but he wouldn’t scream…The pain was unbearable like
then…
The pleasant smell of burnt pinewood from the fireplace suddenly vanished and
his nose stung from the foul stench of junk and urine; his eyes stared at the
withered bricks of the wall he was pinned. He knew that place; he knew that
horrible human smell behind him; he knew the sniggers coming from the men at
the entrance of the alley; he knew the smell, the air of that alley; he knew
that on the cement, right next to his position lay his parents, the police
sketch of his parents’ dead bodies, a miserable white rose upon them: the awful
flower their unworthy son managed to bring them one year after their untimely
death…
“Call yar mommy to save ya!” the Vulture who was ripping his soft insides
growled.
No, he wouldn’t call his mommy to save him because his mother was dead and he
didn’t deserve to be saved…Superman’s roaring pants demonstrated his pleasure,
his satisfaction but Bruce was trapped in that alley…
 
Bruce’s eyelids slowly uncovered his eyes: he wasn’t asleep but he didn’t want
to stir; his body was wreckage: a mix of pain, stiffness, itch and exhaustion.
He was on his stomach, completely naked – thankfully, his hands were untied and
the energy casts had returned inside his arms giving again life to his limps.
His anus throbbed and screamed from pain and Bruce snorted – he should be happy
that there was another neuron which recovered from the injury but instead he
felt disgusted.
Underneath, the expensive sheet was drenched all over from semen – Clark had
ejaculated five times in him or six: he lost count – and blood…The wounds in
his rectum stung aggressively reminding him of the days with Falcone or Chill
or Ra’s…He had friction burnings and scratches…
He persuaded his stiff neck to turn and regard the other side of the bed –
Clark’s side. He knew that he wasn’t there…Bruce stretched his hand and touched
the mattress. It was cold…but Clark’s eyes were colder.
When Clark left, Bruce wasn’t sleeping; he lay as Superman had released him
after the fifth or sixth time. His face wasn’t visible but Clark could figure
that he was awake…but he didn’t care…as he didn’t care to say to him
something…Bruce pressed his lips and the pain told him that they were swollen
and badly bitten: why feeling the need to tell him anything since Clark
believed that he liked what was done to him? Superman didn’t even care to throw
a blanket on his sweaty, cold, naked body…
He stared at the big window; the curtains had stayed opened and he could see
the black sky above the scary-looking, drenched Palisades. The storm was
raging, the wind still blew angrily and the horizon was constantly cracked by
lighting. So unlike the peaceful sky at the island or the aurora borealis.
He looked at his wristwatch on the nightstand: 03.45. He placed his palms on
the mattress and clenching his protesting jaw raised his torso: he couldn’t
stay lying…It was a miracle Alfred hadn’t come already to check him so he had
to tidy up before he came and understood what had happened. Bruce wished these
past hours were another one of the nightmares Crane’s drugs created…but
everything in the room confirmed his certainty that they were real…
He stared at the wheelchair that read his mind and came there for him: Clark’s
creation…
“I’d be extremely happy when I’ll smash that awful chair once you’re standing
on your feet” Clark beamed as he lowered him gently to the astonishingly
beautiful wheelchair.
“It’s very beautiful, Clark” Bruce brushed the transparent armrests. “Thank
you” he smiled and Clark kissed him sweetly on the lips.
Bruce hesitated to use it but Tony’s wheelchair was in the closet, so even if
he used the remote or his mind, it couldn’t come to him. He inhaled deeply and
pushed his screaming body in the chair…His hairs stood upright when the cloud-
like sense of the chair touched him: it was soft and warm but for Bruce was as
if Clark held him again and his stretched, abused anus felt as if it was
penetrated all over again.
But Bruce yanked his head and fisted his hands till his heartbeat became
normal. He gathered hastily the stained sheets and dropped them in a pile at
the floor grateful to Alfred for choosing an expensive mattress that was
waterproof. His eyes stopped at the pieces of his pajamas that were scattered
over the floor; he pressed his lips tasting once again his blood and hurried to
bring them to the same pile.
He moved to the chair where his robe was laid over the back and wore it for the
first time that night; before Clark came, he felt that the fireplace and the
heating system of the Manor was more than adequate but now it was cold…
And he needed a shower: his body smelt awful from his sweat and Superman’s that
had dried on his flesh…yet the worse was the stench of semen and blood…
Bruce barely made it to the toilet and his hands almost of their own accord
surged to grab the porcelain, a second before his torso jerked violently
dragging him to the floor; his grip on the toilet was the only thing that saved
him from smashing his face on the hard surface, his useless legs carried away
by the force ending up on the tiled floor.
He jerked many times till everything Alfred so affectionately prepared for him
left his stomach and still his body convulsed pushing bile out of his system as
if this too could poison him. His mouth stayed agape…he was too exhausted to
even close his mouth and he just hugged the cold porcelain, hearing the
pounding of his heart and his ragged breaths drumming the caverns of his skull.
Bruce didn’t know if seconds or moments had passed but he realized that he
should take himself from there; he swept his cold nose with the back of his
hand and felt the puffed, hot flesh…He had to return to his chair but his arms
trembled from exhaustion. He closed his eyes and recalled Ubu’s training: the
mind forcing his power over the flesh; he breathed calmly, deeply, his focus on
his weak hands and the task before him…
He left the toilet and put his palms on the cold, shining floor; his chair was
there waiting. He turned his body and held the armrests hoisting his
unresponsive body till he was settled in the seat. A long huff: it was the
first time after months that this simple task seemed so difficult…even
impossible. He went to the sink but didn’t look at the mirror; he just rinsed
his mouth a couple of times since the acid taste of vomiting vanished.
Bruce rubbed his eyes: training was definitely out of the question for tomorrow
– he had to call Matt first thing in the morning. He willed his wheelchair to
the tub and pressed the touch screen of the control panel so that the surface
inclined a bit for him to slither in the seat: Bruce was grateful that the seat
had the railing around his waist otherwise he wasn’t sure if he’d manage to not
fall…
He took off the robe and dropped it at the wheelchair; he looked at his naked
body with repulsion: the skin was red or purple and there were scratches and
bite marks everywhere; above the waist he felt itchy since his flesh was sticky
from Superman’s saliva…His nipples were swollen and red from the light burning.
But what startled Bruce was the drops of blood that fell fast on the white
porcelain…his anus was still bleeding…he frowned because he could feel the
excruciating pain but not the liquid slithering nor the stuck semen…
He sighed: the normal feeling had returned only for the hours of Superman’s
pleasure…Of course…he cocked an eyebrow mocking himself. The irony: the neurons
that overcame the injury were those associated with anal violation; other than
that his pelvis was as good as dead.
The sense of hot water washing his skin was delight: he jerked his head upwards
with closed eyes…it felt sanitizing…relaxing…comforting. He wished he could
stay there forever.
He closed the water: there were blood drops around the toilet and he had to mop
them. He crawled back in his wheelchair and after dried himself with the towel,
muffled himself in the robe moving to the sink; the chair elevated at his wish
to reach the mirror and the view of his face confirmed what he already knew:
swollen cheek, bruised nostril, puffed, scratched lips, some dried blood – he
needed makeup and some butterfly stitches for his anus. He stretched his neck
and sighed: bite marks and bruises from Superman’s sucking – more makeup.
It was a boring task but necessary and he did it meticulously. He inspected the
result: the marks were covered. He touched hesitantly his rear end: there
wasn’t new blood drops so the butterfly stitches were enough…of course, his
anal channel throbbed and screamed from pain but there was no other senses from
there.
His bedroom was as he left it; the rain still whipping punishingly the window
fortified by the wind’s rage. A bolt lightened the pitch black horizon
highlighting the bare tree branches that resembled menacing hands.
The view absorbed him for some seconds but he had work to do; Bruce moved his
wheelchair to the pile of destroyed fabric and got ready to take them down to
the cave. But the corner of his eye caught the Blade of Justice on the
nightstand and his hand hesitantly held its hilt: he felt as if he had betrayed
that proud weapon.
“Hurting him wouldn’t be a solution…” he whispered to its blade and placed it
reverently to the secret case inside the drawer.
Thankfully, there was no obstacle between him and the cave. He looked relieved
the huge cavern, the waterfall’s roaring sound bringing comfort to his pounding
heart. He closed his eyes and took a deep inhale.
Then he threw the sheets and the rags of his pajamas to the rectangular small
oven in the far end of the cave; he had it there for destruction of dangerous
things. He closed the glass seal and pressed the round indication burning the
evidence. He wished he could do the same with the marks in his mind and body…
Another flashback added to his wide range…he sniggered. But as with most of his
experiences nobody was going to find out. This would stay between him and
Clark…and maybe this would work like a motive for Clark to find his true self;
to chase his therapy…Because Clark wasn’t like this. And there was still hope
since Clark resisted the allure of this woman and stayed loyal to him despite
the slander: if Clark didn’t give up on him he wouldn’t either. Despite the
pain… He was used to the pain. He had promised. And there were so many things
at stake, more important than his dignity or happiness…
He was strolling in the cave unconsciously when suddenly his eyes fell on the
cowl left on the long rectangular case containing the new armor.
“I’m not a victim!” he said again for the cowl to hear him as well.
“Then stop acting like one!” Tony’s ashamed voice echoed through the cave.
“Joker took away your mobility and the alien your personality!”
Bruce closed his eyes and took the cowl.
“Be happy, Bruce” his mother’s soft voice whispered to him desperately as she
was leaving him. “Please, be happy…”
 If only that was possible…He felt suffocating and his eyes looked desperately
around and at the ceiling as he was doing when imprisoned in Falcone’s cage.
His loyal companions weren’t there: they were out hunting. But his greatest
companion was there staring at him patiently and sternly: the cowl’s empty eyes
pierced him. He who permitted him to escape from everything; from himself…who
gave him peace, freedom, oblivion…
There was only one thing for him to do: he took off his robe and began wearing
the pieces of the armor.
“You’ll need much practice before going out with the suit…” Lucius warned him.
But he just couldn’t stay there: he needed to be out there, in Gotham’s
embrace.
 
Clark sat on the rooftop of Gotham’s City Hall, his arm lazily set on his bent
knee, his other leg stretched. He was gazing at Gotham’s skyline, the downpour
steadily clearing the sinful city and him. His mind was boiling with images and
thoughts…
Light but strong footsteps took him out of his reverie and the elegant,
intoxicating perfume of every flower in the planet tantalized his nostrils.
Diana was there but he didn’t turn to see her.
“Problems with Bruce?” her proud voice hued with honest interest caressed his
ears before her beautiful form filled his eyes as the Amazon marched in front
of him.
He smirked.
“It’s so obvious, huh?”
She shrugged.
“The way you flew away from New York, ignoring my call – I knew something very
bad happened and you’d be in Gotham.”
Superman stood and looked her in the eyes.
“I did something awful.”
She snorted.
“You? No! You can’t do anything awful!”
“I had sex with Bruce” he saw Diana inhaling deeply and crossing her arms.
“That’s normal for a couple” she said indifferently with a hue of
disappointment in her voice and cocked an eyebrow. “It was really…that awful?”
“Violently…Cruelly… I made him suffer… I made him bleed…”
She pursed her lips unimpressed.
“Then you gave him what he wanted…” she shrugged. “I’m positive he enjoyed it”
she snorted “more than any other time with you; besides he deserved to suffer”
her teeth rattled “to be punished for his infidelity.”
Superman ran both his hands in his drenched hair; the rain waterfall washing
his face.
“Bruce never cheated me…when I did that to him, I thought that my wrath for his
infidelity fuelled my oppressed for months passion – I didn’t want to endanger
his wounded body” Diana’s face was carved from a frustrated twitch of her lips.
“My body was burning from anger because Bruce gave his body to others…and…”
Clark sighed longingly “his body is gorgeous! But Bruce was right: my certainty
for his adultery was only an excuse: I knew he’d never cheat me” he arched his
eyebrows and sighed. “I wanted my revenge because he tried to keep me away from
you.”
A thunder roared over the city but Diana’s sarcastic huff wasn’t muffled.
“And now you feel guilty.”
Superman shook his head and inhaled.
“No…though I know I should…”
“Then you’re satisfied?”
He laughed.
“When I was impaling him, when I made him writhe, I was…But now I realize that
I’m not satisfied…” he moved closer to her feeling mesmerized by her sparkling
eyes. “I crave for Bruce’s body but he isn’t enough – something is lacking…”
“What?” she whispered sensually, her eyes reaching the depths of his mind
bringing him numbness.
He pressed his lips in a tight line and yanked his head.
“You, Diana! I need you; I long for you” he shook his head. “I’m incomplete
without you…but I won’t let go of Bruce either.”
The Amazon laughed stretching her sturdy but curvy body; a lightning
illuminated her beautiful but smug face.
“Now, you’re talking as you ought. You deserve whatever you want, Kal El:
you’re the Lord of Krypton. And a pleasure slave is a luxury you definitely can
demand.”
A huge branch-like lighting flashed the gloomy sky and washed Diana’s body in
shine. Superman gaped at her body: water running over her half naked bulging
breasts; streaks hugging her muscle bound thighs calling him to touch… Blue-
raven bangs were plastered to her forehead and cheeks; raindrops were stuck on
her ruby, rich lips. Her eyes burnt as she met his charmed stare, urging him.
He wrapped his arm around her neck and his lips surged at hers only to be met
in the middle of the distance with hers in a powerful collision that made him
see stars. Their mouths began moving in a dance of passion; greedily,
powerfully, without any hesitation… Superman bound to that lips grabbed the rim
of Diana’s corset and pulled it down releasing her big, round shaped breasts,
relishing the desperate way the woman fondled his back, digging her nails…
 
Batman walked on the rooftop stopping at the ledge, his lenses covered eyes
watching the deserted street in front of the 80 floor building; his cape waved
behind him. He heard footsteps but he didn’t turn.
“Who are you?” he growled indifferent and the stranger chuckled.
“One of Gotham’s residents named me Arrow – I like that name.”
Batman turned slowly to him. A modern Robin Hood dressed in dark green leather,
a hood covering his head and casting his face into deep shadows. Only his eyes
shone like fires, a smug hue there.
“I don’t like people like you in Gotham!”
“Xenophobic then…But Gotham has so many things to offer to
tourists…sights…people” he lolled his head to the side. “Especially, people:
you can’t see anywhere two clowns, breaking and entering the City Hall…”
Batman clenched his jaw: Joker was planning something and the City Hall was the
center. Thankfully, the building was near: he pointed his grapple gun without
second thoughts and let the cable take him to the opposite building, ignoring
the protests of his body.
Arrow rushed behind him covering the gap between the buildings with a long,
breathtaking jump. He followed Batman’s route towards the City Hall and stopped
where he stopped: to a rooftop close to the City Hall’s rooftop. Batman brushed
his forearm and the diagram of the building emerged in neon green.
“Nobody is inside the building” he snapped to the Arrow who stood behind him.
“No bomb either.”
But there were vibrations on the rooftop and Batman’s artificial gaze focused
there…and the blood froze in his veins; the blow of the raging wind felt like a
punch in his face.
Superman’s nude back and buttocks…the Man of Steel was kneeling of the floor
thrusting inside the body that was hugging him. Her long, beautiful legs were
wrapped around Superman’s impressive thighs, opening widely her hips for him to
enter. She was grunting and with every thrust stabbed her nails to his back,
jerking her head backwards stretching her chest for Superman to have plenty of
access to her erect thick nipples; he was sucking and licking the rain water
that ran the skin. The Man of Steel roared louder than the thunder, pushing
harder.
“I disagree: we have our bomb…” Arrow remarked slyly in Batman’s ear.
“You’re the best, Diana…” Superman moaned, licking her bulging breasts.
Batman remained impassive and turned his back to the spectacle.
“You can watch the peep show – I have more important things to do” he spat to
the Arrow and pointed his grapple gun to the opposite fire escape launching
away.
Arrow smirked and pulled out of his suit a smartphone to start shooting the sex
scene.
 
Batman kneeled on the street at the depth of a filthy, dark alley: he supported
his hands to the wall. He was exhausted, every pain in his body screaming; his
head throbbed by the vibrations of a raging migraine. His eyes seeing again the
scene on the City Hall’s rooftop: there was no hope anymore…He was a fool…
He felt the presences before hearing their footsteps: six big people. The sound
of guns loading and blades protruding towered the buzz in his ears.
“Tough night, Batman?” a sniggering voice jeered. “Let’s lighten his spirits,
boys!”
 
***** Chapter 38 *****
Batman turned calmly his head to the bundle of goons that looked smugly at him;
he remained on his knees: despite the fact his armor had micro-power generators
that enable the exoskeleton-like pieces of his armor move his legs he knew that
he couldn’t rely on them to fight these men. Even though he was thrilled the
first time he made a moderate kick in the new armor, he knew that this move
seemed in slow motion compared to his previous skill.
Furthermore, he didn’t have the stamina to use his legs; he was exhausted and
the healthy part of his body screamed in agony from the various kinds of pain.
But the worse pain was in the place where his heart used to be where now a
burning mass was branding his insides while a heavy stone was smashing his
stomach with constantly repeated blows.
However, he didn’t want to show weakness to these creeps because if they spread
the news then the cowering thugs would step forward claiming a central role to
Gotham’s underworld which for the time being stayed in hibernate.
He pressed the tiny button in his belt and without the sniggering thugs
realizing their guns were blocked. Lucius made an armor that could withstand
almost every known type of bullet yet the force of the impact, especially from
close proximity could have a great toll on his battered body.
Batman raised his head proudly, threw casually two batarangs before their feet
– which startled them even before the batarangs emitted thick smoke - and
snarled at them which completed the fear effect.
 Batman understood from the first moment that they were small timers or medium
ranked goons looking for an opportunity to become crime lords. These people fed
on their victim’s fear but this fear was easily turned to them when met with
tougher meat than they could chew. And suddenly the alley became too silent and
the wind’s howl sounded scaring creepy.
“Shoot, boys!” the guy who obviously was their leader ordered terrorized and
frustrated but their guns remained silent even though they continued pulling
the trigger after the first failed attempt.
They were confused and their self-confidence faltered but Batman waited the
right second to exploit their state; he had seen the lightning from the opening
of the alley…
When the thunder blew like a bomb the goons jumped and looked around for a
second which was what Batman wanted. He used his cripple legs only as a vault
and launched his body on them; both his hands found immediately their target,
clenching the necks of two men who goggled at him just before he crashed their
heads together. And before his feet touched the ground he threw the unconscious
men at their comrades sending two of his attackers to the wall.
He was weak but the exosceletons around his legs and the micro-generators
permitted him to stand; there was also the option of using his mind’s power to
force his legs to operate normally yet he didn’t want to use that and his mind
didn’t have the appropriate level of concentration to achieve it: Clark’s naked
body entangled with Vivian’s squirming body was flashing constantly in his
mind, stabbing his heart and cracking his thoughts.
Batman ground his teeth and caught the hand behind him that surged clutching a
big knife to stab his back. He dragged the man to collide with his back and
when the thug’s head was above his shoulder he jerked his forearm to blow his
mouth and nose as the back of his fist hammered the place between the thug’s
eyes. As he heard the guy’s scream, Bruce thanked mentally Matt’s training and
the hundreds of pounds he was lifting daily.
Rapidly his fingers struck the man’s neck knocking him out. However the man’s
heavy body fell on him and Batman clenched his jaw feeling his body protesting.
With a growl he shoved the unconscious thug on the wall; he sensed the rapid
descend of a knife – the sixth goon.
In normal conditions he’d have ducked it instantly but the new suit required a
considerable reaction time for movements under the waist so he dag his elbow to
the man’s belly. Yet the goon was very sturdy and the hit despite heavy didn’t
stop him; Batman yanked his head butting the goon’s jaw – since the man was
towering him – and heard the bone cracking; at the same time he raised both his
hands catching the hand with the knife stopping it before stabbing his back.
An ordinary creep would have collapsed by now yet the man was strong and Batman
was weakened so he gritted his teeth because the hand he held almost overcame
his grip…Sweat dripped underneath Batman’s armor as he recruited every drop of
strength he had to at last manage to lower with a painful crack the enormous
hand; he twitched it swiftly and dragged the man down giving him a palm blow on
the forehead that drove him unconscious.
With the corner of his eye saw the flash of another blade reaching his back:
one of the goons had recovered. He turned to stop him though he knew that it
was too late, only to see the blade shattering by a bluish ray and the goon
twitching and collapsing, his hair standing erect and smoking. He was alive but
knocked out by electricity and Batman didn’t waste time: squatting, dragged his
body from goon to goon handcuffing them feeling two eyes constantly on him.
When he closed the handcuffs around the wrists of the last crook, Batman stood
and let his arms fall loose on his sides; he kept standing but he felt his body
trembling. He knew who was there; he inhaled deeply and turned slowly as the
newcomer walked to him.
His broad figure filled the alley, Mjolnir still emanating waves of energy; his
golden hair waved to the wind along with his red cape.
“You loved his golden locks…”
Thor’s armor shone to the flash of the lightning but the worry in his eyes as
he stared at Batman made Bruce’s chest clench. He pointed his grapple gun up
and let the cable drag him up.
“Thank you” he growled to Thor.
He landed on the rooftop but although the exosceletons did the job his hands
sought the wall for support. His head swam in a white light with Clark and
Diana in the middle; his heart felt like it was stabbed.
The wall wasn’t there and the ground was surging to his head. Suddenly
something impossibly strong grabbed him softly but decisively and kept him
erect supporting him.
“I’ve got you, Batman…” Thor said calmly. “It’s okay…”
His eyes slowly regained their clarity, Thor’s kind face a nice welcome back
from the Hell. However, Batman jerked away and Thor pulled away his hands.
“You fought bravely there; you’re a great warrior” his voice vibrated from
sincere admiration yet Bruce shook his head. “It’s my honor I witnessed you in
action.”
Batman stretched his posture proudly and snorted not for the god but for
himself: he was sad, angry and disappointed; an acid mixture that filled his
mouth with a bitter taste.
“I was lame” he spat in his cold raspy voice and the blond frowned. “However
thanks for your help” he added sincerely but coldly.
Thor crossed his arms on the chest because otherwise would touch Batman’s
shoulders and knew that the great man didn’t want to.
“You’d have managed without my intervention but I couldn’t hold myself” he
nodded. “I’m sorry for intervening.”
Batman shook his head.
“It’s okay” he turned his gaze elsewhere to avoid those honest, caring eyes:
Bruce just didn’t want anyone to care for him.
Something tickled Thor’s tongue but he hesitated to utter it: the man before
him was so dignified, so proudly distant. However his worry pushed him over the
edge of his reluctance.
“It is a miracle…” he said and Batman understood he meant the fact that he
stood and walk.
“Just science” he replied.
Thor raised an eyebrow and smiled.
“And willpower; unbelievable strength of character.”
Hearing praise for him was for Bruce the worse: it made the wounds, the
scratches and the bite marks stung viciously.
“Your cape thwarts Loki from getting in places” it wasn’t a question but a
conclusion which made Thor smile for the man’s smartness and his resolution to
divert the discussion and stop any compliment.
“Exactly…I think it’s handy but the combination with the gem makes its
effectiveness greater and we must not forget the Knife: Loki is a strong but he
can’t overcome these three objects combined” he arched an eyebrow emphatically
and Batman gave a solemn, sharp nod.
Thor knew that now he should say what stagnated in the tip of his tongue.
“I’m not Eir, the goddess of healing” Batman frowned but Thor couldn’t see
under the cowl “but I can sense that your body is in much pain and your soul in
great agony and suffering…” Batman didn’t reply so Thor continued pressing his
lips. “I…I had told you to call for me…”
Batman raised his palm sharply in a stopping gesture and Thor respected that.
“Things got nasty with Superman?” the god of thunder growled and a bolt cracked
the entire sky. “Because of me” his eyes bore into Batman’s lenses and the
tranquility of the human made him calm down. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s not your fault” Batman turned to the rooftop’s edge ready to jump but
Thor touched his shoulder.
“Let me take you to your home…” he closed his eyes. “Believe me I don’t mean
any…offence but maybe it will be better if you didn’t excess yourself more…”
“My car is near” Batman replied without turning his head and jumped opening his
arms like a giant bat, his cape solidified immediately.
Bruce knew that the god understood his exhaustion and weakness and his subtlety
to not mention it really touched him. But he couldn’t accept Thor’s offer; he
didn’t want anyone’s hands on him tonight even in a friendly touch; Bruce felt
filthy… He was aware of his exhaustion and the danger if he collapsed but he
had called the Tumbler and it was rather near…
Thor clenched his jaw and gazed at the gracious flight of the human; he brought
his clenched fist in his heart and mentally persuaded lightning and thunders to
stop for seconds to not hinder Batman’s effort. Who could imagine that this
emanating strength and willpower being was disabled, doomed to a chair? Who
could believe that the creature blessed to have this human chose to torment
him? Because Thor sensed that Superman had done something really bad to Bruce
and had used him as an excuse…And that infuriated Thor but mostly made him sad
about Bruce’s suffering.
 
Superman held Diana’s waist with both hands relishing the feeling of her arms
around his neck; they floated in the sky over the fields away from Gotham,
dressed after the explosion of their love making. Their foreheads touched each
other and their bodies glued in an embrace cried to be naked again so that
nothing would thwart their new union.
Diana mouthed Superman’s lower lip, caressing the back of his head.
“Why we left Gotham?” she asked slyly. “You’re afraid that someone might see
us?” her smile was wicked and her magnificent eyes sparkled reading his.
Superman captured her lips moaning.
“I don’t want to let Bruce pray to all the men who drool on him and if he finds
out about us, he’ll break up with me.”
Her eyebrows’ arch almost reached her hairline in disbelief and she snorted.
“Break up with YOU?! C’mon, Kal El…As if you’re a human loser and Wayne has the
right to dump you” Superman lick his lips and Diana smiled. “You know my
opinion about Wayne and that he is unworthy of you but since you want to keep
him he can’t do otherwise!”
Superman understood what she meant and he didn’t like it.
“I don’t want to use violence on him…” he shook his head and scenes of Bruce’s
semi-dark bedroom flashed in his mind shaking him. “I’ve already done that
once…” he turned his head to the right, towards the Palisades, sighing – the
toll on Bruce’s body must have been great.
But Diana cupped his jaw with both hands and brought his head to look at her.
“Do not feel bad about that: he enjoyed it. He likes being screwed like a cheap
street hooker.”
Superman pecked her nose and rubbed her back that was drenched from the
downpour that continued.
“I’m not so sure, Diana…”
She shook her head in disapproval.
“You’re too good for this human and he takes advantage of you” Clark frowned
and she nodded. “Did he ask you to stop?”
Superman shook his head in denial and Diana pursed her lips.
“You see?” her hands slipped to his buttocks fondling almost violently. “If he
didn’t like it, he’d have asked you to stop or beg you” she smirked smugly.
“Though I’m sure that he gets horny when cries and beg his masters to stop and
they don’t.”
“Bruce is proud…” he replied “he wouldn’t beg me even if he felt that I was
going to kill him…” his voice was respectful.
Diana grunted.
“You give too much credit to him, Kal El. Your judgement gets distorted by your
passion: he is extremely beautiful for a human, sure; a great fuck but that’s
it. He isn’t a hero for Zeus’ sake!”
Superman grabbed her face with both hands and looked her deep in the eyes, the
rain drops plastering his locks in the forehead.
“I won’t permit anyone to lay hands on Bruce’s body!”
She narrowed her eyes which flashed wickedly.
“Of course, Kal El. He is yours. Nobody has the right to take him even if Wayne
wants it” she shook her head. “Find a way to keep him yours even if he learns
the truth about us…” she whispered and the air from her lungs caressed his
eyes.
Superman nodded frowning, a thought crossing his mind.
 
Alfred stood in front of the kitchen’s sink gazing at the endless green of the
grounds; the big window looked at the right side of the grounds and the butler
always appreciated the view when washed the dishes (he preferred it over using
the dish washer a machine he considered completely useless, after all).
That bloody storm had finally stopped and now the nature was peaceful under a
light gray sky and a shy sun that sent some dim light. Of course, Alfred knew
that a great storm always leaves some aftermath and his chest was clenched from
a sinister premonition.
He swept with a towel the plate he had washed. Master Bruce had called him at
6:30, knowing that the butler woke up that precise hour, and asked him to drive
Dick to his school. The previous day his young master had told him that he
would accompany the boy. But obviously something changed.
Alfred raised an eyebrow and sighed: he dreaded what caused that change…His
master’s voice was steady and casual; the young man knowing Alfred’s worry,
didn’t force his butler to ask but gave the answer himself: he just wanted to
sleep in today – he felt a bit tired. So the British respected his young
master’s wish and didn’t disturb his sleep though something urged him to go
inside the bedroom.
Yet his master had assigned him a job and that should be his priority. So he
had awoken young master Richard, concealing his surprise for seeing Hero
sleeping on his bed. This intensified Alfred’s concern while he wished his gut
feeling was wrong and Master Bruce indeed wanted just to sleep a little more.
Though he doubted it…
He turned on hearing the light footsteps of the Manor’s newest resident and saw
Hero hooked in the boy’s chest; the animal meowed greeting him.
“Good morning, Master Richard, Master Hero” he bowed slightly his head. “The
breakfast is served.”
Alfred’s experienced eyes caught the change in the boy’s eyes as he scanned the
kitchen and didn’t see Master Bruce. The boy’s joy was more than evident and
Alfred sighed internally. At least, the kitten was searching his master looking
around and finally jumped from Dick’s arms to rub to the stool right next to
which Bruce’s chair used to stand.
“Would you like anything else for breakfast, sir?” Alfred asked Richard seeing
the kitten disappointed walking to his bawl to eat.
“No, thank you” the boy replied settling in a stool. “How am I going to go to
school?” he asked morose taking a muffin. “I doubt the bus will come here…”
“I’ll drive you to the school, Master Richard.”
The boy arched his eyebrows.
“I’d rather go with the bus…” he said chewing his muffin and drinking his milk.
Alfred shook his head.
“I know, Master Richard, yet we can’t oblige Gotham’s city to send the school
bus to Palisades: it is much too far from the main city.”
Dick shrugged and continued eating, so Alfred resumed settling the glasses into
the central cardboard over the sink bench.
“Wayne likes to sleep late, huh? I didn’t expect anything better…”
Alfred kept his composed expression and turned his back to continue his work
but suddenly something warm rubbed to his calve purring. He hardly stopped a
smile as he looked down and saw Hero rubbing and looking at him puzzled.
“Master Bruce needed some extra hours of sleep” he heard Dick’s snide snort
“but I’m sure it is nothing serious.”
“I hope it IS something serious!” Dick gritted his teeth.
But that was too much for Alfred whose hands formed fists at his side; he
turned to the boy keeping his calm though inside him a storm was raging.
“I beg your pardon, Master Grayson, but I’d suggest you watch your mouth.”
 Dick frowned seeing the always calm and polite eyes of the butler sparkling.
“I know your sentiments about Master Bruce and I respect them – though I
consider it unfair to be so harsh on Master Bruce because Joker hates him so
much to kill innocents in his name. As you may have noticed these two days we
have the pleasure of your company, Master Bruce tolerates your rude and
insensitive remarks about him. However, Master Bruce isn’t the only resident of
this Manor, I live here too.”
The man’s voice bent from emotion.
“Master Bruce was taken from his parents and if I am permitted, from me, when
he was 8 years old: for eighteen years I stood witness to the tortures he
suffered at the hands of the late Falcone and every day was agony and dread
that it could be the boy’s last” Alfred caught his breath. “Almost six months
ago, Master Bruce almost died and I had to watch again unable to do anything”
He yanked his head dignified and locked his eyes with Dick’s.
 “You seem to be very sensitive with everything concerning your loved ones,
Master Grayson; Master Bruce is my loved one” his voice became strict. “So I’d
kindly ask you to keep your ill thoughts for yourself when I’m present” he
shook his head. “I’d be very sorry if you force me to deny you my services” he
gave a tight-lips smile. “I believe I made myself clear?”
Dick’s eyes had widened with the man’s mild but so effective way: it reminded
him of his granny – expect that his granny was far too lenient since she had a
soft spot for him that obviously Alfred had for Wayne. He nodded: the butler
considered Wayne like his son so it was understandable that he didn’t want to
hear Dick slander him.
Alfred grinned broadly.
“I’m glad we cleared this out. Now, please do finish your breakfast because we
don’t want you to be late for school.”
The boy mumbled his agreement and bit hastily his bread.
 
When John Grayson died Trevor Breizic was his head coach; Tony Zucco was still
member of the team but everyone knew that John had downgraded and he was ready
to shoe him. The video was from the national championship that counted as trial
for the selection of the team that would compete in the world championship
representing US.
John Grayson’s performance at the Horizontal Bar was breathtaking and reminded
much of his son’s movements; it was mesmerizing so it took a second viewing to
watch other things apart from the great athlete.
The second viewing was for watching the presence of Breizic, the 65 year old
legendary trainer who although John had demoted him in favor of Zucco, when the
athlete asked him to be again his trainer, accepted gladly. He was of average
height if not short with a sturdy body that shouted the man’s great career as a
gymnast; gray hair and a round bald spot in the center of his sculp. His
Russian gray eyes were cold, calculating every tiny detail of his athlete’s
figures but in the end his affection for John melted the professionalism and he
rushed to hug his athlete with emotion coloring his wrinkled face: everyone
knew that this performance gave John the ticket for the world championship and
Breizic was clearly proud and touched since this came after his athlete’s
misfortune with the illegal drugs and hard effort to regain the trust of the
people and the federation.
A third viewing for Zucco. He stood on a corner watching avidly with his arms
crossed on the chest: tall, average weight, raven hair and blue sneaky eyes.
His mouth crooked in a grimace of interest and indifference at the same time
indication that he was acting; a shine in his eyes as his stare followed
Breizic who embraced John. His expression remained neutral but someone could
discern a flicker of irritation if stopped the video and zoomed on the outcast
trainer.
Bruce drummed his fingers on the computer bench: if only he could find footage
of the accident that cost John’s life…He searched through his inclusive search
engine that looked into sources not so known. There were some short videos from
the training of the national team’s gymnasts yet – as expected – nothing from
the day of the accident. He leaned on the back of the chair and rubbed his lip
but withdrew his finger immediately because it hurt really bad… Actually, his
lips hurt even without touching or moving, they were swollen and the scratches
throbbed unstoppably…
Rubbing his jaw was out of question too…
He felt that Breizic could provide some help in finding Zucco’s role in the
incident – if Ms. Turner was right and Zucco had some involvement.
A bat stirred and made its companions on the stony ceiling cringe. Bruce looked
upwards and his lips formed a faint smile: he was at home. When he returned
from his patrol went immediately to the master bedroom to take his knife and
Tony’s wheelchair: he was seated in it right now but he had taken Superman’s
wheelchair to the cave as well: the absolutely beautiful throne-like chair sat
deserted on a dark niche of the cave under the big arch in the right.
He knew that his long stay in the bedroom would at some point alert Alfred and
force him to get inside and then the British would realize that Bruce didn’t
sleep as he told him but was in the cave all time. He didn’t want anyone with
him as much as they loved him. He relished his loneliness as he had learnt all
these years when being alone was the only short time he didn’t suffer. He loved
them and it was nice with them but right now he didn’t want any other presence,
especially of those loving him – their love was unbearable right now.
Alfred would be discreet but definitely would touch subjects that Bruce didn’t
want to discuss…He had called Matt to cancel today’s session – it was more than
certain that Bruce would do the same tomorrow and the day after tomorrow. But
Bruce knew that calling off one week’s sessions at once would cause questions
and concerns.
 However, more than a week would be necessary for the marks to disappear and
Bruce didn’t want Matt to see because his physiotherapist had made it clear
than if he saw a mark would immediately speak to Tony. And these marks all over
his body were so angry, as much as Superman’s wrath; Bruce pursed his lips.
He was sure that his body was sore and would have felt awful if he wasn’t
paralyzed below the waist; his arms ached and were a bit stiff from the energy
casts that had bound them… As for his thighs…last night, while showering even
through his dizziness, he had seen the finger shaped bruises…well, not yet
black-purple bruises but a vomiting, even worse, white: Superman’s clenches
must have been almost bone crashing…
Bruce inhaled deeply and let the air come out in a long exhale: the cowl was
always suffocating but it felt like home and today he didn’t want to pull it
out. He had only deactivated the lenses because it was difficult to work on the
PC screen with them.
It was so nice being engrossed in work and not thinking anything related to
last night…and still he had slipped there. He gritted his teeth and growled:
stop that! He turned his gaze to the cave ceiling where the live, black velvet
stirred in places: bats always stilled him…He saw again the face of Nemesis’
high priest from his dream and then frowned seeing two tiny emeralds sparkling
in the middle of the endless black velvet.
His hand brushed the blade of the sacred dagger he had placed in a case under
the bench. Maybe the goddess felt ashamed of his last night’s attitude? Perhaps
she was angry with him? He shook his head clearing his thoughts: he did what he
considered best and nobody else was damaged except than him…but he was damaged
already so no big deal there. At least, he learnt the truth and stopped fooling
himself.
He set his jaw determined and focused on the computer screen that was divided
in two frames: Breizic on the right and Zucco on the left. His gloved fingers
flew over the keyboard and in the second screen over the bench a stream of data
about Breizic appeared. The man continued training athletes always in prominent
places inside the federation; for the time being, he lived in Washington from
where he made his expeditions through the States to scan for new talents which
he later consulted and trained. He hadn’t said much about John’s death but his
devastation was evident – so evident that the man never visited Gotham again.
Batman snorted: no surprise there. During Falcone’s reign which decent person
would decide to stay in Gotham – if was able to live elsewhere? And once he
lost his great athlete in such a tragic way, why lingering? Or maybe he was
afraid…Because if he stayed the murderer with the suspicion that the trainer
might have known something could kill him as well…
He had to bring Breizic to Gotham. Almost fourteen years had passed and
Falcone’s decadence had ended so the man could trust that he’d be protected. Or
if not staying permanently in Gotham, maybe Bruce could revive Breizic interest
for the city. He arched an eyebrow under the cowl: if he was informed about a
new great talent that was his greatest athlete’s son? And if the national team
was invited in Gotham to do a demonstration for a charity event with local
athletes participating? Then there would be no suspicion that someone digs that
old case and needed Breizic for information.
He closed his eyes and controlled his breath: a sharp stab from his rectum
filled his brain with white light…He just hoped that the stitches he had
applied there still held and he didn’t bleed…At least, the armor wouldn’t let
that be visible. The white light was filled with Clark’s face contorted in
anger and wild, evil satisfaction, coming forth and backwards fast and
strongly…and the pain intensified along with the sound of flesh slapping
flesh…along with Superman’s grunts that sounded like roars of triumph…
“I told you that when he’d fuck you it’d be like a train crushing you…”
Ra’s’ smug, velvet voice echoed through the cave and Bruce didn’t look around
because he knew that nobody was there.
“You thought that he loved you? That someone like him could love someone like
you, my little whore?” the voice came closer and its malice brushed Bruce’s
ear. “The substance I applied to your body made him fall in love with you and
you were so stupid to believe that after the inoculation there wasn’t any
remaining effect but only true love…” he sniggered. “Tell me, Bruce: you made
your ass stop bleeding but what about your heart? Can you make her stop
bleeding too?” his cackle erupted like thunder in the silence.
And Bruce focused on the place where his heart should have been…No…He shouldn’t
be occupied with that: the dull, painful thud that pushed venom in his veins
and sadness.
Suddenly, he heard the lift descending to the cave and he clenched his jaw
which hurt.
In less than a minute the lift’s door opened and the light footsteps of Alfred
crossed the steep corridor to the computer bench. Alfred regarded his young
master as soon as he disembarked the lift: it was eleven o’clock in the morning
and he still was in Batman’s armor and cowl: he had gone out last night. His
guts clenched more but he didn’t sigh just placed the silver tray on the bench.
“I brought you breakfast, Master Bruce…and your medication.”
Batman kept his eyes on the screen.
“Thank you, Alfred” he tried to dismiss him as fast as possible.
And Alfred understood but he was determined to not make back.
“This armor isn’t casual outfit, sir: so wearing it so many hours is not
recomended; I suggest you make a nice, hot shower and wear something more
casual and comfy? And maybe do your work upstairs, in your remarkable tablet?
The moisture here…”
But Bruce interrupted him because he wanted Alfred to leave him alone.
“Some work has to be done here, Alfred” he said coldly without looking at him.
“And I’m comfortable enough in the armor. Is everything alright with Dick?”
Alfred pressed his lips and swallowed a sigh; he knew that his young master
wished to be alone; he didn’t want to share with anyone. He noticed that he sat
on Master Anthony’s wheelchair; the other chair was barely visible behind a
rock.
“Indeed, sir, I drove young Master Grayson to his school and I made sure that
the security you ordered for the boy was in place.”
Batman nodded.
“Thank you, Alfred; I’m obliged.”
“You shouldn’t, sir, it is always my pleasure to grant your wishes.” There was
an uncomfortable silence where Batman pressed buttons on the keyboard; but
Alfred couldn’t bear it more: he knew that his young master was in a great
suffering and after what the butler had seen… “Sir, pardon my indiscretion, but
I took the liberty to enter your bedroom while you obviously didn’t want me
to…But when the time passed I was worried.”
Bruce knew it; he stopped typing orders and nodded.
“This was expected” he said. “It doesn’t matter, Alfred.”
“Forgive your insolent butler, sir, but maybe we should call Leslie to examine
you?”
That fell like a thunder and Batman’s body stiffened; his hands staying above
the keyboard and for the first time his eyes found Alfred’s face. The worry,
the affection and even the pain in that wrinkled but proud face made the
burning mass where his heart used to be charred his chest more punishing.
“There’s no need for that, Alfred” he answered nonchalant if not defensively.
“I’m perfectly fine.”
Alfred’s eyes were shadowed and the faint frown made Bruce wary: Alfred could
read him like an open book.
“Sir, would you be so kind to make me the great favor to remove the cowl?”
Batman shook his head in denial and returned his gaze to the screen wishing
that Alfred would receive the message and leave.
Alfred’s agony all of a sudden broke the walls of his butler professionalism:
this boy was more important than anything else. He pressed his lips turning the
worry into strength.
“Because you don’t want me to see how bloodshot your eyes are or the black
circles underneath; the exhaustion. Because you didn’t sleep at all last night,
sir!”
Bruce continued typing pretending and trying to manage indifference to Alfred’s
cracked voice.
“You wear makeup, Master Bruce, is that right?” he asked shaking his head.
“Like the days you were under Falcone’s brutality and Batman needed to conceal
the marks that would connect him with Falcone’s slave” his clever eyes captured
the change in his boy’s breathing and Alfred needed a big inhale to continue.
“Because your face is battered, sir, and you want to hide it from the people
who love you!” his voice rose slightly because he was unable to control his
emotion.
Batman turned to him holding his breath.
“Alfred…” he mumbled. “I’m fine – there is no reason for you to worry.”
But Alfred stretched his posture.
“I beg your pardon, sir, but I must disagree. I couldn’t find the sheets of
your bed anywhere, Master Bruce, neither the pajamas you wore last night” he
hoped that these would be enough for Bruce to open his heart.
But Batman shrugged.
“I opened the window miscalculating the power of the wind and both sheets and
pajamas were drenched from the rain so I took them off; you must have noticed
that the carpet was wet too…”
Alfred pressed his lips.
“I didn’t find them anywhere to take them for laundry…”
“I never liked them so I dumped them” suddenly Bruce felt exhausted: the lack
of sleep, last night’s confrontation with the petty thugs and Superman’s
treatment finally showing their teeth – it was painful.
His butler yanked his head determined and proud; his eyes stern but with a
heartbreaking glimmer on them that made Bruce’s head ache. Alfred’s heart broke
witnessing his boy finding petty excuses to not admit the truth: to not hurt
him and because his young master felt ashamed as every time Falcone and the
other monsters abused him. But never this courageous human being asked anyone’s
comfort; always smiled and pretended that he was alright. Alfred gulped and
gathered his courage.
“What about the butterfly stitches, Master Bruce?” Batman gulped and Alfred
continued. “Their case in the First Aid kit was almost empty and I had filled
it a few days ago…”
Alfred saw his young master’s body hunching a bit and that made his heart
squirm with sympathy: Bruce shouldn’t feel threatened by someone knowing what
happened. It was unfair his boy suffering because a monster abused him…again.
“No, sir; I think that those sheets were stained with…” Bruce turned his eyes
on him and those beloved eyes had taken the texture of a stone – probably, his
boy now wished that the lenses were activated “blood, sir…and…” he licked his
lips: he couldn’t utter the word ‘semen’ “other body liquids.”
Bruce closed his eyes and turned his head to the other side. He took some
breaths calmly and finally took off his cowl, locking his bloodshot eyes with
Alfred’s.
Alfred’s guts were sliced by an invisible, huge razor; the fatigue and the deep
sadness that hid under the glimmering sapphire-emerald were talkative enough.
Each time the British had been forced to watch his boy’s torture and suffering
came back to intensify the current pain.
“Also, I gather that Superman did horrible things to you last night…and I’m
sure that you told Mister Leench to not come for him to not see the marks. You
didn’t want anyone to know; to protect that bloody, horrible monster…” he
panted from rage. “And you donned the cape and cowl, while in great pain and
distress, patrolling the city in order to find escape and oblivion…like you did
when Falcone tortured you. We must inform Master Anthony to hold Superman away
from you.”
The youth shook his head in sharp refusal.
“There’s no need to bring Tony into this.”
“But, sir, if Superman used force against you last night…”
Bruce raised his palm to stop him; he looked Alfred straight in the eyes.
“Everything happened with my consent, Alfred” he said calm and steady.
Alfred squatted before him and took his gloved hand in his trembling one.
“Sometimes consent is worse than rape…” he said softly his other hand caressing
his master’s plastered locks. “And when a sensitive youth loves so deeply
someone for the first time in his life…”
“I never said to him to stop” he retorted shaking his head in denial.
“Because you were afraid that he wouldn’t stop and then your beloved would be
nothing more than a…”
Bruce’s gloved hand rose in a stop gesture; he couldn’t hear the word ‘rapist’
for Clark.
“It won’t happen again, Alfred” he cut him in conviction.
The Englishman shook his head and his hand that caressed Bruce’s locks lowered
to touch the youth’s cheek feeling with pain the swelling there: Superman had
slapped Bruce.
“You can’t know that, sir: the person who raises once his hand to punch his
loved one and acts so carelessly in other fields will do it again.”
Bruce widened his eyes and pursed his lips.
“No, he won’t” he said with confidence and Alfred frowned. “He decided to end
it.”
“He told you so?”
“No; but he has an affair…with the Princess.”
“You can’t be sure…”
Bruce stilled his eyes on him and a faint bitter grin brushed his face.
“I saw them having sex…last night, on a rooftop. It’s over.”
Alfred closed his eyes: not only that man abused sexually his young master but
also the same night cheated him. His boy’s heart must be shattered. He cupped
his young master’s face with both hands.
“I’m so sorry, sir…” he shook his head “honestly…” especially since his young
master’s stare was so empty of life. “But…you know…” he tried to smile for
Bruce’s sake “when something ends new things start, better things” he pressed
his lips “And you’re so young, Master Bruce” but the youth’s stare was empty.
“Please, do come upstairs, Master Bruce…Your wounds need tending…We must call
Leslie: there could be new damage done, a new injury…” Bruce was shaking his
head resolute. “I implore you, Master Bruce…”
“No, Alfred; nobody should learn about this” his eyes were flashing and Alfred
nodded.
“At least let me take care of you, sir…You need rest and good food and…and some
painkillers like when…”
A sharp intake of air from Bruce made Alfred stop abruptly.
“Please, Alfred” he smiled patting his butler’s wrinkled hand. “I’m fine; you
just take care of Dick.”
Alfred stood and nodded though his heart had fallen.
“As you wish, Master Bruce.”
Suddenly, a black and white fur ball jumped out of the lift and hurried to
Bruce who startled saw Hero halting abruptly some inches away, seeing his
master dressed like this – and there was no smell. But after a second of
thought the kitten surged to his human friend and climbed to his lap purring
and rubbing his head to Bruce’s hand urging him to pet. He obliged and looked
at Alfred who smiled despite being distraught.
“He followed me. I tried to stop him but…” he shook his head “he is a stubborn
kitten – like his master – and slipped through my feet in the lift. But he
stayed there till now” he snorted “I guess he is a very discreet animal. You
have a very clever kitten there, sir!”
Bruce smiled scratching the back of Hero’s head making his purring louder.
“Superman found him…” he said thoughtful and Alfred realized that his young
master worried that Superman might take the animal from him.
The Englishman shook his head pursing his lips.
“Indeed. But he gave the kitten to you and from that moment you’re the one who
takes care of Hero and, if I’m permitted to say, it is obvious young master
Hero that favors to you.”
Bruce chuckled and for the first time Alfred’s world became a little lighter
that day.
“You think that we might end up in courts for Hero’s custody?”
“I think that Superman right now gives priority to the most meaningless things
and neglects the really important.”
Bruce just pressed his lips which move was paid with a sharp pain and the wince
wasn’t missed by Alfred who however didn’t comment.
 
“You talk about abducting and forcing him…I’d never take part in something like
that – leave him out of this and we can have our sessions.”
“Nah…nah…nah…You see, Joker can’t be deciphered without Brucie – HE IS THE KEY.
This man completes me – if he talks I’ll talk…”
 “Weeeeell? If I get Bruuuuucie’s participation you’ll be our doctor? I’m sure
he is as fascinating as me…Hehe…”
 “Mr. J, I’d ask you not to attempt anything against Mr. Wayne…They’ll catch
you – they expect you to do something like this.”
“Dooooon’t worry about this, sugar. Now to the Buuuuuut part?”
 “I’ll be your therapist…”
Bruce tapped his fingers on the bench as the record from Harleen Quinzel’s
phone calls ended. So that was Joker’s plan? To get him and with Quinzel’s help
– and Crane’s – put him through a ‘therapy’? That way Joker hoped to make Bruce
admit that he was Batman and trap his psychotherapist driving her to his world.
From the first time he met Dr. Quinzel Bruce sensed that her relationship with
Joker wasn’t plain and when he watched the video of his escape this feeling
galvanized – it was the reason he had put a bug to her phone line. Bruce was
sure that Joker would want to exploit his victim to the end.
He turned his head to the Tumbler from where a pissed meow echoed; a smile
cracked his tired face. Hero had climbed on the car’s roof and made several
jumps trying to catch the bats that hanged upside down from the ceiling. Of
course despite sleepy the birds managed to twitch and avoid the aggressive
feline.
“Hero, let the bats sleep! They are friends!” he told him but he was sure that
his four-leg friend wouldn’t listen so he returned to his console.
Another thought sprang: Arrow. What was he doing in Gotham? Last time he saw
him was in New York and though Bruce had searched every local news outlet there
was no mention of this Robin Hood fan; so he wasn’t a local vigilante. Bruce
frowned. What was his role? He definitely saw a great interest for Bruce Wayne.
Perhaps he came here to see him again. Why?
“I disagree: we have our bomb…”
Arrow had remarked slyly in Batman’s ear when they saw... Bruce sighed. When
they saw Superman and Diana having sex on the City Hall’s rooftop. And it was
Arrow that told Batman about the supposed clowns entering the building though
Batman didn’t find anyone. Maybe this guy wanted to lure him there to see
them…But why? Maybe to brag and mock the two superheroes…Or…Well, that was
farfetched but still…Maybe Arrow knew the importance of what was happening for
Batman – but if that was true then Arrow knew Batman’s true identity. Bruce
frowned. He absolutely had to investigate that man and find out if he knew and
what he wanted.
He looked at the time in the right, down corner of his screen.
It was almost one in the noon and Bruce dreaded the moment Alfred would come
again to bring him some brunch because now that a pupil lived in the Manor they
had to eat later, after his return from school. He had reluctantly eaten some
of the breakfast his butler brought, only to offer some console to the kind man
who found out the truth and was devastated: Alfred was a helluva detective. And
of course he took his medicines: Alfred was reluctantly persuaded to not call
Leslie after figuring out about last night; if Bruce hadn’t taken his pills,
surely he’d have called her.
Clark hadn’t shown up…His heartbeat became slower. Bruce was sure that he’d
come back but today was Monday so he had to be at work. He clenched his fists –
since he couldn’t do the same with his jaw; the pain became worse as the hours
passed. He’d end it as soon as Clark came. Bruce had promised to stand by him
through this…but Clark decided that didn’t want to. And maybe – Bruce at last
could admit it – it was better to handle this case without keeping Superman
close to him; Bruce would respect Clark’s decision…
He saw again Superman and Vivian naked on the rooftop, Clark’s inside hers, his
passion for her unmatched; his satisfaction evident. And her triumph flashing
in her eyes that despite the fact that behaved normally weren’t real.
“I don’t like competition, boy; especially, from a filthy maggot like you!
 The burning iron in his chest pierced deeper and sent the pain to punish his
mind.
Bruce jerked his head; he knew that whoosh and that presence that came to stand
right before his computer bench the furniture between them. Hero hissed and
arched his back in aggressive stance, his hair on edge; and then the kitten
jumped from the Tumbler and rushed to Bruce standing between him and Superman
who had marched around the bench to stand closer smiling benevolently.
Bruce stood using the utilities of his new armor and Superman’s eyebrows arched
impressed. Clark made to move to him but Bruce raised abruptly his palm and
stopped him several feet from him – Hero’s growl intensifying the meaning.
The Man of Steel could easily discern the wounds and bruises he had done to
Bruce’s face and neck but the new armor – although it was exactly the same
externally with the previous, Superman knew it wasn’t the same - like the
former was lined with lead and thwarted him from seeing; however he was sure
that the human’s body was in worse condition – especially his ass…his groin
twitched remembering last night’s exertion and Bruce’s naked, writhing body
shining with hot sweat.
“Wow! Now that’s a cold welcome! So you can stand, Bruce” he tilted his head
“Lucius finally gave you the new armor.”
Bruce kept his arms loose at his sides.
“I thought to tell you but you had more important things in your mind.”
Superman nodded and his eyes took a sad hue that made Bruce’s heart squirm
urging the youth to hug him but he knew better.
“Yeah…” Superman inhaled deeply “these last days I was in a daze.”
Bruce’s eyes remained impassive, still and cold: of course, he didn’t expect to
hear an apology and Clark wouldn’t offer any. He hadn’t realized what he did.
“I thought you’d be at work” Bruce remarked indifferently.
“I took a leave” he smiled “I thought to spend the day with you.”
Bruce frowned internally and snorted but didn’t answer.
“I first went to your bedroom but the window was locked with something I
couldn’t pass” Superman continued frowning.
Bruce nodded.
“Indeed” he wasn’t going to explain to him the shield he used to keep the Man
of Steel out of his house.
Clark licked his lips uncomfortable and Bruce felt nausea feeling again that
cruel tongue torturing his throat and his nipples aggravating even the current
pain.
“Anyway, the cave is always open for Superman, huh?” the Man of Steel shrugged
chuckling.
Bruce shook his head keeping his cold stare.
“Not always…”
“Listen, Bruce…I understand your feelings…”
Bruce tilted his head smirking.
“Really now…”
Superman cleared his throat: the human’s attitude annoyed him yet if he wanted
to achieve his goal he had to stay poised.
“Yes…And about that. You were right for the tests I didn’t do in the Fortress”
Bruce raised his head pursing his lips. “I should have done them – I was
stupid. But it’s not too late. We can do them now.”
Bruce’s eyebrows arched.
“We?”
Superman nodded smiling and his eyes sparkled with the innocent, clear shade of
blue that made Bruce’s heart melt.
“Yes…that’s the reason I took a leave. We’ll go together to the Fortress to
have my tests done”
Now Bruce frowned.
“Why am I needed for that? You’re a big man” he asked coldly.
“I want you to see with your own eyes that I’m not fooling you again.”
Bruce twisted his eyebrows and shook his head.
“If you say that you’ll do it I don’t need to come and see.”
“I also hoped to have some days just for the two of us” Bruce opened his mouth
in realization and nodded “Like the good old days…to escape from all these.
Your bedroom there waits you…Remember?” his voice became touched and sensual.
Bruce remembered and these memories were salt in his aching heart yet he
isolated this weak member of his body. A smirk carved half of Bruce’s face.
“And” he pierced Superman with his eyes “you’ll lock me there and threw the
key, right?”
Superman pressed his lips and his eyebrows formed an ugly frown: Bruce was so
clever. Damn!
Bruce nodded.
“So that’s the plan, Kal El? Imprison your human slave not allowing him to
pester you constantly about the supposed Diana?”
Superman regained his calm expression and stared at Bruce innocently but Hero’s
constant growling was very talkative.
“You’re not my slave, Bruce; you’re my lover” he said sensually and made to fly
to him but Bruce’s cold glare stopped him.
“Not anymore, Superman” his voice was icy and fierce.
Superman narrowed his eyes and shook his head.
“It is about last night? I know I was a bit harsh but admit it, Bruce: you do
like it this way – you never asked me to stop; you didn’t say anything” he said
accusingly and Bruce shook his head with cocked eyebrows affirming in a
sarcastic way. “And you promised that you’ll stay with me…” he continued
aggressively.
But Bruce didn’t let him finish.
“Until you’d decide otherwise.”
Superman nodded with conviction.
“Exactly. I didn’t decide otherwise; I want you with me.”
Bruce grinned though his heart ached and his guts twitched but he ignored them.
“You decided, Superman, to shove me away.”
“I never said…”
“You decided with your acts!” he cut him abruptly with a voice sharp as razor
and Superman’s eyes bulged. “I saw you having sex with her on the City Hall’s
rooftop” his emotionless eyes flashed like lightning.
That was a great surprise for Superman who crossed his arms lowering his lead
and licked his lips; after some seconds, he lifted his eyes to Bruce and there
were animosity and jeering.
“So you stalked me! As if snitch me to Jor El wasn’t enough!”
“I didn’t say anything to Jor El: I didn’t contact him” Bruce snorted “you see
I trusted you and I didn’t imagine that you’d lie tome for something so
important. He was worried because you never went back for your tests and he
contacted me through the wheelchair’s communication system.”
However this didn’t appease Superman.
“That doesn’t change the fact you stalked me last night! You should have stayed
laid on your bed since” he cocked his eyebrows “I supposedly hurt you but you
wore that suit and followed me to watch my every move!”
Bruce grinned and shook his head.
“Don’t be more ridiculous that you already are!” Superman clenched his fists
ready to attack but he restrained himself gritting his teeth. “But when you
choose the City Hall’s rooftop to get laid then it is as you beg for Batman to
see you.”
Damn! How could he imagine that Bruce had a new armor that enabled him to stand
and walk and that he would leave the Manor to patrol the city? Especially,
after what happened; he had seemed completely defeated when Superman quenched
his desire and let him collapse on the mattress.
Bruce continued.
“After that you realize that you have no place in the Manor or the cave again:
as a matter of fact, after you leave, you’d find that both places are from now
on inaccessible for you. You made your choice and I respect that, Clark; now
it’s my turn.”
He turned to the computer bench, his back a clear sign of dismissal. However,
Superman was determined to not retreat so easily: he couldn’t stand the thought
of Bruce being obtainable for all these men surrounding him. The images of Thor
fucking him under the bridge, although he knew that weren’t true, haunted his
mind.
“Don’t you dare blame this to me!” Superman roared and several bats startled
flew from their positions yet Hero didn’t even glance at them gritting his
teeth and growling at the alien, his eyes sending daggers. “You never believed
in this relationship! Though you knew that the devious plan of Al Ghul threw me
to your feet, not only you didn’t thwart me from slipping in a relationship
with you, but also enjoyed having me burning from desire and not satisfying
me!”
Bruce’s eyes were wide, emotionless, still, looking at the days of the past…at
the Fortress, at the island…
“You never invested in this! You always expected me to do everything – to offer
you my love. And now with the first difficulty you put an end to what we have!
You wear this armor to confront me because you’re afraid to do it as Bruce
Wayne because Bruce Wayne is a scared brat who in the first ordeal whines and
sniffs and runs away!”
Bruce’s heart was already stabbed so many times the last hours that these new
stabs felt like scratches. His eyes remained steady as his breath.
“You put that end, Kal El; you were the one who acted like a brat – you
promised to fight this, you promised to do the tests and stop seeing that woman
but not only you didn’t do anything of these but also you accused me of
infidelity, you punished me for this and the next moment you did the exact
thing for which you accused me. You came here with no intention to tell the
truth but to fool me into going to the Fortress so to imprison me to keep me
along with that woman. And when I saw through you, you blame me for everything”
he snorted. “Very brave, Superman…Very mature, indeed.”
This was an insult for Superman; he clenched his fists and his teeth rattled.
“I saved your life, you ungrateful bastard!”
Bruce didn’t turn to see him just yanked his head.
“I know and I’ll be always grateful to you, Superman. But that doesn’t mean
that I have to tolerate you telling me lies, accusing me for being so filthy to
cheat my loved one and fucking me worse than you’d do with a plastic doll” he
finally turned to look him in the face calmly but resolute as granite.
Superman was shocked at how stony that face was; how determined those eyes were
and at the same time bereft of any emotion.
“Stay away from me and Gotham” Batman growled in his raspy, cold voice.
Superman shook his head and smirked.
“You can’t keep me away from Gotham” he chuckled. “I know the true condition of
Batman and he isn’t as formidable as he was” he licked his lips. “You think
that you can intimidate Superman?” he cackled. “Please, Bruce: your armor might
be able to make you stand and walk but your legs are useless! You’re a
cripple!”
Bruce’s hand like a flash took the Knife of Justice that was stashed in the
case under the bench and threw it so fast that Superman saw just a blur and
realized that it was a knife only when the blade cut his upper arm ripping his
suit, grazing his skin and spurting blood drops. It hurt like Hell.
In the same blur, the knife hit on the rock wall behind Superman and scratched
again Superman’s upper arm before ending up to its master’s hand. Bruce
caressed the blade and placed it in his belt. He stabbed with his eyes Superman
who was squeezing the wound to stop the blood: It was so obvious that the Man
of Steel was completely unused to these things. And the skin wasn’t healing
itself like it should because this wasn’t a usual blade.
“I warned you about the Knife…And you’re right: my legs are useless but my
hands are still quite skilled with knives.”
Superman pressed his lips and looked infuriated at him, red waves in his irises
and sweat drops on his eyebrows.
“I’d suggest you don’t use your heat or laser vision on me…you remember how
effectively Ra’s Al Ghul used the blade to deflect it” he said indifferently.
“You’re willing to kill me?”
Bruce grinned.
“I don’t kill. But I know how to protect myself and my city.”
“What has Gotham to be afraid of? I’m Superman, damn it!”
Bruce nodded.
“Exactly…You have an entire planet to protect…”
Superman fumed but didn’t retort; he just turned and took off through the
waterfall.
Bruce pressed a button on the keyboard activating the shield that would stop
Superman from returning and collapsed in Tony’s wheelchair. The migraine he had
managed to imprison in the depths of his head now attacked with full force.
Exhaustion and pain allied with it. And mostly, Bruce didn’t want to stay erect
anymore even if the armor permitted him to… He was drained from energy or will
and suddenly his world had lost its sun, drenching him in icy darkness…
Hero meowed reluctantly but sweetly and climbed on his lap, licking his jaw and
staring at him with big, shinning, sad eyes. Bruce caressed the animal’s head.
“I know, buddy…I miss him already…”
Bruce’s eyes watered and the cave became distorted behind a liquid veil.
 
***** Chapter 39 *****
“Kate, unfortunately the situation is getting completely out of control as the
fire has spread to the entire floor” the reporter’s face was contorted in agony
as he spoke to the small TV’s screen; behind him the top floor of an apartment
building was on fire, thick black smoke clouded the clear blue sky and red
flames licked the building’s walls.
He was mopping the greasy floor of Dolcetto’s kitchen and his mind was numb,
filled with the pangs of his crippled arm and his clenched hungry stomach.
Signora Bruna stood above a pot that emanated mouth watering smells.
“Firefighters and helicopters can’t approach due to the black smoke and the
debris that sprang everywhere…oh!” his eyes turned to the direction of the
assembled officers. “Kate, news getting worse...people that got rescued from
the burning site say that a woman is still inside…”
A nightmarish collapsing sound made everyone duck.
“Tom?” the female newscaster asked her colleague.
“Kate, it seems that there’s no hope for the trapped woman…”
Bruce raised his bruised, bloodshot eyes and looked at the screen: perhaps, he
shouldn’t but still he was devastated when a person died; his eyes watered.
“What’s this?!” Tom, the reporter, exclaimed as thrilled and happy as the crowd
that was looking anxious to the sky.
The camera turned rapidly at the sky, at the spot where several fingers pointed
and Bruce gaped: it was something in the sky, an angel with red wings, who
emerged from the burning building, unscathed; in his arms, he held bridal style
a battered woman. As the angel descended to the paramedics who ran to him to
take the injured woman the top roof of the building collapsed.
The crowd cheered as the man – it was a young man not an angel - landed and
Bruce saw the poor woman nestled in his chest crying loudly; her clothes were
churned as her hair but she seemed alright.
The man gave her softly to the paramedics and took off swiftly smiling to the
people that were clapping and whistling to him.
The camera followed zooming at him unable however to catch up with him for long
yet Bruce was watching goggling the rapidly vanishing man. He was young, around
20 years, with raven, silk hair that formed a cute curl on his broad forehead;
his eyes that Bruce managed to see when he turned to the crowd for just a
second were the most beautiful eyes in the world: their color was the same with
the blue topaz in his mom’s ring and shone as much. And his smile as he gave
the woman to the paramedics…was sweet as the most delicious dessert.
Bruce’s heart missed several beats and he stopped breathing: his widened eyes
were fixed on the screen where they played and replayed the footage from the
flying man. That young man was so beautiful, so bright, like the sun and
Bruce’s eyes filled with tears. He forgot his hunger and the pain; he was
filled with that beauty and that kindness: the flying man’s face was full of
love as he saved the woman…he was goodness and grace incarnated and Bruce
wished he was the one in his arms and the burning building was Dolcetto…He
closed his eyes feeling the bliss…imagining himself saved under the angel’s
affectionate eyes…
But then a new crushing pain at his abused buttocks…and a cruel laugh. Signora
Bruna had kicked him and now fisted his hair.
“Stop dickin’ around, ya shit! Ya’r not here to watch TV!” her gleeful eyes
looked at the screen and Bruce felt that she defiled the flying man; Bruna
smirked. “Oooooh! Ya like his bulging prick, huh? That suit definitely shows
off his rich…credentials…” she croaked and Bruce blushed.
She pushed him to the floor and his face fell on the rag he was mopping with
but he didn’t care because he still had before his eyes the flying man: an
angel in blue and red, with his waving red cape and the yellow diamond in his
broad chest.
“Yes, Kate” the reporter’s elated voice said “once again the day was saved by…”
Bruce was scrubbing the floor but his ears were focused there to hear the
angel’s name but then a loud click stopped everything and he knew that Signora
Bruna had turned off the TV.
“Ya’r enough horny, already, littl’ slut! Do yar job an’ forget foreign pricks!
Yar asshole is only for Mistah Falcone!”
Her foot pressed Bruce’s back to the floor and he gasped from the pain. His
eyes filled with tears and his throat burned: beautiful angels weren’t for
him…he deserved only demons… He wasn’t worth to be saved by such a beautiful
angel…by anyone…
Bruce felt a compassionate hand touching softly his shoulder and he raised his
eyes to see Alfred’s serious face over him, his blue eyes filled with
understanding and silent commiseration.
“Master Bruce, I think it is time you took off that armor and got your much
needed rest” the older man’s voice was tender as if speaking to a wounded
person but also determined.
Bruce pressed his lips in a tight line: the sadness Alfred so masterfully hid
was so clear for him that became the latest rod to pierce his screaming guts.
He didn’t want the kind man suffering because of him: if only Alfred loved him
less…Sometimes Bruce wished that to spare the loyal Englishman from baring with
him the constant blows.
He smiled to Alfred and Bruce knew that it was a pathetic attempt of a smile
but for his butler was a ray of hope and Alfred reflected that smile, trying to
encourage the youth. Bruce nodded because he was afraid that if attempted to
utter anything, Alfred’s loving eyes would make his voice choke.
Alfred took the chair’s handles and stretched his body: he understood that his
young master had spent tons of physical and emotional strength and stamina and
he didn’t want the youth to exhaust himself more.
Bruce didn’t protest; he felt exhausted, on the verge of collapsing, but more
he didn’t have the mood to continue…Also, he knew that for Alfred pushing his
chair would be a great comfort; being allowed to offer his services. So he rest
his hands softly on Hero and let Alfred steer the wheelchair to the lift and
then to the master’s bedroom.
“I would suggest a nice, hot shower, sir” Alfred chirped as they entered the
bedroom.
The room was tidied up – Alfred’s work. New, clean maroon beddings, open
curtains permitting a mesmerizing view of the grounds and the Palisades. The
blue sky caught Bruce’s stare: there were some fluffy, cute clouds hovering
around but the sun was bright. Nothing short of last night’s infuriated sky.
Alfred followed his young master’s gaze and pressed his lips.
“The sun always rises again, Master Bruce…” he said hiding his emotions. “Even
after a great storm.”
Bruce didn’t reply because he didn’t want to sadden Alfred; he just nodded and
petted Hero’s soft back. Yes, the sun does rise every day but some storms leave
grave disasters back: especially, to some trees that have already seen and been
hit by many storms…They remain standing after each gale but bare the marks till
a new mark brands the deepest and leaves a huge wound gaping…
Alfred pushed gently the chair to the bathroom and Bruce downed Hero on the
floor; he smiled to his butler.
“I can shower, Alfred; I assure you, I won’t collapse.”
“If you say so, sir…I’ll place a set of pajamas on the bed and I’ll prepare
something light for you to eat…”
But Bruce shook his head.
“I’m not hungry, Alfred.”
“Very well, sir” he reluctantly let go of the wheelchair and Bruce still
wearing Batman’s armor opened the door ready to slither inside. “Master Bruce”
the youth looked at him “I have refilled the case with the butterfly stitches
in case you need some; you know I’m here for everything you wish” he widened
his eyes for emphasis “for whichever aid you’d like.”
Bruce’s smile was faint; a shadow of the previous months’ smiles and Alfred’s
insides formed a tight knot.
“I know, Alfred, thank you but I can manage” he lowered his eyes to Hero who
was staring at him almost with agony. “Hero must be hungry” he muttered and
locked his eyes with Alfred’s “can you…?”
Alfred nodded.
“Of course, sir! I’ll prepare your pajamas and I’ll feed him right away.”
“Thank you” his laborious smile dissolved and Bruce gulped “I don’t know what I
would have done without you…” his voice became raspy and hurried to enter the
bathroom.
The Englishman sighed but only after the water started running. He rubbed the
bridge of his nose.
“I wish I was truly so capable to make your life a little better, Master
Bruce…” he looked at the kitten who was staring at the closed bathroom door.
“He’ll be alright in there, Master Hero, but after we must take care of him.”
When Bruce came out of the bathroom with the bathrobe tightly wrapped around
his body, the exhaustion was overwhelming and his eyes hardly stayed open.
Truth be told, he had kept his mind stubbornly blank letting the water’s sound
echo in his skull’s cavities; he didn’t want to think anything because
everything will lead to the same…
And his insides were already clenched painfully pressing the air in his lungs.
In the bathroom, he realized that some stitches had ripped and he was losing
some blood so he replaced them; as well as the makeup in the visible bruises:
Alfred had understood yet he didn’t have to see them with his own eyes.
“I’ll tidy up the bathroom, sir” Alfred said taking in his master uneasiness at
seeing his butler in the bedroom because Bruce didn’t want him to see the marks
on his body while dressing. “Please, do call me after you finished.”
Bruce nodded and Alfred moved to the bathroom granting him some privacy; only
Hero stayed in the bedroom interrupting his food at times to stare at his
friend who placed in the headboard’s secret case the Knife of Justice that had
stashed inside his bathrobe and dressed as fast as he could.
The need to close his eyes and mind to be hugged by the sleep’s oblivion was
dominating and Alfred had prepared the bed with the fluffiest, warmest blankets
but Bruce hesitated to lie there…He averted his gaze and looked at the sweet,
mesmerizing flames in the fireplace: the warmth emanated from there melted his
tormented body.
“Alfred, you can come” he said.
“Is the room’s temperature comfortable enough, sir?” Alfred inquired catching
the youth’s stare on the fireplace. He was carrying the laundry basket filled
with the parts of Batman’s armor.
Bruce raised his eyebrows.
“Perfect.”
Alfred covered the distance between them.
“Then you can sleep now.”
Bruce stared at his eyes reluctant to be at this bed again and Alfred bit his
mouth’s inside guessing what might have happened there last night and how
difficult would be for the youth to remember the good moments in contrast with
his last night with Superman. However, Bruce grabbed his wheelchair’s armrests,
lifted his body and brought it on the mattress, Alfred hurrying to help him lie
down.
His body screamed desperately upon touching the softness of the mattress, the
toll of last night’s violence and the overall exhaustion punishing as his
healthy muscles relaxed. Bruce had to clench his throbbing jaw to not moan but
Alfred took in the wince and the sharp intake of air. He touched Bruce’s cheek
and the youth made a valiant effort to smile.
“I beg you, sir, do not spend your strength trying to hide your pain from me:
I’m here to assist you fight the pain…” he remembered Ms. Wayne’s beautiful
eyes that night she left the Manor to go at the alley to get back Master Bruce
from Falcone; the trust in those eyes was paralyzing – the trust that the
little boy would be safe with the butler. Alfred lowered his eyes because he
never managed to save the boy …The boy saved him.
Bruce’s eyes were fixed on him, reading his sadness.
“It doesn’t hurt much, Alfred” lying to him was futile and disrespectful for
the man and Bruce felt ashamed every time he was forced to hide the truth from
Alfred; minimizing the facts was more acceptable. “I’m just tired. And it’s not
important – I mean what happened…World has much more important and serious
things than my love life…And actually now I’ll be able to focus on my work:
there are so many things I need to do.”
Alfred nodded touched by his boy’s effort to not lie to him…entirely. However
he knew that it really hurt.
“Then a little massage, sir, might help ease the tension and since Master
Leench isn’t here I can offer my most amateurish efforts” he smiled and Bruce
reflected that smile and rolled his body on his stomach.
Alfred massaged carefully his young master’s back, angry at how stiff those
muscles were. What that bloody alien was thinking?! Bruce’s body needed extra
caution and care not be handled with such harshness. He could imagine what
Superman did to his master and Alfred dreaded to think what could have happened
if there weren’t those energy casts to hold Bruce’s body…
Suddenly, Bruce tensed.
“We must pick Richard from school” he uttered. “What time is it?”
He rose a bit to look at the nightstand’s clock but his butler pressed him
softly back on the mattress.
“We’ve got time, Master Bruce. And I was thinking of sending someone from Wayne
Enterprises to bring home young Master Grayson.”
Bruce’s eyes widened and become frozen. He saw again Chill’s enormous
silhouette in front of the Wayne Enterprises’ car waiting him outside the
school yard.
“No! I don’t want anyone else picking up the boy!”
Alfred understood what connection was done in his young master’s brain.
“I understand, sir; I’ll be the one who brings Master Grayson back home but I’d
certainly prefer to not leave you alone.”
Bruce looked up at him and gave a grin.
“He isn’t coming back, Alfred” and seeing his butler’s disbelief, Bruce nodded
and shook his head. “You’re right: I made some bad judgment on him lately…but
the Manor and the cave are perfectly shielded: he won’t be able to come in
unless someone lets him – not that I believe he’ll try to…” he inhaled “attack
me.”
He remembered Superman’s shocked expression when the Knife grazed him; Bruce
could say that there was a flicker of fear at realizing that he was vulnerable.
So he doubted that Superman would dare another encounter with the same blade.
Alfred stopped his massaging movements.
“You won’t let him in, sir…” his voice though stern hid pleading and Bruce
pressed his lips.
“You can rest assured, Alfred: I won’t.”
Alfred resumed his gentle movements that slowly had managed to ease somewhat
the tense from Bruce’s muscles.
“Pardon me, sir, for my insistence but you had said that you’d stay with
him…and that worries me that you will accept him back.”
Bruce stilled his eyes on the chocolate thick wood of the headboard.
“I was willing to stay and support him yet I realized that I don’t have any
influence on him anymore so I couldn’t offer him anything. I sent him away
because if I continued being with him, as he wanted, then I’d give him the
chance to do worse things than he did” he lowered his voice. “And Clark doesn’t
deserve to stoop so low…”
“To you…To do worse things to you…”
Bruce bit his swollen lip and closed his eyes to fight the pain.
“Not only. Superman’s contact with me would constantly increase the emotional
battle inside him that led to so much aggressiveness lately and I’m afraid that
he could burst out at random occasions. Clark had sex with her so there’s no
reason to continue this sick situation; now I’d be able to investigate things
more objectively.”
Alfred didn’t like his young master continuing being occupied with Superman: he
believed that it would open the wounds every time yet he couldn’t object. He
closed his eyes and resumed his gentle up-down movements with the tips of his
fingers until he saw his young master’s eyelids trembling, ready to cover his
eyelids. He went to the window and lowered the heavy curtains so that nothing
could disturb Bruce’s sleep.
When he returned to the bed Bruce had rolled his body on his back and Alfred
muffled him meticulously with the blankets noticing a faint crooked smile on
the youth’s sleepy face.
 “Alfred, I’m not a child to tuck me in bed…” a half asleep voice told him.
But then Bruce felt a slight disturbance on the blankets and saw Hero climbing
swiftly to curl beside his master.
“I won’t be alone” Bruce yawned “Hero will look after me: he is a formidable
opponent” he chuckled and relished Alfred’s grin “you can ask the bats in the
cave…or Superman.”
His face became serious.
“Do not worry about me, Alfred: I’m alright. I…I survived from worse…And” he
tilted his head on the pillow, his eyes becoming blank “we all knew that this
was a dream from which I would have to wake up some day…” his eyes returned to
the present and looked at Alfred’s tense face; he pressed his lips and raised
his eyebrows. “The sooner the better, right?”
Alfred nodded and caressed Bruce’s hair.
“I know you’re the bravest and the strongest man there is however…” he inhaled
deeply. “There are people around you to listen to you whenever you want to
speak – and I’ll be honored if you consider my humble self one of them.”
Bruce looked him in the eyes.
“Always, Alfred…” but his eyelids were already too heavy and Alfred’s caress
was so relaxing that he let them cover his eyes.
The British watched carefully Bruce’s breath till he was sure that the youth
was sound asleep and petted Hero that was licking his paw and rubbed it to his
nuzzle.
“Stay with him, Master Hero; I trust you that if you see something worrisome
you’ll come and alert me, right?” he winked and the kitten did the same causing
Alfred’s smile.
 
Superman stood on the rooftop of the Daily Planet building; he was gazing at
Metropolis which was washed by a bright sun that made its imposing, glimmering
buildings blinding. People were marching the pavements and cars sped: it was
noon and everyone was either returning home or taking a lunch break.
He heard Diana’s landing and her strong feet approaching him but he didn’t
turn; he was deep in his thoughts and his feelings. The wound from the Blade
hurt: it began healing but too slowly – he was sure that it’d take days and
that was unbelievable. That damn knife! He couldn’t believe that Bruce used
that to wound him…and the fucking blade grazed him and the flesh was struggling
to heal itself…it stung horribly.
He had changed his uniform because he didn’t want anyone to see Superman’s
attire ripped or suspect that he could be hurt. More he didn’t want Diana to
see him like this; to consider him weak.
He could admit to himself that he had acted stupidly: Bruce was far too clever
to fall for his trick. Superman had overestimated the human’s will to sustain
their relationship; he had believed that Bruce would still want to persuade him
for his loyalty and love and would accept to follow him at the Fortress
muffling his paranoia and suspiciousness. Unfortunately, Bruce had seen him and
Diana on the rooftop – damn! How could he imagine that the human would manage
after that stormy sex to dress up and patrol Gotham? Damn you, Bruce!
He had tossed the dagger to hurt him; he saw the hatred in Bruce’s eyes. He
would have killed him if he wasn’t so self righteous: it was Bruce’s moral code
not his love that stopped him from stabbing his heart.
He felt Diana’s strong and simultaneously sensual hands touch his shoulders;
she kissed the back of his neck sending goose bumps to every corner of his
body. Her perfume made the sun shine more jubilant.
“You secured Wayne?” she whispered in his ear and Superman though at first felt
that this sounded evil he immediately changed his mind.
“No” he sighed. “He didn’t agree to follow me.”
The warmth of Diana’s body distanced a bit from his and Superman turned to her
seeing her narrowed eyes.
“Didn’t agree? You didn’t need his agreement” she said exasperated. “He is
yours; he shouldn’t disagree with your will.”
Superman grinned.
“Bruce isn’t like that…”
She snorted and crossed her arms.
“I know! He is an arrogant, insolent brat who likes to pose as a proud human
and insult better people than him. You could have made him follow you” she said
arching her eyebrows with emphasis and determination.
Superman shook his head: right now that he was somewhat calmer he knew that he
didn’t want to kidnap Bruce though he could admit to himself that he wouldn’t
have managed even if he tried – that Knife was really dangerous in Bruce’s
hands. But of course he couldn’t say it to Diana: he didn’t want to lose her
admiration.
“No, I don’t want to be violent to him or become a common pervert by kidnapping
him” he pursed his lips. “I don’t think that Bruce is worthy of it” he brushed
Diana’s jaw and smiled. “So I ended what I had with him: once and for all. I
realized what I really want” he cupped with both hands her face and brought it
near his. “You…”
He touched his lips to her rich, ruby lips and sucked closing his eyes in
delight; however Diana had her eyes open and watched Superman’s every reaction
following his rhythm at first and then immersed her fingers in his locks
ruffling them violently as she deepened the kiss. It was time she celebrated
her triumph.
Superman wrapped her back in his arms and shoved his tongue in her mouth to
tangle with hers; his groin twitched madly sensing the vibrations of Diana’s
hips. This pleasure was enough to forget the numb feeling and the void in his
guts from the moment he ran from the cave…He was glad that Diana didn’t imagine
that Bruce saw them together and he was the one that ditched Superman away.
“Then we don’t have to hide from anyone…” Diana murmured slyly stopping
abruptly the kiss. “We can show that spoiled human the real happiness and love
the Lord of Krypton deserves and now has” she smirked. “Make him understand how
inadequate he is.”
Superman widened his eyes: Bruce already knew but still Superman didn’t feel
ready to let the people around him know.
“You hesitate?” Diana asked frowning, her voice demanding.
“We don’t have to prove anything to anyone; everyone will know eventually.”
Diana lolled her head to the side cocking an eyebrow.
“Certainly…” she crooked her lips and captured again Superman’s mouth, who
didn’t resist the chance. “Besides who cares if anybody knows: it’s enough that
we’re finally together…” she wrapped her arms around Superman’s back and rubbed
her strongly built body to his. “My apartment is at the suburbs…” she bit
softly Superman’s bottom lip and the intoxicating air from her lungs caressed
his hot flesh.
Her eyes filled his entire world as his body began burning in desire to get
inside her so he wrapped her waist and took off to the suburbs.
 
Tony was sprawled over his ergonomic desk chair inside his office at the
Avengers’ Tower. Feet crossed at the ankles on the table he was tolerating his
employees’ reports about the coming StarkExpo. The happy sun that invaded the
room from the three whole wall windows was a big consolation but also a big
temptation to brush the teleconference option at his phone’s screen: Screw the
businessmen – fly to Malibu – enjoy the sea and the sun. Big sigh…When he
decided to become an adult? Stupid, Tony…
“I want the central exhibition stand for Wayne Enterprises” he interrupted with
his almost rude way one of his suit-dressed, serious employees.
The man in the one of the five holograms in front of Tony’s desk frowned and
his face filled with mockery.
“Mr. Stark, I know how fond you are of these Enterprises but I’m not sure that
anything they can produce is worthy of the central stand in the StarExpo. This
stand is throughout the years devoted to Stark Industries” he nodded. “And
rightfully.”
Tony chewed the end of his pencil and stared at the man – a yuppie at his 35.
“Mmm…” he pouted “Brenda, right?” the man rolled his eyes exasperated.
“No, Mr. Stark” a blond hot stuff that happened to be his best engineer
corrected him from the hologram on the right. “I’m Brenda, he is Brandon.”
Tony smirked.
“Call me Tony, hon…” he winked and the girl – hardly 23 – smiled. “Sorry for
that but Brandon – Brenda, who cares?” he said to the man shaking his hand
dismissingly. “Well, Brandon, I appreciate your loyalty to my company but I
happen to know the best for MY company. And Wayne Enterprises had already
manifested their pioneering creativity” Brandon was ready to interrupt him but
Tony fixed him a sharp glance and stopped him. “And what we’re going to exhibit
in StarkExpo is gonna make a great impression.”
Brandon shrugged.
“As you wish, Mr. Stark.”
Tony stretched his body almost lying on his chair’s back and brought his hands
in the back of his neck.
“It goes without saying, my friend…” he uttered self-satisfied.
But his loose posture stiffened when the door opened almost silently to reveal
Pepper – of course, Tony knew already who was because the door opened
automatically only for her, him and Bruce. Well, Bruce was in Gotham, so…
Pepper was collected as ever but with an angry frown that Tony didn’t like.
“Thank you, boys and girls” he dismissed them with a snap of his fingers and
brushed the option on his desk phone dissolving the holograms; he took his legs
off the table to lean towards Pepper.
“He was a doppelganger of mine” he hurried to say cocking his eyebrows
innocently “a bad replica” he saw Pepper rolling her eyes. “The one in the
strip club last night – I was here with Fury…You can ask him” he arched his
eyebrows “not that he is my employee but he is veracious…” he almost choked in
that.
Pepper marched to his office holding her tablet and Tony scratched his hair.
“Luthor is released” she said without further delay. “Gotham’s DA office made a
short announcement.”
She sat at the small, round armchair opposite his desk and Tony fisted his
hands, pressing his lips.
“The bastard!” he huffed but then lolled his head. “However we knew that they
couldn’t hold him much more in jail” he snorted and slapped the desk. “Fuck!
Thinking his smug, stupid face makes me want to smash his bold head…” he
noticed that Pepper was upset and it was obvious that the reason was something
else.
His eyes stabbed hers.
“What happened?” he demanded.
Pepper gritted her teeth, her eyes sparkling touched and infuriated at the same
time.
“Local and national media rave about something else” her voice was distorted
with seriousness.
“It’s Bruce, right?” he felt his blood freezing in his veins and a shadow was
cast over his features.
She stood determined, made the circle and placed her tablet on the desk in
front of him; Tony frowned, bad assumptions filling rapidly his brain. Pepper
leaned and brushed the screen starting the video she had on full screen.
The video began with the image filled with the bottom parts of two intertwined
naked bodies: it was pixelated yet it was easy to figure that it was a perfect
male ass in front of a female vagina; the ass moved back and forth with such
strength and speed that Tony cocked an eyebrow in admiration, with his eyes
widened. The woman’s legs were wrapped around the man’s hips and clenched him
pushing her blurred groin to his.
“It would be a better porn clip if they hadn’t covered the essential parts…and
under heavy rain in a rooftop…nice idea” he pouted and lolled his head to the
side to get a better view.
However Pepper remained stern and stiff which caused Tony’s suspicion. He
looked at her but she gestured to the screen.
The focus left from the couple’s joint genitals and got distance to contain
slowly their entire bodies. The sound of flesh rubbing and slapping flesh
towered the roar of the heavy rain that washed their perfect bodies.
“Great boobs!” Tony exclaimed and then narrowed his eyes. “I have seen these
boobs before…” he looked immediately at Pepper appeasingly “professionally…”
Pepper didn’t have the mood even to glare at him and Tony knew that this was a
bad omen. And finally figured the reason: the camera zoomed to the faces that
were united as their mouths danced together; the image was completely clear:
two flashed faces, sweaty with plastered locks framing their sparkling eyes
that were almost black from their dilated pupils.
Tony gaped; his eyes two blazing stones. And then his face became distorted
with rage. He punched the desk and Pepper wondered how the wood didn’t crack.
“The motherfucker!” he shouted and his breaths were rasps and roars.
Pepper pressed her lips.
“The video was broadcast by GCN and rapidly was taken by every news outlet in
the states and worldwide: the date is of yesterday.”
Tony yanked his head backwards.
“The bastard! I warned him, damn it!”
Pepper bit her lip; she wasn’t sure if he was referring to Bruce or Superman.
She touched his shoulder.
“Tony…”
He shook his head gritting his teeth.
“I told that fucking alien that Bruce is sensitive; I told him to not engage
him if he wasn’t sure; I warned him that he would break Bruce’s heart…but he
didn’t care! He thought only his dick”
He pressed his hair to his head and instantly Ironman’s armor engulfed his body
while the whole wall window opened.
“Where are you going?”
He looked at her, his face still uncovered.
“To Bruce” he shook his head and huffed. “Bruce…” he lowered his voice “you
believed so much in this scum…Aaaah! Little guy…”
Pepper held his upper arm and her eyes became stern.
“You need to be careful and not your usual impetuous self” she blinked. “Bruce
may have not learnt anything yet.”
Tony licked his lips.
“I doubt it: Bruce is constantly updated about his city’s news” he inhaled.
“However, I’ll be discreet” the face plate took its place and Pepper shook her
head sighing because Tony Stark and discreet were two contrasting concepts.
He rushed out of the window that closed after his departure; Pepper watched his
figure in the sky getting smaller and shook her head. She was sure that Tony
although he always liked to be right this time he wished to had been wrong in
his opinion about Superman.
 
Alfred was ready to leave the Manor to head for Richard’s school to pick him
up; he wanted to be early there to oblige to Master Bruce’s wish. Of course he
didn’t feel right to leave his young Master alone while asleep and with
Superman dissatisfied on the loose; yet he couldn’t disobey him.
When the doorbell filled the ground floor with its stentorian sound Alfred was
already in front of the door. He frowned but opened.
“Leslie?” he asked flabbergasted seeing his old friend; it was her evident
upset that made him the greatest impression. “Is anything wrong?”
She burst into the foyer and looked around.
“Is Bruce here?” her voice was firm as always but also with a discernible
agony.
Alfred closed the door calmly.
“Master Bruce is sleeping and I was ready to bring home Master Grayson.”
Leslie nodded but her eyes were narrowed.
“He isn’t feeling alright? I know it’s not in his habits to sleep at this time
of the day.”
Alfred remained poised: he wasn’t going to betray his Master’s trust.
“He was feeling very tired so he decided to take a nap.”
Well, Leslie’s face was full of disbelief but the reason she had come was other
so he let that aside for now.
“So he hasn’t seen the video yet.”
Alfred frowned.
“What video?”
Leslie inhaled deeply.
“Every TV station in Gotham plays it constantly and the nationwide too” Alfred
was fraught: what that video could be to concern Master Bruce? Leslie gulped
but her eyes were sparkling furious. “Superman with that Wonder Woman on a
rooftop, fucking!” she spat and pressed her lips. “Asshole!”
Alfred didn’t seem shocked and Leslie noticing narrowed her eyes.
“Bruce knows already…” she exclaimed realizing. “How? Superman confessed to
him?”
Alfred hesitated to answer; he didn’t want Leslie to make a fuss about Bruce
wearing the armor and going out.
“No, Superman didn’t say anything to Master Bruce.”
Leslie crossed her arms and locked eyes with him.
“Alfred, you know how much I care about Bruce and I’m his doctor so tell me
everything. NOW.”
“You won’t pester or reprimand him…”
Leslie let a bitter smile crook her lips.
“After what Superman did?” she shook her head. “I’d only hug him” she cocked
her eyebrows. “If he lets me of course – we all know how he likes to hide his
suffering.”
Alfred nodded thoughtful.
“Well?” Leslie prompted him.
“He saw them that night; yes, he was out in his new armor…”
Leslie yanked her head and huffed slapping her thigh.
“That boy! That stubborn brat!”
Her friend understood her feelings but now that wasn’t the point.
“He had to get outside; to clear his mind, to feel free” he inhaled. “I don’t
blame him, Leslie. But a video? Who could have seen and recorded them?”
Leslie shrugged.
“Maybe Bruce has some idea but I really don’t give a damn. The only think I
care about is our boy and his broken heart. How is he?”
“He finished the relationship with Superman and tries to persuade me that it
was nothing” Leslie arched her eyebrows prompting Alfred with her eyes to tell
his impression. “But he suffers, Leslie…it is so unfair and so cruel: all this
time, for the first time in his young life Master Bruce was happy; he began
living again; his eyes shone almost like when he was a child.”
Leslie pinched the bridge of her nose.
“I’d like to see him, Alfred.”
“Do not wake him up, Leslie; he needs sleep.”
She smiled.
“Of course not, Alfred.”
He gestured to her to follow him.
Bruce was aware that he was asleep; his exhausted, aching body felt like
hovering between the clouds but he knew that these clouds were actually his
mattress…No, he didn’t want any thoughts shadow the sky he was floating…with
stubbornness he shut every attempt on thinking…But then a beautiful perfume
caressed his nostrils…a strong masculine smell, sweet and fierce, grass and
wind, and clear, blue sky over the salty sea, and safety and love…
He moved his body towards the smell and hugged the pillow next to his without
waking; he plunged his nose and mouth to the soft pillow and the smell
paralyzed his mind and made his heart whine from pain… Clark’s perfume was so
powerful…as if he was still lying beside him…like he used to do, the good days…
And then Clark began singing with his suave, sweet voice, the hot air from his
lungs caressing his ear:
Moon river, wider than a mile
I'm crossing you in style someday
Oh, dream maker, you heart breaker
Wherever you're going, I'm going your way

Two drifters, off to see the world
There's such a lot of world to see
We're after the same rainbow's end, waiting, round the bend
My Huckleberry Friend, Moon River, and me…
“Bruce, I know you hear me even though you’re far away… Come back to me…Out
there is a vast world and you haven’t seen anything” he laughed bitterly.
“You’ll see that the world has many beauties not only horrors… you’ll see: the
world is beautiful and waits both of us. I’ll show you… But don’t leave me,
okay? You’re too young and precious to die…and life owes you so many happy
moments…I’ll give you that happiness, I promise” he whispered. “Just give me
the chance, Star…”
Bruce’s healthy body filled goose bumps from the pain and the love that cracked
this voice. He hugged the pillow and clenched it desperately because he didn’t
want to let this Clark leave…
He was kneeled on the snow-covered forest floor, he was naked above the waist
and his pants opened and drenched. Flass was dragged away from him by
something…Something that Bruce was fully aware that was Superman – the greatest
hero of all, the most beautiful being in the whole world.
His body was trembling and the icy cold wasn’t the only reason; his heart was
writhing thrilled. He had seen the man in Falcone’s party at the Manor and then
at the press conference but he was under his civilian identity: Clark Kent.
He heard his light footsteps on the snow approaching him and his heart kicked
in his ribs; his eyes wanted to turn up to marvel at him but he was Falcone’s
slave and Superman should not suspect the truth. He had no right to look at any
man.
Superman’s beautiful, blue topaz eyes were on his downcast eyes…so kind…so
sweet…but not for him…Bruce knew that he wasn’t destined for such a pure,
bright being…He wasn’t destined to be loved, to be happy…
“Can I call you ‘Star’?” the most beautiful, shy smile caressed Superman’s
embarrassed face and the man’s eyes were fixed  at Bruce’s eyes.
Bruce couldn’t fight a smile; his lips felt odd because smiling was so rare.
“I’ve been called worse…” he replied raising a bit his eyes to Superman’s face.
He muffled him in his red cape and it was so warm, so relaxing, with Superman’s
perfume so strong…Superman lifted and hugged him to take him back to the Manor,
back to Falcone…but Bruce for some minutes, in his arms could forget everything
in the world, even himself…He had melted and his head nestled in that broad
chest lulled by the alien’s powerful heartbeat…
“Are you afraid of heights?” Bruce could hear the satisfied smile in Superman’s
voice and also he felt his body’s shiver…and Superman never felt cold so the
Man of Steel really liked the sense of Bruce’s body on his. “I won’t let you
fall…”
But suddenly a thunder hurt Bruce’s ears and the sky became pitch black and the
rain was falling like waterfall – the wind was howling like a pack of hungry
wolves.
“You slander her – a noble, brave warrior – of being a whore while you are the
whore!”
The sound of the soft sea waves that splashed on the shore made his heart
loosen; two blue topaz eyes were staring at his face hued by the setting sun’s
golden-orange rays.
“…the moment you’ll be healed, I swear to Rao that you won’t get out of our
greenhouse for two months!”
He was hearing the sound of flesh on flesh, the wet rasps and the moans…the so
familiar moans of Superman and those of a woman. Their groins were united;
rubbing each other…greedy hands were hugging possessively Superman’s naked
back, nails digging the impenetrable flesh. Superman was rocking forward-
backwards making her body arch and convulse, her mouth open in groans of
pleasure as he sucked her round, bulged breasts…
Bruce felt his heart being squeezed inside his chest, big iron nails clawing at
the tender beating flesh, every drop of blood echoing like a drum. His lungs
were burning and he felt like there wasn’t any air as if he was having an
asthma attack.
Hero meowed sorrowfully and caressed his hurt Master’s cheek with his paw and
then licked as his mom used to do before someone took him from her and threw
him to a bin.
“It hurts so much, Alfred…” he whispered in his sleep in an exhausted voice.
Alfred stepped closer and caressed Bruce’s locks.
“I know, Master Bruce…I know” he mumbled. “But it’ll be alright…I promise…” he
wished he was confident about his promise but he wasn’t.
Leslie who stood over his bed looked at Alfred and the rugged doctor’s eyes
were cracked with sorrow, wet: she just couldn’t bare the sight of Bruce’s
suffering.
“After all the pain he’s been through all his life, being stabbed in the heart
by the one he loved with all his heart…” she pressed her lips so hard that they
lost their color. “My angel…”
Leslie patted her friend’s back.
“He is strong, Alfred, and we’ll help him: he is not alone…”
Alfred nodded.
“I just hoped against hope that Superman would not do that to Master Bruce…” he
shook his head and decided that he should finally oblige to Bruce’s wish.
“Leslie, I wonder if you can stay with Master Bruce? He asked me to pick Master
Richard from school: he doesn’t trust anyone with the boy. I don’t want Master
Bruce to be alone and Master Hero is definitely a formidable bodyguard but I’d
like a human here as well.”
“Certainly” she glanced at Hero who kept rubbing his head to Bruce’s cheek
purring soothingly. “Having all these problems of his own and taking care of
this boy as well: a boy that hates him. You know how much I admire our Bruce?”
she chuckled.
Alfred shook his head grinning.
“I have some idea…”
 
Alfred had just gone to fetch Dick from school when Leslie who was sipping some
bourbon from her round glass saw Ironman hovering outside the big, arch shaped
window of the grand salon. She hurried to open and he landed on the thick
carpet immediately deactivating his face plate and looking anxiously around.
“Hello there, young man!” Leslie said to him mock reprimanding.
Tony looked at her but his solemn face didn’t crack in some grin.
“Hi, Leslie, I’m glad to see you. Where’s Alfred? And Bruce? I called at his
office but he didn’t go today.”
Leslie nodded, understanding the reason of Tony’s haste.
“You saw the fucking video” she spat.
“Who didn’t?” Tony replied exasperated.
“Bruce; he is sleeping” she said gulping the rest of her booze.
Tony watched lustfully the descent of the liquid in Leslie’s throat: he
wouldn’t say no to one.
“Is he alright?” he asked, his raspy voice filled with worry.
“I asked Alfred the same; he is fine, just tired.”
“So he doesn’t know? I scanned an odd field like a shield around the Manor and
the cave.”
Leslie pursed her lips.
“I don’t know about the field, Anthony; as for the rest you should wait for him
to wake up” she didn’t want to say more because she considered it best if the
two friends discussed it together without a mediator.
Tony fumed like a beast looking around restlessly hardly containing his rage
and energy.
“The sonovabitch! He is going to break Bruce’s heart and in this delicate stage
of his recovery!”
“Don’t worry, Tony: I’m perfectly fine.”
Both turned towards the corridor that led there from the kitchen. Bruce smiled
to them petting calmly Hero on his lap. Tony cursed loud for not hearing him
coming but then noticed the chair Bruce was on and realization dawned to him:
Bruce was using his wheelchair and although that satisfied him, his love for
his buddy made him pain for Bruce since he understood what had made him chose
his chair to Superman’s.
Leslie placed her glass on the small, round, marble table under the window and
rushed to Bruce.
“Did you sleep well? Are you well rested?”
Bruce nodded.
“I am, Leslie, thank you” he took her hand and shook it.
Yet the doctor was looking frowned Bruce’s tired face and Tony who had in the
meantime approached did the same.
“Your eyes…” the billionaire from Malibu exclaimed. “You didn’t sleep at all
last night…” he shook his head and slapped his forehead. “Fuck!” he shouted and
Leslie glared at him.
“Yes, Tony: I was out patrolling last night with the new suit Lucius and you
made me.”
Tony yanked his head backwards and groaned frustrated. He slapped his face with
both hands and squatted in front of Bruce taking both his hands.
“Why? Why are you doing this, Bruce? Do you want to kill yourself?” and then he
remembered the video and the consequences and bit his lower lip – if Bruce
learnt about Superman and that woman his mindless behavior would become worse.
For Bruce Tony’s concerns were so obvious.
“I’m alive, buddy” he pressed his lips in a line reminding a smile. “I can
protect myself and the armor you built for me is full of gadgets” he inhaled
deeply. “I don’t intend on doing that more often so you can rest assure” he
looked up to Leslie who was anxious too and then back at Tony’s fervent black
eyes. “And I saw them on the City Hall’s rooftop” he licked his bottom lip.
“And…I finished what we had with…” he hesitated to utter the name because even
that burned his throat but reprimanded himself “Superman.”
Tony’s mouth stayed agape; he caressed his friend’s neck with both hands and
locked their eyes together.
“I’m sorry, little guy…”
Bruce smiled with pressed lips and shook his head.
“It’s okay, Tony…Actually, it gives me a lot of time and clear mind to work on
so many things that I have neglected – unforgivably.”
But Tony like Leslie could see behind his determined, nonchalant eyes and feel
the dim thud of Bruce’s wounded heart. His friend’s bravery to hide his pain to
not sadden his loved ones made Tony’s mind go crazy with love for the boy he
thought dead for eighteen years and hatred for the man who had broken his
sensitive heart after all the pain he suffered. He tightened his grip to
Bruce’s head and brought their foreheads to touch.
“Did he threaten you?” he mumbled and Leslie’s stare became aggressive only on
thinking about the powerful being threatening a disabled human.
Bruce smiled.
“No, he had made his decision. I just eased his job…”
Tony twisted his lips in disbelief.
“Yet you put a new shield around the Manor and the cave which I bet has
Kryptonite radiation and it is impenetrable for him” he gritted his teeth. “Did
he…” he remembered Pepper’s warn to not be impetuous “did he become
aggressive?’’
Leslie cupped Bruce’s hand.
“Did he, Bruce?” she asked affectionately.
“No, he didn’t” Bruce replied though he felt bad saying lies to them but he
didn’t want Tony to do something irrational.
Yet Tony still fumed; he jerked to his feet.
“I’m going to make him pay for that! I warned him to stay away from you; to not
play with you…and he…he…the bastard!”
Bruce closed his eyes.
“Tony, please. It wasn’t his fault: I let that happen. I’m not angry with him:
he offered me so much…Actually, I’m grateful: he saved my life” Leslie pressed
her lips unable to keep her eyes dry; she caressed the youth’s locks. “He
taught me that there’s pure romantic love in the world” he smiled to Tony’s
stony face “for a short time he gifted me the idea that this love can be for me
as well…His feelings just changed…either normally or with some effect. I can’t
blame him for this…”
Tony felt his eyes watering and this wasn’t a time for tears; he turned his
head towards the open window.
“But I can!” he spat and rushed to the window taking off.
 
Selina was sprawled on the blue couch in the lounge room of Steve’s cabin: the
fireplace in the corner was lit with the logs tactfully arranged in their metal
square case. It emanated an intoxicating smell of burning pinewood to the
entire room and Selina thought that she would start purring if she could.
It was afternoon and they had just returned from a stroll to the lake; they had
lunch on a restaurant with a splendid, panoramic view of the sun- washed lake.
She turned on the television and let it on a program with video clips.
Steve came out of the kitchen bringing two mugs with steaming, hot coffee. He
gave her the one and leaned above her to meet her hungry lips in a deep kiss.
He jumped over the sofa’s back and settled beside her, wrapping his arm around
her shoulders. Selina nestled in his strong chest pouting and Steve laughed.
“What?”
“I’d prefer it if that chest wasn’t covered with anything…” she touched her
fingertips to his neck and kissed his Adam’s apple.
She placed her mug on the shining wood table and grabbed the rim of his blouse
and pulling upwards. Steve tried to not spill his coffee laughing.
“How about we drink our coffee first?” he cocked his eyebrows amused.
Selina rolled her eyes and pouted.
“Are we married already?” she asked mock pissed and grabbed the mug from his
hand to put it on the table.
She took off Steve’s blouse and threw it on the armchair; then suddenly stopped
arching a playful eyebrow, her fingers caressing sensually his chest numbing
him.
“Mmm…Perhaps you’re right: let’s drink our coffee first…”
But he smiled broadly.
“No way, missy!” he grabbed her armpits and brought her to glue on his hot
chest, removing hastily her top leaving only her black lace bra. “I think I
hate coffee…” he sighed rolling the straps on her upper arms releasing her
round breasts.
Selina arched her eyebrows slyly and kissed his lips; she was straddling him.
“Now you’re talking, handsome…” she breathed sensually to his ear and Steve’s
mind went frenzy.
He grabbed her waist and rolled her under him, plunging his mouth to her soft
breasts. Selina ruffled his blond hair, moaning to his hot kisses on her
aroused breasts. Her hips began rubbing to his half hard groin; her hands
clutched the zip of his jeans lowering it in a swift motion as his hands
grabbed the crotch of her gym pants and underpants pulling both down freeing
her throbbing vagina.
Selina arched her neck, her eyes half closed, groaning as Steve’s dexterous
lips sucked her taut underbelly going lower… But then she caught with the
corner of her eye something on the TV screen and her hands stopped brushing
Steve’s back. Her interest focused entirely on the video playing on the screen
and her eyes narrowed as her breath was held in her lungs.
Steve stopped his ministrations and followed her stare; he detached and sat on
the couch as Selina gathered herself and sat properly to watch the footage on
the screen.
Superman and Wonder Woman were fucking on a rooftop under heavy rain…
Steve watched frowned Selina’s icy eyes that sparkled angrily like a wildcat’s;
and then the young woman stood up abruptly, pulling on her clothes and wearing
hastily her top. Captain America stood up, as well, wore his clothes and
cuddled Selina from behind, kissing the top of her head. She turned her head to
look at him.
“I must return to Gotham ASAP!”
 
It was late afternoon and the sky had taken the deep blue color that foretold
the falling of night; clouds had started gathering again but it didn’t remind
last night’s storm. The grounds looked too gloom under the setting sun.
Bruce guided his wheelchair aimlessly through the tiled paths trying to escape
from his thoughts. He didn’t manage to find Tony: even Jarvis didn’t know his
current location nor Pepper who however tried to soothe him.
 But Bruce did worry: his friend was distraught thinking him heartbroken and
sought Superman to confront him. He pressed his hair on his head and huffed; it
was his fault all this mess.
At least, Alfred took Richard to his training and the boy didn’t seem to notice
anything. Leslie had returned to the free clinic. Bruce was alone: he had left
Hero at the back drawing room to play.
He didn’t even raise his eyes at the hill where his parents’ graves stood; he
couldn’t stand even to think his parents right now: how ashamed they’ll be of
their son…once again.
He inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly to calm his heartbeat and make his breath
normal; Leslie’s eyes were so worried when she got in her car to leave; she had
suggested to exam him but Bruce refused every time because he didn’t want her
to see the marks…If Leslie saw the marks then the rest wound find out too and
things would get out of hand.
His body still ached where his senses were operating normally.
Suddenly, he looked around to orient himself: he was moving without noticing
his surroundings. His heart lost several beats and his eyes narrowed staying
still, fixed on what was in front of him.
A rectangular building with glass walls and triangular transparent roof. It was
long deserted but it seemed so alive…
Bruce pressed his lips to cause pain in his face so that the pain in his chest
was muffled: his heart after so many hours of suffering felt like a stone
smashing his chest. And now with that building in front of him his guts felt
like getting stabbed.
He opened the door and slithered inside; his gaze brushed the pots with the
withered plants, the working bench, the heater…the creaks of burning logs
invaded his ears…he moved to the bench and touched the oil lamp and the
greenhouse was set under the sweet hue of the lamp’s light.
“Let me melt the ice, Star and illuminate your haunted heart…”
He had panicked and averted slightly his lips but upon realizing that the
pleasant paralyzing wave from the kiss began leaving his body as Clark sighed
and began reluctantly taking off his lips, he touched again his lips to
Clark’s.
…Clark’s hands cupped the back of Bruce’s head caressing greedily his locks
while his other hand touched gently his jaw to deepen slowly, carefully the
kiss.
“I can show you how it is to be loved…” he whispered purposely looking all the
time to Bruce’s eyes giving him the ability to check his honesty. “If you
want...If you allow me…”
Bruce had inhaled deeply: he felt like drowning; his heart beat frantic both
from something he was experiencing for the first time and from something he was
very familiar with. The first he had read about, it was what normal people
called arousal - well, a very shy arousal in his case -, the later, he was
experiencing his entire life: it was a deep dread whenever he realized that
someone was ready to use him. But Clark didn’t want to use, he wanted to give
to him, to give him his vast love.
“You make me happy, Star...I love you…”
“Clark, I’m…”
Clark didn’t need to hear from Bruce that he loved him; it was too early and
Bruce had already made huge steps. He rubbed soothing circles on his back.
“Hush, Star...There’s no need for you to say anything…”
 “I want your first time to be perfect” Clark whispered in Bruce’s ear causing
a shudder in his spine.
Bruce’s moans through the kiss were enough for Clark to take him in his arms
and lay him on the blanket. Bruce’s eyes pierced Clark’s eyes and saw that
Clark was ready to be kicked away.
“You said you could show me how it is to be loved” he said determined.
Clark grinned broadly and let his body touch Bruce’s without letting his weight
fell entirely on him. He trailed kisses to Bruce’s jaw line and nibbled his
neck that arched to allow him better access and… Bruce moaned when Clark’s
mouth sucked his collarbone; yet his hand was still holding the cape tight on
his naked body and the Man of Steel was rasping, his heart beating frantically
eager for what he desired so many months and finally was so near…
“Let me worship your body…” his voice was cracked from passion and arousal and
Bruce just released that the fabric slid a little but didn’t reveal flesh.
Damn that cape! Clark thought and Bruce chuckled giving him the unsaid
permission to do what he wanted so much. However, Clark grateful for Bruce’s
trust took gently the younger man’s hands and led them to his suit’s unseen
spots that allowed the fabric to roll of his body. Bruce’s eyes widened
surprised and a bit overwhelmed but Clark brought Bruce’s palms to his lips and
kissed them softly; then he guided them in lowering the upper half of his suit
till the hips.
Clark smiled fondly seeing Bruce’s awed stare; it was so cute seeing that
child-like expression.
Bruce couldn’t help but gape at the endless layers of perfectly chiseled
muscles in Superman’s body. Even the tight latex of his suit didn’t prepare for
the naked body. Bulky deltoids, wide chest with round shaped pectorals covered
with curly raven hair disrupted by two erected, big brown nipples, his
abdominals dancing slowly with each breath.
Bruce rose and caressed with shaking hands Clark’s breasts. The Man of Steel
was watching without breathing Bruce feeling his body which welcomed him and
asked for more. When he touched his lips to Clark’s pectorals, kissing, it was
too much…
The Man of Steel hugged Bruce’s body and laid him gently on his back ‘trapping’
him between his naked arms; he bent his powerful body like a snake without
falling on Bruce and brought his face above Bruce’s.
“Tonight, I’ll worship you…”
He began unwrapping gently, respectfully his cape that stubbornly clung to
Bruce’s body...
He didn’t want to grab those thighs and just hastily spread Bruce so he
massaged the taut flesh from the knees to the hips and Bruce grunted only to
moan, groan and breathe shallow when Clark began nibbling the inside of his
thighs that began trembling uncontrollably.
Only then Clark opened gently his legs revealing his opening. His ragged breath
showed that he wanted to surge inside and claim Bruce forever but his sharp
intake of air stopped Clark; he rubbed soothing and arousing circles to Bruce’s
underbelly and penis causing him to close his eyes and sigh.
Clark covered his index finger with aloe and slowly caressed the perimeter of
Bruce’s anus bringing his finger in gradually only when felt the muscle
trembling ready. He tensed for a few seconds and then as the finger massaged
his inner muscle relaxed, fixing his eyes on Clark’s sweaty face framed by his
wild locks.
When Clark felt Bruce ready added a second finger carefully teasing the muscle
into relaxing it more and then he tinkled Bruce’s prostate making Bruce gasp
and shake. Clark pressed his lips, his raspiration was uncontrolled: this
gorgeous body was so much neglected of pleasant stimulation like a
Strativarious violin played for the first time after a hundred years of violent
scratches.
Bruce both wanted Clark to continue and dreaded it, something clenching his
insides painfully urging him to escape. His heart beat fast from arousal, want
and urge to flee; he saw Clark frowning and leaning above him to kiss his lips
lovingly.
“Do you want me to stop?” he breathed huskily searching Bruce’s irises but his
Star’s gaze became determined.
“Proceed” he said calmly.
Bruce closed his eyes and tried to breathe calmly though Clark’s length filling
him was his entire world. As Clark began thrusting incredibly gently but
stimulating at the same time, electric currents ran his spine making him
convulse; his body was waking, enjoying what for years was meant to cause him
shame and excruciating pain. He wrapped his legs around Clark’s firm glutial
muscles doing shyly the rubbing dance that excited so much Tony. It was
exciting to know that this powerful being was nestled between his legs holding
back his own satisfaction to not hurt him and he wanted to show his gratitude
for that.
“You can’t imagine how gorgeous you are, Star…” Superman rasped.
He nibbled Bruce’s jaw line and breasts as his head lolled backwards
overwhelmed by the hotness in his anus that spurt to his groin to burn his
spine with violent jerks that Superman’s body absorbed.
Clark came when Bruce did gaping.
They stayed like this for much time till Clark felt Bruce’s breathe feathery
light and his heartbeat peaceful in sleep. He pulled himself begrudgingly from
Bruce’s body holding him. Then he leaned him gently back on the blanket but
Bruce half asleep looked at him.
“I love you, Star…”
“You stopped calling me ‘Star’…”
Clark was sprawled on the mattress.
“It is really so important?” he answered tired and disappointed.
“I won’t let anyone harm you again…” Clark had breathed in his ear.
Suddenly, a thunder roared; yes, it was a stormy night over the greenhouse
then…
The eyes he so much loved were over his face again but the way they looked at
him was different: sarcastic, triumphant, angry, hostile…The red of his ire was
visible under that breathtaking blue topaz color.
“So beautiful…so rot…a real powerful seductress, indeed”
“You like powerful beings” he hissed through gritted teeth. “I’m Kal El, the
mighty Lord of Krypton, and you’re a cheap human…”
Pain…Disgust…Despair…
“Don’t hide your pain from me…I know it gives you pleasure and I can give you
more pleasure than anyone…”
“Beg me like you did with Bane…”
“Don’t you dare blame this to me!” Superman roared “You never believed in this
relationship! Though you knew that the devious plan of Al Ghul threw me to your
feet, not only you didn’t thwart me from slipping in a relationship with you,
but also enjoyed having me burning from desire and not satisfying me!”
He saw again Clark’s beautiful eyes, warm with love, gazing at his naked body
placed upon the blanket…his cheeks became hot and his head ached. Bruce felt so
ashamed: being naked in front of someone…opening his legs to someone…his body
trembled. His brain screamed to him indiscernible things that in the end
constructed one word: “ridiculous!”
He should have never let that happen.  Bruce was seeing inside Clark’s irises
himself naked with spread legs and it was the same he was seeing every time
Falcone, Chill and Ra’s used him: an ugly, disfigured, disgusting body…his real
body…
He hid his face in his palms but the air wasn’t enough, he couldn’t breathe so
he yanked his head drawing desperately oxygen…his heart beat like a convulsing
dying fish…You should never let that happen…It was stupid, it was a huge
mistake…it’s unforgivable…
He heard soft footsteps behind him.
***** Chapter 40 *****
It was late midnight and the small ghost shuffled out of the heavy, metallic
door dragging a huge bag with garbage. His right arm hanged like a log from his
shoulder and small clouds formed in the cold night as pants left his mouth: the
sack with the garbage was too big and heavy for him and his legs were too
skinny to carry the burden, especially some nights that the exhaustion and some
severe beating worsened the situation. So every other step he stumbled, hardly
maintaining his balance.
Selina looked around carefully for hostile eyes and rushed out from behind the
big garbage bin to help her friend. They were both at 14 years yet she, albeit
a girl, was taller and with more meat than Bruce: the food at the orphanage
wasn’t great but still was luxurious compared with the piece of bread her poor
friend had to live on… He looked much younger than her as his development was
stalled: he wasn’t short but he should have grown more, and the worse was how
skinny he was.
Bruce’s eyes bulged suddenly as he felt the burden becoming lighter and
realizing that it was his friend. Truth be told, he was engrossed in his
thoughts otherwise he’d have seen her earlier and stopped her before running to
him. He looked around like a small deer waiting to be attacked by a pack of
hungry wolves.
Selina wrapped her free arm around his shoulder and dragged him to the bin
carrying most of the burden.
“Nobody is watchin’, cool down, kiddo…” she whispered and released her friend’s
shoulder to hoist the lead of the bin; they lifted together the bag and tossed
it inside.
They hurried behind the rectangular garbage bin that hid them every night.
Selina rubbed soothingly Bruce’s back that trembled from the freezing cold and
as always from some brutal blows…the times her palm filled dried blood and deep
gashes were countless but she shuddered every time for Bruce’s suffering.
She hugged and held him to her chest to not see her pouting like a crying baby;
she wanted to hold him like this forever but she knew that it wasn’t possible.
Bruce kissed her cheek and then patted her arm affectionately; Selina knew that
they didn’t have much time so she let him detach from her and gave him his
sandwich.
Bruce began eating but Selina could see that he was elsewhere…well, Bruce
always was somewhere between this world and the other world where his parents
were now but tonight his giddiness had a different quality…his eyes
sparkled…well, her friend’s eyes always sparkled but in a melancholic way ready
to burst to tears while tonight his eyes were…thrilled…mesmerized. Selina
frowned watching carefully Bruce eating, his eyes looking inwards.
Suddenly, the boy focused again to the reality and locked eyes with the girl
who smiled.
“Sel?” he asked shyly.
“Mmm…”
Bruce’s eyes flashed.
“Have you ever seen him?”
Selina narrowed her eyes.
“Whom, sweetie?”
Bruce lowered his eyes and cleared his throat to hide his enthusiasm.
“That flying man who saves people: he wears red and blue and has a red cape
that waves and…and a yellow diamond in his…”the boy flashed remembering “chest
and…and he’s beautiful…”
Selina’s eyes widened because she could understand some things from Bruce’s
shaking voice and more from his lowered eyes. She took softly his chin and
lifted his face to look at her.
“Mmm…I think I know who you mean…”
Bruce smiled in his shy, scared way that screamed how unused this boy was to
smile.
“He’s an angel…His eyes are the eyes of an angel…Like…like gems…”
Bruce’s voice was so touched and warm that Selina felt her heart melting.
“He isn’t an angel: he is Superman.”
Bruce’s eyes widened innocently and he gaped.
“You have seen him many times?” his breath was cut in his chest and Selina
cupped his skinny cheeks.
“A couple of times when the cameras caught him, rescuing people or kittens…”
The boy arched his eyebrows.
“I…I saw him today…in Signora Bruna’s TV in the kitchen…Many times you said?”
his voice was disappointed because he was sure that he wouldn’t manage to see
him again.
Selina caressed his cold, soft cheeks and Bruce realizing that he had betrayed
his enthusiasm lowered his eyes. But the girl brushed the stray locks from his
forehead combing them back and met his eyes.
“Bruce, you like him, huh?” she asked kindly.
He avoided her eyes and looked down, gulping.
“No” he shook his head “how could I? I…I just saw him and…” he sniffed because
his frozen nose dripped a bit.
The girl shared the pain in her friend’s bonny chest.
“I thought many times go find him and ask his help…” she said swallowing hard
and biting her lips but Bruce jerked panicked shaking his head.
“No! No! No, Sel…you shouldn’t…” he breathed hard. “I can’t be saved…” his
voice dropped and Selina hugged him again trying to ease his uncontrollable
shaking.
“Ssssss… sweetie…calm down…People say that he was saving people for years…but
then he wasn’t showing his face…they were calling him ‘the Blur’…now everyone
calls him Superman and they adore him…” she was caressing his back and she felt
his trembling eased the more she talked about the angel from TV.
She had covered the miles to Gotham in record time thanks to Steve’s motorbike
and his knowledge of secret shortcuts. Selina saw the Manor but her instinct
told her that Bruce wouldn’t be there so she didn’t waste time there; she knew
where to find him like that morning.
And now his proud figure, imprisoned in that awful wheelchair was before her in
the shadows of the day’s last light; re-living the moments of the happiest
night in his life…Making the stab in his heart deeper…
She felt weak to help with that much pain: Bruce had already suffered so much
and that new blow… The young woman cursed inside: life was an ugly bitch! She
couldn’t accept such injustice, such cruelty. Life played with Bruce so
brutally bestowing him all this happiness, fulfilling his biggest dream and
then taking them away, breaking his heart that just opened up sucking some of
the warmth of sun…
She pressed her lips: she should not let her cowardice keep her away from her
friend’s side. She marched inside the greenhouse.
 
Loki was sprawled in his throne, legs bent at the knee over the armrest. Before
him in thin air, broadcast from mortal’s TV played covering the space from
floor to ceiling. He was chewing with noise a glistening red apple and watched
rather unimpressed some reportage about a starlet that stole the husband of
another actress. He yawned: some news: this was the world’s oldest story!
Suddenly, the newscaster, an old guy with gray hair and wicked eyes announced
the next theme as something ‘for adults only’ and Loki raised an eyebrow: he
wished it was indeed something juicy because he was bored to death and that
wasn’t good news for Earth.
His eyes bulged seeing a blurred male ass and a female groin and the naughty
god wondered since when humans became so cool to show such videos in the news
but soon his wonder was answered as the faces became clear.
“Bloody Me!” he exclaimed and jerked his legs off the armrests, his eyes
sparkling.
He lolled his head to different ankles to have a better view yet he was
disappointed.
“C’mon, guys! This is the NEWS! This is reality! We need the naked truth not
the Smurfs!” he threw his half eaten apple to the nude male statue opposite him
hitting the genitals. “Bull’s eye!”
The news had changed theme and Loki grim and disappointed plunged his chin to
his palm: he wanted more. He snapped his fingers and a lit lamp emerged on his
head; he raised his hand and pressed the button putting out the light.
“Is Superman fucking Wonder Woman…the one who shot that Oscar worthy short film
must have posted also the director’s cut of his masterpiece…” he chuckled. “And
there’s only one place for free speech…”
“Did you call, Your Highness?” a fairy popped out from thin air before him and
bowed.
Her lean, curvy body was lilac and her long, straight hair raven while her
wings were silver. Loki regarded her licking his lips: under her transparent
white silk rags she was completely naked, her small breasts singing to him.
“A God can speak to himself, Pixy!” he spat pissed for the interruption.
“Is Dixy, Your Majesty” she answered smiling sensually.
“Whatever…” he mumbled, snapped his fingers and the fairy vanished.
“Now…YouTube…for the naked truth!”
In front of him, the same image without any blurring.
“HD, 3D, if you please…” he said and the image became crystal clear and the
bodies almost alive. “Now we’re talking…and zoom…”
Loki pursed his lips and chewed the inside of his mouth watching Superman’s
length penetrating Wonder Woman’s vagina with such force that could break a
wall.
“Wow!” he exclaimed and his mouth stayed agape; he lolled his head as the
panting breaths became faster to the pace of the thrusts and Wonder Woman’s
rich breasts hopped frantic on her chest.
Out of thin air a banana fell on his lap and he grabbed the fruit.
“Huh! You’re in my mind…No, it is indeed my mind…” he pealed the banana
mechanically, goggling at the screen. “Ow! Ow! I’m jealous, guys!” he gulped a
huge chunk of his banana.
And then his smile became sly and his eyes shone gleefully.
“Poor Brucey…” he shook his head. “How can you sleep alone from now on?” he
cocked an eyebrow. “Or maybe my dear brother will come to comfort you and
fill…your void which judging from Superman’s huge…inner world” he lolled his
head to see better “it must be pretty big…” he grabbed the armrests and jolted
to his feet. “It’s time good Loki did his matchmaking duty…”
He trotted to the shining floor but then stopped and glanced at the frozen
frame of Superman sucking Wonder Woman’s swollen thick nipple.
“Don’t go anywhere, guys...I’ll watch it again for scientific purposes, of
course…” he winked and vanished.
 
Bruno Mannheim’s secretary entered his office after being allowed.
“Mr. Luthor at line 4, Mr. Mannheim.”
The enormous businessman cast her a grim glance filled with contempt which the
young woman didn’t care for since she was used to bad behavior from her
employers; Mannheim was paying better than every other so she was willing to
tolerate his snobbish attitude. After all, who gave a shit about those filthy
rich bastards? She only cared about her thick pay check.
Mannheim waved to her dismissively and the brown haired woman bowed slightly
and left.
As soon as she closed the door, Bagdana dressed in his leather attire emerged
out of thin air sat at the gray armchair in front of Mannheim’s desk. The
gangster blinked and Luthor’s voice echoed to the room.
“I’m on my jet to Metropolis; as soon as I land we can meet to discuss our next
moves” his voice was cheery, smug and full of confidence.
Bagdana twisted his lips with distaste and Mannheim cocked an eyebrow: he knew
the demon’s hatred for the tycoon and the reasons for that.
The raven haired businessman snorted.
“We don’t have to meet, Luthor: there’s nothing to talk about” he spat. “Make
me my machine immediately or else…” he inhaled deeply. “Well, I don’t think
that I must elaborate on that. You failed me once…a second failure will be
un…forgivable.”
Luthor was heard clearing his throat uncomfortable.
“You’ll have your machine, Mannheim; I’m not ungrateful.”
He cocked an eyebrow and Bagdana smirked.
“Prove it! Because I hate ungrateful humans” the connection was cut without him
having to do anything, just with his thought.
Bagdana crossed his legs and leaned to his armchair’s back.
“Tell me something…” he mumbled narrowing his eyes. “Why you chose a human to
build your machine?” Mannheim regarded him. “I mean, you hate humans; you
consider them worthless pests so why trusting Luthor of all humans to build
it?”
“Because this machine must know the characteristics of the species it will be
used to” he arched his thick, black eyebrows. “And to be able to adjust to
these characteristics, it is necessary to be created by a representative of
that species.”
Bagdana nodded, grinning slyly.
“Luthor caught my eye immediately: he is a very typical human specimen. Sly,
greedy, mean, smug, devious and…easy to be manipulated – stupid” he said like
spitting.
Bagdana touched the tip of his nose with his fingertip.
“And with all these…pros you trusted him to make your machine?”
The gangster tycoon stood and came in front of his desk leaning his waist to
the glass surface.
“He’s very efficient in constructing shady things and he doesn’t ask questions
when he’s handsomely rewarded or when he believes that he’ll be part of a new
world order; and he has many connections and his corporation has premises
expanded everywhere” he snorted. “Of course, your human” Bagdana raised his
head “cropped up in the middle to thwart our plans but…” he gritted his teeth
“he’s another human so he won’t be a trouble.”
Bagdana shook his head amused with his ally’s wrong estimation for Bruce.
“You know, every human being is not like Luthor…The human nature has countless
variations.”
Mannheim cocked his eyebrows smugly and roared.
“Variations that twirl around Luthor’s qualities and” he locked eyes with his
minion having a gleeful shine in his abysmal orbs “it’s entertaining invading
their minds and learning their every secret; every petty dirty sin…” he
sniggered. “I know why Luthor was so cheery…”
Bagdana’s rich lips twitched.
“He was just released from prison” he widened his eyes for emphasis.
The other crossed his arms that were enormous even in his human form.
“This is the least…” he puffed and in the air two naked bodies took shape; two
bodies united in wild intercourse. “I’m sure you recognize them?” he asked
snidely cocking an eyebrow. “These images eradicated everything else in
Luthor’s mind: he was elated for every naughty, dirty, degrading comment and
jeering for the Kryptonian. Luthor was entertained because the…Boy scout fell
from his moral throne and became the star of stupid talk and gossip shows.”
He let the scenes play exactly as in the popular video and watched eagerly his
minion’s reactions; however the demon’s face was expressionless, granite like
his favorite form.
“I’m not surprised” Mannheim said snobbishly. “The Kryptonian is a superior
life form…compared to these humans so he was bound to be fast bored by a
cripple mortal…Only you seem infatuated with that pest” he pursed his square
lips and his black mustache twitched. “I really can’t understand you, Bagdana…”
But the ancient demon wasn’t listening to him; his blank eyes were focused on
the couple’s mating but he was seeing Bruce; his beloved Bat’s stunning eyes
had become Bagdana’s entire world the moment of his victory; the moment the
demon believed that his Lilith would come back to him; the mesmerizing flash in
Bruce’s eyes when he stabbed the Blade to the demon’s back. His Lilith
backstabbed him for a second time…
“Now you feel how it is to be betrayed by the one you love with all your
existence, Bruce: your heart got stabbed as my back that day…You love him but
he snubbed your love and chose someone else leaving you burning and melting in
memories of past happiness and present suffering…My Lilith, finally, you tasted
what you did to me and now maybe you’ll understand and feel me…”
“Of course now the Kryptonian came closer” Mannheim continued his rant arching
his eyebrows mockingly “too close with the Amazon and her alliance is
guaranteed.”
Bagdana left the dark caves of his mind and heart where Bruce was the king.
“Are you afraid of the Amazon?”
The businessman roared sure that the stupid human employees outside wouldn’t
hear anything.
“I am not afraid of anything this miserable planet has to show.”
Bagdana smiled and changed the crossing leg: his ally’s ignorance was so
entertaining…
“You should be afraid of one…” he retorted nonchalant.
The new God seemed affronted and in disbelief.
“And who this might be?” he asked.
Bagdana shrugged.
“Earth always produces surprises.”
The office vanished and suddenly they were at the underground throne hall under
Mannheim’s Mansion. Darkseid stripped from his human form and was now standing
between the elliptic vessels that contained perpetual fires. He flexed his
gigantic body and his eyes spit daggers of fire, the flames in the vessels
blowing to the high ceiling.
“Not for Darkseid, the ruler of the Universe and extinguisher of worlds. Nobody
equals me!” he ground his teeth and the hurricanes all over his throne howled.
Yet Bagdana wasn’t impressed; his face filled with dark shadows and his eyes
became red like rubies that no human had ever seen.
“I have seen many great warriors, kings and Gods getting smashed by their
arrogance” his voice became throaty. “Nemesis lurked them to give her final
blow and doom them.”
Darkesid lolled his head staring smugly at him.
“Like yourself?”
The demon stabbed Darkseid’s eyes with his.
“Exactly…and I lost everything” he replied bitterly. “But I became wiser.”
Darkseid’s laughter shook the thick, huge ancient pillars.
“Judging from the fact I found you chained and ragged in the Tartarus” Bagdana
jerked as if hidden by an invisible whip “NO. On the other hand, I’m already
wise and invincible; and your Nemesis is a long forgotten and downfallen
Goddess who has no power anymore” he inhaled deeply and yanked his head. “Now
that my machine will be complete Earth’s end is near and along another victory
for Darkseid.”
Bagdana didn’t care for the New God’s insults or his arrogance or the Earth’s
destruction – this planet had offered him only pain. The only thing he cared
about was getting Bruce.
“Never forget what you promised me.”
Darkseid narrowed his eyes.
“Now that the Kryptonian doesn’t give a damn about your cripple toy you can
snatch him.”
“Then your plan will fail: do not forget that Bruce has many protectors. Moving
against him now will alert him and your machine would probably never be built
and the great Darkseid for the first time will be defeated” the shadow of a
smile carved his square face. “You see, I bare your interests and our agreement
in first priority: I can wait…patience after millions of years became my
biggest weapon.”
Darkseid fumed hearing the words defeat and Darkseid; he turned furious and
marched to his throne.
“Do as you like with your pet” he spat. “You’re dismissed!”
The ancient demon made a bow but his eyes were filled with slyness and mockery.
Of course he’ll do as he liked with Bruce because Bruce was his…
 
Joker looked himself on the whole body rectangular mirror in the center of the
warehouse he had made his hideout. During the day they dwelled in the ground
floor – the playroom - while the second floor’s rooms had been turned into
bedrooms.
He swirled around himself watching carefully his purple coat and patted the
velvet fabric on his chest and buttocks. It was his new dressing coat and he
wanted to be sure that it was perfect before he wore it in a public appearance.
“Loooooks and clothes are not everything aaaaand they shooow vanity” he said to
his tailor who was slumped on the pink armchair opposite the mirror “buuuuuut,
myyyy friend, I’m a public figure aaaaand my wife is this city’s Prince soooooo
I have to keeeeeep my status: I’m the Prince of Crime after all – ruuuuuuler of
the underworld…” he grimaced narrowing his eyes “I sound like Count Dracula,
huh? Aaaanyway…You should be proud, buddy: you did a splendid work” he lifted
his thumbs to the tailor that didn’t seem quite thrilled with his client’s
praise.
Joker made a rapid spin and lolled his head looking curiously at the old man.
He pouted at the bulged, petrified orbs of the tailor and the edge of a blade
that protruded from his chest: blood had painted his entire front.
“Of course, it is a posthumous praise” he mumbled sorrowful and patted the
man’s shoulder. “Buuuuut you know that every great artist  gets recognized only
after deeeeeeath” he sighed dramatically. “Except for me…but…I’m one of world’s
wonders after all… How many are they?” he scratched his skull squeezing his
eyes.
Suddenly, he took in the ruckus from his clowns who were gathered around the
old TV in the far end of the vast space. He narrowed his eyes and whistled.
“Eeeeee, kiiiiiids? Don’t you think that my new coat is splendid?” he scratched
his head. “You don’t know what ‘splendid’ means…mmm…nice?”
Yet nobody seemed to hear him and Joker more than pissed was intrigued: what
these morons were watching? With two jumps he reached them and pushed away the
three who covered the screen.
“Ow!” he exclaimed seeing a butt and a female groin pixilated; he bent to see
better; he scratched his ear and sighed. “I guess it is the time to make the
big talk, huh, kids? Buuuuut: you should show some respect to your daddy – I
know you’re in a tough age and your hormones boil yet…youuuu HAVE to follow
daddy’s example! I’m a fuuuuckin’ roooole model!”
He punched the goon that was sat in the chair before the TV and jumped in his
place leaning to the screen. The camera left the big boobs to ascend to their
faces and Joker pouted.
“HEHEHEHEHEHUHUHUHUUUUUUUU! I always knew it that this laaaad hadn’t found his
true inclination…AHA-AHA-HAHAHAHAHA!!! Yup! Supes boy: from the first time I
saw you I knew you’re a natural porn star: the way you showed off that
buuuuulge down there… UHUHUHUHUHEHEHEHEHEEEEEEE…an’ your cooooostar….” he
muttered nasally and smirked. “Ouch!” he exclaimed as the camera returned to
the groins that shook stormily – his eyes widened. “Now that’s a STAKE! I
knewwwww it wasn’t shocks! Poor Bruceyyyyyy…I guess Falcone’s training with
dildos came handy after all, huh?” he turned his eyes down to his own groin and
blinked a bit sad: “Jokey, you have sooome veeeeery big…shoes? To fill!
HEHEHEHEHE! Not shoes buuuuuut kids are listening…”
He clapped his hands.
“Off, boys! There’s nothing for youuuuuu to see” he sobered abruptly and
switched off the TV.
He supported his head to the armchair’s back deep in thought, his eyebrow
twitching.
“Soooooo, dear Bruceyyyyy was cheated…Noooow that Superoaf broke your tender
little heart maybe you’ll understand who deserves your love…” he slapped his
eye. “Who I’m kidding? Who cares about your love, Batsy? Your hot body…Noooooo,
I wouldn’t say no for your looooove, too…I’m deeply romantic after all… Let
daddy Joker give you comfort, myyyyy poooor boooy…”
He cackled.
“Buuuuut our love must wait” he waved his fingers to the air pouting his lips
“foooor the conditions to ripe buuuut my heart and mind will be with you,
baaaabe…especially, when you’re in the shower…completely naaaked and weeeeeet…”
he rolled his eyes and licked his lips. “That perfect chiseled god-like body
with the bulging muscles shining under the water…the brown locks plastered to
the sharp cheekbones…” he popped his tongue and panted like a thirsty dog.
He slapped hardly himself.
“Get a grip! If you continue like this I’ll storm that Manor right now an’ that
would be toooooo predictable…an’ moronic.”
He jerked up and hopped to the armchair were the dead tailor lay; Joker
squeezed himself next to the corpse and gave the dead man a one armed hug
touching his head to the corpse’s like he was going to confide in a dear
friend.
“Do you gather that Brucey would be sobbing right now because Superman cheated
him?” he fisted the dead man’s hair on the back of the head and made him shake
in denial. Joker nodded. “I believe the same thing: my Batsy probably has
already kicked that bastard’s sorry ass…” he touched his fingertip to his lips
thoughtful “well, I don’t know how but I’m sure that Batsy made Super-goofy
ruuuuuun…HeHe!”
His cackle became an uncontrolled giggle that caused the stares of his goons
who had gathered again around the TV. Joker smiled to the dead man’s
crystallized eyes.
“You know, buddy, I’m sooooo delighted that the SuperBeef would never touch
Brucey again” he nodded pouting and rolling his eyes. “I know what you’re
thinking…that I’m happy because that huge stake won’t ever get in my Batsy’s
sweet hole…mmm…” he closed his eyes. “I want that hole only for meeeee, pal…”
He opened his eyes and pushed the corpse to the floor.
“Your help was priceless, buuuuddy…” he huffed. “They’re right about a friend’s
shoulder…One obstacle off but still Batsy is difficult to be tamed” he arched
his eyebrows. “That’s the reason I loooove him sooooo much!” he cheered like a
schoolgirl rubbing his gloved hands together.
 
Dick entered the gym’s small cafeteria, his backpack on one arm, craning his
head around to find his friend. They had spoken earlier on the phone and
arranged to meet there.
“There you are…” he muttered seeing Jason sprawled on a chair at a corner table
and marched there.
He snatched the cigarette from his friend’s hand and snapped it in half
gesturing to the sign on the wall.
“You don’t know what this sign means?”
The younger boy rolled his eyes and scratched his hair.
“No smokin’?” he cocked his eyebrows.
“Exactly!” he sat in the opposite chair.
Jason twitched his lips.
“Ya’re on the mood, huh? Ouch!”
“Two orange juices” Dick said to the young waitress before Jason managed to
utter what he wanted.
“Fuck!” the younger boy exclaimed. “I’m in for a helluva drive again, huh? An’
I had a good day till now…”
“Yeah?” Dick asked aggressively. “Why not? You’re not forced to live with
Wayne…Though at least today I was spared of his presence” Jay chuckled and Dick
frowned. “Yeah. His butler drove me everywhere – like a fucking bodyguard.
Thank goodness, he went to the granny’s flat to get me some things” he sighed
“I couldn’t stand going there and not seeing my granny… so he left me alone to
the gym” he shook his head “but he’ll come to get me back…” he slumped his head
on the table.”
Jason arched his eyebrows.
“Then I’m shocked ya didn’t run away already!”
Dick yanked his head and slapped his forehead.
“Careful…” Jason said amused “you’ll make a lump…”
The older boy leaned to him to not be heard.
“I would have run away but I have the feeling Wayne put people watch me…Fancy
that! I’m imprisoned!”
They both looked the waitress who placed their orders on the table and left.
Jason crossed his arms.
“Not imprisoned, man…c’mon…Ya’re a Wayne now” he saw Dick’s angry frown “ouch!”
a hard kick was delivered to his ankle. “Why ya did that, ya asshole!
Temporarily, ya’re his protégé so bad guys might want to get ya for ransom…” he
stopped abruptly narrowing his eyes. “Maybe I shoulda kidnap ya an’ ask for
money?” he stretched on his chair’s back “Anyway, as soon as it’s known that
Wayne has yar…mmm…” he tried to remember the word.
“Guardianship.”
“That. Well, after they learn that ya’ll be a target – not to mention, that
nutcase Joker who’s loose an’ grabbed ya in the past. However, for the time
being I don’t think that anyone will notice ya…”
Dick drank from his juice.
“I think that he put people watching me to keep Tony away and increase my
misery…” he groaned.
“That’s a possibility…” Jason sipped his juice grimacing with disgust. “What
they put in that juice? Eeeek! Anyway, granny” he cleared his throat “yar
granny must have spoken to Wayne.”
Suddenly, Dick remembered what Jason told.
“Wait…Jay, why you said that nobody will notice me?”
The younger boy laughed.
“Oh! That! Ya don’t know, do ya?” he rolled his eyes. “Why do ya have that goat
gizmo?”
Dick huffed and pulled out of the backpack his Cosmos tablet.
“What am I supposed to look for?” he spat impatient.
Jason was chuckling amused.
“Google Superman an’ Wonder Woman an’ ya’ll see…”
Dick did that having his eyes fixed on Jason.
“There’d be million results, Jay…”
“Nah…Ya’ll see…”
And indeed, on the top of the page with the results was a video. Dick looked at
Jason who nodded.
“Open it; is the censored version so ya won’t be traumatized…” he snorted and
Dick glared at him pressing ‘play’.
“That’s the top news of the day an’ the month an’ maybe the year” Jason said
after the video ended and a blushed Dick stared at him; the younger boy pouted
for his friend’s blushing. “Ya knew how the babies are born, right?”
Dick gave him a little slap on the head.
“You think that’s why Wayne was absent almost the entire day? I mean, remember
the video with Superman carrying him and the rumors…” he asked him. “And at the
lunch he was extremely pale and with circles under his eyes…”
Jason snorted.
“For someone who hates him ya seem to be very observant of him…”
“I just noticed that Alfred was worried and antsy since morning and Wayne was
supposed to drive me to school but he did. So I thought that something must be
wrong and I had my eyes open: I hoped for a sign of a terrible illness…”
Jason shook his head.
“C’mon, man…He’s stuck in a chair…” he said serious.
“Yes, but this won’t kill him…” his eyes sparkled and Jason sighed. “It was
certain that Superman would see him through, be disgusted and dump him. As he
deserves.”
Jason shrugged.
“Yeah, sure…” he replied indifferent. “But now we won’t get the chance to see
Superman in the Manor…”
Dick rolled his eyes.
“But you’re one of the bad guys, remember?” he whispered. “A thief…”
Jason shrugged.
“Absolutely. But Supes is a Star, man, an’ since the chances of seein’ Batman
are zero, seein’ the Boyscout would be a refund.”
The mentioning of Batman made Dick forget everything else: his eyes dropped
seeing into the past. In an inferno of fire and collapsing woods and metal,
thick, suffocating smoke and a black cape protecting him from everything.
Batman shoving him away and then a horrible bang; he looked and Batman was
under tons of debris…crashed.
“Nobody is gonna see Batman again…” he mumbled. “He died to save me…”
“But that Catwoman said that he’s alive an’ ya told me that she was there that
night…”
Dick shrugged.
“She’s crazy or he might have asked her to speak like that if anything happened
to him.”
“I don’t know, man…People have seen him recently…”
The older boy was tired of this discussion and yanked his head pissed,
growling. But then his shoulders slumped.
“The butler is here…” he spat.
 
“Bruce…”
He couldn’t fight the smile forming although he’d prefer it if Selina had not
come; he wasn’t ready to speak with his friend, to look her in the eyes…because
he knew that it would be difficult to hide from her. Now, he hesitated to turn
and look at her; he didn’t want to make her sad.
But Selina rushed to him and squatted in front of him, engaging his eyes. Bruce
pressed his lips seeing her sad eyes, although there was also a sparkle of
anger.
“You shouldn’t wander the grounds at this time, Bruce; it’s too dark and too
cold…you need warmth and comfort.”
He grinned to her though his lips were too reluctant to make that move and the
swelling was the least of the reasons.
“It isn’t so cold, Selina…”
“Because you feel frozen inside, right?”
“You shouldn’t be here, Sel” he took her hands in his and squeezed them softly;
he didn’t want to answer to her remark.
“There’s no other place in the world I should be, Bruce” her eyes flashed and
Bruce discerned the pain from her realization that his eyes were emotionless.
So he reprimanded himself and chased away from his eyes the darkness that
swallowed everything else.
“You saw that dreadful video” he shook his head. “Really, Sel, you should have
stayed with Steve – you deserve have great time and” he raised his eyebrows in
emphasis “you know me: I’m tougher than this…” he smiled.
Selina placed her palm over his heart.
“I know you, sweetie…I know your heart…”
Bruce shook his head.
“Nothing happened, Selina…He just chose another person: such things happen
every day; it’s normal.”
“Not to you, Bruce: he shouldn’t have done that to you…” she pressed her lips.
“You spoke now that you saw the video? His cheat?”
Bruce chuckled.
“I didn’t need the video – I knew it before.”
She frowned at the realization.
“You were there that night” she exclaimed. “You were patrolling Gotham and you
saw them. Wait…How you got up there? They were on a rooftop.”
“Lucius finished my new armor. And yes I saw them.”
Selina swallowed hard imagining the blow her friend got when he saw them.
“And?”
“He came to the cave, we talked and I finished it” he answered indifferent
though in Selina’s eyes saw that she wasn’t persuaded by his act.
She nodded.
“You did the best; he wasn’t treating you as you deserve and once he cheated
you there was no meaning in dragging it…” her voice was cold but seeing Bruce’s
eyes became softer. “He stabbed you in the heart” she caressed his cold cheek.
“It’s not so bad, Sel; I had worse experiences than that” he shrugged. “Now, he
is going to see the world with someone else” he knitted his eyebrows but then
relaxed his face and smiled. “Actually, I’m relieved…because me and…” he
couldn’t articulate ‘Clark’ “and he are so different and I am not meant to ever
leave this city: Gotham should be my entire world – my life is tied forever
with hers. And I didn’t want him to be attached to someone like me. He deserves
to be happy, Selina; he really does…”
Selina’s heart was clenched; she cocked an eyebrow.
“With her? She is a bitch and you told us about something that affects him” her
eyes sparkled with hope and her voice became happier. “He’d never cheat you if
there wasn’t that effect and as soon as it passes he’ll return to you begging
for forgiveness…”
Bruce brushed Selina’s hair smiling.
“Right. I’ll do everything to find out what this effect is and save him from
her. But after that, after he is free, he’ll find someone else to create a new
life – someone appropriate for him…not me”
Selina frowned.
“You’re the best in the world!”
“My dear Sel…” his voice almost cracked. “You know that what happened between
me and him shouldn’t have happened.”
 “Don’t say that!” she inhaled. “Look, sweetie...I’ll be honest: that morning
we couldn’t find you and I panicked…Tony’s fear was infectious: he implied that
something had happened that could have affected you very badly.”
Bruce nodded.
“When my feet brought me to the greenhouse” she continued “my guts were
clenched. And then Superman came out and his face was glowing” Bruce lowered
his eyes; the memory of Clark’s happiness that morning stung “and I realized
what took place there the previous night. I was angry at first and I wanted to
rip his face with my nails because I feared that he forced you…”
Bruce shook his head.
“Clark would never force me…” Selina nodded.
“He spoke to me and his voice, his eyes, everything persuaded me that he was
there to protect you and…you…had let him make love to you. From that day
onwards I always saw his love in his eyes, in his face, in his body language…
That night must have been so beautiful but also a helluva battle with all your
past demons howling…” her eyes saw again Chill rape that skinny, crying boy.
Bruce crooked his lips.
“Clark was all the time fighting with me as if this was his battle too…and then
when he saved me from the collapsing factory he stayed constantly on my side to
not let me surrender to darkness” he clutched his forehead and huffed looking
at the sky. “It was awful saying him to leave…but there wasn’t another way…”
Selina hugged him.
“I never believed that he would do that to you. I” she bit her lip “I believed
that he’d manage what I always wanted but I don’t have the strength to do…”
Bruce cupped her cheek and Selina kissed the inside of his palm.
“What was that?” he asked softly.
She tried to chuckle to break the tension but it came out like a sob before she
stubbornly turned it into a groan.
“I wanted to create a better world for you to live in…”
Bruce’s eyes widened and get fogged with liquid; his mouth stayed a bit agape.
He cupped her face now with both hands so that he could stare at her sparkling
eyes that were down cast.
“You have done that already, my sweet, sweet heart…” he kissed the top of her
head. “Every night, all those years, as soon as I was seeing you behind that
bin everything changed: you made my world lighter, warmer…” he laughed but the
sound was throaty. “That night of Christmas’ Eve…you gifted me the most
beautiful world I could ever dream…”
Selina smiled although her eyes dripped.
“I don’t deserve your love, Sel” he said and Selina snarled because she
couldn’t make her eyes stop: damn! Bruce always was able to do that to her. “I
feel that I’ve been taking advantage of your kindness…You always sacrifice
yourself for me and I’m not giving anything, always demanding more with my
misfortune and making you sad while you should be happy – you so much deserve
the best…”
“Cut the nonsense, Bruce! You give me everything! You gave meaning to the empty
world of an orphan that felt so alone… You became my entire world and from then
I never felt alone again…You made my heart open to other things than blind
hatred…to care for the misery of others even though I always posed as an
indifferent, tough little creep; with your kindness, your care for the others
despite your own suffering; your self-sacrifice. You saved me so many times,
Bruce…” she shook her head. “You make me a better person…”
Bruce caressed her cheekbones wiping her tears gently with his fingertips and
Selina looked him in the eyes.
“Bruce, please, do not regret what you had with him… I know it hurts now but
that night and the months till now were so beautiful: I was seeing the
happiness in your eyes – the love, the hope, the fulfillment.”
He smiled and brushed her hair but his eyes were seeing elsewhere.
“I don’t regret that night, Sel; neither the months that followed. I know it
was a mistake – I know that it is selfish but I don’t regret anything…”
 “No, no, it’s not selfish, Bruce. And…and it might seem impossible now but
your heart will speak again: that night and those months will come again with
someone else” Bruce shook his head.
“No, Sel; it’s over with that thing! I had enough from this for several
lifetimes – I don’t want anymore.”
“No, sweetie: what they did to you was rape; what you experienced with Clark
was love. It is beautiful but you had so little of that.”
But Bruce continued shaking his head.
“I’m not made for that: it’s over.”
Selina’s head slumped on the side.
“I know it’d be tough to get over him; he was your first love.”
“My first and last love: my only love” he replied emotionless.
Selina shook her head stubbornly, desperate.
“With one betrayed love – even if it’s the first – life it’s not over. You’re
so young, sweetie…you’re going to fall in love again for someone else, although
I believe that Superman will be sorry for what he did and he’ll come back
begging…” Bruce rubbed his temple. “But out there are wonderful people to love
you and you’re so young…”
“Young…I feel I have lived too much…’’ he spat. “No, Sel, I don’t need that
thing in my life: I’m happy with all of you around me – I’m so lucky: your
happiness makes me happy too.”
Selina lowered her head and Bruce touched her cheeks and smiled.
“You have forgiven him already…” she said.
“There’s nothing to forgive…It is my fault all of this…I acted carelessly.”
“No, Bruce…you did nothing wrong.”
Bruce shook his head pressing his lips.
“I can’t find Tony: neither Jarvis nor Pepper knows anything about his
whereabouts” he huffed. “He saw the damn video and left enraged to find
Superman…I’m afraid.”
“For Tony or Superman?”
Bruce closed his eyes.
“Both” he looked around; it was dark. “We must return to the Manor: I must find
Tony before something awful happens…”
 
Thor stood on the cloud that was attached like balcony to his palace; his gaze
was focused down as if it was possible to see Earth from there. Suddenly, he
jerked because he sensed the change.
“Hello, brother” Loki walked to him smiling hoping from cloud to cloud and
raised his hands in surrender looking Thor’s angry eyes and the glow of his
hammer. “Don’t shoot! I’m your little half brother, remember? The one you so
many times defended from the vulgars of Asgard?”
Thor stretched his neck and eyed him suspiciously.
“But you seem to forget that, Loki.”
Loki shook his head.
“I never forget that, big guy” he patted Thor’s rock upper arms. “But you know
my character: I like pranks – remember how many times I made you laugh?”
“Most of the times I wasn’t laughing because your ‘pranks’ were evil…”
Loki pouted.
“Evil…You’re so cruel.”
“No, you’re the cruel: why are you pestering Bruce Wayne? Leave him alone, Loki
– he has had enough!”
The naughty god nodded and he gave a sorrowful glimmer to his eyes that however
didn’t fool Thor.
“I know…I know…and I mean no harm” he placed his palm on his heart blinking
innocently. “I really like the human.”
Thor gritted his teeth.
“Do you take me for a fool? You mean no harm? Leave him alone then! Prove your
innocence.”
Loki shrugged and smiled revealing his white teeth.
“Oh, brother, I might not be able to read your mind but it is so obvious that
you fell for this gorgeous mortal: does Bruce realize?”
Thor grabbed his brother’s shoulders.
“Is that why you torment him? Because you think I’m in love with him?”
“Are you not?”
Thor closed his eyes and huffed, causing Loki’s eyebrow arch sarcastically.
“I’m not in love with him: Bruce is Tony’s best friend and he is a remarkable
human being with a horrible past – I respect him and I want to help Tony
protect him so that he won’t be hurt ever again.”
Loki pursed his lips.
“Then now it is the time you act because the Prince of Gotham is really
heartbroken” Thor frowned because he knew about Superman’s awful behavior to
Bruce but how did Loki knew?.
“What do you mean?’
Loki lolled his head on the side and smiled.
“Too bad you’re not in love with him because right now the poor thing would
definitely need an affectionate shoulder to cry and a new hot body to cuddle…
Not to mention a new powerful protector…”
He snapped his fingers and Thor saw in the grim sky Superman with Diana.
“Everyone saw that through their TV” he shook his head. “Poor boy, must be
crying his heart out…and feel so much the need of a strong, kind god to take
the pain away and save him…”
With a puff he was gone but Thor didn’t care because his mind was racing and he
immediately took off as well.
 
Tony stood before the heavy, black wooden door.
“I know you want him, I mean I am a very experienced man and your... desire is
evident.”
Superman’s face flushed.
“I... It’s not...”
Tony stood in front of him.
“You think that you have feelings for him?” his posture was demanding and
although his distaste was evident Superman didn’t react.
“I don’t just ‘think’; I’m sure!”
Tony smiled and rubbed his brow.
“Do you know how many times people are sure and then treat their ‘loved one’ as
a shitbag and hurt him or her?
 “You know because you’re one of them?” the other snapped.
Tony laughed.
“You’re right! I’m the worst example but I’d never put a traumatized soul in
more torture by promising him love, showing him love, only for me to transform
to a monster.”
“I’d never!” Clark roared insulted. “I’d never cause pain to him” he said
lowering his voice “I’d rather die than hurt him or let anyone hurt him ever
again.”
Tony nodded and sighed.
“You’ll ask me to leave him alone? To never come near him again?”Superman asked
determined but his agony was clear.
Tony lowered his head.
“Of course, not, I’m not the cruel bastard you think me but don’t you dare
press Bruce into something he is not ready for or hurt him.”
Clark moved his head in disbelief.
“I don’t think that I can press him” he looked pointedly at Tony reminding him
that they were talking about Batman “in anything.”
“He is emotionally vulnerable; his emotions although he hides it well are his
greatest weakness. Don’t you dare use that!”
“I won’t, I promise.”
 “Are you in love with him?” Clark’s voice was harsh from agony.
Tony didn’t speak, just pierced him with his black shining eyes.
“He is too good for me; too pure for me to even think carnally of him. But...”
he made a gesture “but that doesn’t mean that you have my blessing to lay your
hands on him – let him have his peace. He needs friends not people seeing him
as a body to...”
“He is not that for me” his tone wanted to make Tony understand “I promise you,
Mr. Stark, I won’t make anything to upset him; if I do, I’ll gladly let you
feed me a kilo of kryptonite.’’
“My friend” Tony’s eyes shone wickedly “if you hurt Bruce, I won’t need you to
let me do it...”
His eyes sparkled determined as he pressed the doorbell keeping Ironman’s armor
minus the faceplate; the back of his head still covered by the helmet, sure
that Bruce wouldn’t find him as he didn’t till now.
He was able to hear footsteps approaching on the other side of the door though
he was so sure that the luxurious flat was soundproof. The door opened and
Tony’s steel eyes stabbed Superman’s awestruck face.
“You didn’t expect me?” Tony asked cocking an eyebrow and Superman frowned.
But he opened and let Ironman enter the spacious foyer leading to an enormous
lounge room decorated in dark green and white: dark green corner sofa and
armchairs and white tables. The thick, velvet carpet was brown with black
floral designs but what stroke Tony even in his state was the intoxicating
perfume of the flowers that filled earthen pots of various sizes and forms on
shelves over the wall and on the small tables.
The shower echoed from the depth of the flat.
Tony didn’t let the perfume and the flowers draw his attention, his eyes stayed
fixed on Superman’s blue and red figure.
“How did you find me here?” the Man of Steel asked crossing his arms and
frowning.
“Not very easy: but when Tony Stark has a target he never fails” Superman
cocked an eyebrow in sarcasm.
“S.H.I.E.L.D. watches Diana?”
“Hardly…” he caught with the corner of his eyes the Metropolis’ skyline under
the night sky: there was a long and narrow rectangular window that covered the
center of the wall on his right. “Yet the stratosphere is filled with ever
watching satellites so if you get access you can discover almost everything.”
Superman had no mood for Tony fucking Stark’s brag; he reminded him of things
that were over and he didn’t want to look back to them.
“What do you want, Stark?” he spat.
“You promised to never hurt him” his voice was cold and flat; his eyes two
shining, sharp blades.
Superman smirked and cackled.
“He crawled to you weeping?”
Tony heard but didn’t make the effort to engage in the words.
“I told you to not force him in something that would hurt him. I told you to
not break his heart…and you said that you would never cause him pain…but you
did. Is this your morality?”
Superman shook his head, pinched the bridge of his nose and looked sideways at
Ironman.
“Listen, Stark, things are not black and white as you see them” Tony cocked his
eyebrow. “I don’t need to explain myself to you but what happened it wasn’t my
fault: Bruce and you knew very well that the damn mutation Ra’s caused to
Bruce’s body affected me and this effect was too powerful even after my
inoculation.”
Tony shook his head laughing.
“So it was our fault then?”
Superman yanked his head smugly.
“I never spoke about you” he spat degradingly. “I was a straight before meeting
Bruce…”
Tony gritted his teeth and clenched his fists.
“You dare to accuse Bruce?!”
“The fact is I was straight, can he claim the same?”
Tony’s eyes widened flashing madly but what Superman was saying was so
ridiculous that he laughed.
“How on earth can he possibly claim this or the opposite?! He never had a
choice and you know that! What bullshit are you hinting at? Maybe that Bruce
seduced you?” his eyebrows almost reached his hairline.
Superman lolled his head on the side and narrowed his eyes.
“You don’t think him able? He almost seduced you…” he said mockingly.
That was the breaking point for Tony: his right glove became green and
Superman’s eyes bulged as he felt weak, dizzy and nauseated. He stumbled and
his trembling hands found support on the back of an armchair. For a second,
because an iron fist found his mouth almost breaking his jaw and sent him to
fall on a small wooden table smashing the tiny pots there; he collapsed on the
carpet.
Superman wiped the blood from his mouth with the forearm and the wound in his
upper arm from the Blade of Justice cried. However he looked sarcastic at the
furious billionaire.
“Kryptonite. Very brave, Stark…”
Tony’s face cracked in a smirk.
“Accusing Bruce for everything…very brave, Superman. Besides, it was the only
way for you to feel like Bruce…”
Superman’s eyes widened: did Stark know what he did to Bruce?
“He came to you and whined about me?”
Tony’s lips twisted in disgust.
“Bruce never came to me: he is so proud and dignified that you can’t even
imagine…” he made two steps closer and glared at him. “People admire you; they
consider you a saint but I know who you truly are.”
To Superman this sounded as a threat to his secret identity.
“I know who Bruce is, as well” he retorted and Tony narrowed his eyes. “If you
reveal my secret identity I’ll reveal Bruce’s secret and I’m not the outlaw,
the wanted vigilante…”
Tony’s lips twitched in disgust and he shook his head.
“I’d never stoop so low to reveal your secret identity” he sniggered. “But I’m
not shocked that you are willing to do this to Bruce…”
Superman’s eyes were down cast: it was like the Kryptonite along with making
him feel sick also shed some light to his head.
“I’d never do that to Bruce – I don’t know how this came out of my mouth.”
“Sure…” Tony mocked him with arched eyebrows.
Superman was ready to ask how he learnt about him and Diana since Bruce didn’t
tell him.
“Kal, what’s wrong?” a completely naked Diana came running from the corridor.
Her long wet hair was stuck in her back and long trails of water traced the
curves of her breathtaking body. Despite the fact Tony was an avid admirer of
beauty the spectacle of the naked Amazon brought only disgust to him.
Diana cocked her eyebrow and her face took its usual smugness eyeing Ironman,
don’t even a care for her nudity. But then her eyes caught the fallen Superman
and rushed to him helping him rise supporting him. She snarled at Stark seeing
the glowing green glove.
“You came to avenge your petty friend’s virtue?” she asked snidely. “Not that
he had left any…” she lolled her head on the side. “I’m not surprised that his
knight is a coward that uses sly methods to prevail!”
Tony stayed completely unfazed; his face a rock, his eyes two flames.
“Bruce’s virtue cannot be harmed by anything this worthless worm can do…I came
to fulfill a promise…” he grinned at Superman. “He gave a promise that if he
failed on his word of honor he’d spare me the trouble to do what I’m doing now”
he yanked his head. “But I guess his masculinity is enough only to fuck you.”
She gritted her teeth while Superman couldn’t gather his power to stand on his
own.
“Kal El is more man than you ever will be, Stark!” she growled. “Your life a
line of sequential fucks – how dare you speak like that for him, you insolent
human?”
Tony cackled as she rushed to hit him only to be met with the golden energy
shield that surrounded him. She roared pissed as her punches and kicks managed
only to hurt her. In the meantime, Superman having lost the support of her body
fell on his knees.
“I should hit you” Tony said to her “just for the insults and the poison you
spat to Bruce but I don’t attack lad…” he shook his head “no, no, you’re not a
lady. But still you have boobs and that other thing so I won’t hit you.”
Diana rattled her teeth.
“Is this why you’re goggling at me?”
Tony cocked his eyebrows and snorted.
“Trust me, sugar: I have seen far more dazzling bodies than yours
and…absolutely mortal. And I’m not goggling but I’m sure that every pervert
loser on this planet will spend endless hours of jerking off with your cheap
porn…”
Diana launched a full attack with round kicks and blows only causing small
explosions to the shield’s field and Tony’s yawn. Finally, she stopped: her
pants from the futile effort sounding like roars of a wound beast.
Superman asked what she didn’t.
“What porn? What nonsense is this, Stark?”
“It’s how I learnt what you did. Bruce didn’t tell me anything: he is too proud
and too strong…” he blinked and from his forearm emerged a round shaped
hologram with the video from their intercourse on the rooftop. On the right top
corner, the logo of GCN was visible.
The eyes of both lovers goggled; Superman lost more of his face’s color.
“Who shot this?” Diana hissed.
Tony shrugged.
“Tough!” he lolled his head on the side. “Now: you made me a promise, UFO –
remember?” his voice was razor sharp.
Superman remembered.
“Since you’re not willing to do it yourself, I’ll help myself…” Tony stretched
his arm and a white energy field wrapped Diana sending her to the wall unable
to move. Then a glowing green dagger popped out from the launcher under
Ironman’s wrist.
Superman stretched his head ready to take the blow: Stark wouldn’t stop where
Bruce did.
“Tony, I know you hear me…”
Tony closed his eyes and inhaled: Bruce’s determined but warm voice sounded in
his ear from the communication system of his helmet. The best hacker in the
world, his little guy, had eventually managed to break his firewall. Yes, he
could hear him and the chirping of the bats: his friend was in his cave. Not
now, Bruce…he thought raising the dagger.
“Tony, I know how you feel but don’t do anything to Superman…You are hurt
thinking that I’m suffering but I assure you that I’m okay…as long as I have
you at my side.”
Tony aimed the dagger at Superman’s chest; Diana’s eyes widened.
“Do it, Stark, what are you waiting for?” Superman spat. “I know of what you’re
made: I know that you wanted to kill me from the first moment you realized that
Bruce loved me. Because you’re jealous…jealous of me being able to do what you
don’t dare…”
Tony’s hand clenched the dagger’s hilt.
“Tony, for eighteen years you believed me dead; for eighteen years they
separated us…I know what you’re ready to do: it is the reason you don’t answer
me. But, Tony, if you do that we’re going to be separated again.”
Tony’s still eyes flickered.
“And this time it’ll be with your own will…” Bruce’s voice cracked. “And I’ll
be forever haunted because I destroyed my best friend, my brother…As I killed
my parents…”
Tony bit his lip and the launcher opened to swallow the dagger; to Superman’s
and Diana’s astonished looks. He twisted his lips in disgust.
“Bruce saved your pathetic life…Again” he snapped and spat in Superman’s face.
Superman’s eyes bulged because right now the saliva felt more acid than the
Kryptonite.
Tony activated the face plate, hiding his face; he turned and left the room
like a boss closing the door with a loud bang.
Diana released from the weakened energy field rushed to Superman who began
slowly recovering now that the Kryptonite was out of range. She was raving but
Superman wasn’t hearing.
Tony marched on the thick carpet of the spacious corridor heading to the back
metallic door he smashed to get in: he had dropped a handful of dollars for the
repairs. He was somewhat calmer.
“Tony, please talk to me…” Bruce was still there almost begging with his
determined voice.
Tony just couldn’t hear that agony in his friend’s voice though he was a bit
pissed with Bruce for stopping him. Albeit he knew that it was the best.
“Cool down, little guy… You saved his sorry ass” he grunted.
“It’s you who I care about, Tony” Bruce’s voice was serious.
“I’m leaving now; I feel dirty only for being at their presence.”
 
 
Bruce turned and looked at Selina who was sat on the computer bench beside him
watching avidly his effort to dissuade Tony from what he was ready to do. He
pressed his lips and although his face was solemn she discerned a shine of
relief in his eyes.
“Okay…” he said. “He is on his way here.”
Selina closed her eyes and huffed.
“Good!” she opened her eyes and smirked. “Now we can go upstairs and relax –
it’s late, kiddo, and you need rest.”
Bruce opened his mouth to reply but he stopped because the lift was descending.
They both looked at Alfred getting out.
“Master Bruce, you have a call.”
 
 
 
***** Chapter 41 *****
''I’ll take it from here, thank you, Alfred.”
The Englishman gave a court nod.
“As you wish, sir. May I ask if we had any news on Master Anthony?” his
expression was stoic as ever but Bruce could discern his agony under his cool
blue eyes.
“I managed to speak with him” he answered smiling. “He’s on his way here…” he
locked eyes with his butler. “Everything is fine, Alfred.”
“Thank Goodness! Thank you, sir…” he turned towards the lift but stopped. “Oh,
I almost forgot: Miss Potts is here” Bruce nodded. “The dinner will be served
in a while so it’d be so kind of you if you don’t linger in the cave. The
children must eat early.”
“Children?” it should be ‘child’ unless… “Is Jason here?” his eyes shone.
“Yes, sir; he was with Master Grayson at the gym and I took the liberty to
invite him to have dinner with us – of course, Ms. Todd was informed.”
“Thank you for everything, Alfred.”
The butler nodded grinning.
“You’re mostly welcome, sir” he was relieved seeing his young master at least
grinning – and that shine in his eyes was most hopeful despite the fact Alfred
knew how competent Bruce was in posing as nonchalant to not cause sadness to
his loved ones.
Selina hurried to catch Alfred at the lift as Bruce pressed the button in his
keyboard to transfer the line from the Manor; he looked at her.
“I’ll see you upstairs, kiddo” she said shaking her index warningly “don’t be
late: I’m starving.”
“Call Steve to join us” Bruce told her and enjoyed the playful sparkle in her
eyes.
“Okay’’ she said as the lift began ascending, though after the first jolt of
delight for Bruce’s invitation to Steve Selina felt hesitant: she was afraid
that being in the presence of a couple would twist the knife in Bruce’s wound.
“Bruce Wayne” he said on the microphone puzzled about his caller’s identity.
“Hello, Bruce” a hesitant, sad and a bit shaking female voice answered him and
Bruce frowned.
“Ms. Kent?”
“Martha, sweetheart…”she corrected him gently.
Bruce licked his lips and pursed them looking at the waterfall; the call system
in the cave was equipped with an isolator of external sounds.
“Of course…” he replied. “How can I help you, Martha?”
“I hope I’m not bothering you” her voice was shy.
“No, not at all: on the contrary, I’m happy to hear you” though he felt oddly
since he was sure that she had seen already the horrible video: who hadn’t
after all?
He heard a sigh from the other side of the line and then a gulp.
“How are you, honey?” she asked and her voice was raspy from deep concern and
sadness. “I…I have seen…I’m terribly sorry, sweetheart…I couldn’t ever imagine
that Clark would do such a horrible thing!”
Bruce yanked his head inhaling and pinched the bridge of his nose.
“Martha, it’s alright…” he answered dryly. “Have you spoken with Clark?”
“No, I can’t find that brat!” she spat pissed. “I’m sure he is hiding from me”
Bruce closed his eyes. “But as soon as I find him…”
“I don’t think he is hiding, Martha: Clark wouldn’t do that; maybe something
came up.”
Martha chuckled bitterly.
“You still defend him…Yeah…Clark wouldn’t hide from his Ma but Clark wouldn’t
cheat his man either.”
“Martha…”
“Are you alright, dear?” she sounded like being on the verge of tears. “I hope
this didn’t affect your health…believe me: it doesn’t worth to let such things
affect your health. You must focus on your recovery and forget everything else.
Have you talked with him? Have you scolded him? I hope you gave him Hell!”
Bruce pressed his lips because under Ms. Kent’s angry voice he could discern
her suffering for her son’s fall from grace.
“Yes, Martha, we talked and…cleared things. We finished it.”
“Uhu…” the lady on the other end gave her affirmation though it hurt her.
“It was for the best, Martha…”
“I’m not sure, my dear boy…”
Bruce remembered that night Clark had taken him to his parent’s house; Martha’s
words coming from the depths of her heart.
“…I always dreaded that someday he’d lose his path: all this power can corrupt
and the way some people sniff at him may take the better of him; or someone
could find a way to control him into horrible deeds…But then he met you and
since then I’m peaceful because he speaks about you in a way that shows his
admiration, his respect: how much he cherishes you…I’m not good in this…You’re
his moral compass, Bruce; his anchor…The warmth in his heart: a star that shows
him the way. As long you’re by his side he is safe.”
 
“I don’t like that woman and…” she stopped abruptly. “What I’m saying…The
important thing right now is you, sweetie: he broke your heart” Bruce closed
his eyes and bit his lips. “I can’t believe he played like this with you…”
“He didn’t play with me, Martha” he replied calmly. “He meant what everything;
he believed…but things change.”
“A few days ago he brought you here to meet me” Bruce nodded though the woman
couldn’t see him. “I was making preparations to have you here for Christmas…”
she laughed.
And Bruce reflected that.
“I’m sure it would have been very beautiful, Martha; thank you for all the love
you gave to me; that you welcomed me so warmly.”
“He fooled both of us…” she said bitterly.
“No, Martha, no: Clark was fighting with himself; he didn’t want to break his
promises” he breathed in “but it was above his power.”
“He is Superman, for God’s sake, sweetheart…Nothing is above his power.”
Martha was so angry with Clark, Bruce thought, and he didn’t want for him to
lose his mother’s support.
“Martha, please, don’t be so harsh on him…” he heard her exclaim of despair.
“You love him so much even now that he cheated you like this – oh, my God! He
should be on your side supporting you in your healing.”
“He did, Martha…He saved my life: without him, I’d have died. And weren’t for
him I wouldn’t be able to rise from my bed. He did so many things for me that I
couldn’t ever repay my debt.”
Martha huffed.
“I can’t believe that my son is so ungrateful! I’m sure the idiot even now
doesn’t realize what have he done…what he lost…”
Bruce felt his breath began becoming harder and hastened to control it before
Martha realize and believing that he is suffering, become more furious with
Clark.
“Martha, believe me: it was better for both of us.”
“He wasn’t treating you right?”
Bruce shook his head: he just couldn’t admit that to her.
“No, it’s not that; but I know I’m not the right person for Clark and he
deserves to be happy…This wasn’t going to last long and it is better it ended
now before Clark could get hurt.”
Ms. Kent’s frowning was audible.
“And what about you, dear? He broke your heart; you needed him now more than
ever and he walked away. How can you speak so kindly about him? He doesn’t
deserve your forgiveness till he crawls back to you and beg you to take him
back.”
Bruce chuckled.
“There’s nothing for me to forgive, Martha. I just want the best for Clark and
I couldn’t offer him that.”
“But he was happy with you, dear! I was seeing it in his eyes…The days you were
in coma…his despair…his tears…his weak anger. And then when you woke up: you
can’t imagine the joy in his eyes – I could hear his heart flapping…”
unconsciously Ms. Kent’s love for her son dripped from her words.
Bruce smiled: he could imagine, he have seen that happiness in the most
beautiful eyes in the world.
“You made Clark a better human being, Bruce; you were his humanism, his
morality, his love. Now, this woman…”
“Martha, Clark has all these qualities himself; he doesn’t need me…As for this
woman…you’re his mother, you’re the most important person in his life. For that
you must stay by his side…” he gulped. “I…I’ll continue…I will never stop
caring about him” he breathed. “I won’t let anything happen to him.”
Ms. Kent cleared her throat and Bruce realized that she was touched.
“You’ve already forgiven him, huh?”
Bruce huffed.
“I told you, Martha, that there’s nothing to forgive; I’m grateful to your son:
he saved my life, he gave me so much love” he chuckled “as a matter of fact, he
gave me more than I could wish for…I’m the luckiest person in the world for
having the love of your great son, Martha – even for a few months. The
happiness he gave me…” he stopped to inhale. “I just can’t be angry with him.”
“You’re an angel, Bruce…and my son is a moron…I’m sorry, baby. I’m sure he
didn’t apologize to you but I do.”
“Please, Martha, you don’t need to do that: I’m so happy I had the chance to
meet you and the fact you called me is so kind. Do not have a worry about me –
Clark’s existence in this world is enough for me to be satisfied” he pressed
his lips. “Just do not give up on Clark, okay? He needs you and your guidance.
And he is your son…”
Martha chuckled.
“You are my son too, Bruce…” she almost whispered and then coughed “if…if it’s
alright, of course.”
Bruce rubbed his eyes with his fingers.
“It is an honor for me, Martha” he said serious. “And this makes me Clark’s
brother!”
Ms. Kent laughed.
“I believe that Clark’s destiny is with you, Bruce. When this bad dream ends
he’ll realize it…”
Bruce lowered his eyes and clenched the armrests of the wheelchair.
“Martha, I hope this isn’t true: Clark must find happiness and this can’t
happen with me. However, I’ll always care for him and you. I want you to feel
free to call me for whatever you need or for everything that troubles you” he
chuckled. “You said that you feel me like your son, after all.”
The old woman laughed touched.
“Absolutely. Thank you, sweetheart… For me you’re the best Clark could ever
have…And Clark deep inside knows that and still loves you. You told me to not
give up on him…” she breathed heavily. “It’d be too bold if I ask you the
same?”
Bruce rubbed his forehead above his right eyebrow.
“I can’t give up on him, Martha…even if there’s no hope for being together
again…I promised you that I’ll take care of him and I’ll keep my promise.”
“Okay, honey…Just calm down now, don’t be sad and take good care of yourself.
I’m sure that it won’t be long before you walk again and I’ll be very proud of
my second son…”
Bruce smiled.
“Thank you, Martha.”
 
 
Diana wore her royal red, long robe made of the finest silk to cover her naked
body; she was wiping with a handkerchief the blood from Superman’s face. The
Man of Steel sat almost slumped on the dark green corner couch; the sickness
from the Kryptonite and the pain from Stark’s punch had almost evaporated
leaving some discomfort behind yet Superman was morose keeping his lips pressed
hard and his eyebrows knitted: he didn’t want his affair with Diana be so soon
exposed, especially in this embarrassing way.
He reached the remote on the waist table and switched on the small flat TV that
was built in the wall above the white wooden rack where various pots were
settled.
The Amazon stopped treating Superman’s wound which after all had almost healed
and watched him with narrowed eyes. She stood up and clenched her hips with
both hands.
“Stark’s words have affected you that much?” she cocked an eyebrow looking but
not focusing on the fast changing channels.
Superman stopped his search in a 24 hour news channel and waited. He looked up
at Diana and hugged her waist bringing her down next to him. She crossed her
arms, her expression exasperated as Superman’s face became grimmer watching the
video starring him and Diana. Finally, he pressed the button closing the TV
after only a few seconds: the spectacle nauseated him.
“Who shot that abomination?!” he spat ruffling his hair.
The Amazon frowned.
“Abomination? You consider our coupling an abomination?”
Superman shook his head and kissed her lips.
“Of course not, Diana. Abomination is what was done with our coupling: some
bastard shot and posted our most precious moment and made it a spectacle for
everyone.”
She cocked an eyebrow.
“So what?” her voice was full of contempt.
Superman locked eyes with her.
“I don’t want people see Superman like this: you feel fine with everyone seeing
you like this?”
“It is definitely disrespectful for me that mortals can see me naked and in the
most private of moments and they should have been punished” her eyes flashed
menacingly. “But since we are not in my world where divine punishment would
have been delivered, I won’t intend on give it much thought or trouble myself
with that” she shook her head.
But Superman’s eyes were shadowed.
“You give them too much value, Kal” she said softly. “You’re superior of the
entire humankind: you shouldn’t care about their opinion. You did nothing
wrong, after all: Wayne had declared publicly that you two didn’t have an
affair” she cocked her eyebrows. “As for him, what you two had was finished
before that video surfaced, so what’s the problem?”
Clark couldn’t tell her that he felt bad because his Ma and his friends would
see that video and thus learn that he cheated Bruce. He couldn’t tell Diana
that he was raised by humans and had human friends which he loved and cherished
and their opinion was always important for him.
Diana huffed impatient.
“You act as if you’re going to be scolded like a misbehaving student…C’mon,
dearest! You’re Kal El, the Lord of Krypton, Superman: the one who protects and
saves them all the time. They worship you. They have no right to judge the acts
of a God!”
Superman smiled: Diana had the ability to lift his worries or make them look
less important. However he couldn’t stop his mind from thinking his Smartphone
that lay forgotten in his apartment where he had left it a couple of days ago
when he left hastily to stop the collapse of a building. After that he had
rushed to the Wayne Manor suspicious of Bruce cheating him…he found him with
Thor and then went to New York…
He wanted to laugh loudly with himself: he was wary that Bruce might cheat him
and later sure that he had done it already while he was the one who was on the
verge to cheat Bruce. And now everyone who mattered knew it.
He was glad he didn’t have access to his Smartphone both because it would make
a lame impression to Diana (someone like Superman using a petty gadget made for
mortals!) and because he wasn’t ready to face his loved ones. Though he knew
that soon he’d have to…
Diana put her arms around him and captured his lips in a breathtaking kiss.
Then unlocked their mouths, touched his cheek and looked him in the eyes.
“We have finally found each other…” she breathed sensually. “That’s what counts
for me, Kal…” her stare became tough. “For you?” she demanded.
He grabbed her waist and laid her flat on her back on the couch bringing his
body upon hers. He untied the belt of her robe and unwrapped her body diving
his mouth to her neck that stretched to give him free access while she folded
her arms around his neck.
Superman lifted slightly his head and locked eyes with her.
“I feel I found my destiny” he said. “I don’t care if everyone finds out…on the
contrary, I’m proud they know…”
Diana smirked and her eyes shone gleefully.
 
After Bruce’s paraplegia was confirmed the passage from the Manor’s first floor
to the cave had been widened (Lucius and Tony did the job personally) in order
to contain a wheelchair because as slim as Tony’s wheelchair was still the old
dimensions of the passage were forbidding.
As he moved out of the lift and steered the wheelchair through the dark passage
that was illuminated by the chair’s dim lighting, Bruce once again thought of
thanking his friends: he had done it many times already but his gratitude to
them was nudging him all the time.
Of course before stepping out of the passage to the corridor he listened
carefully for any presence that should not see him there. Now with Richard and
Jason at the Manor they should be careful as during Falcone’s reign.
“You can come out…” Selina whispered; she was leaning on the wall, with one
foot touching the wall, her arms crossed.
Every time he opened the passage to get out steering the wheelchair, his
paraplegia struck him strongly. It was so much easier to do that on your feet
despite the fact the chair was slim and rather easy to move. However he grinned
to his friend hiding his discomfort.
“It was Clark’s mother” he said to her because Selina was too discreet to ask
though Bruce knew that she was curious.
She puckered her lips.
“Yeah…He had taken you to meet her and I’m sure she liked you…Poor woman seeing
her son like this, learning that he is a scum.”
Bruce tilted his head on the side regarding her disapprovingly.
“He isn’t a scum, Sel.”
She detached from the wall and unfolded her arms.
“You have to be a scum to punch someone while you got super powers!” Bruce
sighed and Selina nodded and leaned to him. “You thought that I didn’t feel the
swelling in your face? I didn’t say anything in the greenhouse because I didn’t
want to worsen your upset” her voice softened. “It was almost dark, sure, yet
eighteen years I learnt to visualize your injuries in the darkness by
touching…”
Bruce pressed his lips and ran his fingers through his hair.
“Of course…” he replied.
“I understand why you covered the marks with makeup…If Tony had seen you
battered he’d have killed that bastard no matter what you told him.”
Bruce knew that but didn’t answer.
“What else he did, Bruce?” her voice was a bit raspy but determined.
Bruce yanked his head and locked eyes with her.
“Nothing I didn’t consent to” he replied calm but absolute.
Selina nodded; all these years they had learnt to figure things about each
other without needing the other to say them. She pressed her lips till they
lost their color.
“At least, let Leslie examine you: there could be a serious damage” she said
understanding what Superman had done and her friend would never utter “she’s
here for dinner.”
Bruce narrowed his eyes and tilted his head on the side.
“The conspirators are summoned, huh?” he chuckled.
“Me, the first of them!” it was Tony who just put his feet on the final step of
the right stair.
Bruce turned to see his friend but despite the distance between them Tony had
managed to be there in a couple of seconds; he hugged his friend kneeling down.
Bruce smiled.
“You’re alright?” he asked eyeing Tony carefully.
Tony pouted and looked around.
“Me?” he laughed. “This insults me, little guy… Tony Stark is a formidable
opponent. And Superman, believe me, isn’t as…super as his name indicates” he
sobered. “You saved his life, little guy…”
Bruce locked eyes with Selina who sighed.
“I’m glad you didn’t do something you’d have regretted later, Tony.”
The older man shook his face in conviction.
“I wouldn’t regret it, little guy.”
“Tony, I know who you are: you’re not a killer.”
Tony nodded.
“This wouldn’t feel like a killing” he looked conspiratorially Selina who had
killed Chill.
Bruce clenched his fingers around the armrests.
“You’re S.H.I.E.L.D.’s director, Tony: you worked so hard to heal the damaged
status of the organization. Would you like it if all this was destroyed because
of me?” he blinked. “I wouldn’t…”
Tony brushed Bruce’s upper arms.
“You’re more important than S.H.I.E.L.D. and anything else.”
“Tony, you’re what matters to me: doing this madness would have taken you away
from me. Nothing is worthy of that, Tony. And, after all, there was no reason
to hurt Clark: I’m perfectly fine. Breakups happen every day…it is normal.”
Tony gulped and closed his eyes: once he had yelled at Bruce that he wasn’t
normal.
“Not when it comes to you” he said dead serious “the one you love should stay
with you forever because you’re special and there’s nobody better than you”
Bruce shook his friend. “Someone playing with your feelings is pervert not
normal and that alien played with your feelings…”
“No, he didn’t; he made me happy. And I knew that it wouldn’t have lasted so
I’m fine…somewhat relieved…waiting the unavoidable is worse” he smiled and
patted Tony’s shoulder. “I’m the luckiest man in the planet having all you
around me – I don’t want to lose anyone of you. I need you here, Tony” he
locked eyes with him “and if you had hurt Clark you’d be gone…” Tony cleared
his throat that felt constricted. “We lost so much time, big guy: let’s not
lose anymore…”
Tony dragged Bruce to his chest and squeezed him; he closed his eyes rubbing
his little guy’s cold back. Indeed, he didn’t want to lose Bruce again,
especially for a motherfucker like Kent. He let Bruce and sniffed.
“I smell something delicious and I’m starving. Uffff! It’s nice being away from
that suffocating flowery odor…”
Bruce frowned.
“What do you mean?”
Selina touched from the scene she just witnessed came closer interested.
“I found Superman in…” he bit his lip because saying that Superman was in the
Amazon’s home would hurt Bruce, but the younger man understanding waved his
hand prompting him.
“It’s okay” Bruce knew that Clark wouldn’t bring her in his tiny apartment; she
was too arrogant to accept something so inferior for her lover. Clark didn’t
want her contempt.
“First I looked for him in the Daily Planet and his flat but he wasn’t there so
I figured that they were at her place. So I gathered info from every possible
satellite and camera and I found that they went to a luxurious apartment in
Metropolis’ suburbs: her apartment… When the alien opened the door without
peeking first – the idiot – and I followed him in the living room, I was
literally attacked by the smell of flowers and plants; pleasant, warm smell but
at the same time suffocating, overwhelming, upsetting. The living room’s walls
were decorated with white shelves filled with pots of various sizes with all
kinds of unknown plants and flowers – and small tables the same. It was
dizzying but Ironman’s armor can filter the air, thankfully.”
Bruce’s eyes flashed.
“Exactly as her room at Dolcetto…” he recalled his flashback.
“Dolcetto?!” both Selina and Tony exclaimed and Bruce looked wary around for
anyone listening.
“Don’t worry” Selina said “the boys are in Grayson’s room.”
“And Pepper, Alfred and Leslie are in the kitchen.”
Bruce nodded.
“Remember I had told you my suspicions of this woman not being the real Diana
of Themyscirra?” they nodded. “I had a flashback with her: I had met her in the
past.”
Tony’s eyebrows arched.
“That’s where Dolcetto comes, huh?”
“Exactly. In this flashback I re-experienced a moment from Dolcetto…” he wasn’t
going to tell them all the details. “I saw again a woman, one of Falcone’s
occasional mistresses, one his favorite; she was called Vivian and she had
honey colored, long hair but everything else was the same with the supposed
Amazon Princess.”
Tony tilted his head on the side and rubbed his goatee.
“I know what you’re thinking, Tony: I thought myself that it might be caused by
Crane’s treatment; so I called Mr. Petrou and he confirmed that indeed this
woman existed: with the characteristics I saw in my flashback.”
Selina smirked.
“That would explain why she is a slut…” she sniggered and Tony cackled and made
her the thumps up.
“What I noticed in my flashback was that her room in Dolcetto was filled with
pots of various sizes bearing flowers and peculiar plants; the smell was
dazzling but also suffocating, exactly as you described it, Tony. Vivian had
appeared all of a sudden and disappeared in the same way; nobody knew anything
about her and we never heard again about her.”
Tony shrugged.
“There’s no fucking way an Amazon Princess to be a whore at Falcone’s.”
“Absolutely” Bruce answered “and if we discover the truth about her identity
we’ll also have a lead to the whole plan.”
Both his friends rolled their eyes.
“You still care about the sonovabitch, huh?” Tony asked what both thought; he
shook his head and ran his hand through his hair; his disapproval evident. “You
know, Bruce, I wish that impostor do the worst damage to that scum!”
Bruce pressed his lips and blinked uncomfortable; Selina felt for his
discomfort though she agreed with Tony.
“Tony, if she is an impostor – and I believe she is – then there must be a
broader plan behind her…a plan that doesn’t target only Superman. I think that
if someone wants to control Superman then the danger is for everyone…I mean if
she isn’t the Amazon Princess how she manages to fly? To fight like this? To be
so strong? And her Lasso?” he widened his eyes. “You see there are many
unanswered questions. All this can’t be performed just by one person. Think!
She first appeared at Thasos when those green creatures attacked me: how she
managed the perfect timing?” he arched his eyebrows and was glad to see Tony
pouting thoughtful
Selina pursed her lips and tapped her index finger.
“You told Superman about your flashback and your theory?”
Bruce cleared his throat.
“Of course but…he didn’t believe me: he believed that it was my jealousy that
dictated that flashback and that I just wanted to slander her” he replied
indifferent though it was evident to his friends that it still hurt.
Tony tilted his head on the side and cocked his eyebrows.
“Then whatever happens to him it’s his choice: he could have listened to you.”
But Selina was looking at Bruce’s melancholic eyes.
“Tony, he was under some kind of effect that he couldn’t fight…like when Ra’s
concoction made my body affecting him. We can’t hold him responsible for being
trapped by her…”
“Yes, we can!” Tony shook his head but then he remembered something and
frowned. “Effect or no effect the scum still pretends: at some point he threat
to reveal your secret” in Bruce’s eyes flickered a sparkle of real pain “but
when I scolded him for his indecency he pretended to regret it and said that he
didn’t know why he said that.”
Bruce’s eyes got warm.
“Maybe he had a glimpse of clarity? I mean maybe he overcame the effect for
just a second? You were using Kryptonite, right?”
Tony snorted and shook his head. Then patted Bruce’s shoulder.
“Do not have false hopes, little guy…He was acting trying to save some grace.”
Selina didn’t say anything though Tony looked at her for confirming his words.
She just couldn’t give another stab to Bruce because in his nonchalant eyes she
could discern the deep care about that man and the tormenting flames of hope.
Hope not for getting Superman back but for Superman escaping that woman and the
potential enemies behind her. Hope that Superman would be saved.
Thankfully, light footsteps approached them.
“Gentlemen, Miss Kyle, Mister Rogers has just arrived and the dinner will be
served in a few minutes” Alfred’s poised voice shattered the tension and a big
radiant smile lit Selina’s face.
“Sorry, boys but I’m starving” she hurried to the stairs and Bruce beamed
looking at Tony who pursed his lips.
“For what exactly are you starved, sugar?” Tony asked her playfully and the
young woman turned to him and popped out her tongue.
Tony laughed and Bruce grabbed his hand grateful that his friend was here with
him without Superman’s blood on his hands.
 
 
The sensual melodies of a Luis Armstrong jazz solo filled the semi dark vast
space making warmer the atmosphere despite the cold Gotham skyline that gloomy
peeped inside from the whole wall window. A sweet, soft bluish light coming
from the four corners of the hall broke slightly the darkness, adding to the
red-golden flames in the round, built-in fireplace.
Thomas Elliot wearing only his blue royal silk robe was massaging the nape of
his mistress. They were in his apartment’s living room, sprawled at the huge
white L sofa; on the elliptic glass waist table lay two half empty glasses with
red wine and a bottle.
Thomas touched softly his lips on the girl’s neck and she shuddered and moaned
causing his gloating smirk. Kelly was dressed in her short red silk - laced
nightdress which barely covered half her thighs as she kneeled on the sofa for
Thomas to massage her neck. She was holding her long hair to not thwart his
fingers and her eyes were closed in delight.
Her boyfriend was three days out of town for a congress and Kelly had missed
him desperately; not that she wasn’t calling him ten times a day but most of
them he wasn’t answering because he was busy since he was one of the major
speakers of the conference.
But now he was back, Kelly was happy and the diamond bracelet he gave her as a
present wasn’t the only reason – the dark red velvet slim case laid open on the
table the elegant jewel sparkling in the dim light. Kelly was happy because she
missed so much his touch…And now he was compensating: he was too tired to take
her out in one of the luxurious restaurants he loved yet as soon as he stepped
his foot on Gotham soil he rushed to her flat and brought her to his own whole
floor apartment.
“I leave Gotham only for three days and look what happens…” he laughed.
“You mean the video with Superman and Wonder Woman?” she asked. “You saw it.”
Thomas rolled his eyes: of course, you idiot girl…
“Yeah, some colleagues came upon it and told me. And they did it on Gotham’s
City Hall rooftop: it seems that this city has something arousing …” he
chuckled.
Kelly giggled.
“Only for superheroes?” she asked sensually turning her head slightly to look
at him innocently.
He smiled in what Kelly thought his most charming smile.
“Absolutely not, babe…”
Thomas pushed gently, slowly the thin straps of Kelly’s nightdress and rolled
them down her shoulders till the wrists. The fine silk assembled to the girl’s
waist freeing her small breasts and leaving her breathless as the charming
doctor trailed kisses to her neck’s base.
She tilted her head to the other side to let plenty of space to Thomas’ hot
lips and she plunged her fingers in his locks, sucking his expensive cologne.
Thomas was fully aware of how much in love was the young nurse with him: she
was his…His hands began fondling her ribs sensually slowly going up to caress
her tender breasts making her shake uncontrollably and whine.
“I missed you, Kelly…” he whispered inside her ear, nibbling her lobe. “You
can’t imagine how hard those three nights were…”
Kelly snorted.
“Yeah, sure…I bet you enjoyed the company of some super model…”
Thomas bit teasingly her ear lobe and slipped his hand under her nightdress
groping her thigh up to her buttock.
“You know, kiddo, microsurgery congresses aren’t Kate Upton’s places of
choice…” he groaned and the air from his mouth tickled Kelly’s back before hot
lips began tracing her shoulder line.
She sighed as Thomas’ magic hands lowered the thin straps of her panties and
then pushed them down till the red laced piece of cloth was on the floor.
“I’d have gone anywhere Dr. Elliot was…”
Thomas cocked an eyebrow and with a swift motion turned her face first to him
pulling her hair down gently for his lips to suck her breasts; her body was
trembling in his hands, her breaths already raspy.
“How was our little clinic all these days?” he asked indifferent but for him
was the main concern and the reason Kelly was with him.
She raised her head with effort and chuckled as the man mock bit her nipple.
“You’re so dutiful, Tommy…Just got back from a congress…exhausted and your
interest is on the clinic you volunteer…I admire you…”
Thomas wanted to snigger because his interest wasn’t in the bloody clinic but
in Leslie Thompkins and her protégé, Bruce. Yet as his hands pushed the
nightdress down and off Kelly’s horny body Thomas was sure that her admiration
peaked.
“Everything was calm…” she whispered, her head falling backwards as Thomas’
tongue licked her flat belly. “We’re not living in Falcone’s era anymore…and
Dr. Thompkins seems less nervous…”
Thomas placed her flat on her back and took off his robe revealing his naked
body to Kelly’s dazzled eyes; he dove his head to her groin and began licking
her throbbing clit making her breath asthmatic and her body arch. She began
yelling when he sucked…
“And when that video surfaced?” he asked but Kelly’s eyes were fogged and her
heartbeat too crazy to register any words so he repeated the question stopping
his treatment.
“Wh…what?”
Thomas growled.
“The video must have damaged Leslie’s tranquility…”
“Why?” her voice was frustrated because she lost the stimulation in her groin.
“Ah! You mean the supposed love affair between Superman and Wayne? But Wayne
denied it recently…”
Thomas resumed his mouth’s strokes on her vagina and Kelly hot and sweaty
collapsed on the sofa; her thighs spread to leave space to Thomas convulsed
making her body arch every time the man’s teeth grazed softly the sensitive
skin.
“But who believed him, huh?”
Kelly giggled and fisted the sofa as Thomas’ tongue entered her; she cried.
“A…actually, Thompkins left a…a…abruptly the clinic toooooodaaay after the
video was…” she couldn’t end her phrase because her panting was too intense.
“We were…ah!...commenting…oh!...Superman’s…ugh! when we saw her…oi!...leaving…”
But Thomas didn’t need anymore; he smirked and led his aroused length to
Kelly’s gaping entrance watching smugly her salivating mouth.
A video broke your little heart, Brucey…A blow below the belt…
He thought as he thrust in one solid move inside Kelly.
“More, Dr. Elliot!” she screamed fisting desperately his hair and he was
grateful for his soundproof apartment.
I wonder, Brucey…How many more such blows can you get before collapsing?
 
Pepper stood in front of Tony keeping a distance between them; her green eyes
were ablaze, pissed and Tony had no mood to play with her; he was dead serious.
They were in the kitchen alone: Alfred and Leslie had gone to prepare the
dining room.
“Where have you been?” she demanded and Tony approached pressing his lips and
looking her.
“I think you already know that…”
Pepper crossed her arms.
“You blocked every channel of communication, even your trace in the satellite:
I was worried and Bruce…” she sighed. “He was sick with worry – desperate to
find you before you…”
Tony stepped even closer and put his hands on her shoulder, Pepper glaring at
him.
“How could you do that to him? Especially after what Superman did with that
bitch…Fine, I know you didn’t care about me, but Bruce?”
Tony’s eyes widened and he shook his head.
“Of course I care about you, babe, but I didn’t want anyone attempt to stop
me…”
Pepper snapped her eyes closed.
“Killing Superman? What imbecile would decide that? I know that thinking Bruce
in pain is tormenting but still…” she clutched her forehead. “Whom do you think
you’d help with that? Bruce would have been devastated if you succeeded…” she
breathed deeply. “And I…”
Tony smiled self satisfied cocking an eyebrow.
“And you?” he asked slyly.
Pepper clenched her jaw and slapped him hard on the face.
“Ouch!” he exclaimed and brushed his red cheek.
“I’d be relieved of your stupidity and irresponsibility!” she shouted.
But Tony gagged her putting abruptly his arms around her and capturing her
mouth with his, kissing passionately and dragging her resisting body to touch
his. They stayed cuddled after the kiss and Tony caressed her long, red hair.
“Bruce found me and stopped me…”
“Thank God for Bruce…” Pepper huffed. “But next time I’ll put you in an
Asylum…”
Tony rubbed her back.
“As long as I have Dr. Quinzel as my therapist…I think that therapy with her
will be…fascinating…”
Pepper stabbed her stiletto heel to his foot and Tony screamed.
“”I think you’re a red hair sadist, babe…” he said dead serious and Pepper
looked him in the eyes.
“Only with you, Tinman…”
 
Selina was talking avidly with Steve, their eyes locked: he sat on the high
backed armchair in front of the lit old fireplace and she was sprawled like a
cat on his lap. And the real cat of the house, Hero, was licking his paws
meticulously curled up on the carpet.
Leslie and Alfred were in the dining room and having being expelled and denied
his offering for help, Bruce had brought his chair in front of the arched
shaped window looking at the right part of the grounds. He always loved the
view from that window even when he was too short and he had to stretch and
stand on his toes to see – now at the wheelchair felt like then.
Suddenly, something caught his attention and he hurried outside – Selina too
absorbed to notice, thankfully. He slithered the ramp and stopped before Thor
who smiled seeing him.
“You sensed my arrival…I should have known…”
Bruce shook his head.
“Is everything alright?”
Thor looked at him.
“Funny you ask me that…I must ask that.”
Bruce nodded.
“You saw the video…” he twisted his lips.
“I’m sorry, Bruce” Thor’s voice was deep.”I know he was treating you bad yet I
wouldn’t believe that Superman was able to do this…Of course you asked me if I
traced Loki’s influence on him so I should have suspected that things were
serious… But he did a whole jealous scene to you that day and the next day he
coupled with another person…” he shook his head disappointed. “How are you
feeling?”
Bruce smiled and gazed at the frozen scenery. The sky was clear and filled with
sparkling stars; the silence was relaxing and Bruce sucked the clean, cool air.
“I’m fine, Thor: I knew that this was inevitable…I had seen them that night you
met me at the alley.”
Thor nodded.
“I realized that when I learnt about the video…that explained the reason you
were so tired that night…” he squatted and locked eyes with Bruce. “You don’t
deserve that, Bruce” he whispered and pulled out of his armor a small glowing
vial; it was shaped like a tear and looked like made of melt diamond.
Bruce frowned and Thor’s eyes relished on the way the divine light highlighted
the human’s beautiful face.
“This is from Eir, the goddess of healing” he pursed his lips seeing Bruce’s
blank eyes. “It contains the tears of the first Easter dawn…it eases the pain
of the heart…and prepares the heart to welcome to a new love…” he offered the
vial to Bruce who stared at it almost frightened.
His body got rigid as if he expected to be attacked; he just brushed the vial
with his fingertips and didn’t take it.
“Thank you, Thor, and please, do give my gratitude to Eir…but I can’t take it…”
Thor frowned.
“Why?” he asked astonished by his denial.
Bruce pressed his lips.
“I want to learn from my mistakes…this pain would remind me to not repeat the
same mistake and thus many people will be saved from the consequences of my
idiocy. I must cope with my own strength like every other human being.”
Thor’s eyes filled with admiration but also bitter realization.
“You deserve the best, Bruce…And it is a matter of time before someone gives
you true love…” he frowned and smiled. “But you don’t want to love again – in a
romantic way…”
“This kind of love isn’t for me” Bruce retorted with conviction, his eyes
fervently determined.
“But you’re love incarnated, Bruce: everyone around you knows that!”
Bruce closed his eyes and shook his head.
“Justice is what motivates me” he said “my heart is a piece of ice.”
Thor raised his eyes to the sky cursing Superman and his betrayal that turned
that beautiful heart into stone…only for Bruce’s own happiness because Bruce’s
heart – Thor knew it – would stay forever open for every human being.
“Fine” he consented “but keep it as a talisman…” he cupped Bruce’s hands in his
and placed softly the vial in them.
Bruce felt the vibration of the divine object and yanked his head, inhaling
freezing air, feeling his body revitalized.
“How you discovered the video, Thor?” he asked to divert the discussion in
things that mattered.
The blond god lowered his eyes.
“Loki told me.”
Bruce pressed his lips.
“So his interest continues to be focused on Gotham…We must be prepared for the
time he meets with Joker or Crane to organize their next ‘prank’.”
Thor smiled realizing the clever way the human diverted the discussion in an
innocent subject. He stood.
“I’ll return to Asgard immediately and keep my eyes on him. Good night, Bruce”
he turned to leave. “And please, change your mind about Eir’s elixir.”
Bruce felt bad because it was as if he had told Thor to leave.
“Thor, don’t leave” the god turned and his baby blue eyes glimmered. “Would you
like to have dinner with us?”
Thor’s eyes widened because as much as humans goggled at him apart from Tony
nobody had invited him to dinner. He smiled.
“I don’t want to intrude in your family life…”
Bruce chuckled and shook his head.
“With Tony and Steve Rogers around the table is already like a mini Avengers’
meeting so…you don’t have to worry. And Alfred loves to have many people to
enjoy his cooking.”
Thor kneeled again and put his hands on Bruce’s shoulders.
“Thank you, Bruce.”
He shrugged.
“You should thank Alfred: he takes care of everything.”
 
Jason goggled as he and Dick entered the vast dining room: it wasn’t just the
champagne colored tiles of the floor that shone like gems where the floor
wasn’t covered by the thick carpet. Neither the rectangular table from brown
wood covered with a rectangular white linen tablecloth; nor the chairs that
they were simple but still looked like elegant work of art; nor the beautiful
dinnerware that sparkled in the light; the three crystal, almost transparent
candlesticks placed in equal space between them; the green, real leaves that
were spread on the tablecloth.  Neither the chandelier with the crystal lamps
that send soft light around nor the fireplace on the opposite wall decorated
with crème colored stones. The all glass rack with few but elegant decorative
artifacts.
“Holly shit! Ironman, Captain America an’ Thor in the same place!” Jason
exclaimed and everyone looked at him amused.
Dick snorted and elbowed him.
“They came to confront the monster in the wheelchair…”
Jason chuckled.
“Let me introduce you” Bruce offered smiling. “Although you know most of our
company: this is Miss Pepper Potts and Selina Kyle” the boy’s eyes widened at
seeing the two gorgeous women “and Thor, Steve Rogers and Tony Stark” he then
turned to the adults “and these fine young gentlemen are Richard Grayson, my
ward and Jason Todd, his best friend.”
“Nice to meet ya, guys” Jason said and Dick mumbled something similar.
Jason continued staring at the Avengers and Dick leaned to his ear.
“Don’t tell me you’ll ask their autographs…”
“Why not? I’ll snatch fat bucks for each…”
Dick rolled his eyes.
“You’re insufferable…”
Tony looked at the boys wrapping his arm around the chair’s back.
“Between us, boys, I’m sure the only Avenger you’d want to see is Natasha…” he
tilted his head on the side and arched his eyebrows as the boys exchanged
embarrassed glances blushing.
“Is her boobs really so gorgeous?” Jason asked and Dick elbowed him hard while
Bruce laughed. “Wha’? TV changes things…”
Tony winked.
“I like that fella” he sighed. “Besides I’m so close to your age…”
Pepper snorted.
“Sure…in maturity.”
Tony leaned his head to the boys.
“My mommy…Be careful of mammas, boys…”
After the dinner, everyone gathered at the grand salon to drink coffee and
chat.
Bruce noticed that Richard had left the room and excused himself to find the
boy. He found him in the small back salon gazing at the grounds from the whole
wall framed window, caressing Hero in his arms.
“When your grandmother comes back we’ll repeat that dinner” he said softly.
Dick turned to him with narrowed enraged eyes.
“When my granny comes back I won’t see you ever again!”
Bruce lowered his eyes.
“Fair enough…I’m sorry for what you’re being through, Richard; I know you don’t
like me.”
The boy let Hero on the floor and rushed to Bruce.
“Don’t like you?” he sniggered “you wish! I hate you!”
“I understand” Bruce answered stoic.
“If you thought that you’d impress me with all these fucking heroes around,
you’re stupid!”
“I didn’t make it to impress you: Tony is my friend and the Avengers are his
colleagues and friends. Richard” he pressed his lips; he wanted to hold the
boy’s shoulders but he knew it was unacceptable “I’m honestly sorry for having
to stay with me but there’s no other way…but I assure you: it’d be temporary.”
Dick jerked his head upwards.
“There is another way! Get out of the way and let me live with my uncle!” Bruce
looked at him and Dick nodded. “Yeah…the one who should be with me right now
and the one you thwart to get near me!” he rushed to the opposite to leave the
room.
“Richard…” Bruce pinched the bridge of his nose.
Dick stopped on his heels and tilted his head to his unwanted guardian.
“You lived eighteen years imprisoned by Falcone: why are you doing the same to
me? It’s not enough that I lost my family because of you?” he ran away and
Bruce held his forehead, a headache developing swiftly like a wave.
He let his hand drop to his lap where Hero had just climbed; he had heard young
feet approaching with vitality and he didn’t want Jason to see him like this.
He turned his wheelchair and smiled to Jason who stopped abruptly.
“Oi!” he exclaimed surprised seeing Bruce.
“My presence is annoying?” he asked.
Jason pouted and shook his head.
“No, man; I just didn’t expect to find ya here…I was lookin’ for Dick.”
“He went probably to his room…”
Jason approached with his hands in the pockets of his jeans.
“I see…He gave ya a Hell again, huh? Are ya okay? Ya seem a bit pale…do ya want
me to call the grandpa?”
Bruce laughed for the ‘grandpa’ for Alfred. Jason pouted.
“Dicky is my best buddy but I admit he’s a dick to ya... Sorry for the term…”
“It’s okay, Jason” he smiled “I grown up in a whorehouse surrounded by thugs…
And thank you; Dick is lucky to have you” he patted the boy’s shoulders. “Thank
you for that – you’re a great young man.”
Jason shook his head.
“Nah…I’m a punk: ya can ask…”
Bruce laughed.
“Jason, I’m happy every time you come here but I don’t want your mother to feel
that we take you from her.”
Jason frowned.
Wha’? No…no! Mom for years was all alone struggling to feed us an’ nobody
cared…” he pressed his small lips. “She was doin’ drugs an’ sellin’ to get her
dose…She did time in jail…” he said in a voice that didn’t remind at all the
cheerful little punk.
Bruce nodded; he knew that already.
“You are a very brave boy, Jason…Your mother must be very proud of you and you
of her.”
“Now you gave her a job an’ show interest for me…an’ she is happy.”
Bruce nodded grinning.
“Listen to me, Jason: for whatever you or your mother need I want you to come
to me – do not hesitate, okay?” the boy nodded. “The same goes for Richard:
there’s no chance he’ll ever come and confide in me so” he shook his head “I
don’t want you to betray his trust, no, no way. But if things become serious…”
Jason nodded.
“Ya’re a good guy, aren’t ya?”
Bruce chuckled.
“Nah…I just want to see happy people around me, that’s all” the boy laughed.
“Your mother will expect you, so say good night to Richard and off we go. We’ll
put your motorbike to the trunk.”
Jason frowned.
“You are braver than what people believe.”
“Why’s that?”
“Joker is loose an’ he targets ya…but ya leave yar company of superheroes to
come to town.”
“He or anyone else won’t expect me in a small car and the car is bulletproof.
And between us, I need some fresh air” he frowned “we can’t say that Gotham’s
air is fresh, huh?” Jason pouted and shook his head. “But we do love that air,
right Jason?”
“Mmm…ya said ‘small car’? So we won’t ride that monster?”
Bruce chuckled.
“Some other time, cross my heart.”
 
It was half past midnight. Bruce had delayed going to sleep as much as he
could: most of the times he didn’t have a problem to stay alone, on the
contrary he needed some loneliness. But tonight he wanted to stay in the common
rooms with his loved ones: maybe it was that he didn’t want to be in the master
bedroom where every good or bad moment he had with Clark would haunt him.
Leslie had asked a last time to examine him.
“Now I see the reason you honored us with your presence, Dr. Thompkins” he
retorted playfully.
She frowned.
“What are you saying, young man: it’s not the first time I had dinner with
you.”
“Yes, but this time you wanted to observe your patient for any sign of
weakness, right?”
Leslie smirked.
“I always like to combine work and pleasure…” she answered teasingly.
She leaned to him. Selina with Steve had left the Manor earlier because she
wanted to show him her apartment; Alfred went to make his night tea and Tony
with Pepper had a tele-meeting with some cross Atlantic partners. As for Dick,
after the short interaction with Bruce he went to his room and stayed there.
So only Hero was with them stretched on Bruce’s lap, licking his paw and
purring.
“Bruce, let me examine you” the youth closed his eyes. “Just your heart…at
least.”
Bruce thought his nipples bearing the marks of the slight burns Clark did with
his heat vision and the teeth marks and bruises all over his body. He denied
once again.
But now after Leslie left and Tony with Pepper went to their bedroom, Bruce
couldn’t delay it anymore: it was almost the time Alfred went to sleep too and
he didn’t want to torment him keeping the old man awake to make him company.
So he sat before the big window and stared outside where Superman hovered last
night: he almost wished seeing him again. It seemed like a year had passed:
this day was endless…dragging and dragging…Clark coming back…
He pressed his lips; that wouldn’t happen. He yanked his head and clenched the
armrests: always pressing your lips with every misfortune. Swallow the pain,
grit your teeth and comfort yourself saying that it’s not so bad, after all –
it doesn’t matter. Smile because your loved ones are all around and you don’t
want them more sorrowful for you…But you don’t smile only to them: you force
yourself to do that even when you’re alone, slapping yourself saying that it’ll
pass and you shouldn’t break from something like this…Everytime clenching your
fists to take strength and continue.
But maybe for once you should succumb to sadness? Stop fighting the depression
and just let the sorrow wash your body and soul? He shook his head
disapprovingly: no, he couldn’t allow that, although some times like now this
option seemed tempting, to just stop fighting the sadness: like when he was a
weak, cripple being in Falcone’s hands having seen his parents being murdered.
He chuckled bitterly: sorrow and bitterness were always there inside him; the
foundations of his existence – he just decided to take from them the helm when
Ra’s breathed confidence to him: confidence that he could defeat his enemies
and save innocent people. He blinked: but he would never be entirely saved…
However, he always felt them – sadness, bitterness, hopelessness, depression -,
he recognized them but just let them be…float around.
He ran his hands in his hair and closed his eyes; when he opened them again, he
moved to the bed that was ready for him to sleep; Hero was already asleep in
his basket.
Bruce noticed that the pillows were brand new and grinned: Alfred takes care of
everything…My good Alfred.
He looked at the bed indecisive but in the end took off his robe determined and
slipped under the blankets turning off the table lamp and the secret lighting
behind the headboard.
His body above the waist screamed from all kinds of pain; the hardship and
fatigue of the day taking their toll despite the fact he had a nap at midday.
The pain was so intense that stopped his respiration for a few seconds and he
groaned. He stared at the slowly dancing flames in the fireplace hoping to
divert his mind from the pain and be lulled.
But a thought cracked like a bolt his mind: what if Clark decided to remove the
energy casts from his body?
“The energy casts are property of the Fortress and serve me.”
He shook his head: that would render him completely immobile and bound to a
bed, at least till Tony, Lucius and Leslie found something to replace them.
No…Clark would never do that, even if he was under the influence of that woman.
Bruce inhaled deeply and let the air slowly leave his lungs: he had made
arrangements for returning to Clark what belonged to him.
Clark…Only the thought made him feel like his chest was bleeding again.
I believed that we would fight this together as we did that night in the
greenhouse; that I could help you defeat your demons as you helped me escape
mine. But you didn’t want me and my presence only made your demons stronger…I
wasn’t able to make you believe in this fight; if I had inspired greater love
in you, you’d be able to overcome the effect…but after all I’m not a person who
can create that kind of love to someone…I wasn’t good enough…But I won’t
abandon you, Clark, even if I am far from you…
He was tired but he couldn’t sleep and his eyes kept staring at the dark
ceiling, his mind making up forms, bats: his loyal companions in every pain he
had suffered.
Suddenly, a small light from his wristwatch made his blank eyes sparkle: Jim
had lit the signal: he couldn’t ignore his call again. His loyal ally needed
him. He forced his body to sit and Hero stirred in his sleep but Bruce could be
completely stealthy when he wanted.
He reached the cave and put on his new armor.
Jim was waiting as every time beside the signal and even though his movements
with the new armor weren’t as good as before still the police commissionaire
was startled.
“Those chilly nights are charming…” Jim said abstracted by the starry sky but
swiftly changed into business. “I was worried; you didn’t come.”
Batman clenched his jaw.
“I was busy” he replied flatly and Jim nodded.
“You’re fine, that counts.”
Bruce saw a flicker of relief and joy in the good cop’s eyes; a flicker that
soon was quenched.
“We found a man’s body…with Joker’s card pinned on his lapel.”
***** Chapter 42 *****
Joker paced the roof of the warehouse he had made his hideout. He was hunched
and his face tightened. He had his hands behind his back and whistled a tune –
a tune of his own inspiration. Suddenly, he stopped and looked at the starry
sky; he twisted his lips: no giant flying rodents…of…course.
The Bat wouldn’t come to catch him…The Bat was confined in a horrible
wheelchair after the accident his stupid goon caused…He frowned: how that
idiot, Lou, can be still alive after what he did to Batsy? He pouted: one of
these days he had to look into it – he should noted to his Smartphone...wait:
he didn’t have a Smartphone but his mind had a four-core processor so he didn’t
need these petty and boooooring gizmos…
Joker turned his wrist and looked at the Micky Mouse plated wristwatch: 1
o’clock. Those idiots at GCPD must have found by now his tailor…well, what was
left of his tailor… He stretched his arm, gazed at the sleeve and brushed the
expensive fabric.
“C’est magnifique!” he exclaimed in a hilarious mimic of French accent that
reminded of screeching tires; Joker stared at the morose gargoyle of the
opposite warehouse and shrugged. “I’m a comedian, paaal! Now drop the critic
aaaaaand smiiiiiLE!”
He tilted his head on the side studying the grim, dirty statue and finally
licked his lips.
“You’re tough audience, huh? At least, my good tailor smiles all the time
now…after death…” he widened his eyes innocently. “Buuuuut they say that the
important stuuuuuf is after death, do they?”
He waved the gargoyle off.
“Ugh! You’re boooooring!” he twirled around himself. “This city is booooring
without Batsy flying around aaaaaand kicking asses…”
He tapped his fingertip on his bottom lip thoughtful.
“Batsy decided toooooo play with us” he dictated waving his hand as if giving a
lecture. “He found a way to persu--ade people that he is still out there while
he is home siiiick. Once again the sneaky littl’ boy, fooooools everyone; like
he did with the late Falcone” he gave his eyes a mock sorrowful look “God rests
his soul…Mou…HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!” he held his belly. “Uph! Each time it’s the
same laughs…He was fuck--ing the boy, he was thinking him a pet and the pet ate
him! UHUHUHUHU! He couldn’t discern the kitten from the tiger…” he frowned.
“No, no tiger: a panther, black panther…” he whistled and sighed rolling his
eyes lustful “I’m a fun of bestiality, what can I say?” he shrugged “HEHE!”
He scratched his green died curls and looked at his gloved nails.
“I need to wash my hair…I dooooo love animals but I don’t want pets strolling
oooon my head…”
He turned again to the gargoyle.
“What I was saying?” he waved him off disappointed. “Never mind…”
His eyes found the sky.
“Yeeeeees…” he nodded. “Well, Batsy wants to play with us pretending that he is
fine…well, I wanna play too…”
His eyes became blank: he needed a new suit and dressing coat, he really
needed. So he ordered one of his goons to call that grandpa – yeah, the guy was
an old professional – and Joker admired (HeHe! Nice one…admire…), liked his
work. He was Joker, damn!, he deserved the best – and since Brucey had Armani,
he should be elegant looking too…No, he wasn’t vain.
They arranged an appointment at the man’s atelier…How was his name?
Ori…Rio…aaa…D’ario. He wouldn’t ever forget the man’s expression when Joker
entered his workspace with a deep bow: his terror was such that he didn’t dare
even to move to his phone to call the police…or it was cleverness? The old man
obviously knew that if he did the wrong move he’d be killed instantly either by
the armed henchmen or Joker himself.
However, he didn’t want the esteemed tailor dead…Joker knew how to not blend
business with pleasure.
He tilted his head on the side: no, no, no, scratch that. Okay, he blended them
but in some cases he didn’t. And this was one of these cases.
Joker had sat beside him at the backless setee and wrapped his arm around his
shoulders like an old chap. He talked to the old man kindly and sweet – when he
wanted (not that he wanted to brag) he was an angel…exaggeration. He promised
him that he wouldn’t be hurt and that he just wanted a good dressing coat for
the winter and a suit. He’d be handsomely rewarded. But…to be sure that the
grandpa wouldn’t trap them, he should take the necessary and come to work to
their place: food, sleeping and entertainment on the house.
It was D’ario’s choice to come with them – if you didn’t count Joker’s kids’
firearms and his own charming smile: Joker knew that his smile was his most
powerful weapon…
 Well, the grandpa was a talent! Joker wasn’t sure if it was pure skill or the
blade that constantly mentally hovered above the man’s neck: always mentally
because Joker couldn’t pose as a model and held the knife at the same time or
could he?
“I muuuuust try it…” he shook his head.
The guy made a fine job and Joker paid him the best way: he spared him from the
tough declining years: rheumatism, pain in the bones, high blood pressure,
dementia. Brrr…Joker shook his head hystericalyl: he didn’t want even to
consider it. Not to mention the loneliness, the abandon, the depression of
seeing yourself decaying alive…Now, good ol’ D’ario had a permanent smile on
his face probably considering from what he escaped.
Joker tilted his head on the side and narrowed his eyes pouting.
“Nooooow I’m thinking about it, I overpaid you, old fella” he shook his head.
“Anyway, I caaaaan’t ask my money back, can I?”
He jumped and sat down on the cement, his legs dangling to the void.
“Well, Brucey-Batsy, Batsy-Brucey, youuuuu found a trick to fool people that
you’re still flying…” he hissed. “Youuuuu wanted to play but I’m aaaa kid an’ I
wanna playyyy tooooo” he pouted like someone had taken from him a lollipop and
then sobered. “What if I begin killing people?” he sniggered serious “and
demanding from you to coooome and stoooop me?” he cocked his eyebrows while his
eyes glimmered evilly. “All theeeeese time you played with us – now you’ll have
to come out and really play” he narrowed his eyes. “You dooo have to find a way
and come to me, babe…” he shook his head. “I intend on keep you
‘running’…HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAA!”
 
“The man’s name is Silvio D’ario and he was a well known tailor” Jim explained
showing the picture to Batman.
He was an elderly man around 70 years with white, thin hair and white thick
eyebrows. His face was wrinkled and as he was sprawled on the cement of Saint
Mary’s Park, the macabre Cheshire smile, Joker’s trademark carved his plumb
face even more. His eyes were bulged in terror. Thankfully, death had come
instantly by the blade that protruded from his heart.
“He had no family; only an old housekeeper and some friends and associates. His
disappearance had been stated to the police two weeks ago but…” Gordon pressed
his lips in a thin line.
Batman nodded.
“He wasn’t found…” if Bruce was truly in the business and wasn’t absorbed in
his sex life he could have found the man and saved him from Joker.
Gordon was looking at Batman over his glasses and although the lenses covered
his real eyes, the cop could tell that his ally was blaming himself.
“You can’t save them all” he said sympathetically but firmly.
Batman yanked his head.
“Do you think that this comforts him?”
Jim closed his eyes.
“Of course not…’’ Jim replied hoarsely.
“Neither do I. Joker’s card?”
Jim opened the folder he was holding and pulled out a Joker card inside a
police case. He held it in two fingers and showed it to Batman who straightened
his head.
Red letters which were obviously written with the victim’s blood read:
“I’M PLAYFUL LIKE YOU, BATSY –CoM’ OUT AND PLAYYYYYYY”
Gordon came closer to him watching wary Batman’s pressed lips.
“Don’t play his game: he wants to draw you to a trap.”
Bruce’s mind was racing: Joker suspected, was almost sure about Batman’s
identity. He knew that Bruce Wayne was paraplegic and he heard that Batman was
active so he planned to either prove that Batman wasn’t really active or – most
probable, he wanted to drive Bruce to his limits. He could imagine the smirk of
the clown: if you want to still play the protector of the city, then you must
protect her from real dangers – for Joker was a game. Something to enjoy
himself or even manage to capture a vulnerable Batman and demask him.
“Are you alright?” Jim asked with real concern.
Batman didn’t answer because he never had to answer that: Batman couldn’t
afford to not be alright.
“I’ll stop him, Jim” he said flatly and walked casually to the ledge and jumped
to the void spreading his wings, his body forgetting exhaustion and pain
because now he was in the sky.
Gordon sighed.
“I hope you’re really alright, son…” he watched his ally’s route and turned to
return inside.
 
His body ached all over but these pains were different from those he
remembered. They were pains of beating and the acid burning of lashes on his
back; he was exhausted yet his exhaustion was intense even below his waist.
So all this paralysis-thing was false…and Superman cheating him…Superman being
with him was a dream. Yes, a dream because Bruce had his legs spread on a
gynecologist-like chair that left his opening exposed.
And he was seeing himself in Ra’s’ gray eyes: he was small, he was 14 years
old. He was scared and his body shook uncontrollably wanting to jolt from the
chair and run. Where to run? There was nowhere to go to: Ra’s was his
salvation, Bruce knew it and knew that he had to stay with him if he wanted to
have a chance. But he was appalled of the chair; he had obeyed the lion-like
man and sat there yet now he couldn’t take it anymore…
“Please, sir…” his eyes searched in Ra’s’ eyes and found impatience under his
sweetness. “I don’t want to…”
The older man caressed affectionately his hair and kissed feathery his
forehead.
“Do not be afraid, child” he widened his eyes “you don’t trust me?”
Bruce nodded trembling but his hands clenched the man’s forearms desperately.
“What are you going to do, sir?”
Ra’s’ features hardened.
“You don’t honestly expect me to explain my actions to you, child?” his voice
was mild but stern at the same time and Bruce felt dread. “It’s for the best
and I know that Falcone put you in a lot of worse things than this.”
Bruce bit his bottom lip and sniffed because his nose began leaking: he thought
that with this man it’d be different.
Ra’s as if he had read the boy’s thoughts smiled with sympathy.
“I understand your distaste, Bruce, but I need to take some samples from your
body to make some tests and see if you’re healthy. You are the son of a doctor
so you know how these things go.”
Yes, Bruce knew: his dad was taking blood samples from him once in a while, but
not from down there…And now a bigger terror settled in Bruce’s bonny chest:
“see if you’re healthy”. He wasn’t healthy: he couldn’t be. And what if Ra’s
abandoned him once he found out that he wasn’t healthy?
“Samples from…from there…?”
Ra’s nodded and lifted his head to the man waiting and he took a syringe-like
thing from the table and came closer. The closer he got the more the size of
the syringe registered with Bruce: he hadn’t seen anything that big and such a
thick needle – it was like a blade…
He jerked from the chair: Falcone put things in him and now Ra’s was going to
do the same. Ra’s grabbed his upper arms and pressed him down.
“Hush, Bruce…Don’t be like that!”
But Bruce twitched weakly in his enormous arms, his face distorted in fear.
“Please, don’t hurt me, sir…don’t hurt me like the others…” he felt warm liquid
washing his cheeks and saw Ra’s’ huff of impatience.
“Falcone’s disaster depends on this, child! This will make us powerful…”
Bruce frowned and then a flash image of a giant creature with silver spikes for
hair and two short, straight ivory horns in his temples cracked his mind; the
creature was using him and filling him with his hot liquid that didn’t drip
from his opening but felt like being absorbed in his body.
“If you were a girl you’d be with a baby…” Ra’s’ voice echoed from far but
Bruce didn’t remember where and when.
Ra’s’ arms tightened around him keeping him still and smoothened; suddenly, he
felt a cold thing entering him and it wasn’t the first time but still Bruce
squirmed and Ra’s clenched his jaw and hugged him squeezing the trembling boy
in his stony torso.
“It’ll be over in a minute…” the lion-like man whispered in Bruce’s ear “just
stay calm and it won’t hurt much.”
The older man captured his lips and began massaging gently but determined; and
it was so intense that Bruce’s mind went numb.
His scream was muffled in Ra’s’ mouth when a sharp pain smashed his insides and
Bruce’s eyes began watering. He could feel a giant metallic beast sucking
chunks of his flesh inside his anus: the sample Ra’s needed.
“I can’t take the second sample” the man told Ra’s “his rectum is clenched.”
Bruce was shaking inside Ra’s’ arms and the older man looked at the boy whose
face was drenched in sweat; his eyes stared at the adult asking mercy and Ra’s’
eyes bent. He cupped Bruce’s face and the boy watched the beautiful, lean
fingers of the powerful man massaging gently, slowly his face until a
paralyzing calmness flooded his body and brain; his eyelids felt too heavy and
he tried to stop them from trembling, to keep his eyes open but Ra’s’s
movements were irresistible and soon he succumbed…Bruce was always too
exhausted, too needy of the small escape sleep offered; he let his eyelids
cover his eyes…
He was asleep but he felt the strong lips of Ra’s Al Ghul kissing him in the
forehead gently.
“Continue…” he ordered in a low voice his minion.
Bruce was sleeping but still could hear; thankfully, the pain inside him was
just a sting. The door opened and someone left – the man who took the samples –
and someone else entered closing the door behind him.
“Are you sure for what you’re going to do, Ra’s?” Ubu’s deep voice asked and
his usual tranquility was cracked.
Ra’s’ strong presence left from his side as the lion-like man stood.
“I can’t let that chance go wasted” he answered in his smug voice. “Bruce’s
body absorbed Bagdana’s semen as expected: it’s a chance unique. The demon’s
seed, Bruce’s DNA which bears the DNA of another demon, Lilith; and my own DNA”
his madness, his lust vibrated his voice.
“It isn’t enough that you’re turning the child’s body into a deadly magnet for
the Kryptonian?” Ubu’s disapproval was clear.
Ra’s gritted his teeth.
“You don’t understand, Ubu?” he hissed. “You can’t grasp the possibilities of
the offspring that would be created? Two powerful demons, a unique child and
Ra’s Al Ghul’s blood…The ideal successor, the ideal warrior…he or she shall be
invincible” his voice softened. “If Bruce alone is so gifted, imagine the baby
that will be come from him, Bagdana and me.”
“And what if your creation doesn’t satisfy your dreams: the procedure is risky
and even if indeed a baby is created we can’t be sure that it’ll be in perfect
condition.”
“Then I’ll dispose of it.”
Ubu made a sound of disapproval.
“And if he or she is an uncontrollable monster?”
“If I can create a man who will bring Superman to his knees I can control
anything…” his smug smile was evident in his voice.
His body felt heavy like a log and there was a feeling of stiffness and pain in
his stomach. He could say that he was lying on a bed; his head was in a fog
that had nothing to do with sleeping. He wanted to remember where he was and
what happened but his memory stubbornly shut all the doors.
But Bruce was more stubborn even from his mind, so he dag deeply in his memory
and he came upon tormenting thirst, stabbing famine and all kinds of pain all
over his body – even burns and migraine. He couldn’t clear how all these
happened to him, after all in his entire life was hungry, thirsty and famished.
Yet there was a pain more excruciating from the others; a pain that had nothing
to do with his body though there was a connection with the current throbbing in
his stomach. This pain was deeper, eroding; this pain was the pain of the heart
– the irremediable pain of betrayal.
He didn’t want to open his eyes: it was much better like this – the external
world never offered him anything but cruelty and misery. But always there was
something pushing him to stand up. His eyelids flickered: he knew that it was
time once again to face the world.
The golden light of the sun coming from the window blinded him for some seconds
but once his eyes adjusted, he took in the space. He knew that luxurious room –
he could even see the cage where he was jailed for days: like a wild animal,
like a bat. Only bats didn’t live in cages.
All came back to him like an icy cold waterfall: his abduction from the Manor,
his transport in the desert, in this camp; the tortures Ra’s Al Ghul submitted
him; the mysterious boy who stared at him; the revelation that this boy was in
a odd way his son; he tried, he had managed to find the courage to make his
attempt to escape with his son: he couldn’t let the boy at Ra’s’ mercy, the
demon’s head had done enough damage to him.
But the damage was already too big: the boy had followed him only to stab him
in the stomach as he turned on the engine for them to leave.
And now he was again prisoner of him. He was sensing him in the room: after
all, it was his bedroom. Ra’s could be invisible to anyone but Bruce could
sense his presence even when his former master didn’t want to. He had mastered
that skill after many years of being used by him and many cruel punishments…
Ra’s didn’t wish to hide his presence from Bruce because he immediately entered
his field. As Bruce expected he had that annoying smug expression, a mock
sympathetic grin on his lips. He approached the bed with long, confident
strides and sat at the stool beside.
“I see you finally woke” he chirped. “Our great child is a bit compulsive with
knives; extremely skillful but he can’t control himself with them and his blows
are heavier than they should” his grin became broader with pride for the boy
and irony for Bruce. “Like the small snakes which can’t control the poison in
their fangs so their biting is deadlier than that of the adult snakes. You’ve
been unconscious for two weeks.”
Bruce didn’t look at him just shook his head disgusted.
“You really like what you have done with him, don’t you?”
Ra’s’ face sobered.
“Since I failed with his…’mother’, that is you” he pursed his lips and cocked
his eyebrows. “But do not credit this success to me alone: he is the offspring
of two demons, of me and…” he took softly Bruce’s hand and although Bruce
wanted to take it away he couldn’t make a move. “Of a unique human being, you.”
Bruce clenched his jaw and his lips upturned in rage.
“You have paralyzed me…”
Ra’s nodded amused.
“Completely: it is not the first time and each time is extremely satisfying to
witness your weak anger. I paralyzed you below the neck; otherwise I should use
heavy bondage hard and in your condition I find it cruel: our boy -treasure
instead of just stopping you from escaping, almost killed you.”
Bruce shook his head still not looking at him.
“He didn’t have any inhibition to do it: you poisoned him against me.”
The lion-like man shook his head in denial.
“No, Bruce: I didn’t poison him, I told him only the truth about how you
backstabbed me. I hadn’t told him that you were his father but then you told
him and didn’t leave me another option. His hatred for you is a consequence of
your own actions.”
Bruce bared his teeth and turned to lock eyes with him; his own eyes two
blazing seas.
“You didn’t tell him what you did to me! You never told him what you truly do
with your stupid League: you never let him free to see the world, to learn the
truth.”
Ra’s cocked an eyebrow.
“And you think that this would change anything? I’m the boy’s god: nobody can
change his opinion” he snorted “not even his traitorous, unworthy begetter…You
just saw that: you put him before a choice and this choice destroyed you” he
hissed.
Bruce felt the tied wound in his stomach biting hard.
Al Ghul caressed his face affectionately like he was doing when he was just a
fooled little boy who believed him like a savior. Bruce yanked his head away
and the older man smiled.
“I like that you care about our child, Bruce: I was afraid that you would hate
him due to the circumstances that led to his birth.”
Bruce snapped his head towards him.
“Why would I hate him? Nothing of this is his fault: he’s a child that deserves
the best!” Ra’s grinned in his mefistophelic way. “And you’re not that!”
He shrugged.
“Alright, then; you can give him what you consider the best.”
Bruce frowned.
“That includes being away from you and growing up like every other child” he
spat.
Ra’s tilted his head.
“But he isn’t like every other child and neither you are. All in all, Bruce, I
want him with you; he can learn so much from you” Bruce narrowed his eyes. “Yet
I can’t permit that to happen if you are like this: ill minded.”
Bruce’s eyes widened.
“Ill minded?! But I know who you really are.”
Ra’s stood and sat at the mattress beside Bruce which motion made him shudder.
“You see, I can’t permit that…” he said indifferent. “You’ll be with him but in
my terms.”
“Never!” Bruce spat but the older man laughed self-confident.
“Oh, Bruce! That’s what fascinates me most about you: your defiance, your
stubbornness, your spirit. Dick will be benefited by growing up with his
‘mother’. However you were never able to deprive me of what I wanted, child.”
He leaned over Bruce and he felt his chest being clenched; his eyes widened and
his face tensed more when Ra’s pulled the blanket from his body.
“No!” he spat when his former master slipped his hand under Bruce’s shirt and
began fondling his chest.
Ra’s smiled and brought his face over Bruce’s; he captured Bruce’s lips which
was what Bruce waited to plunge his teeth to Ra’s lips. The older man jerked
touching the blood on his lips and began cackling.
“Oh, Bruce! Your resistance works only to fuel my fire and desire…Don’t be like
that” he said matter of factly “we have a child together…”
Bruce squinted and spat Ra’s in the face which made the leader of the Shadows
pale before he clenched his jaw and with a swift movement straddled the younger
man. Bruce just caught Ra’s’ raised hand before it fell hard on his face
sending his head to the other side.
“Ungrateful little whore!” he grounded his teeth and turned Bruce on his
stomach.
Bruce gritted his teeth knowing what was to follow and that he was unable to do
anything to stop it; Al Ghul’s brutal movements as he stripped and spread him
was all too familiar to him, as the harsh, swift way he entered him making his
body cry in agony; even now that he couldn’t move his limps but feel
everything.
Ra’s’ panting filled his world like the nauseating sound of flesh slapping
flesh as the older man penetrated him…and then Ra’s’ heavy torso was on his
back and his hot lips swallowed Bruce’s ear.
“You’ll do what I want, child…You’ll become what I dreamed for you…” he
whispered.
“Never!”
But his eyes bulged seeing Ra’s hand holding a syringe filled with a liquid
with a bizarre purple color that boiled inside.
“Don’t!” he shouted but Ra’s lowered the syringe where he couldn’t see or move;
he tried to hit Ra’s head with his but he was still weak from his injury and
his former master pressed his head on the pillow immobilizing him.
The needle stabbed him hard on the forearm and his blood began burning and his
eyes watering; his head span crazily.
“Our son needs you, Bruce…and I need you to fulfill your destiny: to become
what I want you to be. My dream executioner, the angel-punisher, Superman’s
slayer…” Ra’s’ passionate voice echoed distorted in the caves of his head.
The boy’s eyes were filled with awe, widened as he stared at Batman in the
middle of the cave. There wasn’t the waterfall at the entrance and the bats
hanging from the ceiling were different from those in Gotham. This cave was
enormous, with tall endless stalactites forming pillars that fenced a round
opening in the middle of which was a bench with several screens; a low humming
sound indicated that a massive processor was working.
Ra’s sat on a flat rock with his arms crossed looking at Batman with
satisfaction and pride.
“I managed to reclaim your armor from our enemies” he said “and I see that it
deserved the effort humiliating our enemies” he shook his head “but most:
looking again at the magnificent creature of the night that they failed to
kneel.”
Batman eyed himself: the armor was the same but simultaneously there were
differences from what he remembered. The armor was the same deep black of the
midnight, consisted of several individual parts, distinguishing his abdominal
muscles one my one. Yet the bat with the open winds all over his chest was a
dazzling red and Bruce had the impression that it should be black.
Ra’s grinned and addressed the boy.
“Our enemies, Superman and Stark, ambushed your father and injured him to the
point of death; yet the worst they did to him was to put him under brainwashing
that was very effective due to Batman’s damaged health. They persuaded him that
Stark was his best, childhood friend and Superman his lover…” he arched his
eyebrows “but their most disgusting lie was that the League of Shadows was an
organization of murderers and I had betrayed and abused him. They are plotting
to conquer the world and know that the League is the only organization that can
stop them; and Batman their greater enemy – the greatest defender of justice.”
Batman eyed him locking their eyes; he could see his irises inside his leader’s
gray eyes and that seemed odd to him. Several scared irises flashed through his
mind and in none of them his eyes were reflected: criminals were seeing only
blinding white light in Batman’s eyes, lenses.
“They made him believe that Batman needed to hide his true eyes from his
enemies” he shook his head. “Nonsense! Your father’s eyes are unique and can be
the most dangerous weapon: he terrorized criminals only with his glare” he was
addressing the impressed raven haired boy but his steel eyes were locked with
Bruce’s.
Ra’s made a sharp movement with his head and the boy stood from the bench
obviously trained in perfect discipline.
“Dick, please, leave us alone” he asked politely and the boy bowed to both of
them and marched the stone corridor leading to the other end of the cave.
Ra’s stayed with his head bowed listening to the boy’s light footsteps till he
was sure that he was far. He stood slowly and came to Batman who had walked to
the computer bench checking the gadgets.
“Is everything as it should be?” he asked cocking an eyebrow and Bruce still
discerned some irony.
Batman nodded.
“Dick is looking at me oddly…disbelieving” he spat.
Ra’s grinned.
“You shouldn’t think badly of him: he saw you the first days after we took you
from their hands. You were too aggressive, too insulting to me and even tried
to grab Dick and run away, back to them. But now you’re healed” his voice
became low and he came closer caressing the cheeks of the cowl “things will
become normal again: Dick will find again the trust to his father and I…”
His lips touched passionately Batman’s lips.
“I’ll have again my beloved…the child I raised…the body I worshipped…”
Bruce answered to the challenge of Ra’s’ lips and his mouth began moving along
slowly but progressively faster and stronger. Ra’s put his arms around his
armored back and brought their bodies to smash, deepening the kiss in a wild
battle of tastes and sounds. Bruce could see Ra’s satisfaction, his delight as
he sniffed the scent of the armor mixed with the younger man’s perfume. Which
intrigued Bruce because something inside was whispering that his armor didn’t
permit his body’s scent come out…
Yet Ra’s had said that Stark and Superman had brainwashed him into believing
crazy things. He however knew whom to believe: Ra’s – the man who saved him…
Ra’s maneuvered them both bringing Bruce’s waist to touch the bench; the older
man was breathing heavily, his eyes fogged with desire.
“Give me your body, child…” he groaned into Bruce’s mouth and began peeling the
armor parts from his body, fondling demanding the revealed flesh.
Bruce took off the cowl and it seemed to him that it was way easier than it
should be; yet Ra’s was sucking the crook of his neck and his master had a
unique way to make him paralyze in pleasure.
“I think that they will try to capture you again” Ra’s whispered in his ear and
Bruce frowned.
“That’s preposterous; they don’t know to admit their defeat.”
Ra’s smirked and Bruce felt it on his skin.
“It’s okay, child; this would be their death. Let them come…”
Bruce grinned but something nudged him; something told him that this wasn’t
good.
“After all, Superman can’t endure your absence: your body lures him…your body
will be the death of him and this rock…”
He continued nibbling Bruce’s ear lobe and pulled out of his pants’ pocket a
glowing green rock cracked from black veins that were moving inside the
material like liquid. Bruce found Ra’s’ eyes and the older man cackled.
“He is yours, Bruce…You’ll fulfill your destiny.”
The desert was endless…dunes and flat wavy surfaces as far as the eye could
reach. Once in a while a small twister upset the sand into a vertical spiral
that made Dick’s eyes sparkle with enthusiasm, showing the spectacle to Bruce
with his index.
Dick had grown up in this military camp, in the middle of the desert but he
behaved as if each time he was strolling the desert was the first he was seeing
the sand sea. Bruce suspected that this was because of his presence.
Every afternoon they used to take the small roofless jeep and wander the
desert: Bruce was training the already highly skillful boy yet their afternoon
escapees were a necessary part. Maybe because they had the chance to discuss
many things; maybe because Bruce wanted to come closer to his son without Ra’s’
presence – after all, Ra’s had the boy for 12 years. Bruce wanted to shape the
bond that was already there vibrating.
And the boy seemed to have become really fond of him asking things, wanting to
hear stories from his battles with criminals – curious enough Bruce had
recollection of them -, of how he found the evidents that convicted Falcone, of
how he detected the liabilities of his opponents. Bruce relished the glimmering
of the boy’s beautiful blue eyes (it was Thomas Wayne’s eyes) and even more the
carefree laughter of his when they spotted some small rare animal of the
desert. The doubt, the apprehension and even hostility of the first days after
his returning had thankfully left.
He had left the car and walked dressed in the white attires of the Arabian
Princes. The sun was on his setting and the horizon seemed like bleeding gold,
the sea of sand underneath sparkling.
“You know, father” the boy said with his usual sharp voice cracking from some
affection “I’m happy you’re back with us” he turned to look at Bruce’s face “at
first, I didn’t care when Ra’s told me about you being my father but as the
time passes and I learn more about you…I’m happy you’re my father.”
“And I’m happy you’re my son and I found you, Dick: I feel that my life got a
deeper meaning… I want to share so many things with you.”
Dick slipped his small hand into Bruce’s and he squeezed it gently smiling. But
then the boy’s eyes widened and his body tensed.
“Father, look!”
It was a dot in the sky at first but then gradually a figure was forming; a
figure in red and blue with a cape waving behind him.
Bruce squatted and took both Dick’s hands in his.
“Take the car and return to the camp” he said calmly but determined.
“I won’t leave you alone with him!”
Bruce grinned reassuringly.
“Don’t worry, Dick, he won’t harm me.”
“But he and Stark ambushed and almost killed you; they turned you against us!
He’ll take you away from me!”
“He won’t…Go now: you can’t disobey your father…”
The boy grunted but did as he was told and Bruce rose to watch the jeep
disappearing; the cloud of sand behind the vehicle tracing its route. The boy
was safe: he turned to the upcoming alien who now was descending, rushing to
him but not in an aggressive way. There was agony in Superman’s face and
relief.
“Bruce!” he exclaimed and immediately he wrapped him in his powerful embrace:
Ra’s was right – the alien craved for him. “I was terrified, Bruce; I thought
that he would hurt you…”
Bruce didn’t answer though he snorted inside: Ra’s hurt him? Oh, he had a
nerve! The man who tortured him blamed his savior of that same thing he did to
him. Yet Bruce nestled his head in Superman’s shoulder and heard the alien’s
heart beating faster.
“It’s alright, Star: I’ll get you away from here – back to your home, to your
people…”
Bruce raised his head and locked their eyes; love was flooding Superman’s eyes:
love and joy. Bruce attacked his mouth with his lips, massaging gently but
strongly, sucking skillfully the hot flesh; Superman followed deepening the
kiss and tightening his hold. He was moaning and his eyes were closed enjoying
the senses.
Suddenly, Superman’s eyes snapped open staring shocked at Bruce’s emotionless,
cold gaze; the alien’s respiration sounded like an asthmatic fit and he was
shaking uncontrollably; his hold on Bruce’s body the only thing that kept him
erect.
But Bruce made a small jump away from him and the most powerful being on Earth
sank in his knees; bitter surprise sparkling in his sad eyes. Bruce smirked
bringing his hands to the fore: in the right hand he held a glowing green rock
veined with black lines and in the left he was clenching  the Knife of Justice:
its diamond, shining blade absorbing fast Superman’s blood.
“Bruce, why…?” he whispered weakly.
Bruce spat at his knees.
“Look at you…How pathetic! You brag of being the most powerful being on Earth;
you rule humans with an iron fist but in the end it takes only a rock to bring
you to your knees…and you wanted to conquer Earth” he hissed.
Superman gaped but his head slumped because he didn’t have enough strength to
hold it up.
“Rule humans?” he asked. “You know that’s not true, Bruce…I only help as I
can…”
But Bruce felt enraged from the man’s hypocrisy; he kicked him in the ribs
sending him to the sand.
“How could you think that I’d accept your kisses? Your embrace? You believed
that my people wouldn’t be able to heal me from your brainwashing?”
Superman had no strength to rise even to his knees; his power was quenching.
But he continued looking at Bruce desperately.
“I would never hurt you, Star…I didn’t brainwash you: Ra’s Al Ghul did. He
attacked you and Alfred in the Manor and kidnapped you. He brainwashed you
because you turned against him and banished him from Gotham…Please, remember…”
Bruce frowned and Superman’s eyes filled with hope. But then Bruce clenched his
jaw and kicked him hard in the face rendering him unconscious.
“Liar!” he roared and his voice echoed in the desert’s emptiness.
He felt a second presence approaching and smirked: of course…
“What happened to the fucking UFO?” Stark’s cheery voice addressed him. “He
passed out from his joy to see you again?”
The billionaire eyed him from feet to head and deactivated his face plate. A
radiant smile cracked his tanned face and he rushed to hug Bruce dissolving his
armor in a second.
“Little guy…You can’t imagine the agony when I realized that this motherfucker
had taken you: I thought that I lost you again…And then when I finally located
you here…I dreaded that I’d find you tortured, weak, abused…” he let go of him
only to look him again “but you’re fine: what this scum had in mind?”
Bruce shrugged watching his friend smiling.
“Who knows? Aren’t you happy that he didn’t hurt me?”
Stark smiled broadly and patted his back.
“Of course…Poor Alfred will be so happy: he lost ten years from his life till
now…And between us, we must not permit that – we want our old man with us for
many years.”
Stark knitted his eyebrows.
“Oh, c’mon…what happened to that dork?” he marched to Superman’s form under
Bruce’s cold stare. “C’mon, Supes…I was happy too but I didn’t pass out…” but
then his eyes found the blood and the stab wound in Superman’s kidney. “Bruce?”
“He took what he deserved…like you, Stark…” he hissed and the playboy turned
his eyes fleetingly grasping the tiny square gun Bruce held but more fixing on
Bruce’s dead eyes.
“Bruce, no!”
Bruce had put in his pockets the Kryptonite and the Knife when sensed Ironman’s
approach and then as the man hugged him, he pulled out the small gun. He
pressed the trigger relishing the shallow sound; Stark jolted as the bullet
found his waist paralyzing his body; his eyes still on Bruce’s face.
“You can’t conjure your armor” Bruce said coldly to him approaching and gazing
him from above – Stark’s eyes were sorrowful as the man realized the trap. “I
have a device on me – you see, we were prepared – and the device blocks your
reactor to just maintain your useless life: my master might need you.”
He turned his head to see the jeeps and vans approaching fast: backup.
Needless.
“You should have known, Stark, that I wouldn’t let you take me away from my
loved ones again…But you’re arrogant: you think that you can get whatever you
want: Ra’s told me everything about you.”
The convoy stopped surrounding him and his defeated enemies.
Stark shook his head closing his eyes.
“Little guy, I don’t know what he did to you but this man abused you as a
child; you wanted to escape from him. But he brainwashed you” he inhaled deeply
to find the strength to continue because the bullet in his waist hurt. “We are
your loved ones, Bruce; remember?”
“Don’t listen to him, child” Ra’s came at his side. “He knows that their
brainwashing has let remnants and tries to fool you to save his hide.”
“You bastard!” Stark spat through his ground teeth.
Ra’s strut to him slowly and looked him from above smirking.
“You lost, Stark. Bruce is mine” he hissed calmly and delivered him a hard kick
on the chest sending him to roll on the ground unconscious.
Ra’s’ men took their enemies and tossed them in the cars; Ra’s moved to the
jeep at the head of the convoy but frowned because Bruce didn’t follow.
He remained at the same spot with his arms crossed; his eyes fixed on the
bleeding horizon. The atmosphere got chill as the sun was lost; a strong breeze
waved Bruce’s loose clothes.
Ra’s approached him and put his arm around his shoulders. Bruce looked at his
face.
“You did a great job, child; I never had a doubt – I was sure. Dick waits us in
the car…”
Bruce nodded and followed him.
Batman paced in the middle of his cave, before the rectangular cage where
Superman and Stark were imprisoned; the cage’s bars was glowing green from the
Kryptonite and the energy field that forbade Stark from activating his armor.
Both men were awake; Superman slumped on the floor, his paleness turned into
deathly white. However he had dragged himself to the paralyzed Stark and held
him in his arms.
Batman was feeling two pairs of sad eyes watching pazzled his pacing.
“Star…” Superman said with steady voice, obviously recruiting his drops of
stamina.
Batman’s glare was sharper than blade as focused swiftly at him.
“Don’t call me that!” he growled. “What kind of bullshit is that?”
“You loved me calling you that…” Superman answered locking their eyes; his face
was sweaty. “Because your eyes are like star sapphires” he chuckled “remember?
I asked and you gave me your permission…smiling.”
Batman snarled.
“Of course not! It’s a lie: it never happened!”
Stark gulped.
“Little guy” he inhaled deeply and his face distorted from pain. “Whatever this
monster did to you, you can fight it and defeat him once again.”
Batman snorted.
“Defeat the man who saved me? Shut your mouth, Stark! And cut that bullshit…I’m
not a little guy.”
“For me you will always be the little guy, who played with me in the Manor’s
grounds; who told me that he was afraid of the bats: remember when I brought
you the bat? How velvety it was in your small palm?” Batman’s eyes flickered.
“Remember that you were afraid that I’d kill her? You told me that she didn’t
deserve to die because you were scared of her? Remember the cave? How the bats
were like black butterflies?”
“Bruce, I don’t care about my life but you don’t deserve to be a slave to Ra’s
Al Ghul…”
A pang impaled Bruce’s head and some scenes washed everything. He rushed to the
cage, touched his thumb in the slot and surged at Superman. He grabbed him with
both hands from the suit in his chest and heaved him.
“I’m slave of nobody!” he roared. “Though you and that warm” Tony coughed
“tried to turn me into one!” he looked at Superman’s pitiful eyes, the sweat
all over his face declared how weak he was.
Batman shook his head.
“I don’t think that we need both of you alive…” he hissed. “As a matter of
fact, Ra’s wants only Stark alive and my destiny is to slay you…”
He kept holding him with one hand and jolted upwards his left hand to eject the
Blade of Justice from the secret holster under his forearm; he grabbed the hilt
and brought the blade to Superman’s neck. He smirked.
“The mighty alien…it must feel humiliating to lose your life to a mere mortal.”
Superman blinked and locked eyes with him.
“You’re anything but mere, Bruce” he replied solemnly and calm.
Stark shook his head.
“Bruce, don’t do that…” he almost pleaded. “It’s a mistake you’ll regret
forever.”
Batman snapped his head at him snarling but Superman found Bruce’s eyes.
“No, Tony, let him…I don’t mind being killed by his hands…” he chuckled
“actually, it’ll be a sweet death. But before I die, I’ll take the world’s most
fabulous impression with me…”
Unknown how but Superman gathered his remaining strength and moved his head
capturing Batman’s lips in a passionate kiss that made Bruce’s mind just switch
off and the Knife fall from his hand. At first, he was thunder struck, numb but
then images from a half made building came to him along with a sign that read
“Martha and Thomas Wayne Haven”: Superman had him cornered and was kissing him
and it was the most beautiful feeling he ever had; he ever dreamt.
He detached from Superman’s lips despite his own wish and saw disappointment in
the alien’s eyes; Batman looked at Tony determined.
“I must get you out of here” he snapped and Tony frowned.
“You can’t Bruce” the billionaire obviously realized that his friend had
remembered. “Superman is too weak and I…” he inhaled “I’m unable to do
anything. Save yourself, little guy.”
“Nonsense!” He pulled out of a compartment in his belt a Batarang shaped vial.
“What’s this, Star?” Superman asked in a hoarse, spent voice.
“Drink” he ordered breaking the top and bringing the sharp edge to Superman’s
lips.
At first, there was wariness in the alien’s eyes and Batman snorted.
“If I wanted to kill you, Clark, I’d prefer to cut your throat.”
“Thank you very much” he chuckled.
“Can you hurry on, kids?” Tony commented.
“Right…” Superman said drinking greedily and feeling instantly his body
revitalizing. “What is this?”
Batman twisted his lips; he didn’t believe in the effectiveness of this but he
had no choice.
“Water of Immortality and…my tears: Ra’s believes that they have some healing
qualities…”
“They do!” Superman looked awestruck at his feet that floated over the floor
despite the Kryptonite cage.
Of course the Kryptonite thwarted his full recovery.
“You’ll restore your full powers when you’re out of here” Batman spat lifting
Tony. “I’m sorry, Tony” he said to him. “The bullet can be easily dissolved and
you’ll recover.”
The billionaire shook his head.
“That’s good news, buddy” he stared at Bruce’s eyes. “I’m glad you’re back.”
“Father?”
The two prisoners stared at the raven haired boy who indeed was very similar to
Bruce; they looked at Bruce who was looking at the boy biting his lip so hard
that it bled.
“What are you doing, father? They made you betray us again? I thought you loved
me…” the boy’s voice was arrogant and strong but those last words contained
real sadness and hurt.
Bruce shook his head.
“Dick, these men are innocent: they fight the evil and they are my friends…We
must help them leave and go with them: the League of Shadows is evil.”
The boy shook his head.
“Not again! They cast some spell on you…”
Batman dragged Tony out of the cage, Superman helping casting curious glances
at the boy who enraged rushed to his father.
“You can’t let them slip again! They are sorcerers! They ruined you, father!”
“You know it’s not true…Come with me, Dick…”
“No, if you love me; if you’re my father you’ll stay here with me.”
Batman pressed his lips.
Claps echoed through the huge cave. Bruce didn’t need to see him to know that
Ra’s was there…And the sound of hundred firearms loading and swords being drown
roared.
“Now, Dick, you know your father loves you and won’t abandon you for the sake
of those strangers; especially, since his betrayal will mean the death of
everyone” he gestured to hundreds of ninjas that swarmed the rocks of the cave.
“Now, Batman: I understand that you fooled these idiots feeding them false
hopes – you’re loyal to me and I don’t want to kill you on a false first
impression. So cut Superman’s throat and we forget everything. You wouldn’t
want all these guns firing with Dick being in the middle unshielded…” he
smirked and the boy’s eyes widened; Ra’s,his father couldn’t honestly mean that
but his hand was raised ready to give the signal.
Batman looked around him and then at the child in front of him, exposed to
those firearms; moreover he knew that his current armor wasn’t so resilient to
bullets. He ejected the Knife from the forearm holster and grabbed determined
the hilt.
“I’ll do it, Ra’s: I don’t know what happened to me…There’s no need to fire.”
“Kill the alien and no bullet will leave the barrel.”
Bruce nodded and pushed Superman to his knees; thankfully, Clark knew better
than resist but followed Bruce’s lead, trust sparkling in his eyes.
“When the Kryptonite quenches, grab Tony and leave…” Bruce whispered without
moving his lips so low that only Superman could hear.
“No…” he whispered.
“Do as I say, alien!” he growled for everyone to hear and touched the blade to
Superman’s carotid.
Ra’s’ smile became broader. But then Bruce pressed something in his palm and
the Kryptonite bars stopped glowing and Superman fully revitalized grabbed
Tony.
“Fire!” Ra’s roared and the bangs of hundred firearms deafened them.
Batman surged at Dick and covered him with his body feeling the pain of the
bullets crashing his armor and piercing his flesh.
“Father…” the boy cried feeling Bruce’s blood splattering him.
“It’s alright” he shoved the boy towards Superman covering him with his body
“go with Superman – I’ll be fine.”
Superman held with one hand Tony and with the other took the boy who however
stretched his hand catching his father’s hand.
“I’m not leaving without you!” Dick was strong and Superman’s recovering state
didn’t permit him to overcome the boy’s stubbornness.
Besides, he also didn’t want to leave Bruce injured.
And then the cave began trembling, the surface cracked and from the middle a
wide column of fire sprung. A giant of 50 feet height with black thick horns
and eyes red like rubies stood shooting fire to the ninjas who yelled panicked.
Ra’s stared at him amazed.
“Bagdana! You came for Bruce…” he roared in laughter.
But the creature opened his mouth and washed him with fire and Ra’s cackled
even as he was dying; the demon’s body took the form Bruce knew so well and
walked to him.
“Come with me, it is the only way to save your life” he offered his hand but
Bruce though in horrible pain kept holding Dick’s hand and crawling to them.
But then the cave began dissolving; the floor turning into a whirlpool as
Bagdana pulled him down with him at the earth’s guts.
“I won’t allow you to die!” the demon roared with real despair.
Bruce held his son’s hand and Superman clenched his jaw trying to overcome the
demon’s power and save both. But Bruce knew that they couldn’t save him and the
demon was pulling all of them because Bruce held his son’s hand.
“Don’t let go, father! Please…” the boy’s eyes were teary.
Bruce smiled.
“It’s alright, Dick…” he let the boy’s hand and he was dragged in the whirlpool
as everything turned into darkness and tornado and he couldn’t breathe anymore
as the frantic beating of his heart filled everything..
Bruce didn’t open his eyes but he snapped wake, his body still rigid from the
nightmare. But he was calm: a possible flashback of Ra's taking samples from
him (some flashes of images crossed his mind but he wasn't sure) and a
nightmare. Dick taking the place of his supposed son – his son in the first
nightmare was different than in this one. And then the way he hurt his friends,
almost killing them…his subconscious was trying to reaffirm Bruce’s excuses for
Clark’s betrayal: Bruce would have done worse things than Superman if someone
brainwashed him…
He bit his lip: but even in the dream Bruce recovered and saw the truth just
from a kiss while Clark…He shook his head disapproving: it was stupid to think
so much of a dream. And Bagdana?
Bruce sighed and suddenly realized that someone was in the room.
***** Chapter 43 *****
Bruce knew that the presence in his bedroom wasn’t hostile and as if for
confirmation two affectionate hands cupped his face.
“Calm down, buddy…it’s only a nightmare” Tony’s low voice told him gently.
“I know, Tony, I know…And you’re alright.”
Tony understood that Bruce’s nightmare had to do with something horrible
happening to him and lit the lamp at the nightstand; Bruce discerned in his
friend’s face upset and worry – maybe a little anger as well. He looked at the
rectangular, wooden watch on the nightstand that read 5 o’clock and made to
support himself to the elbows to rise but Tony put him softly back on the
mattress.
Bruce looked him in the eyes.
“I have to take Dick to school.”
Tony shook his head.
“The boy hates you; what’s the point of playing the father?” he commented dryly
and Bruce frowned for his friend’s bad temper.
“I’m not playing the father, Tony; I just want to be true to what I promised to
Dick’s grandmother.”
Tony nodded several times with cocked eyebrows.
“You need more sleep and rest, Bruce” he remarked. “Alfred can take the boy to
school.”
“I woke up and I can’t sleep anymore. But you…why are you awake so early?” the
older man wore still his pajamas with the robe untied falling around him.
Tony crooked his mouth and then pursed his lips.
“You said that I’m alright…I should be asking you that” Tony was tired of
rounding the subject so got to the point. “Bruce, you promised to not do it
again.”
Bruce turned his gaze away and huffed: Tony figured that he went out.
“I promised I wouldn’t do it often and I mean that, Tony” Tony crossed his arms
and looked grimly at him. “Okay, what do you want me to say? That I’m sorry?
Okay, I’m sorry for making you worry but Batman had to get out.”
Tony snapped his eyes closed and rubbed the bridge of his nose.
“The same thing again and again…”
“Jim lit the signal: he was calling Batman – I couldn’t ignore him again! He’d
suspect that something is off though I think he already suspects that.”
“Fine. Maybe he should know the truth: that you can’t offer your physical
presence for the time being” he saw Bruce’s eyes bulging and snorted. “Maybe
you should tell Jim who are you: you trust him, right?” that way, Tony hoped
that Jim would stop summoning Batman and Bruce finally would focus on his
recovery.
Yet Bruce felt a storm inside only hearing that.
“No way! Nobody should know who Batman really is. And Batman can’t be sick or
disabled.”
Tony’s eyes exploded.
“Why do you want to kill yourself?! Is because of that fucking alien?! Why
don’t you understand? Your body is too sensitive: you can’t afford to fly or
jump from roof to roof or fight with thugs…”
Bruce jolted his torso upright.
“I didn’t fight anyone, Tony! I just went to meet Jim and speak to him: just
that – I didn’t exert myself.”
Tony ruffled his messy hair with both hands.
“And what has Superman to do with this?” Bruce asked stilling his eyes in
Tony’s.
Tony brushed his friend’s hair.
“Your outings began simultaneously with his cheating” he said focusing his
stare to Bruce’s eyes.
Bruce shook his head and looked at his hands.
“I have to show myself – the real Batman and not a hologram – from time to
time” he pressed his lips. “And tonight I couldn’t sleep and I saw that the
signal was on and…I had to speak with Jim. He needs me.”
Tony pouted.
“Maybe if you have taken the sedatives Leslie gave you, you’d manage to sleep.”
Bruce chuckled.
“For pity’s sake, Tony! Have you seen how many drugs I’m taking?” his voice was
steady and cool yet Tony could discern some fatigue and frustration.
The older man nodded.
“I know, buddy” he patted him on the back. “But they’re necessary for you to
stay healthy and regain your strength for the operation. For that you must put
Batman in second place for a while: until you walk again.”
Bruce’s eyes got wild.
“No way! Tony, you’re not serious asking that! Fine, I’m fully aware that I
cannot be a perfectly operational Batman but I can’t ignore completely Gotham’s
needs” he lowered his voice and fixed his eyes on Tony’s stoic eyes. “You were
half dead when you forged Ironman and confronted the League of Shadows”
thankfully, the Manor was soundproof so nobody could listen to their
conversation.
Tony closed his eyes.
“To save my life, buddy…”
Bruce stayed with his mouth slightly agape for a second.
“Yes, but I’m sure that you wouldn’t stay indifferent if Malibu or the planet
was in danger” Tony pressed his lips and shook his head exasperated; Bruce rose
a bit to get his face closer to Tony’s. “Joker killed another innocent man,
Tony” the older man sighed “he sees it as a game with Batman: what do you want
me to do?”
“Chasing that lunatic from rooftop to rooftop while your body is ready to
completely shatter in the slightest” he stopped registering Bruce biting his
lip “isn’t the solution.”
Bruce let his body touch the mattress: the truth was that he felt pangs all
over his back but he didn’t want Tony to figure and get another weapon.
“Tony, I know how to protect myself” he said hoarsely “for eighteen year I took
care of myself alone: I didn’t have anyone of you to treat me. And I survived
despite the fact that I had to face worse hardships without all of you offering
nurture. I don’t intend on chasing Joker over Gotham’s rooftops; however at
least I can be there when Jim needs my help.”
Tony crossed his arms and regarded him chewing his mouth.
“This is sly, little guy” Bruce narrowed his eyes. “I can be there when Jim
needs me? That’s very abstract, buddy: that help can be anything.”
Bruce turned his head on the other side and Tony touched his hair.
“You never talked to me about those years, Bruce” he said softly.
Bruce didn’t look at him.
“I did. Twice.”
“Only because I was there when you had a flashback. You can speak to me, Bruce;
I can listen.”
Bruce frowned; he was tired of these years coming to the fore again and again.
It was more than enough that he relived them through flashbacks
“What this has to do with anything, Tony?” he asked tired and slightly
irritated.
“I think that the cause of all these lies there: what Falcone and the others
did to you made you despise yourself resulting in taking crazy risks.”
Bruce chuckled and turned his gaze to Tony.
“You added psychology to your other specialties?”
“Bruce…”
Bruce stretched his head.
“If I hated myself I wouldn’t have made Batman to defeat Falcone and free
myself. If I didn’t care about myself, as you imply, I would have simply
stopped fighting and killed myself when Falcone and Chill made death seem
better than life” his voice became that emotionless monotone Tony hated and was
afraid of. “It’d be so much easier than enduring all these…”
Tony shook his head.
“You didn’t do all these only for yourself: I think your primary concern was to
get justice for your parents and save the people of Gotham” Bruce closed his
eyes. “Regaining your fortune and your life was a happy coincidence. And now
that that fucking alien betrayed you, your distaste for yourself came back
leading your to deeds more reckless.”
Bruce huffed exasperated.
“Don’t…don’t bring Superman into this; he has nothing to do with that! Tony,
for pity’s sake, I just went out to speak with Jim” his eyes focused on Tony’s.
“I want to walk again as much as all of you and I’m going to focus on my
recovery but I just cannot be indifferent.”
Tony sighed and nodded.
“Let’s believe it…Are you in pain?” his voice became warmer in concern. “You
used the damned armor twice in two days: that must have exhausted you.”
“I’m fine, Tony: you and Lucius made a brilliant job.”
Yet Tony pursed his lips and frowned.
“Don’t remind me that because I’m on the verge of surging to your cave and
destroy the fucking thing…I feel horrible: it’s my fault – I shouldn’t have
listened to you or Lucius…” he shook his head. “After all, I knew you!” he
widened his eyes cocking his eyebrows.
“Nothing happened, Tony…I’m fine. I use your armor with prudence.”
Tony snorted mumbling “yeah, sure…” and then he pressed his lips thoughtful and
breathed.
“Then why you cancelled your training sessions with Matt?” he asked calmly but
Bruce felt like suffocating: Matt told everything to Tony.
Tony nodded because he could understand what his friend was thinking: he would
have thought the same in his place.
“I didn’t speak with him but I caught a glimpse of him in New York at the time
you should be having your session.”
Bruce’s mind was racing.
“There can be other reasons than what you fear…”
Tony leaned closer.
“You really want to lie to me and force Matt to lie in order to cover his
patient?”
Bruce widened his eyes affronted.
“Of course not! And yes I called him to cancel our sessions but this” he didn’t
want to lie to Tony yet if he learnt that Superman hurt him then nothing could
stop him from killing Superman “has nothing to do with my body…I just didn’t
have the mood for training; I wanted some days to calm down.”
Tony pursed his lips.
“Okay, little guy, okay but I want you to open up to me; do not hesitate to
speak to your Tony…” he grinned and his eyes filled with affection. “Like the
days we were kids…I know that lately I’m occupied with other things and maybe…”
he ruffled his hair “not maybe…I did neglect you” Bruce shook his head denying
that.
“You didn’t, Tony…”
But his friend nodded.
“I’m not spending the time I want with you” he raised his index finger “but I’m
still your Tony, remember? You used to tell me everything then and I…” Bruce
smiled “I always found a solution” he lolled his head on the side and rolled
his eyes “even if that solution most times ended up with us punished…” he
chuckled and Bruce did the same. “I love you, kiddo” he took Bruce’s hand and
squeezed it. “You can’t do that to me, buddy…” his voice was hoarse “you can’t
d…” he couldn’t finish the word and lowered his head.
Bruce supported his torso to the elbow and chased his friend’s eyes; Tony met
his gaze.
“I’m not going to die, Tony” Bruce said what Tony couldn’t. “I don’t want to
lose you again either.”
Tony hugged him and patted his back.
“I hate this fucking alien for the pain he caused you…”
Bruce’s eyes fixed on the wall.
“You suffer more than me, Tony, believing that I’m hurt. But I’m not: this
wasn’t going to last: I knew and I was prepared… He couldn’t continue that even
if he wanted.”
Tony clutched his shoulders and looked at him frowned.
“Stop defending him. You’re the most precious being on Earth and only his foul
character made him cheat you.”
Bruce shook his head and smiled.
“I’m your friend that you considered dead for eighteen years and found again…so
you give me too much value. But the truth is that it’s not easy even for a
super powered being to be with someone like me. And do not forget that there’s
an effect tampering with him.”
Tony shook his head nodding with disbelief.
“Speaking of which, now that the scumbag did what he did you can give me his
wheelchair to make some digging…”
Bruce saw the wicked shine in Tony’s eyes.
“To find secrets of the alien technology, huh?”
Tony raised his hands in surrender.
“You read me like an open book, little guy. However, you can’t deny that with
that effect controlling the alien we should have some contingency” he cocked
his eyebrows “you love contingencies.”
Bruce smiled.
“I won’t break the trust he saw me” Tony rolled his eyes and huffed
exasperated. “Besides the wheelchair is not in my possession anymore” his hand
unconsciously clenched the small, velvet pouch that hanged from his neck over
his chest.
 
Superman stared at his Smartphone on the cheap wooden waist table in Clark
Kent’s apartment. He had left Diana’s apartment an hour ago saying that he had
to attend a very important meeting: he didn’t want to leave her side yet he had
a job to maintain; though being Clark Kent had begun to be very boring and
tiring to him. However something from inside pushed him to continue being his
human persona even if this was completely uninteresting.
He was still dressed as Superman; lately, it was too difficult to part with his
powerful self and live like a common human being. Plus, being Clark Kent had so
many other complications and that weathered, cheap Smartphone was one of
them…not the gadget itself.
Upon returning to his apartment the phone was ringing but he didn’t make an
effort to get it: actually, he preferred to miss that call. And his premonition
proved right when he looked at the screen: his Ma – so many missed calls that
the gadget stopped counting…
He didn’t call her back: he knew what she wanted. His Ma was an avid viewer of
the news and several talk shows, so she definitely had seen the video and
Superman had no mood to be scolded. It could wait. This annoyed him: he was
happy and all the people around him didn’t let him  enjoy that; okay, that was
to be expected from Bruce’s friends but from his loved ones too? That was
unfair! They should be happy with his happiness.
The first light of the day reached his small living room from the drills. In
one or two hours he had to go to work and there he’d have Lois’ berating…Give
me a break! Like Diana said, he was Superman: to the Hell with the others’
opinion.
Suddenly, he heard footsteps approaching his apartment’s door and hastily
changed his attire into Clark Kent’s: his guest dragged along something and
from what his vision could say was a wooden box and the man was a delivery man
of some company he didn’t know.
He waited for the doorbell and then he opened.
“Good morning. Are you Mr. Clark Kent?”
He mumbled his affirmation.
“I have a package for you” the man gave him a pen to sign to a pile of papers.
“From whom?” Clark asked perplexed and the man shrugged.
“We don’t ask names…” he replied flatly and left leaving the box in front of
Clark.
Clark cocked his eyebrows on this and carried the box inside closing the door
behind him. He looked at the package: nothing odd there; homemade wrapping. He
rubbed his chin thoughtful.
We don’t ask names…Nor you disclose them…
Who could be the sender? He could suspect anything: even a kilo of Kryptonite
if Stark was the one who sent it. Yet if he wanted to kill him he’d have done
so in Diana’s apartment. As for Luthor – another… ‘fan’ of his – he didn’t know
his secret identity so no danger from there.
To the heck…He began unwrapping the box only to find a padlock with a receptor
that obviously was for retina recognition. Clark’s eyes widened impressed; the
one who sent it knew his job. And he could think only one who knew his retina
and had the know-how to do that.
He pressed his lips: everyone tried to poison his happiness… For an instance he
thought to not open the box but then he changed his mind and put his eye to the
receptor hoping that it wouldn’t pop something to injure his eye.
The padlock made a clack and the lid moved slightly so Clark lifted it. He
squatted and began pulling out the items: his clothes that he had taken to the
Manor when he was with Bruce: well, that was to be expected.
Under the clothes, folded in its minimum size of a medium cube was the
wheelchair he had created for Bruce. He pressed his lips and for some seconds
his mind dag and brought to the fore memories from the Fortress; however he
crossed them out determined before they formed. Now Clark got why Bruce used
the retina recognition system for the box’s security: he couldn’t risk someone
opening it and seeing the alien object. Bruce still protected him and his
secrets.
He took out the cube and placed it in the floor. Then there was a small, plain
square box made of wood.
Clark narrowed his eyes. Bruce sent him Kryptonite? He shook his head snorting:
no, not Bruce; besides he’d have felt it immediately since the box was wooden
and the content wasn’t Kryptonite.
He took the box and opened the lid; he sighed: it was a metallic frame – round
shaped and plain, black platinum from an unknown yet vein in Siberia.
He collapsed to the floor and squeezed the jewel in his palm closing his eyes.
He saw again Bruce’s naked chest; broad, soft, toned with a shining charm
touching his skin: a big black diamond sparkling inside its black, sleek nest
of the platinum frame.
“Damn, Bruce! You should have kept it! It was a gift…” he sighed and then
licked his lips and saw inside the box.
The last thing was a folded white, silken handkerchief. Curious he unfolded the
fabric and his heart hurt as if a punch was delivered right to the pulsing
muscle. A pressed flower like those that people collect putting them in books.
Clark recognized that flower: it was the rose Clark had brought to Bruce from
Japan that morning after he had spoken badly to him. Clark wanted to make
amends with him and reassured that he still loved him; that nothing had changed
because of Diana.
Clark lowered his eyes: he was pretending to Bruce and to himself…No, no, no…he
didn’t pretend: he tried to fight that attraction, that passion but in the end
it was beyond his powers. Because it was real and his feelings for Bruce proved
to be false. Staying with Bruce and desiring Diana would be worse; continuing
this would be an insult to Bruce who had realized before he did…
He smiled and brought the almost dried flower to his nose: it had Bruce’s
perfume… The human had put Clark’s present into a book to keep it for years;
for all his life maybe…For Bruce that flower was very important and more
important was Clark’s gesture, Clark’s love…
And now that Clark showed that this love didn’t exist anymore, Bruce sent him
back the rose…
He inhaled deeply and stood careful to not clench his fist and squash the
flower; he went to the wall shelf and took his favorite book, opened it and
stashed the rose inside. He didn’t want this to be lost; he felt as if in its
dried petals lay Bruce’s heart: the heart he broke.
He blinked and shook his head to shake off the depressing feeling. It was
better this way: Bruce never actually believed in this. Bruce was a lonely man.
They didn’t match; they were different – Superman was meant to be with Diana,
otherwise he wouldn’t have left Bruce. His feelings would have endured if Bruce
was the one…but he wasn’t.
He looked at the cheap, table clock: he had to leave for the office. He’d take
the wheelchair back to the Fortress after work.
Entering the foyer of Planet’s building, it struck him immediately. His eyes
warmed: the foyer had been decorated in Christmas’ spirit, a huge Christmas
tree at the center, covered in red big glimmering balls and white tiny lights
between the branches.
Clark always loved Christmas and every year he looked forward for the time he
would decorate the tree and the house with his Ma – even in his tiny apartment
he always had a Christmas tree: his heart was clenched in the memory of his Ma.
She was expecting Bruce for Christmas…Damn! She was very fond of Bruce and
Clark was wrong to take him to her. Bruce had warned him…Bruce knew about his
cheating before Clark even admitted his own desire to himself.
Under the tree were placed many square shaped boxes wrapped in multicolored
glimmering paper. He pressed his lips: one month ago he was planning the
Christmas he’d spend with Bruce…He shook his head: Bruce had his people; he
wouldn’t miss him and Clark definitely wouldn’t miss him because he had found
his true mate and now he was exciting for his first Christmas with Diana.
As the lift halted on his floor he had braced himself for Lois’ scolding but
one second before the door opened he heard screams from afar: a bus was ready
to fall from the bridge. He pressed instantly the button to the roof. He
stepped out already having scanned the area and realizing that nobody was
there. Superman took off heading to the bridge.
 
Lois was writing her new article without any mood; she was pissed, angry,
disappointed, disgusted. The scenes from that video with the Princess on the
rooftop kept coming to her mind though she chased them away every time. Damn
you, Clark!
Suddenly, she heard some ruckus as her colleagues gathered around one of the
desks. She really didn’t care yet she was curious so she stood and walked
slowly there; Perry almost toppled her as he stormed to the same place.
A school bus was hanging from the main bridge and the poor kids yelled
frightened: Ron was there with his cameraman for covering today’s general
strike but realizing what was happening rushed there. Police had stopped the
traffic from and to the bridge and the fire brigade tried to pull the buss yet
it was impossible to approach because the vehicle howled threatening and shook
with the slightest wind.
People had gathered behind the police’s line and watched with terror in their
faces.
“Superman is the only one who can save the kids…” Jimmy mumbled.
Lois cocked an eyebrow in sarcasm.
“Better put your faith in another hero because he must be very busy with his
girlfriend” she spat and her colleagues laughed.
“If we judge from that video…”
Perry coughed.
“Good thing Ron was there for covering the strike” he looked at the exasperated
glances his employees cast him. “People deserve to be informed: of course I
care for that.”
Lois snorted but then her eyes widened in terror as the bus gently detached
from the bridge and began falling to the sea; the children’s yells and the
crowd’s that watched unable to do anything blend in one. She noticed that
several of her colleagues closed their eyes.
“Look!” she screamed and soon the enthusiastic yells of the kids and the
gathered crowd revealed what had happened.
Superman was under the bus and with his arms wide held the vehicle from
falling, his perfect muscles bulging under the thin fabric; he lifted the bus
above the railing to put it gently down on the asphalt that was empty due to
the police’s evacuation.
The crowd was whistling and clapping.
“At least he didn’t forget to wear any of his clothes…” someone at Lois’ right
remarked snidely,
“Yeah, but he wore his red briefs out…” Clair Davis added and the reporters
burst in laughter now that the agony and terror for the kids had vanished.
Back to the wide PC screen, Superman gave a pressed lips smile to the crowd and
left the scene.
“Wonder Woman is expecting him with spread legs…” Tim remarked.
“To your works!” Perry ordered. “Where’s that Kent?” he snapped retreating to
his office.
Lois sat to her desk chewing her pencil when the humming sound of the lift
first and then of the doors opening told her that Clark was there; she knew his
secret so seeing Superman leaving the bridge she knew that in a few seconds
Clark would make his appearance in the office. Unlike the other mornings she
didn’t have the mood to speak to him – not even call him names. He didn’t
deserve even that. So she leaned to her screen and began typing.
Clark cast a glance to Lois’ desk only to be met with her back: his friend
didn’t even turn to acknowledge. Maybe that was for the best Clark thought and
shrugged walking to his desk.
“Kent!” Perry rushed out of his office and Clark bit his lip ready for some
reprimanding as his boss stormed at him with pressed lips and clenched jaw.
Lois still didn’t look at him.
“Mr. White, I’m so…so sorry… let me explain…” he mumbled.
But Perry’s face cracked in a big, radiant smile.
“In another case, I’d give you Hell because you’ve taken it too far…” he huffed
“anyway, congratulations, Kent!”
Clark frowned and looked stupidly at him not understanding.
“Wh…”
Perry patted his back.
“The Planetgot its second Pulitzer! Your name has been announced.”
The pen fell from Clark’s hand and his eyes widened; Perry offered him his hand
for a shake but seeing that his employee was too stunned to register that
grabbed Clark’s hand and shook it.
“Good job, kid! Continue like this…” he patted his back again and returned to
his office rolling his eyes. “That Kent…” he murmured “how he managed the
Pulitzer is out of my grasp…”
Clark hadn’t come over from the shock when the hoard of his colleagues surged
his desk congratulating him, shaking his hand and even kissing him, like that
cute blond newbie, Sara.
Only Lois didn’t move from her desk and that created some murmurs between the
people of the office: Clark could hear everything. Some were discussing that
she must be jealous because Kent who was always in her shadow managed to take
the prize only she had till then.
Yet Clark knew that it wasn’t that… He glanced at her direction in hopes of
catching her eye – to no avail, she was absorbed in her PC screen; however,
Clark could discern from her vitals that she was pissed and sad at the same
time. He closed his eyes and returned to his own screen something nudging him
to surf the internet to read the comments for that dreadful video. However he
resisted the urge.
At first, Clark was relieved that Lois didn’t even glance at him because he
didn’t want to argue with her. Yet as the hours dragged to noon this situation
tired him. He wanted to speak with his friend even if she berated him. He began
staring at her hoping that she would look back – Lois had a terrific ability to
sense other people’s stares. But she continued ignoring him and Clark sighed.
He didn’t want to walk to her desk and speak with her because people would
listen so he waited.
Lois stretched her body and stood marching towards the lift without turning her
head in the slightest towards Clark’s direction: Clark was sure that in the end
her neck would get stiff.
He followed her keeping a distance at time having his super hearing tuned with
her vitals. She went to Ms. Rose’s bakery for some brunch. He caught her when
she was paying her order and as she turned to leave they came face to face;
Lois’ face distorted in anger and contempt.
Ms. Rose however smiled broadly to Clark and gave him a paper bag filled with
delicacies.
“What’s this, Ms. Roses?” he asked watching Lois snapping away from him and
marching out of the little store.
“I just took them out of the oven: it’s the Prince’s donuts” Lois stopped
abruptly hearing that. “I know that someone important is very fond of them…”
she chuckled and patted Clark’s upper arm.
Lois murmured something and rushed outside while Clark blushed; he couldn’t say
to her that they broke up so he hastened to pay in order to catch up with Lois.
But Ms. Rose touched his hand smiling.
“No, dear: it is a gift… Enjoy them!”
Clark nodded uncomfortable and gave a pressed grin, mumbled a ‘thanks’ and
rushed behind Lois catching up with her in front of the Planet’s building.
“Please, Lois, wait” he said to her and the woman stopped tilting her head on
the side clearly frustrated.
“What do you want?” she spat without turning to look at him.
Clark walked in front of her and met her enraged eyes.
“Can we speak?” he said calmly. “I’m your friend, remember?”
Lois moved her foot nervously.
“No, you can’t be my friend Clark Kent; he wouldn’t ever do what you did!” she
made to pass him but Clark held her upper arms.
“Lois, I didn’t want to be like this…” he looked around and gestured to her to
follow him to the alley next to the building.
She knitted her eyebrows.
“What exactly you didn’t want to be like this? Did you expect to cheat and dump
him without breaking his heart? That was horrible of you Clark Kent! Hideous!
Gross!”
Clark shook his head.
“I didn’t dump him; it was his decision, Lois.”
Lois rolled her eyes.
“Bruce gets more points in my appreciation! That’s my boy! What? You thought
that after you cheated him he’d keep you?” she snorted. “Oh! You’re more rotten
than I thought! Did you think that you could have both Bruce and the bitch?”
Clark closed his eyes.
“Don’t speak like this for Diana…”
Lois cocked her eyebrows and looked at him challenging.
“All my life I learnt to tell always the truth; things with their name! Till
recently I believed that you were doing the same thing but it seems that your
dick destroyed your morals!”
Clark huffed.
“It’s not like that, Lois! I just fell in love with a great woman…It seems…I
was wrong about my feelings for Bruce.”
Lois’ eyes flashed and she growled.
“You’re preposterous! A scum! You’re a complete asshole! Few months ago you
were melting for Bruce’s love and whined about his refusal to open up to you;
you were complaining because he thought that your feelings weren’t true and
when he accepted your love you betrayed him with the first chance! Do you
realize what you have done to him? He isn’t going to open his heart to anyone
again!”
Well, something dark inside Clark told him that this wasn’t that bad…But he saw
Lois narrowing her eyes as if she had read his thoughts.
“You like that, don’t you? You enjoy the hurt you caused, you miserable scum!
You like the idea of Bruce not finding the happiness with anyone else! Selfish
bastard!”
“I don’t! I want Bruce to become happy again; the proof is that I didn’t want
to break up with him.”
Lois’ eyes bulged and almost choked in her saliva.
“Clark, you are ridiculous, you get that? What decent person would accept
that?” she tilted her head. “Did you have polygamy in Krypton?”
Clark frowned.
“I…I don’t know.”
“Then you simply are an egotistical pig!” she shook her head appalled and
looked at the paper bag with the donuts that Clark held completely mechanic.
“They are his favorite donuts, huh? You were bringing him these…”
Clark lowered his eyes on the bag and saw again Bruce eating donuts thrilled
like a child; the morning after that night in the greenhouse. His heart filled
with light but he erased the images.
“How could you do this to him at his condition?” Lois continued. “He is still
recovering; he is confined in a chair, for fuck’s sake! What kind of a man does
that?”
“Bruce wouldn’t want me to stay with him from pity…”
Lois’ lips trembled from anger.
“You disgust me!” she turned to leave but looked him again. “Don’t you ever
speak to me because I’ll go to Luthor and ask him a chunk of Kryptonite to
smash your stupid face! Ah! Luthor got out of jail, did you learn that? I guess
you were too busy fucking on rooftops…I bet he plans to make Bruce’s life a
hell and now that Superman doesn’t give a shit about him…”
“I care about him, Lois!” but his eidetic memory filled his mind with scenes of
the way he used Bruce before he met Diana. “C’mon, Lois: we’re best friends! I
want to celebrate with you that Pulitzer.”
“Fuck off, asshole!” she turned on her heels and stormed to the alley’s exit.
“Ms. Kent is looking for you from yesterday; she called me to ask about you…you
became so coward to avoid speaking to your mother now?” she hissed without
turning to look at him.
Clark closed his eyes and breathed calmly: no, he wouldn’t let anything and
anyone spoil his new happiness: and he was awarded with a Pulitzer, for
Heaven’s sake! And his best friend didn’t even congratulate him… Lois would
speak to him again: she was his friend for years. Their friendship wasn’t going
to get ruined for Bruce’s sake.
 
Bruce lay upon the workout chair lifting weights, inhaling and exhaling in calm
pace. He took care to wear something long sleeved to cover every possible mark:
the marks on his wrists from the energy casts were quite evident. He had
cancelled another session with Matt because the damn marks didn’t relent yet he
needed some workout to keep his muscles in vigilance and distract his mind. He
was careful of course.
He heard footsteps approaching and thought of Alfred.
“I’m glad to see you’re well enough to workout, Bruce.”
Bruce knew how to keep his calmness otherwise the weights would have slipped
from his hands. He returned them to their sockets and Matt helped him with that
and then to sit.
“Hi, Matt…I thought I told you…”
Matt dragged a stool and sat.
“Absolutely. But I still can come as a friend to see you, right?”
Thankfully, he was red from the effort otherwise Matt would have seen him
blushing for being caught on act.
“Definitely…”
Matt placed his hand on his sweaty back.
“I saw that video, Bruce…I’m sorry and I understand how you must feel... But
for me it was expectable the way he was treating you…It’s better he is away
from you: he hurt you once he could do it again.”
Bruce pressed his lips and nodded.
“I never wanted to keep him against his true desires…”
Matt cleared his throat.
“I was wondering…you called off our sessions because you are not in the mood or
because he left some marks on you that you didn’t want me to see?”
Bruce’s eyes widened for his physiotherapist’s blatant honesty.
“Matt, don’t…”
Matt took a big fluffy towel and wrapped Bruce because he was all sweaty.
“You knew that if I saw marks I’d have told Tony.”
“There are no marks” Bruce spat his resolution icy and sharp. “He didn’t do
anything.”
Matt crooked his mouth.
“But if he did, Bruce, Leslie must examine you: we’re talking about Superman.
One of his blows can damage permanently a man in perfect health and you are
recovering” he lifted his eyebrows “your body is very sensitive.”
Bruce rubbed his forehead.
“I’m not hurt.”
“Let me see then – I know your stubbornness, your bravery, your sacrificing
intention to protect him but let me see in order to help heal any damage.
Remember the last time when he caused cramps to your thighs?”
Bruce’s eyes stabbed the physiotherapist.
“I’m fine, Matt” he replied coldly. “There’s no way I’ll let you or anyone else
see me: if you want to show me some exercises and eat lunch with us, you’re
welcome but I don’t want any discussion about Superman or...hints that he might
have hurt me. I’m perfectly fine” he snapped with his eyes completely still and
flashing but after a few seconds taking in Matt’s puzzlement blinked. “Thank
you for your concern…I appreciate it.”
Matt nodded: after all, it was better than nothing being able to observe his
patient’s condition while working out. He would be able to discern the signs of
something ominous while he hoped that there wasn’t anything. How much more
could Superman fall from grace? He cheated Bruce…beating him as well would be
villainous.
 
Superman positioned the wheelchair on the floor, at the base of the cylindrical
blue crystal pillar which hosted Jor El’s hologram. Jor El lifted his eyebrows.
“I’m here to serve you, Kal El but if you ask me to remove the energy casts
from Bruce’s body I’ll disobey you.”
Superman frowned and tilted his head: what was that?
“Removing the energy casts? What are you saying, Jor El? How this came to your
mind?”
Jor El clenched his jaw and yanked his head proud.
“You brought back Bruce’s wheelchair.”
Superman shook his head.
“I didn’t take it from him…He…he sent it back to me.”
Jor El nodded slowly, his eyes blank. Superman closed his eyes and rubbed the
bridge of his nose.
“You saw the video?”
Jor El stabbed him with his solemn wise eyes.
“Though I indeed saw the video there was something worse, Kal El.”
“What?” he asked frowning.
“You know that the items of the Fortress sent reports here…The energy casts in
Bruce’s body too” he locked eyes with his son who understood. “You used the
energy casts to bind Bruce’s hands and you put his body through a horrible
ordeal: I never expected that shame from you, Kal El.”
Superman clenched his jaw and pursed his lips.
“Don’t speak to me like that, Jor El!” he growled. “You don’t know the facts”
Jor El watched him solemnly and a bit ironic. “Bruce is used to be treated like
that during sex: he was grown up like that and this is the way for him to get
the maximum pleasure.”
Jor El lifted an eyebrow in complete disbelief.
“Really? Is that so?” his voice was heavy with irony and disapproval. “Even if
I do the concession to believe that only to not add the word ‘liar’ to my
disappointment list, still this isn’t an excuse, Kal El. Bruce’s body is in a
very fragile condition: weren’t the energy casts you’d have caused permanent
and irrevocable damage to him” he said sternly but for Superman what counted
was that his father’s hologram, the last remnant of his parent was speaking so
ill of him.
“He cheated me, Jor El! I lost control!” he was lying again, Clark realized and
lowered his eyes. “I was convinced he had cheated me…”
“And then you cheated Bruce in real…” he said simply yet Superman could discern
the accusation.
“I don’t regret it, Jor El and you should be happy for your son for finding
happiness.”
“You were happy with Bruce. Remember the night you brought here his dead body?”
“Almost dead…” Superman’s voice was hoarse.
“If he was left to the humans’ treatment he’d be dead. Your life depended on
Bruce’s survival.”
Clark bit his lips.
“I was wrong: I mistook mercy and sympathy for love. It wasn’t true love: Diana
is the one for me.”
Jor El looked him in disbelief.
“In Krypton, people mated once for their entire life.”
Superman clenched his waist with both hands and yanked his head.
“Once they found their true soul mate! And Bruce wasn’t that! Ra’s Al Ghul had
mutated him into a body that would be impossible for me to resist: my
attraction to him, my feelings was the products of the brews Al Ghul used.”
“But you were inoculated and the tests here showed that you were immune to this
effect.”
“We’re wrong! It was too soon and Bruce knew that but didn’t do anything to
prevent it.”
“So it was Bruce’s fault?” Jor El asked with cocked eyebrows.
“He attacked me when I went to see him yesterday. In his eyes I saw that he
could kill me.”
“I highly doubt that. But for the attack I don’t blame him: you left him really
battered” Superman turned his back to the hologram.
“Why are you trying to poison my happiness? Why even you, my real father don’t
understand me?”
“Because I doubt it is real happiness: you’ve changed, Kal El – to the worse”
Superman tilted his head slightly to the hologram’s direction, his anger
distinguishable in the shadows of his eye. “You never came again for your
tests…”
“Because I don’t need them: all was Bruce’s scheme to make me feel ill and
resist my true feelings for Diana. Yourself said that there was nothing wrong
with me.”
“I wanted to make thorough examination but you didn’t come again. Maybe we
should do it now.”
Superman clenched his jaw and turned to the hologram, his eyes glimmering.
“No!” he snarled. “Nobody is going to ruin my happiness with these nonsense!”
the Fortress’ roof opened and he smirked to Jor El. “I know you would like to
imprison me here and take millions of exams just to keep me away from her but
unfortunately for you the Fortress has only one Master to obey…”
He took off with his fist ripping the air while Jor El didn’t make the motion
to watch him; he just pursed his lips.
“I hope you’re right, son and we wrong…”
 
Tony was pacing nervously before the whole wall window with the spectacular
view of New York’s skyline; he waited at the conference room of the Avengers’
Tower huffing at from time to time. Then the door opened and Thor entered.
“Good afternoon, Tony. You called me but I didn’t hear anything about
emergencies or something important happening.”
Tony’s face was serious and his eyes sparkled.
“For me Bruce is the most important thing on Earth.”
Thor stiffened hearing the name and nodded.
“Of course.”
“Have a seat” the billionaire gestured to the leather chairs of the meeting
table and Thor sat.
“You were in Gotham” Thor said “and I’d expect you’d stay there for much longer
due to the circumstances.”
“I’m going to return but first I had to talk to you” Tony sat to the chair
right opposite Thor.
“I could have come there.”
“Certainly and you’d have enjoyed being at Gotham but I didn’t want anyone
there knowing about our meeting.”
Thor frowned.
“What do you mean, Tony?”
“I saw how you’re looking at Bruce… and you being at the Manor last night…all
by chance, I bet” his voice was highly ironic and Thor was annoyed and ready to
reply but Tony raised his palm stopping him like a boss. “I’m too experienced
in these things, blondie.”
Thor yanked his head proudly.
“My presence at Bruce’s Manor wasn’t by chance: Bruce asked me to have my eyes
on Loki and Gotham in case he meets with Joker. And yes, I came to the Manor to
see Bruce to make sure he was alright because I learnt about Superman’s
adultery and because I feel responsible for the last days’ events.”
Tony frowned.
“Responsible?”
“Loki was pestering Bruce and I intervened but Superman who came after Loki was
gone thought that Bruce and I…” he blinked uncomfortable having difficulty to
even utter the word. “Anyway when I learnt what Superman did, I knew that Bruce
would be heartbroken and I came to speak to him. Tony, you have to understand:
I mean no insult for Bruce and I don’t have any expectations from him”
Tony would have rolled his eyes but he was too ill spirited for that. He leaned
towards his comrade.
“I’m sick and tired of gods eyeing Bruce. Superman, Bagdana, your stupid
brother, you…”
Thor blushed.
“But I just told you…”
“I know Bruce is fascinating: heavenly beautiful, charming personality, strong
like a granite rock with an iron will but vulnerable at the same time that
makes all you super humans intrigued.”
“I admit that admire your friend” he replied calmly.
Tony bared his teeth.
“Enough with gods playing with him.”
“I’m not playing!”
“Superman had told me the same thing when I saw through him and confronted him
about flirting Bruce; he promised that he’d never hurt him.”
“Tony, you know me too well, I…”
Tony jerked upright, his palms hitting the table.
“Drop it! Enough with promises. Find a god or a goddess of your status like
Superman did and stop trying to put Bruce’s heart in another adventure.
Superman shattered that heart and I don’t know if it would be ever healed.”
“I’m sorry, Tony…I have no intention to caused any pain to Bruce. I…For me, he
is a good friend and a comrade I respect.”
“Give me a break, pal…” Tony chuckled tilting his head but Thor could discern
the man’s bitterness. “Leave Bruce alone, Thor: he was kidnapped when he was
eight years old, they chopped his toe, he saw his parents being murdered, they
shot him and let his arm untreated only to be always in awful pain; they were
starving him; they whipped him every day” he coughed to clear his throat “they
raped him every day for eighteen years. Can you digest, can you imagine that
pain?”
Thor lowered his eyes and Tony shook his head.
“No, you don’t: because you’re an invincible god, an invulnerable being like
Superman…Maybe if he could have knowledge of the pain he wouldn’t have engaged
Bruce in that relationship to break him afterwards…”
Thor stood and walked to him.
“Tony…” he placed his hand on his shoulder.
Tony ran his hands through his locks and pouted.
“I’m human but still I can’t even get a glimpse to what Bruce experienced…To
the pain he suffered and the pain he still carries every day deep inside
him…because Bruce hides everything to not cause sadness to us” he sighed. “I
want Bruce happy; I want to hear him laugh again, as he did when we were
children.”
Thor pursed his lips and his eyes filled with emotion: he could understand
Tony’s agony for his friend. Tony looked him in the eyes.
“Leave him alone, Thor.”
Thor remembered the moment he gave Eir’s elixir to Bruce and the human’s
reaction.
“It’d be a pity if Bruce’s heart remains petrified forever, Tony. He deserves
to be loved; to find his soul mate.”
Tony shook his head.
“No! Not that! That’s too risky…He gave his heart to that fucking alien and he
took it, ripped it in pieces and trod upon it” he pressed his lips and panted.
“I just want him to be calm and happy and for that people should stop playing
with his feelings” he stabbed Thor’s eyes with his fervent ones. “We’re
friends, Thor: I’m asking you as a friend to not try to win Bruce’s heart.”
Thor patted Tony’s shoulders trying to reassure him.
“I’m a friend of Bruce, Tony and I’ll protect him with all my might: I swear
that. As for his precious love…I think that Bruce is from the people who love
once in their entire life.”
 
Martha Kent stood on the porch in front of her house with her arms hugging her
ribs and her tired eyes watching the dark, filled with stars sky. She had
stopped calling her son: she understood that he didn’t want to speak to her and
that meant that her son either knew he was wrong or he got more corrupted than
the video showed.
Only the thought of that video made her nauseated; Clark always made her proud
even when he failed in something. But since she saw that video and spoke with
Bruce hearing the young man’s dignity and effort to defend Clark, she felt
ashamed not for Clark but for herself because she failed to raise him right so
that he could discern what was worthy and what wasn’t…
But mostly she was afraid for Clark, a heavy rock smashing her chest: if he
became able to cheat and abandon his loved one and avoid speaking to his mother
then what slippery road he had taken? And that woman…even when Wonder Woman
saved people and helped Superman, Martha always thought her creepy.
“Hello, Ma” world’s most beautiful voice greeted her softly but also
determined.
Martha turned where a gentle sound said her that Superman had landed. She
hugged him though she knew that her son could detect in her vitals how stiff
her insides were.
“I was calling you.”
Clark nodded: straight to the point he thought – that was his Ma.
“Yeah, Lois told me but my Smartphone had a problem so I took it for repair and
came myself to see you.”
Martha’s sad smile told him that she knew that he was lying and like Jor El she
was disappointed; but there was a feeling in her stronger than disappointment:
sadness and fear.
“You saw that despicable video, right?” he asked her and she pressed her lips.
“Damn!” he growled “If I find the one who did it..!”
Martha’s eyes bulged in fear.
“You won’t do anything to him, sweetie! My son doesn’t hurt people…Or you’ve
changed so much?”
Superman closed his eyes realizing his Ma’s worry and ruffled his hair.
“Because of that scum you’re upset and worried and…and sad; but you shouldn’t,
Ma, because I’m happy: I got what I wanted. You and Pa always told me to not
care about people’s opinion and do what I felt.”
Martha closed her eyes.
“When that was right. You think that what you did was right? Are you sure
you’re happy?”
“Of course! Diana is great and we are perfect together! I love her, Ma.”
“There’s a vast difference between carnal pleasure and love, Clark” she said
dryly and tired. “You had love with Bruce and happiness.”
“No! I had only an illusion of happiness! Now that I found Diana I can realize
that…You’ll see how great she is once you meet her.”
Martha stiffened.
“I don’t want to meet her!”
Clark laughed.
“The role of the evil mother-in-law doesn’t suit you, Ma, and once you realize
how happy she makes me, you’ll forget your hesitation.”
“I doubt that…”
Clark shook his head.
“C’mon, Ma, I know how much you liked Bruce but your sympathy was more for what
he went through not because he was with me…I know you always wanted
grandchildren” he launched his biggest weapon.
“I always wanted and still want to see you happy with the proper person on your
side, Clark; also, I always wanted you to be a good man.”
Superman snapped his head on the side staring at her challengingly.
“And am I not a good man?”
Martha pursed her lips and sighed.
“What kind of a man abandons his loved one while he is in pain, hurting an
already shattered heart?”
Clark yanked his head and growled frustrated.
“Bruce is not as vulnerable as you think him.”
“I know: he is very brave; you told me that he saved your life several times.
But this doesn’t change that he is a tormented young man, in pain, Clark. And
now he needed you, your love the most.”
Clark huffed.
“You’d prefer me to pretend?”
“I’d prefer you to resist to this woman’s advances and not behaving like a
horny teen on rooftops, forgetting everything in an instance just because that
woman seduced you! We didn’t raise you like that, Clark, to shame yourself and
break the heart of someone who loves you so much! Your father and I were forty
years together and adultery never upset our love.”
Superman crossed his arms.
“Exactly! Because you were in love! You don’t know if Bruce loves me – he never
believed in me!”
Martha shook her head disappointed for her son’s words.
“Trying to defend yourself blaming Bruce? My Clark would never have done
that…And you say that this woman makes you good? She corrupts you!”
Superman’s eyes bulged.
“I have no need to defend myself. And stop blaming Diana! You don’t know her!
“I can see her through your deeds, through your behavior. As I could see Bruce
before through you…Care to make a comparison yourself?” Superman stretched his
body clenching his jaw and Martha huffed. “Of course not…You don’t want to face
the truth…You became that coward.”
“Ma!”
Anybody else would have paralyzed from fear hearing Superman raising his voice.
But not Ms. Kent.
“Don’t you raise your voice to me, young man! Because that cries your cowardice
and I’m not afraid of you! I was changing your diapers; I caressed your hair
when you cried. You said that Bruce didn’t believe in you: you’re wrong. He
still believes in you…he already forgave you.”
Superman’s eyes glazed.
“I don’t need his forgiveness!”
She smiled.
“That’s what he said.”
“You spoke with him.”
“Since my son avoided me and was hiding like a mischievous child…I felt the
need to apologize to that young man for the new pain you delivered him; I
wanted to encourage him but he encouraged me. Do you realize that you lost a
bright star from your life? A star that showed you the right path in life? Get
a grip of yourself, Clark: I don’t like the path you’ve taken.”
“You don’t have to worry, Ma; you’ll see that you were wrong scolding me like
this. I’m Superman, damn it!” he gave her a quick peck. “It’s unfair to be
hostile to your son for the sake of a stranger! You know me all my life, Ma:
you love me and I love you.”
“And that’s why I speak to you like that. I’m afraid for you, Clark!”
Superman bit his lip and took off without greeting his Ma but then he changed
his mind and return to her.
“Your son just got the highest award for a reporter, Ma. The Pulitzer! I hoped
that you’d be proud of me – that someone would be happy and celebrate with me.”
Martha nodded.
“What about your…true love…You won’t celebrate with her?”
Superman stiffened and Martha didn’t miss that, realizing many things. One of
them that her son didn’t admit to the Amazon that he had a human identity and
worked like a common human being. And that realization made her worries
tenfold.
“I’m proud of you, son… I’m always proud, with or without the Pulitzer. But I’m
not proud of what you did to Bruce; of how cruel you were with him” Superman’s
eyes bulged in terror fearing for an instance that Bruce had told his Ma about
what he did to him but then crossed that: Bruce wouldn’t have done that.
“Think, Clark: you won that award for the work you did while Bruce was on your
side…His love, his star was guiding you to great feats…”
He leaned and kissed her cheek.
“You’ll see that you don’t have to worry about me, Ma, and that what happened
was for the best.”
Martha cupped his face with both hands and looked him in the eyes.
“I know you’ll regret for what you did, sweetie. I know that something affects
you because my baby would have never done that. Please, Clark, use the Fortress
to see if something’s wrong.”
Superman shook his head.
“There’s nothing wrong, Ma” he kissed her hand. “Good night.”
Martha watched his figure distance between the stars. Her lips were pressed and
her heart clenched.
***** Chapter 44 *****
Luthor paced in front of the wall beside the secretary’s desk at the waiting
room in front of Mannheim’s office. He was perplexed on the fact that the shady
tycoon didn’t have a whole wall window gazing at Metropolis’ impressive skyline
– it was the trend in the office design for every esteemed businessman and left
the guests impressed. On the other hand, his awkward and dangerous partner
didn’t seem to care much about impressions or other people’s opinion; he cared
only for his work to be done: Luthor liked that because it fit him too, though
Lex’s obsession to manifest his power and status was more than evident.
And lately his status was quivering: having lost the control of LexLabs to
Wayne who now also held the 20% of LEXCORP and being imprisoned weren’t the
best assets for someone like him. But one of Lex’s biggest traits was his
stubbornness and ability to reborn from his ashes like a phoenix. He was free
now, just released from Blackgate Prison and back to Metropolis hungry for
retaliation and the best addition? Superman’s humiliation: the video showing
him like the cheapest, dirtiest porn star banging Wonder Woman on Gotham City
Hall’s rooftop.
Oh! The comments…Luthor brought each of them again and again in his mind to
chuckle and make his day. People liked Superman – though Lex hated that fact –
no, no, those fools just needed Superman to save their asses and they pretended
that liked him: who in their right minds would like a powerful and unchecked
alien who can conquer the planet in 24 hours? Anyway, their need or sympathy
didn’t thwart them from ridiculing him – on the contrary, fuelled the people’s
mood to laugh at him.
Alas! Once again he couldn’t enjoy that as he should.
Mercy was standing at the far end of the waiting space, right in front of the
lift, in a niche that provided her with the ability to check every direction
for possible threats. Her arms crossed on the chest, her face poised and her
eyes focused, protecting her boss. They owe their freedom to Mannheim – Luthor
knew that but that didn’t make him grateful. He lifted an eyebrow. Actually,
his own cunning and foresight saved them through his mysterious partner. He
knew how to choose allies and how to control them.
Yet now they had a problem. And it was that problem that brought him here. Lex
remembered Mercy’s glance when he told her that they were going to Mannheim’s
head office. She turned on the engine and hid her puzzlement yet for Luthor it
was clear; at some point his loyal driver and bodyguard didn’t hold back and
ask.
“Lex Luthor doesn’t need to run to the office of others” she said casually but
a bit disapproving. “Mannheim is too cheap for Lex Luthor to come to him.”
He didn’t answer: Mercy was right. He also wondered why he rushed to his car to
run to the gangster. Yet he knew he had to do that though his usual attitude
was to call for them to come to him. But Mannheim wasn’t like the others:
Luthor sensed that, like he felt obliged to follow his orders – it seemed
normal to Luthor to act like the man’s minion and at the same time he realized
that was abnormal. However he couldn’t resist the urge.
So not only he had come to Mannheim’s office but also waited his secretary to
announce and show him in. Ten minutes had already passed and damn, Luthor hated
waiting: waiting to be allowed in always infuriated him but not today, in this
office, for this man. He frowned: waiting seemed…fit.
Mannheim’s cute, blond secretary came out and looked at Luthor who stared at
her expectantly.
“Mr. Mannheim will see you now, Mr. Luthor.”
He marched to the heavy, carved black door and the secretary opened showing him
in and closed behind him leaving them alone.
Mannheim sat in the throne-like leather chair behind his huge, ancient-like
wooden desk. Luthor cocked an eyebrow: he didn’t expect from a gangster such
love for antic-like furniture. The elegance and solemnity of the furniture was
in complete contrast with the man’s tough appearance – even his black mustache
cried that he had nothing to do with such elegance.
Luthor walked confident towards the desk which wasn’t a considerable distance
since the office - to Luthor’s shock and contempt - was almost small and
definitely modest for a man with Mannheim’s power: his partner definitely
didn’t care about appearances.
The sturdy guy had his fingers intertwined in front of his face and watched his
visitor over them. His eyes were dark, darker than their usual brown color, and
at the same time flashing with suspicion; fixed as Mannheim’s eyes were on him,
Luthor felt like being X-rayed and read like a book. A shudder run through his
spine and Lex hated that.
“To what do I owe your unscheduled visit, Luthor?” he spat almost bored. “It’s
not a good sign, is it? I had told you that there was no reason for a meeting:
you just ought to deliver what I ordered.”
Luthor expected in vain to be offered a seat, though it’d have felt like
sitting in a table with nails. So he remained standing like a pupil in front of
his headmaster. Ugh! That was a disgrace! But still it didn’t feel
inappropriate.
“I wouldn’t have bothered you, Mannheim, if it wasn’t important” he took in how
the gangster’s eyes crystallized as if being turned into ice. “It’s about your
order.”
Mannheim just lifted an eyebrow but didn’t make another motion.
“I’m listening.”
“As soon as I put my feet on Metropolis I began working on our project.”
Mannheim made a slow nod.
“That was the reason you’re not still rotting in that prison.”
Luthor licked his lips.
“I know. I contacted my people in the several labs I had stashed the parts of
your project – you see, I thought it safer to disperse them to many different
places in order to nobody find or connect them…”
Mannheim blinked slowly.
“To the point!”
Luthor bit his lips because he hated being treated like this but he didn’t have
another choice.
“When the LexLabs’ control ended up to another person, he put his people to
search and register every item in the Labs” Mannheim yanked his head. “Every
item containing Kryptonite or that seemed relative to Superman was destroyed.”
Mannheim smirked and snorted.
“The little bitch protected his stallion! How stupid now that Superman chose
the Amazon… You had the items of my project well protected, right?” his voice
emanated displeasure and threat.
Luthor blinked uncomfortable.
“I did but they found them…”
Mannheim stiffened in his seat, his hands grabbing the edges of the armrests.
“You did camouflage them to not betray that they were for something important.
Right?!”
“I did – nobody will figure that they aren’t something trivial and have some
other usage.”
Mannheim pursed his lips.
“So should I assume that they left the items in their place?”
Luthor licked his lips.
“Unfortunately not. And this is the reason I can’t gather them to start the
construction: Wayne gathered them in some place of his.”
Mannheim growled and jolted to his feet clenching the armrests. Luthor couldn’t
help it but feel afraid from the flames in the man’s eyes.
“That means that my project depends on Wayne?!” he roared.
Luthor opened his arms.
“Once the items are in my hands your machine will be ready ASAP; but Wayne
gathered every awkward item they found in my Labs so…”
Mannheim glared at the sweaty businessman and nodded.
“I must regain them from him, huh? Humans are waste of space!” he uttered
disgusted.
Luthor frowned hearing this but then he attributed the expression to Mannheim’s
outrage.
“Leave!” the gangster spat and nailed Luthor with his glare for one last time.
“I’ll fix this myself!”
Luthor retreated relieved to be away from this man and once he felt safe inside
his white limo, a happy smirk appeared in his face because now Wayne would face
Mannheim.
 
A day after his discussion with Tony who had told him that he didn’t have to
‘play the father’, Bruce was determined to do more about Dick; fine, the boy
hated him but Alfred shouldn’t be burdened with everything concerning the boy
as well. Also, he wanted to get some impression for the places Dick went daily
and especially the people there.
For that reason he drove Dick to the city’s gym for his daily training. He took
the red, undistinguishable car in an effort to keep secret from the media that
he had the boy’s guardianship. Of course, Dick didn’t like that at all: his
face was contorted in distaste, his gaze averted and his arms crossed through
the ride. Fortunately, Bruce took Hero with them to not bother Alfred during
his chores so Dick had the kitten to pet.
As soon as the car halted in front of the gym, Dick let Hero on the car’s floor
and rushed outside taking his backpack on his shoulder; he stormed inside the
building.
Bruce pressed his lips and tapped his fingers on the wheel remembering his
dream. His son called Dick; the sense of his small, soft hand in his was still
intense filling his heart with warmth. The way the boy was looking at him as he
was swept away by Bagdana’s force…exactly like that night in the factory when
the roof collapsed trapping him to his death. Dick had looked at him exactly
like in the dream refusing to abandon him.
He shook his head to dismiss the thoughts: if Ra’s had created his child, he
wouldn’t have any similarity with Dick – and of course, not Dick’s name. That
however certainly didn’t change Bruce’s feelings about Dick and his sadness
about the boy’s behavior. Not that he didn’t understand him…
Bruce looked at the entrance of the gym: they had already decorated for
Christmas. And the city was already dressed in her Christmas attire even if
Gotham wasn’t like the other cities. It was 17:00 and the night hadn’t fallen;
however the evening was too dim and the Christmas lights had begun to sparkle
giving a celebrating spirit to the city that Bruce hoped that this year would
be real and not just a cover.
No wonder Alfred had hinted on decorating the Manor. But it wasn’t a bit early
for decorating?
It was December 10th: it wasn’t early – Bruce remembered that they used to
decorate the Manor with the coming of December. Little Bruce couldn’t wait…he
was eager to decorate the tree, so his parents obliged; his poor parents
couldn’t deny him the favor.
Now Christmas had no value for him: the proof? He hadn’t noticed till now that
the entire city had been decorated. He shook his head: the last beautiful
Christmas in a long chain of nightmares was the Christmas Selina gifted him in
her secret attic.
He cast a last glance at the entrance of the tall building where boys and girls
constantly went in and out.
“MERRY CHRISTMAS” multicolored lights read wrapped in green garlands. Two big
white angels were positioned at the two sides of the double door, glimmering
cheerful to the people.
Bruce chose to not follow him because Dick didn’t want to; he’d go later when
he’d come to pick his ward. But he didn’t want to go back to the Manor either:
he felt that he should give Alfred a break from worrying and taking care of
him. On the other hand he didn’t want to go to a café or whatever to spend his
time: he dreaded that people would recognize him and tip some gossip reporter
into cornering him with inappropriate questions: about Clark.
So he decided to stop his car into the public parking space opposing the
building and stay there: the car’s windows were dark so nobody could see him
from outside. He had his Cosmos gadget with him and it was a great opportunity
to work without anyone worrying that Bruce was “exerting himself”.
First of all, he wanted to search for the archer in green. These days after
their meeting during his patrol Bruce was thinking of him. He was now sure that
the man led him to the rooftop where Superman and the supposed Amazon were
having sex on purpose, knowing that this would interest Batman. And then the
man shot the whole thing and published it – nobody else could have done it.
But why? To ridicule both heroes or to get some fat reward? Maybe both. The
fact he was a vigilante and helped him during the attack at the Avengers’ Tower
didn’t mean that he didn’t care about the money. As for the ridiculing, from
their exchange that night Bruce got the impression that the Arrow had some
contempt for the superheroes: he was more than unwilling to help them. And
maybe there was a secret agenda behind Arrow’s behavior – Bruce never took
things as they seemed.
He didn’t like that this man had an interest in him. Bruce closed his eyes and
breathed in: actually, he didn’t want anyone be interested in him; he thought
about Thor and his insides clenched: it couldn’t be happening again! Maybe
Bruce should give Thor Eir’s elixir to drink and stop having hopes – if indeed
there was such an interest and not just Bruce’s fears.
He run his hands through his hair: he didn’t want Thor to be hurt; why these
things were happening all the time to him? Why they couldn’t see how ugly he
was? How dirty and unworthy of the trouble? He could think of
something…something that Clark had mentioned once: Lilith his ancient
grandmother. The seductress demon which allured men to their destruction – her
DNA was intact in him doing its job repeating Lilith’s work.
Damn! He hit his palm on the wheel clenching his jaw. His heart began beating
fast and he had to breathe slowly to calm the pulse down.
He had to learn more about the Arrow: the man had a strange aura on him and his
eyes under the hood flashed like fires among his shadowed features. If he
wasn’t disabled he’d comb Gotham every night trying to find him again. However
something inside him whispered that the man was probably away now. Arrow wasn’t
a Gothamite though the fact he first appeared in New York couldn’t cross out
that possibility; he could have known Bruce and followed him there.
Bruce shook his head: Arrow wasn’t a Gothamite. His accent was different and
from his experience Bruce couldn’t find an exact match of this accent: for
eighteen years, he was listening to every kind of different accents from thugs
and clients in Dolcetto; also, when Ra’s decided to exploit Bruce’s appearance
Falcone took him along to some of his meetings wanting to show off his toy.
Maybe the Arrow changed his true accent…because if he wasn’t from US Bruce
would have understood it.
He brought his Cosmos phone out of his black leather jacket’s inner pocket and
pressed the indication on the right top corner turning the Smartphone sized
gadget into a medium sized tablet. Bruce never used his Cosmos tablet in Dick’s
presence because the boy would recognize that he owed the same gadget despite
the fact that each Cosmos could have different frame. He didn’t want Dick
realize that his tablet was Bruce’s present so he worked on his tablet only
where the boy wouldn’t come – not that Dick had any mood to come where Bruce
was.
What welcomed him made his breath halt for a second; the wallpaper he had on. A
rose in dark ruby color against all black velvet fabric, a big rosebud with
some drops of dew: he blinked. He had forgotten that that rose’s image covered
his screen. Bruce chewed his lip uncomfortable: he had taken that picture the
morning he had found the rosebud over his laptop – Clark had brought it to him
after the hard words he told him the previous night; it was his apology.
Bruce had sent the dried rosebud to Clark along with the rest of his stuff and
his presents. He wished to keep that rose for ever for that he stashed it
between the pages of a book like his mother used to do…
But now there was no reason to keep it anymore: Clark had made his choice. It
hurt to place the white handkerchief with the flower on that box and part with
it yet Bruce did it because his heart was a piece of rock or it should be and
he’d make it be…
Besides he felt shame for himself: he had acted like a teen; it was ridiculous
– those things weren’t for him. He brushed the hidden option in the screen and
the wallpaper changed into the custom Cosmos theme which was tranquil and
majestic: the universe – black with golden stars and purple planets and pink
nebulas, spinning slowly and eternally saying to him that his pain was nothing
to the world which continued his perpetual motion careless of what happens to a
speck like him…
He gritted his teeth, shook himself and tapped the icons on the screen to enter
the program he had created to be able to access the databases of the police
across the States: perhaps there was some sighting of the man.
Bruce typed the description of the man and brushed the order. It took a minute
to search every police database and the screen filled with a hundred findings.
Bruce scrolled down, each entry popping up as he reached each finding.
Most of them were irrelevant about drank people dressed up as Robin Hoods doing
some fuss after parties; but there was one that flashed to Bruce. In Chicago,
some police officers reported about a gang being found in an alley: at the same
alley, police found unconscious their almost victim. The thugs were found
pinned on the wall from green arrows that had pierced their shoulders: they
were unconscious from terror and blood loss but alive. Some witnesses said that
they had caught a glimpse of a guy slipping between the alleys and he was
dressed like Robin Hood; they thought that he had come out of some masked
party.
Bruce frowned. New York, Gotham, Chicago…A quite big range for a vigilante.
Unless there wasn’t only one man but he crossed that thought because the two of
the three times it was the same person. So the guy was interested in more than
one city? There should have been a connection, something common between the
three cities and the high criminality rate was too weak. The two first times
Arrow appeared Bruce was the common factor: in New York he appeared only once
to save him and Gotham was his city. Now Chicago…
It was as if the Arrow knew that Bruce or Batman was going to research him and
tried to mislead him. The sure thing was that Bruce wasn’t in position to fly
to Chicago and do his research.
The tune for a new e-mail and a small window in the bottom corner of the screen
pushed him out of his thoughts. He brushed the message right away: it was from
Lucius. They had a first contact with the president of the gymnastics national
federation and he was very positive in the idea of a charity gala in Gotham:
the public relations department already began working with the local team’s
manager to organize the event.
Bruce smiled and typed his answer:
“Thanks, Lucius; great job as always!”
He’d manage to speak with John Grayson’s trainer and learn everything he knew
about Zucco who didn’t show up from that day Bruce took Dick from the social
service office. He knew that if Ms. Turner’s fears and suspicions about the man
were true then he’d make his move sooner or later so Bruce must be prepared.
Ms. Turner told him that Zucco came back because he sniffed the money exactly
as he did with John and now Zucco’s assumptions were fortified since the boy
was the ward of Bruce Wayne. Zucco would do everything to get Dick – besides he
had declared so.
Perusing the general news a headline flashed to him shadowing every other:
“Clark Kent: the winner of this year’s Pulitzer Prize for investigating
reporting.”
A big smile stretched his lips without even realizing: Clark deserved that for
all the years of hard work…not only in journalism. This prize was an
acknowledgement, an appreciation, a reward both for his reporting action and
Superman’s offering to the world. Bruce’s heart flew and his hand on its own
accord rushed to combine an e-mail to congratulate him.
Upon realizing his fingers stopped midair: maybe it wasn’t the right thing to
do after what happened – hell, he didn’t know how to handle this: he had no
experience and that indecision made him sweat. Clark should celebrate his
success; he should enjoy that…and Bruce could think a hundred things he would
have organized to surprise Clark and celebrate.
He pressed his lips till they lost their color and ached from Superman’s rough
treatment. Bruce sighed. Clark would celebrate with that woman though he
doubted that Superman would admit to her that he maintained a human identity –
and Bruce was glad for that because she was dangerous and knowing Clark’s
secret could bring disaster to him.
Bruce pressed his hair with both hands: what he was to do? He just couldn’t be
indifferent to Clark’s top moment. He growled and Hero looked at him puzzled.
“I must congratulate him, Hero; to the Hell if it’s right or wrong…”
The kitten meowed.
“I’m glad I have your agreement” Bruce smiled and hurried to open the program
for mails.
He wrote a few words: congratulations, you totally deserved it. His finger
stayed above the send option indecisive; he breathed in and out trying to calm
his heart; he glanced at Hero and the kitten’s eyes were sparkling in the semi
darkness as if encouraging him. He clenched his jaw and sent the message, his
eyes staying fixed on the affirmation message.
A gentle tap on his window startled him: damn! He had lost his vigilance. But
then he relaxed: this person had the ability to startle him always. He lowered
the glass.
“Hi, handsome! You came to the city and didn’t call me?” Selina said playful.
“I should be angry with you…”
“I just brought Dick at the gym and I wait to take him back.”
Selina pouted and raised her eyebrows.
“And Dick’s training ends at…?” she asked dumbfounded.
Bruce looked at his wristwatch as Hero jumped to his lap and then to Selina’s
hands.
“In one hour and 35 minutes.”
Selina tilted her head on the side and rolled her eyes.
“And you planning to stay here for two hours? Gosh! Sweetie, I think you wanted
to avoid me…”
Bruce widened his eyes.
“Not at all! I know you’d be with Steve and I wanted to let you two alone”
Selina shook her head taking Hero from her shoulder where he had climbed.
“Besides I have some work on my tablet and…it’s not like I can become stiff
from sitting.”
Selina twisted her mouth.
“Nonsense!”
“Hey, Bruce; care to join us?” Steve’s head popped to the window and Bruce
huffed to Selina’s chuckle since she understood that her friend couldn’t refuse
now.
“Fine” he said and brushed the spot to turn the tablet into a Smartphone.
Steve’s eyes widened impressed.
“I don’t like 21st century’s technology but want one of these!”
Selina snorted.
“Maybe if you first learn what is Google…”
Steve hugged her waist from behind and kissed the little of her neck that
wasn’t covered by her black scarf.
“I’m sure you’ll teach me everything…”
Bruce chuckled.
“Don’t count on that, Steve! Sel’s distaste for modern gadgets is greater than
yours.”
“Then we have more in common…”
“What did you expect, handsome? I do sleep with an antic, don’t I?”
Steve laughed and Selina gave him Hero. Then she opened the door for Bruce and
he took his wheelchair from the backseat and placed it down for him to slip in.
“Don’t worry, sweetie” Selina chirped.”You won’t be far from your boy – there
is a beautiful, cozy café near.” She looked at the leather jacket Bruce wore
and pouted. “I can’t believe Alfred let you out of the Manor with this jacket!
It’s chilly! And no scarf and gloves!”
Bruce settled himself in the chair and lolled his head on the side in disbelief
while Selina tucked his legs in the kilt blanket.
“I’m perfectly fine, Sel! And Tony’s chair is heated so you two would be colder
than me.”
Steve chuckled.
“No way Tony would leave his best friend unprotected…It’s impressive how
affectionate he can get” he commented as they moved towards the café Selina
mentioned “I mean, Tony is always a nice guy despite his eccentricity but
people would never take him for a protective person.”
Bruce turned his head to him.
“Tony was always like this from our childhood: considerate and protective. But
some things made him hide that part of himself from most people.”
Steve smiled and nodded.
“What do you think of Gotham, Steve?” Bruce asked.
Captain America ruffled his hair with his gloved hand.
“From what Selina had showed me…”
“Which isn’t much apart from my bedroom…” she remarked slyly caressing Hero in
her hug.
Bruce chuckled as Steve tilted his head.
“Well, that’s true…Gotham is like people describe her: wild and terrifying yet
it has a certain charm if you’re willing to grasp it…something that can bond
you to her…some odd beauty that attracts…”
Bruce’s eyes became blank and thoughtful but quickly changed that into nodding
to Steve.
The café Selina led them was rather small; round shaped with brown glass walls
it reminded more of a summer house since it was located in the center of the
park opposite the gym. A beautiful park with bushes, trees and flowers that
lasted through the year so the café gave its clients a gorgeous view.
The entrance was on ground level so Bruce didn’t need a ramp to enter. Steve
held the door open for him and Selina and they sat in a table looking at the
small fountain lake that was framed with a short, round tiled wall that
emanated white light.
“It’s beautiful here” Bruce said though he felt a bit uncomfortable since some
people cast him curious glances. He thought to say that he didn’t remember the
place but it was stupid: he was imprisoned for a lifetime and Batman’s outings
didn’t include romantic cafes.
Selina smiled.
“It opened lately after they renovated the park; Falcone had fallen then.”
Bruce nodded and his eyes caught Hero in Selina’s lap licking his paw. He took
out of his pocket a small bag, ripped it and gave his friend a snack that was
really appreciated by the greedy kitten.
When the young waitress came for their order Selina glanced at Bruce.
“Chocolate for you, Bruce” she whispered “Leslie says that coffee is not ideal
combination to your drugs.’’
Bruce met Steve’s amused gaze, rolled his eyes and then looked at Selina.
“Thanks, Alfred! A hot chocolate” he said to the waitress who smiled at him and
then smiled to the kitten that was staring at her.
“And for the young gentleman?” the girl chirped to take a meow for an answer.
“I’ll manage something for you, little one…” she winked and left.
“Hero is a real charmer” Steve chuckled. “I’m used to attract attention but
thankfully Bruce and Hero saved me from that” he pursed his lips thoughtfully.
“On the other hand, for Gotham only one of our kind matters: Batman: he saved
them all” Bruce kept his indifferent face. “I’d like to meet the guy: it was
thanks to him that the dirty role of the first S.H.I.E.L.D was revealed and we
managed to smash the League of Shadows without casualties.”
Selina didn’t look at Bruce in case Steve read that glance; she kept looking at
her boyfriend but still the corner of her eyes exchanged ideas with Bruce’s.
“He is tough to meet” Selina shrugged. “Only criminals have the…privilege to
enjoy his company…” she socked her eyebrows. “Still many people believe that he
doesn’t exist.”
“I have seen him” Steve commented. “I have spoken to him.”
Bruce licked his lips.
“He saved me when Falcone tried to take me away using me as a shield to stop
police from arresting him. Weren’t for him I don’t know where I would be now…”
he shook his head “if I was still alive.”
Selina touched his forearm and their eyes locked.
“Don’t think about it, Bruce.”
He grinned.
“I don’t.”
A lesser or maybe a stupid man would have been jealous of the two youths’ bond
but not Steve; actually, it was very heartwarming seeing these two kids free
after the terrors they shared: after years of being struggling alone against
the world. He swallowed hard imagining the 10 year old Selina wandering the
dangerous, dark city to get a glimpse of her tortured friend and the courage
that short meeting gave to the poor boy to last another day.
“Steve?” Selina asked perplexed. “Are you alright?”
Steve smiled and nodded.
“Also I have heard a lot about another awkward resident of Gotham’s nights.”
Selina lifted an eyebrow.
“Whom?”
“Catwoman.”
“Mmm…” Selina pouted and caressed Hero’s head. “And what have you heard?” she
asked playfully causing Bruce’s amusement.
Steve yanked his head and crossed his arms.
“That she is gorgeous with a perfect flexible body and curves that would seduce
even a cleric” Selina cocked an eyebrow thinking that a cleric actually wasn’t
difficult to seduce. “She is dressed in skin tight black leather that
highlights every detail of her body; oh! And her eyes…though nobody had seen
them from up close to know their color, her gaze is mesmerizing. They say that
she is a very capable fighter. And…a master jewel thief.”
Selina cleared her throat.
“I think that what intrigues you the most isn’t her fighting skills” she said
crossing her arms annoyed. “Careful, mister, because I’ll banish you from my
bedroom and send you looking for cats!”
Steve wrapped his arm around her shoulder and kissed her on the lips.
“I prefer women than cats…no offense, Hero.”
Bruce chuckled. Selina touched Steve’s neck and deepened the kiss so Bruce
looked around to give them some privacy. As the night fell outside, the café’s
staff lit small, round multicolored candles placed in crystal ball candle
holders on the tables. Also, the hidden bluish lighting of the walls became
dimmer highlighting the Christmas decoration: white Christmas trees with big
red balls hanging from the branches.
“Your first Christmas free…” Steve commented catching Bruce’s gaze after his
kiss with Selina ended.
Bruce looked back at them and grinned carefree but unable to hide entirely his
melancholy.
“Yeah…” he mumbled.
Thankfully, the waitress’ coming broke Bruce’s uneasiness. The girl served them
their brews and some cat biscuits for Hero who purred to thank her before
storming at the delicacies.
“He is greedy” Bruce chuckled to the waitress and paid for their order giving
her a big tip.
“Thank you” she lowered her voice “Mr. Wayne; someone must have tipped Vale
about your presence here because she called to confirm it but I denied that”
she whispered to him winking. “Enjoy your chocolate, I hope you’ll like it.”
“I will; thank you very much, Dorothy” he said reading the chest label with her
name
“Nothing…I hate those gossipy reporters…” she turned on her heels and left.
“Gotham’s greatest power it’s her people…” Bruce said to Steve who shook his
head.
“You love your city so much, Bruce: someone would expect you to hate this city
after everything you’ve been through…to move to another city. Your choice to
stay in a city filled with painful memories manifests your strength of will.”
Selina looked at her friend who had lowered his eyes.
“Those difficult years taught me that there are people in Gotham who suffer not
only from crime but also from poverty” he pressed lips. “Good people even in
wrong places” he huffed. “So now that I was lucky enough to come back I want to
help them…”
Steve nodded and smiled tenderly seeing Bruce taking with the small spoon the
cream over his coffee and devouring it with closed eyes; he met Selina’s happy
eyes and his smile became broader.
Their smiles were still on when they felt that someone approached their table;
Bruce sweeping the cream mustache from his mouth with the tissue looked at the
newcomer surprised.
 
Superman was flying over Metropolis, a city that fully decorated in Christmas
spirit was more joyful and brighter than usual; the cool air contributed in the
carefree atmosphere yet Superman’s heart was heavy. Today at the office, his
colleagues continued congratulating him and Clark brought them delicacies. It
was a cheerful atmosphere yet the one person who mattered the most for Clark
didn’t even approach him and left the delicacy he offered her on her desk.
He received many emails with congratulations but what upset him the most was
the last one he saw: from Bruce…Clark didn’t expect him to congratulate him;
but on the other hand, of course Bruce would do that to gain more sympathy from
Clark’s loved ones, showing off his superiority…
Clark hadn’t replied yet – Bruce had attacked him and now the only reason he
congratulated him was to embarrass Clark and make him seem an ass so no, he
wasn’t going to play Bruce’s game. Enough with his cunning games. The human
liked to prove his superior intelligence over Clark’s.
Superman huffed; he was fed off with this, he only wanted to rush to Diana and
spending his night with her, having sex with her seemed like a haven; like Eden
in the middle of Hell. Even though he wouldn’t share his joy for his win with
her; he hadn’t ever told her that he worked as a humble journalist in a human
newspaper – he never carried along his Smartphone because the Amazon Princess
would consider it odd and unfit for a god like Superman. But those were trivial
in comparison to the happiness, elation and relaxation she gave him.
His hearing caught it one second before it appeared in front of him so he had
halted and waited with his arms crossed. Thor with his hammer stashed in his
wide brown leather belt, his divine armor and the royal red ruby cape flowing
behind him. Superman cocked an eyebrow: the Norwegian must have some spare
capes since he had gifted one to Bruce.
“Superman” Thor greeted him coldly.
Superman smirked: of course, one more of Bruce’s admirers-
protectors…disgusting.
“Thor…to what do I owe the honor? I see that Earth lately has become very
attractive to you…”
Thor’s eyes hadn’t their usual kindness and warmth; they had the coldness and
fierce of the times he confronted his enemies.
“Lately you take things less serious than they deserve” he replied and Superman
yanked his head clenching his jaw.
“You came to scold me for Bruce?” he asked. “You forgot who I am, Thor, and
that what I’m doing it’s my own business.”
“The way you treat humans is not your business. How could you, Superman?”
The Man of Steel rolled his eyes and smirked.
“An Asgardian god must have better things to engage himself than my sexual
life” he cocked an eyebrow. “Unless my sexual life affects you…” he hissed.
“Not only you were giving Hell to Bruce but also you cheated him in that gross
way” he spat and then chuckled. “It is ridiculous that you made a scene
accusing Bruce of having an affair with me when you were the one who was doing
that: very evil…” he shook his head in disappointment. “You’re falling from
your moral pedestal, Superman.”
Superman fisted his hand.
“Because I ended my relationship with Bruce? Because I found my true love? Your
sucking up to Bruce makes you lose your grip, Thor” he hissed “you better stay
at Asgard and…” he narrowed his eyes “why not taking Bruce there to devour
him?” he grinned. “I know you want it.”
Thor’s lips trembled in anger and disgust.
“Is this what you were planning to do with Bruce?” Superman’s stare fell and
Thor nodded. “You didn’t end your relationship as a true man would do realizing
that he had feelings for a third person; instead you treated Bruce cruelly”
Superman frowned wondering if Thor knew about his abuse but no, there wasn’t
any chance. “A man in recovery, vulnerable due to his impairment; you made his
life a Hell accusing him of adultery while you were preparing to cheat him…”
“I wasn’t preparing…”
But Thor didn’t let him continue.
“I doubt if you’d have told Bruce about your affair with Wonder Woman if he
hadn’t seen you…and you’d have continued fooling him. He is a great man; he
didn’t deserve to be treated like this, Superman. You broke his heart, a heart
that was already wounded – that’s a deed of a lesser man.”
The Man of Steel snorted.
“We both know who he really is…and he isn’t exactly the Little Red Riding Hood
who needs your protection.”
Thor’s eyes sparkled.
“Exactly because we know who he is and you know better than me what he’s been
through, you should have been more careful with the heart he gave you and not
ripping it in pieces.”
Superman shook his head and rolled his eyes chuckling.
“You should thank me instead of berating me because what happened suits you
perfectly…” Thor frowned puzzled. “I know you desire him: you fell for him
since that day in Mt. Marcy, when Bagdana stripped him and you saw his body
naked– I bet the way the demon handled his naked body fascinated you and fired
your interest in the mortal” Thor was staring at him disgusted. “Well” Superman
made a wide gesture “I cleared the path for you: poor Bruce would need your
powerful shoulder to cry on and when his head leans on you it won’t be
difficult to you to get access to other more tantalizing parts of his body.”
Thor’s punch came to his mouth swift and powerful like a thunder and though
Superman was invulnerable that hurt. His eyes flashed red and laser beams
launched against the god who brought Mjolnir in front of his face to absorb
them. Superman having seen the shielding motion stormed at him sinking his fist
in the god’s belly.
Thor gritted his teeth to fight the pain and at the same time downed his hammer
on Superman’s head, sparkles emanating to every direction. However the pain in
his head, Superman clenched his jaw and head butted the Asgardian who answered
with an iron punch to Superman’s liver. The Man of Steel blew frozen wind to
him carrying the god far from him but Thor pressed his lips and put his palm in
front of him halting the air wave and sending it back to Superman who swiftly
avoided.
Thor roared and slashed the sky with his hammer sending a thunder to hit
Superman’s chest; the alien groaned from the pain and smelt burnt as his suit
caught fire but instead of panicking he roared and rushed at the god punching
him in the jaw at the same time that Thor punched his guts.
“Oh, damn! I should have brought my camera!” a playful voice filled the sky
around them. “This video would have become more viral than the porn one…” the
sniggers made both of the god-like beings stop like thunderstruck.
Loki dressed in his dark green attire emerged floating sat with his legs
folded. His straight, greasy hair fell in front of him framing his lean face
and his bright, sneaky eyes regarded the two gladiators.
“Oh, please” he shook his head innocently “continue” he made an inviting
gesture “pretend that I’m not here” he laughed. “Such duel must have at least
one viewer!’
“Loki!” Thor roared and a thunder cracked the sky towards the naughty god who
grinned at his brother and vanished before the thunder struck him.
Thor turned his head to Superman who felt his aching head; both men had blood
running from their mouths.
“The only thing I felt that day at the mountain seeing the demon fondling Bruce
was terror for his fate” Thor said calmly his golden locks framing his face
“and shame for myself because I failed to defeat the demon. I was always true
when I said that I respected and admired him without any sneaky purpose.”
Superman swept the blood from his mouth with the back of his palm.
“However the current twist is not bad for you…”
Thor narrowed his eyes.
“You don’t realize in the least what have you done, don’t you? You shattered
Bruce’s heart and now to save the last remnants of his tender heart he built an
impenetrable wall not allowing himself to love again. You never understood the
man that gifted you with his love, don’t you?” Thor shook his head with pity.
“I know Diana is gorgeous but still…leaving Bruce for her?”
“Is none of your business, Asgardian!” Superman roared.
“You doomed everyone who would truly love Bruce and you took from him the
chance to find the happiness life owes to him. How can you be so cruel?”
Superman stormed to him but didn’t attack just brought his face in front of
Thor’s, baring his teeth.
“I didn’t want things to end like that but my feelings changed…you don’t know
many things, Asgardian, and one of these is that Bruce knew that my love would
end soon but he  didn’t stop me from falling for him. The fault is his as
well…Besides…” he turned his back and took off “it wouldn’t serve anyone if I
pretended to be still in love with him.”
“I wish some day you feel the same pain you inflicted to that honorable soul!”
the god shouted with gritted teeth and Metropolis’ sky cracked in several
places from multicolored thunders.
Superman halted for a second midair but resumed his course immediately.
Thor looked at his hammer and his fingers clenched more its hilt: it was
obvious that Superman was ignorant of what he dismissed, what he snubbed.
 
“Bruce, what a surprise!”
Selina exchanged a glance with Bruce who was looking at the man with an
unreadable expression that she decoded as uneasiness and suspicion; she could
see that Bruce doubted that the newcomer was surprised to find him here: Bruce
wasn't convinced at all that the stranger's presence there came randomly.
“Mr. Queen…” Bruce greeted him without sharing the man’s enthusiasm.
Queen shook his head and his smugness flashed.
“It’s Oliver, Bruce. We told these things five days ago but I see that they are
already forgotten.”
Bruce nodded absentminded: five days! It seemed like five years since he left
New York to take Dick from the social service and Zucco’s hands.
Queen tilted slightly his head crooking his lips.
“Of course, so many things have intervened that it must seem like an eternity
has passed.”
Bruce didn’t reply to that.
“Would you join us?” he offered politely.
“If I don’t bother your friends…” Queen replied gently.
“Not at all…” Selina answered though her voice was a bit indifferent and deep
inside she was annoyed by the man’s presence because it ruined their
carelessness.
However Hero’s attitude wasn’t so diplomatic: he hissed at the man who laughed
as Selina gathered the kitten in her lap.
“I’m allergic to cats and they sense that” Queen chirped. “So I’m glad that
gorgeous young lady holds the cute kitten.”
Bruce cleared his throat.
“Let me introduce you: this is Selina Kyle, my best friend. Selina, Mr. Oliver
Queen.”
“I have heard of you, Mr. Queen” she said “I’m not giving you my hand because I
hold Hero and I’ll aggravate your allergy.”
Queen waved her concerns off smiling in his self confident way.
“It’s not that bad an allergy to thwart me from shaking the hand of a lovely
lady…”
So Selina gave him her hand hiding her reluctance.
“And Mr. Rogers” Bruce continued “whom I think you know already.”
Queen turned to Steve offering his hand.
“Of course! How are you, Steve?”
He sat in the comfy dark blue round armchair crossing his legs with elegance
and confidence. He snapped his fingers calling the young waitress who served
another table and ordered his black espresso.
“I see that Gotham attracts more and more super heroes” Queen said
lighthearted. “The odd is that now the city doesn’t need their help as in the
past.”
Steve pursed his lips.
“There might be other reasons for someone to be attracted to Gotham…” the
corner of his eye met Selina.
“Oh! I see that…” Queen chuckled. “And sure thing” his eyes pinned Bruce
“Gotham has more beauties than any other city in the world.”
Bruce blushed and wished for the earth to swallow him: he hated it when someone
made such comments for him. Hero growled.
“Your kitten doesn’t like me at all, Miss Kyle” Queen chuckled.
Selina gave a cold grin because she sensed how uncomfortable Bruce felt and she
didn’t like how aggressively this man flirted her friend.
“Actually, it’s Bruce’s kitten and always wants to protect his master.”
Steve realized the odd atmosphere and after the waitress brought Queen’s order
and left, turned to him.
“And what brings YOU here, Mr. Queen?”
Queen smiled broadly.
“Please, call me Oliver because otherwise I’ll have to call you captain…” he
took a sip from his coffee. “Mmm…very nice” he mumbled. “What brings me here,
huh? Dear Steve, I had a very interesting discussion with Bruce in New York but
we were forced to interrupt abruptly. I came here to continue that discussion”
he lifted his eyebrows looking at Bruce “I hope your offer for a dinner still
holds?”
Bruce didn’t answer and Queen nodded smiling smugly with an inner knowledge.
“I understand that after the latest developments you’re not so interested
anymore to learn about Themyscyrra. But I assure you I have also some business
propositions to discuss so I guarantee that our dinner will be still
worthwhile.”
Selina looked at Bruce.
“I’m certainly interested in your propositions but also I still want to learn
about the island of the Amazons: it’s a fascinating subject” he said
nonchalant. “Why I should have stopped caring about that?” of course he knew
already what Queen hinted.
Queen lolled his head on the side and grinned with his enigmatic way tapping
his fingers on the marble table.
“I saw the same video the entire world has seen, Bruce” he said and though he
tried to give some sadness to his voice it came out like he actually was
satisfied.
Bruce frowned.
“To which video you refer, Oliver?”
Queen’s face cracked in a wide amused grin.
“The one with Superman and Wonder Woman fucking on the rooftop – it was a
rooftop in Gotham, huh? Fancy that…” he lifted his eyebrows and Steve and
Selina looked at him pissed. “I’m really sorry, Bruce” his voice’s color
changed dramatically “it must be painful…after everything you suffered, the man
who promised you love and happiness to betray you like that.”
Bruce narrowed his eyes.
“Strange that you think that Superman had something with me while I had already
told you that this story was a lie: I don’t see the reason you continue
mentioning that” he shrugged and sipped from his chocolate. “After that, I
think it is clear that I still want to learn about the legendary island.”
Queen’s face sobered and his eyes stilled on Bruce’s.
“I’m really glad to hear that you didn’t do the madness to engage with
Superman” Steve looked at Selina who pressed her lips brushing Hero. “So our
dinner is fixed?”
Bruce nodded though Queen’s attitude bothered him. However he still wanted to
solve Diana’s mystery and learn more about the mysterious billionaire.
“Of course. I’ll see my schedule and I’ll call you to arrange the day and exact
hour.”
Queen waved his hand elegantly.
“I don’t want to put you to the fuss to search and dial my number; I’ll call
you” his smile was radiant and smug.
Bruce felt the irritation boiling inside him for the man’s persistence but
smiled stoically.
“Fine then. Call me one of these days and I’ll send Alfred to bring you to the
Manor.”
The older man shook his head dismissingly.
“Pardon me but I’d prefer to dine somewhere else…” Bruce frowned. “I have heard
that the roof garden restaurant of Cobblepot’s Imperial Hotel is splendid.”
Bruce looked at him but Selina had had enough.
“Are you always so pushy and demanding, Mr. Queen? Because it is rather
annoying!” she spat with gritted teeth and eyes sparkling.
However Queen didn’t seem annoyed at all.
“With matters that really are importanr to me, yes, Miss Kyle…I wouldn’t have
survived otherwise. Bruce understands…” he locked eyes with Bruce. “Our lives
have too much in common: he knows that if you want to survive when everyone
else tries to kill you, you must be stubborn and pushy to prevail and gain what
you want. Right, Bruce?”
Bruce didn’t answer; he looked at his wristwatch.
“I must leave you now” he glanced at Selina and she understood that it was time
for him to pick Dick up from the gym; she stood too.
“I’ll come with you, Bruce” she said and tightened her hold to Hero who was
rather itchy. “Steve, keep Mr. Queen some company and I’ll catch up with you
later” she gave him a quick kiss on the lips.
Steve squeezed her hand.
“Okay, Sel.”
Queen watched the two youths leaving the café with the same mysterious grin on
his face and then turned to Steve.
“They are both escape artists, aren’t they?” he chuckled cocking an eyebrow.
***** Chapter 45 *****
Tony was watching the data Lucius fed from his processor to the hologram: items
that were found in LexLabs without any information accompanying them or any
profound use and relation to the ongoing projects of the various labs.
Lucius were pointing with the stick to certain parts of the items that in his
opinion signalized the connection between them.
“Bruce believes that these items are important…” Tony mumbled “despite the fact
that they don’t seem to have any significance.”
“And that’s exactly what convinced Mr. Wayne that they might be the most
important finding from the LexLabs” Lucius replied smiling. “You know how your
friend is thinking: for him the obvious is never the real; and the fact that
we’re talking about Luthor makes him more adamant about that. I have to admit
that finding such items in every LexLab in the States and aboard, without any
other thing in common apart from these symbols that remind hieroglyph flares my
curiosity too. What’s your opinion, Mr. Stark?”
Tony shrugged pouting and gesture to him to continue with his presentation.
Yet the clever scientist had already realized that his younger colleague was
elsewhere, deep in thought; his eyes might have been on the holographic
presentation but his mind elsewhere. So he didn’t continue, turned his wheeled
stool to face Tony and let the presentation stick on the desk, taking off his
glasses and placing them also on the desk; he looked at Tony.
The billionaire feeling suddenly Lucius’ sharp eyes on him let swiftly his
thoughts and straightened his posture on the stool: how on earth he managed to
slump on a laboratory stool without falling to the floor was a wonder even for
Tony Stark who had perfected the slumping thing. He met Lucius’ searching
glance lifting his eyebrows.
“And?” he asked as if he was watching what Lucius was saying till now. “Why you
stopped, Lucius? I’m all ears.”
Lucius chuckled amused.
“I see that, Mr. Stark! Your ears are here but your brain elsewhere.”
They were at Lucius’ private lab in Wayne Tower and they had chosen the evening
because employees were gone and they could discuss matters without disruptions
or the danger of being overheard despite the fact Lucius’ lab was full
soundproof.
Lucius blinked, his face getting his most serious expression.
“What is bothering you, Mr. Stark?”
Tony closed his eyes, lolled his head on the side and rubbed the bridge of his
nose.
“C’mon, Lucius” he opened his eyes “you can call me Tony” he lifted his
eyebrows.
Lucius smiled.
“Mr. Wayne had asked me the same thing: to call him just Bruce” he pressed his
lips “but I must insist on calling you as I am now. If I call you Tony, then I
should call Mr. Wayne Bruce and I want everyone to pay to both of you the
respect you deserve so I’m giving first the example” he smiled. “But for me you
two are still the tots that ran in my laboratory twittering questions.”
Tony smiled tenderly on the memory.
“Now” Lucius said determined. “You’re hearing but not paying attention, right?
What’s wrong?”
Tony yanked his head backwards and ruffled his messy locks.
“I was listening, Lucius: thankfully, I have the ability to listen and think
other things at the same time. But, yes, you’re right: my mind is elsewhere.”
Lucius nodded.
“Well?”
Tony pressed his lips making his lower cheeks swell. He crossed his arms.
“I just don’t share Bruce’s trait to care about other things than himself; for
me what matters now more than anything else” he lifted his eyebrows almost to
his hairline “and certainly more than these gewgaws, is Bruce.”
Lucius nodded, understanding Tony’s worry.
“I see and I agree that it was certainly a heavy blow” he shook his head. “I
mean Mr. Wayne loves him so much and he was happy…But Mr. Wayne is a unique
young man; so strong that will get through this.”
Tony covered his eyes with his palm and sighed.
“Unfortunately, what happened has also other implications!” he huffed.
Lucius frowned and Tony leaned towards him.
“Lucius, what troubles me and makes me sweat is Bruce’s surgery.”
Lucius lowered his eyes.
“We’ll arrange everything perfectly.”
Tony hugged his own ribs and shook his head.
“Still it’d be a very difficult, tricky operation, Lucius; you know that” the
older man nodded. “I estimate that in the best it’ll last ten hours.”
Lucius tapped his fingers on the desk uncomfortably, understanding what Tony
wanted to say.
“It’s too much, Lucius…” he huffed and rubbed his cheeks with his palms. “It’s
too much for him.”
Lucius didn’t want to leave his younger colleague in this despair.
“Tony, you shouldn’t be pessimist.”
But the younger man yanked his head and looked him in the eyes.
“Lucius, six months ago he struggled to stay alive: he almost died – he was
dead for minutes. And then he fought for one month to wake from the coma”
Lucius blinked thoughtful. “His health is unstable” he gestured chuckling “he
is recovering and still climbs on rooftops and works hard. By the way, did I
mention that I hate you for persuading me to participate in the making of that
armor?” he inhaled deeply “but mostly I hate myself for being persuaded.”
Lucius chuckled.
“I’d be worse, Tony, if he did it on his own…because you know very well that
our denial to forge that armor wouldn’t have stopped him from getting it.”
Tony pressed his lips and shook his head because he knew that Lucius was right.
“Yeah…his damn stubbornness! He never thinks himself and his needs” he waved
his hand upwards “he doesn’t consider at all his upcoming surgery: he is in
recovery, he exhausted his energy in battling for his life and instead of
trying to restore that energy by sitting and resting, he…” he growled. “And” he
continued “we know that his organism has weak foundations: growing up in
Falcone’s clutches, was famished without taking the nutrients he needed; he was
tortured; his body is already tired and exhausted despite the fact his
willpower covers that” he locked eyes with Lucius whose expression became grim.
“All in all, Lucius: I dread that surgery! I don’t know if I want Bruce to be
put through that new hardship because I don’t know if he’ll come out alive; if
he’ll survive that” he jerked his arms in the air. “How many impossible battles
can he give in such short period of time?!”
“You want to cancel the surgery?” Lucius voice was sympathetic and not
judgmental at all.
Tony pressed his lips and rubbed his goatee.
“I admit that it has become a very tempting and repeating thought of lately.
This way Bruce may remain forever confined in a chair…” he yanked his head
closing his head and huffing exasperated “damn me! But he will be alive,
Lucius! This organism is not going to make it through such complicated and
long, tormenting surgery!” he planted his elbows to his knees and looked at the
floor. “And I don’t want to lose him again!”
Lucius was staring at the younger man sad.
“Mr. Wayne will never accept this” he replied calmly. “He wants more than
anything to walk again… and he won’t stop till he gets that which means that if
he realizes that his best friend sabotages his unique chance of walking not
only he’d be hurt but also he’ll search for someone else willing or careless to
perform that surgery. Which will be dangerous for his life and his secrets.”
Tony lowered more his head and intertwined his fingers clenching his hands
together: Lucius was right yet his rightness couldn’t change Tony’s feelings
about this.
“Bruce wants to walk again to be able to fight criminals; we gave him already
the way to have this so the surgery isn’t so important to him anymore.”
Lucius widened his eyes to him cocking his eyebrows: Mr. Stark couldn’t
possibly believe that.
“Have you discussed that with Mr. Wayne?”
Tony hid his face in his palms and sighed, revealing his face and looking at
the older man.
“You know that I haven’t because Bruce obviously wouldn’t agree…Ugh! I wish he
had accepted to be enrolled in Princeton… But of course he didn’t… ” he shook
his head “Gotham would never let him live his life as he deserves…”
Lucius placed his hand on Tony’s shoulders.
“Your friend, Tony, has survived all these years against the worst odds” he
smiled “that alone should raise our optimism. Also, the fact that the whole
project has his best friend on the head which friend happens to be one of the
greatest minds of our times increases even more our certainty.”
Tony’s eyes were thoughtful and his lips pursed.
“I was counting on that asshole…” he said emotionless and Lucius frowned. “I
mean, that alien…Actually, I was counting on his Fortress to perform the
surgery…” he uttered for the first time aloud what was planning from the moment
they started preparing the groundbreaking surgery.
Lucius’ frowning became deeper.
“You intended on bringing doctors to Superman’s secret refuge? He surely has
things there that he wouldn’t want to expose to strangers.”
“We would have taken all the necessary precautions and for Bruce’s sake he
would have done it…” he bit his lip and huffed lifting his eyebrows.
“Obviously, I had bought that he loved Bruce…Even I was fooled by his act; even
I hadn’t imagined that he’d do what he did.”
Lucius didn’t comment on that so Tony continued.
“Fortress is the ideal environment for such a tricky operation: completely
controlled and it already knew Bruce’s organism. The alien had told me that the
night Bruce almost died he took the Black Butterfly there and put it on Bruce’s
chest – a light was created that engulfed Bruce helping him escape the imminent
danger of dying and stabilize” he rolled his eyes. “I don’t believe in magic
and mambo-jumbo but I know that some buildings, especially, those pyramid
shaped” he united his palms in a pyramid “are centers of great energy and along
with the rare, powerful gem something was done that night” he moved his hand
“something that I would give my entire fortune to have again during Bruce’s
surgery. But” he widened his eyes “we must cross out the Fortress option.”
Lucius was rubbing his chin as Tony elaborated on the Fortress’ assets. He knew
that the younger man was right.
“We still can ask Superman: I don’t believe that he’d refuse. He might have
chosen another person and broke up with Bruce yet I’m sure he won’t deny him
the chance to be healed. He didn’t take away the energy casts.”
Tony’s eyes were grim as he shook his head in the negative pursing his lips.
“That would have been completely gross… But giving the Fortress for Bruce’s
operation under this woman’s influence?” he cackled bitterly. “I highly doubt
it…” he cocked his eyebrows “I don’t believe that he cares about Bruce –
otherwise he wouldn’t have done that now. But even if…” he inhaled deeply “for
Bruce’s sake, I was willing to plead with him…” he saw Lucius staring at him
“yes, Lucius, no matter how I despise him for Bruce’s sake I would beg him to
permit that. However I’m positive that Bruce wouldn’t want to ask anything from
the alien. He is too proud and dignified to ask anything from him. Now.”
Lucius nodded.
“I believe the same” he stood and Tony made the same walking to the holographic
pillars with the flow of data.
The younger man was watching the flood of information gloomy.
“We can make for him the perfect artificial neurons; the perfect bionic spinal
parts to replace those smashed in the accident; I can make him the perfect
micro arc reactors to energize the artificial neurons; but these can’t secure
that he will last through the procedure” he shook his head appalled. “His body
will be opened, the energy casts will be removed which isn’t easy, the dead
neurons must be extracted, the new ones planted…” he clutched his head. “It’s
way too much, Lucius, even for a person without Bruce’s history.”
Lucius placed both his hands on Tony’s shoulders and the billionaire looked at
him.
“Your friend, Mr. Stark, is a born fighter. And winner. And you have the same
qualities so as much as I share your concerns I’m sure that you two will make
it once again. We’ll have the best doctors and surgeons to perform the
operation and the new nano-laser operational system our Research and
Development department has perfected. Yes, Mr. Stark, this surgery will be
difficult and challenging but we will make the miracle.”
Tony licked his lips.
“I wish Thomas Wayne was alive…” Lucius’ eyes fell on remembering his friend.
“He was the best neurosurgeon in the world…he had succeeded miraculous
operations that the others wouldn’t have dared to think” he chuckled. “And for
his son he’d have done even more” suddenly he remembered the theory of Thomas
being the last descendant of Nemesis’ high priest-healer and it made so much
sense…
“It would have been too difficult for Thomas to have his son’s life in his
hands…” he sighed. “It’d be great if we had him and Martha with us…” he stilled
his eyes in Tony’s and held his shoulders. “But we would do the best with what
we have and we’ll make it.”
Tony smiled yet he was determined to find ways to enhance his friend’s chances.
 
The rectangular window that covered the middle of the wall’s entire length was
open, the subtle, freezing breeze waving the white, heavy curtain. Diana stood
in front of it gazing the dark horizon. She wore a royal red silken robe over
her white-gold ancient Greek toga that reached the middle of her thighs; her
diadem was still on her raven-blue hair. Her golden lasso was placed on one of
the tables beside a pot shaped in ancient Greek style; the impressive sword of
the Amazons leaned on the same table.
She smiled satisfied seeing a red and blue dot on the horizon gradually growing
up to form Superman’s body. She stepped aside to let him in but seeing him in
the plenty light of the apartment frowned: his face was bruised and his attire
had burnings; his raven hair had smoke.
Superman put his feet on the fluffy carpet a bit too heavy and looked at
Diana’s perplexed face; he smiled but he couldn’t hide that he was a bit shaken
so hurried to slump tired on the dark green sofa. Diana narrowed her eyes and
followed him fast to sit beside him rubbing his arm.
“What happened? Attack with Kryptonite?” her voice was strong as ever but with
a hue of worry.
Superman grinned and caressed her cheek.
“No.”
“Then I don’t understand.”
Superman lifted his eyebrows sarcastic and chuckled.
“I came across Thor…the Asgardian god.”
She nodded.
“I know; and he attacked you? That’s preposterous and crazy! How dare he?”
Superman focused his gaze on one of the pots on the white waist table in front
of him.
“He is the newest champion of Bruce…” he replied scoffing. “He clearly fancies
him and plays his protector…”
Diana closed her eyes and yanked her head exasperated.
“Just fancies? Maybe he is already fucking him…” she said slyly noticing the
uncomfortable twitch in Superman’s eyes. “We’re talking about Wayne here…I
cannot understand what you men find in that bitch!” she growled and Superman
looked at her in puzzlement; she lifted her eyebrow. “At least you realized
your mistake…An Asgardian god is the new inhabitant of that little bitch’s
bed.”
Superman narrowed his eyes; he was unable to get angry with Diana yet those
words against Bruce felt wrong. On the other hand, he had said the same things
to him and…probably they were true. He engaged Diana’s lips in a passionate
kiss.
“Now I feel better…” he smiled when they detached and caressed her swan neck.
“Let me see” she ordered him and moved her hand in a gesture of him getting
undressed.
It was after he lowered the upper part of his suit that realized that he had
forgotten to cover the mark from the Knife of Justice. Diana’s fingers brushed
his wide, perfect chiseled chest where a long, superficial burning stood out in
the middle.
“It’s nothing” he said. “Just a tiny thunder from Thor’s artillery” he snorted.
Diana touched the irritated skin.
“It is made from an Asgardian weapon: it’ll take time to heal completely” she
growled. “That stupid god! Quarrelling with you for a bitch’s sake: it’s
ridiculous.”
To Clark’s horror her brilliant blue eyes focused on the scratch Bruce’s Knife
left to his upper arm.
“And what’s this?” she caressed the wounded flesh. “I didn’t know that Thor
uses blades…” her eyes were suspicious.
Superman chuckled.
“Neither did I; that’s why he got me” he couldn’t admit to her that someone
else had managed to get to him: it was alright to be hit by a god but by a
mortal? Diana’s respect would be shaken.
“That sneaky bastard!” she spat. “Next time I see him I’ll teach him some
things about warrior’s honor! Tell me you made him damage!” she wrapped her
arms around his neck and kissed his ear.
Superman fondled her ribs, the fine silk tickling his senses as much as the
view from Diana’s deep cleavage.
“I didn’t stand with crossed arms…He had a taste of Superman’s punches.”
Diana smirked.
“He bled?” she asked gleefully.
Superman chuckled.
“At least as much as I…but screw him, babe…I’m here with you and I already
forgot everything concerning the outside world.”
She watched his hands unbinding her robe’s belt and began sucking his neck
inviting him to do what he desired.
“I saw you saving that school bus; I was nearby ready to rush to your aid but
you didn’t need it: I saw the relief and joy on your face when the kids were
safe and since then I was thinking…”
“Mmm…” he mumbled pushing the wide straps of her toga off her shoulders and
planting soft kisses to her breasts.
“Humans are ungrateful to you…” she moaned raising her long legs to hug his
waist; her toga was now a rumpled, lane around her waist – the upper part
lowered and the bottom part lifted leaving her enticing body all naked apart
from her waist. “You save them every day; you save their children and they
expose you with stupid videos of your personal moments and make fun of you…”
Superman was fondling her hips, rubbing his still dressed groin to her warm
genitals; he was sucking her nipples but her words made him lift his head
panting and look at her while she ruffled his messy hair.
“Can we just not discuss about humans in this apartment?”
She cocked an eyebrow and smiled.
“No need for you to ask! Humans deserve only our pity – nothing more…” she
moaned as Superman lowered to lick her perfect ripped abdominals “I just want
to focus on us… Let Thor bang the little human bitch: if he considers himself
satisfied with Falcone’s leftovers – it’s laughable” she stabbed her nails to
his back as he discarded his suit guiding his erection in her gaping entrance.
However, Clark had difficulties on erasing from his mind the image of Thor
touching a naked Bruce on the grey silk of his beddings: the fake images of
Thor fucking Bruce under the rainbow bridge in Battery Park returned to him
turning his insights into burning knots. His still hot anger being expressed
with violent thrusts that made Diana groan satisfied, scratching and biting his
neck.
He was with Diana; sex with her was the best; he had cheated Bruce and he
kicked him out; however, Clark knew that he didn’t even stand the idea of Bruce
being fucked by another man…
 
Dick hanged his backpack on the shoulder and came out of the showers heading to
the main hall and from there to the cafeteria to stall as much as possible the
moment he’d have to get inside Wayne’s car – he wanted to be on time outside
because he didn’t want Wayne to come inside bragging that he was his guardian.
Except than Jason and the principal and social worker of the school nobody had
found out yet; and Dick was very happy for this. Who would want to be connected
with someone like Wayne?
Suddenly, he was startled when a hand tapped his shoulder from behind.
“Champ?” a familiar voice told him and the boy turned around to acknowledge the
man whose identity he already knew.
“Tony!” he rushed to the man and hugged him relieved.
Zucco chuckled and patted the boy’s back.
“Easy, big guy…”
Dick released him and looked his smiling face.
“How did you manage to come near me? Wayne has set his dogs to supposedly
protect me but actually to keep you away.”
Zucco shook his head thoughtful.
“Yeah, I have noticed…However there’s nothing that can keep me away from my
only nephew. And…I have still some friends in the gym; not to mention that I
know this place like the back of my hand including some backside doors” he
winked. “Can I buy you a juice?”
The boy smiled.
“Sure, Tony! I missed you so much…Now that granny is missing you’re the only
relative I have.”
Zucco wrapped his arm around Dick’s shoulders and walked towards the cafeteria
choosing the corridor that avoided the grand training hall: he didn’t want any
unpleasant encounter.
They sat on a corner table in the far end of the cafeteria and placed their
order.
“You look very upset, Dick’’ Zucco remarked sipping his coffee after the waiter
left.
Dick rolled his eyes.
“Are you kidding me, right? My granny disappeared and suddenly I find myself in
the hands of the man who was the reason my whole family was killed; and now he
steps in taking me away from my father’s only relative! Ugh!”
Zucco raised an eyebrow.
“At least, you got your tough little friend to make you company.”
Dick shook his head exasperated.
“Jay…He is gaping at Wayne’s filthy riches and I’m sure he likes him – Jay
doesn’t understand me: he is a good kid but he just can’t understand me. He
lives in his own world…And I’m not blaming him…”
Zucco nodded pursing his lips.
“And little Jason doesn’t like me so…he has another thing in common with Wayne”
he remarked snidely. “Hm…At least, you live in a nice environment, with
everything a boy would dream.”
Dick crooked his mouth and crossed his arms.
“Bullshit! I can’t stand the place and him driving me around, showing of what a
good man he is! I’d prefer living in a barn than in this palace with him!”
Zucco’s eyes were sparkling gleeful. “Pfff! This situation gets on my nerves,
Tony! And…” he sighed “I was a mess in the training…”
Zucco cupped the boy’s hand on the table and looked him in the eyes.
“You must keep your calm, Dick, and not let him ruin more your life: it’s what
he wants, don’t you see? Make you collapse… But you must focus on your school
and your training. You will become great like your father!”
Dick leaned towards him and widened his eyes.
“I want to run away from him” he pressed his lips and blinked shyly, hesitant
in case the man didn’t want what he was ready to say “I want to live with you,
Tony... if you want me…”
Zucco inhaled deeply, locked eyes with the boy thoughtful and then smiled.
“You’re not serious saying that, champ…” Dick’s eyes fell disappointed but
Zucco chuckled and cupped his cheeks tight “if I didn’t want you, I wouldn’t
have come to the Social Service to take you. I don’t want anything more than
having my best friend’s boy with me… And since you want it too…” he smirked
“soon we’ll manage that, Dick.”
Dick shook his head and jerked his hands upwards.
“How?! Granny gave him my guardianship!”
The adult smiled self-confidently.
“The fact your granny gave him your guardianship doesn’t mean that he is
capable of being your guardian…” Dick frowned. “If he appears incapable of
exercising his obligations I can contest his guardianship and become your
guardian.”
Zucco’s eyes glimmered and Dick’s sparkled joyful.
“Is that possible?” the boy exclaimed loudly his enthusiasm making him mindless
of the people around; Zucco showed him with his hand to lower his tone and the
boy blushed “I mean he’s filthy rich; he owns half the city.”
The adult shook his head.
“The court will consider other things: Wayne has a very bad past that makes him
unreliable” he took in the boy’s puzzled look and fixed his eyes in the boy’s.
“People with half his experiences are mentally unstable and thus his
incapability of being your guardian will be easy to prove. But I’ll need your
cooperation: everything depends on you, Dick.”
Dick rolled his eyes exasperated.
“You don’t have to worry about this, Tony: you know how much I want to escape
his clutches.”
The adult grinned satisfied.
“That’s my boy!”
“What I must do?”
Zucco’s eyes sparkled: everything went according to his wishes. He tapped his
fingers on the metallic rectangular table.
“At the moment, he is keeping your guardianship under the radar - secret:
obviously, to avoid any discussions and doubts for his suitability. So our
first priority is to make it known that Wayne is a boy’s ward. You have to
inform everyone you know about that: friends, janitors in the school or the
gym, parents of your peers. Taking care of pointing out how miserable he makes
you.”
Dick cocked his eyebrows and snorted.
“That won’t be any difficult: he really makes me miserable” he chuckled and
Zucco looked at him inquiringly. “Till now I wasn’t saying to anyone about him
being my guardian because I was ashamed.”
The adult gave a broad wicked grin and nodded.
“And now you’ll let everyone know how uncomfortable, nervous and ashamed this
man makes you feel…manifesting it with your behavior at school and the gym -
everywhere” he winked.
Dick smiled.
“Wicked!” he exclaimed understanding and Zucco shook his head.
“And then you must take advantage of every chance to show how incompetent he is
in taking care of you…how irresponsible. For example, leaving from his side and
making him look for you asking help from others: in other words, make his life
a Hell and embarrass him in front of everyone. Make others realize how useless
he is and that a boy under his guardianship not only is unhappy and depressed
but also in physical danger.”
Dick huffed.
“I like that and knowing that I’ll make his life a Hell and him completely
miserable and an ass gives me energy… And in the end I’ll be with you” the boy
huffed relieved. “Until granny is found and she realizes how wrong was about
you and will become a family.”
Zucco smiled benevolently but his eyes sparkled gleefully as he caressed the
boy’s hair. He was pitying the boy.
“It’s what uncles do for their favorite nephews, champ: helping and saving them
from tight holes. To make them smile again.”
“Thank you, Tony! I’m so lucky you came to my life in this tough moment!”
The adult grinned.
“I can say the same, Dick…”
 
Selina walked beside Bruce heading to the city’s gym not far from the café.
Hero was sitting in his butt on Bruce’s lap like a miniature lion or a king;
the kitten was gazing around the multicolored lights that now, as the night
fell completely, shone brighter.
“The old Hero was gazing like this the Christmas’ lights…” Selina said casually
looking at the city’s decorations.
Bruce nodded and scratched the kitten’s head.
“He managed to see one Christmas…the poor thing…surviving so much and in the
end being killed like this” his voice was almost indifferent but Selina knew
what lied underneath. “Where did you bury him?” he turned his head to his
friend.
Selina rubbed Bruce’s back pressing her lips.
“Near Saint Mary’s Park, in a niche with a great view to the rose bushes. I
thought that he’d like to sniff them with his pink little nose as he used to
do…”
Bruce nodded and looked at the back of Hero’s head because he didn’t want
Selina to see his eyes watering.
“I didn’t have the chance to say goodbye to him as I should…” exactly like with
my parents, he thought.
Selina bit her lips.
“He knew how much you loved him and that love was enough for him…” she took his
hand in her; her gloves was in her short white coat’s pockets. “Your heart was
with him…”
Bruce yanked his head backwards to let the chilly night atmosphere clear his
eyes and mind. Selina chuckled.
“You know…I’m sure that he is still watching us” she locked eyes with Bruce and
showed him two fingers “with two healthy, wicked little eyes and is happy when
we are. I think he sent us Hero the second to take care of us because he
doesn’t trust us at all…”
Bruce laughed and petted the small animal that purred appreciatively.
“I thought you didn’t believe in these things” he snorted. “You’re a reasonable
girl.”
She lifted her eyebrows.
“Not when our Hero is concerned…”
“How convenient!” he teased her and she pulled softly his hair that was cold.
Bruce never believed in afterlife and that one’s loved ones watch from above:
he knew that it was nonsense, just wishful thinking…and frankly the idea
terrorized him: that his parents might have been watching him all these years
being disgustingly, humiliatingly used by so many people. Even now his heart
was clenched and his cheeks blushed, thinking of this.
 But mostly he was terrorized from the thought that if he fed himself with such
fairytales the blow would be devastating when he woke up and realized his
illusion. Yet he had seen in that cave his mother holding Hero and wanted so
much to be true…as much as he was aware that when he saw them a concussion and
Joker’s drug cocktail was affecting him…He gulped.
Selina didn’t like his silence and she was thinking constantly what happened in
the café; that Queen guy and his behavior. Bruce realized that and stopped the
wheelchair yanking his head to look at her eyes. Selina squatted and cupped his
cheeks with both hands.
“Your cheeks are frozen and rosy… Are you cold?”
Bruce smiled.
“No, I’m fine: the chair is very warm and…” he shook his head “you know that
I’m used to cold.”
Selina lifted her eyebrows and nodded. Eighteen years Bruce was living in a
frozen underground cell without proper clothes, sleeping without even a
blanket. Bruce touched her hands.
“What?” he asked.
“Yes, you are” she answered. “And you’re used to other things as well but that
doesn’t mean that you should continue tolerate them now.”
Bruce frowned and Selina rolled her eyes huffing.
“Bruce, I know that you tolerated much” she stressed the word without
elaborating “from Superman.”
Bruce lolled his head on the side and was ready to retort but Selina touched
her fingertips to his lips stopping him.
“Sssss… Your entire life you were forced to tolerate stuff for one reason or
another…but now you’re free, Bruce, and there’s no need to stand others’ bad
behavior.”
“Selina, I’m not a victim!” he retorted defensively.
She caressed his lips hushing him.
“I know you’re not, sweetie: your personality is stronger than anyone I know;
so I can’t see why you tolerated that Queen’s behavior: he was insufferable!
The way he talked and demanded things it was insulting…And I sensed that he
made you feel uncomfortable and pressed; I was sure that you’d put him in his
place but you…”
Bruce smiled.
“Yeah” he nodded “his attitude was preposterous but I tolerated him and I’m not
upset I did that. I need to keep this man close, Selina.”
“Why?” she asked puzzled.
“Because I must learn things about the supposed Amazon Princess and only he has
inner knowledge. He’ll help me solve the mystery.”
Selina closed her eyes and licked her lips turning her head; she took Hero from
the armpits since the kitten was twitching his paw at her.
“Superman” she said exasperated. “You’re doing this for him! Why, Bruce? Screw
that asshole!”
Bruce pinched the bridge of his nose.
“Selina, you know that he is sweet and kind and generous but this woman has
done something to him and changed all these” Selina wasn’t looking at him,
clearly disagreeing. “Well, not entirely: he saved a school bus full with
children this very morning…”
Selina snapped her head at him.
“So he is okay to treat you like rubbish?”
Bruce huffed.
“I didn’t say that – I sent him away, didn’t I? But he isn’t entirely
responsible for his deeds: if I was mind controlled I might have done worse
things than him…”
She frowned and snorted.
“He beat you, Bruce and who knows what else that you don’t admit even to me to
save his grace” Bruce didn’t permit any of his facial muscles twitch because
Selina would read him like an open book – not that she hadn’t done it already.
“You’d have done worse than this?”
“I saw a nightmare, Sel” she shook his head. “I was mind controlled by Ra’s and
hurt badly Tony and…him.”
Selina lolled her head on the side petting Hero.
“Give me a break, sweetie! You’re defending him even in your sleep! You love
him so much that…Ugh! I hate him more!”
Bruce brushed her forearm and their eyes were met: he didn’t Selina hate nobody
on his sake. That night she shot dead Chill still haunted him.
“I saw again the child, Sel” he said warmly to change the subject and she
blinked her eyes filling with sympathy. “I was teaching him things; we were
strolling in the desert” Selina laughed and Bruce did the same. “He…he had
begun to like me: he held my hand” he didn’t want to speak to her about the
gruesome rest of the dream.
“You know, Bruce?” she asked thoughtful.
“Mmm?”
She yanked her head shaking off the thoughts.
“Ugh! Never mind!”
“C’mon, say it…”
She stopped walking and looked at him.
“All these…the guardianship, the possible child…I don’t like them” Bruce
narrowed his eyes and she closed her eyes huffing. “I mean, you’re a great
guardian and you’ll be a great father but it is too soon…I wish you were given
more time to calm, to live with some carelessness – I mean, you’ve got already
too many responsibilities that don’t let you take care of yourself and recover
smoothly. Adding children on the mix…I know your self- sacrificing nature and
I’m sure that Dick and this kid, if exists, will become your priority but you
needed some time to live for yourself…” she caressed his locks and Bruce
grinned raising his eyebrows.
“Maybe the only way to live it is through the people I love…” he said kissing
her palm “and I can’t imagine it otherwise” he cleared his throat and chose to
change the subject. “So, back to Superman: I said before what it is hidden
behind this must be disclosed because it could be dangerous for everyone. Why
someone wants to make Superman a puppet to a woman’s hands?”
“I think that rather than that it is your love for him the greatest reason…”
she retorted not buying it.
Bruce closed his eyes.
“I won’t lie to you…” it was the only thing he told her.
Selina nodded sighing and let Hero on Bruce’s lap since the kitten was looking
to him.
“So when all this ends and he comes to his senses, you’d take him back…”
Bruce shook his head and caressed Hero who had sprawled over his chest touching
his chin with his paw.
“No” he replied calm but absolute.
 “I know” she nodded “you’ll punish and torture him – which I totally approve –
but after he knells before you and crawls and begs for your forgiveness, you’ll
take him back which I…”
“No, Selina; I don’t want him to kneel and beg me for anything: it’s over” his
voice was filled with conviction but Selina knew the pain underneath: the wound
was bleeding and her heart ached for Bruce; so she didn’t insist to not scratch
more the wound.
“Yeah…you can look around you for a new love…” she blinked innocently to
Bruce’s puzzled eyes. “I saw how Thor was staring at you during the dinner…And
Tony noticed: he acted indifference but I sniffed the air…”
Bruce shook his head and rubbed his forehead.
“Thor is just…a friend” Selina smirked but for Bruce it was agony. “I don’t
want that thing in my life ever again” his friend understood that he meant
romantic love, sex. “I don’t want anyone look at me like this…” he bit his
bottom lip and moved his hand. “I can’t understand why they looking me like
this, are they blind?”
Selina pursed her lips with sympathy.
“You’re beautiful, sweetie; that’s why…and you have that great personality that
makes even gods like Thor – he is quite the hot stuff! - fell for you.”
Bruce gasped and his eyes widened.
“Please, don’t say that!” he calmed himself. “Thinking what I have let myself
do with…with himfills me disgust and shame” Selina closed her eyes in despair.
“Ridiculous…”
“Bruce, there is nothing to be ashamed in what you shared with him” there was
nobody near them yet Selina mimicked Bruce in avoiding mentioning names.
Bruce didn’t continue just absorbed in petting Hero.
Selina growled.
“However you tolerate Queen for his sake…”
 “Oliver Queen might be the key to that mystery: he is the closest to the
supposed Diana.”
Selina frowned.
“But if he knows then he is her partner and then you’ll be in danger…”
“I know how to protect myself, Sel…”
She snorted.
“Yeah, like then with Luthor?” he was ready to reply that this was a plan but
she stopped him “okay, okay…”
“And it’s not necessary that he is a partner to this scheme: I just want to
find out if he noticed something insignificant to him but crucial to understand
what’s going on…”
She stopped walking.
“Bruce” she locked eyes with him “this man wants to devour you” Bruce closed
his eyes. “I saw it in his eyes and there’s more in him – I sense it -, not
necessary nice. I don’t want you exposed to him!”
Bruce held her hands.
“Don’t be afraid, Sel: I won’t. This man has something…I felt it too. But I
can’t lose the chance to riddle this. So his interest in me is useful…”
He froze for a second.
“You were always a whore, child; now you’ll be a useful one…”
“What?” she settled his hair above the ear. “Are you feeling alright?”
“I’d be careful, Sel” he said calmly. “But the curious thing is that despite
his mysterious character, I don’t feel threatened by him.”
Selina nodded though she wasn’t persuaded that Queen wasn’t a threat for her
friend.
“Sel?” Bruce said as they began walking again, the gym coming closer.
“Mmm…”
“Remember the Arrow guy at the Avengers’ Tower?”
“I remember what you told me about him” she pouted “I didn’t see him myself.
Why?”
“I have the feeling that he plays a role in all this. He was the one who shot
the video with Superman and Wonder Woman.”
Selina looked at him frowned.
“How do you know that?”
“That night Batman saw them on the rooftop because the Arrow led him there:
nobody else could have shot that video.”
“So you believe that he knew the significance of that for Batman and if he
really knows then he might be implicated in this. Being in Gotham shows that.”
“He isn’t in Gotham anymore: his last sighting was in Chicago where he stopped
some thugs from robbing a man” Bruce’s eyes were lost gazing the night. “It’s
like he is playing with me – trying to mislead me.”
“You want me to go to Chicago and search for him?”
“No” he said looking her in the eyes and she frowned.
“Why?”
 
“Because I don’t want you to run around for my own responsibilities; you did
that a lot during Falcone’s era and now you shouldn’t be troubled for me.”
Selina rolled her eyes and crooked her mouth jeering; he was ready to retort
something but stopped because Bruce had already entered the city’s gym. She
grinned: the kiddo ran away to avoid the discussion: however, Selina wanted to
visit Chicago. She had info from her people that a filthy rich guy smuggled a
very beautiful and rare ruby so… it was time to mix business with pleasure and
stretch her cat muscles.
Bruce scanned the gargantuan gym with his eyes and found what he was looking
for: Dick’s trainer. He gave Hero to Selina who just caught with him and
steered his wheelchair to the 35 years old African American.
The man was watching a couple of kids doing their exercises.
“Mr. Laurie, I’m Bruce Wayne” he gave him his hand for a handshake and Jeffrey
took it puzzled
“Yes, I know; I mean I have seen you in the news. Glad to meet you.”
“Me too. You must be wondering what I’m doing here…”
The man smiled.
“Obviously…”
“I’m Richard Grayson’s guardian now that his grandmother disappeared.”
Jeffrey at first cocked his eyebrows impressed and surprised by that.
“Well, that explains the donation for the gym’s renovation…”
“That was to show our gratitude for the great performance and the happiness you
gave to our children in the Haven during the Thanksgiving party.”
Jeffrey smiled satisfied from the man’s praise but then he remembered the old
lady and shook his head sad.
“It’s a shame, the disappearance of Ms. Turner: I really liked her and poor
Dick has already lost his entire family too… I can’t understand this
injustice…”
Bruce pressed his lips and nodded.
“We’ll find her…I mean the police will” Jeffrey shook his head in disbelief.
“Mr. Laurie, you’re Dick’s trainer and Ms. Turner had told me that Dick trusts
and likes you very much” the man grinned. “So as his guardian, I’d like to ask
you to keep me inform about anything that worries you…for example, if someone
harassing him.”
Selina was watching grim.
Jeffrey’s eyes sobered, understanding to whom Wayne might be referring to.
“Ms. Turner had also talked to you about Tony Zucco…”
Bruce was watching closely Jeffrey’s reactions.
“Exactly. You must know him, Mr. Laurie.”
The man smiled.
“I do…Call me Jeff, Mr. Wayne.”
“Bruce” he smiled.
“Well, Bruce: Everyone in the gymnastics’ local team knows him. And many people
outside our city’s limits” his voice was hinting things.
“You don’t like him…And you don’t like him being close to Dick.”
“He is his uncle.”
“I know that but you still don’t like him being around the boy.”
“Look, Bruce, Zucco is…”
“My uncle and my father’s cousin” Dick spat having come sneakily from the
cafeteria. “What are you trying to do, Wayne? Throw mud at him?”
Bruce shook his head.
“Of course not, Richard: I just wanted to learn about the people around you…”
Dick cackled and remembered what they discussed with his uncle.
“Being my guardian” he shouted causing people’s puzzled stares “by accident
doesn’t give you the right to sneak on me and plotting against people I love”
Bruce felt uncomfortable from people staring at them “You should look to
yourself and be ashamed because unfortunately for you and mostly for me people
know who you are!”
The boy crossed his arms and headed to the exit; Selina put Hero on Bruce’s lap
and followed him blocking his way. She felt Bruce’s uneasiness that was caused
by the boy’s insults.
“Watch your mouth, kid! You don’t know anything about Bruce; if you knew and if
you were smart enough to appreciate him you’d be ashamed of yourself!”
“I am ashamed, lady! Of having him as my guardian!”
“Because you’re not ‘smart enough’: you’re just a little, self-absorbed brat
who thinks that he is better than everyone else! I got news for you, dude:
you’re just making fool of yourself!”
Now more people were staring at them and Bruce just caught up with them.
“Selina, please…” he said behind Dick but she didn’t look at him having her
flared eyes locked with Dick’s.
But Dick bypassed her and rushed outside toppling some kids on his way.
Bruce sighed and Selina patted him. Jeffrey moved her hands to disperse the
people that had gathered to watch and looked at Bruce with sympathy.
“Dick is a good kid, Bruce but he is having a rough time and Zucco fuels his
bad attitude. But I believe in Dick, Bruce: he’ll realize his mistake
eventually: he just needs patience, understanding and guidance.”
Bruce nodded suddenly feeling the responsibility burdening his shoulders.
***** Chapter 46 *****
Chapter Summary
     I'd like to thank all of you from the bottom of my heart for reading,
     letting kudos and commenting. I really appreciate it!
The younger kids that were training and had approached due to Dick’s yells soon
forgot the incident and gathered around Bruce playing with Hero who twitched
his paw brushing the little fingers that touched him, clearly enjoying the
attention more than his human friend. Bruce looked at Selina who shrugged
sighing understanding her friend’s hurry to catch Dick but she was also
helpless against all these kids.
Jeffrey gave the solution: he clapped once and a dozen small eyes looked at
him.
“Back to yours works, boys and girls!” it was the only thing he needed to say
for the noisy rabble to disperse.
The trainer winked to the youths.
“You have to get the hang of it…” he smiled.
“I’m sorry…” Selina said after they exited the building having greeted Dick’s
trainer.
Bruce smiled.
“No, you’re not…” he answered playfully staring her in the eyes and Selina
huffed exasperated.
“You’re right: I’m not sorry for putting that little brat in his place. But I’m
sorry I made people stare at us…”
Bruce shook his head.
“Forget it…Besides they were staring before you berated Dick…I understand: it’s
difficult for you to listen someone speak to me like that…’’
“Unbearable…” she corrected him nonchalant.
“Anyway…But Selina, please, be more patient with him: he has been through a lot
and he is in a difficult age.”
Selina put her feet down and stopped crossing her arms.
“In his age, you’re been through a lot more than him but you didn’t act like
that!”
Bruce gave a crooked smile.
“Maybe because I couldn’t.”
Selina growled.
“Stop defending him, sweetie! And don’t stop me from scolding him because you
can’t: he deserves it and kids need some discipline.”
Bruce petted Hero who climbed in his chest.
“In his age, you liked to be disciplined?” he raised an eyebrow and grinned.
“I wasn’t like him” she protested and then shook her head defeated “You’re
helpless!”
They resumed their route to the car where Dick was waiting with arms crossed
and face turned to the opposite direction.
Selina smirked and cocked her eyebrows.
“Now I get why his people call him Dick…And since he is a small dick, he is
more pissed!”
Bruce choked in his own saliva and chuckled.
“Oh! Selina!”
She turned and looked at him slyly.
“I’m wrong?”
Bruce shook his head.
“Give him some time: I’m sure he is a good kid…Will you come with us to the
Manor for dinner?” he took her hand.
“Sorry, sweetie…I must find Steve – if he survived Queen…” she chuckled.
“Unless you’re afraid to be alone in the car with the Antichrist…”
Bruce lolled his head and stared at her disapproving but she laughed.
“Maybe we’ll come later” she squatted and kissed Bruce in the cheek. “I’m off:
no mood to see his face again. See ya!”
She waved her hand and Bruce smiled to her before she distanced in her wiggling
movements.
“And now we’re alone, Hero” he told to the kitten holding him from the armpits
and continued to his car.
“I’m sure you’re happy about that!” Dick spat as soon as Bruce approached.
Yet Bruce didn’t hasten to answer him and went to the driver’s door where he
pressed his thump on the print reader socket unlocking the car.
“I think that the only one happy about what happened is you, Dick” he replied
almost indifferent without any hue of accusation. “It’s unlocked” he gestured
to him to get in.
Dick huffed, unfolded his arms and got in jumping at the seat. Bruce left Hero
on the car’s floor and grabbed the armrests, supported his body on his hands
and slipped to the driver’s seat – Hero having moved to Dick’s legs; then he
folded the wheelchair and placed it at the back seat.
“I know you hate me, Dick” Bruce began as the car was moving to the city’s exit
to Palisades.
The boy brushing the kitten on his lap raised his eyebrows and snorted.
“Wow! That’s the conclusion of the year!” he rolled his eyes.
Bruce cast him a glance and then looked at the road in front of him.
“Yeah…I don’t expect you to change your feelings about me…”
“Good for you!”
“Please, let me finish, Dick: I know you’re a boy with manners.”
Dick snorted.
“Don’t call me Dick: only my people call me by my nickname.”
Bruce pressed his lips and nodded.
“As you wish…What I was saying is that I’m only trying to make your living with
me as bearable as possible and I think that you should try to do the same. I
don’t ask you to stop hating me but at least do not express that so…clearly in
front of my friends because they will react as Selina just did and I don’t like
our current situation to become worse…” he glanced at the boy. “It’d be only
temporarily, Richard: police will find your grandmother and you’ll be together
again so you won’t have to see me never again.”
Dick licked his lips.
“Why you came in the gym? To sneak on me?”
Bruce closed his eyes.
“I wanted to see the place you spent so many hours.”
“You can say these to some stupid – not me. Because I know that you did it to
spy my movements and put my trainer do it too. It’s not enough that you
isolated me from my uncle: my only remaining relative!”
“I’m just trying to do what your grandmother wanted.”
“Stop playing the father!”
“I’m not, Richard” Bruce replied calmly.
Dick snapped his head to the window grunting but Hero stood to his back legs
and licked the boy’s chin forcing him to laugh. Bruce smiled but didn’t stare
to not ruin the moment.
“Hero is the only good thing in you…” Dick mumbled snorting knowing that Bruce
had heard his carefree laugh.
Bruce didn’t look at him.
“I’m happy you find something good in me…”
Dick gulped and caressed Hero who was staring at him.
“Wrong expression: I meant in the situation not in you!” he spat.
Bruce pressed his lips but didn’t comment and Dick brushed the screen at the
car’s control panel turning on the radio, rock songs the only sound in the car
throughout the rest of the road.
 
Three days later…
Vale’s beautiful but heavy makeuped face shone with a big, false smile. The
audience of her show clapped enthusiastically as she marched on her high heels
to her throne-like red armchair in the middle of the elliptic, bluish stage.
She waved to them and sat graciously crossing her legs that their flaws were
concealed by the dangerously short leather skirt she wore. Vicky pushed her
silken, shiny blond curls behind her ear and looked at the camera.
“Today is a beautiful day for our city, my dear friends – though it’s chilly
without any snowflake yet!” she sighed. “Anyways, we can hope everything since
finally, our Gotham gets the limelight for something else than record
criminality rates or…” she chuckled “supposed huge flying rodents – for
something great! Vicky Vale, your devoted friend, will bring you the good news
first!”
The audience clapped whistling and Vicky smiled supposedly shy and huffed.
“I love it when I have good news! Especially when that specific person is
involved…” she nodded. “Oh! I won’t torture you anymore…Well, who else could
bring the national and international spotlights on our city? Mmm… I’m sure my
clever friends are already suspecting… Huh! Do not forget our special prize for
today: join us and be in the daily ballot for $5,000 cash!”
New claps and whistles but also some questions about the great news. Vale gave
a dashing smile showing off her pearly white perfect teeth.
“Okay, okay… Well, in a few hours from now the Person of the Year is going to
be announced and our show, ‘Vicky’, has inclusive information which of course
we carefully crossed before announcing…”
 
“Hmm…” Joker rubbed his chin thoughtful. “How many people youuuu fucked, dear
Vicky, to get your exclusive?” he sneered in his most nasal voice.
He was watching that stupid talk show sat in the working bench in the ground
floor of his new hideout: he had moved from the first because he sniffed
suspicious movements nearby. Someone hinted the police about where he might be
hid and Joker was sure that it was the work of his Brucey-Bat who despite being
disabled to chase him personally had still his sharp mind focused on him: uuuu!
How romantic! Brucey’s mind devoted to littl’ ol’ Joker...
The new warehouse must have been a workshop of shorts because it had many
working benches with rusty tools forgotten there. Joker had found their new
home in the docks but not the docks that Police new as the haven for every kind
of low life and thus had under surveillance. Thankfully, Gotham had many little
harbors and docks: and many of these harbors and docks were from decades
abandoned and forgotten.
Joker had turned the dusty, webbed ridden building into a warm nest for himself
and his boys. And of course since it was Christmas…almost…Joker for the kids’
sake made his own decoration. He created garlands binding together the rusty
tools which the children painted purpled and green – and they were handy lethal
weapons, too…One day the kids began fighting – you know how littl’ boys are…-
and some skulls were broken…It was hilarious actually.
Joker had even decorated a Christmas tree: he was in the middle of the room. He
because the tomb from where Joker took the skeleton had a male name: John Doe
but…hay! Nobody was perfect.
He caught himself often during the day staring proudly at his creation: he was
great in everything he set to do. He had set the skeleton erect with his arms
stretched and his legs glued; he put the kids to paint each part of the
skeleton with bright colors: pink, neon blue, neon green, red, neon yellow. And
then Joker hung blades from each rib, razors throughout the arms’ length and
one knife in each hand. For light he put two small bulbs in the empty eye
sockets and one bigger in the mouth with the remaining teeth keeping it in
place; for effect, he placed bulbs in John’s pelvis. Result surpassed even
Joker’s expectations: the bulbs blinked creating an outstanding spectacle. Not
to mention the star Joker had stack in John’s broken skull.
Joker giggled glancing at his pal: good ol’ John would have been very happy to
know how beautiful and cheery he was…Bet he was never so sparkling during his
life…Joker threw away an imagined teardrop from his eye: he had a knack on
giving people their deepest desire.
 His legs dangled. Joker hated Vicky’s show – it was soooooo booring! -yet he
watched it because his kids did and as a responsible father he had to know what
the children watched.
 
“And?” some people from the audience asked as if they didn’t have other
problems in their life than the Person of the Year.
“I’m proud to announce that the Person of the Year for TIME and Forbes is for
the first time after…” she frowned “who can remember really? Is no other than
our sweet, sad Prince. Bruce Wayne!”
 
Joker was so surprised that launched from the bench almost falling face first
and his goons laughed, six stupid faces turning to Joker who staggered to find
his balance. Well, he would have killed one or two…or everyone to teach them
manners but now he was more interested to hear.
So he straightened his posture with dignity, dusted his coat and trotted in
front of the TV set that stood on a wooden box.
“Oooout! Nooooo more TV for to--day!” he barked and his goons’ faces fell.
“But boss…”
Joker’s eyes glimmered and he raised his index finger warning.
“Dooooo I have to say it twiceeeee?” his voice was a menacing screeching so
nobody wanted to force the boss to repeat himself…with a blade or two.
They exchanged glances and in a second they were nowhere to be seen.
“Aaaaand now, Vicky darling, youuuuu may proceed…” he said after he sat cross
legged in the purple armchair.
 
The audience burst out in frantic ovation and Vale smiled satisfied.
“Our sources say that it was a well deserved award since our Prince went from
being…” she suddenly sobered in a totally un-Vale way but she quickly restored
her usual expression “Falcone’s servant – and I would say: from dead – to
regaining the Wayne fortune, being voted the President of the Enterprises and
then with smart movements saving the company from its lurching position” she
twitched her eyebrows. “Not to mention, that he managed to disarm such rivals
as John Dagget who was claiming the chair of the company and Lex Luthor; the
latter not only failed to acquire Wayne Enterprises which, as everyone knows”
she lowered her voice speaking to her audience “was Luthor’s Holy Grail, but
also dear Lex ended up in prison and lost the control of LexLabs – his
lovechild – thanks to…”
She made a gesture for the audience to complete the sentence for her.
 
Joker shook his head impatiently.
“Bruuuucey Wayne!” he answered and waved his hand for her to continue.
 
“Bruce Wayne!” the audience said to Vale’s nod of approval.
“And now our Prince holds the 20% of the entire LexCorp” the audience clapped
thrilled. “Of course, we shouldn’t overlook the fact that Mr. Wayne from the
moment of his …resurrection is always in the center of our attention with his
misfortunes and…” she winked “the rumors concerning his love life.”
 
On that Joker jerked his hands outraged.
“Whaaaaat rumors, youuuu silly bimboooo! He is a married man and that’s not a
rumor: pffff! Loooousy reporter!”
 
“Our sources say that Tony Stark, Bruce Wayne’s best friend and loyal
protector, was a favorite for the title which would have his second consequent
award but Bruce Wayne won easily” she shrugged. “Sorry, Tony: Ironman is great
and all but returning from the dead doesn’t happen every day” she giggled. “So
our show prepared a video dedicated to our sad Prince’s life manifesting the
landmarks from Falcone’s reception – we took the material from Gotham Globe’s
Alex Knox since I wasn’t invited” she didn’t elaborate on that “…up to today.
We sincerely hope that this win will lift Bruce’s spirits that must be very
down the last days. And we have you a surprise after the video…”
People clapped and the show’s whole wall screen began showing scenes from the
Wayne family’s life leading to flashes from the coverage of their murders and
the funeral leading to the reception at a ridiculously luxurious Wayne Manor as
Falcone had turned the beautiful building.
 
Joker watched eagerly like a hungry hyena, totally concentrated to the screen:
he didn’t like much TV but when Bruce’s life was on, he couldn’t resist.
However when the video ended he lolled his head on the side shocked and angry –
a blade launching casually from his coat to sink into the opposite wall.
“Youuuu stupid bitch! Wheeeeere is our marriage?!” he stretched his arms
forwards and upturned his palms as if Vale could see them. “What the Heeeeell!
You show that fucking video with Suuuuuper-bozo carrying him to the clinic
aaaand the super pornnnn buuut not eeeven a tiny mention of Brucey’s
husband?!!” he growled and roared someone upstairs dropping his bottle.
 
Lucius put his eye in front of the wall where an invisible retina recognizer
was placed; instantly the wall hissed and several drawers’ edges became
visible. The scientist drew the drawers open and Bruce looked eagerly at the
items placed in sockets, taking one of them. These cases on the wall were for
top secret things and now hosted the mysterious items that were found at
LexLabs.
Bruce brushed the hieroglyphic-like characters carved in the bottom side of the
item and Lucius watched him.
“Lucius, you and Tony are scientists, perfectly acquainted with the latest
developments” he looked up to his top scientist.
“I certainly hope so, Mr. Wayne” Lucius replied with a big smile.
Bruce grinned.
“Both of you told me that these things have nothing to do with anything you
know. Have you considered the possibility of these items being of
extraterrestrial origin?”
Lucius put his hands in his pants’ pockets.
“Expand your thought, Mr. Wayne.”
Bruce seemed a bit hesitant.
“Sometimes my mind does some connections…hm…more like jolts…between things that
might be completely irrelevant but at the same time they might not be as they
seem.”
Lucius smiled and nodded.
“And that’s why you’re a great detective, Mr. Wayne: finding connections where
no other can find.”
Bruce blushed but shrugged.
“I don’t know if there’s a base…but I was thinking: you said that the specimens
we gathered from the attack against me at the island indicated an unknown life
form that might be alien. What if the same goes for these items too?” Lucius
pursed his lips thoughtful. “And there’s Luthor’s presence and we know that his
Labs were the center of shady, highly dangerous experiments concerning
extraterrestrial findings.”
Lucius rubbed is chin deep in thought. He cocked his eyebrows.
“Our naughty friend certainly has a tendency of tampering with such things…and
we know his dislike for Superman” the older man commented.
Bruce pressed his lips.
“I was thinking the raids in the LexLabs all over the States: they were
snatching things but the raids didn’t stop as if they were looking for
something specific – something they didn’t find.”
“Go ahead.”
“And then when Luthor had spent every mean for achieving his release from jail
in vain, someone intervenes and he comes out despite the fact he was convicted
without any doubt. Someone who nobody can name…exactly, like the one who freed
several thugs from Metropolis’ prisons.”
Lucius fixed his solemn stare at Bruce frowning.
“Do you believe that the…Intergang, - right?-” Bruce nodded “is related with
the items?”
There wasn’t any hint of disbelief in Lucius’ voice yet Bruce shrugged.
“Intergang’s crimes have stopped since the attack at Metropolis’ subway station
where their supposed leader was killed…”
Lucius cocked his eyebrows, widening his eyes playfully.
“But…you’re not convinced that he was the real leader” he completed Bruce’s
phrase smiling.
Bruce grinned nodding.
“Not at all…”
He was ready to continue but knocks on the door stopped him. Lucius took the
item Bruce was holding, putted to the sockets of the drawer and pushed it back
to be absorbed by the wall without leaving even a mark hinting that the wall
wasn’t solid.
The scientist pressed the small screen on the wall and the door opened.
Ms. Philips, Bruce’s secretary, came in; her poised expression still on as she
looked at the two men.
“Mr. Wayne, Mr. Fox, I’m sorry to interrupt but I judged that you should be
informed.”
“Well?” Bruce prompted her.
“Our Public Relations Department received a phone call from a reporter asking
for any statement; and from then on, the phone hasn’t stopped ringing.”
Bruce frowned, a knot forming in his stomach.
“What happened now…” he said exasperated.
But Ms. Philips was calm and Bruce noticed that her eyes glimmered from
something like…pride?
“Nothing serious, sir” she hastened to reassure him. “Just Vicky Vale announced
that you won the award of the Person of the Year.”
Bruce’s eyes widened from surprise and…terror; he turned his eyes to Lucius who
was grinning amused. Bruce took his Cosmos phone out of his pocket and fast
opened the site of GTV, Gotham’s second most popular TV station, and touched
the play option on the web TV.
Indeed, Vicky Vale was elaborating on her exclusive and Bruce brushed his
bottom lip thoughtful. He remembered Ms. Philips waiting for instructions.
“Ms. Philips, please tell Miss Robinson to not comment till the news is
official; when it is officially announced I’ll get in touch with her for
sketching our statement.”
Ms. Philips nodded.
“Thank you, Mr. Wayne” she said and left the room closing the door.
Lucius stared at Bruce as the youth watched the video with his life Vale had
sewed. The older man placed his hand on Bruce’s shoulder and he looked at the
scientist.
“It’s not that bad, Mr. Wayne…”
Bruce sighed.
“I don’t want the attention, Lucius.”
“I know but look at the bright side…”
“There is one?”
Lucius smiled benevolently.
“The shares of Wayne Enterprises will go rocket high.”
Bruce smiled and looked back at his Cosmos that now he had turned into tablet
size.
 
“Our reporter, Julie, is in front of Wayne Tower opting for a statement…” a
very young blond reporter came to the screen with the 94 storey building behind
her, the white platinum ‘W’ capturing the eyes. “Julie, what goodies do you
have for us?”
“Hi, Vicky” she was dressed in a huge jacket, muffled in a thick, brown scarf
and a woolen hat because the cold was really fierce today. “We asked from the
company’s Spoke Person to comment on Bruce Wayne’s win but she told us that
they don’t have any official notification so they can’t comment on rumors.
They’ll make a statement when the news is confirmed…” her voice and her overall
expression were depressed for having failed Vale.
Vicky’s eyes fell for an instant but she was very experienced so it swiftly
changed that.
“That was to be expected…Wayne Enterprises is a rather serious company under
Bruce Wayne’s presidency. Julie, stay there in case you manage to take a
statement from any official or Mr. Wayne” the young reporter nodded and the
wall screen was covered again with Bruce’s face.
 
“Greeeeeat wallpaper, Vick!” Joker exclaimed thrilled and clapped while he
struggled with his obsolete cell phone to make a call “now…let’s cor--rect
sooooooome things…”
 
“Waiting for Julie’s reportage, let’s disclose our other news” Vicky chirped
“which concerns Bruce as well… We have information that Bruce Wayne has become
the legal guardian – yes, you have heard me fine – the legal guardian of a 13
year old boy” she cocked her eyebrows. “A boy that is no other than Richard
Grayson the older son of the Phelps family who all of us remember the tragic
way they were murdered by Joker.”
She touched the microphone in her ear.
“We have a call…”
 
Bruce’s face became grim hearing Vale revealing that he got Dick’s
guardianship.
“No…” he said and the color of his face went a few shades paler.
Lucius frowned worried.
“Mr. Wayne…”
“I wanted it to be as secret as possible because Dick has been already once
targeted by Joker” he bit his lip and huffed. “Joker already believes that I
have a soft spot for the boy and used him in the factory – now if he learns
that the boy is my ward, things will be worse…I should have expected that: Dick
yelled about my guardianship in the gym and I’m sure that Zucco put his hand on
this.”
Lucius pursed his lips.
“I understand your fears, Mr. Wayne, but it was going to be known sooner or
later.”
“I guess…But now Joker must be busted as soon as possible.”
Lucius’ kind face became stern and solemn as he squatted in front of Bruce.
“Mr. Wayne, I personally vouched for your behavior when I convinced Mr. Stark
to cooperate in forging that armor” Bruce was looking him in the eyes.
“Pursuing that man in your current condition will only deteriorate things.
Please, Mr. Wayne, you need rest and caution till your surgery…” his discussion
with Tony three days ago still haunted him.
Bruce nodded.
“As I told Tony, I wore the armor only to speak to Commissionaire Gordon. Since
then I haven’t patrolled the city…I just constantly cross data from different
satellites and public cameras, and police reports hoping to find leads to
Joker’s hideout. I had some clues indicating that Joker was in area 33 of the
Chinese docks and I tipped police – however, their yesterday raid was
unsuccessful, finding only Joker cards in one of the warehouses” he pressed his
lips. “He sensed the danger and left.”
“Even what you’re doing instead of patrolling sounds pretty tiresome to me as
well…”
Bruce lolled his head on the side.
“It’s the least I can do, Lucius: he has already killed two people and left a
message hinting that he’ll do more…”
 
Hellooooo, Vick and goooood afternooooon, Goootham! Your belooooved jester is
here…” the crowd fell silent, terror in their faces and the host of the show
clutched more the tablet she was holding. “C’mon, Vick: why sooooo silent?
After all, we have a paaast – hehehehehehe! – no, people, don’t let your mind
go to the nasty thing… Don’t tell me you’re scared of litl’ ol’ meeeeee?” he
asked innocently and affronted at the same time. “I’m not the type who
plaaaants bombs around after all…HAHAHAHAHAHAHAA!” he stopped his laughing fit
abruptly. “Hm…What I was saying? Aaaaah…Vicky, de—ar, you forgot to mention
that Brucey is married with no other thaaaaan…ME! I hope this wasn’t on purpose
be--cause I dare say that myyyyy wife won that title among other reasons due
to…MOI!”
Vicky shook her head in denial.
“I didn’t have any image of your marriage, Mr. Joker…I’m sorry.”
“Ex—cuses…” but he abruptly stopped remembering what she said before the phone
call. “Oi! You’re a great reporter, Vick…So Brucey got a child…I’ve got to hang
up, my dear-ies…Till neeeeext time…Juicy kisses to your cheeks!”
 
The sudden stopping of Vale’s babbling didn’t settle right with Bruce and when
Joker’s voice came from the tablet both Bruce and Lucius looked there.
“No, no, noooooo! Wait! Ah! I for--got to mention that in harmony with the
Christmas spirit I decided to decoraaaate my own tree…Mmm…Studio…So in five
minutes a few beautifuuuul little bombs will fill Gotham’s sky with fireworks
aaaand we will have our own angels…You guys! Vicky’s idiooootic
audience…MUHAHAHAHAHAAH!”
Shrieks filled the studio and one hundred people simultaneously jumped to their
feet running towards the two exits; Vale in vain was trying to calm them:
Joker’s crazy giggles vibrated all over and filled everyone with panic.
Bruce’s eyes hardened, his body stiffened and he grabbed the chair’s armrests
ready to move but Lucius held the younger man’s upper arms determined.
“No, Mr. Wayne” he said with his calm voice but leaving no room for objection
“police will handle it.”
“But…” Lucius’ stern eyes were fixed on his till Bruce’s body loosened.
And then Joker’s laughter became crazier and more amused; he was almost
choking.
“Dooooon’t tell me you bought that? MUHAHAHAHAHAAAAAA! C’MON, GOTHAMITES! I had
you for smarter…” he stopped abruptly considering this “mmm…nah! C’mon, you
duuuuummies! Even I can’t be in two places at once oooor plant boooombs with
telepathy…HAHAHAHEEHEHEEEEHAHAHA!” he coughed. “Oh! That was sooooo funny:
nobody is left in the studiooooo as if they saw Vicky’s face without makeup-up-
up…OHOOHOOOOHEHEHEHEEHEEE! Oi! I have to admit that Gothamites are the fastest
animals on Earth! MUHAHAHAHAHAAAA! See ya soon, honies!”his voice dropped
several octaves menacingly. “With reeeeeeal fireworks…”
Joker’s creepy laughter echoed through the empty studio and Bruce lowered his
eyes breathing calmer for this being a prank but not totally relieved due to
Joker’s threat. Lucius patted him.
“You must focus on your recovering, Mr. Wayne; I know it is hard but you do
helping Gotham even without donning the cowl” he lifted Bruce’s chin with his
finger till their eyes locked. “Your surgery is very difficult, Bruce” he said
solemnly “you need to gather strength to cope with this new battle…”
“I know, Lucius” Bruce replied calm “but I can’t be indifferent when this man
terrorizes our city and threatens to kill more people…I promise that I won’t
use your gift light hearted.”
Lucius nodded.
“I trust you will keep that promise and that you’ll spend this Christmas the
best way you can.”
Bruce grinned.
“I’m the Person of the Year, how can I not enjoy the Christmas?” he snorted
cocking his eyebrows.
Lucius chuckled and stood accompanying Bruce to the lab’s door.
“You know you’re invited to Alfred’s Christmas’ dinner, right?” Bruce asked his
top scientist and Lucius laughed.
“I’ll wait my official invitation…you know how typical our British friend is…”
he winked and Bruce smiled.
 
Tony was in his enormous study at his penthouse in Gotham. He stood between two
holographic columns with running data: one with the details about the items
found in LexLabs and one with the latest developments concerning Bruce’s
surgery.
“Jarvis, give me 4 times zoom of the A4 sector of Bruce’s spine and magnify the
2-4 energy cast…” he ordered his AI pointing his wooden pencil to the hologram.
He shook his head pouting disheartened: when he spoke to Lucius he forgot to
mention the collapsed lung that was revived, the missing spleen and the pierced
stomach. He sighed, licked his lips and swept with the back of his palm the
sweat drops from his forehead.
“It will be difficult but you and Bruce will make it” Pepper said entering the
room with a cup of espresso in her hand, her stilettos clinging on the dark
blue granite.
She offered the cup to Tony and he sipped moaning, closing his eyes from
pleasure.
“I’m scared, Pepper” he looked at her serious “for the first time in my life
I’m scared…”
“Bruce is a fighter” she kissed him in the lips. “He just beat you…” she cocked
her eyebrows to his puzzled eyes. “Jarvis, display TIME magazine website…”
A third hologram just appeared and Tony watched dumbfounded the flashing news.
“And Forbes.com…” she continued amused, Jarvis obeying.
Pepper wanted to lighten Tony’s mood so that he could appraise the situation
more collected.
“TIME and Forbes just announced that Bruce is this years winner of the award”
she crossed her arms and pouted supposedly pitying him. “You were easily
defeated, Mr. Stark…”
Tony shook his head and left it lolled on the side regarding Bruce’s pictures
in both sites.
“That’s fair” he mumbled and pointed at the pictures. “With such pictures!”
“You’re not pissed?” she raised her eyebrows playfully knowing that Tony
wouldn’t be annoyed for his friend’s win.
“I’d be pissed if that asshole Luthor had defeated me…but for Bruce…I’m happier
than when I got the title. The little guy deserved that and much more
especially now that that scumbag took the Pulitzer prize…” he fumed remembering
Clark. “He cheated, Peps! He didn’t deserve the Prize…Ugh! I’d like to say a
word with those who decided that!”
Pepper massaged his tense shoulders.
“Tony, forget him…it’d be better to leave that issue at bay…for Bruce’s sake”
she smiled. “The first Christmas you’ll spend together after eighteen years!
Nothing should shadow that, Tony…You must forget anything else and help Bruce
do the same.”
Tony wrapped her in his arms and kissed her lips.
“You’d help me with that, huh?”
She chuckled.
“Of course! I am already: Alfred called and said to meet him for dinner at the
Comet Mall: he’ll bring Bruce.”
Tony snorted.
“Bruce at the Mall?” he lifted his eyebrows. “I always believed that our Alfred
is a force to be reckoned… You’ll spend Christmas with me?” he massaged her
bottom lip with his.
“Certainly…Everything for the Person of the Year!”
“I’m not the Person of this Year.”
“I wasn’t speaking about you…” she snorted and bit teasingly his nose.
Tony snapped his fingers and the holographs vanished: he’d follow Pepper’s
advice.
 
 
“I demand to see Bruce Wayne!”
“You need an appointment to do that, sir; and I’d like you to lower your
voice.”
Bruce could hear the tempered exchange even behind the closed lift doors. The
stranger’s cackle made his spine shudder and he was sure that Ms. Philips felt
even worse.
“Only the fact that I’m here is a great honor to your employer” the rough voice
was filled with arrogance and malice; a lurking threat.
Bruce get out of the lift and before taking the turn to his office, saw from
the corner the square –shouldered, huge man leaning above the desk and looking
at Ms. Philips who seemed numb, something very unusual for the dynamic woman.
Yet Bruce couldn’t blame her.
“Go tell Wayne that Bruno Mannheim is here to see him!” he straightened his
sturdy posture.
Ms. Philips was staring at him shaken.
“Mr. Wayne isn’t in his office right now” she almost stuttered.
“Then find him!” Mannheim barked.
Bruce needed no more: seeing people bullying others always made him furious. He
willed his wheelchair to his office’s waiting room.
“I don’t like people yelling to my secretary” he said calmly but determined and
the man turned to him intrigued but still with contempt coloring his face.
Ms. Philips inhaled relieved and stood looking at her employer like seeing her
savior.
“Oh!” Mannheim spat sarcastic cocking his eyebrow. “Mr. Wayne I suppose…” it
was the first time Darkseid was seeing Wayne from up close and though he
detested him as he did every human, he was also curious.
Bruce met the man’s stare without letting the intensity of that stare bent him.
“I think it is obvious, Mr…?” he replied raising his eyebrows.     
The dark man glared at him but Bruce’s stare didn’t flatter; despite the man’s
irritation Bruce discerned a hesitation to answer his simple question, as if
the man weighted his options.
“Mr. Mannheim wanted to see you but I told him that he should have made an
appointment” Ms. Philips answered Bruce’s question since the man didn’t seem
willing to do so.
Bruce smiled reassuringly to her and the woman’s face regained its color.
“Thank you, Ms. Philips. That’s right, Mr. Mannheim, I don’t see people without
an appointment.”
Mannheim cocked his eyebrows sarcastic at the mention of ‘people’: it was
obvious that he didn’t consider himself one of the people. He yanked his head
proudly and irritated: he wasn’t used to be denied anything especially from
humans.
“I came from Metropolis just to see you…”
“I’m honored” Bruce said so indifferent that it was obvious that he didn’t mean
it. “But exactly for that you should have made an appointment so that your
journey wouldn’t be wasted.”
Mannheim frowned and his eyes narrowed to two flashing slits: if that insolent
little human insist on denying he had other means to get what he wanted.
“You mean that you won’t see me now?” his asked outraged.
Bruce looked him in the eyes.
“Only if you apologize to Ms. Philips for your behavior: she is just doing her
job and she doesn’t have to be treated like this.”
Ms. Philips looked at her employer astonished and satisfied while Mannheim was
fuming: apologize to a human just to see that worm Wayne? That was a deadly
insult. He pressed his lips imagining destroying the entire building just with
a blink and frying Wayne with his breath. However at the moment getting his
machine was the priority so he put his ire at bay.
“I apologize, Ms…”
“Philips” Bruce informed him though the ID label on her chest read her name;
Mannheim cast him a glare.
“I’m sorry, Ms. Philips, for yelling at you” his voice didn’t reflect the
meaning of his words.
Bruce’s secretary nodded calm but Bruce could discern that she was still shaken
and scared of the man – and that was saying something because Ms. Philips was
quite brave.
“Apology accepted, Mr. Mannheim” the woman replied.
Bruce approached.
“You see how easily things are done with politeness?’’ he was sure that his
visitor didn’t see at all and in fact was cursing him inside.
“Can we talk now?” Mannheim asked impatient and Bruce nodded.
“Of course; you did the journey from Metropolis after all…” he gestured to his
office and placed his palm to the receptor unlocking the door with a hiss.
He could have sent him away or force him to make an appointment and come again
but he was curious about this man and the fact he was coming from Metropolis
enhanced his interest.
So he pushed the door open and made an inviting gesture to Mannheim who
inclined slightly his head in what supposedly was a thank you gesture and
walked insight.
Bruce was ready to follow when Ms. Philips having come out of her desk
approached him flushed.
“You don’t have to see this man, Mr. Wayne” she whispered. “He has
something…dangerous: let me call the security.”
“Calm down, Ms. Philips: I’m curious to hear what he wants” he smiled relaxed.
“And I don’t think that he’ll attack me right here…if he was to do that, he’d
have done it when I asked him to apologize” he winked.
Ms. Philips didn’t seem quite convinced but nodded and closed the door when her
employer got inside, leaving the two men alone.
“Please, do have a seat” Bruce gestured to Mannheim as willed his chair behind
the desk. “May I offer you something?”
Mannheim sat at the leather armchair still stiff as a granite rock. He waved
Bruce’s offer off.
“No. I prefer to get right to the point.”
Bruce shook his head.
“As you wish. Well? As far as I know Wayne Enterprises have no affairs with
you.”
“That was before you gained the control of LexLabs.”
The wheels in Bruce’s mind went on fire but he kept his face expressionless.
“I gather that you had some trading with Lex Luthor?”
Mannheim’s face was carved by a crooked smile; his eyes sparkled.
“I’m glad I have to do with an intelligent man and I hope that we’ll have a
nice cooperation as the one I had with Mr. Luthor.”
Bruce grinned and intertwined his fingers on the desk.
“Mr. Luthor was convicted for many illegal deeds so I don’t think that a
comparison with him isn’t exactly what Wayne Enterprises and I personally are
opting for.”
Mannheim didn’t like that answer and the human’s expression so pursed his lips.
Bruce was surprised by the fact that his visitor didn’t make even an attempt to
hide his true feelings – probably, he didn’t care doing so.
“Anyway, Mr. Wayne, I had made an order to Mr. Luthor and I was to get what I
paid for till you came to the fore.”
Interesting…Bruce thought. He was expecting that the one who was related to the
curious items would eventually claim what was his but not so flagrantly.
“I see…Listen, Mr. Mannheim, your case is not the first we dealt with. LexLabs
had and still have many contracts in effect and development which projects
Wayne Enterprises first re-evaluated and then decided to accomplish” Mannheim
gave a satisfied dry grin. “However” Bruce raised slightly his voice for
emphasis “your name wasn’t in any contract or archive in LexLabs’ logs.”
Mannheim snorted.
“My contract was made directly with Mr. Luthor and he reassured me that it was
in progress the moment you took the control. It was a gentlemen’s deal and I
believe that, if you are a real gentleman, you will fulfill that deal as Mr.
Luthor would have done.”
Bruce shook his head; he felt on edge all the time as if a mortal danger was
threatening him so e couldn’t enjoy what he was waiting for so long.
“That’s the thing, Mr. Mannheim: Lex Luthor is connected with many felonies so
I must be careful because I don’t want in the least to be the kind of gentleman
he is. So as much as I want to be helpful” well, that wasn’t much honest “I
have to follow the legitimate procedure.”
Mannheim frowned clearly dissatisfied.
“Meaning?” he growled.
“Let me explain: LexLabs had the not so good fame of conducting odd experiments
and serving deals with shady groups and people: Lex Luthor’s cooperation with
terroristic groups and gangsters like Falcone was proved without any doubt. So
when Wayne Enterprises gained the control of his Labs, our first priority was
to clear the name of LexLabs. You see, we respected the know-how these labs
have yet we wanted to give them the prestige and status they deserved.”
Mannheim’s eyeballs were ready to pop out of their sockets from boredom that he
didn’t care to hide.
“All in all, Mr. Mannheim, we check very carefully every contract Luthor has
signed, report to the official governmental agency as every other company does
and if everything is legitimate and non dangerous, we proceed to complete and
deliver the order” Mannheim’s frown became deeper and the clouds over his dark
eyes thickened. “You say that your agreement with Mr. Luthor was spoken; in
that case, you have to give us elaborated details about your order so we can
cross that it really was in development and refer to the State’s agency to get
approval and proceed.”
Now Darkseid had had enough: this human wanted to order him to disclose his
secrets in order so to relay everything to the government for which he didn’t
care much but it was more delay. Moreover, how dare he speak to him like that?
He jerked to his feet clenching his fists but restraining himself from
revealing his true form. Besides he had other ways to achieve what he wanted.
Bruce narrowed his eyes but watched calmly his odd guest.
“I demand you to deliver to me everything related to my order! Luthor knows
what it is needed and he’ll guide you” he launched his brain waves to do what
he liked more after dismantling humans: invade their minds and control them
into fulfilling his wishes – maybe he’d make the favor to Bagdana and once
Wayne was his puppet made the human fell for the stupid demon.
Bruce at first felt satisfied because the man’s anger meant that he hit the
right spot and that he was close to the mystery’s solution. But then there was
something awkward as if a wave of cold air crashed on his very mind causing a
mild migraine. For an instance his thoughts seemed to blur as if there was
nothing concrete in there but then his confused eyes caught the arrogant smirk
on Mannheim’s lips and the flash in his eyes; Bruce felt the flame of his
stubbornness burn in his mind and solidify it and clenched his jaw.
“You can’t demand anything from me, Mr. Mannheim!” he retorted and his eyes
locked with his guests so steely that Darkseid was buffed. “Your dubious deal
was with Lex Luthor but he isn’t running the labs anymore” he steered his chair
outside his desk in front of the towering man.
Yet the fact he was confined in a chair and the man emanated the aura of danger
didn’t shaken Bruce at all. The young man could feel the Black Butterfly
vibrating in the pouch on his chest. He yanked his head stabbing the man’s
narrowed eyes.
“Either you follow the legitimate way or you forget your order, Mr. Mannheim.
Things have changed.”
Mannheim’s plump lips shook from wrath not only from the youth’s refusal to
satisfy his order but also from his failure to control the human’s mind – he
never had failed again with any human. He growled and clenched his fists in the
air something that could be taken as a sign for an imminent punch.
However Bruce remained poised, his eyes unmovable looking his guest in the
face; even though a punch from a man of Mannheim’s sturdiness could damage him
gravely. Yet Mannheim didn’t do it.
“You’ll be sorry for that, Wayne!”
Bruce raised an eyebrow.
“I see you like too much threatening people, Mr. Mannheim; so I’m glad that Mr.
Luthor was stopped from delivering your order” Mannheim widened his eyes.
“You shall give me what is mine” he barked leaning to Bruce’s face so much that
his hot breath hit him.
“Of course: if you give me the proper explanations I’d have no objection on
fulfilling the deal.”
Mannheim growled and marched outside the office slapping the door behind him.
Ms. Philips rushed inside pale and out of breath.
“Mr. Wayne, are you alright?”
Well, Mannheim’s departure certainly made the room feel more warm and lighter.
“I am, Ms. Philips, thank you” he brushed the spot where the Black Butterfly
lay.
The woman seemed relieved and fixed her stern posture.
“It is late afternoon, Mr. Wayne…I have to remind you that you should return to
the Manor; your day was rather exhausting without that Mr. Mannheim added as
the icing of the cake.”
Bruce grinned.
“At times, I feel that your real employer is Alfred and not me, Ms. Philips”
the woman blushed. “Thank you for your interest and you may go to your home and
get some rest.”
“Thank you, Mr. Wayne. Have a lovely rest of the day.”
Bruce nodded.
“You too, Ms. Philips.”
She left the room and Bruce pulled out his Cosmos phone calling Lucius.
“I just got the movement I was expecting…I’ll inform you and Tony soon.”
He brushed the option and the phone became a tablet; then he opened his self
made search program and typed Mannheim’s name, grinning at the results: as he
expected, there wasn’t much. He touched the first result, opening a new window,
intending to do the same with the rest.
Yet someone knocked his door and Bruce looked up frowning since he had sent
away Ms. Philips.
“Come in.”
He lolled his head exasperated and closed his eyes seeing Alfred marching
inside.
“I was ready to leave for the Manor, Alfred.”
Alfred raised his eyebrows in complete disbelief.
“Oh! I’m certain of that, sir” he said nonchalant.
Bruce sighed rubbing his forehead.
“You came to take me home?” he chuckled.
“Hardly, Master Bruce. I drove Master Richard to the gym and I’ll take you to
the Mall” he glanced at his Rolex. “Young Master Richard’s training ends in
fifteen minutes; we’ll pick him up and do our shopping for the Haven.”
What Bruce felt neared panic.
“No, Alfred, no! I told Ms. Evans and the Haven’s staff that they have a blank
check to buy whatever they want…I…This will be exhausting.”
Alfred was staring at him with a no-nonsense expression.
“Then you should stop spending so many hours at the Tower and at the cave, sir.
Besides, you need to get a bit outside: get some air, be among people, feel the
spirit of the days.”
Bruce huffed.
“Alfred, you know that all these are not for me…”
“I beg your pardon, sir, but I disagree. You gave an epic battle for eighteen
years not only to stay alive but also to defeat your enemies and regain your
life and now you have made it you should celebrate your first Christmas.”
Bruce pinched the bridge of his nose closing his eyes and Alfred bit his bottom
lip.
“I know that you had imagined your Christmas different, Master Bruce…with the
company of someone else you still hold so dear in your heart.”
Bruce looked at him.
“I’ll celebrate, Alfred and I’ll be very happy because all of you will be
around me; but I don’t see the reason for going to the stores…I’ll be
exhausted, Alfred.”
“Then you might manage to sleep well at last, sir; because this type of fatigue
will get your mind away from other things that disturb your sleep.”
Bruce pressed his lips: he didn’t want Alfred to know about his restless sleep:
flashbacks that had vanished while he was with Clark had returned worse than
before. Nightmares with specks of real events and the bullshit Crane tried to
plant to his mind and flashbacks making him relive his past: last night it was
Talia’s and Bane’s deeds on his body…He woke up exhausted and feeling disgusted
with himself; more ridiculous for letting himself do the things he did with
Clark. He had asked from Leslie stronger sleeping pills but they didn’t help
much.
The butler nodded.
“You changed your sleeping pills because the previous weren’t effective…”
“Leslie told you?! She is my doctor, there’s confidentiality.”
“No, Leslie didn’t tell me anything but I’m keeping an eye on your medication
and the old bottle of sleeping pills didn’t decrease at all while the rest
medication did. The flashbacks returned, did they?”
“It’s not that bad, Alfred.”
Alfred didn’t buy that but he didn’t insist to not upset more his young master.
“So off we go? Young Master Jason and his mother will wait us at the Comet Mall
and we’ll have dinner at the restaurant there: I’ve made a reservation – I hear
great reviews for the food and the wine.”
Bruce shook his head.
“You brought Jason and his mother into the plot?”
“Of course! Ms. Todd works in the Haven so she can help with the picking of the
presents; and the two boys will help with the selection of tree and
decorations.”
Bruce’s heart fell and then began beating fast.
“Alfred, I…I…I told you that I asked from Ms. Evans to do that…”
Alfred grinned.
“And I told her that you changed your mind and you want to choose the presents
yourself” he retorted amused battling to keep his worry hidden.
Bruce gulped.
“Alfred, I don’t believe in Santa Claus…” he said looking at his tablet’s
screen as if that explained that he wouldn’t do anything concerning Christmas.
Alfred walked to him and placed his hands on the youth’s shoulders. Their eyes
locked.
“But the children in the Haven do believe, sir and I know that you don’t want
them to stop believing” he inhaled deeply “as early as you…” an eight year old
child in Falcone’s hands certainly stopped believing in Santa. “You’ll make
them very happy if you choose their presents personally. And perhaps you’ll get
some well deserved joy for yourself…”
Bruce didn’t speak and Alfred clapped his hands once.
“It’s fifteen of December and I won’t tolerate the Manor staying without proper
decoration anymore: we should be happy you’re back after all these years…” his
voice became soft. “We have two children in the Manor, sir; maybe their joy
will cheer you up too.”
“Richard hates me…so he’ll be better without me in the mall and in the
decorations…if he is in the mood for that.”
“One reason more to decorate, Master Bruce: I’m sure it will help Master
Richard.”
“Selina said that she would help with decoration and stuff but she disappeared
five days now and her phone is closed…maybe she’ll spend the holidays with
Steve.”
“Then it is our work and I’m sure Master Tony will be happy to help. Come on,
Master Bruce.”
“Joker made a threatening call to Vale’s TV show because of me. I feel that
wherever I go I endanger people…”
Alfred locked eyes with his boy.
“You can’t make him the favor, sir and get isolated.”
“And reporters will chase us…” he snorted. “I was named the Person of the Year”
he slapped his cheek. “As if I didn’t have enough troubles…”
“They won’t think that you’ll be in such a common place like a mall: and even
if we come across any of them you're perfectly able to cope with them" he
lifted his eyebrows "and Master Tony knows everything about paparazzi as for
Miss Potts...she is rather experienced in handling them being for years Master
Tony's personal assistant."
Bruce widened his eyes amused.
"You brought the entire gang to this?"
Alfred smiled satisfied.
"I did and you won't like to disappoint them, will you?"
Bruce closed his eyes and chuckled.
“You’re an invincible attorney, Alfred…”
“I’m glad to hear that, sir – it comes very handy sometimes…”
 
***** Chapter 47 *****
The TV set on the box became again the center of Joker’s goons who babbled all
together creating a disturbing fuss.
Yet Joker didn’t care; he sat on his butt with crossed legs at the feet of his
macabre Christmas’ tree.  His eyes were blank focused on his bare blade that he
stabbed with one hand between the spread fingers of the other. He was huffing
and puffing deep in thought.
“So Batsy’s biological clock ticked and he decided to become a bat-mom…” he
stabbed the blade between index finger and thumb. “Aaaand with that boyyyyyy…”
he stabbed the blade between index and third finger. “Ugh! I knew he had a soft
spooot--y for him.”
He yanked his head and looked at the decorated skeleton used as Christmas tree.
“I mean if heeeee wanted a kid, he has a legal husband” he pointed to himself
with the blade and then scratched his head with that. “I feel insulted, John
buddyyyy…”
But then he lolled his head on the side and touched the flat side of the blade
on his chin thoughtful.
“Mmm…” he pursed his lips. “It’s my fault…I didn’t show him how con---siderate
I can beeee…Pooooor thing! It’s his first Christmas unchained aaaaand he is
confined to that chair! Apart from his reeeal seeeelf” he pushed away a
supposed tear.
He jolted to his feet flying the blade to stick to the ceiling along with a
dozen others from past times; he frowned.
“I must clean up ‘cause I’m gonna run out of toys…” he mumbled.
 But then he remembered what he was thinking and his face radiated; his
Cheshire smile was broader than ever.
“Jooooker, boy, you muuust remind Brucey that he is always on your mind…Youuu
must make his Christmas beautifuuuul…Mmmm…A present? Whyyyyy not?”
 
Bagdana landed hard on his feet in the center of Darkseid’s throne hall; around
him the slow burning fires in the granite elliptic vessels flared angrily to
the tall ceiling mirroring their master’s emotions. Of course, Bagdana
understood immediately that his ally was infuriated: a twirl of fire and wind
had engulfed him where he was standing and sucked him underground to the New
God’s hall of throne.
He stretched his posture: Bagdana was in his regular form of granite body
dressed in his black leather leggings and the fitting vest that let his rock,
perfect shaped chest almost naked. His yellow cat like eyes fixed on the throne
with the live, twisting hurricanes.
Darkseid was grabbing the edges of the armrests, his face taut with his thick
blue eyebrows knitted together. His jaw was set; he looked absorbed in his
thoughts and gave the impression that he wasn’t aware of his minion’s arrival.
Bagdana was ready to speak but Darkseid’s red eyes stabbed him narrowed to
menacing slits.
The New God stretched his arm to Bagdana.
“What is in Wayne that you don’t say?!” he demanded and his words barely
distinguished from the cracking sound of a thunder that made the enormous,
endless pillars shook.
Bagdana’s square face tensed. He didn’t like this sudden interest for Bruce.
“What have you done?” he replied hardly containing his anger.
Darkseid jolted to his pillar-like legs and flexed his impressive, gigantic
body to intimidate his minion who however wasn’t impressed.
“I should have done” he answered descending the three wide steps that led to
his throne. “I should have burn him alive and leave only his ashes” he hissed
and his face was in front of Bagdana’s sniffing his reactions. “I don’t like
not getting answers to my questions.”
“You met him?” Bagdana asked admittedly shaken; he couldn’t foresee the
consequences of such a meeting. He had hoped that Darkseid would never meet
Bruce before everything was over and the human was his.
Darkseid’s nostrils fumed and he grabbed the demon from the neck lifting him
off the floor. Bagdana felt the god’s powerful fingers choking him yet his eyes
were still, focused on his ally’s face, unfazed by his cruelty.
“Answer me! Why I wasn’t able even to enter his mind?!”
Bagdana cocked an eyebrow.
“According to your own sayings, because he doesn’t have any brain…” he said
calm and a bit sarcastic.
Darkseid growled and released him a faint grin on the ancient demon’s face.
“I get you didn’t achieve what you wanted from this meeting…” he commented
slyly to Darkseid’s turned back. “But why you did that? You despise humans –
you wouldn’t spare a thought to Bruce…”
“I never had a problem penetrating someone’s mind and controlling him –
especially, with humans. I attacked his brain to find out where they keep the
parts of my machine and make him surrender them to me. But I didn’t manage to
see anything; his mind held me out” his shoulders shook from wrath; he wasn’t
used to fail or being denied something.
Bagdana crossed his arms and moved in front of him; Darkseid glanced at him
with narrowed eyes and clenched jaw. He remembered what the demon had asked but
he didn’t want to answer him.
“You freed Luthor because your people were unable to find them in the Labs and
Luthor was the only one who knew their locations. But…” he snorted “he didn’t
manage to find the parts of your machine where he had secured them so you went
to Bruce to make him give what you needed” the demon said shaking his head.
Darkseid didn’t say anything just ground his teeth causing Bagdana’s smirk.
“Why you didn’t consult me?” the demon asked exasperated: Darkseid’s failure
and humiliation was amusing yet he didn’t like that his ally had met Bruce
neither his question about the human. “It’s my role, right?”
Darkseid pursed his lips because he could sense the demon’s satisfaction: ire
boiled inside him and something worse – doubt.
“I don’t see the reason why I have to ask you for my actions!”
Bagdana shook his head.
“Because I know Earth and her inhabitants better than you; better than anyone
and I can spare you from wrong moves and failures like the current.”
Bruce’s brilliant plan was clear for the demon: his people found the intriguing
items, nobody could decipher their use so the clever human decided to take and
secure them in order to force the one who had interest in them to reveal
himself and maybe his intentions. He wanted to cackle maniac for Darkseid’s
misfortune: his arrogance pushed him to Bruce’s trap.
And even worse, the stupid god believed that he could control Bruce’s mind…
Bagdana felt his passion for the human burning his insides: those sparkling,
determined eyes stabbing him as the Blade of Justice stabbed his back... It
shouldn’t however his stabbing aroused him and made his thirst for Bruce
tormenting, demanding.
“It wasn’t a failure! That little bitch doesn’t have a clue about me and my
plans” he smirked to his minion: he could see Bagdana’s uneasiness on him
having met his human. “And I had the opportunity to met with Wayne.”
Bagdana cocked an eyebrow and Darkseid growled.
“What does this human pest have that blocked my attack?” he demanded again.
The ancient demon smirked: so the Nemesis’ wings were still protecting Bruce;
her influence was still strong… He hated Nemesis and he didn’t want her
influence on Bruce: her strong power in him, her high priest’s DNA, was an
obstacle for Bagdana to get his mate. However in this case he was grateful that
something hers blocked Darkseid. Even if that intrigued his ally.
“Maybe there was something in the room that interfered with your brain waves”
he told the New God because he wanted to disperse his suspicions about Bruce’s
significance.
Darkseid wasn’t convinced.
“I could have melt him with just one thought but instead I left his office
without taking what I wanted” Bagdana could discern the god’s self-questioning,
his tormenting puzzlement.
“I’m glad you didn’t!” the demon said stabbing him with his eyes. “He is mine!”
Darkseid smirked.
“Are you so stupid to threaten me, little demon?” he lolled his huge, square
head and regarded Bagdana amused. “I can squash you as easy as I can squash
your human: I don’t need you.”
Bagdana snorted unfazed by the threat.
“What happened with Wayne proves otherwise” Darkseid’s lips flared from wrath
but it was true. “You didn’t take what you wanted and revealed your interest to
him just because you didn’t ask my advice. So I suggest from now on that you
let me handle these matters. For my reward of course.”
Darkseid began ascending the steps to his throne until he settled in; he
regarded his minion rubbing his chin thoughtful.
“After I’ll punish him you can take him” he chuckled. “I won’t kill or damage
him permanently but his insolence and insult will be avenged.”
Bagdana’s fists clenched and he burst towards the throne.
“Nobody is going to touch Bruce, not even you!” he roared and the flames in the
vessels bulged; Darkseid’s eyes shone with curiosity and the demon calmed
himself. “What happened wasn’t his fault… he didn’t know with whom he was
dealing” he added quietly.
Darkseid laughed.
“Oh! Earth demon, you’re so pathetic! So in love with a miserable, mortal
being…”
Bagdana didn’t care about his jeering: the only thing that mattered for him was
getting Bruce and being united with him forever. He looked his ally through
narrowed eyes.
“Just don’t hurt Bruce.”
The bigger entity cackled.
“If my job is done you’ll have your reward” he said touching his fingertips
together in front of his face.
“Master!”
A screeching voice echoed through the hall and Bagdana turned to see Granny
Goodness rushing to the feet of Darkseid’s throne; he felt disgusted.
“Let me punish that human rat! He is of no importance and you don’t need to
indulge that earth demon!” her voice was filled with malice and her white hair
flew around her head but Bagdana just watched her bored. “We can get your
machine once Wayne is eradicated – nobody deserves to live after he insulted
your Majesty!”
Bagdana crossed his arms and snorted even though Darkseid’s smug stare was
fixed on him challenging.
“Would be so easy, my faithful soldier” he said to Granny and her eyes were
salivating from anticipation to do her things to the human. “Really…But no…I’ll
keep him alive to give Bagdana a motive to want my plan to succeed as much as
I. After all, that little human is interesting and if something goes awry” a
wide grin ripped his blue face “our demon friend would have to enjoy with me
his human being tortured to his death…This will be a great punishment for them
both if Bagdana fails me.”
He locked eyes with the demon enjoying his irritation and Bagdana nodded before
disappearing.
Granny looked at her king frowning.
“Your Majesty is going to spare this human’s life just because one of your
servants wants him for his pleasure?”
Darkseid blinked and smirked.
“Maybe I have also plans for Wayne…What took place in his office wasn’t random
and I’ll find out. Perhaps what fought me out of his brain can be useful to my
plans.”
 
Hero was curved on the back seat of Alfred’s Rolls Royce but jolted once the
door to the passenger’s seat opened. They decided to send Bruce’s car back to
the Manor with the auto-pilot. Also, Alfred had already called Matt to cancel
their session with Bruce.
“I brought young Master Hero along” Alfred said as he took the wheelchair to
placed it in the trunk; Bruce was already seated and the kitten had run to him
and now was perched to his chest. “I didn’t want to let him so many hours alone
in the Manor.”
Bruce nodded and petted his friend who purred appreciatively.
Dick came out of the gym just when they arrived and got inside with an
expression that yelled “let’s get over with it!” Well, Bruce thought amused,
they agreed on that…
“Hello, Master Richard” Alfred chirped unfazed by the boy’s grim mood. “How was
your afternoon?”
The boy crossed his arms.
“Great!” he spat. “Till now…”
Alfred chuckled and Bruce looked at him puzzled.
“It is going to get fixed, Master Richard, once we reach the Comet Mall. Have
you ever visited?”
Dick turned his head towards the window watching the traffic and the lights of
the semi-dark city. It was hardly 17:30 but darkness had already settled over
Gotham.
“Yeah…” he said in a quiet voice. “We used to go all together every Christmas
or on special occasions: we were ice skating with Brian in the rink with the
elves and the silver snowflakes… He was pretty good in skating though so
young…”
Bruce closed his eyes, the image of the small boy’s disfigured face piercing
his brain: Brian’s only fault was that he was eight year old, had some
similarities with him and the two first letters of his name were the same with
Bruce’s: “Br”…
He felt Alfred’s worried glances and stared back reassuring but certainly not
happy.
“I’m sure your little brother would have wanted you to move on, Master Richard”
Alfred said touched. “Our loved ones who are gone want us to be happy: our
happiness is theirs too…”
Dick didn’t change his head’s position; just crooked his mouth: words…
The Comet Mall was at the center of the Middletown: a huge round area with the
buildings that housed over 1,000 stores, were built to shape an ellipsis
surrounding a round square. There were ten floors of stores, cinemas, one ice
skating rink, bowling, cafes, restaurants. Every day thousands of people went
there to buy, eat or have fun.
The right and left wing ended up in front of the square forming a gigantic arch
on top of which a sparkling, moving comet was washing with glitter dust the
entrance. At both sides, two Santas danced and played music making the young
children gather around gaping.
Alfred drove the car to the underground parking lot. Then he took the
wheelchair from the trunk and opened the door for Bruce while Dick got out of
the car slapping the door to Alfred’s glare of disapproval for his favorite
Rolls’ abuse. The boy ran away from them to find Jason and his mother who
waited near the Mall’s entrance.
Bruce shrugged to Alfred and chuckled seeing the butler brushing his car and
leaving it behind grudgingly.
“I’m glad I managed to lift your spirits, sir” Alfred said lifting his eyebrows
with dignity.
“I’m sorry, Alfred” he replied but he couldn’t get rid of his amusement.
The British smiled and leaned to put on Bruce’s head a woolen cap he had in his
coat’s inner pocket.
“Do not be sorry, sir” he said wrapping a long fluffy scarf around his master’s
neck “your laughter is precious even when caused by my own misfortune…” he
lolled his head on the side fixing the cap on Bruce’s head “and that will be of
some help with avoiding much attention.”
Bruce cocked an eyebrow.
“Mmm…I don’t think that arriving with the Rolls can be concealed with a scarf
and a hat…”
Alfred just cast him a glance but didn’t comment and Bruce chuckled. But then
as children’s sweet voices echoed closer singing Christmas songs he felt his
heart clench and his eyes watering. He remembered that Christmas songs always
brought a sweet melancholy to him but now it was like a heavy punch.
His mother’s kind, young face came in front of him; his father watching smiling
as Martha were fixing the oversized blue and white hat with the deer’s horns on
his head. She kissed the tip of his nose.
“What do you want Santa bring you, Bruce?” she asked cheerful.
She was squatting so they were on the same height; he must have been around 6
years old. Bruce didn’t remember what he had asked, he only remembered that she
had laughed with her melodic laughter and his father came and took him in his
arms to leave for the city, touching with his index finger playfully his small
nose. He remembered the frozen wind brushing his face as they exited the Manor:
the grounds around were all white and sparkled in the twilight as the night was
coming. He had goggled at the beauty – always goggled at the snow.
This year hadn’t snowed…
“Master Bruce…” Alfred’s voice brought him back in front of the Mall’s wide
entrance.
Hero was staring at him and Bruce grinned because Jason and his mother were
there holding gold and silver balloons that several elves were giving to the
visitors. He greeted them cordially and Jason gave him his golden balloon.
“Take that, dude: I don’t want it; it’s for kids!”
His mother cast him a glare and Jason shrugged.
“Wha’? Everyone knows that Todd isn’t a kid…” he scratched his head above his
hoodie.
Bruce chuckled and took the balloon.
“Thanks, Jason!”
The boy caressed Hero’s head and Bruce looked at Ms. Todd.
“I’m sorry we bother you with this” he cast a sideways glance to Alfred who
looked ahead as if not hearing. “It’d be rather tiresome to imagine what every
kid wants from Santa.”
The woman that was no older than 30 years old smiled.
“Not mention it, Mr. Wayne.”
“Bruce” he reminded her and she nodded.
“Bruce” she smiled shyly. “Ms. Evans used a system this year: the Haven’s staff
gathered the letters the kids wrote to Santa and we put everything in an Excel
file: so now we have in a simple catalog all the presents and the number of
items.”
Bruce’s eyes shone impressed and he glanced at Alfred who winked.
“Very clever, Ms. Todd.”
She lifted her index finger smiling.
“Kate. And all the credit goes to Ms. Evans: it was her idea…now that she had
the necessary amount of money she wanted everything to be perfect.”
“Right! Kate” he mimicked her smile. “I guess Santa Claus must have such a
system to manage with millions of children.”
Dick snorted as they began moving towards the huge arch entrance of the Mall.
“There’s no Santa Claus!”
“No kiddin’!” Jason retorted sarcastic and rolled his eyes.
Bruce grinned and looked at Dick.
“But if he did I think that this would have been the best way to work.”
Bruce was happy to see Ms. Todd that healthy. He had seen pictures of her from
past years when she was a drug addict and alcoholic: her face was gaunt and her
eyes blank and with black bags under. Now her face had regained its natural,
rosy color and her eyes shone happy.
The entrance though spacious was a bit crammed since it was late afternoon and
most parents were out of work and free to bring their kids. Bruce actually was
satisfied because among such crowd it’d be difficult to be distinguished.
The floor was tiled with glittering crème colored tiles and the arch that the
two buildings formed was covered with dark green branches of mistletoe where
silver snowflakes were perched and shone like diamonds under the Mall’s lights.
Bruce appreciated the fact that there wasn’t a stair and he didn’t need to use
a ramp because doing this would force him to leave the coverage of the crowd.
He lifted his eyes to see the logo of the Mall: the flying ball with the tail
of multicolored stars as he remembered from his childhood.
For a moment he froze. The logo had changed. Now the comet was rapidly moving,
ripping the dark sky of a giant screen; but this sky was what Bruce didn’t want
to see. It was the polar sky with waves of neon light that changed from green
to blue to red to purple…aurora borealis.
Bruce’s heart began beating fast; the frozen, clean air of the arctic brushing
again his face as he was flying. Yet he wasn’t cold because the body that was
keeping him airborne was hot and filled with warm love like the eyes – blue
topaz eyes – and the smile every time Clark looked at him to make sure that he
was comfortable.
“I’m going to show you the aurora borealis every night till you get sick of
it!”
He blinked to shake off the memory and felt the still visible marks on his body
ache: his pelvis was again dead as ever but the part of his body that was
healthy was still stiff where Superman had used his strength; however the worst
pain was in his chest… Alfred looked at him frowned.
“Master Bruce, if you’re not feeling well, we can return to the Manor” he said
quietly but Jason and his mother looked at them.
“I’m alright, Alfred” he said and it was a wonder how they heard him under all
the fuss the kids were making and the Christmas songs.
As people walked through the arch they were washed with sparkling snowflakes –
a compensation for the lack of snow this year. Bruce couldn’t help but goggle
at the square in the middle of the towering building. It was exactly as he
remembered it: a giant Christmas tree decorated only with silver- white
glimmering glass balls and a big golden star with countless rays; a star that
emanated light.
Two rows of angels in human height formed a wide corridor leading to the tree.
White, silver and light blue Angels, dressed with long robes held trumpets and
harps that emanated sweet melodies. The rows ended before a real size crèche.
The Little Drummer Boy’s melody caressed Bruce’s ears and his eyes watered.
Alfred looked at him and he wiped his eyes hastily.
“It’s exactly as I remember it…” the youth told.
The British nodded.
“The owner changed, many renovations have taken place through the years but
this stayed the same.”
Bruce pressed his lips and searched for Alfred’s hand to hold.
“I don’t know if I’m happy or sad about that, Alfred…”
The kind man grinned.
“You don’t have to know, Master Bruce…Our memories are most of the times
bittersweet” he whispered and Bruce nodded and scratched Hero under the chin.
The boys had already used the rolling stairs to reach the first floor but Ms.
Todd waited in front of the wide glass elevator. She just realized that the two
men weren’t with them and craned her head to find them among the crowd of
bodies and heads before the twenty feet tree and the flashes as people were
photographed using the tree as background.
Alfred waved to her and hurried along with Bruce.
They visited almost every toy store of the mall; it was a blessing that the
stores there covered every wish of the Haven’s children. Bruce thought that if
he was still a child would have felt like being in a dream; he smiled seeing
Jason and Dick getting lost between the abundance of toys. At last, Dick was
relaxed interacting with Jason and even smiling gaping at the toys and playing
with Hero who rubbed at their feet. Probably, he let himself free believing
that Bruce wasn’t seeing him absorbed in finding the toys the children asked.
They arranged with the Mall’s direction to deliver the gifts in the Haven the
Christmas morning with a man dressed as Santa Claus – some members of the Haven
staff would come to put labels on them with every child’s name.
Bruce cheered up knowing that these would give happiness to so many children
and content as he was he turned to Dick.
“You need some clothes, Dick, and of course, you can choose the things you want
for Christmas” he smiled to Jason “and you too, Jason.”
Dick’s relaxed face tensed and his eyes narrowed to Bruce’s disappointment.
Every child-like carelessness and innocence was vanished.
“I don’t want anything bought with your money!” he spat and Bruce pressed his
lips.
He took his wallet from the inside pocket of his long coat and showed the boy a
handful of bills.
“Nice thing then I withdrew some money from your account” of course he didn’t
but Dick didn’t need to know.
“Granny gave you access to my account?” he asked frowning. “This money is my
father’s savings.”
Jason huffed and rolled his eyes.
“Man…”
Bruce pinched the bridge of his nose.
“I’m your guardian, Dick. Your father would want you to use this money for some
gifts” that account wasn’t from Dick’s father since the man lost it all due to
rot investments Zucco suggested him; it was the fund Bruce had created for the
boy and his granny. He would never tell that to Dick nor that the money he was
holding wasn’t from his bank account.
“Fuck!” he spat. “Com’, Jay…”
Bruce pressed his lips and watched the boys leaving. Hero came to him, climbed
on his lap and licked his chin for Bruce to caress him.
Alfred returned with Ms. Todd carrying some packages with LEGO and Playmobil to
show to Bruce.
“The boys are going to the gadgets section” Ms. Todd said and Bruce smiled not
wanting them to suspect what took place before.
“Master Bruce, we finally found the exact toys we couldn’t find till now: what
do you think?”
He grinned and shrugged.
“I don’t know about new toys, Alfred: you, Ms. Todd and our boys can judge
better. Mmm…Alfred…”
“Yes, sir?”
“I think we should make sure that as many children as possible get presents for
the Christmas.”
Alfred smiled and his eyes filled with pride that made Bruce uncomfortable; so
he looked at Hero to avoid that stare. Ms. Todd was also gaping.
“You’re very considerate, Bruce…But...” she blushed “what I’m saying? Of course
you are.”
 “Thank you, Kate” he said as Ms. Todd ticked her list with the presents to
label that these were covered.
As they moved through the different stores, they came upon a pet shop and Bruce
couldn’t resist. He bought some new toys for Hero and some snacks.
Dick seemed to have forgotten his bad mood and was twittering with Jason about
the new game consoles they bought and Bruce was relieved that his ward finally
managed to feel like a kid should.
Alfred smiled to his master and pointed to a cheerful store that sparkled from
Christmas decorations.
“A Manor is desperate to be decorated” he said playful but stern at the same
time.
 Bruce huffed but grinned as Ms. Todd dragged the boys inside. Alfred stood
beside Bruce and looked at him.
“Things seem to smoothen, Master Bruce…” he smiled.
“I hope so, Alfred.”
“Shall we?” he made an inviting gesture towards the store’s entrance.
Alfred arranged so as everything they bought would be delivered to the Manor:
they couldn’t cram a seven feet tall Christmas tree, decorations, garments and
lamps in the Rolls’ trunk... Perhaps, they could but it’d be a nightmare for
Alfred. And as they came out, Bruce chuckled upon seeing the spectacle.
“What?!” Tony demanded looking himself affronted.
“Tony, it’s Christmas not Halloween! You decided to dress up as Hero?” Bruce
couldn’t stop laughing and Tony hardly managed to keep his pissed expression.
“I don’t have to dress up as hero, I’m already Ironman…”
Bruce took Hero from the armpits and showed him to Tony.
“That Hero!”
The billionaire from Malibu wore a long, white, fur coat with fluffy lapels and
a fitting fur hat.
“I hope that at least is not real fur…” Hero hissed following his Master’s
frowning.
Tony rolled his eyes and let his head loll on the side as the boys began
giggling too.
“Please, little guy, my environmental worries and charities are legendary” he
raised his index. “And I don’t get the jeering…You know that furs are also a
man’s cloth?”
Pepper hid her laughter behind her hand.
“And damn!” Tony exclaimed defeated. “It’s freezing cold! Christmas in Malibu
are celebrated with surfing!”
Jason winked.
“Gotham has sea as well, ya can dive… oh, man, ya’re like those fat rappers!”
Tony snorted and glared at the boy with narrowed eyes.
“I like that little brat…” he winked.
“How did you find us?” Bruce asked. “That place is a labyrinth and with so many
people…”
Tony cocked his eyebrows.
“Now you insult me, little guy” he pointed his thumbs to his chest. “I’m Tony
–fucking-Stark: I’d be ashamed if I couldn’t find my best buddy in a Mall”
Bruce smiled and Tony scratched his fur – artificial fur – hat “I’m starving,
guys, and I’m sure you, too…”
“I’ve made reservations, Master Anthony and we have finished our list so we can
go.”
“You won’t buy your presents, Tony?” Bruce asked his friend who was trotting
beside him.
“Hehe!” he chuckled. “I’ve done that already, buddy; in high secrecy.”
The restaurant was at the tenth storey and gave a spectacular view of the city
from the whole wall windows. Their table was in a corner right before the big,
black tiled fireplace and although the place was warmed with airconditioning
the flames inside added the sense of home.
The room was packed with families and couples that after their shopping decided
to end their outing with a delicious meal. And Alfred was right: everything was
great – food, wine and dessert.
“I wish Selina and Leslie were here” Bruce said.
“Leslie sends her kisses but she had shift at the clinic” Alfred replied.
“However, we can repeat that another time with the whole gang.”
“Are you not going to take off your fur coat?” Pepper asked exasperated and
amused Tony that was sitting opposite her right beside Bruce.
Tony brushed lustful the white fur of his sleeve.
“Are you kiddin’, babe? I had months to enjoy so much attention from people and
being with the Person of the Year demands all my resourcefulness to not get
obliterated.”
Bruce chuckled but Pepper snorted sipping her red wine.
“I think they are activists wondering whether it’s a real fur to throw you
eggs…”
Tony lolled his head on the side and pouted arching his eyebrows smugly.
“I think you’re jealous, Peps: activists can discern immediately when a fur is
artificial. Oh! I think babes admire the beast inside the fur…”
Pepper choked with her wine and Alfred offered her a handkerchief before he
glanced at Tony.
“Definitely, Master Anthony! You’re right: you must remind people of a polar
bear” Tony frowned. “Actually, as we entered the restaurant I noticed a young
lady trying to comfort her toddler who was crying believing that a white bear
wandered the Mall…”
Tony widened his eyes.
“Ouch!”
“Of course, I reassured the child that the bear was actually a human dressed in
a funny looking coat.”
Everyone at the table burst in laughter, even Dick forgot his pissed expression
and laughed carefree which Bruce noticed relieved. Hero who was eating from a
bowl on the floor turned and looked at Tony and when his eyes met with the
human’s they seemed so jeering to Tony that he hastened to take off his coat.
He popped his tongue to the kitten.
“You can be in your fur and be cute and get all the petting, huh?”
The kitten meowed under Bruce’s amused stare and returned to his food. Tony met
Bruce’s eyes and lifted an eyebrow shaking his head.
“I think he pities me…”
Bruce pouted.
“He is a very compassionate kitten…”
Tony returned to his food and looked at the wall screen on the bar’s right, on
the far opposite wall: they were showing the latest Victoria’s Secret Show and
Tony slumped on his elbow resting his chin in his palm.
“I was there” he sighed “but they don’t show me” he lifted his eyes
reminiscently and huffed. “I remember two years ago when Gisele’s turn had come
and we were so busy…talking” he licked his lips looking at Pepper’s sparkling
eyes “that the babe appeared in the Catwalk with my arms on…” he glanced at the
boys “her shoulders, kids!” he rolled his eyes mock outraged “for who you’re
taking me?”
Pepper cleared her throat and Ms. Todd laughed.
“Anyway” Tony inhaled deeply “that happening was the best and we draw all the
cameras…”
“I dare to say, Master Anthony, that if you had worn this coat you’d have drawn
all the cameras this year too…” Alfred chirped cocking an eyebrow.
A new round of laughter made Tony slap his cheeks and roll his eyes. Bruce
leaned to his friend’s ear and Tony became absolutely solemn.
“We had a development concerning our mysterious items from LexLabs” he
whispered.
Tony frowned and sipped from his wine.
“What happened?”
“Someone came to my office demanding his order without wanting to reveal
anything about it.”
“Who was he?”
“A Brunno Mannheim.”
“Mmm…” Tony mumbled because he knew the name and readied to relay what he knew.
But then the show on the screen was stopped abruptly and the sign for the
breaking news covered the screen along with the overwhelming music. The eyes of
everyone in the restaurant fixed on the screen where a shaken newscaster
greeted the viewers.
“We’re sorry to interrupt our current program but there’s an emergency in
Chicago…After the joy for the returning of the stolen jewel named Ring of
Flame, unfortunately this city deals with tragedy.”
Bruce now knew where Selina was… However, he frowned because Chicago was in his
thoughts a lot lately because of the Arrow mystery and didn’t like this
‘coincidence’. Tony on the other hand was already half standing: Avengers
should have been informed.
On the screen, people saw the shaking image of a building ready to collapse;
the crowd in the street was screaming and yelling for help. In the central
floor, almost a quarter of the floor was missing: shreds of glass were all over
the place as well as metal and debris; smoke filled the sky and didn’t let the
rescue teams approach from the helicopter that flew desperate to get access.
The howling of sirens from ambulances and patrol cars was nightmarish. There
were trapped people inside and the few fire fighters who had managed to enter
the space tried to help them: they had already brought some to the paramedics
but another explosion trapped worse the rest and thwarted them from getting
closer.
Bruce’s eyes became wild and Tony was ready to activate his armor and take off.
But then cheers of relief stopped him and Bruce’s eyes sparkled from the same
joy as always.
Superman rushed in the building and using his super speed and strength
demolished the debris; fire fighters surged to take those inside and Superman
was helping getting people down to the paramedics. Bruce watched without
breathing as Superman said something to the fire fighters and they left:
obviously the upper building was ready to collapse on the ‘wounded’ floor.
The Man of Steel turned to fly away as the last fire fighter was safe far from
the building when something caught his attention and returned to the collapsing
site – Bruce’s eyes widened and the restaurant fell silent. Superman returned
to the edge of the gaping building with a small kid perched in his chest;
people in the street clapped but a terrible howling made everyone gasp.
The building collapsed over Superman who held with one hand the ceiling since
with the other hand he was grasping the crying girl who panicked was jolting
her legs and hands to escape.
Bruce’s hands clenched into fists and his heart stopped beating; Tony was
goggling and the entire hall was silent as Superman seemed unable to hold
anymore.
“No…” Bruce whispered.
Suddenly, the collapsing ceiling was steady, in its right position and Superman
had the chance to take the little girl down and return to stabilize the
building, placing debris to fill the void.
The camera zoomed to the one who had saved Superman: Diana’s face was clenched
in determination as she held the ceiling till Superman secured the building.
When the rescue teams came back, Superman flew to reach Wonder Woman. They were
both dust covered and tired but the hero cupped her cheeks and kissed her
passionately – the camera made a very close zoom and the people at the street
wolf whistled.
Bruce gulped and he was happy that everyone in the restaurant was occupied
staring at the screen and clapping as well because he felt all the blood
leaving his face.
Superman turned to the people underneath and gifted them with his dazzling
smile; his blue topaz eyes sparkled from happiness.
“She is my Star!” he said loudly for everyone to hear and Diana wrapped her
arms around his neck and resumed their kiss.
Bruce’s eyes stayed frozen on the screen, expressionless, dead; his heart
beating so slow as if sobbing – it felt like blood drops slithered inside his
chest.
“May I call you Star? Your eyes are like star sapphires” a melodic voice said
shyly but it echoed from so far that it hardly was heard.
Tony, Alfred and Pepper stared at him; Pepper biting her bottom lip. Everyone
knew that Superman used to call Bruce ‘his Star’.
“At least, he was lucky to get away from Wayne!” Dick spat growling and Tony
glared at him as people turned and looked at Bruce.
But the boy simply stood and ran out of the restaurant, Jason following him.
Bruce turned his chair to go after them and Hero climbed from the chair to his
lap; however upon reaching the exit flashes of cameras blinded him on a full
onslaught.
“How do you feel being the Person of the Year?”
“A comment, Bruce!”
“You feel triumphant now?”
Bruce clenched his jaw and held Hero protectively because the kitten got wild
with so many flashes and yells. He stared at the mass of reporters eager to
pass them and find the boys.
“Ladies and gentlemen, please” Pepper’s voice came from behind him calm and
confident as Tony took the handles and led the chair back inside. “Mr. Wayne,
never denied you of any briefing so I believe that you owe him some privacy.
And he, as always will thank you for your discretion and kindness with a
detailed press release” she smiled. “For the time being, I appeal to your
understanding to let him and the customers of this fine restaurant enjoy their
meal.” She cocked her eyebrows. “Thank you” she chuckled as the Mall’s security
showed them out.
“Master Bruce, I think you should better stay here” Alfred had come to Bruce
and sat at the chair beside him. “Let’s continue our dinner and I’m sure the
boys will come back.”
Ms. Todd looked uncomfortable.
“Jay is with him: he will take care of Dick; Jay always took care of me.”
Bruce nodded and smiled to her.
“Jason is a great kid, Kate; you should be proud of him…”
Then he pretended to be interested in his meal but as the time went on and the
boys didn’t return he every now and then stared at the entrance ready to rush
out.
“Calm down, little guy…”
“Joker knows that Dick is my ward…” he whispered to Tony’s ear and closed his
eyes. “I should have followed them right away.”
Tony could feel the agony of his friend; he stood.
“I’ll find them. Brats!” he mumbled furious crossing the door.
 
“What are ya tryin’ to do, man?” Jason asked exasperated lolling his head on
the side.
He had caught up with Dick at the building’s rooftop, the part that was
formatted like storage with carton boxes and broken chairs.
“It’s fuckin’ freezin’ up her’!”
Dick had his arms crossed and looked at the city; he turned to his friend.
“So go away!” he cocked his eyebrows challenging. “You’re buddies with him
after all!” he spat.
Jason widened his eyes angry.
“I’m yar buddy, ya fool! But Wayne didna do anything wrong!”
“To you!” he gritted his teeth. “But to me has done too much! I lost my family
because of him!”
“Man! He didna kill them! Joker did!”
“Because of Wayne! And now my granny disappeared and he keeps my uncle away,
stopping him from seeing me.”
Jason closed his eyes and huffed.
“That Zucco guy is bad news, pal…I think you shoulda avoid him.”
Dick growled and turned his back to Jason, facing the city.
“I didn’t expect anything different…Mind your own business, Todd! If you want
to be friends with him, do it! But don’t come to me playing the buddy” he
snapped his head to him clenching his jaw. “Either you’re with me or him!”
Jason spat on the floor enraged.
“Ya can’t boss me around! I stay with ya because I care, ya dick!”
Dick blinked and shook his head.
“He brought me here to impress me with his money and his” he rolled his eyes
“charities and dragged me to a fancy restaurant to play the family; to brag
that he became the father of a poor orphan!”
Jason pouted.
“Bullshit, pal! He’s too young to be yar father…yar older brotha maybe; and I
don’t think he planned all these…So what are ya tryin’ to do?”
Dick remembered his talk with Tony Zucco: he wasn’t sure he could trust Jay
with this: with everything else yes, but not with this, because Jay didn’t like
Dick’s uncle and he could tell everything to Wayne.
“Nothing! I just wanted to escape; to breathe some clean air without him
polluting everything.”
Jason shook his head not totally convinced.
“Then let’s go inside; they’d be worried.”
Dick cocked his eyebrows.
“I doubt…and since when you care about the others’ worries?”
The younger boy frowned pissed but he didn’t say anything because they both saw
Tony Stark marching towards them. His face was tense from anger but Dick looked
at him challenging.
“He just wants to drive my buddy suffer from worry and expose him as an
irresponsible guardian” Tony said to Jason and then looked at Dick who had
crossed his arms “right?” he snarled.
The boy’s eyes were sparkling unfazed and Tony saw a faint smirk on his young
face.
“Worry?” Dick snorted. “No way! He knows to fool even you, Stark! He didn’t
give a shit about me: he just took my guardianship to advertize how good he are
and to torture me!”
Tony was fuming and Jason was shaking his head: he loved Dick but his pal
couldn’t honestly believe these, or could he?
“Listen, brat” Tony retorted. “My friend has just come out of an injury that
almost took his life but his health is still really sensitive; he has a tough
path of recovery ahead and he needs tranquility and rest: physical and
emotional. And I won’t let a spoiled brat risk all these with his stupid and
unreasonable hatred!”
Dick clenched his jaw.
“Then convince your buddy to quit from my guardianship for me to live with my
uncle, my only relative!”
Tony’s mouth curved in honest puzzlement and detest: how could this boy hate so
much?
“Bruce never quits even for his own good” he replied. “He promised to your
grandmother to be your guardian and protect you and he won’t betray that
promise. So you’d better accept the situation and behave yourself till your
granny is back” he cocked his eyebrows for emphasis. “Cause if anything happens
to Bruce because of you, you’ll have to do with me, comprendo?”
“Tony?”
Jason whistled uncomfortable seeing Bruce approaching and Tony closed his eyes
sighing. He turned to his friend.
“You should have stayed there, Bruce; it’s freezing!”
“I’m fine, Tony; I just followed you…” he looked at the boys. “Are you alright,
boys?”
Dick rushed to him.
“As you see…Maybe you should put a chain around my neck and drag me around with
you” Bruce’s eyes narrowed “or put me in a cage in your basement as Falcone did
to you” Bruce’s breath became pressed. “Because you’re like him!” he snapped
and ran away.
Tony was clenching his fists but squatted seeing his friend’s eyes lowered and
his breath still shallow. He rubbed his upper arms and Bruce looked him in the
eyes like when he was a child and Tony was his savior.
“’He doesn’t mean all these, Bruce…”
His smile was trembling but he nodded. Jason scratching his raven hair
approached hesitantly.
“Sorry, dude” he mumbled. “He is unfair…”
“He feels alone, Jason and…being with the one he feels responsible for that it
is too hard for him…I wish…” but Bruce didn’t continue under Tony’s worried
stare. “Jason, please stay with him: Dick loves and needs you – he must not
lose you, too…”
The boy nodded licking his lips and ran behind his friend.
Tony patted him.
“He’ll realize his mistake and the things you did for him and he’ll be sorry…”
Bruce shook his head and took his friend’s hand.
“I don’t want him to realize nor to be sorry – I want him safe and happy, Tony;
he has already been through enough.” He rubbed his forehead “I understand how
difficult it is for you to hear him talk like that but it’s okay, Tony: I know
he is suffering so his words don’t affect me…”
Tony crooked his mouth.
“Yeah, sure…Let’s go to the others…I want to taste that Black Forest cake” he
licked his lips. “Tell me: how you escaped Alfred to follow me?”
 
When Alfred entered the Manor with Dick nobody was at the salon.
They had decided that Alfred would take Jason and his mother to the apartment
building they lived – well, two blocks before to not gain unwanted attention -;
Dick with them. While Pepper and Tony would bring Bruce and Hero to the Manor.
Alfred’s joy for the evening and Master Bruce’s smiles became a heavy rock in
his guts. As soon as they entered the Manor, Dick said goodnight and went to
his room; Alfred collapsed in an armchair.
Tony came across Dick at the stairs but didn’t say anything and headed to
Alfred who looked at him.
“Is Master Bruce alright?”
Tony smiled and nodded.
“Of course. He was exhausted, went immediately to his bedroom, had a shower and
now he is sleeping like a baby.”
“Are you sure, Master Anthony? That he is at the Master’s bedroom?”
Tony lolled his head on the side.
“I was there; I scanned his vitals. He is sleeping like a baby after I
supervised him taking his pills. Hero with him.”
Alfred huffed.
“I believed that an outing like this would do him some good but I’ve made
things worse…”
Tony frowned and jumped to the sofa right beside the older man. He leaned to
him.
“What are you talking about, Al? He might be exhausted but he loved everything:
you saw how he was smiling. And that shine in his eyes… I tell you, Al: Bruce
had a great time despite the…happenings that would have happened even in the
Manor. I think that overall the evening was…okay. Your idea was excellent!” he
rubbed the butler’s upper arms.
The British grinned.
“Thank you, Master Anthony. Did he say anything for…Superman?”
Tony growled and yanked his head backwards.
“That asshole alien! Ugh!” he slapped his cheeks but then calmed down. “You
know, Bruce: he was speaking about anything else but this…He is tough, our
boy.”
Alfred nodded and pressed his lips.
“After those horrible eighteen years, I want Master Bruce’s first Christmas to
be special and happy but” he sighed “I dread that people won’t leave him
alone.”
Tony licked his lips.
“We won’t let them, Al: I swear. And despite what bad people say for me, when
swearing something it’s better than signing a contract.”
Alfred smiled.
“Thank you, Master Anthony; with your help I know that everything will be
fine.”
 
Bruce’s sleep was deep and restful though filled with Superman kissing Vivian,
star sapphires, a boy’s hand holding his calling him ‘father’, hundreds of kids
opening their gifts with smiles on their faces, icebergs in the polar
landscape, aurora borealis and the glazing pyramid of the Fortress piercing the
sky. Bitterness and joy were rapidly replacing each other but his body felt
relaxed.
As Bruce felt the first light penetrating the heavy curtains of his room he
knew that someone was there and opened his eyes eager.
“Selina?!” he exclaimed and hugged the young woman who was sitting on the
mattress.
She kissed his cheeks and smirked.
“It was about time, sweetie; I know it’s Saturday but I’m starving and I didn’t
want to eat breakfast without you. Mmm…I hope you don’t mind I came through
your window? It’s more romantic!”
The Manor had a top security system but this was Selina.
“How?” he asked but then shook his head. “Never mind…I missed you, Sel – I
thought you had gone for holidays somewhere with Steve.”
She frowned and tapped his nose.
“And lose my boy’s first free Christmas?”
Bruce smirked.
“And then I heard that the stolen Ring of Flame was returned to Chicago’s
police by someone unknown and I figured where you were…”
She pouted.
“Yeah…it was quite obvious, huh?” she said playfully.
“I’m glad to see you in high spirits though last night Chicago had troubles…”
Selina understood: not only troubles…She had seen Superman kissing Wonder Bitch
in public and from Bruce’s eyes, her friend had seen them too. And that made
her joy for what she did greater.
Selina jolted to her feet and show Bruce two huge bags with which Hero was
playing.
“What are these?”
“I promised to help decorate and from what I saw you can’t manage without the
Cat. Great! I’m in the mood to create artistic!” she took Hero and held him
dancing in the room.
Bruce laughed.
“So Chicago was that good?”
She hugged the kitten and jump to the bed.
“Uhu! Let me begin…”
***** Chapter 48 *****
Catwoman was standing on a rooftop overlooking Chicago that spread underneath
glorious with its thousands different sparkling lights and noisy – vibrant
since this was the night’s prime time.
Her arms were crossed over the chest and her legs spread as she stood firmly on
the cement. She was watching the foreign city and her mind was racing: she was
satisfied and angry at the same time – sad and angry so much so that her fists
clenched unconsciously and her emerald eyes sparkled.
Stealing the stolen jewel was easier than she had expected…okay, it was
challenging – otherwise, Selina would be disappointed – but Gotham always
provided with far more entertaining tasks. Her ‘acquaintances’ had informed her
about the big deal: a filthy rich guy from those who pose as charitable and
dignified in social events; he had the habit to hire people to steal for him
legendary jewels he admired in museums and private collections. Something like
Falcone.
His latest pray was the Ring of Flame: a gorgeous ring with the rarest ruby in
the world. Well, Catwoman could confirm that this ruby was indeed unique…She
sighed and her breath formed a small cloud into the chilly sky. The Ring
belonged to the National Museum of Delhi and the legend had it that Price
Gautama, more known as the Buddha,was wearing it on his pinky…
All in all, the filthy rich guy hired some experts to do the job and paid them
handsomely to wear it in his own pinky. She cocked an eyebrow: too bad she was
informed about that…And too bad she was with the good guys because she returned
the Ring to the police…
The guy had a huge penthouse in the Downtown and his security system was tricky
– not to mention, the gorillas that guarded the place: guarded because in his
bedroom was placed the treasure dove with his fabulous collection.
She smirked: after her raid he’d be much poorer because she emptied that
treasury that was – how authentic! – hidden behind a Picasso painting on the
wall opposite the king size bed. Catwoman had watched the penthouse some days
using the wondrous glasses Bruce had given her back in the summer to watch
Luthor’s suit; and of course the macho guy believing that nobody could see
through the special glass of the windows felt free to open the treasury to
fondle his gems as if expecting a genie to pop out.
The Police announced that they had the Ring in their hands and other missing
treasures as well which they would disclose later.
It was easy for her to pass the thugs once she knew their movements and even
easier to empty a ‘high security’ treasury when you watched the owner open it
using his thumb’s fingertip.
All in all, she slipped in and out easy like a cat and she would have liked to
see the man’s face when hearing on the news that the Ring ‘flew’ along with the
other caged birds.
“The guy is really arrogant” she rolled her eyes exasperated. “Who uses thumb’s
fingertip to his treasury?” she pouted. “It’s outdated and stupid…especially,
when you have a special pounder that once applied to the receptor reforms the
fingertip and then you use a special tape…” she looked at Bruce’s intrigued
eyes and frowned.
She shook her index finger.
“No more…These are professional secrets that shouldn’t be disclosed to the
uninitiated” she said mocking the solemn way of cults’ priests.
Bruce chuckled and put his robe waiting the continuation; Hero left the bags
and climbed on the mattress purring.
Selina yanked her head and huffed closing her eyes.
“Ugh! You can’t imagine how tempting was to keep those beautiful, unique
jewels…and how difficult was to give them to the cops!” she looked mock
insulted at Bruce who was grinning. “Not breaking and entering to the Police
Headquarters, please! But place them on the Captain’s office” she closed her
eyes and shook her head. “My hand was trembling and didn’t want to obey!
Thinking the ungentle hands of the cops holding these masterpieces…Pfff!”
Now Bruce was laughing and Selina sighed.
“But…I finally won myself and left my hard earned treasure…”
Bruce snorted.
“Not so ‘hard earned’ by your sayings…” he cocked an eyebrow and Selina crooked
her mouth and rolled her eyes.
“Yeah…” she pouted but then smiled because she had made Bruce laugh.
“Well?” Bruce urged her widening his eyes and Hero did the same making Selina
brush his head.
She heard a soft sound and she knew that someone landed behind her; someone she
loathed… Catwoman clenched her jaw but didn’t turn: in her mind’s eyes she saw
again Bruce’s sad eyes the day she founded him in the greenhouse after the
betrayal; his brave effort to make his fake smile seem real to not sadden her
and his loved ones.
Soft footsteps like feet that barely touched the cement approached her.
“A person whom I didn’t expect to find in Chicago…” that voice was so
unbearable to hear… “Of course, you would come to…” a slight amusement “avenge
your friend’s ‘betrayal’…”
She turned swiftly to face him; her eyes more frozen than the weather, her
teeth bare.
“Don’t flatter yourself, handsome” she snorted. ‘I didn’t come here for you…”
her eyes flashed like thunders.
Superman crossed his arms and walked closer.
“You are telling me that you don’t want to make me suffer for dumping Bruce?”
She smirked and her pearly white teeth flashed.
“Dumping him?” she sniggered. “Bruce dumped you, not the other way around…” she
said slyly.
His face darkened; clearly he didn’t like to be reminded of that. However,
realizing Selina’s satisfied smirk he smiled.
“So you’re not carrying a Kryptonite dagger like Stark to stab me?”
Catwoman shook her head and then stabbed him with something green that wasn’t
Kryptonite but was more acid: her emerald eyes.
“I could…and it’d be a small punishment for you” her eyes were lost for a
moment and then she gritted her teeth. “But you don’t worth it…” she said
curling her lips in disgust.
Superman frowned; his eidetic memory played before his mind’s eyes that night
in Gotham that Selina shot Chill killing him.
“Chill was worthy and I’m not?” he demanded chuckling but he felt insulted
being considered lower than that monster.
Catwoman yanked her head rolling her eyes.
“You wonder? Are you that stupid? You’re worse than Chill, Superman!” she saw
him being shocked from that. “He was torturing Bruce for all his life but
unlike you he didn’t make him open his heart only to butcher that precious
heart!” she narrowed her wild eyes. “You’re more cruel than Chill because he
never gave Bruce happiness only to push him to the abyss afterwards!”
Superman’s face became pale and his eyebrows knitted together.
“How is he?” he asked in a throaty voice.
Catwoman snorted.
“You ask if the wounds you inflicted him after he trusted you with his body
have healed?”
Superman’s eyelids seemed unable to stay still: he remembered that night…the
violent way he had fucked Bruce – mercilessly…But he didn’t believe that Bruce
would have told to anyone, even to someone like Selina who was more than a
sister to him.
She regarded him appalled and pursed her lips.
“No, he didn’t tell me anything – yeah, it’s that easy to figure what you’re
thinking; he’s still protecting you…But I know when Bruce is in pain: I can
read his eyes, his face, even though he knows how to pretend. You should be
ashamed of yourself!” she lolled her head on the side and pointed her hand to
him cocking an eyebrow. “Look whom people consider their protector!” she let
her arm fall and slapped her thigh “I don’t want to waste even my saliva to
spit your face!”
“Superman, how do you allow her to speak to you like this?!” another pair of
feet landed and marched to Superman’s side.
Catwoman regarded her with narrowed still eyes like a cat that lurks the mouse;
her mouth curved in a smirk that made Wonder Woman fume.
“Who is she?” she demanded searching Superman’s expressionless eyes. “She
definitely is a scum: a burglar or…whatever” she turned her malicious eyes to
Catwoman “a crazy bitch judging by her outfit!” she spat.
But she had to swallow her poison.
“Aaargh!” the Amazon didn’t manage to muffle her scream of shock and pain
causing Selina’s radiant, broad grin.
While Diana was demanding answers from Superman about Catwoman’s identity and
he was looking at her, Selina had prepared herself and when Wonder Woman turned
to sneer at her, Catwoman’s whip lashed the Amazon’s face.
Selina with a swift movement twitched her whip ripping the air and hooked it at
the opposite fire escape, launching herself away from the rooftop. She was no
fool: she knew that Superman’s bimbo surpassed her in strength and with the
alien’s help, she might had to put much of a fight to escape…and she was bored
of those two: she already felt dirty only by being in the same space.
The Amazon clenched her jaw, ground her teeth and let the blood flow from her
wounded cheek, Superman shocked held her shoulders.
As she gathered her whip in a circle, Catwoman couldn’t hold back – and why
not? She sniggered loudly knowing that both would hear her. So she rooted her
legs on the opposite rooftop and gazed at the ridiculous sight of those two.
“Catwoman, you Wonder Bitch! When someone asks you who bitch-whipped, this is
the name you’d say!” she shrugged. “After all it suits you, perfectly! So long,
suckers! Oh! Make another porn: it’s a nice rooftop!”
She jolted to the air and with somersaults that even Superman’s eyes hardly
caught she distanced herself. The Amazon’s growl of frustration the last thing
she heard of them.
Bruce placed his hands on her shoulders; his eyes were solemn despite the fact
Selina was chuckling recounting the incident. Of course, she didn’t relay every
part of the dialogue that had to do with Bruce’s suffering.
“What?” she asked. “Why aren’t you laughing?”
“It was dangerous, Sel” she rolled her eyes – of course, it was but that made
it more fun. “I’m almost sure that she is an impostor and we don’t know what
she is capable of. And Superman is under her influence so although he remains
good” now Selina huffed exasperated “we can’t be sure how he will react” he
caressed her cheek. “You shouldn’t have picked up a fight with both of them…”
She smiled.
“You don’t have to worry about your girl, sweetie…The Cat is tougher than both
of them together and…it wasn’t my fault” she pouted like a school kid being
reprimanded and Bruce chuckled “she started first and you know me: I can’t say
no to a challenge, especially from that bitch!”
“At least, we learnt one thing: she isn’t invulnerable and there’s no need
something a la Kryptonite to fight her.”
Selina frowned.
“You still want to save him? After what he did last night…after what he said?!”
she shook her head. “I say: let her do whatever she wants with the Super-
asshole!”
Bruce lowered his eyes.
“We need to be prepared for everything, Sel: we don’t know what is hiding
behind her and the pattern that began forming isn’t good at all…Wait…” he
frowned “how do you know…” he grinned and cocked his eyebrows “you spoke with
Alfred.”
Selina brushed her nose uncomfortable and scratched Hero’s head.
“I suppose…Well, of course, your bedroom’s security is Catwoman proof – we
worked with Tony for that and I wouldn’t leave any holes for cats or ‘mice’…So,
yes…” she sucked her lips “I knocked the door and our good Alfred opened and…he
told me…I’m sorry, Bruce.”
Bruce curved his mouth to pretend indifference but Selina’s eyes that bore into
his left him no doubt that she saw through him.
“Don’t be sad for me, Sel; it’s okay” he smiled. “To tell you the truth, every
time I heard him calling me that way…, I mean ‘Star’…” he even now blushed and
Selina caressed the pink over his cheeks “I felt that it didn’t fit me” he
chuckled. “It was too bright for me, you know?” he patted the back of her
palms.
“Nothing is too bright for you, Bruce” she said serious. “You shadow every
star” he grinned. “You’re the only one I know that deserves to be called
‘star’.”
Bruce chuckled.
“Then you’re the moon: you know, like the evening star that accompanies the
moon? We belong together” he winked. “Don’t tell me Captain America was in
Chicago with you?” he decided to change the subject.
Selina rolled her eyes.
“No, he had some work with the US army – I didn’t follow exactly what – and he
went to Washington. So I had some days off to manage my affairs. But he’ll
return for the holidays.”
Bruce shook his head.
“You won’t tell him that you are the Catwoman?” he asked serious and Selina
licked her lips.
“I’m not ready to do that, sweetie…” she leaned to his ear. “I love my
secrets!” she whispered.
 Hero rubbed his head to her upper arm causing her smile.
“I think that he’ll be impressed learning what you have done: how you helped in
Falcone’s downfall – your bravery” Bruce remarked. “How you’re taking the
stolen jewels and return them to their rightful owners…He’ll be proud of you as
much as I am, Sel…”
She touched her forehead to Bruce’s.
“When I hear your voice, sweetie, I’m so relaxed; the world seems a better
place. Even in those dark years, being with you made me feel…safe” she chuckled
and jolted from the bed Hero following her.
“During my staying at Chicago I made my investigation on that Arrow guy.”
Bruce lolled his head on the side grinning.
“I was sure…” Selina would have searched what troubled her friend even while he
told her there was no need.
Selina clutched her hips with both hands.
“What? You know I like mixing business with pleasure… Well, my friends, the
little rats of Chicago…”
Bruce snorted.
“A cat having friendship with rats?” he cocked his eyebrows.
Selina answered lifting her eyebrows as well.
“See Garfield…Anyway, they knew about the incident you read in Police’s reports
but nothing more: there’s no Arrow vigilante in Chicago.”
Bruce nodded crooking his mouth in a smirk.
“I knew it! He is playing with me, Sel.”
“With Bruce Wayne or Batman? And why?”
Bruce pursed his lips.
“I think with both…As for the reason…” he inhaled. “I don’t know but I
generally don’t believe in coincidences.”
Selina frowned.
“Meaning?”
Bruce pressed his lips and shook his head.
“We’ll see…Now, I need to have a shower and get downstairs for breakfast: you
and Hero are starving, right?”
Selina took Hero from the floor.
“And Alfred can’t wait for us to start decorating the Manor!”
Bruce lolled his head on the side sighing.
“Jason is already here – the little rascal came with his bike; and” she said
teasingly “we will decorate the garden too…” she shook her index finger to him
warningly. “This Manor is happy to have its rightful owner back and we will
help her show it!”
She pranced all way to the door, opened and turned again to her friend; her
ponytail lashing the air.
“Don’t be late!”
 
Superman was flying. But he felt it too difficult to stay airborne and it
shouldn’t be like this: flying was the easiest thing for him. There was a dread
in him, a dread so unfamiliar to the Man of Steel; a dread that he knew it
didn’t have to do with falling from the sky. Besides, where was he to fall?
Finally, what was around him registered: darkness, the sky was dark without any
cloud or star or the moon or…anything. He frowned because he gradually realized
that he wasn’t floating in the sky: there was no air, no smell, no…no…anything.
He used his long distance sight to see underneath hoping to see the familiar
landscape of human cities or country side but as the lack of any sound already
had told him there was nothing…
And this, this darkness that surrounded him wasn’t the sky, wasn’t even the
universe…His dread became pure terror when he realized the truth: he was
floating into nothingness. And the nothingness was gripping his insides like
invisible Kryptonite pinchers…He felt hopeless, desperate, weak, helpless,
lost, in agony…His face was drenched in sweat and all over his body the same
sweat had frozen not only from the coldness of his surroundings but also from
the coldness of his own heart that now beat fast and loud making his breaths
pants…
He knew that he wasn’t to die but what the use of being alive? Floating in an
endless…nothing? He wondered where his loved ones where: his mother, Diana,
Lois, Jimmy… Suddenly, in his mind an old nightmare emerged: he was floating in
the universe holding someone in his arms. Someone dead – someone for whom now
he didn’t care but months ago was his entire life…and his death was enough to
choke him into the nothingness.
Superman for the first time in his life felt panic; he was all alone in the
darkness, in nothingness and he could feel that nothingness slowly crawled
inside him freezing his insides; freezing his feelings, eliminating them. He
was lost; he was the sole existence in non-existence and nothingness was
swallowing him like it probably swallowed all his loved ones, the entire world.
He didn’t know what to do; he didn’t know if it was worthy to do anything or
just let the coldness conquer him and turn him into nothing. The agony hurt him
– the panic, the doubt, the ignorance…
Superman closed his face in his palms and screamed but his voice wasn’t heard
because around him was nothing and his voice was nothing too. His heart was
beating frantically and he could hear it drumming inside his skull; he was
slowly put out like a fire… And the worst was that he didn’t feel any mood to
fight, like he was already dry, drenched: a speck of nothing in the infinity of
nothingness…
“No!!!” he cried inside his palms and he couldn’t understand why he did that
since no sound was created.
And then suddenly something slipped through his fingers; something…warm in all
this cold. He frowned and opened his eyes still keeping his palms over his face
as if he was scared…and he was scared. There was light playing with his fingers
and his eyes which now began regaining their life.
There was light, warmth…there was still hope! He jerked his hands away and
looked around him to find the source. His eyes bulged with awe.
It was a star far away…so far that it seemed small, tiny but its warmth and
light reached him even through such a distance. A beautiful star: he knew that
because its light was warming his cold face and restoring the life inside him;
his heart was beating fast but it was pleasant because it was the heartbeat of
joy, of hope.
He felt that this faraway star had pitied him and reached him to show the path;
and Superman felt trust, faith to that star, his hope for living again…
His fist clenched and ripped the nothingness without him even realizing as if
the star drew his body, his every molecule; he was flying though it was the
most difficult thing in his life. The nothingness felt like sprouting branches
that wrapped around his legs and arms to thwart him from reaching his beautiful
star. But he clenched his jaw and gritted his teeth because now he found it
nothing would keep him apart from that star – even nothingness itself.
The light became even brighter as he approached and the warmth numbed his body
pleasantly – oh! So pleasantly…- his entire existence; hope was reborn inside
him, despair dissolved; a big smile brightened his face.
He was now washed by the light; his body refreshed, recharged. A thought
crossed his mind warning him to not approach more because he’d reach the core
and perhaps that was dangerous. But he didn’t care: he wanted to dive in that
light, in that warmth, in that safety – he was peaceful there, he was safe
there…Nothingness, darkness couldn’t reach him – couldn’t get him.
Superman slowed down because he didn’t want to hurt the star and walked
carefully, shyly to the core…to the source of the light, to his salvation.
He brought his palm over his eyes because the light was blinding but he didn’t
mind even if he felt as if the star didn’t want him to get closer. Superman’s
eyes widened.
There was a human form in the core of all this light, of all this warmth, of
all this hope and safety; he walked closer without breathing to not startle the
human- like star and ran away from him.
It had its back turned to him and its head was slightly bent. Superman’s heart
jerked wanting to leave his chest because he knew that back, that hair, that
perfume so well…
The star heard his footsteps although it must already have known his presence.
It slowly began turning to him and Superman stopped breathing: the light all of
a sudden blinded him but he still could see sapphire blue and two sparkling
emerald stars in the middle …there were so sad but at the same time there was
so much love in there…Two eyes: the most beautiful eyes he ever saw.
“Every Kryptonian had a lucky crystal…Yours was a Kryptonite, the rarest kind:
sapphire blue with emerald light in the core…” Jor El’s solemn voice echoed.
“My lucky Kryptonites…” he whispered awed and the star became a human. A
bruised human whose lips were swollen and bit hard…And Superman was the one who
did that damage and more…But Bruce was there staring at him with dignity
and…love…
Superman took off towards him because he couldn’t wait and walking was too
slow: he needed to apologize. Now that he had found again the light – his star
– he wouldn’t lose it again – he wouldn’t lose him again.
But then Bruce looked him sad and Superman felt shaking and being taken away…
“Kal! Kal!”
He opened his eyes and saw Diana’s worried face over him; her cheek had still
the lash Selina did to her last night.
“A nightmare, my dear…” he muttered breathing heavily wanting to chase away the
fastest what he saw.
Diana frowned.
“I didn’t know you see nightmares too?” she asked cocking an eyebrow.
He chuckled.
“Sometimes…” he caressed carefully the lash covering half her cheek. “Does it
hurt? It doesn’t seem to heal fast.”
She snorted, her raven hair brushing his naked chest.
“I don’t mind pain!” she said smugly. “And I might be a goddess but I heal at
normal speed…” she dragged her finger to the scar the Blade of Justice had left
on his upper arm “but it seems that some times that happens to you too.”
“Yeah…” he mumbled.
Bruce had done him that scar. Bruce…He remembered the dream, Bruce being the
bright, warm star that saved him from the nothingness. The feelings he
experienced when he saw him… He snapped his head to dissolve everything the
dream left behind; how sad and full of love those eyes were…And that Bruce was
the star that showed him the way…
He growled inside. No, Bruce kicked him out; he stabbed him. Superman didn’t
need him: he was happy with Diana, she was his real love.
“Kal, what’s the matter?” she asked touching her rich lips to his chest causing
goosebumps to his spine.
No, the incident with Selina was to be blamed. Superman caressed Diana’s naked
back and she raised her head looking him with sparkling eyes. He cupped her
face with both hands and sucked her lips in a passionate kiss that she followed
with all her strength.
“Nothing, Diana…Nonsense of a sleeping mind. Last night’s incident must have
affected me.”
“You should have not stopped me following her…” she growled. “But I’ll find
her…”
Superman wrapped his arms around her and yanked his head.
“I don’t want to waste even my saliva to spit your face!” Selina’s voice echoed
from last night.
But as Diana was sucking his neck and her fingers aroused his groin Superman
couldn’t find anything that he should be ashamed of.
 
Bruce was watching with the corner of his eyes the boys placing the strings of
tiny white light bulbs to the bushes that were planted symmetrically to the
grounds. They were plants that didn’t drop their leaves during the winter and
would give a spectacular sight the night.
Selina was perched on the pine tree at the right side of the Manor’s front
wrapping light strings to the branches and Bruce was giving her new strings.
They had already decorated the bush-sized firs that were fencing both sides of
the drive line. Hero was running around excited to be outside and sniffed the
bushes.
Tony and Pepper had some urgent meeting but they promised to be back for the
inside decoration. Alfred was walking around giving instructions; of course, he
had taken care to have the youths dress warmly because it was another cold day.
His eyes every now and then travelled to his young master sucking every smile
Bruce sent to Selina and Hero.
Bruce glanced at the sky that was the milky white color that preluded snow but
no snowflake fell…Bruce shrugged: what’s the difference? He might have engaged
in decorations and was smiling yet he only did that for his loved ones; he
didn’t feel anything and as a matter of fact he’d prefer to be in the cave
searching for Mannheim; he couldn’t stop thinking about the strange man and
what his mysterious collaboration with Luthor might mean.
They managed to finish with the decorations around eleven o’ clock which was
just right since Dick’s training for the Saturday was scheduled for the
morning. So Alfred drove the boys to the city; also, he had some groceries to
buy.
Bruce and Selina with Tony who in the mean time had returned to the Manor
settled in the study where Bruce opened his Cosmos tablet searching information
about Mannheim.
Tony stood above him with disapproval all over his face.
“You should be having fun and resting; I’ll tell everything to Alfred when he
comes back.”
Selina who was sitting on the shining desk snorted and Bruce looked sideways at
Tony.
“You won’t do that, Tony…You always protected me in my mischief…”
Tony smiled tenderly and then ruffled his hair.
“They weren’t that many…Mine were more…”
“I have to do some work before Alfred returns with the boys and Ms. Todd. And I
have to solve Mannheim’s mystery…”
Tony sat at the sofa next to him.
“The man is a riddle. I have heard his name some times in business circuits but
I saw him only a couple of times and that for a couple of minutes as if he did
it just to show that he really exists. Nobody knows much about his activities
but he is very rich and he has a grandiose Mansion outside Metropolis.”
Bruce was reading from his screen.
“And now we know that he has deals with Luthor – the shadiest field of LexCorp:
LexLabs. Also, he is desperate to take what he ordered to Luthor” he cocked his
eyebrows. “Our peculiar items must have something to do with that…”
Tony frowned.
“Then he is also related with the raids at the LexLabs?”
Bruce raised his head and looked at him.
“That remains to be seen…” he frowned regarding Tony’s clothes that were his
usual perfect stylistic choices. “Hm…I see you got over your dressing crisis?”
he asked teasingly and Selina chuckled to Tony’s glare. “Or it’s the hunting
time of the year?”
Tony snapped his head at Bruce.
“You’re jealous I stole the show from the Person of the Year last night” he
cocked his eyebrows and Bruce smiled.
“I know you did it to cheer me up, Tony” he patted his friend’s back. “Thank
you…” he said touched but then choked from a laughing fit. “But next time
choose something that won’t scare toddlers…”
Selina giggled and unable to resist to Hero who was rolling on the floor she
kneeled by him and caressed his belly making him twitch his paws and grab her
wrist mock biting her.
The ring of the incoming call startled everyone; the number was unknown but in
a couple of seconds the tablet’s system discovered the ID: Oliver Queen.
Bruce huffed: he had neglected the matter of their meeting; Tony crooked his
mouth.
“Don’t answer it” he could discern Bruce’s upset.
“He is right” Selina agreed; she had experienced how pressing this man was.
Bruce shook his head.
“I must gather the information I want and Queen might be useful” he touched the
choice for answering. “Hello, Mr….” but then he remembered the man’s request
“Oliver, how are you?”
“You saved it, Bruce…” the man said smugly a slight chuckle in his voice. “And
now I hear you, I’m fine.”
The call was in the dialer so Selina hearing that rolled her eyes while Tony
pouted.
“And you, my young friend?”
“Fine, thanks. Um…, Oliver, about the dinner, I’m sorry…”
The man’s sadness was in a strange way discernible even through the distance.
“You’re cancelling?”
“No just” he huffed. “My days were too busy and I…I neglected to make
reservations…So if you can’t wait I understand.”
Now Queen laughed in his smug way but his relief was clear.
“C’mon, Bruce! That was all? Do not worry about that. I came to love Gotham and
my staying here so I can wait; I wouldn’t miss the chance to have a dinner with
you and discuss many interesting things…For a moment, I dreaded that you lost
your interest in my friendship.”
“Not at all, Oliver. However, maybe it’d be better if we have that dinner at
the Manor because I don’t know if I’ll be able to make reservation soon…it’s
the season, you see…”
Queen chuckled.
“Do not worry, my young friend. I bet that Mr. Cobblepot wouldn’t want to lose
the perfect advertizing of having the Person of the Year at his roof garden
restaurant.”
Bruce stared at his friends who widened their eyes in unison.
“Okay, Oliver. I’ll try and I’ll get in touch to inform you.”
“I’ll be anxiously waiting, Bruce.”
Tony shook his head after Bruce ended the call.
“Wow! He is something and that comes from me who knows about pressure…” he took
in Selina’s amused stare and cleared his throat. “Being pressed of course not
pressing…Oh! You don’t know how pressing those super models can get to have by
body…”
Selina grabbed a pillow from the armchair and threw it to him. Bruce smiled but
deep inside he was wondering what this mysterious man really wanted from him.
 
Zucco was waiting for his nephew hidden behind the corner that led to the main
training hall. When he saw the boy coming out of the showers and heading to the
hall, he whistled to catch his attention.
Dick, his backpack on the shoulder, frowned and hesitated to go there but when
his uncle showed himself the boy ran to him happy.
“Why are you hiding, Tony?” the boy asked exasperated after he hugged his
uncle. “We can go to the cafeteria.”
“Better we do not…”
Dick’s eyes widened.
“Wayne made a fuss? He dared to threaten you?”
Zucco smiled.
“No, champ” he shook his head. “I don’t think he’d dare that; I just don’t want
people seeing us talking: Wayne has his spies everywhere. And we don’t want him
to suspect our plan, do we?”
Dick nodded.
“You’re right. Wayne and his lady friend were talking to Jeffrey a few days
ago.”
Zucco pressed his lips.
“To tell you the truth, I didn’t expect anything better from Jeff” he sighed.
“You see, it’d be a shame if our plan was revealed now that things started
rolling.”
“Really?” Dick’s eyes widened excited.
Zucco smiled, his eyes glimmering gleefully.
“He took you to the Mall yesterday, huh? And you said some things to him,
right?”
Dick nodded.
“How do you know?”
“I wouldn’t let my nephew out of my sight, would I? I couldn’t approach much
but I heard some gossip about the incident…that you rushed out of the
restaurant and they looked for you.”
“You think it worked?”
“It was a good start, champ: it certainly did an impression. Keep up the good
work and we’ll get what we want. Don’t tell me he punished you…” he said
frowning holding the boy’s shoulders.
Dick smirked.
“Nah! He wants to play the good, understanding guy…Today we decorated the
garden of the Manor and the great salon…can you believe that granny gave him
access to the account with my father’s savings?”
Zucco smirked.
“I had a hunch…”
“Anyway…Alfred will come to get me back to decorate the Christmas tree” he
rolled his eyes. “I wish I could do this with granny or you!”
Zucco patted his shoulder.
“Patience, Dick: we’ll be together in the end. Rebecca can’t wait to meet you.”
“Rebecca?”
“My wife.”
“You’re married?”
Zucco laughed.
“Of course and when I’ll get your guardianship we’ll be like a family.”
Dick sighed.
“This is the only thought that gives me strength to bear all this…The only good
thing about this year’s Christmas is that at 27th of December the national team
will be here for a charity gala.”
Zucco frowned; obviously, he didn’t know.
“I haven’t heard anything” he said hiding his puzzlement.
“Jeffrey told me: it’ll be officially announced soon but the preparations have
started days ago: isn’t every day that the US national team comes to Gotham!
And we would have the chance to perform side by side!”
The older man didn’t seem to share the boy’s enthusiasm.
“Breizic will come too, huh?” he asked darkened and Dick noticed.
“My father’s ex trainer?”
“Yeah…he works now in the National Federation…”
The boy shrugged.
“Then I guess he’ll come too…Oh! That’ll be great! I want to meet people that
knew my father…and you two will have so many things to talk about…Remember the
good old days!”
Zucco pursed his lips thoughtful.
“Yeah…I suppose…”
Dick looked at his wristwatch and gave a peck to his uncle’s cheek.
“Don’t stop coming to see me, Tony” he pleaded. “Now I have to go: the butler
must be here and I don’t want him come inside to look for me. See ya!”
“I can’t wait, champ!” he smiled to the boy but his smile vanished as soon as
Dick turned the corner.
He didn’t like that Breizic was returning to Gotham even for a gala. And he
didn’t like that sudden gala…Could someone be pulling the strings and if so:
who could suspect his plans?
 
The van of the Mall stopped outside the Manor and the driver with another
employee brought the tree and the boxes with the ornaments inside. Alfred gave
them a generous tip thanking them and after they left, Jason dragged Dick to
unwrap the stuff, Hero at their heels.
“Young Masters, I appreciate your eagerness to help me carry all these things
to the salon” Alfred said poised and gestured to the boys to grab the things
and go.
Tony was sprawled on the high backed armchair and Bruce was reading from Tony’s
StarkStell tablet because he didn’t want Dick to see the Cosmos tablet and
realize that it was Bruce’s present the tablet the boy had. Eventually, Dick
would find out but Bruce wanted to postpone it.
Selina was eating the fresh cooked cinnamon biscuits and Pepper was pacing the
salon speaking through her Bluetooth to some obstinate associate who needed
some effort to understand simple things. She was rolling her eyes glancing
furious to Tony because the associate was Tony’s job that as always she had to
take. Tony winked to her and she showed him her teeth.
Alfred entered the room and clapped once.
“Leave whatever you are doing, ladies and gentlemen: the tree and the ornaments
are here so time to start work.”
Bruce glanced at Tony and he patted his back smiling.
“Master Anthony, can you bring the tree?” Alfred asked showing the boys where
to place the boxes with the ornaments.
Tony stood and saluted the butler military style.
“Aye, aye, captain!”
Selina left the plate on the small table between the sofa and the armchair and
rushed to the boxes where Hero was putting his head to see. She grabbed the
kitten from behind and looked him in the eyes.
“Don’t you know that curiosity killed the cat?”
Bruce chewed a biscuit enjoying the taste that was tied with so many sweet
memories. His parents and he decorating the huge tree – huge, because he was
tiny – and Alfred bringing cinnamon biscuits still warm from the oven and hot
chocolate…
“I made some cinnamon biscuits, sir…”
“No, Alfred; I can’t: they’ll smell the cinnamon and will figure out.”
That memory he didn’t want: it was when he was visiting the Manor from the
tunnels to see his loyal Alfred… still under Falcone’s and Ra’s’ ruin.
And now he was free to be with all the people he loved, free to enjoy his
parents; home. He sensed Alfred’s eyes on him; the Englishman had approached
seeing him absent minded and rubbed his back smiling.
“Are you alright, Master Bruce?” he asked politely.
“Yes, Alfred; thank you. The biscuits are delicious.”
“I know” the butler cocked an eyebrow. “I had to prepare twice the usual
because everyone seems to love them and the first plate was empty in the first
ten minutes. Good thing Ms. Todd helped me because these fine ladies left me on
my own: they know only to eat…”
Bruce chuckled and Alfred gestured for him to join the others.
Ms. Todd entered the room with a second plate filled with steaming biscuits.
“I didn’t do much: it was Alfred’s doing” she commented.
Tony entered the room huffing and puffing dragging a tree of six feet.
“Are you sure there wasn’t any bigger tree to buy?” he said with sarcastic.
“In some things, the bigger the better” Pepper commented.
“Oh, babe! You know about that, huh?” Tony winked and Pepper rolled her eyes.
“Now, let us make that monster stand…”
It was a big tree not only by its size but also its width. Jason stared at it
impressed.
“Fuck!” he exclaimed and his mother cast him a sideways glare.
“Jay…”
Jason leaned to Dick’s ear.
“She used to swear worse but now she berates me…Moms…”
Dick looked at the tree and although he loved it he didn’t want to show:
besides he’d prefer it if he was in his parents’ apartment with Brian – and
Jason now – and they decorated their moderate sized tree. He remembered last
year’s Christmas, his last happy Christmas, when Brian and he were placing the
balls to their tree listening to Christmas songs.
He felt a compassionate hand on his back; he turned and saw Wayne. Bruce looked
at the boy knowing how he felt.
“I’m sorry, Richard…I wish they were here with you…”
Dick didn’t want to make a fuss but pushed Bruce’s hand off of him and went to
Jason to decorate the tree. Bruce lowered his eyes and sighed but Selina
squatted in front of him.
“Smile, sweetie…” her eyes sparkled with love and Bruce couldn’t deny her.
He smiled and she took his hand and dragged him closer to the tree where Hero
was playing soccer with the beautiful, sparkling balls and the way he was
kicking them they rolled to Tony who hang them to the branches.
“Thank you, furry buddy! We are a great team!” he chuckled and petted the
kitten’s head.
Pepper was kneeled on the floor and was taking off the ornaments from the
boxes.
“You didn’t buy a star for the top of the tree?” she asked still looking inside
the last box and raised her head to look at Alfred.
But he wasn’t there and she looked at Bruce instead; he shrugged.
“Alfred was in charge.”
Selina pouted.
“You can’t have a Christmas tree without a top…”
“But we have our top” Alfred exclaimed entering the room holding a box in his
hands so reverently that everyone was puzzled.
He approached and everyone gathered around him, Bruce a little away. It was an
old box that Bruce knew…
Alfred took off the top of the flat box and revealed what was inside but Bruce
already knew.
“You must put the tree’s top” a teenage Tony said chuckling.
Bruce who was at his eight years tilted his head.
“But our tree has already its star…”
Tony smirked wickedly.
“I’m talkin’ about somethin’ unique and fantastic” he stood and gestured with
both index fingers to himself “I made for OUR tree!”
Bruce watched anxiously as Tony revealed a box wrapped in red and gold paper
and tossed it to him making the smaller boy jump to catch. The older boy
quirked cockily his eyebrows.
 “Well?” Tony inquired scratching his nape uncomfortable.
“Wow!”
Martha curious approached her son and Thomas watched amused as Bruce held
cautiously the object and threw carelessly the box. It was a transparent angel
made of material that little Bruce didn’t know and from Tony’s wicked smile
probably not even his dad knew.
The angel was very beautiful: five inches tall, with the features of a boy – a
beautiful boy - he was naked except from a golden, glimmering strap that began
from his shoulder and covered his hip. He held a golden sparkling drum that
startled Bruce when all of a sudden began playing the melody of Bruce’s
favorite Christmas song: the Little Drummer Boy. The angel was transparent,
made of something that resembled crystal but emanated multicolored sparkles and
his beautiful, delicate wings were silver.
Lost inside the salon of his past Bruce didn’t sense Alfred looking at him and
then everyone.
“I thought that everything was lost” he said staring at Alfred avoiding looking
at the angel.
“I managed to save that to safe keep” Alfred replied touched. “I thought that
we would need it…”
Bruce gulped and nodded stretching his hand to touch the angel inside the box
but hesitated.
“Take it, little guy” Tony said wrapping Pepper’s shoulders with his arm. “Make
it fly again…”
Bruce glanced at his friend and took the beautiful angel who sensing his hand
began slowly twitching his sparkling wings and the melody of Little Drummer
filled the hall.
Everyone jolted startled impressed by the sight, Tony cocking his eyebrows
smugly.
“Fuck!” Jason exclaimed awed and his mother cleared her throat disapprovingly.
Even Dick gaped at the flying angel; only Hero began chasing the flying thing
jumping to catch it causing everyone’s laughter.
“I had no doubt it’d work even after all these years” Tony bragged. “It was
made by Tony-fucking-Stark…everything these hands and this brain built lasts
forever.”
Jason cast a smartass sideways glance to his mother.
“He said the F word too…” he remarked snidely.
Bruce was staring at the flying angel under Alfred’s wet eyes and Selina
wrapped her arm around his shoulders kissing his cheek.
“I haven’t seen anything more beautiful, sweetie…”
Tony took his arm from Pepper’s shoulders and walked to Bruce.
“You will place it on the top” he glanced at Hero who was still attacking the
angel without the boys being able to hold him still “and fast before your
kitten swallows it…”
He took Bruce in his arms noticing with a slight frown that his friend had lost
some weight and Selina gave him the angel; Bruce stretched his hand and left
the angel float on the tree’s top; his eyes sparkled and his body felt numb in
Tony’s arms.
When the tree was ready they settled at the sofa and the armchairs staring at
it as the tiny lights flickered with different color each time and eating the
biscuits and drinking hot chocolate that Selina and Pepper prepared.
“See, Alfred? We made the chocolate: we’re not completely useless in cooking”
Selina said smugly.
Tony cocked his eyebrows.
“You two made the chocolate? That explains a lot…” he said crooking his mouth.
“Next time you should do it” Pepper told him “without the machine.”
“Yeah, right…”
Dick staring at the flames in the marble fireplace noticed for the first time
the small painting on it and walked there. He took it and looked: the Waynes
and their kid together and over them bat wings spread – the bat signal without
a doubt. He frowned.
“It is a gift” Bruce said softly having approached unnoticed. “Billy from the
Haven painted it and gave it to me.”
“What’s this bat is doing here?” he asked forgetting his hatred.
Bruce shrugged and smiled.
“I don’t know” he said looking at the painting. “You’d have to ask Billy.”
“Master Bruce…” Alfred’s voice emanated puzzlement as he entered the room; he
had gone to the foyer to take the last bag with the socks for the fireplace yet
he had a strange box. “This box is extra and has your name on…”
Bruce steered his chair there but Selina put her hand on his shoulder to stop
him and then Tony stepped forward.
‘Wait, Bruce. Jarvis, do you scan anything dangerous inside?” he said to his
wristwatch frowning.
“There are no indications of dangerous items in it, sir.”
Bruce moved forward and took the box from the floor. It wasn’t very big: it was
a medium size card box, wrapped hastily with purple shining paper. He ripped
the paper and then the duck tape that held together the folds; there was no
sound in the salon as everyone’s eyes were on Bruce.
Bruce clenched his jaw as he was able to discern the content, while nobody else
couldn’t.
“What is it, Master Bruce?”
“Some garbage” he replied and moved out of the salon to the lift and then his
study with the box on his lap.
Tony, Selina and Alfred followed while Pepper stayed with the others to soften
the mood.
Entering the study they saw Bruce staring at what stood on the waist table in
front of the study’s leather couch. A tree without any leaves on it, only bare
branches but something else captured their eyes. From every branch instead of
balls or bells a small bat dangled – a real dead bat. And on the trunk of the
tree was perched a Joker card.
“I CAN’T stand any other bat flying in Gotham – I knoooow you suffer missing
the skies soooooo Joker will take care of his caged bat…”
                                  
***** Chapter 49 *****
“My littl’ ol’ heart is dry like that treeee with dead bats hanging…Come to
MEEEEE an’ gimme life…oR I’ll come to youuuuu.”
Bruce’s eyes were blank fixed on the macabre tree; his hands clenched into
fists. Tony squatted in front of him and held his shoulders till Bruce locked
eyes with him.
“Don’t let him get to you, littl’ guy…”
Bruce looked around to Selina and Alfred who watched appalled and nodded.
“There are people close to me exposed to his madness” he said calm but serious.
His mind’s eyes went to the cave, in the niche of the rock where he kept his
personal treasures. He had stashed there a vial with the Immortality Water –
for emergencies; perhaps, that was the solution: no operation, no waiting, no
physiotherapies, no agony. Some gulps and he’d be able – as Batman – to fly
around and face his enemies protecting the innocent and his loved ones. Maybe
there was no need for Bruce Wayne to walk again…it’d be the perfect cover: a
disabled Bruce Wayne would be never connected with Batman.
But then he remembered Ra’s Al Ghul: his arrogance, his madness, his lack of
moral values; the abuse of the Immortality Water for himself eroded him… Bruce
didn’t want to become like him: he was a human and didn’t want to use the
elixir to fool his mortality. He must wait.
“Bruce?” Selina asked cautiously having approached.
He looked at her.
“I’m fine, Sel.”
Tony had stood and was ruffling his hair furious.
“He wants to drag you out to face him in this vulnerable state but the lunatic
won’t gonna get it! Let me have a word with those fools in the Mall!” he
grabbed his StarkStell. “Jarvis get me the Comet Mall’s direction.”
Yet Bruce raised his palm stopping him.
“No, Tony: this matter shouldn’t be discussed with strangers” Tony frowned and
open his mouth to retort. “Do you really want to tell people that Joker sent me
a tree with dead bats?”
Tony threw his phone on the sofa and yanked his head huffing.
“Damn, your secrecy!”
Bruce lolled his head on the side and pressed his lips.
“It’s my decision, Tony. We’ll contact the Mall but without disclosing any
details or the seriousness of the issue – besides, we know Joker: I doubt the
Mall noticed anything.”
“Fine” Tony said clutching his waist swallowing his irritation; he looked at
Bruce serious. “Don’t you even think to go out there for this lunatic’s whims!
I’m here, Bruce: I’ll take care of your city till you’re in perfect shape
again.”
Bruce nodded but his eyes were expressionless: he didn’t feel nice burdening
others with his responsibilities. Suddenly, his back began aching, as his
disability became more torturing to bear…
 
Steve opened his eyes puzzled. The bedroom was in complete darkness save for
the flickering lights that came in from the grilles of the balcony door: he saw
at the clock on his nightstand that it was almost seven in the morning. He had
arrived at Gotham hours ago: as soon as his work in Washington ended, he could
wait to see Selina again. They had dinner together at her apartment and then
they start from the leaving room showing each other how much they missed each
other.
Now he was sleeping holding the young woman on his body. She wore her white
nightdress – the one with the Duccess, his favorite – and he was naked above
the waist. Their night was terrific and Selina was so hot and enthusiastic on
his return that he was glad he had super stamina… But now the young woman was
writhing in his arms and her face was clenched in fear and despair: it was dark
however he could feel liquid falling from her cheeks to his chest - tears.
He frowned and caressed her hair that was falling free on her back. He leaned
and kissed her forehead.
“It’s alright, Selina; you’re safe…” he tried to console her.
And as if she had heard him, Selina opened her eyes still confused; Steve took
softly her chin and kissed her on the lips while with the other hand he
switched on the light to the lower intensity to not hurt her eyes.
“I’m here, sweetheart…”
She blinked a couple of times to chase away what she had experienced in what
now knew that it was just a nightmare; however it was so alive that her guts
were still painfully clenched. She yawned and stretched her body wanting to
reassure Steve who was looking at her worried. She touched her index to his
lips.
“Don’t look me, like that, handsome: you need to make breakfast” she winked “I
like to be spoiled by super heroes.”
He crooked his mouth and rubbed her back.
“I will after you tell me what you saw…” Selina’s eyes got shadowed; she didn’t
want to remember. “You’ll feel better, darling” he said with the voice that
Selina couldn’t resist and sucked her earlobe causing her goose bumps.
“It was just a nightmare, Steve; don’t you prefer to do some quality stuff?”
she asked sensually caressing his bulging deltoids.
Steve chuckled and looked at her.
“Always but I want you to be okay…you can speak to me about what you saw:
you’ll feel better” he placed his palm over her heart. “Your heartbeat is still
racing…”
She sighed and sat on the mattress cross legged.
“It’s an old nightmare I had often when I was younger. I thought that I
wouldn’t see that again but…” she chuckled. “I was wrong.”
Steve rose and placed his arm around her shoulders; his eyes were full of
honest interest and concern so Selina yanked her head sighing.
“When Bruce and I were very young and Falcone held him captive I often saw the
same nightmare” she cocked her eyebrows “which was also my deepest fear. I was
going to Dolcetto” she rubbed her temple and raised her eyes to him. “I went
there every night to see Bruce; they had him working hard and every midnight
after the store was closed he was bringing the garbage outside; it was a big
garbage bin at the back of the store and we took cover behind it; I was
bringing him a sandwich to eat because Falcone gave him just a piece of bread –
sometimes moldy…”
Steve pressed his lips.
“Sometimes I had the same nightmare again and again: going there and waiting
but Bruce doesn’t come out…This happened many times in real life too: Falcone
sometimes was so furious that punished Bruce hard and then locked him in his
cell…The night I saw Bruce and realized that the Wayne boy was alive I saw
Falcone whipping him hard…” she gulped choking her emotions. “The bastard did
that a lot” Steve closed his eyes. “Many nights even in the dim light the far
street lamp cast, I could feel the lashes on Bruce’s back and my hands were
drenched in blood. In the dream, I go there and wait and he doesn’t come but I
know that Falcone is torturing him…but the next night he doesn’t come, nor the
next…And then the other night, I go there with terror clenching my entire body;
I wait and I see some thugs coming out carrying his skinny body; his eyes are
closed and his face calm without any pain – dead pale but filled with bruises
and dry blood; his dead arm hanging loose, leaving behind a dark red
trail…Sometimes I hear them snigger that he died while Falcone ‘played’ with
him and other times they say that he killed himself in his cell ripping his
wrist veins by grazing his skin on the rocks…”
She choked a sob because she relived the scene; she rubbed her forehead and
looked Steve determined but her eyes were red with hot liquid gathered at the
corners: liquid that she fought to stop from springing but failed – Bruce
always did that to her...
“Bruce is dead and they toss his body on the trunk to drop him to the
sewers…and I can’t do anything: I’m frozen behind the bin watching unable to
follow them to hug my friend, speak to him – console him for a last time…” now
the ‘faucet’ of her eyes opened flooding her cheeks and Selina hid her face in
her palms.
Steve lolled his head on the side his eyes watering too. He hugged Selina and
rubbed soothing circles on her back feeling her hot tears on his bare shoulder
and her lithe body shaking from silent sobs that some time broke her
stubbornness into the silence of the room.
“Calm down, Sel…Everything is alright…” he caressed her hair “Bruce is safe and
sound and ready to celebrate Christmas with all his loved ones…You’ll see him
soon…Ssssss, babe…Look at me” he cupped her face with both hands and caressed
her drenched cheeks.
“I always dreaded that Falcone will eventually overdo it and kill Bruce while…”
she couldn’t utter it and swallowed a sob growling frustrated for crying “or
that Bruce couldn’t take it anymore and would kill himself to escape from the
pain and be again with his parents…”
Steve kissed her cheek.
“But he didn’t: you two are the bravest people I ever met. He endured because
he knew that every night you’ll be there for him; that he will see you; will
talk with you – and that gave him strength to live another day.”
She shook her head.
“All of you give me more credit than I deserve: I didn’t do so much…Bruce…”
“Your love helped him, Sel…Your bond is something amazing, unique: what you two
have is rare even between real brothers. I honestly admire what you two
achieved…” he pushed softly a rebellious lock behind Selina’s ear. “And now
Bruce is among his loved ones safe and secure, warm and happy.”
Selina berated herself for having cried in front of Steve though she knew that
he would never think badly of her. On the other side, she felt some relief
saying out loud her worst nightmare.
“I’m still afraid for Bruce…” she said in a throaty voice “that someone would
hurt him even now.”
Steve held her shoulders and locked eyes with her.
“We won’t let anyone touch Bruce ever again: You first of all” he shook his
head smiling “I wouldn’t want to be in the place of the one who would dare to
threaten Bruce… And then Tony has always his eyes open and makes everything to
keep him secure. And what about me? You don’t count me?” Selina smiled. “And”
Steve licked his lips “Thor…”
Selina forgot her upset and narrowed her eyes.
“Thor what?” she asked in her sly tone.
Steve laughed lighthearted seeing her better.
“He is much interested in Bruce…If you know what I mean…”
Selina lolled her head.
“Is he in love with Bruce?” she asked crossing her arms.
Steve shrugged.
“The Asgardian is an introvert and we don’t see him much anyways but…” he
arched his eyebrows.
Selina caressed his chest with her index finger.
“Bruce still loves Superman…I’d want Bruce find happiness with someone else but
your blond friend should not have many hopes.”
Steve pressed his lips.
“Thor respects and honors Bruce’s friendship: I think that he is satisfied with
that…Not that he’d have an objection for something more…” he winked.
Selina kissed him on the lips.
“What about my breakfast, Captain?”
He chuckled.
“Are you so hungry or it can wait?”
Selina frowned.
“It depends on what you have in mind…”
He wrapped his arms around her and placed her on her back; he nibbled her
bottom lip straddling her carefully. He fondled her body under the nightdress.
“Have I told you how much I love this nightdress?”
She cocked an eyebrow.
“More than what is underneath?” she asked slyly.
“You really have a doubt?” he answered and pushed the nightdress softly to
reveal her body.
Selina purred like a cat and fondled Steve’s muscle bound back wishing for
Bruce to find the same happiness as she…
 
The white car slithered to the back side of the children’s hospital: not many
cars were entering the space from there, mainly the hospital’s staff and the
suppliers. Alfred respected his young master’s worries so he went to the Wayne
Tower with a cab and there they took one of the company’s cars for their
outing; his young master didn’t want to risk Joker following them.
Alfred cast a discreet glance to the passenger seat to see Bruce despite their
precautions, still looking around nervously scanning the space: agony still
clenched his insides – not for himself but the innocents around. Joker’s note
was branded in his mind, haunting his thoughts.
 “Sir?”
Bruce scolded himself because he didn’t want to transmit his nervousness to the
others. It was his decision to proceed with that, to not concede to Joker’s
shadow, and do the things he wanted. Besides, everything was ready: the gifts
in the car’s trunk, the hospital’s direction had been informed and the children
were waiting. He opened the door and slipped in his wheelchair that Alfred had
brought.
Well, facing all those suffering kids was the hardest part for him and also he
didn’t want anyone to learn about this – he didn’t want anyone say that he was
good or all this stuff… He just wanted to give a little joy to these kids…
He gazed at the hospital’s building and gulped.
“Let’s go, Alfred” he looked at the Englishman and steered his wheelchair to
the hospital’s ramp.
Though the car was discreet not revealing its owner, some members of the staff
were already there to help them with the presents carrying them inside. And
they, men and women, were all smiling, clearly happy that someone had thought
the kids.
Alfred opened the trunk and distributed the packs to the men and women that
came to help and then walked with his young master inside. Bruce had asked
Alfred whether it’d be rude to not be there himself because the idea of people
praising him for that made him cringe. However his loyal butler encouraged him
to do what he wanted and be with the children without thinking what the others
might say.
The director of the hospital caught with them just the moment they were ready
to enter the lift. They shook hands with the beaming Dr. Brownfeld.
“I’d like to thank you from up close, Mr. Wayne; your donation and the presents
for the children are going to give much happiness…”
“I hope so, Dr. Brownfeld but honestly you don’t have to thank me…I didn’t do
anything.”
Alfred smiled.
“You are going to give yourself the presents to the kids?” the doctor asked
gesturing to the lift.
Bruce grinned and looked at him.
“No” he took in Alfred’s baffled expression; his butler also didn’t know. “I
think that there’s a more suitable person than me…” he turned his head towards
the entrance and the doctor laughed.
Santa Claus himself was approaching them with his empty bag over his shoulder
waiting to be filled with the toys Alfred and Bruce brought.
“Good morning!” Santa Claus greeted. “I’m ready, Mr. Wayne!”
Bruce stretched his hand for a handshake and smiled.
“Good morning, Santa! I’m glad you’re ready because your little friends are
waiting for you. Hm…Dr. Brownfeld, I hope it’s alright?”
The doctor shook his head smiling.
“I guess, the part “I don’t want anyone to know” is very strict, right, Mr.
Wayne? There is no problem: it is entirely up to you! We are just grateful!”
However, Alfred wasn’t so condescending and Bruce could see on his face the
man’s dwelling disapproval and pride.
Bruce felt uncomfortable to distribute the presents himself but he couldn’t
resist the chance to watch from afar the children’s happiness as the actor he
hired gave them presents so he and Alfred stood to the corridor leading to the
hospital’s events’ hall. This cheerful ruckus was the only way to divert his
mind from thinking painful and agonizing things.
Alfred who was standing next to him cleared his throat and Bruce lifted his
eyes to him.
“You omitted disclosing that small detail to me, sir: that was your sly plan in
order to not have me voicing my disagreement…” his voice was stern but Bruce
could see the shine in his eyes.
He shrugged.
“What’s the meaning in giving the present myself, Alfred? The kids are happier
having Santa amongst them. Besides it is the result that counts and you were
the one who told me to do what I feel without thinking the others’ opinion.”
Alfred shook his head but smiled.
“Master Bruce, you are still the same mischievous little rascal…”
Bruce chuckled.
“Thank you, Alfred” he answered and his gaze wandered to the hall where Nick,
the Santa Claus, was in the middle of a child flood; a ‘flood’ that was
laughing happily. “Besides, the least I appear the safest with Joker on the
loose.”
Alfred knew that his young master had in his mind the image of the tree Joker
had sent him: a grotesque caricature of a Christmas tree with dead bats hanging
from the branches and a note declaring the madman’s obsession with the youth
and his knowledge of his secret identity.
Master Anthony even after their discussion with Master Bruce was still furious
with the Mall security and insisted on suing them so Master Bruce had to point
out once again that he didn’t want anyone know about the tree and the bats
because even if they hid Joker’s note someone could make the connection.
Master Anthony once again gulped his impulsive nature and did the thing that
they agreed with Bruce: he made inquiries with the Mall’s direction and asked
for the names of the employees who made the delivery. Both driver and worker,
as well as the people in the packing service, were working for years for the
Mall and had no criminal record or shady activities – Bruce had made his own
investigation.
So the most probable scenario was that Joker heard about Bruce’s excursion to
the Mall and managed to slip his little box among the others; of course a
homemade wrap should have alerted the stuff yet the placement must have
happened at some stage that nobody took notice.
Anyway, Master Bruce didn’t want to let the incident be widely known.
Alfred feared that Joker’s movement would make his young master rush out,
donning the cape and cowl every night; but thankfully, for the time being
Master Bruce restraint himself even though Alfred and his friends could breathe
the youth’s despair to do something – Alfred guessed that it was a good will
gesture to his loved ones. But Master Bruce at times was drowning believing
that he wasn’t doing what he should – Alfred could tell that his impairment at
those times hit Bruce the hardest to the point of weak, slow burning anger.
And this anger could harm the youth’s health…Alfred was worried but chose not
to burden more his Master with his fears because it’d harm him more.
And anyway the important thing was that Master Bruce didn’t drawback from his
intentions for these holidays: the youth was determined to help as many people
as possible to have a merry Christmas even though throughout the year he had
done already many things to help the less fortunate people of Gotham.
Bruce’s parents would be proud of their boy… Alfred knew that being with people
in pain pained Bruce more than his own wounds but when these people smiled
Master Bruce’s pains went away. All kinds of pain: physical and emotional…The
Englishman sensed that his young Master at times travelled away to the
Christmas Mr. Kent promised him.
 
Jason came out of the room puzzled, pissed and cursing; Dick was waiting for
him outside leaning his back on the wall. Normally they should be at school but
Dick followed his friend to the hospital.
“I thought you’d stay more?” Dick asked the younger boy.
Jason scratched his messy hair pushing the hood off his head.
“That was the goal but that rat isn’t her’…Sonov…”
Dick frowned.
“You said he broke his leg; how can he not be in his room?” he asked a bit
indifferent: he was there not because he had any interest to visit Jay’s friend
whom he didn’t know but it suit his purpose.
Jason arched his thick eyebrows.
“He broke his leg but that wouldna stop ‘im from walkin’ around and the nurse
in the room told me that every kid in the hospital went to Santa for their
presents .”
Dick rolled his eyes and Jason shrugged.
“Care to go ther’ an’ have fun with those idiots? We’ll find Boots there: he
plays the tough guy but for a toy he’s willin’ to jump to the air…” he
sniggered.
Dick pouted: honestly, he had no mood to see all those brats flooding a fake
Santa Claus nor he had any interest to find Boots; on the other hand, he didn’t
want to return to the school so soon – he wanted his absence to be noticed and
make an impression.
“Boots? What kind of a name is that?” he asked as they strolled through the
hospital’s corridors.
“Oh, man!” the younger boy rolled his eyes. “It’s not his real name: only ‘is
parents call him by ‘is Christian name. It’s ‘is nick but…” he turned frowned
to the older boy. “How come an’ ya came with me? Since when ya skive off?”
Dick pursed his lips and arched his eyebrows smugly.
“From now!”
Jason crooked his mouth.
“Ha! Ha!” he mock cackled . “Very funny…but I’m the punk, dude: yar the good
boy.”
Dick rolled his eyes.
“Yeah, sure…”
Jason narrowed his eyes.
“Yar doing it to make Wayne’s life difficult…that’s it!”
The older boy stopped at his trunks and turned to his friend.
“So what?” he spat. “Are you going to defend your new buddy?” he asked
challenging and Jason clenched his jaw to retort but then he saw from the
corner Bruce and Alfred.
“Then ya need to hide ‘cause yar ‘daddy’ is here” he chuckled with Dick’s
dumbstruck expression. “It seems that fate wants ya together!” he cackled but
the older boy pulled him from the lapels to the wall to not be seen.
 
“How stands your list, Master Bruce?” Alfred asked amused.
Bruce took his eyes from the kids and looked at his butler.
“My list?”
Alfred grinned.
“Of things to do for making Gotham’s people happy.”
Bruce ruffled his hair.
“I…” he pursed his lips. “Do you thing that Wayne Enterprises can’t afford the
amount of money? I am overdoing it?”
Alfred chuckled.
“You know better than me the finances of your company…but it is my impression
that you spend money from your personal account.”
Bruce nodded.
“Which is my mother’s money and she would like to be spent like this.”
Alfred grinned.
“As for your other inquiry, that is if you’re overdoing it: that has to do with
how you feel, Master Bruce” he smiled. “You are free, Master Bruce, to finally
do what you feel, what you want. And if I’m allowed to say it, I’m proud and
happy that this” he gestured to the joyful commotion “is what you want and what
makes you happy.”
Bruce lowered his eyes and stared at his hands.
“And it would have made my parents happy too…” he mumbled and Alfred pressed
his lips.
“And very proud, sir…” he knew that it wasn’t too butler-ish but he patted his
master’s back.
While Bruce was smiling to Alfred someone detached from the kids and
approached. Both men looked at a girl sat in a wheelchair: she was hardly
eleven years old with blond short hair and light blue eyes. She looked at Bruce
shyly.
“I’m Lucy” she said and Bruce smiled.
“Hi, Lucy; I’m…”
“Bruce Wayne” she cut him. “I saw you on TV – I spend many hours with TV all
these months staying on bed.”
Bruce nodded.
“I know how that is, Lucy…”
The girl smiled and nodded, she was hugging a doll from the gifts that Santa
had given them.
“My mother says that some people hurt you so much that you almost died; and
that the wounds they made you…confined you to a wheelchair like me” she said
shyly, her pale cheeks becoming pink.
Bruce pressed his lips and nodded; the girl stretched her hand to Bruce and he
took it.
“What happened to you, Lucy?” he asked quietly.
“I was crossing the street and a car hit me: it didn’t hurt much because
everything darkened at once…Mom told me when I woke up that I was sleeping for
a month…the driver was drunk and didn’t stop on the red light.”
Bruce closed his eyes.
“You are a very brave girl, Lucy…Your parents must be proud.”
Lucy touched his cheek; her eyes were filled with compassion.
“They tortured you, right? I heard that they were hurting you when you were a
kid…for years…and now other bad people hurt you more…you must have suffered so
much…”
Alfred’s eyes watered: the girl’s voice had something that made those simple
words have a major impact in him; maybe because that voice brought again in his
mind’s eyes little Bruce mopping the floor in Dolcetto murmuring his mother’s
lullaby…he still felt the boy’s trembling in his hug…the poor boy’s despair and
terror and the butler’s weakness to take him away and save him.
Bruce smiled to the girl.
“They did…but thanks to my friends I’m here now – I was saved.”
The girl looked at him conspiratorial.
“You bought the presents, right?”
Bruce looked up at Alfred and then back at the girl pouting.
“Let’s say that I reminded Santa that there’s a children hospital in Gotham; he
has so many things to do that sometimes he needs some reminding. A friend told
me that when I was almost at your age.”
The girl laughed and Alfred remembered Master Anthony reassuring a very young
Master Bruce that Santa Claus was real but he had some associates around the
world to help him with his job.
 
Dick was watching the scene with his mouth agape; the way the little girl was
interacting with Wayne, the honest love in the man’s eyes.
“I told ya, man: he isn’t as bad as ya believe…”
The older boy shook his head.
“Is this why you brought me here? To see him in charity action?” he demanded
pissed.
Jason yanked his head exasperated and clenched his friend’s lapels.
“Get a grip, pal! Yar getting crazy!” he lowered his voice. “I didna know
anythin’ an’ I don’t remember invitin’ ya her’ – it was yar decision!”
Dick shook his head and sighed.
“Okay…but he’s acting, Jay…He doesn’t mean anything; he is doing everything to
promote himself so that everyone says what kind man he is.”
Jason leaned on the wall crossing his arms.
“I don’t see any cameras around” he said smugly cocking an eyebrow. “An’ I
haven’t heard anythin’ about that in TV…”
Dick gulped and wanted to leave but he couldn’t take his eyes from Wayne and
the girl.
 
 
“Doctors say that it’d be too difficult to walk again…and” she licked her lips
lowering her eyes. “I know that I won’t walk ever again but they just try to
encourage me…”
Bruce inhaled carefully to not let the girl know his sadness. But her little
eyes that shone like gems as she looked back at him made his heart melt.
“I know that I won’t dance ever again…”
“You dance, Miss Lucy?” Alfred asked warmly.
She smiled to him.
“I was leaving the ballet school to my father’s car on the other side of the
road when the car hit me…” she grinned and hugged tighter her new doll. “I know
that I won’t dance but I don’t tell mom and dad because I want them to believe
that I believe them.”
“You are a very brave girl, Lucy…” Bruce said in a throaty voice.
She smiled and touched his cheek with the spontaneity of the children.
“Sometimes I get sad but then I think everything I heard about you; how much
you suffered but you never gave up and…and I feel that everything will be
alright even if I don’t walk again ever …because I have my mommy and daddy with
me and doctors who love me…and…and I’d never be alone while you…you were just a
kid in pain and you were all alone but you never stopped fighting…”
Bruce didn’t know if that was right but he hugged the little girl caressing her
soft hair.
 
Dick’s eyes widened seeing Wayne hugging the little girl causing her smile.
Jason crooked his mouth and shrugged.
“Not everyone agrees with ya, pal…”
The older boy pressed his lips and turned his head away from the scene.
“We’re leaving! he spat to his friend and both marched to the opposite
direction.
 
“You’ll walk again, Lucy: I’ll do everything in my power for you to walk again”
Bruce told her keeping his eyes closed. “I’m not supposed to walk ever again
too but my friends are working hard to find the way to help me walk again…It’d
be hard, Lucy, but I’ll do it because you…your bravery would give me strength
and courage and inspiration to walk again so that you would be the next. And I
promise you that in your first performance I’ll be there in the theatre to
applaud and get your autograph…If you remember me till then in the crowd of
your fans” he chuckled.
The girl’s cheeks were drenched in tears when she looked at Bruce but a wide,
happy smile brightened her round, sweet face.
“I know you’ll make it, Bruce…” she said and leaned to place a kiss to his
cheek.
Hurried footsteps made Alfred detach his eyes from the heartwarming scene: it
was a young woman coming from the cafeteria; her face was shadowed by worry but
upon seeing the little girl she closed her eyes in relief.
“Here you are, Lucy!” she exclaimed. “And with Mr. Wayne…” disbelief colored
her voice.
Lucy turned to her smiling.
“I’m sorry, mom; I didn’t want to make you worry.”
She squatted.
“It’s okay, honey” she said and smiled to Bruce and Alfred. “Time to eat…and
don’t tell me again you’re not hungry: you need to be strong in order to walk
again soon…She doesn’t eat enough” she said to both men.
Alfred cast a sideways glance to his young master because it was a scene he
experienced so many times.
“I do know what you mean, madam!”
The girl wrapped her arms around her mother’s neck.
“Yes, mom: I’m starving!”
The woman widened her eyes from surprise looking at the two men.
“Mr. Wayne, you certainly have a charm…” she said and stood. “Thank you” she
mouthed to them as she distanced to the opposite direction with Lucy.
Bruce was looking at them leaving, his lips pressed and Alfred felt that it was
time for them to go too.
“Shall we, sir? You need to get some food in your stomach as well” he said
softly but slightly scolding and Bruce looked at him.
He nodded but they had done barely two steps when his phone rang. Bruce frowned
seeing the caller’s ID and Alfred’s eyes narrowed gradually more as his young
Master became paler the more he spoke on the phone.
 “Thank you, Ms. Stuart…We’ll do everything to find him” he ended the call and
touched the screen in haste to make a new call.
“Master Bruce, what happened?”
“Dick is missing from his school” he brought the phone to his ear. “What you
mean ‘you lost him’? He is a boy and Joker is out there!” Alfred squeezed his
shoulders to calm him and Bruce pinched the bridge of his nose. “Okay…Just take
as many people as possible and find him: the longer he stays out there
unguarded the worse…”
He ended the call and looked at Alfred who noticed that his young master wasn’t
even breathing normally in his agony to find his ward.
“I’ll call Jim…”
“No, sir: I think you should not do that for a truancy: please, Master Bruce,
do calm down. The security will handle it.”
Bruce closed his eyes shaking his head: how could he calm down? Joker had his
eyes on him and he knew that Dick was his ward: he already had used the b0oy
once. What if it was Joker that abducted the boy from school? What if Dick was
in Joker’s hands right now? His heart began beating fast leading his breaths to
become rasps; his eyes blurred and everything around began spinning.
Alfred frowned realizing and squatted; he cupped Bruce’s head with both hands
trying to get his attention.
“Sir, sir, please, look at me.”
Bruce could hear Alfred’s panicked voice but he couldn’t make his heart calm or
his head stop hurting and spinning.
“It’s…it’s nothing, Alfred; don’t worry…it’s just…” he tried to reassure the
older man feeling his wrinkled hands shaking on his cheeks.
Alfred looked frantically around for a doctor or a nurse and he was ready to
call for help but then a voice drew his attention.
“Bruce! Alfred! What a…” the man’s voice dropped taking in the scene and ran to
them.
Alfred saw Thomas Elliot hurrying to them and kneeling down; he pushed Alfred’s
hands to take Bruce’s hand and peruse his irises.
“Don’t worry, Bruce” he said “I’m here now” he said touching his fingers on his
jugular to assess his pulse.
Thomas didn’t call anyone supposedly to ensure privacy to Bruce – he was sure
that Alfred and Bruce himself would appreciate that – but in reality he wanted
to handle it exclusively hoping that this way he’d manage to pass the man’s
defenses.
He took them to an examination room nearby and with Alfred’s help placed Bruce
on the examination table; then he put an inhalator mask to Bruce’s mouth to
normalize his breath and made him an injection bringing his heartbeat to normal
level. Under Alfred’s vigilant eyes, Thomas took the blood pressure gadget and
raised Bruce’s sleeve.
“How do you feel?” he asked after he ended the procedure.
Bruce pulled off the inhalator and hurried to sit though Alfred had to support
him because he still was dizzy and unstable. He didn’t like having Thomas Eliot
examine him and his entire body – well, only half his body – was upset and
aggravated.
“I’m fine!” he said in haste looking for his wheelchair. “Thank you for
everything, Dr. Elliot.”
“Thomas, Bruce” he replied grinning “and I didn’t do anything” he looked at
Alfred. “What happened?”
Alfred shook his head.
“Oh, Dr. Elliot! You know how these days are: Master Bruce was tired and then
some emotional turbulence came and made things worse. Also, he didn’t eat much
in the morning…”
Bruce cast him a sideways glare and Thomas chuckled. Of course, the spoiled
brat does everything to have all the attention to him – especially, now.
“We were lucky you were there” Alfred continued. “Are you working in the
children’s hospital?”
“I am a volunteer: the hospital’s staff needs every possible help” he looked at
Bruce. “You need to be careful, Bruce. Your health is still too fragile: you
have to listen to those who love you…” he looked him in the eyes. “We want the
best for you.”
Bruce grinned.
“I’m sure, Thomas…Alfred, can you bring the wheelchair? I must return to the
Tower” he sat at the chair and wore his coat that Alfred held for him. “If I
don’t see you till then, Merry Christmas, Thomas.”
Thomas narrowed his eyes and watched them leaving with a smirk over his face.
“Merry Christmas to you too!” he said hardly holding his snort.
 
Alfred had gone to take Dick from the gym: it was afternoon and the dark grey
of the sky declared the arrival of the night. They suffered some hours of deep
worry from the moment Dick’s teacher informed them that the boy had skipped
class.
After his almost fainting at the hospital, Bruce wanted to search himself but
Alfred didn’t let him so he had to wait in the Manor. Bruce called Jason but
the boy didn’t answer and he understood: he had asked from the boy to keep
Dick’s trust at any cost – except, of course, if he was in danger. And the fact
that Jason didn’t answer made Bruce hope that Dick was with him and they were
safe…It wasn’t difficult for Bruce to see what the boy tried to do: Dick wanted
to make Bruce’s life difficult letting his anger and stubbornness carry him
away and ruin his good record in school.
His security men located the two boys soon but Bruce asked them to not
intervene but watch them discreetly.
It was an hour ago that Jeffrey, Dick’s trainer, called to say that the boy was
there with him – it was the time of his training and Dick wouldn’t lose his
training even to torment Bruce. Knowing that, Bruce asked from Jeffrey to call
him when Dick arrived so that Alfred would be there after the training and
bring the boy home.
Before leaving to pick the boy from the gym, Alfred asked him how he was going
to punish the boy. Bruce paled only hearing the word ‘punish’ and Alfred
pressed his lips turning to leave. Bruce lowered his eyes to Hero who was
sprawled on the carpet right by his feet. He knew that Alfred berated himself
for mentioning punishment to Bruce that had suffered so many unfair, cruel
punishments.
“Alfred, please…” the man stopped and turned to his master. “I’m not going to
punish the boy: Dick in distress and suffers and I’m not going to make it
worse…If his hatred for me helps him cope with everything” he nodded “I’ll take
it, Alfred.”
Alfred pressed his lips.
“You care so much for the boy, Master Bruce; I just wish you cared for yourself
as much…” he smiled and cleared his throat making his voice strict. “However,
he needs discipline or else you’re going to spoil him” he lifted his eyebrows
and lolled his head on the side “but…it is Christmas so I guess we can pardon
him, huh?”
Bruce smiled and Alfred breathed easier: that incident at the hospital had
shaken him and he called Leslie to inform her.
“Thank you, Alfred.”
“You’re welcome, sir” he said nonchalant “but if he does such bullshit again,
I’ll take care it myself.”
Alone in his study Bruce opened his Cosmos tablet and began investigating, Hero
rolling over on the thick carpet trying to get his attention. Bruce every now
and then looked at the kitten tickling his belly; anyways, being over his
tablet and investigating was frustrating – he felt useless and this chair felt
like a cage. He needed to be out, to search; to spy; to help people; to fly… He
remembered the sense of the cool, chilly air of Gotham when he was patrolling
during winter…
He closed his eyes trying to bring back the feeling of the air to his body even
under the armor: every season had a different feeling…
The door’s bell brought him back to the study and he left the ground floor
study to open knowing already who it was; the grounds’ gates opened
automatically for few people.
“Leslie!” he exclaimed seeing her smiling once he opened the door.
She squatted to close him in her hug.
“I missed you, Leslie!”
She cupped Bruce’s face and studied him and Bruce knew that she was examining
him.
“You see me only as a patient…” he complained playfully. “Alfred told you what
happened at the children’s hospital and you decide to visit; you wouldn’t have
come if I was healthy…”
Leslie shook her head and bit softly her bottom lip.
“I’m unforgivable if I gave you that impression…but that’s not true: you’re my
angel – you’re always on my mind even if I can’t be with you. It’s freezing
outside…”
She closed the door and followed Bruce and Hero inside.
“The garden is spectacular! Well done!”
Bruce shrugged.
“The boys did it and Selina: I was just watching.”
Leslie’s eyes widened seeing the grand salon.
“Oh! You have decorated the salon as well!” she said her eyes on the huge
Christmas tree sparkling in the rhythm of the tiny lamps and the angel floating
at the top. “It was about time!”
Bruce frowned.
“Leslie, why you stopped coming by?”
Leslie grinned and took off her thick long coat. She sat at one of the
armchairs near the lit fireplace gazing at the socks that hung there.
“Don’t say it like that, young man, and I missed you too. But you know how
these days are: around Christmas work in the hospital culminates” she brushed
Bruce’s cheek.
“Don’t tell me you won’t be here for the Christmas dinner?” he asked calm but
his complaint was obvious.
“No, I wouldn’t miss that, Bruce” she looked around. “They left you alone?” her
voice was disapproving.
Bruce chuckled.
“Hero is here” he pointed to the kitten that rubbed to his legs.
Leslie cocked an eyebrow.
“Anyone two-legged?”
“Alfred went to bring home Dick from the gym and the others have things to do
but I guess they’ll come for dinner; besides I’m not a baby needing
babysitter…”
“I don’t know… if being alone means that you’d spend time in the humidity and
cold of the cave, then yes, we need a babysitter.”
Bruce shook his head.
“I’m not. You see, I follow my doctor’s orders even if she forgets me…”
Leslie smiled and leaned to kiss Bruce’s cheek.
“I didn’t forget you, sweetheart: you were always on my mind and I was calling
every day, wasn’t I?”
“It’s not the same…” he smiled. “Mmm…how about I make some hot chocolate?
Alfred has cooked cupcakes.”
Leslie stood.
“Leave it to me: the fact I didn’t come for some days didn’t make me a
stranger, right?”
“Of course not” Bruce smiled.
When Leslie left the room he took again his Cosmos and parted the screen in
two: on the right he perused the archives of GCPD in hopes of finding any lead
to Joker’s whereabouts and on the left he opened the Gotham Gazzettesite. As he
was scanning the police’s reports, the previous feeling of frustration flooded
him again: he needed to get outside and then his eyes turned to the arch-shaped
big window that gave a spectacular view of the garden. Spectacular exactly as
Leslie told him.
The tiny light bulbs flickered slowly in a light blue hue making the bushes and
the trees sparkle as if sprayed with stardust; the fact that the sky was filled
with stars and there was barely any artificial light made the landscape seem
taken from a fairytale.
But Bruce’s eyes travelled…
Clark was leaning on his elbow at his pillow, his eyes watching Bruce with
adoration. It was only a month since Clark brought him back from the Fortress
and they decided to leave the States for the quiet island of Thassos where Tony
had his villa.
Bruce had just woken from his midday nap and looked with narrowed eyes at Clark
who was smiling.
“What are you thinking?”
Clark chuckled.
“It’ll sound ridiculous…it’s still too early.”
Bruce raised his torso and kissed him on the lips.
“Don’t be ridiculous!”
Clark twitched his eyebrows.
“Very funny!” he retorted.
Bruce grinned.
“Well?”
“After my father died I believed that I’d never be anxious for Christmas to
come…I always loved Christmas but since father died…” he pressed his lips “it
was never the same.”
“I know what you mean” Bruce brushed his upper arms.
“But this year I can’t wait for Christmas to come!” Bruce’s expression became
grim. “It’d be the most beautiful Christmas in years…because I’ll have you in
my arms” he said and cupped Bruce’s face kissing him passionately. “You’re
alive and we are together! I don’t know what more I could ask…”
He noticed Bruce’s blank eyes and brushed his cheekbones.
“What?” the Man of Steel asked perplexed.
“I dread Christmas” he said in a throaty voice and Clark gulped. “I…I don’t
want this season to come…throughout the year is difficult but I feel that
around Christmas would be horrible…The memories, the Christmas Carrols, the
images…”
Clark wrapped him in his arms and lifted him to touch the younger man to his
bare chest; he hugged him softly because Bruce’s bones were like shreds stuck
together with glue. He rubbed his back.
“I’ll be all the time with you, Bruce, I promise…I’ll chase away the pain and
I’ll give you again the happiness you deserve. They’ll be the most beautiful
Christmas, Bruce: a new beginning in a new happy life. I promise…” he cupped
his face and looked him in the eyes. “You believe me, don’t you? In my
boyscout’s honor! And I’ll have my Star lighting my days!”
Bruce nodded smiling.
“Remember when you last called me Star?” he asked Clark who was laid beside him
on the Manor’s bed.
“It’s so important?” Clark had replied bored.
And then Superman was kissing Wonder Woman.
“She is my star!”
“Eh! Young man!” Leslie said having squatted beside him; Hero was on his lap
without Bruce having sensed him. “What is it?”
Bruce shook his head.
“Nothing, Leslie – I’m just a bit sleepy.”
Cheerful people were heard from the screen as they had gathered in the square
in front of the City Hall for the happenings the city had prepared. He took the
tablet ready to close it when gun shots towered the music and the ruckus
turning the laughter into screams; he frowned and Leslie stood to see.
“Hiiiii, people! I know you miss--ed me” Joker emerged behind Santa Claus
sleigh dressed in a brand new suit that Bruce knew that was made by the poor
tailor police found dead. “Nooooow…now…ssssss, people or my boys” he gestured
to clowns that had surrounded the crowd with firearms ready to open fire “will
loooose it and kill someone.”
He shook his head pouting disappointed.
“Dress a stuuuuuupid, fat actor as Santa, make him come oooooout of the sleigh
and everyone will laugh and be happy; make Joker come out of the sleigh aaaaand
eveeee---ryone panics” he tskd but then his eyes found the kids’ dumbstruck
faces and he fixed his hair sighing. “You didn’t know that this isn’t the real
Santa?” he rolled his eyes. “Nooooo wonder Japan’s average IQ is twice ours…”
Bruce’s eyes hardened and his hands clenched around the armrests.
“Well, I might nooooot be the Santa and wear purple buuuuuut I brought all of
you gifts! Tadaaaaaa!” two of his goons dragged two sacks which content wasn’t
visible. “Gifts to make youuuuuu smile!”
He rubbed his nose.
“It’s freezing, huh?” he asked someone who looked at him petrified. “And NO
SNOW! That’s unacceptable!” he looked around as if he had forgotten where he
was. “Um, yes! What I meaaaaant to say was…” he rolled his eyes “well, the
usual: if Baaaaatsy doesn’t come to play I’ll give you my presents”
His goons revealed the sacks’ content: some bottles with smiles painted on
them.
“Oh! I give hiiiiiim and youuuuu fifteen minutes and then the fun will start
without him – ah! Ah! Ah! If someone is soooooo stupid to attack me and ruin
the holiday spirit” he took out of his inner pocket a remote “I’ll set oooooff
the bombs I have planted around the square…” he cocked his eyebrows pouting.
“That’s the drawbacks of planning and announ-cing: someone always ruins every--
thing.”
Bruce made to steer the wheelchair but Leslie stood in front of him holding his
upper arms.
“No way, Bruce!”
“He is going to kill them if I don’t go! I have the armor – I can do it,
Leslie!”
“No, Bruce: I won’t let you sacrifice yourself for anyone. Others will handle
that!”
Bruce clenched his jaw frustrated but then a new uproar was heard from the
tablet.
A whip wrapped around Joker’s remote and the gadget flew from his hand causing
his laughter.
“Whooooo is our guest? Coooome out, coooome out, kinky thing…” he sang. “Find
him!” he barked to his goons.
“Her, you stupid sexist!” a sensual voice answered him and instantly his goons’
cries filled the air.
Bruce saw Catwoman kicking and punching Joker’s goons with such ease and grace
that made the youth smile proud.
Joker fixed his hair.
“I liiiiike girls in leather, high-heeled boots and whips! Grrrrrrr! Haaaave we
ever met again, pretty?” he looked at Catwoman’s stiletto heels. “In a
caaaaabaret, me on the beeeed ready to do nasty things and you hitting me on
the head to…stick your heels on my…”
Catwoman made a twirl and kicked Joker in the face sending him to crash on his
laughing bombs.
“You wish, clown!”
“Mmm…” Joker used his hand to straightened his jaw “I thiiiiiink the night has
become gloomy soooo…it’s time to bring some laughter!”
He lifted to his mouth the scurf that revealed to be a mask and harried to free
the gas when a shield ripped the air and hit Joker on the guts carrying him
away: the people just jumping far to not have him on them.
The crowd watched awestruck Captain America landing before Joker.
“OoooooooH!” Joker exclaimed rubbing his belly “Caaaan I have an autograph?” he
batted his eyelashes cutely “Last time I hanged with your suuuuuper pals you
were absent…” he made his voice honest “You were sorely missed.”
Captain walked to him, his eyes focused on him but with the corner he followed
Catwoman’s fight with the minions.
“Yes, we have some unsettled businesses…”
“Na…na…na” Joker said and pulled out of his jacket another remote. “Juuuuust in
case: I always have a second…It’s like coooondoms, you know?” he said
conspiratorially. “You do know about condoms, huh? Good ol’ Tony up-dated you?
Well, if you dooooon’t be a good boy, I’ll set off aaaall my bombs. I WANT MY
BATSY!” he sighed. “I’m a boy; I can’t hold on much…”
“You have nothing, whacko” Ironman’s robotic voice came to be added and Joker
cocked his eyebrows cackling. “Your bombs are useless!”
Steve lolled his head smiling, Catwoman having come to his side.
“Time to go back to Arkham” she was ready to say ‘handsome’ but Steve knew that
Selina used that word.
Joker cackled.
“Threeeee against one? No fair play here: laaaady and gentlemen…What has a
little jester to do gainst such super powers?” he frowned. “This is Goootham,
you know: diiiid you get a license from our big bad bat?”
Bruce frowned. He knew that Joker was up to something.
Something popped and thick smoke covered Joker. Steve felt his eyes blur and
monsters appeared suddenly ready to attack him; one of them was covered in
black leather, it had a lean body and fangs protruding from its red lips. He
thought the innocents around and surged against the black monster.
Selina saw Chill having popped from his grave coming to her smirking: his
clothes were worm eaten as his face. He attacked her and she dodge his punch
kicking him in the guts.
 
Bruce narrowed his eyes biting his lips from agony, sweat drops covering his
brow: fear gas – Joker of course used Crane’s resources.
 
Tony knew it was fear toxin but his armor’s air filter made him immune to that
so he ran to his friends to administer the antidote to before anyone got hurt.
Joker giggled and mounted a bike that he had beforehand left there for any
case.
“Ooops!” Joker said. “Sorry for leaving you…” he stopped and turned to the
crowd that watched puzzled at the superheroes.
“Dooooo you happen to know why our Batsy relied ooon these buffoons and didn’t
come himself?” he started again the engine.
But his bike hit on something solid and he crashed on the street; he looked up
and saw Thor glaring at him with his hammer spiting bluish sparkles.
“OoooooH! The blond gooood…Did you bring sooooome ice with you? You dooooo
cooome from Norge, huh?”
Thor clenched his jaw.
“Enough! You won’t threaten Bruce ever again!’
Joker raised his index finger.
“Tonight I threatened Batman” he lolled his head puzzled “it was a threaaaat?
Mmmm…I dooon’t think soooo – more like an invi—tation…” then he thought
something. “Ugh! I’m sick of god-like things claiming myyyy Bruceyyyyy!”
He threw one of his fear gas balls in front of the god’s feet and smoke covered
him causing Joker’s laughter. But then with one sharp motion Mjolnir ripped the
smoke and absorbed the gas. The imposing blond marching towards Joker gritting
his teeth.
Joker smiled.
“Uuuuu…Tough guy…Can we taaaalk this out like civilized meeeeen? Gods?
Peeeople?”
Thor rushed to punch him but was met with air, the Joker just vanished. The god
closed his eyes growling frustrated: his hammer emanating little thunders.
“Loki!” he mumbled knowing that his brother was responsible for Joker’s escape.
When Tony’s dart with the antidote stabbed Steve’s arm and his vision became
clear again, Catwoman was already at the other side of the square, safe from
the toxin.
“Wait!” Steve yelled and followed her running in full speed.
She stopped sighing silently but when he was near enough she made some swift
somersaults and disappeared in the forest of alleys. Steve stayed agape
watching her.
“Sorry for attacking you…” he said.
Tony came to him, his helmet on hand. He smirked seeing his comrade’s stare.
“What a woman, huh?”
“I prefer Selina but I wanted to apologize and thank her…” he took in Tony’s
cocked eyebrows. “Alright, she is impressive…” he frowned. Where was Batman?”
Tony lolled his head on the side.
“He doesn’t like team work…I suppose he saw us and chose to go elsewhere…”
***** Chapter 50 *****
Chapter Notes
     If you'd like to read the whole story about Bruce's last Christmas
     with his parents and the Christmas Eve he spent in Selina's attic,
     you can go to 'Snowflakes', part 4 of the series.
     Merry Christmas!
Superman stood on his favorite rooftop in Metropolis: the one of the Daily
Planetbuilding with the giant globe. He didn’t expect Lois to come there to
find him like the good old days; if she wanted to speak to him she’d have done
so during their working hours. But she was still angry with him. Lois acted as
if Bruce was her friend from years and not Clark Kent; and that pissed him
creating a slow burning feeling of betrayal.
His ears caught screams of terror in Gotham’s City Hall square and his heart
skipped some beats like the old times. He cocked an eyebrow: it seemed that his
hearing still followed the old habits…As his heart that immediately convulsed
in fear for…
He pressed his lips because he didn’t want even to think of his name because he
didn’t want the scenes of that dream being replayed – a dream that had shaken
him up: Bruce a bright star leading him out of the darkness and despair? So
stupid. For once, Bruce always said that Clark was the light in his life and if
someone was in darkness this was Bruce not him.
Anyway he should fly to Gotham because obviously people were in danger…and now
he caught the reason: Joker. An old rage was ignited inside him and he clenched
his fist ready to take off.
“Kal? There you are!”
Strong feet landed on the rooftop and Superman turned to see Diana coming to
him.
“I was waiting for you and I got worried so I flew around to find you. What?”
she asked brushing his cheek.
“Joker attacked in Gotham – I must go.”
She smiled and her blue eyes sparkled.
“Why? I know he is dangerous and all and I would have rushed there along with
you but Gotham has Batman and Ironman is there guarding his little friend. So
now that you don’t have a special interest on the city why going there? In a
city that has her protectors?”
Superman’s brow creased: indeed, Ironman was there and Thor (he cocked an
eyebrow, the old grudge blasting) so people wouldn’t be in danger. Besides
Batman demanded that he never come to Gotham again so why bothering?
He caressed Diana’s hair and engaged her lips in a tender kiss that soon became
almost wild as they hugged each other. No, there was no reason for him to
return to Gotham: as a matter of fact, now he felt normally about that city,
that is to say appalled. He preferred to be in places with light and cheer like
Metropolis; being with bright people like Diana.
Diana’s eyes sparkled as they locked with his.
“To my apartment?”
Superman smiled.
“Where else, my Star?” Diana smiled satisfied on that but Superman felt
something inside him stabbing aggressively on that small word.
 
“Tony, first of all, our gratitude for the perfect intervention of the
Avengers: many innocent lives were saved thanks to you even if Joker escaped”
Bruce had turned on the 50’’ plasma TV in the sitting room and watched the live
connection with the City Hall Square; Leslie stood at his side with her arms
crossed her eyes to the screen but on the same time regarding Bruce’s reaction:
she knew that being forced to not help as Batman had its toll to him and wanted
to prevent any unpleasant consequences to his health. What happened at the
children’s hospital rang the alarm about how his emotions could threaten his
recovery.
 Mayor Garcia had just thanked Tony with a warm handshake; S.H.I.E.L.D.’s
director had stayed behind while Steve and Thor made a quick escape from the
cameras and the enthusiastic crowd. Now GCTV’s reporter had approached Tony,
still in Ironman’s armor minus the face plate.
Tony had his usual smug expression that Bruce found so cute and funny.
“We just did our duty” he squinted to read the reporter’s ID on his lapel
“Alex” he waved, kissing his palm and sending kisses  at the cheering crowd
around that gradually found again his mood as the singers moved on the stage
and started the celebration that Joker almost destroyed.
“Yes and we are thankful but…” the reporter’s eyes glimmered wickedly “Gotham
has her local protector” Tony scratched his hair and Bruce understood that he
felt uncomfortable. “In fact people wonder why Batman didn’t show up to stop
Joker…”
Bruce bit his bottom lip and Leslie fumed; even Hero on the carpet was
unusually quiet.
Tony laughed and cocked his eyebrows.
“People wonder or Joker? Because Joker said that, my friend.”
The reporter fell silent for a second but immediately continued.
“I think it’s the same, Tony.”
Tony now got serious.
“No, Alex, it’s not. Batman is not obliged to succumb to every crazy whim that
clown has…” the reporter was ready to retort but Tony caught him to this. “I’m
sure that Batman was ready to intervene but seeing us handling the situation he
stayed away watching just in case because having succumbed to Joker’s demands
he would have fed the lunatic’s belief that he can attack innocent people to
get what he wants.”
The reporter smirked.
“Is this a manifestation of Avengers taking charge of Gotham?”
Now Tony lolled his head on the side, stabbing the reporter with two completely
still sparkling eyes.
 “I think, my friend, that you only talk and don’t listen! There’s no
manifestation: Avengers respect Batman and are proud of being able to assist
him in his job…”
Tony turned to leave, his irritation evident to Bruce but then he halted and
looked at the camera.
 “We are happy that for once we could offer something to that city that Batman
saved all alone. Batman fought for this city when nobody else dared – even
Superman didn’t mess with Gotham…and Batman is still protecting Gotham.”
“Close” Bruce said and the TV obeyed.
It was what he expected: those holograms were useless. His absence from the
streets would become clearer and then it was a matter of time before
criminality re-organized. Not to mention that rumors would begin to spread
about something thwarting Batman from being out there: being dead or seriously
injured or disabled…
Bruce clenched his jaw: that was Joker’s plan. To drag him outside making Bruce
use the means that the clown suspected that he had enabling him to appear
scarce. He doubted that the clown wanted to disclose his identity – or what
Joker believed was Batman’s identity – yet he enjoyed making Bruce feel
desparate. The man just wanted to get him back in the streets to indulge his
crazy desires.
Anyway, Bruce felt terrible: he was of course happy and relieved that Joker was
stopped with no casualties and he was grateful to the Avengers yet there was a
very bitter taste in his mouth and a clenching in his insides. He wasn’t so
selfish to demand that Batman made all the savings in Gotham yet what just
happened didn’t feel right. And Bruce could admit that he was disappointed with
himself: investigating and planning from the Manor was so lame!
Leslie placed her hand on his shoulder and Bruce looked up at her.
“You put too much weight on those shoulders… Don’t think it too much: it’s
over, Bruce: nobody got hurt and people will forget that Batman wasn’t there.”
Bruce shook his head; he didn’t want Leslie to understand his empty feeling and
of course neither Tony nor Steve nor Thor; and of course his Selina.
“I’m fine, Leslie.”
Hero was staring at him and climbed on his lap to get Bruce’s petting.
“Forget Joker and his shenanigans” Leslie said sternly not letting her sadness
derived from Bruce’s dispirited eyes defeat her “we have to appoint some exams.
I don’t like at all what happened at the children’s hospital.”
Bruce made a big nod.
“So…that was the reason you remembered me, huh?” he teased her. “Okay, okay…
Tell me, Leslie, apart from Alfred, Elliot did tell you as wel, right? Great
confidentiality…”
Leslie’s eyes became serious.
“Dr. Elliot did the right thing, Bruce” Bruce crooked his mouth. “I am your
doctor and I should know everything that concerns your health.”
Bruce nodded.
“Fine but let Christmas pass…I don’t want my body being scrutinized again as
the icing of the cake…”
Leslie squatted and hugged his shoulders.
“You feel awful…” she pressed her lips “about Christmas and all. I understand,
Bruce; but we are here: we won’t let you alone. Ever again.”
He smiled and patted her hand, Hero pawing at it playfully.
“I know, Leslie” he inhaled “and it’s not that bad with all of you around” he
hurried to reassure her.
Leslie shook her head not persuaded at all but she didn’t manage to say
anything because the Manor’s cable phone rang.
“Hellll—looooo, honey.”
Bruce pinched the bridge of his nose hearing that familiar nasal voice and let
Hero on the floor.
“Are you there?”Joker asked worried.
“What do you want, Joker?”
“You are sooooo aggressive, babe. OHOHOHO! I hope youuuu out this in bed” Bruce
closed his eyes. “I was expecting youuuu in the square under the tree…beside
the sleigh…I aaaasked you…What happened and you stooood me uuup? You hired
assistants to do your job?” he made his voice complaining. “It’s nooooot kind
at aaaall: weeee have something special!”
Leslie looked at Bruce frowning but he gestured to her to not speak.
“In the square, you called Batman, not me.”
“What’s the difference? HEHEHEHE…Don’t tell me your disorder turned
into…mmm…how the shrinks call it? Identity disorder with amnesia?”
“What are you babbling about?”
Joker’s voice became serious.
“I know the truth, okay, honey? I know who you truly are, babe…” his voice was
more nasal than usually. “How doooo you feel having others do the job? I know
your heart ripped your rib cage to fly there: why you didn’t, darling? I know
you have found a way: this is why people say that are seeing you in action.
Gothamites will start wonder if you don’t show up when I ask for you…Aaaand I
intent to do that a looooot, honey… My wettest kisses to your…mmm…everything…I
can’t wait to complete our marriage” he sighed longingly and ended the call.
“What did he want?” Leslie asked outraged.
“To tell that he knows who I am and laugh at me watching useless…”
Leslie’s eyes sparkled.
“You’re not useless!”
“Not completely…” he answered and took his Cosmos touching the screen and
selecting the right program.
Leslie approached intrigued, watching frowned.
“What are you doing?”
“The central processor in the cave has a system of locating calls from to the
cable phones of the Manor.”
“The time he stayed on the phone was enough?”
“It doesn’t need much time…If I manage to locate him, then Jim and the police
will catch him” he was speaking and giving the specific orders with rapid
touches on the screen; he waited for a few seconds and then a window popped up
that made Bruce curse. “Something stops the locating…damn!”
Leslie had leaned above the screen so she immediately saw that there was no
finding. Bruce huffed and closed his eyes; Leslie patted his back.
“It’s alright, son: just do not be sad: you’ll find him. Some transference must
have blocked your system.”
Bruce nodded, his mind on Loki: he was sure that the naughty god was helping
his minion to stay out of any locating system. He was thinking that he wasn’t
going to find Joker by sitting there, inside the Manor which made him feel his
heartbeat unbearable to calm but he didn’t want to worry Leslie. So he nodded.
“I’ll find him.”
 
Tony sat on the stool in front of the bar made from shining dark brown wood; he
was sipping slowly his ginger ale; he was thoughtful but he wouldn’t betray his
promise to Pepper, to Bruce, to Alfred, to himself to not slip again to heavy
drinking. And most of all, now he had Bruce back and there was every reason for
him to be optimist even though many thoughts wanted to spoil that: the coming
operation, Joker, Superman’s cruel behavior and Bruce’s well hidden sorrow…
“Tony! Fancy that!”
The billionaire left his thoughts and returned to his surroundings to see
Thomas Elliot along with his cute girlfriend whose name Tony couldn’t remember.
“Thomas, Miss…Kelly” he greeted them finally being able to remember her name.
“I’d have invited you to join me but I’m sitting at the bar.”
Thomas smiled and waved that off.
“I’ve already made reservations so if you want you can join us.”
Tony shook his head.
“I won’t stay much; I wait for Pepper to finish some works.”
Thomas lolled his head on the side.
“Come on, Tony, it’ll be an honor for us” he arched his eyebrows “having a
drink with Ironman…I saw you and Captain America stopping Joker. On TV, of
course, but there was a thick crowd around you cheering” Thomas snorted inside
with the billionaire’s need for attention. “How do you manage to escape your
fans?”
Tony chuckled.
“I like drawing the attention but when I want I can get away…” he hopped from
the stool and followed them to their table.
Thomas ordered their aperitif and Tony noticed that he didn’t gave the chance
to the young lady to order for herself – of course, she didn’t seem annoyed.
Dr. Elliot noticed Tony’s thoughtfulness and asked him if he wanted something
to drink but the billionaire shook his head in denial.
“I admire your determination to stay away from alcohol” Thomas said when the
maitre left.
Tony lolled his head on the side cocking an eyebrow.
“Booze isn’t stronger than me, Tommy” he smiled.
Thomas nodded.
“And Bruce’s return from the dead must be a strong motive to keep you away
though…” he shook his head “now with his paraplegia must be difficult.”
Kelly was looking the doctor like hypnotized. Tony frowned.
“Bruce is always his beautiful self even in this chair…”
“I’m not saying otherwise but still seeing your best friend in this state,
especially when his health must be still fragile…” Tony was looking the doctor
straight in the eye but he was rimming his glass nervously. “I know because my
mother…well…has her own disability.”
Tony was happy for the chance to change the subject.
“What’s your mother doing? Has been ages since I last heard of her…”
Thomas shook his head.
“Her disability became worse and I had to trust her to a fine institution since
I couldn’t offer her the treatment she deserved. But Bruce confined in a
chair…I can imagine how you and Alfred feel…”
Tony felt irritation fueling inside him.
“Bruce is alive, back to us, we have him with us: his presence is a gift. But
how can you claim that you know how we’re feeling?”
Thomas blinked and licked his lips tapping his finger once in the linen white
tablecloth.
“I spent a lot of time with people with severe spinal injuries and their
families” Tony narrowed his eyes interested which was what Thomas wanted. “I
have developed a breakthrough system for the remediation of such impairments –
very special cases, complex and severe. We have great – miraculous I dare say
results” now Tony’s frown became deeper. “Superman had the kindness to help us:
his laser vision is more precise and sensitive than our robots.”
Tony shook his head pursing his lips.
“I wouldn’t trust him…”
Thomas chuckled.
“I should assume that the rumors were true then? I mean about Bruce and him?
And now that Superman is with Wonder Woman you don’t want him near Bruce? Their
split must have hurt Bruce so much” Thomas would have given one of his
doctorates to have witnessed Bruce’s heart breaking.
Tony yanked his head backwards and laughed.
“Not at all, Tommy… Bruce with Superman! For fuck’s sake… I just don’t trust
Superman’s good intentions, that’s all.”
Thomas leaned towards him.
“Superman or not, our program have a success rate almost perfect” inside he was
cheering because Tony’s eyes sparkled with fervent interest. “I don’t want to
brag that my experience with severe and complex spinal injuries surpasses any
other doctor on the field…And I know that you will do everything to help Bruce
walk again…”
“What do you want to say?”
Thomas leaned back to his chair – he was sure that he could take the airhead
billionaire to his side.
“I can help, Tony…I was bad with Bruce during our childhood but I’m not a brat
anymore. I can and I want to offer my assistance to your effort. Because we
both know that it is a huge effort with many dangers despite your genius – I’m
sure” he arched his eyebrows for emphasis “inventions to restore his mobility.
You’re creating new wonders to help him – I know you do; but Bruce is still
very fragile and the operation will be challenging…” Thomas was cheering inside
knowing that he was hitting the right buttons but all the time kept his serious
expression.
Tony raised his glass and gulped the liquid: he knew Bruce’s sentiments about
the man but he would want every help that he could get.
“Think about it, Tony: I know that Bruce after the Hell he’s been through is
very cautious with people like me that once hurt him” he pressed his lips
sorry. “But, you, Tony, can see clearer: why not giving Bruce extra chances?”
Tony looked at him.
“I don’t know, Tommy: it’s too early…”
Thomas nodded.
“I understand. Look, give me your email and I’ll send you everything about our
project and the success’ rates so you can think about it and decide.”
“I appreciate that, Tommy.”
The waiter came back with their aperitif.
“Are you sure you don’t want some?” Thomas asked.
Tony shook his head and saw Pepper entering the restaurant.
“My date…” he said rising. “Thanks for the company, guys! Have a great night!”
“Thank you, Mr. Stark” Kelly replied and Tony kissed her hand.
Thomas arched his eyebrows.
“Your e-mail, Tony…”
Tony seemed thoughtful for a second but then pulled out of his jacket’s inside
pocket one of his cards and gave it to him.
“Good night, Tony” he said eyeing the card. “Give my best regards to Bruce.”
“I will” Tony answered and marched towards Pepper.
I’m sure he’ll be very happy to hear…Thomas thought and chuckled. He had been
tempted to disclose to that asshole Bruce’s collapse at the hospital just to
see the airhead panicked but he wanted to prove to Bruce that he was
trustworthy. The best way to hurt someone was by gaining his trust, even if
that was as difficult and cringe worthy as with the Wayne brat.
 
Loki paced in front of Joker’s awful ‘Christmas tree’, keeping his hands behind
his back and his head stooped. Every now and then cast a glance to the tree
shaking his head.
“And he called me a pervert…”
 He was sideways looking at the door to one of the warehouse’s apartments where
Joker had isolated himself. Finally, the clown made his appearance, clearly
happy, hopping in his way towards Loki. Joker watched him amused, and jumped to
the pink armchair next to the box with the TV set, putting his legs over the
armrest dangling them.
“I’m going to say my great line now” the jester said pompously. “Why sooooo
serious?” he giggled. “Don’t tell me you didn’t got along with John?” he
gestured to the skeleton. “Whyyyyy? I know he isn’t a great talker buuuut he’s
the perfect listener…Hehe” he stopped laughing and shook his index finger. “I
knooooow: it’s about the square… Whyyyyy? It was soooooo fun! Of course, I’d
prefer it if Batsy honored us buuuuuut a humple clown can’t have everything,
right? Even if he’s meeeeee! HEHE!”
Loki stopped abruptly and glared at Joker, his eyes sparkling. Joker giggled.
“Why you had to do that?” the god asked him.
Joker shook his head nervously and pouted.
“I never ‘have to do anything’…” he opened wide his arms. “I just do it!”
Loki narrowed his eyes.
“Yes, I know your stupid tactic” Joker mouthed ‘stupid’ as if he was hurt. “But
now you’re not alone: you’re with me.”
Joker completely unfazed cocked an eyebrow.
“When you say ‘with you’ I hope you don’t mean…” he lowered his voice
“sexually.I’m a married man in looooove with his wife…my wife not his…wait…you
got the meaning…”
Loki rolled his eyes.
“I’m not thatpervert and I have taste” Joker pouted. “We have a goal to
achieve.”
Joker brought his legs down and leaned towards Loki.
“We? Goal? Like in soccer?”
“Cut the crap, clown! Do you forget that I freed you? Do you forget who I am?”
Joker stood and rolled his finger.
“If you’re going to throw me again a bucket of water, don’t: I bathed a week
ago. Buuuuut you said that I’m a freelancer soooo I don’t have to ask you for
everything.”
“Not when you decide to act so openly and draw the Avengers on you! I thought
you wanted the same thing!”
Joker smirked which highlighted his left scar.
“Whi--ch is?”
“Ridiculing the Avengers and establishing our power…”
“Nah…nah…nah. Myyyyy power is aaaaalready established and I have aaaaalready
ridiculed every superhero except Bats who can’t be ridiculed. So youuuuu’re
talking about youuuurself; why should I listen to your rant?”
Loki brought his face in front of Joker’s clenching his jaw.
“Because you want Bruce Wayne and with what you did the Avengers will guard him
more closely. Also you exposed me! I had to intervene to save you from Thor and
he might be blond but he isn’t stupid!”
Joker lolled his head on the side and giggled.
“Thaaaat joke is sexist aaaaaand outdated – you need to renew your repertoire.”
Loki rolled his eyes.
“I will laugh with Thor but once and for all!”
Joker nodded.
“Establishing youuuuur power aaaaand giving me Brucey? Because I noticed an
increased interest of the blondie for my wife…”
“Exactly! So stop your nonsense if you want to get what you want!”
With a pop the god vanished and Joker’s Cheshire smile curved his face.
“I will get what I want buuuuut who told yoooou that I’ll work for your stupid
plans?” he rampaged his jacket’s inner pocket mumbling “plaaaaans…everyone
knows that plans are made to be ruined…” he found his oldfashioned cell phone
and dialed a number. “Oh! Dear Lo--Loki, you should have known…Hello, my dear,
Scarrrrrrescrow! Have you chased away maaaaany crows? HAHAHAHAHAHAAAAA! Oh!
C’mon, don’t be soooooo gloooom…” his voice became sharp. “Let’s talk about
business: I know you dooooon’t like what I don’t like…taking orders…”
 
Bruce was gazing at Gotham’s sparkling skyline; the view was breathtaking as
the lights from Christmas decorations were visible even from that height. The
Imperial hotel was one of the tallest buildings in Gotham so the view from the
roof garden was one of the best in the city.
He had made reservations for the 23rd of December; not that he couldn’t choose
a date sooner – as soon as Copplebot informed about Bruce’s interest he called
him himself to reassure him that for him there was always a table in the
Imperial roof garden. However Bruce wanted first to finish all his jobs.
As Bruce was waiting for Oliver Quinn in the table near the edge he couldn’t
help but feel like flying again in the sky… The roof garden restaurant remained
open throughout the year – even during the winter: the whole space was from a
dome made with lightweight glass giving it the look of an atrium. The glass of
the walls was so fine that gave the impression of not being there so if you sat
near the edge it was like you were on the air.
So Bruce’s mind inadvertently went back, few months ago when he was flying with
Clark’s borrowed wings and felt as if those wings were his…but they were
borrowed and in the end had to be taken from him. He knew it from the
start...he was just fooling himself all this time. He never should have relied
and loved those wings; he should have kept using his own artificial wings which
enabled him soar the sky.
Bruce wanted to sigh as the nostalgia filled his insides; his dead legs an
unbearable burden even though he couldn’t feel them at all.
The space was elegantly decorated in Christmas spirit without exertion: only
some gold colored bows on the walls and artificial snow on the pyramid like bar
at the center that looked like made of crystal in the changing colors of aurora
borealis – Bruce smirked on the irony.
The arctic impression was completed by an oval pond with crystal blue water
that didn’t have walls and seemed like its water run to the road underneath: in
the middle, mounted a Christmas tree from transparent ice with crystal penguins
around which was something that Bruce hadn’t seen again..
However for Bruce only Gotham’s skyline was eye catching.
He heard footsteps but didn’t turn to not show that; he looked at his guest
only when he was there. Oliver Quinn was dressed in an expensive handmade dark
blue suit with silver colored tie and light gray shirt. He smiled to Bruce
without being able to outcast his smugness but Bruce could admit that he was a
very charming man.
“Oliver, hi” he gave his hand for a handshake “I wish I could stand to welcome
you. Have a seat” he showed him the armchair opposite.
However Quinn didn’t sit immediately but regarded Bruce appreciatively.
“You’re gorgeous in every color but black is your color” he said arching his
eyebrows admiring the tailored two piece black suit Bruce was wearing with a
white silken shirt and black pinstriped tie. “I didn’t have to ask to find you”
he smiled seeing Bruce blushing “I just followed the stares of women and men…”
“I think that they admire the view; it is breathtaking” Bruce retorted.
Quinn sat and looked around at the filled with people space.
“I had something more private in mind…” he said smirking, his eyes glimmering
amused.
Bruce shrugged.
“I don’t see the reason…After all you told me that you didn’t want us to have
dinner in the Manor so I assumed that you didn’t care about privacy.”
Quinn smiled and crossed his legs elegantly.
“Oh, Bruce…You’re so clever but I think that the real reason is that you just
don’t trust anyone to be alone with – especially, after what happened with
Luthor.”
Bruce lolled his head on the side.
“This is a business dinner, right?”
Quinn nodded.
“For starts...” the older man said mysteriously.
The maitre came and took their order; Bruce waited till they served them wine
for Quinn and just mineral water for him before speaking.
“In New York we had started a conversation about Princess Diana.”
Quinn sipped from his wine and smiled wickedly behind his glass; his fervent
eyes fixed on Bruce’s face.
“Right to the point, eh, Bruce? I hope you’re not in a haste to dispose of me?”
Bruce blushed and drank from his mineral water.
“Of course not! How is your staying in Gotham?”
“Splendid! This city has tremendous interest and I admire its unique beauty.
Only a few people can see that beauty, right Bruce?”
Bruce nodded.
“Have you visited many places?”
“Only a few…I’m a man with peculiar tastes. But I know you’re anxious to hear
about the Princess and if I remember correctly you had some suspicions that she
is not real?”
“I never said that…” he didn’t want to reveal his suspicions to him. “Is there
something that make you think that about her?”
Quinn smiled and Bruce understood that the man figured his attempt to get his
answer.
“Not at all: she is real, Bruce, without any doubt. Believe me.”
“I’d have understood if you had doubts though: during your stay with the
Amazons you were seriously injured and the fever, the pain could have distorted
your judgement” his guest was shaking his head.
“No, Bruce; I stayed there some time after my complete healing and I was able
to see things clear: everything we know from legends was before my eyes: the
amazons, the locations, the temples, Quinn Hippolyta, Princess Diana.”
“It must have been difficult to communicate…” Bruce chose to investigate
discreetly the details in hope to find the truth there.
Quinn smiled.
“Indeed; at first, all seemed Greek to me” he laughed “literally Greek…However,
the Princess has the gift of picking up languages so it took her only a couple
of days before being able to communicate with me in English.”
Bruce nodded.
“I’ve read that the Amazon’s island had no communication with the rest of the
world: is that true or there were also other people?”
Quinn shook his head in denial.
“No: while I was there I didn’t see anyone apart from Amazons.”
“Would you be able to return in Themyscyrra?” Quinn’s eyes widened. “I mean
would you be able to find again the location?”
The man laughed.
“You want to go there for vacations? Oh, Bruce…That would be difficult even for
a professional sailor…and I don’t find the reason to go back. Okay, it’s a
beautiful place, a paradise on earth and the Amazon are gorgeous but what I
want is in our world” he leaned towards Bruce startling the younger man.
Quinn smiled.
“Bruce, you’re still a child…the way you react to someone’s interest” he got
serious. “Listen, I know why you’re so interested in the island: you hope to
prove that the Princess is an impostor and get Superman back.”
Bruce frowned.
“I told you: I had nothing with him.”
“Indeed. Otherwise he wouldn’t be with Diana right now: I can’t believe that
someone blessed with your love would choose to be with someone else. So forget
everything about Themyscirra and look ahead.”
Thankfully, their order came so eating could stop Quinn’s flirt.
Suddenly, a man around Quinn’s age approached their table.
“Is that Oliver Quinn? Fancy that! I couldn’t imagine that I’d find you in
Gotham.”
Oliver eyed the man almost hostile which didn’t escape Bruce’s attention but
then he stood and shook hands with the man.
“It’s been ages, Martin” he said. “How are you doing?”
“Fine, Oliver. I was sad when I heard about your shipwreck but something was
telling me that you’d manage to make it.”
The man turned to Bruce and gave his hand for a handshake.
“Martin Hatch, delighted for meeting you, Mr. Wayne.”
“Me too, Mr. Hatch.”
“This man” Martin said gesturing to Oliver “Mr. Wayne, was definite  going to
survive: during our years in Yale he was great in every sport: the University’s
champion.”
Quinn laughed.
“You exaggerate, Martin.”
“Not at all. Only in archery he was helpless…once he almost planted his arrow
to the trainer’s arm” he laughed but Oliver’s face was serious.
“Yeah, archery wasn’t my thing – not a big deal…”
“Of course: one can be perfect in everything…Oh! I’m so happy I saw you, Ollie:
we can arrange to meet some day – here’s my card: call me” Quinn took the card
smiling cordially but Bruce was sure that he wouldn’t call his old classmate.
“Have a great evening and I’m sorry for the interruption.”
“Not at all” Bruce answered smiling but Quinn just made a goodbye gesture to
Martin and sat back.
“University acquaintances” he said grinning.
“He looked happy to see you again.”
“Who can tell?” he shrugged. “Now, Bruce, I think that collaboration between
our companies will be very prosperous.”
Bruce was happy that discussion moved to less personal things.
“What do you have in mind?”
“First of all, Wayne Enterprises has a great fleet with deals in every
important harbor in the world; my company needs a trusted distributor. Then I
have heard that your company prepares some breakthrough things in the health
field and, if you want, I’d like to invest on that: Quinn Corporation has
developed some health projects and with your alliance we can make miracles.”
Bruce nodded.
“We can discuss details with the directors of each department and Mr. Fox; for
starts, I agree that our companies’ collaboration will be for the best. We can
arrange a meeting after Christmas and after my return from Metropolis.”
Quinn’s eyes darkened on the mention of Metropolis.
“Metropolis?” he shook his head. “The city of Superman? Bruce” he grinned “I
know it’s none of my business but following Superman like a puppy doesn’t suit
you. I admit that I had felt something for Princess Diana when she saved me but
soon I realized that this was just gratitude and attachment – nothing more.
Besides those superheroes, those god-like creatures are not for us.”
Bruce watched him keeping his patience and smirking inside on his remark about
the so-called Amazon: who could stay in love with her anyways? Except for
Superman of course…That bit hard his insides.
When Quinn ended his ‘speech’ Bruce shook his head.
“First, you’re right: is none of yours business. Second, Metropolis is not just
Superman’s city; it is also the headquarters of LexCorp of which I’m a
shareholder AND I must attend the annually meeting.”
The older man shook his head laughing and waved his hand.
“I’m hopeless in hiding my true feelings, huh?”
Bruce looked at him serious: he doubted that this man couldn’t hide his
feelings or anything he wanted. As a matter of fact Bruce was sure that this
man let to be shown only what he wanted.
“Mr. Quinn, I think that you should stop this game with me.”
The older man narrowed his eyes almost hurt.
“Bruce, I…”
“Mr.Quinn…”
“Come on, Bruce, do not do this: call me Oliver.”
Bruce’s stare was sharp.
“There’s no reason to call you Oliver: it seems that doing this makes you think
that you have the right to press me and do inappropriate remarks about my
life.”
The older man widened his eyes.
“For pity’s sake, Bruce, I didn’t mean to become annoying; my sympathy for you
– I admit it – made me a bit more uninhibited with my remarks but this isn’t a
reason for you to be mad.”
“Then stop doing it.”
Quinn pursed his lips and nodded.
“I apologize: I admit that I was insensitive…not thinking about your
sensitivities…” he locked eyes with Bruce and put his hand on the table ready
to touch Bruce’s hand; he stopped the last moment. “I’m sorry but you’re too
important for me.”
Bruce shook his head exasperated.
“You don’t even know me!”
Quinn smirked.
“Some people don’t have to know each other much: it’s like being together for
an eternity. I know the darkness you live in and nobody else could understand…”
Bruce inhaled deeply: suddenly, he felt exhausted; his eyes were blinking
unstoppable and he couldn’t stop them from snapping closed as much as he tried.
He was aware that he shouldn’t sleep there but he was falling rapidly: he
managed to catch the worried stare of Quinn and Bruce would have believed that
he drugged him but he would have sensed it if something was in his food or
drink.
Quinn stood and leaned over him.
“Bruce?”
“I…” he didn’t manage to say anything more because his eyes closed and his head
would fall on the table if Quinn didn’t hold him.
The older man made a gesture with his head and the maitre rushed to their
table. The poised man became panicked seeing their prominent client unconscious
but Quinn looked him reassuringly.
“Mr. Wayne just fell asleep: he is under heavy medication and he just exhausted
these days…and he wouldn’t want people to be upset nor the journalists around
the hotel make headlines about this” he put a bill into the man’s chest pocket
and the man nodded. “I’d appreciate if you take us to a suite.”
 
When Bruce woke, sleep was still heavy on his eyelids and head; yet he had
learnt from Ra’s to master his body needs. So before opening his eyes he knew
that he was in a room he didn’t know and that someone was with him: so close
that he could sense the hot air of his breath – someone was staring at him,
inhaling deeply as if sniffing him.
 He remembered what happened at the restaurant.
And now he was laid on a bed, muffled in warm, soft blankets and dressed in his
clothes minus the tie and the shoes. At least, he hadn’t been stripped: Bruce
shuddered because even now waking up in a strange bed made him froze in a panic
that any kind of training was unable to eliminate.
Oliver Quinn was sitting in the velvet stool at the side of the bed and was
watching him with adoration.
Bruce snapped his eyes open and put his hands on the mattress jolting on the
mattress in sitting position. He acted the panicked although he could master
his dread; he looked frenzied around and when two tender hands held his
shoulders reassuringly Bruce convulsed worse.
“No, let me go!”
Oliver switched on the nightstand’s lamp and hushed Bruce.
“It’s alright, Bruce; you’re safe.”
Bruce registered his surroundings: he was in a vast bedroom, luxuriously
decorated with modern furniture and rich velvet carpet. The transparent silver
curtains were drawn to keep away most of the external lights.
“What have you done?” Bruce demanded. “How dare you bringing me here after
everything we talked about?” he pretended the outraged, terrorized which suited
the traumatized Bruce Wayne but in fact he mostly was angry.
“I didn’t touch you, Bruce” he answered calmly. “You fell asleep and I brought
you in one of the hotel’s suites.”
“You drugged me” he said with a slight tremor in his voice to indicate terror
though he knew that the man hadn’t done that – though the fact that he dropped
asleep like that troubled him and he didn’t want even to imagine Leslie’s
reaction upon hearing it.
“Bruce, I swear I didn’t.”
“Okay, let’s say that you didn’t; why did you bring me here? My people will be
worried…”
“Please, calm down, Bruce: I already informed Alfred.”
“No, you didn’t; if you had he’d have come and take me to the Manor.”
Quinn shook his head.
“I would have taken you there myself, Bruce but the hotel was full with
reporters for the Hollywood star who lives here and I thought that you wouldn’t
want them to chase you or make a fuss about your supposed collapse. Alfred
thought the same and agreed to come and get you after the reporters leave the
building.”
Bruce lowered his eyes somewhat calmer.
“How do you feel?” Quinn asked concerned. “You must be exhausted to fell asleep
like that in a place with music and noise.”
But Bruce shook his head and rubbed his forehead.
“Why you were staring at me like that?” he asked calmer.
Quinn stretched back smiling.
“I think that is obvious” he licked his lips “because you’re the most beautiful
person I have ever seen” Bruce closed his eyes exasperated. “And that beauty
becomes irresistible when you’re in sleep’s embrace…Your body’s perfume drew me
and I couldn’t nor I wanted to resist.”
Bruce widened his eyes and looked around furious for his wheelchair.
“Where’s my chair?”
“Are you so hasty to leave?”
Bruce yanked his head backwards and then locked eyes with the older man.
“You must forget all about this, Oliver! Nothing can happen between you and me:
I’m not made for these things.”
Quinn smiled with his smug way.
“On the contrary you are made only for these things: to be loved and worshiped
by someone who can appreciate what you are.”
Bruce moved his body to the edge of the king size bed determined to crawl if he
must to his wheelchair. But Quinn stopped him.
“I’ll bring it” and when the wheelchair was there and Bruce sat “I’d never hurt
you, Bruce: I just did what I thought you’d want. If I upset you, I honestly
apologize.”
He gave him his Cosmos phone and stood.
“Here: Alfred waits a call: it’s better to not drive yourself” he walked to the
other end of the room to the armchair where Bruce’s jacket and coat were neatly
placed.
“I’ll be just fine” Bruce snapped at him and put on the jacket Quinn held for
him; he put the phone into his jacket’s inner pocket and made to move towards
the salon.
But Quinn stopped him showing his feet that were without shoes. The older man
took Bruce’s black leather shoes, kneeled and almost reverently took each foot
and put it inside. Bruce felt goose bumps and that infuriated him so he wheeled
his chair towards the exit.
Quinn stood, taking Bruce’s long coat and followed him with confident strides.
“Reporters have left the building” he said and approached the younger man
holding his long coat.
He helped Bruce wear it and their eyes met - Quinn’s eyes for the first time
were almost begging.
“Do not be angry with me, Bruce: I cherish your friendship if I can’t have
anything more…”
Bruce huffed.
“You must understand…”
Quinn shook his head and grinned.
“I do…Can I hope to your friendship?”
Bruce lowered his eyes thoughtful, then looked again at the older man and
nodded before moving to the door that Quinn opened for him.
The older man escorted him till the underground parking just in case but they
stayed silent parting with a simple ‘Goodnight’.
Quinn watched the black, sleek wonder of a car taking Bruce away with an
enigmatic smile on his lips and infinite adoration in his eyes.
“You can’t imagine, Bruce how difficult it was to be so close to you; seeing
you sleeping, being so beautiful; and resisting the urge to claim your velvet
lips…”
 
Bruce had found the chance to isolate himself in front of the big arch shaped
window of the grand salon as Alfred, Leslie, Pepper and Ms. Todd were preparing
the dinner and Tony was talking with Steve and Selina. The boys were watching
some animated movie since Alfred punished Dick for his truancy by confiscating
his tablet, smartphone and video games for the Christmas holidays. Hero was
sprawled half asleep in front of the fully burning fireplace.
It was Christmas Eve and darkness had fallen all over making the grounds seem
taken out of a fairytale under the light blue hue the tiny lights emanated
hidden between the branches and the leaves.
Bruce wanted to stop his mind from thinking. What happened with Quinn; the fact
that the man had an odd aura on him; the fact that he had been watching him
while sleeping…
When he returned to the Manor that night it was past midnight; Alfred was
waiting and once he heard the car rushed to help him.
“You should have called me, sir, to drive you home.”
“No need, Alfred” he waved that off but looked at him. “Why you let me in
Quinn’s suite?”
“I thought that you wouldn’t like all these reporters making a fuss about the
butler taking you back home unconscious… I didn’t want to let you to someone
else’s attention but Mr. Quinn isn’t a criminal and Master Anthony was watching
the suite all the time – just in case. Are you alright, sir?”
He nodded not wanting to drag more on the matter.
The knot in Bruce’s stomach and throat had grown more…despite the fact he had
completed his checklist calling Cassandra and Ms. Kent It was Christmas’ Eve.
He didn’t want to think of the one who was away; who had promised him that he’d
be here with him – how things would have been if Clark was there.
He pressed his lips: he shouldn’t even think about Clark because his loved ones
didn’t deserve to see him miserable while they were doing everything to cheer
him up. He just hoped that Clark would have a Merry Christmas wherever he was;
that he would be with his mother because Bruce doubted that Vivian would care
to celebrate Christmas and even if she did it wouldn’t be the same. With his
mother Clark would be closer to his human side and would give happiness to
Martha. Did Kansas have snow?
And then his mind travelled back to a rooftop of an abandoned building filled
with snow; a small, warm attic decorated simply but beautiful by a little girl.
A little girl that provided him turkey and dessert; and a kitten who played at
his feet; and then two orphan children playing snow fighting and making snow
angels on the snow; the blackout that made all the stars in the sky visible…
His Christmas miracle.
A gentle hand on his shoulder brought him back. He turned smiling to see Selina
who squatted by his side.
“I know you have imagined this Christmas different…with him here…” she said
softly.
Bruce shook his head.
“No, Sel: I’m happy I’m among all of you – here, in my parents’ home” he took
her hand and intertwined their fingers kissing the back of her palm. “But
there’s no snow…” he mumbled.
Selina shrugged.
“Who knows? It might start snowing…it’s freezing outside and the sky has that
milky color. Maybe it does us the favor” she winked “but even if it doesn’t
snow we still have a great time, right?”
Bruce’s smile was wide and reached his eyes giving them shine.
“Absolutely! Though…hm…” Selina narrowed her eyes smiling “you know what I’d
want, Sel? To visit our rooftop, remember?” he locked eyes with her and she
pressed her lips.
“How could I forget, sweetie?”
“You gave me the greatest gift, Selina, that night: a miracle…”
She lolled her head to the side.
“The blackout did help a lot…”
Bruce gazed at the grounds and the sweet melody of Tony’s angel on the tree’s
top melt his heart.
“Can we go there, Sel?” he chuckled “I’d like to make snow angels even if they
would have only hands…it seems that the snow angels of that rooftop are meant
to be disabled…”
Selina chuckled.
“They demolished that building, sweetie, a couple of years ago…I’m sorry.”
Bruce pursed his lips.
“We must look only ahead, huh? Everything we love is deep in our hearts…alive…”
Selina’s eyes watered though Bruce had spoken completely calm.
“What?” he asked and caressed the liquid on her cheeks.
“Nothing…just that we are together in a warm place, with people we love,
safe…without worrying about the time or if anyone is watching.”
“Who could imagine, huh?”
The bell of the front door rang and Tony went to open, Bruce leaning to see
their visitor though he already knew that it must be Lucius.
“What smells so deliciously?” the scientist asked. “That’s embarrassing: my
mouth already salivates…I feel like Pavlov’s dogs!”
Tony lolled his head on the side.
“Hm…You do bare some resemblance, Lucius…and I was always wonder what do you
remind me of?”
Lucius chuckled.
“While Tony is like a polar bear” Bruce commented having moved towards them to
welcome his loyal scientist. “Some days ago he caused panic in the Mall with
his white fur…”
Bruce shook hands with a beaming Lucius while Selina chuckled and Tony lolled
his head on the side scratching his hair.
“Few people can appreciate art…” he huffed.
“What art has to do with pure kitsch?” Selina teased him.
“As you see, Lucius, I’m between friendly fire…What can a genius do?”
Lucius cocked an eyebrow.
“Relax and enjoy it?” he winked.
Tony nodded.
“As always you’re right, my friend!”
They led Lucius to salon where Alfred came to serve some of his homemade liquor
with orange flavor.
 
Clark approached the farm house hesitantly: the last time he was here he
exchanged bitter words with his Ma and they hadn’t spoken since then. But it
was Christmas Eve and Clark just couldn’t bear the thought of his Ma being
completely alone to a house full of happy memories…And maybe he couldn’t bear
to spend that night far from her.
Besided Diana wasn’t giving much credit to Christmas and she was invited to a
reception at Washington. Superman was invited too but he said that there was
something too important that he couldn’t leave.
The blinking tiny lights of the old Christmas tree that he was seeing as he was
approaching became even clearer; from the small window of the living room. How
many times he slept there hoping that he’d catch Santa Claus? But Jonathan
always found a way to slip the presents without the Kryptonian with the super
sensesbeing able to catch him on act.
He remembered the evenings after the school closed for the holidays that he and
his friends ran around in the decorated town and the winter countryside…Clark
inhaled deeply the glorious scent of grass, icy air and burnt pine wood along
with the smells from the delicacies his mother was cooking with Jonathan’s
help.
The same smells hit his nose again: he had come flying yet he was in Clark Kent
clothes. Still he hesitated to ascend the wooden steps because Ma would
certainly hear him and he didn’t know if he deserved to be with her – even
though he felt good about his choices.
Suddenly, the door opened and Martha came out. She halted for a moment looked
at him and rush to hug him: he is your son…you must never stop being there for
him…Bruce’s words echoed in her ears. The young man had called her to give her
his wishes and urged her to spend the holidays with Clark: Martha could discern
Bruce’s concern, Bruce’s agony to not spend Clark the Christmas alone.
She cupped her son’s face and kissed his cheeks.
“I knew you’d come, baby…” she said in a throaty voice.
“I couldn’t be away from you that day, Ma…”
 
“The dinner will be served in a few minutes” Alfred announced “so the young
Masters and the very young Masters” he looked sternly at Dick and Jason “should
get ready.”
However Bruce noticed the same blur in the air that told him that someone was
out there so he took advantage of the fact that everyone rushed to the dining
room and got out. Upon descending the ramp he felt like being somewhere else:
quiet, relaxing, beautiful as the artificial little lights and the nature
hugged him.
“You shouldn’t have come out without a coat” the blur took the form of Thor.
Bruce shook his head.
“I’m fine – besides we’ll go inside. Come!”
Thor smiled with Bruce’s kindness; his baby blues sparkling.
“No, I just dropped by to ask your pardon.”
Bruce narrowed his eyes.
“Pardon?”
“I failed you” the god said touching his fist to his heart. “I had Joker and
let him get away: it was Loki – I know – who took him. I was searching for Loki
all these days but he knows how to hide himself and his palace.”
Bruce pressed his lips.
“Thor, you didn’t fail me in any way. Joker knows how to escape and with Loki’s
help is even easier for him. Yet I think it’s better you didn’t find your
brother because this way we’ll be able to find out if he has any connection
to…” he halted thinking.
“To what, Bruce?”
“To the bigger scheme I sense…” Bruce said dead serious meeting the god’s
stare.
“Master Bruce, come inside immediately” it was Alfred on the door already
rushing there with a coat stretched that immediately put on his young master.
“Oh, master Thor…” he pressed his lips uncertain “I’m not sure how a butler
must address a god…”
Bruce couldn’t halt himself and started laughing. Thor laughed too.
“You can call me whatever you want, Alfred.”
“You certainly will join us” Alfred said in a voice that couldn’t take no for
an answer.
Bruce smiled and shrugged.
“Now you can’t refuse…” he said playfully and the god smiled which smile became
broader and Bruce’s eyes bulged in a kid’s way when one snowflake sat softly on
Thor’s chest. “It’s snowing!”
More snowflakes began falling increasingly thicker and Alfred patted his young
master’s shoulder.
“Master Thor brought snow with him…” Bruce looked at the blond who blushed.
“Now please do come inside because the turkey is going to get cold and you,
Master Bruce, as well.”
The dinner consisted of every delicacy that was a tradition for Alfred –
especially, the famous Pennyworth cake made everyone get two pieces. And the
view of the snow falling heavily from the wall length unframed window made
everything more beautiful.
When the dinner ended, Dick took Jason to a corner.
“I can’t be with them anymore…” he mumbled.
Leslie stood and looked at Alfred.
“I can’t wait till tomorrow, Alfred!”
Alfred shook his head like saying I know and waved to her to go ahead.
She went to the tree and took a small present wrapped in silver paper with a
light blue ribbon and gave it to Bruce.
“This is why I was absent all this time: to prepare this…” he kissed his cheek
and Bruce untied the ribbon opening the present.
It was a leather case for a DVD. He looked puzzled at both Alfred and Leslie
but everyone was doing the same.
“Well?” Leslie asked anxious.
Bruce put it inside the DVD player and it started.
Martha Wayne stood by the Christmas tree: she was like Bruce remembered her
with the difference that she had a baby bump really huge. It must have been
difficult for her to move around with that burden but she was laughing, her
face radiating as she made gestures to Thomas who was holding the camera.
“Next  year it won’t be so easy for you, Tommy” she said playfully. “We’ll have
a tiny rascal messing with everything…”
“Maybe he’ll be a quiet kid.”
“Nah…he is kicking me all the time: he is active and strong and he is in a
hurry to see the world…” she caressed her belly. “Easy, Bruce: are you so hasty
to part with mommy?”
Thomas giggled.
“You are already calling him by name?”
“Why? You agreed to that name…”
The camera was left on the table and Thomas’ legs appeared as he rushed to his
wife who laughed.
“Not in front of Bruce…” she teased him.
Then the font changed to a screen in black and white with a fetus almost fully
grown sucking his thumb inside his mother’s womb – the sound of his heart
beating the only sound in the silent room.
“You see him?” Leslie several years younger asked happily.
“Yes…” Martha and Thomas who held the same camera answered in unison.
“He is healthy and strong” Leslie said as the image changed slightly with her
soft ministrations on Martha’s belly.
“He is…My little angel is strong…he is perched in his mommy’s belly and won’t
let go…” her voice was choked in tears both happy and sad.
Thomas hugged her shoulders.
“This time everything will go alright, honey…”
Martha dressed in a red, fluffy night robe was sat in a high backed armchair in
front of the fireplace, the fire the only light in the dark salon; she wasn’t
aware of Thomas with the camera because she was singing with her sweet voice a
lullaby – Bruce’s favorite lullaby. The camera zoomed and showed what she was
holding.
A really small baby, hardly one month old was nestled in her chest watching her
fascinated mirroring her stare. She tapped his tiny nose.
“He is so cute…” Pepper said sighing.
“She says that to me all the time” Tony bragged thought his eyes were a bit
watered.
“Sleep, my little star…Mommy is here and won’t let anyone ruin your
dreams…Mommy won’t let anyone hurt you…”
A baby around a year old was scrawling on the thick carpet of the grand salon
so fast as if he was competing in a race.
“Alfred, are you sure that we got every dangerous thing out of his reach?”
Martha asked worried.
“Certainly, Ms. Wayne.”
 “No…, no…Bruce, don’t grab the lights of the tree…”
Thomas chuckled.
“And you worried about the pregnancy pounds, darling…Our son is putting you
under the best training program…”
“Stop laughing and come help…I don’t know if the tree will hold.”
Thomas laughed again.
“It’s a huge tree, Martha: a toddler can’t topple it…”
“I don’t wanna find out” she finally reached Bruce and nestled him in her
chest. “Not so fast, Mr. Wayne…”
“Oh my God…” Bruce mumbled unable to stop his eyes from dripping.
“Ya wanna go an’ see?” Jason asked Dick who glanced there.
“No, I have no interest about their nonsense!”
A boy no more than five was hanging glittering balls to the tree staring with
widened fascinated eyes.
“He is like a kitten!” Selina chuckled unable to hide her emotions and Steve
kissed her cheek.
Tony snorted.
“When we met for the first time I told him that same thing and got a kick on
the shin…And he had a strong kick for his age.”
“You want to put the star on the top?” Martha asked.
“I do it every year!” he said and looked at the camera asking from his father
help.
“Alfred, please take the camera” Thomas said and soon he was in front of the
camera taking Bruce from the armpits and placing him on his shoulders.
Bruce took the star from Martha’s hands and placed it on the top. When Thomas
placed him down he made some steps backwards and lolled his head on the side
regarding his work.
“Well?” Martha asked serious. “Do you approve?”
“It’s the most beautiful tree!” he exclaimed “but I can do better…”
“And what do you want from Santa?” Thomas’ voice was heard behind the camera.
“To bring gifts to every child in Gotham…” he said dead serious but in the end
he pouted.
“I’m sure he’ll do his best, Bruce…”
The little boy looked smartly at his dad.
“You mean you will wear again the Santa Claus’ suit like you did for me last
Christmas and go to every house in Gotham?”
Martha giggled and caressed Bruce’s shiny locks.
“Well, Mr. Thomas Wayne?” Martha asked towards the camera challenging.
“Mmm…Bruce, it was the real Santa…I’m too thin to be him, right?”
Martha turned to the little boy.
“He is indeed too thin to be Santa, sweetie; but lately he sports a little beer
belly” she shook her head affirming but the boy was smiling wickedly.
“No, I’m not!” Thomas protested.
The next scenes were from Bruce’s last Christmas with his parents and it was
exactly as he remembered it: the Cinderella fairytale, Tony’s explanation about
Santa Claus, the angel Tony manufactured for their tree.
Pepper laughed.
“Tony, you were a very funny teen…”
Tony cocked his eyebrows.
“The girl of my class would beg to differ…” he said smugly.
Without anyone noticing Dick with Jason had approached and watched silently:
Dick’s curiosity won his detest. Jason at some point elbowed him and gestured
towards the screen.
“He looks very much like yar little brother” he whispered and Dick clenched his
jaw.
The older boy didn’t answer and left before anyone from the adults noticed him.
Bruce registering for the first time Hero that have climbed on his lap, looked
at Leslie and Alfred not bothering to wipe his eyes or his drenched cheeks.
“Thank you – both of you…This…this was great: I couldn’t imagine that…” his
voice was choked and Leslie rushed to him and hid him to her chest.
“I’m sure they are smiling happy right now seeing how great their son is…”
Bruce knew that everyone was looking at him and didn’t want to ruin that so he
chuckled.
“One thing is sure: my father had an unfulfilled wish to be a director…”
Everyone laughed and Bruce’s mind eyes travelled to two lonely gravestones
under the heavy snow falling; in the chill and the loneliness of the night they
looked like being cuddled.
 
The other morning the snow had covered everything and Bruce couldn’t help but
stare outside all the time till the Haven. He wanted to be with the orphan
children that morning. Those children had shown how much they loved him and he
had promised them a party for the Christmas.
So they had organized the party for the Christmas morning where the star would
be Santa Claus giving presents to the children.
When the Santa arrived carrying the red sack with the presents Bruce had bought
the children gathered around their favorite grandpa cheering and Bruce from the
other end of the room with Alfred on his side , once again those days felt
recharging from their happiness… He stared at the Santa who was tall and round
as he should with a big fluffy white beard and hair.
However all of a sudden, as Santa was giving a boy his present he lolled his
head to the side and stared at Bruce who immediately recognized those eyes –
the broad smile in Santa’s face revealing the edge of a mark that went under
the fake beard.
Bruce’s spine froze and he clenched the armrests ready to order his legs to
support his body. He didn’t want to panic Alfred or the children and the staff;
but he was terrorized because Joker was there, disguised as Santa and he
certainly had prepared something.
Joker was still staring at him smirking and Bruce widened his eyes as a
frightened Bruce Wayne would have done. He watched with the corner of his eyes
for the moment the Santa would make a movement to draw a blade and hurt the
children – some sweat drops popped up on his forehead.
But as the Joker- Santa gave the last present and stood to leave taking
advantage of the kids being engaged with their presents no weapon appeared. He
just turned his head towards Bruce and winked.
“HOHOHO! Merry Christmas, kids!” Bruce watched relieved and puzzled as the
jester slipped out of the building.
 
 
 
***** Chapter 51 *****
Chapter Notes
     Happy New Year!
Bruce was relieved that after the incident with the dead bats’ tree that Joker
had slipped into the Manor, they had scanned carefully the packages with the
presents for the Haven’s children before giving them to the Santa.
Unfortunately, they didn’t manage to scan also Joker who found a way to get
inside… Damn! His guts formed a knot as he thought Paul, the actor who was to
play the Santa.
Alfred felt his young master’s upset and leaned to him worried.
“What is it, Master Bruce?”
Bruce was ready to rush out of the hall and search for Paul and make sure that
Joker hadn’t planted any bombs in the building when Ironman entered the hall
from the main entrance flying: a red and gold angel that made the children
goggle and cheer excited. Yet Bruce couldn’t share their excitement because his
priority was getting his friend’s help.
He tapped his watch to speak with Ironman.
“Tony, can you discreetly scan the building?” he asked calmly to not draw any
attention from the members of the staff that was scattered in the room.
“For what?” Tony chuckled. “Sleigh’s bells and reindeers?”
“Bombs and toxins…” Bruce answered dryly and heard a sharp inhale of breath
from Tony and Alfred.
“What happened?” Tony asked doing impressive twirls to entertain the kids.
“Master Bruce…”
“Our clown was here” Bruce said quietly avoiding using Joker’s name just in
case someone was overhearing.
“Damn!” Tony spat floating over the children’s heads watching at the same time
the indicators inside his helmet that displayed the buildings’ blueprint. “No,
Bruce, there’s no bomb…neither toxin” relief was clear in his voice.
Bruce clenched his temple; he was relieved but the previous worry was still
heavy on him. His mild movement made Alfred rush to the long table to bring
some water to his master.
“But there’s a tied up man inside the Mall’s truck” Tony mumbled.
Alfred gave Bruce the glass of water and he sipped looking at his butler with
gratitude.
“Is he alright?” he asked Tony calmly.
“Yes, just unconscious.”
Bruce closed his eyes in relief.
“Thank you, Tony!”
“Jarvis tells me that there’s no trace of the clown in the area so we can say
that it is safe. Also, the security staff is informed about Paul and they rush
there.”
“Yes, safe…” Bruce whispered and Alfred patted his shoulder.
When the children left the building to play with the snow followed by their
teachers Tony found the chance to come to Bruce; the billionaire from Malibu
had dissolved Ironman’s suit and stayed with his casual, jeans, blouse and
jacket attire. He looked at Alfred’s pale face: only this color betrayed the
man’s worry since otherwise the butler was completely poised.
“Are you alright?” he asked Bruce.
Bruce nodded.
“He came with no intention to harm anyone including me” it was the answer to
Tony.
Tony widened his eyes in disbelief.
“Anyone noticed him?”
“No. Joker was dressed and disguised as Santa” Tony pursed his lips baffled.
“He gave the presents to the kids; he winked to me and just left. I recognized
him before he left but I didn’t say anything because I didn’t want to panic
anyone; besides if cornered, joker would definitely have reacted in a way that
would endanger the children and the staff; I just watched him dreading that at
any moment he’d pull out some blade or…” he shook his head “anything. It’s not
that I could do much, couldn’t I?”
Tony rubbed soothing cycles to his friend’s back.
“I know it is difficult, little guy, but you must think your recuperation” he
searched with his eyes Bruce’s face and it wasn’t difficult to discern his
friend’s emotional exhaustion from this continuous state: Tony’s hatred for the
Joker was boiling more because his stupid game upset Bruce and tempted him to
do something detrimental for his health. “You did the right thing, buddy, for
you and the others” he said warmly wanting to encourage his friend since he
understood how difficult this constant fight was.
Tony looked at Alfred and understood that he was thinking the same things.
“What did he want?” he asked mostly to bring Bruce out of his thoughts.
“To play with me…” the younger man shook his head. “Show me that it’s easy for
him to get near breeching my security and that he could make horrible things if
he wanted…But he didn’t. For him it’s just a game so he does whatever comes to
his head.”
Tony squatted in front of him and held his shoulders.
“Also, that this is just a truce and after that he’ll be near…” Bruce said
gritting his teeth, without looking at Tony’s eyes.
But the billionaire from Malibu took gently Bruce’s chin and made him meet his
caring gaze.
“We’re here to stop him; we’ll catch him, Bruce and he won’t hurt anyone.”
Bruce nodded and Alfred pressed his lips: this was the last thing his young
master needed; that crazy man haunting him even with Master Anthony’s and the
Avengers’ protection.
Bruce smiled and patted his friend’s shoulder.
“When I have you on my side I’m not afraid of anything, Tony.”
Tony cocked his eyebrows but shook his head in disbelief.
“You’re fearless either I’m here or not…Otherwise you wouldn’t insist on going
alone to Metropolis. Bruce, I don’t think that you should go alone there.”
Bruce chuckled.
“Oh, Tony, I can’t drag you wherever I’m going…I’m a big boy now, you know!”
“You don’t drag me everywhere, buddy…But we’re talking about Metropolis…”
Bruce laughed.
“You forget that you’re talking with someone born and raised in Gotham? I think
that even with a decreased criminality rate Gotham is still more dangerous than
Metropolis” Tony closed his eyes and Bruce got serious. “What is worrying you
about Metropolis? Luthor or Superman?”
Tony looked Bruce in the eyes.
“Both, the later one more” Bruce crooked his mouth. “If he is under the
influence of that woman as you believe then he can be manipulated into hurting
you. You can’t be alone, Bruce.”
“I can manage, Tony: I don’t think that he will try anything but even if he
does I can protect myself…” his mind’s eyes saw again the Blade of Justice
grazing Superman’s upper arm spilling blood.
“I know you are perfect able, Bruce but still I don’t want you to be forced to
defend yourself; to exert yourself and maybe get hurt…”
“I won’t, Tony…” he said calm but confident causing Tony’s sigh.
 
The US national gymnastics team was staying at the Hilton hotel in Gotham’s
Midtown. Athletes and trainers had come few days ago to make some training in
the city’s sports’ arena – Gotham’s jewel since it was one of the few public
buildings that were built during Falcone’s era (of course, the corruption
committee found that the mayor had defalcated a large part of the money for the
project).
It wasn’t much time since Trevor Breizic returned from the team’s last training
before the gala and he had just changed clothes when the receptionist called
informing him that Bruce Wayne was waiting for him at the hotel’s conference
hall.
The man was puzzled, intrigued: of course everyone knew Bruce Wayne’s story and
Breizic’s place in the national federation permitted him to know that this
charity gala was proposed and organized by the Wayne Foundation.
But still if there was some matter concerning the gala’s preparation the old
trainer doubted that Mr. Wayne would discuss it himself and with someone like
him: he was a Scouter and a trainer so he had very little to do with organizing
such events.
Upon pushing the door, Breizic saw the young man waiting for him sat in his
wheelchair, deep in thought but as soon as the door opened and closed, Bruce
steered his chair to meet the trainer. It was obvious to Bruce that Breizic was
puzzled about Bruce’s visit yet shook politely the hand that he was offered.
“Mr. Breizic, I’m honored to meet you – I’m Bruce Wayne.”
The man smiled.
“I know who you are, Mr. Wayne: it is a pleasure meeting you’’ his Slavic
accent was distinct despite his decades of living in US.
Breizic sat at one of the dark red velvet conference chairs and looked at
Bruce.
“I know you’re wondering about the reason I wanted to meet you” Bruce said.
“As a matter of fact…yes. I thought that someone with your status would meet
with the president of the federation or someone related with the management.
I’m just a trainer.”
Bruce decided to get immediately to the point.
“Do you know Richard Grayson?”
Breizic pursed his lips and crossed his arms.
“John Grayson’s son…” he nodded. “Yes, I have seen him at the gym those days
but we didn’t meet.”
“I see…Mr. Breizic, I’m Richard’s legal guardian.”
The older man nodded with understanding.
“So that’s the reason this charity gala is going to happen…” he said. “Till now
nobody in Gotham seemed to care or dare to propose something like this… not
that the Federation would have agreed with Gotham’s reputation… But now that
someone as great as you proposed it things changed” he lolled slightly his head
on the side. “And of course you got the idea because your ward is a gymnast:
this is your Christmas present to the boy.”
Bruce’s eyes were too serious and Breizic was puzzled.
“Richard doesn’t know anything about my involvement and I’d like to remain like
this. I admit that I did it for Richard but it is another good opportunity for
Gotham to reclaim her position between the other US cities.”
The older man nodded pressing his lips.
“I know that this was one of the reasons that also urged the Federation to
accept the invitation” he cocked his eyebrows “to encourage the youth of Gotham
to consider sports more than delinquency.”
Suddenly, a thought crossed his mind and the old trainer frowned slightly.
“I know that Richard lost his family last year but he had a grandmother…”
Bruce nodded.
“She disappeared some days ago; however Ms. Turner had trust me with Richard’s
guardianship.”
 “I see… Losing his grandmother must have been another blow to the poor kid –
nevertheless, it is a good thing he has a guardian as considerate as you.”
 “The reason I wanted to talk to you, Mr. Breizic is that Ms. Turner was
worried about Tony Zucco’s sudden appearance in Richard’s life” Bruce noticed
Breizic’s nervousness hearing Zucco’s name; the man had a cold demeanor but the
mentioning of Zucco caused the slightest of twitch which for someone like him
was much.
“So…he came back…” he mumbled.
“You don’t like this man either…” Bruce searched the man’s icy gray eyes.
A bitter smile curved the man’s face.
“Like?” he shook his head. “The man is a scum. I hoped that he’d stay away from
that family once he made so much money from John.”
“But he didn’t. Mr. Breizic; Ms. Turner told me that John Grayson was ready to
fire him from his training team; that Tony Zucco had made him lose all his
money and probably was responsible for John’s doping scandal.”
Breizic yanked his head and huffed.
“That’s true. John loved and trusted him but Zucco made him lose all his money
and then the doping scandal was the final blow: John was sure that Zucco had
slipped forbidden drugs in his water and asked me to become again his head
trainer.”
“And you accepted though John had pushed you away because of Zucco.”
Breizic folded his arms and smiled shaking his head.
“John was my favorite athlete…I was very disappointed when he chose Zucco over
me because I could see through that man and I was sure that he would destroy
John…I admit I was bit pissed that he crossed me out like this” he met Bruce’s
eyes “John’s move wasn’t good for my career…” he yanked his head thinking “but
when he came back to me having realized the truth and his mistake, I couldn’t
refuse his call.”
“And then the accident claimed his life…”
Breizic rubbed his temple.
“Accident…” he said in a mysterious tone.
“You don’t believe it was an accident?”
He shook his head.
“Nothing was proved…not that there was any chance for that… It was Falcone’s
era and the police didn’t give a damn about the death of an athlete: they
tagged the case as an accident and closed the file.”
It was true that there wasn’t much in the case’s file as Bruce had found out
searching GCPD’s archive.
“This is the reason you never came back in Gotham?”
Breizic closed his eyes and inhaled deeply.
“John was excited about the coming of his baby…and he died without having the
chance to meet his son…he died prematurely and in a way…”
Bruce found the man’s eyes.
“It wasn’t an accident, right?”
“I can’t say that, Mr. Wayne…But John had confided in me that he was going to
sue his cousin for fraud for the money he lost – you see, Zucco made real
profit from the same investment that John lost his money.”
“You suspect that Zucco staged the accident?”
“He was the one who suggested the company that renovated the organs of the gym:
he always managed to have good relationships and influence with the
directors…The…accident happened one day after the new equipment arrived. I
found screw cork from the bar: John was rehearsing his performance on the
Horizontal bar” Bruce nodded “he was doing the most difficult of the time,
giant swing and it seemed that he failed to grasp the bar again and fell badly
on the ground…”
“Breaking his neck…” Bruce added and the older man nodded.
“It was tragic: everyone in the team was devastated” he snorted “Zucco of
course overacted as always… People believed that it was a usual miscalculation
that led to this but I was sure that John performed it perfectly as always: I
knew every movement’s ankle, degree, second and these dimensions of John’s
performance didn’t justify the missing of the bar…otherwise I would have run to
catch him. And then I found the screw and it was filed so that with every bump
the bar was moved the slightest bit…and in such difficult performances even the
milimetres count…in the end, the bar had moved so that John’s fingers didn’t
reach…” he stood. “Of course, after all these years who can prove anything?”
“Mr. Breizic, why didn’t you take the screw to the police?”
He smiled bitterly.
“I did but they laughed at me…”
“You have this screw?”
Breizic frowned.
“Are you hoping of reopening the case and proving…what?”
Bruce pressed his lips determined.
“I won’t let Zucco harm Dick as he did with John.”
“Zucco has woven his net around the boy?”
Bruce nodded and locked eyes with him.
“Mr. Breizic, what would you say if I ask you to become an advisor to Richard’s
training? Of course, you’ll remain to your post in the Federation and you’ll be
paid for your services.”
Breizic raised his palm smiling and Bruce was afraid that he had said something
wrong.
“I don’t want any money, Mr. Wayne: let’s say that I owe it to John…yet I don’t
know if I’ll manage to minimize the influence Zucco has to the boy.”
Bruce smiled relieved.
 “It’d be much reassuring for me if you’re close to Richard: he’ll be so happy
meeting his father’s trainer: he is thirsty to know things about his
father…everything.”
Breizic smiled and his icy eyes became much warmer seeing the concern in the
younger man’s eyes.
“You care too much for the boy…Richard is lucky…I’ll consider your proposition,
Mr. Wayne.”
He turned to leave but Bruce halted him.
“Mr. Breizic” the old trainer turned “please, don’t say anything to Richard
about my involvement.”
The older man grinned and nodded.
“You can rest assured, Mr. Wayne.”
 
On the night of 27th of December, Gotham’s Sports’ Arena was filled to capacity
from enthusiastic people who cheered and applauded for their idols. It was the
first time ever that the US national gymnastics’ team performed in the city and
the fact the event was for charity reinforced people’s interest. The interior
was decorated plainly to the holidays’ spirit.
The stadium was vibrating from the music that dressed the athletes’
performances and from the exclamations of agony and admiration every time a
breathtaking exercise was taking place.
However, for Bruce watching Dick performing on the Horizontal Bar was the most
agonizing. For each athlete of the national team, a local talent followed, and
now it was Dick’s turn.
“It is difficult every time…” Alfred said smirking. “Maybe now you’d be more
sympathetic to my worries?”
Bruce lolled his head on the side.
“It’s not the same, Alfred.”
They were a bit easier to talk because Jason and his mother had sat at the
bleachers along with Selina and Steve while he and Alfred stood in a corner
near the performance space.
“Yes, with all due respect, sir, with you it is worse!”
Bruce rolled his eyes and Alfred chuckled.
As Dick’s performance reached the end with the boy landing strongly on his
feet, Bruce steered his chair towards the isle the athletes crossed after their
performance to the shower rooms; he had noticed Breizic on the other corner of
the terrain watching Dick rubbing his chin thoughtful – maybe the man had taken
his decision.
The audience burst out in a deafening applause Bruce looked at Dick’s beaming,
radiant face as he waved to the spectators; his heart beat faster.
“That’s pride, Master Bruce” Alfred winked.
Dick descended from the terrain to the isle with Jeffrey’s arm around his
shoulders: the boy’s eyes were sparkling from joy and Bruce standing there to
congratulate him felt happy too.
Dick upon seeing him, detached from Jeffrey and ran passing Bruce with an
almost hostile glance to nestle into Zucco’s hug who was waiting. Bruce knew
the man was there watching but he chose not make a scene and kick him out first
because it was a public place and then because Dick was going to find out and
things would get worse.
However watching the boy’s love and joy in his uncle’s hug made Bruce’s chest
clench because he knew that the boy was up for a big disappointment once the
truth was revealed.
Alfred leaned to Bruce’s ear.
“I’m sorry, Master Bruce” he said hiding his irritation because that boy was
constantly causing pain to his master.
“It’s okay, Alfred…”
Zucco was staring at Bruce with a gleeful shine when suddenly his face
contorted in surprise. Breizic with Jeffrey marched towards Dick.
Bruce looked at Alfred and then at the scene. Breizic under Zucco’s frown
congratulated Dick and patted his back.
“I’m Trevor Breizic, Richard, your father’s trainer.”
Dick’s eyes were widened.
“I know, sir…I mean…you’re a legend!”
Zucco’s mouth was crooked in disgust.
“Like your father” the old man said. “And believe me when I say: he would be
very proud of his son – your talent, Richard, parallels that of John’s.”
“Of course…” Zucco tried to gain Dick’s attention back but the boy had eyes
only for the old man who didn’t waste even a glance to Zucco.
“I talked to Jeffrey, Richard, and if you want, I’ll gladly participate to your
training from a advisory position.”
Dick’s eyes bulged and his mouth stayed agape.
“Wow! I mean…of course…I mean…it is an honor, sir. Thank you…I…I’ll do my
best!”
Breizic smiled and patted the boy’s back.
“I know you will. Now go change before you get a cold.”
The boy galloped to the showers soon joined by Jason who caught him: the older
boy hugged the younger and twirled him. He had forgotten in his excitement to
greet Zucco who glared at Breizic and Jeffrey but didn’t say anything. He
marched to the other direction and passed by Bruce who was watching calm. Zucco
glared at him panting from his rage and was ready to say something but Alfred
looked at him cocking an eyebrow.
“Is everything alright, sir? Do you need something?”
Zucco spat on the floor and rushed outside.
“Some people need to learn some manners” Alfred commented to Bruce who nodded.
Breizic cast a meaningful glance at Bruce but didn’t approach respecting
Bruce’s wish for discretion. Alfred caught that glance and turned to his master
raising his eyebrows.
“Things came as you wanted them, sir…” Bruce smiled. “Can your humble butler
ask you something?”
The youth looked him puzzled.
“Alfred, do you need to ask?”
Alfred bowed slightly his head.
“Let me come with you to Metropolis, sir…” Bruce lolled his head on the side
pressing his lips. “After your collapse at the hospital and your rapid sleeping
I don’t feel alright leaving you alone.”
Bruce took Alfred’s hand in his.
“I’ll be fine, Alfred; besides, I don’t want Dick staying alone.”
Alfred wasn’t satisfied but he didn’t want to insist; Bruce felt bad for his
butler’s worry but he really wanted to go by himself in Metropolis. He patted
the back of Alfred’s palm.
“You will call me every fifteen minutes, after all… I know you will” he smiled
“and I’ll stay only two days.”
Alfred raised his index finger sternly.
“I hope you don’t have anything naughty in that stubborn mind of yours…”
Bruce chuckled.
“Alfred…How can you say this? You know me…”
His butler shook his head and sighed.
“Exactly, sir…”
 
The LexCorp building stood impressive in the middle of Metropolis’ center; it
was made entirely with glistening titanium glass so it sparkled like a gem
under the Metropolis sun.
Metropolis didn’t have any snow and despite the heavy cold the sun was still
shining.
Bruce gazed at the building from his car’s inside before turning towards the
entrance of the underground parking. He had travelled to the city with his car;
it was the safest way to bring along his peculiar luggage: nobody could open
the doors or the trunk of this car.
The white-red bar descended blocking his path and the security guy raised his
palm in a stop gesture; however when Bruce lowered the dark window to show his
ID the man cleared immediately the way for him.
Bruce was prepared for the option of someone posing objections on letting him.
He parked the car having already seen Mercy Graves with her arms folded waiting
for him in front of the steel colored wide lift. Bruce opened, placed his chair
on the floor and sat; before he made a move towards the lift, Graves marched to
him almost aggressively.
 “Good morning, Mr. Wayne” she said coldly but politely; completely unfazed by
the fact that she was part of his kidnapping by Luthor. “I’m here to guide you
to the conference room: Mr. Luthor didn’t want you to be lost inside the
building.”
Bruce smiled confidently, mirroring her mask.
“Thank you but there wasn’t any need for that…I can find my way.”
Mercy cocked her eyebrows.
“Oh! I’m sure…Shall we?” she made an inviting gesture and Bruce grinned moving
ahead to the lift.
He hadn’t the chance to see the other floors but the Christmas decorations were
scarce in the top floor where Luthor’s office and the conference room were. It
seemed that Luthor wasn’t in celebrating mood… 
The conference room was really gargantuan with nothing more than a long
rectangular table made of glass and steel and the chairs for the members. The
whole wall windows gave a spectacular view of the Metropolis’ skyline.
The table wasn’t full yet as the shareholders kept coming but Luthor was there
sitting at the chair in the table’s head with all his arrogance radiating. His
time in jail may have had an impact in his pride but he hid it too well.
Mercy made an inviting gesture with lot of irony in her face to Bruce and he
keeping his poised face slithered calmly inside. He noticed with the corner of
his eye Luthor jumping to his feet hasty to meet him; Bruce smirked inside: of
course, Luthor was going to try to harass him. Well, he really looked forward
to it: facing an opponent always raised Bruce’s mood.
Luthor stood in front of him grinning smugly.
“Mr. Wayne! How nice of you to come! I was sure that you wouldn’t grace us with
your presence now that your local protector ‘protects’ someone else” he raised
an eyebrow. “Or IronStark is floating over my building?”
Bruce smiled calmly.
“Is that so?” he answered sarcastic. “I don’t see something that I must be
afraid of or you think otherwise? As for protectors, I don’t understand what do
you mean but I’m certain you know better about protectors…especially, those who
move the strings so that convicts are released.”
Some of the present shareholders were looking at them listening with interest.
“No handshake?” Bruce asked mock perplexed. “I know that in front of people you
use to act politely…Even if that changes inside your suite.”
Luthor narrowed his eyes and offered his hand which Bruce shook.
“I see the L has vanished from your cheek…” he hissed. “Too bad… it suit
you…Plastic surgery?”
Bruce chuckled.
“There was no need for that…It fainted too fast: you see, Mr. Luthor, you’re
not as strong as you brag. May I?” he asked gesturing to the conference table.
Luthor fumed but made space for him.
“We’re not finished, Wayne…” he said from his clenched teeth.
Bruce smiled confidently.
“Of course not! I’m the owner of the 20% of LexCorp.”
Bruce steered his chair to the table and one shareholder that Bruce knew was
Mr. Scales took the metallic chair away to make space for Bruce’s chair. The
youth smiled and thanked him.
“Good morning, ladies and gentlemen” Bruce addressed the shareholders who were
present. “I’m honored to meet you.”
They weren’t very warm but typically kind so they greeted Bruce accordingly
much to Luthor’s wrath. And maybe that was the reason the shareholders spoke
nice to Bruce: their distaste for Luthor was more than evident.
Which came out immediately after the board table were full and the doors
closed.
“LexCorp is in the worst place in its history!” a young shareholder shouted at
Luthor.
“We have lost loads of money and our shares are now junks!”
Luthor’s eyes were completely still, piercing the wall opposite him, his breath
held.
“Because of him” he hissed showing with his head at Bruce.
However the younger man shook his head completely calm.
“Hardly. It was the company’s president’s actions that led to the rapid fall of
the shares; on the contrary, LexLabs of which I have the control show healthy
numbers and lately they began increasing their shares’ value in the markets.”
An elder shareholder who was watching carefully Bruce speaking shook his head.
“Yes, Mr. Wayne, but LaxLabs can’t be considered LexCorp anymore…”
Bruce smirked inside seeing with the corner of his eye Luthor’s brow crease:
LexLabs was his baby and the lost had cost him more so when people rubbed it in
his face.
“I just want to point out, Mr. Peabody” that was the name of the elder
shareholder who seemed impressed by Bruce’s knowledge “that attributing
LexCorp’s crisis to me is ridiculous.”
Peabody smiled.
“Of course, Mr. Wayne: the fate of a company is and mirrors its president’s
responsibility.”
Luthor locked eyes with Bruce.
“Don’t you dare change the name of LexLabs!”
A whisper crossed the seats of the meeting table: everyone remembered the video
showing Luthor abusing Bruce and now their president manifested again his
aggressiveness like a common thug. However Bruce was completely calm.
“Oh! I assure you, Lex, that I don’t have such intention: you see, I want
people to remember LexLabs’ past and compare it with the present and the
future” he knitted his brows. “However I think that a change of name would be a
blessing for you because that way you wouldn’t be reminded all the time about
the way your powerful allies led you to losing your jewel.”
Luthor clenched his fist.
“Soon LexLabs will be mine again!”
Bruce cocked an eyebrow.
“If you rely on another powerful ally for that I’d suggest you remember what
happened just a few months ago…” he lolled his head “besides why you’d want to
take the labs back? To return them to shady business?”
Many of the shareholders murmured their agreement infuriating Luthor.
“LexCorp will regain its previous grandiose – it’s a matter of time and then
any parasite will be banished once and for all!” Luthor slapped his hand on the
table.
Bruce locked eyes with him completely serious.
“Arrogance never helped anyone, Mr. Luthor: you should have learnt your lesson
by now…”
 
When the meeting ended with Luthor reaffirming his presidency Bruce returned to
his hotel. Bruce didn’t expect that Luthor would lose his rule in the company
but he was satisfied because he had seen the building from inside making sure
that there were no changes to the blueprints he had hacked.
He moved his chair through the vast foyer of the hotel: the temptation was
pushing him towards the reception hall in the ground floor though he wasn’t
sure if it was the right thing to do. It was his fault he faced that dilemma
because when he asked Alfred to make reservations there he knew the ceremony
would take place there.
It seems that he wanted to be there even from afar to witness Clark’s awarding…
His heart was pounding as he was approaching and the battle inside him was
roaring; something ordered him to turn his back and not even cast a glimpse.
But he desired to see him…
The event was like a party and the joyful fuss flooded the entire roof. Bruce
reached the open door and looked with his breath having stopped.
The always bad dressed Clark Kent had tried to look more elegant without
reaching the point of being recognized; his jacket was still a bit oversized to
look as if it was borrowed by a friend and his square huge glasses a bit askew
to hide his beautiful blue topaz eyes. Bruce felt his chest clenched painfully
watching Clark clutching the frame with his prize making the photographers
frenzied to take his pictures.
Bruce noticed that despite the fact he was in full Clark Kent mode the blushing
over his cheeks wasn’t real like in the past – he could discern what was real
and fake in Clark and he was sure that Lois who leaned on a corner watching
with crossed arms noticed too.
In the hall all of Clark’s colleagues from Planet were present and of course
Perry who was radiating from pride since this was the second Pulitzer for the
Planet. The only one absent was Diana…Vivian…Bruce shook his head: of course,
Clark wouldn’t have told her the truth about his daily profession afraid of
losing her respect since he knew her opinions about humans. Bruce felt bad for
Clark because he couldn’t share his victory with his loved one…
But above all Bruce felt so proud seeing everyone applauding for Clark; he was
so happy himself that his face muscles formed a radiant smile without even
noticing.
The other winners took their prizes before Clark and now the ceremony became a
party with people storming to the buffets and forming companies. Clark was
welcomed to every company and was never left alone.
At least, he still didn’t lose his connection with humans…Bruce thought and
turned his chair to leave unnoticed as he had come.
He was almost at the lift when he heard footsteps behind him…footsteps he knew
so well. Bruce closed his eyes and his heart dropped: he saw Superman floating
again before his bedroom’s window with red angry eyes.
“Bruce” he didn’t turn and continued his course to the lift.
But Clark easily caught up and stood before him. Their eyes met.
“I didn’t expect to see you here…”
Bruce lolled his head.
“It is a hotel and I had to stay somewhere to attend the LexCorp’s annual board
meeting.”
Clark nodded: as a journalist he knew all about that.
“I saw you watching when I received the prize…”
Bruce wanted to bite his lips: Clark of course could identify his vitals but he
wasn’t sure that he still would be interested in doing so.
“I heard the fuss and approached…”
Clark smiled and Bruce’s heartbeat elevated before he ordered it to calm in
order for Clark not noticing.
“So…you want to tell me that it was random?” he asked smugly.
“Of course not” Bruce wasn’t going to lie.
And Clark realizing became serious.
“Mmm…yes…I…I took your email congratulating me…By the way congratulations on
the Person of the Year award.”
“Thank you.”
“I’m sure you celebrated with all your friends as I’m going to do with Diana…”
he smirked.
“Well, I must be going” Bruce said but Clark thwarted him.
“I saw your smile before…You need to smile more, Bruce…”
“Mind your own business” he spat.
But Clark clutched his upper arm. Bruce cast him a glare and Clark remembering
the bruises he had made to the human released him.
“Why are you here, Bruce?” he asked suspiciously. “If you wanted you could have
remained unnoticed even by my senses but you didn’t. You came on purpose to
create a breach between me and Diana.”
Bruce narrowed his eyes that flashed like thunders.
“No, I just came to applause for you because you deserved that prize. But I
don’t want you back: I was the one that kicked you out, remember? Happy New
Year, Clark!” he maneuvered his chair bypassing him to the lift.
Clark was ready to follow but the lift’s doors opened and people came out so
it’d be awkward if Clark Kent chased Bruce Wayne. What for after all? His mind
travelled to Diana and his body shivered from anticipation: he turned his back
and returned to the party.
 
Batman had easily breeched the security system of the LexCorp building; he had
entered the space at the building where the secret archives were safely
stashed: he hoped to find something explaining the usage of the odd items they
had found at the labs and anything concerning the creation of embryos from DNA.
The idea of his children somewhere in the world was always in the back of his
mind. Of course, he had the option of interrogating Luthor, however that would
reveal that someone was suspecting them and Batman didn’t want that.
LexCorp building was the second place he visited that night. First, he broke
and entered the building of Mannheim’s enterprises.
 Now he was gazing at the sparkling city of Metropolis from the rooftop of
LexCorp’s building. His work there was finished and he breathed the clean, cool
air of the winter sky – some distance away at Metropolis’ central square sounds
of music, songs and laughter filled the air.
It was the annual party for bidding farewell to the year: Metropolis’ tradition
was to hold two parties – one at December 29th for the year that was leaving
and one in 31st to welcome the New Year. Batman had not the luxury of sharing
people’s joy not that Bruce Wayne had…
He missed the thick snow of Gotham yet here away from his friends he was free
to don the cowl and settle some businesses without having people worried. Of
course, he knew that Alfred was suspicious yet his loyal butler couldn’t insist
on coming along.
He heard the movement of the air and Batman didn’t need more to understand; he
made to leave but a force gentle but unyielding carried him him to the wall.
Batman’s lenses locked with Superman’s blue eyes.
“You banned Superman from Gotham but you act in Metropolis – my city. Double
standards?”
Batman yanked his head.
“It’s Gotham’s business” he growled.
Bruce felt the urge to push to escape remembering that night that Superman used
him in the most brutal way… however this time Superman’s body glued to him
without any aggressiveness and frankly Bruce would prefer it if there was
aggressiveness in this body because then his own body would focus on that last
night and not on the moments of pleasure this body gave him.
“You know that you shouldn’t wonder like this…” Superman whispered to his
artificial ears “it is too dangerous – you may get injured again.”
“Mind your own business” Batman retorted through gritted teeth.
Superman however leaned closer to his face and his lips almost touched Batman’s
exposed skin inhaling deeply.
“I hate that this armor doesn’t let your body’s perfume off…” his lips came
even closer and Batman almost closed his eyes because his body shivered
remembering the times Superman had kissed him. “I missed you…and I know you
missed me too…otherwise you wouldn’t have come to the ceremony…”
Superman almost captured Batman’s lips which craved to be kissed yet Bruce won
himself and the Man of Steel twitched a bit looking perplexed into the
emotionless lenses and then at his left ribs. He smiled: the Blade of Justice
was touching his skin ready to cut. He looked again at Batman’s clenched jaw.
“I still have the mark on my upper arm…” he smirked but then turned to Bruce’s
face. “We still can be together…Diana won’t object.”
“But I will! Back off!” Batman growled determined and Superman feeling the peak
of the dagger pricking his rib relented a bit. “Look elsewhere for a mistress!”
He slipped away from him but Superman flew in front of him. Batman showed him
the dagger warningly causing his smirk.
“I can find you, Batman: you can’t hide from me…”
Batman didn’t show anything just walked to the edge of the rooftop and  jumped
stretching his arms turning his cape into wings. Superman’s eyes shone
gleefully and he took off with a smirk brushing his face.
“If you want to play hide and seek…You can’t hide from Superman…”
But suddenly he realized that he couldn’t locate the man even by using his 100
different kinds of vision and his super senses. He sighed.
“Or you can?” he shook his head: Bruce’s ninja training didn’t lose anything
due to his disability.
He cocked an eyebrow and looked at the festivities in the square above him; a
slight melancholy and nostalgia filled him with a dim thought floating to his
mind: celebrating with Bruce and his friends– Diana wasn’t in the mood for
Christmas celebrations: they were too…mortal-ish…However with her he still
could celebrate his prize…She knew how to make him forget everything else.
He changed his course towards her apartment where he knew she was waiting
always for him to show him her love.
 
Batman landed on the rooftop behind Green Arrow who still held his bow
stretched, the cord trembling from the arrow that had just launched. Arrow
turned and smirked noticing in Batman’s clenched hand the arrow he had used;
the one with the glowing green head.
“I see you caught my arrow…” the man told Batman who walked towards him.
“Impressive! Nobody can’t do that.”
Batman yanked his head scowling.
“Wrong assumption” he growled and Arrow smirked.
Bruce was intrigued by the man’s eyes; they were under the hood’s shadow but
they sparkled like fires. However what counted for him was the Kryptonite
arrow: he grabbed it with both hands and broke it in two, stashing the
Kryptonite head into his belt while threw the rest to Arrow’s feet. The Robin
Hood look alike shook his head.
“Don’t be pissed…I saw Supes following you and I thought you needed help. You
know, being alone in a strange city.”
“Wrong assumption again – I didn’t need your help” Arrow smiled broader.
“Metropolis is the newest addition to your collection of cities?”
Arrow locked his fervent eyes with Batman’s lenses and made a deep bow.
“Deeply honored that Batman investigated me.”
“I investigate anyone that acts in Gotham.”
Arrow cocked his eyebrows though they weren’t visible.
“I didn’t act in Gotham: I was just visiting and happened to be in the right
place the right moment.”
Bruce narrowed his eyes.
“It happened…” he snorted. “I don’t believe in coincidences, Arrow; not that
you are a…nomad vigilante.”
Arrow lolled his head.
“Am I officially in your list of suspects for…” he pursed his lips perplexed
“whatever? Oh! The thrill to be under Batman’s close inspection!”
Batman regarded him.
“This was what you wanted from the beginning, right?”
Arrow snorted.
“If you consider me a bad guy then you must know that bad guys don’t want
Batman at their trails so why would I want to draw your attention?”
“I never said that you’re necessary a bad guy but your role is still misty…”
“I’m challenging to you then? How flattering!”
Suddenly, multicolored sparkles filled the sky in different shapes as the party
at the square was at its heat. Arrow turned to see the spectacle.
“Do bats like fireworks?” he asked and turned his head to take his answer but
Batman wasn’t there.
Arrow shook his head laughing amused.
“I should have known…”
 
Harleen Quinzel unlocked her apartment’s door. Though December 31st’s night –
New Year’s Eve – she didn’t have any mood to be part of the celebrations for
the New Year’s coming. She had spent the Christmas with her parents away from
Gotham but for the New Year’s Eve she stayed in the city. Actually, her shift
at the Asylum had just ended and she cared only for a good bath and a couple
hours of nice sleep.
But upon walking the corridor to her living room, the pink shade of her lamps’
light told her that someone was inside. She frowned and hanged her coat and
purse to the shelf. She wasn’t afraid of burglars; she took the pistol from her
coat’s inner pocket and walked inside.
“Fiiiiinally, the working girl is baaaaaaack!”
Joker was sprawled on her pink sofa with crossed legs. Harleen placed her gun
on the dark brown small trunk.
“Youuuuuu have a guuuun!” Joker’s eyes bulged. “Wow! Buuuut knives aare better,
sugar” he took in Harleen’s frown and got serious. “You’re a lonely person like
me, huh?” he asked gesturing to the room. “I was goooooing to spend the Eve
aloooone but then I remembered my kiiiind doc…”he looked at her “I was sure
that you’d be alone toooooo…” he gestured to her to come closer. “C’mon, make
yourself at home…Hehe…”
She marched with confident strides closer.
“It is my home” she said cocking an eyebrow and Joker scratched his hair.
“Weeeell, that’s true…buuuuuut looooki look what I brought youuuu!”
He left his sprawled position and leaned to the waist table showing with both
hands a bottle of expensive champagne wrapped in golden paper.
Harleen raised her eyebrows.
“What for?” she asked and sat at the pink armchair next to the sofa.
Joker pouted and shrugged.
“To humor the New Year aaaaand thank a woman who reeeeeally cares for me…”
Harleen was satisfied by this yet she kept her defenses up.
“After what happened at the square you didn’t threaten people again…”
“Yeah…” he shook his head licking his lips.
“This is very good Jack; I’m certain that you can reform completely and amaze
everyone!”
Joker smiled making his scars more prominent.
“With youuuuuur help…Remember what we said about Bru--cey?”
She nodded.
“Are you still iiiiiin?”
“Of course.”
“That’s myyyyy girl! Go, go fetch some flutes: we have things to celebrate…”
She did as he said but while she was in the kitchen she heard music and the
balcony door opening. Her apartment had a really big balcony overlooking half
the city and especially those nights of the year the view was majestic.
She filled the flutes and went to the balcony where Joker was leaning his waist
against the railing staring at her. Harleen offered him the flute and he hit it
softly to hers before drinking.
“Toooooo us” he proposed and Harleen couldn’t stop the smile that trembled on
her lips. “I’m sure we’ll make a spec--tacular duo!”
The melodies of Harleen’s favorite waltz filled the chilly air and Joker locked
eyes with her completely serious.
“You’re a really gorgeous woman, aren’t you?” he said in a suave voice
completely unrecognizable and offered her his hand.
She took it and he hugged her beginning to move her to the melody; Harleen felt
goose bumps: Jack was a really talented dancer she realized and his green acid
eyes on hers were so serious, almost sad that made Harleen forget everything
she knew about his crimes.
“Oh…Baaatsy-Bruuucey, how I miiiiiiss oour daaaances…Well, this waltz thing is
niiice buuuut our dance has better moves…It’s all about authenticity aaaand
choreography…” he thought smiling at his former doctor.
And then tires were heard from the street above. Joker looked down and Harleen
did the same: patrol cars swarmed the street around the building and officers
jumped out with guns.
“Oooops! They are foooor me…”
Harleen was frustrated and annoyed.
“Some neighbor must have seen you…”
“In ooooother case I’d have killed all youuuur neighbors – I haaaate neighbors
who stick theeeeir nose everywhere - but…for your sake I wooooon’t” he bowed,
took her hand gently and kissed its back burning her skin. “I’ve got to go
now…”
He jumped from the balcony and Harleen rushed there with bulged from terror
eyes; only to see the jester been lifted to the air by a strange thing attached
to his jacket – it was like a helicopter with a big Cheshire smile painted on
the bar.
Joker waved to her as the officers stormed her apartment.
“Haaaaappy New Year, Harlequin!” he exclaimed and vanished to an alley just
before the officers reached the balcony.
 
It was almost midnight but at the Wayne Manor the garden was filled with life;
food and beverages had been placed on the rectangular marble table while the
champagne waited to be opened at the changing of the year. The night wasn’t
very cold and the snow had started to fall again softly.
At first, Alfred and Leslie were afraid to let Bruce be outside but then didn’t
want to ruin the mood and agreed. They didn’t regret it: everyone was happier
in the garden, livelier; the night atmosphere and the decoration carrying away
every concern.
Dick and Jason were playing snow fight and Bruce was breathing easier seeing
his charge being careless; hearing that Breizic would be watching him had
excited him. Hero wearing a small Santa Claus’ beanie was trying to catch every
snowball running from one boy to another.
Selina with Steve were behind a large bush.
“Have you told Bruce that his present engage you 24/7?” Steve asked her
playfully.
Selina frowned.
“I admit that this professional painting set was taken from my dreams…but 24/7?
I’m still sleeping with you.”
Steve shook his head.
“Only because your bed is big enough to fit me and not the set…”
Selina tapped his bottom lip.
“You’re not that petit, Captain…”
Tony and Pepper were vanished too and Bruce was sure that his friend was taking
advantage of the darkness.
Leslie and Alfred stood at the table and Bruce was sure that they were plotting
against him… Ms. Todd was talking with Matt and Lily. Lucius would have been
there too but he was spending the New Year’s Eve with his nephew’s family.
Bruce looked at everyone with love: nobody said anything about Metropolis.
Bruce caressed his lips: he still felt Superman’s breath there…the sense of his
hot flesh approaching to claim his lips.
“She is my star!” Bruce showed Superman again kissing her floating over
Chicago.
He wished Clark was there too…Or at least be happy where he was.
 
An hour ago the surveillance system he had installed in Quinzel’s apartment
sent a signal about a presence there and Bruce knew it was Joker. So Batman
alarmed Jim.
However from the police’s frequency he heard that the jester got
away…Everything pointed out that only Batman could do the job…
“Ladies and gentlemen” Tony trotted at the center of the garden where the table
was trying to rub off the marks from Pepper’s lipstick. “She framed me up!” he
said to the eyes that focused on the marks.
Pepper passed him patting him in the buttock and he cleared his throat.
“Well” the billionaire said after everyone gathered “I have inside information
that the New Year arrives sooooo…”
He waved his hand like a magician and above their heads appeared a hologram
showing a cloud with sparkling stars.
“And… ten…”
A star detached from the cloud and crossed the sky falling over the distant
forest.
“I’m not gonna do all the work alone…” Tony cocked his eyebrows and everyone
joined him.
“Nine…” for every number a star crossed the sky and vanished “…four, three,
two, one…”
A loud bang was heard and then other bangs and the sky over the Manor was
filled with multicolored sparkles that formed angels, waterfalls, mountains,
famous sights and…Ironman.
“I hope we don’t have to call the fire brigade…” Alfred mumbled snidely to
Tony’s ear offering him a flute with champagne.
“Please, Alfred…You insult me now…”
Selina was kissing Bruce’s cheeks and Hero had run to his lap. Tony kissed
Pepper and moved there too.
“My turn now, missy…Go to your Captain…”
“Happy New Year, Master Bruce” Alfred said after his friends detached a bit to
exchange wishes with the others.
“Happy New Year, Alfred” he replied and gazed at his people exchanging wishes
and kisses; he felt so warm, so content…and so weak. “Alfred…I’m tired…” he
whispered.
“Of course you are, sir” Alfred said scolding but also fearful.
Bruce didn’t understand how but Leslie came to him immediately.
“Are you feeling alright?”
“Of course, I’m just drowsy.”
Tony squatted in front of him.
“Your vitals are normal but…”
“Of course they are, Tony…I just…Please continue the party.”
“I’ll take you to your bedroom” Tony said determined and stood his Ironman
boots forming around his legs.
When Bruce closed his eyes in the warmth of his bed sleep came immediately.
“I can understand the darkness inside you, Bruce, that separates you from the
others. Only a man like me, with the same experiences can understand you…” he
heard again Oliver Queen whispering.
***** Chapter 52 *****
The night was perfectly silent as if everything went completely still or there
was nobody on the planet: only the cold was piercing through the bone and
Batman despite the fact his armor didn’t let the cold reach him, could tell
because his breath left a small cloud every time he chose to breathe that way.
Such silence wasn’t normal, he thought; it was Metropolis , one of the largest
cities in US and fuss was always present.
The deafening silence made it even easier to hear it: and before hearing,
sensing… He descended gracefully on the rooftop; Batman could have left swiftly
yet his body didn’t want to obey…neither his heart. He had missed him despite
the fact he would never admit to anyone…he missed him and he hated himself for
that.
Suddenly, a powerful wave hit him and Superman carried him along to pin him to
the wall – carefully, not like the last time he had used him with all the crude
the Man of Steel could conjure. He felt goose bumps as Superman glued his body
on his; Bruce still remembered the feeling on his lips from all the times the
alien had kissed him with all the love that resided to his heart.
“I missed you and I know you missed me too…” Superman whispered.
Superman’s lips wanted to claim his; they were very close and their breaths
collided to hug and become one; Bruce had to fight with himself.
Batman’s lenses locked with those extraordinarily blue topaz eyes and the first
time he laid eyes on the Man of Steel came back to him: there, in Dolcetto’s
filthy kitchen with Signora Bruna’s menace lurking. His angel… Bruce had loved
the man since then and though he had buried his thirst deep inside, he was
counting the days to their destined meeting: not that he believed that a being
like Superman would ever be interested in him yet…he knew that they’d meet some
day. And that day, despite Bruce was aware that he didn’t deserve that man’s
love, had been such a fool to raise his eyes to look at him.
Like a memory from another lifetime he saw himself in the same rooftop, in the
same situation threatening Superman with the Knife of Justice pushing him off
of him.
But that was in another lifetime because in this lifetime Batman yanked his
head forward and captured Superman’s lips with all the lust and despair of his
need. He kissed him giving everything he got; careless of his air supplies
ending; of the burning in his healing lug. The only thing that mattered was
that he had again the same sensation of those hot lips brushing his own thirsty
lips; the salty and sweet flavor that made his mind go numb and his body melt…
And then he was again placed on the floor upon the old blanket wrapped in
Superman’s red cape; the interior of the greenhouse seemed so warm under the
light of the oil lamp and the heater Clark had just lit. But his eyes were
locked with the man’s he loved all his life: scared and curious, eager and
hesitant.
Superman took his hand and brought it to the clutches of his blue outfit on his
shoulders allowing to strip him…Bruce touched the perfect, unmarred skin and it
was like he had imagined it: the electric current running his spine; the fire
in his groin, the trembling all over his feet, the sweet impatience. The dread
for his own body’s reactions; the terror of losing control; of letting go; of
being sneered; of all the demons who lurked…
“Tonight I’ll worship your body…” the angel with the blue topaz eyes whispered
and began kissing him…
But his kind face suddenly changed: his features were distorted in rage and
Bruce was lying on his bed staring at him without fear but sadness…
“I didn’t see Loki but even if that it is true then I see” he smirked and
Bruce’s chest clenched painfully for what was coming “that Bane and Talia
taught you the pleasures of threesome so what better than two gods fucking
you?” Bruce’s eyes bulged and his heart stopped beating. “Maybe if I told you
that Diana and I would both fuck you, there wouldn’t be a problem…But since I
didn’t, you took the first opportunity you found: Thor and Loki: Who got your
ass and who your mouth? Or they changed positions? You’re doing the same with
Rogers and Selina in the Tower? I imagine you prefer to fuck your friend than…”
Bruce couldn’t stand it anymore; nausea was burning his stomach and every word
from Clark’s mouth was acid. He raised his hand and brought it with all his
speed and force at Clark’s face…
But an unbeatable force stopped his hand midair and the Man of Steel pinned his
arm on the mattress above his head clenching Bruce’s wrist. Immediately a
violent slap made Bruce’s head roll on the side and the familiar taste of iron
choked him as blood sprung from his nostril and lip slithering slowly to his
cheek. A deafening thunder worsened the buzz in Bruce’s ear but he looked
through his narrowed eyes at Clark who was smirking smugly.
 “I owed you that, Bruce, remember?”
And then the horrible, familiar sound of foreign flesh punishing his insides
burning, grazing, hurting…He was clenching his jaw and biting his lip to not
moan. And it was so difficult hearing Clark’s roars and sneers…
Bruce stirred at his bed under the soft blankets and opened his eyes. At first,
he was panting but quickly forced himself to calm: a dream…his two encounters
with Clark in Metropolis had woken up everything he chose not think. He pressed
his lips; bitterness filled his insides like a corrosive acid…
It was all his fault: he should have never succumbed to Clark’s love…to his own
feelings. He knew who he was; he knew that there should be no place for such
things in his life…that he didn’t deserve to be loved; much more by someone
like Clark.
He was a fool for allowing that…The result was that his love wasn’t enough to
save Clark from Vivian’s trap.
Bruce closed his eyes and his heart began pounding from agony for Clark: he had
let him go; he had let him at her mercy. His face filled with sweat drops and
willed his breath to become slow: there was no other option…
He pushed his hair on his head with both hands: keeping him would have led to
worse things: Clark might have done something that when he got back his senses
would regret for ever. Bruce’s pelvis screamed aching exactly like that night;
a gasp escaped from his mouth; he rubbed his eyes. No, what happened that night
wasn’t one of the things Clark needed to regret…Bruce closed his eyes and bit
his lip: he was used to that…
He glanced at the clock on the bedside table: it was a quarter to 4. Too early.
The heavy curtains were drawn but Bruce clapped his hands and they withdrew
revealing a spectacular view of the snow covered grounds that sparkling under
the sparkling light blue light of the tiny lamps mesmerized Bruce’s eyes:
during his stay at the Fortress Clark was taking him out almost every night -
always very attentive and careful to Bruce’s temperature. His eyes travelled
miles and miles of sparkling snow under the different colors of aurora
borealis.
They discussed many times about how they would cherish the snow in Gotham…
Bruce covered his face in his palms: he shouldn’t think about these; there were
more crucial things. Joker, Mannheim, Vivian and who might be hiding behind
her… And then Zucco, Dick, Ms. Turner…Queen and then Arrow… Thomas Elliot.
Thor’s baby blues sweet and compassionate…He huffed: he had messed things up!
He had to take action immediately… to save Dick from this man; to save Superman
from Vivian and whatever was hiding behind her. To find a meaning to all these…
And then?
He looked outside. If Superman got his senses back he might want to approach
him again…To come back. Bruce’s heart clenched: this option almost panicked him
because it’d be a temptation, a new struggle to do the right thing. And the
right thing was never allowing to repeat the same mistake: Clark should make
his life with someone appropriate…Not him.
But he almost made the same mistake at Metropolis: he let his feelings carry
him away and went to his awarding ceremony to see him again…And then on the
rooftop he almost bent…
No…no…never again.
He felt exhaustion flooding his body and rubbed his temple. There were slight
pinches of pain throughout his back…He remembered the energy casts holding
together his patched body: Superman didn’t take them from him; he didn’t doom
him to being stuck in a bed. Even under this influence Superman kept his
kindness…
His eyelids grew heavier: he really wanted to sleep; to have a small escape
from the real world.
 
Alfred looked at the four white lilies’ bouquets on the marble dresser at the
Manor’s foyer: a delivery boy had brought them first thing in the morning.
Master Bruce had ordered them and before half an hour there were two bouquets
more, with white roses. Now were gone which meant only one thing.
The Englishman raised his eyes to the place where Martha and Thomas Wayne had
their last residence. And sighed.
Bruce had followed the path Tony had made for him to the top of the hill that
was covered with fresh, unspoiled snow. Before he left the Manor Bruce saw
Richard and Jason making a snowman with Hero running from one to another; so he
decided to come out from the back door to not be seen.
He placed tenderly the bouquets at the base of the tombstones; they were
covered with snow but the white cheerfulness didn’t do anything to loosen the
knot in his guts… He brushed the tombstones and lowered his eyes.
“I feel that I don’t do what I must… That I should have done more but I’m not
good enough…” his sparkling eyes fixed on the grey marble “I wish you were here
to guide me, mom, dad…” he bit his bottom lip. “Not only to guide me…, just be
here” he inhaled deeply “spend the days with you…” Bruce chuckled bitterly.
“I…although I knew that it was impossible…however I had deep under my conscious
mind the feeling that things would be like then…” he nodded “for Christmas…that
somehow things would change: I’d woke up from a nightmare and you would be
there…”
He rubbed his eyes and then huffed desperately.
 “I miss you so much…” his eyes went blank, fixed on their names; on feelings
and scenes of his past.
Suddenly, a purring startled him and pushed him out of his comfortable but
phony world; a purring he knew so well. He looked to his chair base and Hero
was there staring at him.
“Hero, what are you doing here? Come, buddy!” he took him to his lap and began
rubbing his frozen paws to warm them.
With the corner of his eye he saw Dick and Jason halting abruptly, the call for
Hero still in their mouths. They were chasing the kitten and seeing Bruce were
both dumbfounded.
Bruce hadn’t wanted Dick to see him there more so with his eyes watered and
some tear drops glistening frozen on his cheeks; he didn’t want the boy think
that he tried to…to anything. Their eyes met: the boy’s eyes were narrowed; he
had followed Hero.
“In the Manor’s foyer, fours bouquets wait” Bruce said quiet. “They are for
you…I ordered them along with…” he showed with the head the bouquets on the
snow “mine. I thought that you might want to visit your family and take them
something…”
Dick lowered his eyes; yes, all these days, his family’s absence weighted more
but he didn’t want to show weakness. Yet Wayne had seen into him. He pressed
his lips and nodded; he was ready to say something but Wayne caught him.
“I know you don’t want me near them so I gave instructions to Alfred and he
will take you there…” he turned towards his parents’ graves and placed his hand
on the tombstone. “I never had the chance to bid them a proper farewell…” his
voice was steady. “Only once I placed a flower to the place they were
murdered…but it was a withered white rose from the garbage…They deserved
better…”
Dick frowned: he felt the hidden pain in Wayne though the man hid it probably
because he didn’t want him to think that he tried to gain his sympathy. But
that was nonsense: he couldn’t feel sympathy for that man – Wayne was the
reason his family was murdered. He hated the man.
Jason brushed his nose with the back of his palm, feeling uncomfortable and
exchanged fleeting glances with Dick.
The older boy just nodded and Bruce let Hero down.
“Go to your friend, buddy!” he urged the kitten and Jason took the animal to
his hands following Dick in descending the hill.
 Bruce lowered his head: he wished no child would ever feel what he did…And
Dick’s pain just made his own even worse. He waited there till the
unidentifiable car left the grounds.
When he guided the chair towards the Manor’s entrance another car halted;
Leslie came out of her car rubbing her hands..
“Good morning, Bruce; I came to take you” she said determined.
Bruce smiled.
“You sound like the Angel of Death” he chuckled and Leslie pressed her lips.
“Sorry but I came to take you to the clinic” she cocked her eyebrows “remember,
right?”
Bruce lolled his head to the side and huffed.
“Your exams” Leslie went on “I waited too much, young man. And I don’t like at
all your last collapses.”
Bruce shook his head exasperated.
“Collapses!You exaggerate, Leslie: I just fell asleep…” Leslie crooked her
mouth in complete disbelief. “And I have too many things to do!”
Leslie crossed her arms.
“You’ve already have done too much” Bruce closed his eyes pushing his hair
back. “In ten days you have done so many things that not even a man in full
health wouldn’t have done! And don’t let me start about Metropolis…” she said
twitching her eyebrows meaningfully. “I might not know what happened there but
I know you, young man.”
Bruce yanked his head and Leslie approached more and placed her hand on his
shoulder.
“I just want to make sure that everything is alright and change your medication
accordingly: please, Bruce, think all of us who are in agony…”
Bruce inhaled deeply lowering his eyes and Leslie pressed her lips: she really
wished that there was no need for these unpleasant for Bruce examinations.
“It’d be only your doctors, those you trust and we won’t make any scanning; I
think that Tony has this part covered.”
Bruce closed his eyes and waved his hand in defeat.
“Fine…Leslie: you’re so stubborn.”
She smiled.
“Look who’s talking!” she snorted and then sobered. “How else do you think I’d
have survived in the Narrows?”
 
Alfred had driven the boys to the city, to the cemetery where Dick’s family
rest. Jason had come along because his friend asked him if he wanted to. The
Englishman stayed outside with the non-distinguishable car, giving some privacy
to them.
Dick holding the three of the four bouquets in his arms while Jason carried the
fourth strode among the rows of graves silent with his feet sinking to the
fresh snow. He knew the place by heart: they were coming often with his granny
– every Sunday. Dick grinned bitterly inside: he didn’t want his family to feel
neglected – that he had forgotten them.
Jason was following some footsteps behind, nervous of being in such a place. It
was awkward for him and difficult to handle. He stopped when Dick stopped and
saw the gravestones pressing his lips.
Dick squatted and placed the flowers gently to the base of every tombstone; he
stayed like this staring at the cold rock as if waiting to be greeted and Jason
watched pouting, his blue eyes sad and ready to water; for that he swept them
with the back of his palm: he was a tough man after all…
“I miss them, Jay…so much…Sometimes I pretend that Brian is still with me in
the room and we’re talking about comics or playing…”
Jason nodded.
“I’m sorry, man…”
Dick shook his head.
“I know you are, Jay…”
“Do ya want me to leave ya alone?”
The older boy shook his head.
“No, stay” he turned to him and smiled weakly. “I think you’d have become good
friends with Brian: he could be a real rascal sometimes but even then he was so
cute…he loved me so much.”
Jason pursed his lips.
“I’m not cute…”
Dick chuckled and touched his fingertips to Brian’s name.
“He didn’t deserve to die like this…He didn’t deserve to die so soon: he had so
many things to live – we had so many things to do: we had scheduled things…”
his voice broke and Jason patted his back. “None of them deserved to die like
this: mom was so kind, so sweet and understanding… and Peter was the best step
father anyone could have…I was very lucky…Until…” he growled and jolted to his
feet fisting his hands. “I hated, Jay! Why they had to die because that bastard
Wayne returned from the dead?”
Jason hugged his friend and rubbed his back.
“I’m sorry, pal…” he was ready to mention once again that it wasn’t Wayne’s
fault yet he didn’t want to make his friend more distraught.
Dick looked at him.
“Come…we’ll go to dad now…my entire life lies in this graveyard…”
Thankfully, the fourth bouquet had survived their hug, Jason thought and
followed the older boy to another tomb which looked older and had curved the
name John Grayson. Jason gave the flowers to Dick and the boy placed them on
the soil.
“Dad, I know we never had the chance to meet but I feel like knowing you…I mean
it’s not the same as if we played together, watched football and rugby and
gymnastics, of course but…I met people that knew you and they speak to me about
you and it is as if…I mean…I imagine you…it is like you’re alive again! First,
your cousin, Tony: he loves me very much, dad and cares…”
Jason rolled his eyes and crooked his mouth.
“And now Mr. Breizic, your trainer, dad…He is going to be an advisor to my
training! And maybe someday he’ll train me, like you…” he got serious. “He says
that you’d be proud of me…Are you?” he shook his head. “I never forget you,
dad, even though I never met you…it’s like you were always there…” he chuckled.
“Like an angel…”
The boy stayed silent for a couple of minutes and Jason although he didn’t want
to intrude felt that it was time for them to leave. He placed his hand to his
friend’s shoulder and Dick turned his head.
“Yeah, I know, Jay. Time to go, dad, but I’ll come again…”
Alfred sat to the driver’s seat saw the boys coming and came out of the car;
Hero was lying on the back seat. He opened the back door for them and Dick
rolled his eyes: the butler was supposedly his servant and acted like this but
on the same time he was punishing him… Ugh! Well, despite Alfred was firm with
him, Dick kind of liked the man…but still he wished that soon he’d be with Tony
away from Wayne.
“May I suggest a stop at the bowling center, young masters?” Alfred asked
glancing at the mirror over the steer wheel; he thought that they needed
something to lift their spirits.
The boys looked at each other.
“I don’t have any mood” Dick said morose “but since Jason is here…”
Jason rolled his head.
“Yeah… he is doing me a favor…”
Alfred grinned and turned the wheel towards the boys’ favorite bowling place.
Hero who climbed on Dick’s lap and the boy petted him.
“That means that he wants to come along” Jason commented smartly.
And indeed Hero had a great time at the bowling following the ball on the isle
making Jason and Dick exchange amused glances before bursting into laughter.
Thankfully, the kitten was smart enough to not approach the pins and ran back
to his friends hearing the bang of the hit. However his fear last till the next
effort of one of the boys.
When the boys sat at a table to drink some refreshment Dick bought a hot dog
and fed the kitten who really appreciated it. Jason was looking at the animal
chuckling.
“We played - he is exhausted…chasing the ball like this…”
“Sure he is.”
“Have ya ever thought how yar similar to Wayne?” Jason said twisting his straw
in his soda.
Dick snorted and scratched Hero behind the ears.
“Wrong! I have nothing in common with that brat!”
Jason cocked an eyebrow.
“Really? Let me remind ya that we found him in front of his parents’ graves
placin’ flowers an’ some hours later ya’re doin’ the same thing with the
flowers he bought for ya?” Dick frowned and crossed his arms. “Also, his family
was murdered like yars: the difference is that he was taken by his parents’
murderers an’ was tortured for years…”
Dick’s eyes flashed stabbing Jason’s.
“I’m a prisoner of my parents’ murderer too!”
Jason lolled his head to the side.
“Ya’re a real asshole, ya know that? He didn’t murder yar parents an’ ya’re not
his prisoner: yar granny made him yar guardian ‘cause she knew he is a nice guy
an’ he’d do everything for your good…”
“Nope! He’s trying to play the nice guy as he did in the hospital: if he was
good he’d resign from my guardianship since it’s obvious that I don’t want to
live with him. But he didn’t! Cause he’s selfish and he likes to see me
suffer!”
Jason shook his head pursing his lips.
“Ya’re stupid, man, and blind! I hope ya woke up soon…”
Dick rolled his eyes.
“You’re too young to know…”
“An’ ya too pig headed… The man is not as bad as ya think…” suddenly he
remembered something “an’ he has a great body” he said frowning. “Like an
Olympic athlete.”
Dick cocked his eyebrows and sniggered.
“What this has to do with anything?” he snapped and Jason shrugged “Todd you
began to show signs of being gay? As if we don’t have enough men drooling at
him…”
“Cut it!” the younger boy retorted. “I don’t know why but it came to me - He
does have a great body – I saw him the day I swam with him in the pool.”
Dick shrugged.
“Falcone wanted him like this…he wanted to…” he remembered how young his friend
was and stopped but Jason cocked his eyebrows snorting.
“I know what Falcone was doing to him but I was thinking…and that Selina, his
friend…”
But Dick thought something else.
“You know I think that Superman really dumped him – well done for him! But now
new boyfriends filled the Manor” he spat disgusted.
Hero licked Dick’s chin and the boy laughed forgetting his poison.
“Hero…” Jason frowned “ya think is a Chinese word?” Jason asked.
“No, it’s not” a female sensual voice answered and both boys looked at Selina
who had approached them unnoticed.
She sat at the free chair between them and crossed her legs. She caressed
Hero’s head.
“Hero means hero: it’s not Chinese.”
“What are you doing here?” Dick asked frowned and Selina lolled her head to the
side rolling her eyes.
“Not watching you, pal: get a grip…I just happen to like bowling too: we were
playing with Steve but he had something to do and I found new company in you. I
hope I’m not bothering…” she said in a way that revealed that she didn’t care
at all about that.
Jason smiled smugly.
“’Course not, babe!”
Selina chuckled.
“Ya sneaky, naughty brat! Is Stark tutoring you?” she said playfully but then
she got serious. “You want to know about Hero’s name?”
“Yep!” Jason caught up with Dick before he managed to refuse.
Selina lowered a bit her eyes.
“Hero’s name is taken from another kitten…A kitten that I had found when I was
approximately at your age: he was very small, a white fur ball with a
horizontal black V at his back, hardly one month old: I found him in a garbage
bin. The little kitten was battered, dirty and his one eye was a dead mass
while the other was badly contaminated. I took the kitten to Bruce: we met
every night behind a large garbage bin in the alley at the backside of
Falcone’s cabaret. He fell in love with the kitten immediately: Hero needed to
be operated and Bruce gathered the money stealing money from Falcone’s thugs.”
Jason’s eyes widened impressed on the mention of stealing from the thugs and
Selina nodded.
“Yes, if they caught him he was in for much trouble – I had told him so – but
he answered that either way he was always in trouble.”
Dick shook his head in disbelief.
“How could he steal from the thugs? That’s impossible!” he snorted.
Selina stabbed him with her glare.
“Believe it or not Bruce gathered the money and the kitten survived the surgery
but his damaged eye was removed: the kitten had only one eye half-blind but
Hero was a very happy and brave kitten, for that we gave him that name. He
loved us very much” the new Hero jumped to her lap and rubbed to her. “I took
Hero every night with me and he played with Bruce who shared the sandwich I was
bringing to him with the kitten: they were so bonded…”
She licked her lips and inhaled: even now after all these years still it was
difficult to remember.
“One night we were carried away playing and Bruce stayed a bit too long outside
– Chill, Falcone’s right hand, came out barking, calling for him. Bruce hurried
to him in order to keep him away from me and Hero but the kitten sensed Bruce’s
terror and followed him…” Jason’s eyes were bulged and Selina cleared her
throat. “Chill grabbed the poor thing from the neck and sneered Bruce reminding
him that it was forbidden to have a pet – Bruce was the pet. Bruce begged him
crying but the bastard threw poor Hero to the opposite wall killing him…”
“No, man…” Jason said half angry and half sorrowful; even Dick’s eyes looked
sad.
Selina caressed Hero’s little head and pressed her lips.
“Bruce convulsed in Chill’s grasp crying, screaming to let him go to the kitten
but the Vulture dragged him inside…They definitely punished Bruce: they always
did that without him giving any reason not now…But the worst was that Bruce
heart broke once again when he had began having some pecks of happiness…He
still blames himself for Hero’s death…” she shook her head and cleared her
throat to steady her voice. “Anyway, a friend who knew the story and saw the
sketch of Hero I made found a dumped kitten which was exactly like the old one
and brought it to Bruce…”
She took Hero from the armpits, lifted him and kissed his pink nose.
Dick seemed thoughtful and Jason stared at him; however Selina didn’t want to
say more: maybe it was wrong she told so much. She stood taking Hero.
“Bye, boys – I’m going down to say hi to Alfred and meet Steve.”
Dick didn’t speak even after Selina was gone and Jason brought his chair next
to his friend.
“Ya see now that ya’re not the only one who suffered in this life?”
 
Dr. Evangeline Martinez took the stethoscope headphones from her ears and let
the stethoscope hanging loose to her chest. She had heard Bruce’s heartbeat and
lungs after she had measured his temperature: Bruce was obviously edgy lying
half naked on the examination table and the young doctor smiled.
“We’re almost finished, Bruce” she said taking in his uneasiness – besides, she
now got to know Bruce quite well.
That was the reason she was chosen by Leslie who was watching from the chair
next to the table: she knew Bruce’s distaste for doctors – Leslie honestly
couldn’t blame him – so she brought him to Evangeline one of the doctors who
had established a relationship of trust with him. Leslie was examining Bruce
almost second day often but on regular times she wanted a second, unbiased
opinion, from a colleague who might find something that slipped from her
attention.
“I’ll see your glucose levels now and your blood pressure and you’re free. You
can rise.”
Bruce rose into a sitting position looking forward to be outside the clinic and
back to work. Dr. Martinez measured his blood pressure and then Bruce watched
the doctor readying the gadget and then piercing his fingertip to draw a drop
of blood to the gadget.
“Your glucose levels are below normal” Dr. Martinez said looking at Leslie who
was staring at the gadget’s small screen “and your blood pressure is low. And
your temperature is slightly lower than the normal. Either you don’t eat well
or you are exhausted or we have some mild virus. Well, I’ll take a blood sample
for further exams.”
She ripped the syringe’s case and extracted the blood sample she needed; after
the sample was transferred to a tiny phial, she patted Bruce’s upper arm.
“Thank you for your patience, Bruce.”
Bruce grinned.
“I should tell that to you, Dr. Martinez” Bruce remembered their first
unpleasant meeting – not the doctor’s fault – but he still glared at the
gynecologist’s chair being hidden in a corner.
When Dr. Martinez left the room Leslie helped Bruce wear his shirt and sit at
his wheelchair. Then she looked him in the eyes.
“Low blood pressure, low glucose levels, low temperature, loss of several
pounds…”
Bruce shook his head.
“That last one is impossible: I’m sat in this chair all day except from the
hours of the sessions with Matt.”
Leslie coughed and glanced smartly to him.
“Do not sell these to me, boy…You exhausted yourself, Bruce: that’s why you
collapsed like this; it’s a miracle you’re not bed sick. You can’t continue
like this, Bruce.”
Bruce shook his head and looked again to her caring eyes.
“Life can’t wait for me to walk again, Leslie. There are things that have to be
done and I don’t have the luxury of neglecting them – I have already neglected
things too much…”
Leslie held his upper arms and locked eyes with him; then left his one arm and
pushed back the locks that had fallen to his brow.
“If your health deteriorates things would be worse, Bruce; you wouldn’t be able
to help anyone and your friends will be devastated because you considered them
incompetent to cover for you: they will hold themselves responsible if you get
sick.”
Bruce shook his head.
“No, it’s not like this, Leslie: some things are my responsibility not Tony’s,
not Selina’s.”
“You’d say the same thing if Tony or Selina were in your place?”
Bruce bit his bottom lip.
“They will never be in my place! They will be always perfectly fine!”
Leslie seeing him distressed caressed his cheeks.
“Okay, okay, calm down…Can you promise me that you won’t exert yourself again?”
Bruce’s eyes flashed in hers.
“I won’t lie to you, Leslie.”
She nodded closing her eyes.
“I know you’d never lie, I just hoped that you would mean it.”
Bruce took her hand and kissed the back of her palm.
“I promise that I’ll be extra careful, Leslie…”
“As you were the night you went to save the children from Joker?” she asked
with her always steady voice cracked. “And you were almost killed?”
“You know that there’s no other way for me, Leslie…as there was no other way
for you than staying at Narrows and giving your fight every day even though
Falcone could kill you every moment.”
Leslie shook her head and laughed.
“Oh! You’re such a clever brat…”
“I’ll be alright, Leslie: all of you are watching me and really I’m not doing
anything dangerous…Please, understand me, Leslie…”
“And you understand us, Bruce?”
“I do” he shook his head. “You don’t know how I feel sensing your agony
and…being unable to ease it…”
Leslie wrapped him in her arms rubbing his back.
“You’re so precious, Bruce…never forget that…”
When they left the examination room and headed towards the exit they came upon
none other than Thomas Elliot. Bruce immediately felt his healthy body stiffen
because he couldn’t accept that this was a coincidence and Leslie by his side
was also puzzled.
“Tommy, it’s not your shift, right?”
“I dropped by to see Kelly but…” he eyed Bruce. “Bruce, are you alright?” he
gasped “What happened? Another incident?”
Bruce closed his eyes.
“I’m fine” he answered politely but coldly.
“A routine checkup” Leslie added and Thomas sighed in relief which after his
gasp seemed too dramatic to both Bruce and Leslie.
“Thank God! I was thinking of you constantly after that incident at the
children’s hospital…”
“Everything is fine, Tommy” Leslie gave a forced smile sensing Bruce’s
irritation and dreading that this would affect his pulse.
“As you see I’m returning to my work now. Thanks for the interest, Thomas; good
day.”
“I’ll see you later, Tommy” Leslie told him following Bruce towards the exit.
Thomas turned his head to look at the two departing figures and smirked.
“Leslie fears for your health, little angel…Nice…And there must be your blood
sample somewhere around… Good thing Kelly is here…”
 
Lucius and Tony were perusing the newest analyses on the peculiar objects that
were shown from different angles in a holographic presentation in Lucius’ lab.
“Those figures engraved on the plates are definitely of no known language…”
Lucius mumbled pointing his presentation pen light to the symbols.
“And though we can’t figure out their use it’s certain that they are menacing…I
can assure you that nobody has anything like this” Tony added.
Lucius rubbed his chin.
“I thought of attempting to assemble them but this could be very dangerous
since we ignore crucial aspects and we can’t rely on Luthor’s help…”
Tony sniggered.
“Especially, after what happened to the LexCorp’s board meeting…That Lois Lane
is truly wicked! How she managed to get inside information…” he sneered. “I
wish I was there to see Lex’s shitface when Bruce told them the positive
numbers of LexLabs: ugh! It must hurt like Hell that ol’ Lex was outshined by
littl’ guy in his own fortress!”
Lucius chuckled.
“Yes, Mr. Luthor apart from his release doesn’t have many good things to
celebrate this Christmas. Now, back to our subject” he huffed.
The door to his lab opened with a hiss and Bruce slithered inside.
“We simply let them assemble the thing…” he said calmly but definite and both
men looked at him flabbergasted.
Tony walked to him.
“Bruce, you realize that this can be dangerous? A machine or a massive killing
gun or anything?” Tony asked. “I cannot believe that you’re willing to hand
these things back to them.”
Bruce smiled and nodded meeting Lucius’ stare that all of a sudden filled with
understanding.
“We want to know what this is to manage to thwart their plans…so we’ll give
them back the pieces…” now Tony got the point and smiled. “Having our trackers
inside to intervene the right moment.”
Tony rubbed his goatee thoughtful.
“Yeah, but they might find out the trackers…”
Bruce pressed his lips.
“Remember the trackers that take the synthesis of the material you put it in?”
“Of course I do!” Tony spread his arms. “I manufactured those babies.”
Lucius lolled his head to the side.
“We use them.”
“However they will suspect if you give them the items just like this…” Tony
remarked.
Bruce nodded. He was constantly thinking of the possible pattern that might
connect things: he didn’t believe in coincidences and these bizarre items in
LexLabs, Luthor’s forced release, the attack on him with the supposed Amazon’s
life- saving intervention that led to Superman’s taming didn’t seem to him
random.
“I’ll remind Mannheim of the fact he isn’t getting what he so desperately
wants…” Tony frowned and cut him midsentence.
“That’s extremely dangerous, littl’ guy! I don’t approve…”
Bruce nodded.
“You told me that with you on my side I have nothing to fear – not that I’m
afraid…” he grinned. “You see, some “leak’’ will reveal to them where the items
are hidden for them to steal… and then you, Tony, will be able to track their
movements and with Lucius you will understand what Mannheim and Luthor are
creating.”
Lucius smirked.
“And we will be able to control things from a distance so that whatever it is
that won’t be used for damage.”
 
Thomas Elliot stood leaned on the wall of the wide corridor in the professors’
offices’ storey. This time of the year few people wandered the university yet
Thomas knew that the person he was interested in was there.
A grin cracked his face eyeing a lonely figure approaching the newly opened
office and walked toward the man who was carrying a black leather briefcase. He
knew the new professor; Thomas had met him in some conferences.
“Good afternoon, Dr. Strange. Welcome to Gotham.”
The man with the lamp-like eyes regarded him curious and a bit smugly.
“Ah…Dr. Thomas Elliot…To what do I owe your welcome?” he asked straightforward
and Thomas smiled.
“I’m flattered: I didn’t expect that you’d remember me.”
“Is that so?” the doctor answered with a knowing expression as if saying to
Thomas that he was so arrogant that surely believed that everyone remembered
him.
“Would you like a cup of coffee in my office?”
The older man shrugged.
“Why not?” he answered indifferent but as a matter of fact he was intrigued.
Thomas made him an inviting gesture and led him to his office at the other end
of the storey. Strange regarded discreetly but sneering at the luxury of the
office.
“Why did you leave your teaching position at St. George’s College to come in
Gotham?” Thomas asked him directly handing him a cup of coffee from his
espresso machine.
Strange frowned.
“I don’t have to give explanations to you, Dr. Elliot…”
Thomas smiled.
“I think that it’s more than a mere wish to return home…”
Strange smirked and sipped indifferently from his cup. He didn’t have to answer
and honestly he liked to let smug people like Elliot to speak revealing their
secrets.
“I think you return now because Gotham gained new interest…”
The older man shook his head cocking his eyebrows.
“For a scientist of human behavior Gotham always has interest.”
“But now even more.”
Strange snorted.
“And why is that?”
Elliot got serious and leaned towards him.
“Bruce Wayne, the boy who lived.”
Dr. Strange began cackling.
“I thought that was Harry Potter’s trademark?”
Thomas swallowed the sneering.
“Don’t tell me you’re not intrigued by his case?”
Strange sobered and his eyes darkened.
“I wouldn’t be a top psychiatrist if I wasn’t. And you?”
“I care about Bruce and I fear that it isn’t prudent for him to be left without
proper treatment; you know better that after the traumatic experiences he had
he is a time bomb for himself and the others.”
Dr. Strange tapped his overlarge nose amused.
“But he manages rather impressively: he was just named the Person of the Year –
his cope ability is extraordinary.”
“And that is that intrigues you so much that you left your enviable position in
one of world’s finest educational institutes to accept the teaching position to
Gotham’s University…like me. Leslie Thompkins, Bruce’s personal doctor,
travelled to London a couple of months ago and I’m sure she visited you for
advice but of course” he waved his hands elegantly “she didn’t permit you to
get near him. But you wanted to be close to him looking for the chance to
explore him so...” he showed the university. “Here you are in Gotham.”
Strange cocked an eyebrow.
“Like you?”
Thomas grinned and nodded.
“You want to observe and if you manage, to study him professionally” Elliot
continued.
“And you, Dr. Elliot?”
“I believe that Bruce would be better in a controlled professional environment
like Arkham Asylum; handled with scientific knowledge and care.”
Strange widened his eyes impressed by the man’s honesty and malice.
“I don’t agree with that: Mr. Wayne is better adjusted to our world than many
people without a past like his. By the way” he narrowed his eyes “you aren’t
afraid that I might reveal him your intentions? It would be a nice way to gain
his trust…”
Thomas leaned back to his desk chair and laughed.
“Not at all. Because as much as you don’t agree with the Asylum solution still
this option would allow you to study him in scrutiny: imagine, Dr. Strange,
having him in a solitary room in the Asylum unable to avoid your studies. We
can cooperate, Dr. Strange, each for his own purpose.”
The newcomer snorted but didn’t answer. He took his briefcase from the floor
and stood.
“Thank you for the coffee, Dr. Elliot, I missed Gotham’s dark, bitter coffee;
so long...”
He turned to leave and Elliot frowned: would the odd doctor speak to Wayne?
 Strange upon reaching the heavy oaken door halted and turned his head to him
grinning.
“Don’t worry, Dr. Elliot: I’m a psychiatrist and under the confidentiality code
so I won’t betray your pathological, obsessive jealousy for Mr. Wayne” he
nodded and left the office.
Thomas narrowed his eyes staring at the door.
 
 
***** Chapter 53 *****
 “You tripped me on purpose to fall!”
Bruce rolled his eyes and caressed the wet hair in Clark’s chest causing goose
bumbs to his spine more so when the Man of Steel focused on the feeling of
Bruce’s pelvis on his groin.
“Of course” he answered nonchalant “I think you forget that I’m Batman.”
Clark stretched his neck and sighed.
“I’m under a human so this human can only be Batman but…”
“No more buts” he retorted sharply and Clark felt with dread the thing he was
most afraid of: Bruce’s body slithering on his driving each of his cells crazy;
his bodily perfume enhanced by the fresh aroma of shampoo and cream mesmerizing
his brain into ordering full surrender.
And what was that? Bruce’s fingertips touching feathery and moving on his ribs
slowly finding his abdomens and brushing skillfully each layer which pushed his
hips to move upwards; motion that became a violent writhing when Bruce’s hot,
velvet lips touched his navel and then nibbled and sucked his rippled flesh. He
gasped and raised his torso though his head was heavy with flooding
stimulation.
“Wh…what you doing?!” Clark gasped almost panicked as much as his lungs.
It was obvious that Bruce was happy to see his agitation because he knew that
unsettling the ‘’opponent’’ was the first step for the victory. He detached his
eyes from Superman’s abdomens and locked eyes with him completely calm and
determined.
Clark shuddered from arousal under this stare and his face became all hot which
became even worse upon realization. And Bruce’s tranquility was so irritating.
“You’re afraid that you will shatter my paralyzed lower body…however my upper
body functions perfectly…” the human said slyly and Clark was reminded of
Selina: those two could easily have been real siblings, he thought fleetingly.
“I doubt it!” Clark snapped. “Especially your brain!”
Bruce narrowed his eyes and – damn! - that look was a turn on…
“You’ve been suppressing your needs too long…and mine…” for the first time
Bruce’s sharp cheekbones were colored pink.
“You don’t have to do this…” he almost pleaded. “I know how horrid this was…”
Bruce’s eyes flashed angrily as he realized what Clark wanted to say: his past.
“Exactly: I don’t have to do it – I want to do it. So: shut up…” he pressed his
palms on Clark’s oversensitive breasts and pushed him down brushing his nipples
that traitorously had erected; the most powerful being on Earth unable to stay
up. “Let control to me!”
You always had it, Star… he thought and sighed. But immediately his eyes
protruded feeling feathery fingers trailing slowly and gently his pelvis’ V
downwards to open slightly his thighs. Bruce’s fingers caressed the soft flesh
at Clark’s inner thighs ascending to his hipbones sending electric currents to
his spine.
A surprised moan burst out of Clark’s mouth before he could think about it and
then his torso arched: his own body rebelled against him… He grunted and his
heart gave a thud… Oh, my God! The softest sensation he ever had: lips made of
velvet, hot lips were planting small kisses following the V of his pelvis
making his groin twitch in hungry anticipation as the tender kisses approached
his length only to continue with his pelvis’ other side.
 “B…Bruce…” Clark really didn’t know what he wanted to say and those lips that
now kissed sucking tenderly his flesh cast his mind in a fog of pleasure and
his length in derangement throbbing more madly every time Bruce let a puff of
hot air from his lungs caress Clark’s hot flesh, denying the contact.
His loud whine wasn’t flattering for the Man of Steel but Bruce’s magic fingers
– as if his lips working his pelvis weren’t enough – brushed not very softly,
not very hard his testicles and then nibbles causing Clark’s eyes roll inwards
and his fists clench. He was already huffing and puffing without Bruce having
touched his impatient length; his slightly open legs trembled uncontrollably –
causing vibrations to the tub - and he was afraid of hitting the younger man.
“Oh…Bruce…Please…” his voice was too husky, too weak and he meant to ask Bruce
to stop so to not get hurt by his unchecked boiling body. But those rosy, soft
lips began trailing with pecks his throbbing length and new waves of hot sweat
ran his face, body and especially the inner of his thighs. “Ppplease, Star,
MORE!”
Clark huffed and puffed supported in his forearms, his torso semi raised: how
much more Bruce was going to torture his hurting member by just making small
sucks and strolls throughout his throbbing length; he felt the big vein there
ready to explode when Bruce’s slightly rough tongue licked the entire length.
“Star…you’re killing me…” he whimpered; the fact that Bruce’s breaths were calm
as they burned his hot flesh pissed him.
Clark felt a smile on the soft flesh that tortured him and then his already
hard member was welcomed in Bruce’s hot mouth and the Man of Steel just slumped
on the hot porcelain, surrendering to his tormentor. His head lolled backwards
and his eyes were closed, he sighed satisfied.
But then he jerked upwards, his back making an arch as Bruce’s lips were
massaging in a steady rhythm strongly and then softly his sensitive member, the
beating vein there bombed as his heart and lungs. Bruce’s tongue took action
only rarely just to enhance the effect of his lips’ massaging moves; slowly
upwards causing new streaks of sweat in every pore of Clark’s body – his face
was stressed and his neck arched with its veins bulged giving loud rasps and
sobs that became cries when Bruce’s nails brushed a bit rough his swollen
testicles. Fire was breaking his bones…
Bruce’s heart was beating heavily – Clark could discern its beating coloring
the beating of his own heart; he sensed that listening to Clark’s moans and
cries was the only satisfaction Bruce needed because he knew that he was making
that man happy. He was hard trained to do this even without looking so he
glimpsed at Superman’s sweaty, red face that gave the impression of letting out
steam; his mouth was agape unable to close due to the waves of moans, sobs and
saliva breaking his defenses; his eyes were closed but Bruce could see them
moving under the eyelids; soaked locks had stuck on his face making him look
even more beautiful. Clark’s fisted hands had relaxed in abandonment as his
member became rock hard in his mouth.
Bruce continued pumping with his lips the flaming flesh that boosted from the
powerful hips thrust faster and more frantically almost desperate. Clark
understood that Bruce’s experience told him that soon his lover would reach his
climax and felt the younger man bracing himself for what was to come into his
mouth. But then Clark’s gentle hands caressed his locks and cupped his face
drawing him upwards to nestle in his safe chest just before Clark’s torso
arched more and the Man of Steel cried his explosion.
Clark smiled satisfied and opened his eyes groaning with pleasure to see a dark
haired head over his pelvis; the black-blue long hair was flooding naked,
velvet shoulders made of porcelain – wide shoulders but not male as also the
smoother edges told him. Two soft lips and a greedy mouth were swallowing his
liquid from his throbbing length with moans of pleasure.
Clark caressed Diana’s locks and she raised her head with her dark blue eyes
shining; some drops of his semen on her lips, her tongue taking them in gently.
“You’re so precious that not even a drop should go wasted” she said almost
sternly and smiled which always made Clark’s heart beat faster. “You were
thinking of him, Kal El?” her voice was filled with resentment and her eyebrow
was cocked, the previous pleasure giving its place to suspicion.
Clark didn’t like lies but in Diana’s presence they felt alright.
“No.”
The Princess smiled and raised a bit her entirely naked body which made Clark’s
breath stop: those round, rich, erect breasts; the perfect shaped muscles
leading to her abdominals and then the steep descend to her vagina… that rubbed
to his spent penis sending new thunders to his spine.
Diana swallowed his lips massaging brutally.
“Did he give you what I do?” she asked with her eyes stabbing his and her hands
massaging his ribs.
Clark wrapped his arm around her back and smiled.
“He was…trying hard…”
She snorted and nestled her body to his torso.
“Trying?” she sneered. “He was a whore his entire life with a demanding master;
he should be a perfect professional.”
Clark frowned.
“How do you know?”
She caressed his curly chest hair.
“Everyone knows that, Kal…Everyone who read Wayne’s story or watched the news…”
she raised her eyes to meet his. “I wouldn’t have bothered to do that but…I did
it because he had captured your interest.”
That seemed right to Clark: it was true that everyone knew what Bruce’s use was
all these years…A whore…He felt nausea but there was something else nudging his
insides that he just ignored.
Diana gave a crooked grin and kissed Clark’s lips.
“You deserve the best, Kal El, not just mortal efforts…” she mumbled staring at
his eyes.
He nodded and held her in a one arm hug rising to a sitting position.
“I found the best in you, Diana…”
She cocked an eyebrow.
“No more…trial and error?” she asked sternly and playfully at the same time.
Clark feeling his annoying lock falling to his brow smiled and shook his head.
“No more!” he sighed. “With him every time was almost as if conducting some
kind of abuse…” he chuckled and Diana looked at him amused. “Dreading that one
wrong move and I’d hurt him, physically or emotionally. Feeling guilty as if I
became one of his abusers – it was disturbing…”
Diana nodded.
“I see…He wasn’t good enough for you; he was inadequate for a great god like
you…” but Clark’s eyes were cast inside which didn’t evade her. “But you’re
still thinking of him!” she clenched her fist.
Clark took her fist gently and kissed the knuckles.
“I was just thinking how idiot I was…But thankfully now I have you…”
He captured her lips cupping the back of her head: her body’s natural perfume
of every flower in the world mixed perfectly with the perfume of the flowers in
the room’s small pots that were spread in every small table and dresser.
His hands travelled to her taut but soft breasts and fondled with want making
Diana open her legs to engulf his pelvis. Yet Clark didn’t have the time: it
was half past seven and he was going to be late for work. So he reluctantly let
go of her wet nipples and vagina to lay her on the mattress.
She was expecting him to cuddle her but when he stood and walked towards the
bathroom that was attached to the bedroom, she frowned and raised herself
supporting on her elbows.
“Where are you going, Kal?” she demanded.
The heavy dark green curtains were drown but it was obvious that the day was
still young as the light remained dim.
He stood still sighing and turned to look at her after a few seconds.
“You know I have matters to attend to…”
She narrowed her eyes.
“You’re a god: the protector of these people; I have this obligation too but…”
her face changed into contempt “you’re acting like a miserable human being that
has to maintain a 9-5 job.”
Clark smiled: well, more than 9-5 actually depending on emergencies. But he
couldn’t admit that to Diana: she wouldn’t understand and he didn’t want to
lose anything of her admiration and respect. He knew how she felt about
anything mortal-related and a job wasn’t excluded. Superman working as a
journalist? Ridiculous!
“Of course not!” he said hiding the defensive tone because Superman didn’t have
to defend himself to anyone…except for Diana…obviously but she didn’t have to
know. “Superman has more obligations than just saving the day: humans need my
guidance and consultation and I can’t deny them.”
Diana nodded and stood graciously strutting to him completely at ease with her
nakedness so much unlike Bruce. She was a miracle of beauty and he had to fight
with himself to not stay there devoring the pleasures she had to offer.
The Amazon cupped his face and looked him in the eyes.
“You’re doing many sacrifices for them…But we must be like this since humans
are so inferior…” Superman replied with a uncomfortable smile.
She didn’t kiss him though Clark’s lips moved to meet hers; she walked
graciously to her robe and put it on. Clark sighed watching the tantalizing way
her naked, protruding buttocks swayed and got inside the bathroom wondering if
it’d be better to drop his job and that Clark Kent persona.
 
“Our focus should have been on your surgery” Tony said to Bruce under Lucius’
gaze; the scientist didn’t reveal his opinion “and not diverting to every
single other matter. I want to work only in this and let the rest be: we have
to set some priorities, Bruce!”
They had left Lucius’ lab to Bruce’s office and now Tony was spilling out what
was eating him all this time. Bruce was watching his friend pacing the corridor
gazing at the space with blank eyes, thoughtful: Tony loved him so much that
his disability was torturing him as much as it tortured Bruce – sometimes Bruce
could see in his puppy, black eyes a dim terror when looking at him but then
his childhood friend managed to hide it.
Tony was afraid for him and Bruce understood that the prospect of the surgery
almost panicked him despite the fact he was a genius and he had Lucius in the
team – another genius – and Bruce knew that those two chose the best people for
the project.
He looked at Tony who had stopped walking and leaned his back on the wall right
next to the lift they intended to take to the upper floor.
“Tony, there are priorities indeed” he said calmly and Tony shook his head.
“There are things that come before me. You know that. You’re already doing too
much for me and I feel that it is unfair to you: you’re S.H.I.E.L.D.’s director
and the president of a great company and I’m keeping you away from them and
busy with my problems while there are so many things that want your attention.”
Lucius had crossed his arms and looked at Tony who was ruffling his locks
before meeting his friend’s eyes.
“You’re not keeping me away from any of that, Bruce…I’m handling perfectly
everything and I’d still manage perfectly even if I was in a lab working
exclusively for your operation. Because for me your health, your recovery is
the most important thing and not chasing those…items which we can just destroy
and get over with the matter.”
Bruce licked his lips.
“And never realizing what they are scheming? What kind of a menace lurks in the
shadows? I know you, Tony, thus I’m certain that you don’t want to leave that
uncovered.”
Tony huffed and shook his head.
“I never said that we should let that matter uncovered but we can buy some time
till you have the operation and be healthy enough…”
“But we have an entire team working for that surgery and you with Lucius exert
yourselves for the same goal. But we can manage other things at the same time.”
Tony leaned to him.
“But we can’t do these at the same time: YOU can’t do all things at the same
time” Bruce frowned and Tony held his shoulders meeting his eyes. “You’re
weakening yourself, little guy…” he huffed. “You’re acting as if you don’t
realize how important this operation is – and difficult -, it demands your full
focus but you run everywhere to manage things: you must set other things at
bay, Bruce…”
Bruce closed his eyes.
“This is what is eating you, Tony?”
The older man sighed.
“Yes.”
Bruce pressed his lips and took Tony’s hand in his.
“I’ll be alright, Tony. I’ll manage” he smiled. “I’ll have you, Lucius, Leslie
and the best doctors around: I’m not afraid of anything when I have all of you
by my side.”
He patted Tony’s upper arms.
“We won’t perform the operation before everything is perfect” Lucius said
arching his eyebrows to Tony. “And that includes Mr. Wayne’s physical and
overall condition” he looked at his employer. “Which means that Mr. Wayne is
responsible for the speed of his own recovery.”
Tony smirked to Lucius thanking him for reminding Bruce of that and Bruce just
nodded.
The indicator on the brown glass screen in the lift’s door showed that they had
reached the floor to Bruce’s office. When the lift’s doors opened and the three
men began walking Bruce found himself before a surprise. Oliver Queen was
strolling with his smug expression in all its might having just left Ms.
Philips’ desk.
Queen saw him too and immediately approached. Tony watched with cocked eyebrows
the man’s beaming face.
“Bruce!” Queen exclaimed and stretched his hand to the younger man for a
handshake.
“Mr. Queen…” Bruce answered coldly and saw Queen’s face losing its color on
that welcome.
“Tony, how are you?” he mumbled to the billionaire from Malibu. “And this must
be Mr. Fox; delighted to meet you!”
Lucius shook his stretched hand.
“I knew your late father, Mr. Queen.”
Queen sighed.
“Yes, he had mentioned you several times…”
Tony sensed Bruce’s uneasiness from Queen’s presence.
“Oliver, I see you have become almost a Gothamite…” Tony smiled. “To what do we
owe the honor of your visit?”
The man chuckled.
“Honor? You’re flattering me, Tony, but I don’t think that Bruce agree with
that. Right?” the younger man didn’t answer just eyed him with his sparkling
eyes. “Well, I wanted to see Bruce in his Fortress…”
Bruce met his eyes. He still remembered the feeling of waking up in Queen’s
bedroom, having the man’s hot breath brushing his face and realize that this
man was staring at him while he was sleeping. Although there was nothing in his
food or drink Bruce didn’t like the way he suddenly fell asleep in a place full
of people. And then the way Queen had kneeled to put the shoes on Bruce’s
feet…Bruce had the feeling that the man was struggling to not kiss his feet… He
shivered on the memory.
“It’s not my Fortress: it is my father’s company.”
Queen smiled smugly as if he read Bruce’s thoughts.
“That you took back from the man who killed your parents and stole your fortune
keeping you as his slave. Also, you managed to make that company thriving and
respectful once again.”
Bruce’s eyes were completely still locked with Queen’s sensing how much the man
was thrilled from that.
“I wouldn’t have managed anything weren’t for Tony and Lucius…”
Queen inclined slightly his head.
“Of course…” he turned to Lucius. “We have talked with Bruce about potential
cooperation between our corporations.”
Lucius nodded.
“Yes, Mr. Wayne has informed me and we agree that there are good potentials in
that.”
“I’m glad to hear because your entrepreneur genius is highly respected; I
wonder if I could have some tour to Wayne Tower?” his eyes were focused on
Bruce suggesting that he was expecting Bruce to guide him.
“Of course…Mr. Fox will be delighted to guide you to our facilities” Bruce said
and Lucius smiled amused with his eyes sparkling. “He knows better than anyone
Wayne Enterprises.”
“I’m sure but I was hoping to have the President’s attention?” Queen replied
both displeased and amused from Bruce’s dodge.
The younger man smiled.
“I apologize but my physiotherapist is waiting for my session and I can’t miss
any…I’m sure you understand…”
Tony hardly swallowed his chuckle for Queen’s blank expression: the man’s
disappointment was clear. But Queen eventually nodded.
“Of course…”
“Thank you for your understanding” Bruce’s smile became broader. “Have a good
time in your tour…Mr. Queen, Lucius…”
He turned to leave, Tony with him but Queen stopped him.
“Bruce, can I have a word…”
Bruce turned his head.
“I’m afraid you can’t, Mr. Queen: it is rude to let people waiting. It is a
pity you didn’t make an appointment before coming…”
Tony cocked his eyebrows to Queen pouting and left with Bruce. The billionaire
from Malibu had to fly to New York to attend to Avengers’ businesses in the
Tower. Happy was waiting with the jet’s engines on.
Queen looked at Lucius.
“Your employee is really something, huh?”
Lucius chuckled.
“You bet…Shall we?” he made an inviting gesture though he knew that the man had
lost completely his appetite now that Bruce was gone.
 
“I’d like to speak to Mr. Mannheim, please. Bruce Wayne.”
It was easy to find the telephone numbers of Mannheim’s headquarters unlike
finding any information about the type of his business and deals. Batman
managed to enter to the company’s building – it was relatively easy – as if the
man didn’t have any intention to hide something or being afraid of espionage.
Which was actually the case because there was nothing for the intruder to find
except for mundane things custom to a company. And this was the reason that
Bruce decided to nudge Mannheim and let him take the objects.
It was the only way to find the truth about the objects’ use and their owner.
More so since Batman’s investigation in LexCorp’s building wasn’t of much help.
Bruce had hoped that Luthor would have some information hidden in his personal
archive built under the building’s basement since there was nothing in the
LexLabs’ logs. He had hoped that he would find information not only about
Mannheim but also for the cloning program and what Luthor did for Ra’s Al Ghul;
maybe there were some answers.
But no: even in Luthor’s personal archives there wasn’t anything of help. So
Bruce had to rely on Ubu’s efforts for the potential child and to his own plan
for finding the truth.
He had taken advantage of Alfred’s absence to pick up Dick from the gym to get
in the cave and do some more demanding investigation through the cave’s
stronger processor: not that his Cosmos wasn’t efficient but being in the cave
offered him…inspiration; it reminded him of who he was and glancing at the
armor inside the transparent case fortified that; like reasserting that he was
indeed Batman and he hadn’t lost that.
At the moment the processor was searching information about the company “Build
& Fit” that Mr. Breizic told him that had been assigned with the renovation of
Gotham’s gym when John Grayson died. The remarkable thing was that in the gym’s
archive there wasn’t much about a company that was assigned with such a large
project.
He caught with the corner of his eye Hero climbing to the Tumbler sneakily with
his narrowed eyes watching the bats which still hadn’t left the cave. The
kitten stayed completely still for several seconds and then made an impressive
jolt to catch the bat that hung lower than the others…Only for the rodent to
fly away the last second leaving the kitten slithering on the Tumbler to land
on its paws meowing frustrated.
Bruce smiled: this animosity wouldn’t be easily settled.
“Mr. Wayne, I’m sorry for the waiting” Mannheim’s secretary came back to the
line. “He’ll speak to you now – I’m connecting you.”
It was late afternoon yet Bruce had the certainty that Mannheim would be there.
“Thank you, Miss.”
“How did you find this number?” Mannheim growled immediately.
He was angry, Bruce thought, nice.
“It is a business number not a personal so I found it quite easily.’’
“What do you want, Wayne?” the man asked rudely. “Maybe you realized that you
owe to give me my order?”
“Actually, I called to give you a last notice.”
Mannheim snorted.
“Last notice?” he spat.
Bruce pursed his lips.
“In accordance to the obligation LexLabs’ previous owner took concerning you, I
felt that I should inform you that every unidentified item found in LexLabs
will be reported to the officials and then destroyed” he heard the wrath in
Mannheim’s sharp intake of air. “So if you want your order, you have a last
chance to bring in the appropriate information so you take what you ordered..”
A slap of a heavy hand on a desk went through the telephone line and Bruce
smirked.
“You’re playing with me, you stupid man?!”
“Not at all” Bruce replied nonchalant. “Actually, I was expecting that you
would appreciate this notice since my intension is to ease your case. However
you must hurry because you have only a few days before every unauthorized item
will be destroyed. I’ll be waiting your news.”
“You’ll get news very soon, Wayne – be sure of this…”
The threat was vibrating the man’s rough voice but Bruce grinned and ended the
call.
He had just set things in motion: he had to find out what this man and Luthor
was scheming and if he had any connection with the fake Diana and Superman’s
beguiling. Because Bruce was seeing a clear pattern with the peaks of the
scheme interconnected but he needed proof.
And then the Intergang mystery was reborn from the moment Mannheim came to his
office: Bruce never was sold for the option of Edge, the veteran gangster being
the Intergang’s leader: his death during the Metropolis’ subway attack and his
thugs’ disturbed mental state were very convenient. Exactly as the burglars
busted for the raids at the LexLabs.
Mannheim was active in Metropolis and he was interested in these things so why
not being the one who ordered the raids all over the states to find them? With
that in mind, the fact that the agents on these two apparently unrelated cases
had exactly the same qualities pointed to the option of being orchestrated by
the same mastermind: and if the attack in the subway was the job of the
Intergang then the raids were also so if Mannheim was behind the raids then he
was also Intergang’s ghost leader. Which fact was also supported by his
cooperation with Luthor and the latter’s release was achieved in the same way
with the releases of the scum that according to Clark belong to the Intergang.
Mannheim was clever: staged the attack killing a known gangster and framing him
up as the leader of the Intergang – then leading the gang underground to
persuade everyone that it was over. While they were moving in the shadows which
was more efficient. Also Mannheim was powerful to manage moving the wheels to
release Luthor…Considering that his company except for its prosperity and
annual balance sheets was much obscure concerning activities and deals the odds
of Mannheim being the person of interest were very high.
Bruce wished he had Clark in this to investigate his city…But he doubted that
he cared about investigating now that he was with Vivian…and that again was
another clue that everything connected: have Superman under the effect of this
woman in order to forget the case…not his duties as a protector but being
indifferent to the Intergang’s mystery especially since everything indicated
that the gang was over.
Suddenly, the processor beeped that it has ended the search and Hero frustrated
from his failed efforts ran to Bruce and rubbed to his dead feet calling for a
consoling petting that Bruce happily gave as his eyes set on the screen.
The company – “Build & Fit” - had no current or closed site and Bruce doubted
if they had any archive or construction. His investigation had focused on the
archives public services had on the company: a local company with too few
projects in the three years of its life. The registration of the company was on
the name Sandrey Felix and Bruce instantly pressed the key to start search for
him only to crook his mouth seeing that too conveniently the man had died in a
robbery a year after John’s death and the company’s closure.
Crossing the details of that company with others of its category Bruce knitted
his eyebrows: “Build & Fit” was the same company with “Agiltex”, a company that
Bruce knew very well because it was the company where Dick’s father had
invested his money only to lose them.
Among the other data the processor gave was the report on the company’s
performance at the local exchange market: the company appeared a morning and
the next day its shares got rocket high: there were many articles advertising
the shares. The company’s rally lasted some months gathering a large amount of
money and then suddenly the company bankrupted leading its shareholders to
disaster. Some voices in the local market and media talked about fraud yet it
was Falcone’s era so everything was allowed.
So Felix created a new company a while later for what? To commit a new fraud?
Bruce doubted that. He had a hunch: typed some orders to find the man’s
accounts. Felix had some bank accounts but also he had an off shore company at
Barbados which wasn’t difficult to hack into getting access.
“What?!” Bruce exclaimed and Hero turned surprised to look at him.
The off shore didn’t belong to Felix but to none other than Tony Zucco: of
course, at the moment the accounts were almost empty which could explain the
man’s sudden return in Gotham and his interest in Dick…
“Hm…I knew I’d find you here, sweetie…” a playful, loved voice broke the
monotone of the waterfall and Bruce raised his eyes to her only to be faced
with her scolding expression.
Selina wore a raincoat.
“This waterfall is a real security measure with this freezing cold” she said
coming closer. “And you shouldn’t be here, Bruce…When the cat is gone…”
Bruce showed Hero with his eyes.
“As you see the cat is here…Why you didn’t knock at the Manor?”
She pushed off her head the hood and cocked an eyebrow.
“And lose the chance to catch you in the act?”
“It’s your shift to guard me?” he chuckled.
She sat on the bench.
“You blame us?” she moved her head to show the cave. “Really now, Bruce: you
shouldn’t be here…But this isn’t the only reason I came: Steve left with Tony
for Avengers’ stuff in New York so we can speak in private…”
Her eyes sparkled with her most witty way and Bruce narrowed his eyes eyeing
the flood of data on his screen.
“Don’t pose the indifferent to me, kiddo…” she said smiling.
“I think we always are free to say whatever we want.”
“Mmm…I never got insight about Metropolis…” she said in a singsong voice and
focused her eyes on Bruce’s profile.
Bruce’s hands stayed still over the keyboard, he sighed and then locked eyes
with Selina.
“What do you want to learn, my dear interrogator?”
Selina pouted cutely.
“Interrogator? You’d have let your Selina in total darkness?”
Bruce chuckled and shook his head.
“Go ahead.’’
Selina got serious which was a bit tricky with Hero who had climbed to her lap
licking her chin.
“You saw him?”
 Bruce pressed his lips.
“Yes, twice…The first was my mistake” he huffed. “I booked to the hotel where
the ceremony for the Pulitzer Awards was to be held” he decided that saying it
all at once was better and hoped to sound indifferent but Selina’s eyes felt
with sympathy and Bruce shook his head. “And I went there to see and clap for
him” now Selina sighed. “He noticed me and we spoke…”
“I hope he didn’t insult you?”
Bruce grinned.
“No.”
Selina wasn’t convinced yet let it be.
“You said twice: the second time?”
Bruce didn’t want to hide from her the fact that Batman acted in Metropolis.
Besides he was sure that she had figured.
“On a rooftop…Superman met Batman.”
“And?”
“He tried to kiss me and asked me to be with him even now that he is with her…”
Selina ground her teeth and yanked her head.
“That asshole! He has too much nerve! How dare he? Who does he think you are?!”
Bruce smirked and cocked an eyebrow.
“A whore…” he said dryly and Selina’s eyes flashed.
Bruce heard again the bang of thunder that colored Clark’s crude voice:
“You slander her – a noble, brave warrior – of being a whore while you are the
whore!”
Selina left Hero down and slithered her arms around Bruce’s neck.
“You’re not a whore, sweetie…” she pecked his cheek.
Bruce smiled.
“My record says otherwise” he chuckled and Selina shook her head infuriated.
“I think I’ll change my policy and stuck a large piece of Kryptonite to his
ass!”
Her friend smiled to her and lolled his head on the side.
“No need…I pushed him away and left.”
“You still love him, don’t you?”
Bruce grinned.
“This ended once and for all, Sel; I do care for him but…what we had…it was a
mistake.”
“No…Sweetie…It was very beautiful but you rooted for the wrong person; however
that doesn’t mean that there’s no other person who would cherish your feelings
and give you what you deserve.”
He smiled.
“No more of that, Sel…You know better than anyone that I had had enough of
this…”
Selina brushed his upper arm sad and Hero jumped to Bruce’s lap to give him a
consoling rub. Bruce petted the kitten’s head and Selina cleared her throat and
took her stern expression.
“Now, kiddo: upstairs! Enough humidity you have absorbed.”
“I have things to do, Sel and it won’t be long…and this cave is inspirational…”
“Inspirational?”
“I just found that the company John Grayson invested and lose his money was the
same with the one that caused his death” Selina’s eyes widened “with a
different name. And behind both companies is none other than Zucco himself.”
Selina spread her arms.
“Great! Tell the brat the truth!”
Bruce shook his head.
“Not yet. He won’t believe me: his grandmother said some things to him and the
boy didn’t believe her. I need more and I need more and solid proof that it was
the company’s fault that caused Grayson’s death which would lead to Zucco’s
arrest.”
Selina stood.
“Great! Now we can go upstairs to the warmth and continue your investigation,
Monsieur Poirot.”
Bruce chuckled but then his Cosmos rang with his number on the screen.
“Hello, Alfred!” Bruce greeted him putting the call on the speaker. “How many
new pills Leslie gave you for me this time?”
“I have your pills, Master Bruce but there’s something more urgent.”
A knot formed in Bruce’s guts.
“Are you coming to the Manor?”
A slight pause but then Alfred spoke again with his poised voice.
“Master Bruce, Master Richard isn’t in the gym.”
“Damn that brat!” Selina gritted her teeth.
“Okay, Alfred” Bruce said calmly pinching the bridge of his nose. “Have you
spoken to the bodyguards?”
He was listening to Alfred recounting his actions and at the same time typing
orders to locate the boy from the signal his Cosmos emitted as he had done the
last time the boy ran away. Yet the signal was coming from the gym.
“Alfred, he has left his Cosmos at the gym: he must have suspected that I can
locate him through this…” he pressed his hair on his head.
“Master Bruce, we’ll find him: do not worry and please do not make a hasty
movement.”
Selina knew what Alfred meant since Bruce’s eyes was focused on his armor that
stood like a formidable guard ready to spring to life.
“We’ll be in touch, Alfred” he said ending the call.
“Bruce, no” Selina said as he moved towards the case. “Don’t do this.”
“I must: it’s night, Selina and we have no idea where Dick is; meanwhile Joker
lurks in the city and knows that I have Dick’s guardianship.”
“I can find him!” she said exasperated but Bruce was absolute; his eyes still
in hers.
“No…It’s my responsibility. Sel, do not thwart me: you know me better than
anyone and you know that I have to do it.”
Selina gulped: it was true, she knew Bruce and his need. Also, Bruce was full
aware that she couldn’t deny him anything.
“I’ll come with you…”
 
Dick was sitting at a central café filled with people drinking from a can beer
he had bought from a store: the café’s owner asked him to stop drinking since
he was underage but the boy made a scene yelling that he could do anything he
wanted since he was Wayne’s ward.
That way everyone in the café would know who he was even if he/she hadn’t
already heard so he loved and enjoyed the appalled stares he caused. His
delight was greater when some phones were drawn to shoot pictures of him. This
would suit their purposes perfect.
But then he noticed an officer entering the café, probably called by the café’s
owner and he hurried to leave from the back door. He had called Jason to find
him here using his old, simple cellphone since he had left his tablet in the
gym. He was sure that Wayne had ordered his people to create a signal so that
he could be located.
Jason was waiting there seated at his bike’s seat; he had his arms crossed and
smoked gazing at the garbage bin.
“Turn it on and step on it” Dick said jumping on the bike behind him.
“Joker is chasing ya?” the boy asked bored.
“No, there’s a cop and he will take me to Wayne.”
“The best he has to do! Are ya fuckin’ crazy?! That nutcase is loose an’ he has
targeted ya once already!”
Dick smirked.
“Are ya afraid?” he mimicked his friend’s accent and Jason fumed.
“Of course not, ya dork!” he turned the bike on and sped up. “To where?”
“Narrows.”
They ended up to their favorite rooftop on the abandoned building; both boys
sat at the edge dangling their feet to the void overlooking the area that now
seemed less scary. Jason was smoking and drinking beer while Dick held the
second can of beer for the night.
“What are ya up to, man?” Jason asked drinking his beer.
“I want my freedom and I don’t want to be Wayne’s pet.”
“Ya’re not a pet, man: ya might not like him but I think he cares…” the boy
said sucking his cigarette.
Dick rolled his eyes and pretended to throw up.
“Care, my ass! He just plays the caring…”
“An’ what you gonna to do? I mean tonight…”
“I’ll stay away from the Manor…”
“Ya’ll go to Zucco?”
“No, because Wayne might give him a Hell..I’ll stay out.”
Jason spat the mouthful of beer he had sipped.
“yar fuckin’ crazy, man! Ya’re gonna be ice cream! Ya know, I think that if
Zucco cared about ya wouldna want ya to freeze to death…” however Dick’s
annoyed stare told him that his words were in vain and that pissed the younger
boy but he couldn’t let his friend out with that cold. “Come home to us.”
“Wayne will look there and your mom is gonna inform him right away” he drank
from his bottle. “I’ll find a shelter…”
“In Gotham? Are ya nuts!! Oh, man! That Zucco is driving ya to death!”
Dick drank again and shook his head.
“No, he cares for me…”
“I’ll stay with ya, pal: I’m not leaving ya on yar own with Joker free.”
Dick grinned.
“You’re gonna protect me now that Batman is dead, huh?”
Jason lolled his head and drank.
“He isn’t.”
Dick chuckled and cocked his eyebrows.
“You didn’t see what happened in the city hall square? He never came to save
the day: Catwoman and the Avengers did it. And they did because Batman is
dead.”
Jason shook his head in denial and Dick sighed.
“I saw him trapped to death…” he mumbled swallowing a knot. “He couldn’t have
escape from all that debris before the building collapsed; he died but there’s
a plot to hide it from people.”
But Jason was staring down with narrowed eyes and pointed to two figures that
were chasing a thin person to an alley. Their building was the least tall from
the surrounding allowing them a clear view to the street.
“Who said that Narrows stopped bein’ thug driven?”
“This is still Narrows” Dick shrugged “and criminals gradually realize that
Batman is gone once and for all” he threw his bottle down smashing it. “Let’s
go!”
“Ya’re wasted, man – too much beer…” Jason chuckled. “How we gonna face those
guys? With burps?!”
“I’m not gonna stand when a woman gets raped…” he said standing. “Are ya
scared, littl’ Jay?” he said and began running to the other side of the rooftop
to the threadbare door leading inside.
Jason smashed his bottle down.
“Of course not!” he spat and followed.
 
Batman was in the Narrows. When he left the Manor turned the systems in the
Tumbler to analyzing every frequency in the city for any reference of Dick. He
didn’t try to contact Jason because the boy should remain loyal to Dick and
only to him.
When the AI informed him that a gossip show on TV mentioned Dick he opened and
watched the footage some onlookers had shot; he crossed the images with all the
cafes in Gotham to find the place but a fraction of a second before the result
came out his systems caught the signal from a patrol car relaying that a boy
probably drunk created trouble in Forester’s cafe.
Which was the place that his system identified as the one from the phone
pictures. He rushed there at the same time getting access to the public and the
store’s security cameras: he saw the boys leaving with Jason’s bike. From then
it wasn’t difficult to follow their course hacking the cameras that covered the
direction the bike took and following their signal through Tumbler’s tracker.
All this time, Selina was following the boys from another direction so that
everything was covered.
The boys had stopped to the Narrows and Catwoman who was watching them now on
foot informed him that they ended up on the rooftop of an abandoned building at
the west side of the Narrows.
“Stay with them but watch them discreetly” he said to his friend and heard her
annoyed huff: if it was to Selina she would spank both of the boys but Batman
didn’t want to scare them into running away nor suspect that Batman and she
were both looking for them.
Dick drunk! Bruce couldn’t believe it: he was a good boy and in his attempt to
make Bruce’s life difficult he was damaging himself. Once again Bruce thought
that maybe he was wrong in his acts…
And then he saw it: a woman running scared chased by two men with hoods. It was
obvious what they wanted and Batman’s jaw clenched. He could inform Catwoman to
intervene but he was tired of putting the weight on other people’s shoulders.
So he opened the door and stepped out feeling like his old neighborhood was
welcoming him.
He marched towards the alley knowing that the thugs carried guns and knives. He
could hear their threats and curses and the woman’s weak desperate cry.
“The boys have left the rooftop”Selina said.
“Stay with them.”
He could just call the Police but that wasn’t him; wasn’t Batman. And till
police reached the place the crime would have happened.
So he proceeded to what he knew better: he became one with the shadows ready to
attack the men when:
“Stop, you morons!”
Batman was happy for the lenses because his eyes bulged: two small figures
surged the alley with bike helmets covering their heads. However Bruce knew
they were Dick and Jason because he recognized the helmets, the boys’ forms and
Dick’s clothes. His heart began pounding. Dick performed some breathtaking
somersaults attacking the man with the gun kicking his hand; Jason launched a
brick against the second thug and jumped on his back punching him with all his
might.
“Foolish boys!” Batman mumbled; at least they thought of wearing their bike
helmets.
The thugs soon overcame their surprise and took control over the situation
grabbing the boys while the woman found the chance to run away. Batman heard
Catwoman’s heels approaching and with a sharp gesture sent her away.
The thug who had lost his gun due to Dick’s kick took it again holding Dick
from the lapels while the other man held Jason’s arms behind his back. The gun
shone under the dim light of the street lamp as the thug put it on Dick’s neck:
obviously he didn’t care about the boy’s identity.
“Ya thought that ya coulda mess with us?” Dick thrashed and gave him a kick in
the groin that was too little to yield the guy. “Ya’ll die now, brats!”
Jason giving trouble to his captor jolting in his arms turned to .
“Well done, ya jerk!”
“It was yar idea, kiddo?” the one that held Dick sneered. “Who do ya think
ya’re? Batman’s mini substitute?” both thugs began cackling and then he
sobered. “It was yar idea so ya’ll die first” the boy thrushed and Jason tried
to kick his captor to no avail. “No, Batman, seed: so who’s gonna save ya now?”
He tightened his finger to the trigger.
Batman launched the cables from his gloves grabbing the man’s wrists and
twisting them so hard that not only the gun flew away and Dick was freed but a
sickening crack was heard from his wrists. Dick kicked the man and the second
thug shocked let Jason looking around and pulling out his own gun searching the
alley with his eyes but Jason encouraged kicked him to the ass; the man turned
to him growling. But another cable wrapped his legs throwing to the ground and
the boys looked around.
 Only then Batman stepped out of the shadows thick smoke hiding his half body.
“Fuck!” Jason exclaimed goggling at the imposing dark figure as his friend.
“Go!” he barked to the boys and they obeyed.
When the thugs lied unconscious he walked to the kids who had removed their
helmets and gaped at him.
“Oh, man!” Jason exclaimed. “I knew ya’re alive!” Batman cast him a glare and
the boy closed his mouth scratching his hair. “Okay…”
“You are alive!” Dick said and for once Bruce saw something different than
hatred to his eyes.
“Foolish boys!” he growled. “Never do that again! This isn’t a game: they were
ready to kill you! You think that’s funny?!” the vibration of that voice was
more terrorizing than the thugs’ guns “you won’t do that again!” the boys
nodded shyly and Batman changed his tone but not his stern attitude. “I’ll take
you home…” he spat.
“No need, man, I had my vehicle…” Jason made to brag but Batman’s glare was
enough to silence him.
“I’ll be right behind: don’t you dare to detour.”
Jason raised his hands in surrender.
“Okay, man: ya’re the boss! But ya know ya’re not the only who knows the Nar…”
“Cut it, kid!”
Jason rolled his eyes and looked sideways at Dick who shrugged.
“Get inside!” Batman ordered Dick; the kids hadn’t realized till then the car’s
silent approach after Batman pressed the option on his gauntlet.
Both boys gaped yet again when the Tumbler’s passenger door opened upwards.
“Wow!” Jason goggled. “The Batmobile! Man, can I ride too?”
Batman scowled.
“You have your vehicle, remember?”
“Shit! No fair, dude!” Jason spat frustrated but stopped under the man’s glare.
After Batman made sure that Jason was in his house he turned the wheel towards
Leslie’s clinic.
“Where are we going?” Dick asked tranquil.
“To Dr. Thompkins’ free clinic: she’ll know where to take you” he wasn’t going
to betray that he knew where Dick lived now but he had no problem to let him
know that he was informed of his grandmother’s disappearance.
“You know where I live and you don’t take me there because you know that my
grandmother isn’t there…”
Batman nodded his gaze on the street ahead.
“I’m updated on the people I know…” he looked at him coldly. “You drank
alcohol: that’s forbidden! What were you thinking?”
The boy crossed his arms.
“Mind your own business!”
"You're hurting yourself that way more than anyone else. Do you think that your
loved ones would want this?"
Dick closed his eyes.
“I thought you died that night. And I'm happy you didn't...” the boy looked at
his turned to the road face and Batman looked at him. "Honestly..."
Leslie’s eyes were two daggers when she saw Batman and she had to bite her
tongue to not yell at the man; yet she just took the boy inside casting a glare
to Batman.
“Thanks” she spat and Bruce knew that he was in for serious trouble.
He had left the Tumbler in an alley next to Leslie’s clinic just in case
someone saw the vehicle and connected them: Falcone’s reign was over but he was
still wanted.
Batman was ready to get inside the Tumbler when he heard someone approaching
silently from the air. He knew that it wasn’t Superman. He turned calmly and
saw the supposed Amazon staring at him with a smug expression, her hand on the
hilt of her sword; yet he didn’t worry.
“The infamous Bat” she said snidely and Bruce’s eyes narrowed. “What are you? A
demon as they believe or a stupid human trying to pose as something greater
than he is?” she lolled her head on the side snorting. “The second obviously”
she spat.
Batman’s lower face remained expressionless and after a second he turned his
back and walked towards the Tumbler.
“Don’t you turn your back on me, you rat!” she yelled but Batman continued
unfazed. “Or you are such a coward to confront me?”
On that Batman stopped and turned his head to her.
“I don’t see any bravery or any meaning in confronting someone like
you…Actually, you’re wasting my time.’
She clenched her jaw.
“You’re saying that you shrug me off?” she grounded her teeth.
“You said it…I suggest you go back to your business and leave Gotham.”
“I’ll go wherever I want.”
“Then do it.”
“No!” she smirked. “What kind of a coward hides his face from his enemies?”
Now Batman turned his body towards her.
“Ancient Greeks warriors wore helmets covering almost their entire face: you
should know better…” he said dryly and then yanked his head satisfied from her
affronted look. “What do you want?”
“To meet you to see what you truly are…although I was sure that you’re nothing
more than a useless vigilante: if you were better you’d have protected
Gothamites and Superman wouldn’t have fell on Wayne’s trap.”
Batman scowled at her.
“I never believed that an Amazon would think only with her lower instincts:
Amazons are independent… but it seems that your mind works differently now you
left your island.”
On that she seemed upset and paler; she gritted her teeth and took off.
“We’re not finished, rodent!” she spat turning her flushed face to him.
“Definitely not…” he answered nonchalant and got inside the Tumbler.
During the way back to the Manor one thought prevailed in his mind: he had to
do what was always in the back of his mind, itching him – the only solution:
find the true Princess Diana.
 
***** Chapter 54 *****
As soon as the Tumbler jumped through the waterfall at the cave’s entrance
Selina who had arrived earlier rushed to the flat rock where the monster car
landed holding Hero to her chest; Selina had followed Bruce’s instructions and
when Batman neutralized the thugs and took the boys to return them home she
changed clothes at her place and came back to the cave.
She thought of bringing Bruce’s wheelchair along yet she was sure that Bruce
wouldn’t want Batman sat in a wheelchair…Inside Selina a knot was formed: it
must be a minute by minute constant fight for Bruce to be bound to that chair
and yet smiling to everyone.
The door to the Tumbler’s driver seat opened and Selina had to hold tight Hero
to not jump at Batman’s lap: it was clear that Hero’s instinct was stronger
than the lack of scent the armor achieved so the kitten understood that his
master and friend was under the armor. After all, Hero was a frequent
inhabitant of the cave and had seen the armor in its case waiting its owner.
Batman came out and Bruce pulled off the cowl which was enough for Hero to
escape Selina and jump to him. He caught the kitten but his expression was
still filled with Batman’s strictness and determination before gradually
loosening up.
“You took the brat to Alfred?” she asked as they crossed the glass-titanium
narrow bridge to the working bench.
“No, I didn’t want Dick to start wondering how I knew where Alfred was. I took
him to Leslie’s clinic instead.”
“I hope she gives him a good scolding before Alfred takes over…” she said
snidely.
Bruce placed the cowl on the bench and let Hero on the rocky ground. Selina
leaned to him with her arms crossed.
“You know of course that you’re on for a good scolding too…Not to mention some
punishment…”
Bruce turned his gaze at her and then ruffled his sweaty, wet hair with both
hands.
“I understand the worries of all of you but I did what I had to…”
Selina pressed her lips and cocked her eyebrows.
“You’re in trouble too” Bruce said pointing at her with his index “for letting
me go.”
“Her sins are forgiven; she has loved much…”she sighed and Bruce smiled.
“So I took advantage of you?”
She shrugged and smirked.
“Even girls like me have their soft spot, sweetie” she caressed the locks that
had stuck to his cheeks bringing them behind his ears. “Now, upstairs and
shower! You should speak to that brat as soon as they return…’’
Bruce lolled his head on the side, pressing his lips: it was the worst part of
the night.
When he came out of his bedroom’s bathroom, Selina had laid out for him a fresh
pair of clothes. Bruce flabbergasted stared at her; she was sprawled on the
thick carpet and played with Hero and Bruce smiled at the scene’s innocence.
“You know that you didn’t have to do this” he gestured to the clothes. “I can
manage myself.”
Selina looked up at him and Hero found the chance to grab her hand between his
paws and mock bite it.
“Of course, I don’t have to, sweetie, but I want to dress you according to my
taste…you know, being my personal doll or model?” her eyes glimmered slyly.
“Every girl would envy me for dressing someone so gorgeous!”
Bruce shook his head amused.
“I will be looking at Hero, so don’t be shy” she hastened to add.
“It’s okay, Sel: I’m not shy with you…”you have seen me in a lot worse
situations…something bit his chest.
“Thanks, sweetie, but still I won’t. How are you? Do you feel pain anywhere?”
 “No, I’m fine.”
“And… what happened when I left you?” she asked tickling Hero’s belly as the
kitten rolled on the carpet.
 “I had an encounter” he said putting on hastily his clothes in order to not
force Selina to keep her head down; his friend almost forgot her own words and
made to raise her head.
“With whom?” she remembered at the last moment and looked again at Hero.
Bruce snorted.
“None other than her majesty, Princess Diana.”
“That bitch! What did she want?” and then she huffed narrowing her eyes.
“Wait…Do you reckon that that stupid alien told her about Batman’s ID?”
Bruce shook his head lowering his long sleeved T-shirt.
“I doubt that: if she knew who Batman is she wouldn’t have missed the chance to
scowl and sneer at me: not to mention that she might have told everything to
the police. You can look.”
She jumped to her feet and clutched her hips appreciating her chosen clothes on
Bruce.
“Perfetto!” she exclaimed and Bruce chuckled as his friend sat at the mattress.
“Well, what did she want?”
“To express her contempt for Batman and blame him for not doing his job which
forced Superman to save Wayne and fell into ‘his trap’…” he couldn’t help but
laugh with that and Selina did the same.
“I hope you told her off…”
“You tell me…” he recounted his exchange with the supposed Amazon and Selina
raised her palm.
“Gimme five, kiddo!”
Bruce slapped her hand grinning mischievously but Selina’s eyes were sparkling
satisfied as she pursed her lips and tapped them with her finger thoughtful.
“You’re a beautiful sweet boy but white suits you uniquely: mmm! white V neck
long sleeved T-shirt with lapels and black pants – classic and perfect” Bruce
was smiling with her enthusiasm yet she frowned. “But you love only black – the
color of sadness…the color of mourning…”
Bruce narrowed his eyes and brushed her upper arms.
“Ei, c’mon, what’s this? We were talking about Vivian” Selina smiled and
nodded. “She didn’t have the mark you did her.”
“It healed so fast?”
“No, I was able to see it with the night vision: she had covered it with
makeup.”
Selina raised an eyebrow.
“She must know the tricks…But I don’t think that it is an Amazon’s trademark
spending her time in front of a mirror to apply makeup.”
Bruce scratched his hair.
“Exactly; no Amazon would do that – she would carry a mark as a token of
bravery.”
“Except she is no brave at all…” Selina shook her head.
“Selina, I must find the real Princess Diana.”
His friend widened her eyes and pursed her lips.
“You mean the legendary leader of the Amazons, a tribe that exists in myths and
we don’t know if they are still around? And if they do exist their island is
uncharted and impossible to find?”
Bruce nodded.
“Exactly.”
Selina shook her head amused.
“You’re really something, Bruce, and believe me: that makes me crazy about you
but…” she sighed. “Now it’s not the time for this: you need to rest; to gather
up your strength and stamina; you must focus on your health and your
recuperation.”
He closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose.
“I know, Sel…but still…”
Selina jumped to her feet and touched her fingertips to his lips.
“Everything will be fine, sweetie: you’ll manage once again but you need to be
patient and careful” Bruce met her honest eyes and got the hand Selina offered
him to intertwine their fingers. “I’ll be always by your side, Bruce… Now,
let’s dry your hair though the wet look makes you really yummy…” she rolled her
eyes huffing “but we don’t want you to catch a cold.”
Bruce chuckled though memories flooded his mind of the times Clark showed to
him how much he agreed with what Selina said about his wet look; it was like
blades piercing his insides.
“You didn’t tell me” Selina said as she dried his hair combing them
simultaneously; the drier was almost soundless so it was easy to speak. “How it
was Batman’s first time with brat-Dick?”
“Actually, it wasn’t the first time…”
“Right; but it was after that incident in the factory and many things have
happened since then.”
Bruce nodded thoughtful.
“For the first time when he looked at me I didn’t see in his eyes distaste and
hatred…He was really happy that I am alive and he really was listening to me.”
Selina smiled.
“That’s great! Maybe that way you get to approach him.”
Bruce shook his head.
“No: I don’t want him or Jason suspect the truth and meeting again with him as
Batman would mean troubles for the boy and Dick has had enough. The boys
attacked two dangerous thugs: the more they interact with Batman the more they
could be influenced to continue…”
Selina pressed her lips.
“I wish the little shit would realize how much you care about him…”
“What matters is Dick’s happiness; he has been through so much…”
“You more than him!”
The sound of two cars approaching reached the bedroom and Selina bit her bottom
lip chuckling.
“Ouch! Leslie came with them…Brace yourself, sweetie!”
Bruce cast a sideways glance at her.
“You were my accomplice, you know” he said chuckling.
Selina placed the drier on the vanity and combed Bruce’s hair once again softly
before taking Hero from the floor.
“And Hero was the mastermind” she laughed.
Bruce and Selina were downstairs when the main entrance’s thick door opened;
they rushed there and stopped the way to Dick who obviously outraged was ready
to storm at the stairs to his room.
Alfred and Leslie were gloomy and Bruce knew that it wasn’t only due to Dick’s
deeds.
Dick made to pass Bruce but Selina blocked his way and Bruce locked eyes with
the boy; Dick yanked his head.
“I want to go to my room!”
“Not yet, Richard” Bruce said calmly. “First, we have a discussion to make.”
Dick crossed his arms over the chest and rolled his eyes.
“Is the moment you play the father?” he snorted.
Bruce kept his tranquility though he felt nervous about what he was going to
do.
“No. I won’t play anything, Richard; I just try to stay true to what I promised
to your grandmother: protect you.”
Now Dick’s eyes widened and cackled.
“YOU? Protect ME? Oh! Wayne, that’s ridiculous! You’re not able to protect even
yourself! Look at yourself and leave me alone.”
Bruce was aware of the stares from the others and he had to recruit his entire
training to continue that discussion: he felt that he didn’t have the right yet
it was something that must be done for the boy’s own good.
“I may not be able to protect myself but I’ll do whatever I can to protect you
– even from yourself. Richard, people saw you drinking alcohol and published
your photos; you created a quarrel with the café’s director; a police officer
came and you ran away…”
Dick rolled his eyes while shaking his head all the time.
“And that blemishes your image, huh?” he snorted.
“Master Richard, it is rude to interrupt your guardian” Alfred intervened and
the boy crooked his lips in irony.
Bruce pressed his lips.
“I don’t care about my image, Richard; but I do care about yours and a good boy
like you shouldn’t be stained with such things.”
“I don’t care about my image! I don’t want to be part of your perfect little
world! You made me part of it without my will so I’m doing whatever I want
now!”
Bruce let his hands fall on his lap.
“And what about your life, Richard? It is extremely dangerous to be alone in
Gotham’s streets during night – anyone could have attacked you to rob you or
kill you…and drinking alcohol? You’re an athlete, Richard, with great talent
and potential: you’re ruining these that way.”
Dick was fuming.
“You’re not my father, neither my relative so mind your own business!”
“This is my business. Your grandmother trusted me with your care and I am
obliged to give you back to her as I took you…Have you thought of her? Of your
parents? Of your father? Would he want his son wandering to the mean streets of
Gotham intoxicated?”
Dick grounded his teeth and stabbed his flashing madly eyes to Bruce’s face: if
eyes could kill Bruce knew that he’d be lying dead by now.
“I’m not intoxicated! And don’t you dare speak again about my father! You’re
not worthy to even mention him!”
Alfred’s face took an affronted expression and Leslie tapped her foot nervously
on the granite floor yet Selina couldn’t stand anymore and made a step towards
Dick clenching her jaw.
“Shut it, kid! You don’t know anything about Bruce and you have no right
speaking to him like that!”
Bruce touched her upper arm.
“Selina, please…”
“I can’t stand it anymore, Bruce” Selina shook her head. “He is unworthy of
your efforts!”
Dick frowned on that and Bruce locked eyes with Selina to make her stop.
Leslie moved forward too.
“She is right, young man” she addressed Dick “you might not like Bruce, you
might hate that you have to live with him but this isn’t an excuse for your
behavior or doesn’t make Bruce a lesser human being.”
Dick chuckled.
“Nice…Four grownups against a kid…You surely learnt your message from Falcone,
right, Wayne?”
A blade pierced Bruce’s head but he didn’t show anything though Alfred’s still
eyes on him told Bruce that the butler sensed his pain.
“I promise you, Richard, that the moment your grandmother returns and you go
with her you won’t see me ever again.”
“My grandmother won’t ever come back!” the boy yelled almost desperate. “She is
dead like the rest of my family and I’m stuck with you!”
“You’re wrong, Richard: do not lose your hopes; she will come back.”
Dick snapped his head disgusted.
“Let me go to my room!”
Bruce nodded.
“Of course but first we have to discuss your punishment.”
Dick’s eyes bulged from anger while Alfred bowed slightly his head in
agreement.
“What?!” the boy snapped.
“I must protect you from your own self” Bruce continued. “Therefore: you won’t
attend the gym for a week” Dick’s eyes now narrowed to glimmering slits but
Bruce stayed unfazed. “You see your training as a chance for doing dangerous
things that could eventually harm you; also, your use of alcohol manifests that
you put your love for gymnastics under other things” he inhaled “so staying
away for some days would remind you what’s more important.”
Leslie and Alfred looked each other impressed from Bruce’s handling and Selina
smiled. Dick on the other hand, had his fists clenched and his face was red;
Bruce could smell the stench of beer in his pants of wrath.
“You think that not having your fucking cars drive me to the city would thwart
me from attending my training?”
“No, and you’re not a prisoner but there’s no meaning on going to the gym on
your own because Jeffrey is also very sad from what you did – you see, you took
special care – on purpose, I’m sure – to show off among people. So he totally
agreed and he won’t train you for a week.”
Dick was huffing and puffing.
“You plot against me! I wish you rot in that chair!”
He cast a thunderous glare to him and stormed at the stairs.
“Master Richard!” Alfred called after him shocked as everyone with what the boy
had just said. “Apologize at once!”
Dick halted and turned to him scowling.
“Why? He is gonna spank me next?! Let him show his ugly real face!” he barked
with his voice distorted from hatred.
Bruce inhaled deeply.
“It’s okay, Richard; you don’t have to apologize to me, only to yourself. You
can go to your room now…”
Selina squatted by his side and hugged Bruce.
“Don’t listen to him, sweetie…You’ll walk again and he is going to realize how
wrong he is and regret.”
Bruce smiled to her and brushed her forearm.
“I’m not sad, Sel: it’s okay…”
Leslie came closer.
“That boy has lost his path…”
Bruce closed his eyes.
“And I make things worse…”
“No, Bruce; if you weren’t here for him, Dick would have been in much
trouble…which reminds me…” she looked pointedly at Alfred and Bruce understood.
“It’s my turn now?”
Alfred chuckled and gestured to the corridor leading to the backside’s study.
“I think the backside’s study is more suited for our discussion” he said.
“Your idea for the ‘timeout’ punishment was very clever, sir” the Englishman
pointed upon entering the small but cozy study that looked to the back garden.
“You’ll be a great parent.”
Bruce remembered the child that probably Ra’s created without his will and a
shudder crossed the healthy part of his spine.
“I wish no child has to have me as parent…” he mumbled moving to the large
rectangular window; Selina knowing about the child bite her bottom lip.
Leslie left on the marble coffee table a small paper bag with Bruce’s new
medication and the youth’s eyes fixed on it.
“More drugs?”
Leslie shook her head.
“Just different, adjusted to your needs” Bruce nodded. “Which brings us to your
case, Bruce” he huffed.
“Taken your chosen punishment for Master Richard, which punishment would be
appropriate for you, Master Bruce?” Alfred asked softly walking to his master.
Bruce yanked his head.
“I’m an adult, Alfred, and I had to do what I did: the boy was in danger.”
“The police could have handled it, Bruce” Leslie crossed her arms.
“No, they couldn’t, Leslie! Dick had run away from an officer and there are
many other things the police has to attend to.”
“So you considered it right to do something dangerous yourself while you could
ask someone else to help” Leslie shook her head.
“Tony is out of town and I can’t have Selina all the time doing what it is my
responsibility. I can do some things and it isn’t as if I’m strolling around
picking fights! I’m fully responsible for my acts and as an adult I can take my
own decisions.”
Leslie frowned at him.
“You’re not much different from Richard…”
Selina couldn’t let her friend without help even if she agreed in some of the
points made; however she could sense Bruce’s distress from this discussion and
his suffering was unbearable for her.
“He is kinder and sweeter than this horrible brat!”
Alfred turned to her grinning and Selina spread her arms.
“What? He does have the right to an attorney, you know” Bruce despite his bad
mood smiled at that.
Alfred took his stern expression though he hardly hid his amusement.
“Actually, you are an accomplice, Miss Kyle.”
She crossed her arms over the chest.
“Unfair! I was all the time there watching over him: it would be better if I
had stopped him and he sneaked out being all alone on the streets? And it’s not
easy for me to say ‘no’ to Bruce.”
Leslie pressed her lips: that was difficult for all of them but they had to
turn their hearts into stone to protect him.
“Then maybe we should separate you two for a couple of days” Selina’s eyes
bulged and Bruce’s narrowed to slits.
“We were seeing each other almost every day even when I was in Falcone’s hands”
Bruce said and Alfred locked eyes with Leslie who shook her head sad.
The doctor sat on the armchair near Bruce and touched his hand.
“Why you are doing that to us, Bruce? You must realize that this is extremely
dangerous and we are in a daze on what to do.”
Alfred approached too.
“Have you though Master Anthony’s reaction, Master Bruce?”
“He’ll understand…If you don’t say anything to him he’ll learn it later from
rumors and it won’t be the same. I have neutralized his trackers on my armor
and the Tumbler.”
Selina couldn’t hide her smile and neither the others.
“However that way he is going to suspect that you are going to do things you
shouldn’t.’’
Bruce rubbed his temple; a headache was slowly evolving to a migraine.
“You can’t put me in trial and confine me – I spent my entire life only with
Selina taking my own decisions and we’ve managed quite well.”
Alfred gulped and Leslie took Bruce’s hand from his temple.
“A headache?” he didn’t answer and Leslie huffed. “Bruce…C’mon, a few days away
from the cave would benefit you. You shouldn’t stay in cold and
humidity…Alfred, can you prepare something to eat? Bruce needs to take his
medicine.”
Bruce looked at the carpet where Hero sat having followed them from the great
salon. He moved his chair away from Leslie who closed her eyes and stood
following him. She leaned over him and cupped his face.
“You’re our angel, Bruce…We love you so much that you’re driving us mad when
you endanger your life even for noble causes. You promised me to be careful.”
“I am! And I’m not abusing the armor but Dick was in danger…” he didn’t say
anything more letting his eyes gaze the grounds from the large window.
The ring of the phone fell like a thunder alerting bad feelings in Bruce his
eyes on Alfred who answered the phone.
“Master Bruce, Ms. Jhonas from the Social Service wants to talk to you.”
It was exactly what Bruce expected and the hits of the migraine became.
“Hello, Ms. Jhonas: Bruce Wayne.”
The others watched as he shook slightly his head listening to the woman. He
pinched the bridge of his nose.
“I know, Ms. Jhonas; I also feel terrible for that…”
“It is a case of neglect, Mr. Wayne.”
“I’m not trying to make excuses, Ms. Jhonas, but we never let Richard out of
our sight: my most trusted butler was there to drive him back home. Yet the boy
is facing a tough period and he tries to let out some steam that way – I
promise you it won’t happen again.”
He nodded listening to the social worker.
“Yes…Good night to you to, Ms. Jhonas.”
When he ended the call and returned the phone to Alfred his face was pale and
his migraine became really torturing; Leslie opened one of the pill bottles she
had brought and took a pill.
“Take that, honey” she said forgetting her previous anger.
“Thank you, Leslie” Bruce took the pill but the thought of the social service
berating him was stronger than any pill Leslie could conjure.
 
“It is rumored that last night Batman had neutralized and captured two thugs
who attacked a woman at the Narrows area…”
Joker was pacing the ground floor of his newest hideout casting sideways
glances to his newest boys who watched the news. In Gotham was too easy to find
dorks to work for you: they were everywhere like cockroaches.
The truth was that the clever ones had gone underground since things got tight
yet the stupid ones were out there and frankly Joker didn’t care about brains:
he had brain for everyone. He just wanted hands. Not to mention that his busted
old thugs were sent to Arkham from where it wasn’t difficult to snatch out
given that dear Harleen had put them in low security wards. So they were
somewhere in the building ready to serve their daddy.
The news took a few seconds to register because he was thinking other things:
blades and laugh gas…and his cooperation with Scarescrow. But when the word of
interest flashed in his head – Batman -, he narrowed his eyes and jumped.
“Up – uuuuup the vooooolume!” he barked and his thug obliged.
Joker hunched and listened eager sniffing like a hungry hyena.
“Police has arrested two men last night, finding them unconscious in an alley
in Narrows: bystanders said that they saw the men chasing a woman. Police
didn’t confirm anything about Batman’s involvement but insight says that some
Batarangs were found on the scene.”
Joker made a sharp gesture.
“Ooooout! All of youuuuu: beat it!” he exclaimed frustrated and moved his hands
gesturing to the thugs to leave which they did scared of their bosses’
explosions.
Joker jumped and landed on the cement floor hitting hard his buttocks.
“Ouch! Daaaamn, that hurt!” he crossed his legs and lolled his head on the side
focusing on the screen. “Now I’m getting seeeeee--riously pissed! Is this a way
to treat your lawfully wedded husband, huh? He’s sniffing aaaaat me an’ instead
goes for two losers! That’s uuuuuun--acceptable! That’s an insult…” he
scratched his head. “But I like it! I looooooove tough chicks!”
Suddenly, the screen was filled with two pictures: one with Bruce Wayne’s face
– which made Joker lick his red lips - and some boy’s whom Joker recognized as
the Grayson brat. Then they took the pictures causing a hurt pout from Joker
that became a Cheshire grin seeing the blurry video where the boy was drinking
beer in a crowded café eyeing provokingly the customers while quarreling with a
dude that probably was the café’s owner.
“The new year came with troubles for the Person of the Year. Mr. Wayne’s ward,
Richard Grayson, was seen in one of Gotham’s most popular cafes drinking beer
and swearing at the other customers; more so he created an episode when the
owner asked him to stop drinking alcohol since he was underage. The episode
escalated according to witnesses and the owner called the police but upon the
arrival of a police officer the youth ran out from the back door…”
“HEHEHEHEHAHAHAHUHUHUUUUUU!” Joker was shaking his head licking his lips. “Kids
are a pain in the aaaaass, baby-batsy! You should have asked meeeee what I have
tooooo endure with my booooys…” he pursed his lips thoughtful and focused again
on the screen where Bruce’s picture was again displayed. “Mmmm…my wife is THE
HOT STUFF, huh? Wait…I wasn’t thinking this” he scratched his head. “I get it
now, babe… Youuuuuur brat ran away alone in the dark forest when the big
baaaaaad…Joker is here” he gestured to himself “an’ you wore your beeeeest
attire to go fetch the little bastard…You write me off but you rush for that
shit and nooooot only this but you beat two common muggers while youuuur Joker
is thiiiirsty for a little attention!” he lowered his voice in a mock whine “a
tiny glance… Oh! Baby, why you are so difficult???” he screamed hysterically
and licked his lips. “Obviously, to turn me on…” he answered himself.
He jumped to his feet.
“However I muuuuust remind Brucey-bats to whom he belongs and who should have
his fuuuuull attention! Booooooyyyyysssss!!”
His thugs gathered surprised from every corner of the warehouse and some of
them leaned from the railing of the upper level to listen.
“Hoooooolidays are ooooover, kiddos! Daddy will take you for a stroll in the
town…” he rolled his eyes on the baffled expressions. “And I’ll buy you some
ice cream!”
The thugs cheered and Joker shook his head.
“Thooooose kids! It’s touching how easily they are bribed…HEHE!”
 
“There are three cars that exhibit odd driving behavior, sir. Two black SUVs
proceeded by a purple with violet dots – they don’t have number plates. ”
Bruce frowned at the AI’s voice and touched the screen getting image from what
was happening behind him on the road. He was returning to the Manor with his
car enjoying the ride even if he couldn’t drive as he used to.
“Back cameras and microphones” he ordered the AI seeing in the screen with the
road diagram three dots maneuvering crazily between the cars of the afternoon
traffic jam.
Horns and curses from the infuriated drivers filled the inside of the car and…a
hysterical laugh that managed to tower all the other sounds. Bruce pressed his
lips: he knew that laughter…
“So the truce has ended…” he mumbled and sped up.
Bruce had only one thing in mind: pulling Joker and his thugs away from the
city before the madman killed some innocent; he could see from the cameras that
where embedded on the back of the car that Joker held a machine gun and shot
randomly at cars and buildings.
“Honeeeyyyyy!!!! I’m coming!!!!” the jester yelled shooting at the tires of
Bruce’s car.
Only this car was Tony Stark’s creation and impenetrable from any aspect so
even the tires where bullet and rocket proof. There wasn’t any worry and the
car continued without problem yet Bruce was glancing at the screen and the
mirrors because Joker was shooting at other cars too and some of them were
toppled rolling on the road and hitting other cars.
“I’m demolishing castles to get to youuuuuu! Uhuhu! C’mon, baaaaabe! Don’t be
shyyyyy!”
Bruce clenched his jaw.
“Can you say if someone is badly injured or dead?”
“No, sir; there is no dead in the upturned cars – only injured. Police and
ambulances are approaching fast.”
“Right” he said and accelerated to the maximum turning swiftly the wheel to the
less crowded sideways roads leading outside the city; his eyes were sparkling
with determination completely still on the electronic map the AI provided on
the control panel’s second screen: not that Bruce needed that – as Batman he
knew that city like the back of his palm but he wanted to be certain about his
movements.
Joker keeping his half body outside the window with the machine gun pointing to
the air and shooting followed him and the other two cars with his goons in
Rabbid’s masks did the same shooting around causing terrorized screams from
people ducking behind garbage bins to save their lives.
Another smooth maneuver of the wheel took the car momentarily out of Joker’s
eyes: Bruce wanted to keep him baited.
“Foooollow him! UUUUUUUU! I love good chasings! Baaaaaabe, hold oooon, Jokey is
coming! Uhuhuhuhu!”
Joker’s enthusiasm was such that he pressed the trigger raining the air with
bullets causing a shower of debris from the buildings fall on his head. He
pouted irritated.
“Stupid buildings!”
Bruce saw the Chelsea Bridge in front of him: the traffic was thick because
people were leaving from their jobs yet the lane to Palisades wasn’t packed
because few people had their residences to the outskirts of the city. Yet
Joker’s thugs were careless in their driving making slaloms between the cars of
the opposite traffic lane, accidents being averted only because drivers were
extra careful. However some cars stuck on the side of the bridge and Bruce got
some sweat drops dreading that next a car might end up in the river.
He stepped on the emergency accelerator that gave extra speed to the car
intending to get away from the bridge immediately taking the danger with him.
When in the Palisades he could carry Joker to the woods where no innocent would
be in danger.
 
“Wayne’s car is under attack!”
The pen fell from Lois’ hand and she along with her colleagues from the other
desks at the Planet’s reporter floor gathered around Pete’s desk.
Clark’s heartbeat elevated instantly hearing that name but he put it again
under reasoning: Bruce wasn’t his responsibility any longer even though his
vitals still maintained some sensitivity to stimuli relevant to the human. Yet
his feet dragged him to the same desk where on the flat PC screen images from
public cameras showed Bruce’s unique car being chased by three SUVs.
“Put the Gazette’s site -their news helicopter must be on them” Lois urged her
colleague.
 Indeed, high definition footage showed the majestic in her gloom city from
above before zooming to a black sleek thunder heading to a bridge: behind three
SUVs were running frenzied hitting on civilian cars. The screeching sound of
tires was accompanied with enraged horns and curses but what stood out was a
hysteric laughter that still nauseated and infuriated Clark: from the
passenger’s window in the first vehicle that was purple with velvet dots (!!!)
Joker had popped his half body out holding a machine gun which vomited fire
constantly.
Bruce’s car was running so fast that hardly was visible.
“Let them try to catch THAT beast!” Frank exclaimed impressed but Lois was
worried.
“He is dragging them out of the city” she whispered to herself but Clark heard
her.
He agreed: this fit Bruce – he could imagine the man’s agony to draw Joker away
from the innocent. Suddenly, he felt Lois’ eyes on him after what? One month?
His heart filled with joy and hurried to meet her gaze. Out, she mouthed to him
unnoticed by their colleagues who were mesmerized by the black wonder of
Bruce’s car.
Lois and Clark left the space as Perry rushed to the desk his reporters were
gathered.
“You won’t go to him?” she demanded once they were at the corridor opposite the
lift.
“You’re talking to me again?” Clark grinned.
“Shut up, you dork! Bruce needs you!”
Clark shook his head.
“He doesn’t: the Avengers are guarding him and Thor…” he smirked. “I bet Thor
tracks his vitals all the time.”
“Like you did?” she remarked snidely. “You can’t be sure, Clark: how can you
gamble his life?”
“Superman is not welcomed in Gotham: the city and Bruce have their protectors.
It’s over!” he murmured and smirked. “You want me to go there in hopes of
reconciling with him but that won’t happen, Lois. You have to accept it!”
Lois’ eyes flashed and her lips stretched in wrath.
“NO, I don’t want you there for reconciliation because you’re not worthy of
Bruce! Asshole!” she spat and returned furious inside.
Clark shook his head, rolled his eyes and rushed inside to watch the
developments: he didn’t feel like going there besides it was sure that Bruce
would get away. Besides if Superman was seen there Diana would hear; she’d be
heartbroken and Clark wanted her happy.
 
Tony was working at his private lab at Wayne Tower with Lucius. He had returned
this morning from New York and devoted all his attention to installing trackers
to the items that had so much fascinated Bruce: alas! Lucius had already begun
working when Tony went to the Tower adding another brilliant mind putting aside
the surgery project for lesser things.
Despite the fact reports and some discussions he had with several S.H.I.E.L.D.
agents from around the world had informed him about a general sense of strange
movements he wasn’t persuaded that what he was doing now was worthy of his time
and brilliance. Besides, there was nothing specific.
“Sir, pardon me for the interruption” Jarvis’ voice broke the silence of the
lab.
Tony had put the AI in constant connection because he expected updates from
Pepper about StarkExpo’s preparations.
“Speak, Jarvis.’’
“Master Bruce’s car is under attack.”
The tools Tony was holding almost fell and Lucius looked at him: the
billionaire’s eyes had widened and met Lucius’ worried ones.
“Who? Can you tell me who?”
“Police’s frequency is filled with…”
“Just the fuckin’ name, Jarvis!” he pulled the working whole face mask off and
threw it on the floor.
“It is the Joker, sir.”
“Fuck!” Tony’s fist crashed on the working bench and Lucius grabbed some tools
before falling.
Ironman’s armor began wrapping Tony’s body; the billionaire’s eyes were still,
sparkling, and his breath was pressed. He was worried and angry.
“Lucius, I’m sorry…”
“Not at all, Mr. Stark. Please, hurry…”
“Where?” Tony asked his AI; the wall of his lab opening in the centre to allow
him to take off.
“Downtown, sir; now close to the Chelsea Bridge.”
 
 “Oooooh! Baaaaabyyyyyy! You turn me oooooon! I looooove your foreplaying!”
Bruce was hearing him clearly and growled: once in the Palisades he would be
able to escape Joker: the car had some attacking weapons yet Bruce didn’t want
Joker be more certain about him being Batman.
Finally! Bruce thought as the car left the bridge and rushed on the almost
empty Palisades road, the three cars of Joker at his heels.
“What’s your briefs’ cooooolor, baaaabe?” Joker yelled and Bruce couldn’t fight
the blush on his face. “Black are myyyyyy favorite: AOUUUUUUUUUUU!” he howled
like a wolf. “But black is your favorite, tooooooo, huh? HEHEHEHEHAHAHAAAAA!
We’re a match maaaaade in Heaaavennnnn – or even better: in Heeeeell!!!!!”
Bruce turned sharply the wheel leading the car out of the main road and to the
soil path that crossed a small valley separating two forests right and left;  a
little snow covered the hard soil. Bruce heard the tires hissing as the three
cars halted momentarily unable to take the turn instantly to start again
turning to the woods.
He watched through the back cameras Joker’s SUV’s headlights smashing in shreds
and then smoke emanating from the engine. The car halted so abruptly that Joker
smacked the back of his head on the window before the second car hit the back
of his car and then the third hit the second.
Thick arrows protruded from the headlights and the car’s metal and Bruce
frowned but continued his way hearing Joker barking to his thugs to turn the
engines on.
But then an arrow pierced Joker’s arm that held the machine gun and the weapon
fell. The jester’s face distorted in a scream more of frustration than pain.
Bruce had lowered the speed watching through the cameras to see what he already
knew: Arrow landed smoothly in front of Joker’s car, ready to launch another of
his arrows.
“Kill him!” Joker barked but his driver had petrified staring at the arrow and
the goons on the other vehicles couldn’t even see the archer.
Cursing Joker slipped his uninjured hand inside his belt grabbing his pistol to
do the work himself only to get an arrow scratching his face.
Yet the jester wasn’t terrorized by that: he licked his lips and turned the gun
on the archer who smirking launched another arrow to the driver who panicked
started instantly the engine making his boss smack his head on the window frame
and lose another gun.
“Wait, you mooooooron!’’ Joker screamed but the SUV was already rushing to the
opposite direction, the other two cars following their boss whose hysterics
cracked the peace of the woods. “What kind of a stupor- hero works in daylight!
Where our world is heading?!”
Bruce turned back his car and the Arrow walked confidently towards the still
moving car. A clear confident smile was on his face while his eyes clearly
visible under the hood’s shadow flashed like dancing flames as his focus was on
the black car’s driver.
Bruce stopped the car and opened setting his chair outside to slither in. He
moved the chair towards Arrow who was watching him a bit hunched with his arms
crossed over his chest.
“Thank you” Bruce said.
Arrow shook his head.
“It is my pleasure taking you out of hard situations…” the flames in his eyes
seemed to increase their shine.
Bruce looked towards the dust that betrayed Joker’s convoy and moved his chair
some feet away trying to see better.
“They’re getting away or they might do a U turn and come back.”
Arrow grinned having followed.
“Neither…My arrows pierced their tires – they don’t have the tires your car has
– so in a bit they’ll be stuck and the police are coming.”
Bruce ruffled his hair and Arrow leaned over him.
“Are you alright?” the stranger asked Bruce worried.
Bruce nodded.
“Fine; Tony built that car” he smiled “believe me it is like a fortress.”
“I’m glad.”
Bruce narrowed his eyes.
“I didn’t know you were a Gothamite…I thought you were from New York” Bruce
knew that the man wasn’t either from New York or Gotham but the Arrow should
not suspect that Bruce Wayne had met him elsewhere.
However the man’s smirk was amused.
“I can’t stay in one place for long…”
“I see…” Bruce nodded. “Mmm…I must get back to the Manor now before my people
hear the news and panic.”
“Are you sure? Maybe you should go to a hospital first?”
“I’m just fine, thank you. Do you want to come with me to have lunch?”
Arrow narrowed his eyes.
“That’s a tempting proposition but another time.”
“Okay” Bruce gave him his hand and Arrow took it in a warm handshake.
“So long, Mr. Wayne” he said and with an impressive jump he was on a tree
branch and in an instant he changed from branch to branch like a monkey.
If Bruce’s sight wasn’t trained he wouldn’t be able to follow him; he cocked an
eyebrow impressed.
“A real Robin Hood, huh?” he mumbled and turned the chair to get inside his car
that was some feet away.
Bruce smiled hearing the familiar no-sound of Ironman approaching.
“You’re late, veteran…You missed the fun” he chuckled.
 
“Can you connect me with the car or Bruce’s laptop?” Tony asked Jarvis as he
was floating over the Chelsea Bridge where ambulances were taking the injured
that the firefighters were taking out of the crashed and upturned cars. He was
relieved that there were no casualties but his insides were clenched for Bruce.
“I’m afraid not, sir: too many noise…but Master Bruce’s car is in the woods and
the cars that chased him are stopped. Away from him… police cars are heading
there.”
 Tony’s heartbeat returned to its normal levels: he was still over Chelsea
Bridge to the end that led to Palisades.
“Sir, someone is approaching Master Bruce’s car…”
Tony frowned.
“Nobody can do anything to him inside the car” he pointed to the AI but he
wanted to reassure himself.
 
Bruce smiled looking up to the red and gold figure approaching fast but
immediately the smile vanished and a frown creased his brow; the figure had
halted midair and raised his fisted palms revealing the beam launchers in his
wrists. Bruce managed to push his chair away just a second before the bullets
rained his previous position.
 
“Master Bruce is out of the car, sir, and the one who approached him shot at
him.”
“No!” Tony exclaimed, his eyes almost popping out of their sockets; he
accelerated to the top of his speed. “Can you give me view through satellite,
Google Earth…anything?!! Who’s attacking, damn?”
“Sir, it is Ironman.
 
Bruce knew that it couldn’t be Tony but now what mattered was to avoid the
bullets since the fake was once again upturning his palms. He realized that as
much as the chair permitted him to move it also made things harder: he
maneuvered the chair again to escape the bullets and towards the car – if he
managed to get inside nothing could get to him.
But ‘Ironman’ hit with fire the path he was following towards the car. There
was a little snow on the ground but the humidity couldn’t subdue that much fire
power so pillars of fire filled the space between Bruce and the car forcing him
to turn the chair to the right. He growled frustrated because it was so
embarrassing trying to defend himself moving the chair. Thankfully, this chair
wasn’t any chair so he activated the protecting field making a new attempt to
surge through the fire to his car.
A blast right to the chair threw the chair far away from the car and though
Bruce wasn’t hit by the blast due to the field the chair fell to the ground; a
‘coat’ of nanofibers activated at once sensing his fall and ‘hugged’ him
protecting him from the hard ground.
Bruce smiled though the situation wasn’t for smiles.
“It’d be like Ironman protecting you” he heard Tony’s voice.
“Even from ‘yourself’…” Bruce mumbled inside his cocoon-shield when a white
energy beam left the fake Ironman’s eyes to hit the chair and the field.
It felt like earthquake and Bruce realized that the field although held it
wouldn’t last much. Thankfully, he had provided to install a bit of offense to
his defense so he brushed a button on the armrest that was in front of his face
after the fall and a laser beam hit the fake Ironman who drew back surprised.
But before Bruce could take a breath another light beam shook him hard cracking
his shield and forcing him to gather himself behind the still strong part
folding to the chest his dead legs with his arms.
‘Ironman’ landed in front of him and stretched his right hand fingers to him
ready to launch energy daggers as Bruce knew from Tony’s sayings. Bruce brushed
again the small round panel on the armrest to send a nanowave to his
assailant’s chest making him stagger backwards: this should be able to
deactivate the armor but the fake’s armor remained intact.
 As ‘Ironman’ was recovering from the shock Bruce crawled towards the woods
dragging along the chair and the field around: his attack failed and his
opponent would strike again so he pushed himself towards the forest where he
could take better cover.
But his assailant took off and launched a rain of attacks of every kind of
weapons he had to break the shield. Bruce’s body felt the hits and the
vibrations: the shield wouldn’t last much more that kind of onslaught so
despite the rain of fire he continued crawling when a loud bang told him that
the field was breached.
He turned his eyes to his attacker who landed and approached smugly; Bruce
could imagine a smirk though he couldn’t imagine a face. Ironman upturned his
palm manifesting the launchers in his wrist that loaded with a horrible sound.
Bruce looked at him with cold eyes totally fearless and put his hands on the
ground launching his body some feet away avoiding the fire: to the right of the
forest’s opening stood a big rock: not that the stone would hold that much
firepower yet it was something.
 ‘Ironman’ growled in frustration and readied his launchers to fire again. But
then a nightmarish bang blew ‘Ironman’ in the air among a cloud of smoke and
fire to crash again on the ground.
Bruce saw Mjolnir spiting fires in Thor’s hand mirroring the wrath in its
Master’s eyes. Thor’s face was distorted, anything but the kind, sweet face and
Bruce could discern the flash of thunders – thunders that cracked the sky
around him. It was the first time Bruce was seeing the kind god in all his
magnificence and might and unavoidably his mind ran to Superman. Thor was a god
fighting for his mate…
‘Ironman’ came over his initial shock and turned again to Bruce to be toppled
by Thor’s body who growled causing a sound like a hundred thunders together;
the two of them launched on the air, the fake Ironman distancing himself from
the enraged god and launching missiles against him that Thor stopped waving his
hammer.
Bruce’s insights formed a tight knot: he didn’t want Thor being so bonded with
him. Not again…
But then as the god shook his hammer sending a wave of electricity and fire to
blast on the fake Ironman’s armor Bruce heard hurried footsteps of many people
approaching from every corner of the frozen valley.
He took his gaze from the battle in the sky and saw with widened eyes at least
twenty men coming towards him with squinted eyes and gloomy faces: they held
firearms and Bruce began crawling backwards towards the rock: his dead legs a
major obstacle. He could use his mind’s will but he didn’t want anyone witness
his true abilities.
When the bang of several firearms echoed through the forest Thor’s eyes bulged
and he looked down sweat covering his brow, panting from agony: he had left
Bruce unprotected! He had turned his body already descended to him when the
‘Ironman’ attacked him bodily stopping his movement. Thor ground his teeth
roaring in frustration, his panicked eyes searching for his mortal.
His heart returned to its place seeing a stranger in dark green attire and a
bow in his back grabbing Bruce’s body and covering him with his: an ally. Thor
had heard from Bruce about that man.
The fake Ironman fired his missiles against him but Thor managed to shake his
hammer diverting the missiles.
Bruce stared at the eyes of the man who had grabbed him in his arms and brought
him behind the rock where he intended to take cover.
“I’m here now, Bruce” the Arrow said calmly but so touched that Bruce frowned.
“They would have to tread over my dead body to hurt you…” he whispered in
Bruce’s cheek. “Are you alright?”
“Yes…” Bruce answered not as steady as he felt but with a slight tremor to
manifest fear; he held Arrow’s upper arms and drag himself from under him to
get some distance.
The men were approaching the rock raining the stone with bullets. Bruce
recognized them as former thugs of Falcone who had gone in hiding after their
boss’s downfall.
Arrow squatted and with swift movements began throwing arrows at them which
were founding their target injuring the men who were falling on the ground
screaming.
Bruce pretended to pant and looked on the sky were missiles and thunders
collided filling the sky with multi-colored lethal fireworks.
“I guess you had a quarrel yesterday?” Arrow asked snidely pointing with his
gaze at ‘Ironman’.
“This isn’t Tony’’ Bruce replied.
Thor’s thunder hit the man’s arc reactor.
“Thor seems to agree with you…” Arrow said launching three arrows at once
causing screams of pain from three different men.
“If this was Tony such hit in his arc reactor would have neutralized him…”
Bruce thought.
Mjolnir was hardly visible as Thor blocked the rainfall of laser and missiles.
“Loki” the god roared addressing the fake Ironman “this isn’t fun!”
Yet the fake Ironman didn’t answer which convinced Thor that it wasn’t Loki
after all. Loki or not the Asgardian clenched his jaw, charged Mjolnir with his
ire and launched a horizontal twister of thunders against ‘Ironman’ who was
thrown off the sky and several feet away on the ground. Thor launched at him
though this forced him to distance from Bruce.
Arrow saw surprised the men he had hit rising and surging at the rock.
“This is what you get when you don’t kill them at once” he said grudging at
Bruce and placed three new Arrows to his bow’s cord.
“You could have knocked them out…” Bruce retorted and Arrow lolled his head on
the side crooking his lips and freeing his arrows against their attackers.
“These men aren’t subdued by pain…” he said thoughtful and Bruce nodded
thinking about the thugs in Metropolis’ attack. “And we are cornered…and in
serious trouble if Thor doesn’t finish soon with ‘Ironman’…” he pointed with
his eyes to new thugs coming behind the first twenty. “They are like zombies!”
Thor approached the fallen ‘Ironman’ and raised his hammer ready to give the
final hit and return to Bruce who was in some considerable distance. But the
fake ‘Ironman’ just evaporated.
Two of the thugs surged against Bruce and Arrow tackled them knowing that the
others taking advantage of the lack of arrows surged the rock everywhere. While
he was fighting them another came pointing his firearm’s barrel to Bruce who
grabbed a stone and threw it to his head sending him away to topple another
thug behind him.
Arrow turned his head to Bruce smiling blocking at the same time the punch of
one of his opponents and kicking the second in the groin.
“You’re a brave young man, Bruce…”
His eyes bulged when another thug stormed at Bruce but the new attacker’s eyes
widened and he fell on the ground.
Bangs filled the small valley and new screams of pain but for Bruce one sound
mattered: the velvet humming of the true Ironman…and his friend’s curses as he
was hitting the attackers.
Bruce careful because the still standing thugs were shooting looked from behind
the rock. Steve was launching his shield to hit the thugs who were carried away
from the force and crashed on the ground; upon sending his shield away, Captain
fell on another cluster of thugs beating them to a pulp while Ironman was
flying around launching beams and stunning bullets.
“Sonovabitches! This is my Bruce! You motherfuckers!” Tony’s voice was
distorted, hardly recognizable from wrath and agony.
Thor out of breath arrived to the scene but his agony was eased seeing his
comrades neutralizing the enemies. He hit Mjolnir on the ground and a giant
crack began running to the battle field knocking out every thug it met.
Arrow having knocked out his own opponents and relieved from the Avengers’
intervention sat down next to Bruce and brought his face close to the youth’s
trying to figure out if he was injured. There were some scratches on Bruce’s
cheek that bled and he had some bruises to his cheekbones.
“I’m fine” Bruce answered his unuttered question and Arrow smiled.
The archer took his bow and stood; he fixed his bow across his torso and leaned
to wrap his arms around Bruce’s torso to lift him in standing position
supporting him. The archer’s palm was over Bruce’s belly supposedly to hold him
more securely but the young man felt that hand trembling feathery touching him.
He stared at that hand and saw that the green leather of his glove was torn and
blood was visible from a scar.
Steve was engaged in a fight with three thugs and Tony was stunning those that
lay on the ground still moving when several police cars swarmed the place from
the country road; officers with pointing their guns came out; Jim Gordon first
of all.
Thor ran to Bruce and his breath was ragged from agony and relief; Bruce’s eyes
locked with the god’s eyes that had returned to their kind, sweet expression
causing Arrow’s frowning.
“Thank you, Thor” Bruce said politely and Thor just nodded his golden locks
framing his face.
Bruce saw Thor’s arms twitching ready to take him.
“No” Bruce said calm but determined and Thor’s arms fell at his sides.
Steve ran to them and Tony landed deactivating his face plate: the moments of
agony he suffered evident in his stormy face; the billionaire was still
panting. Their eyes met and Tony stormed to Bruce squeezing him in a bear hug;
the Arrow stepping aside.
“Mr. Wayne, are you alright?” Jim Gordon arrived with his glasses askew from
the running; he put his gun back in its holder.
Tony let Bruce breathe but not out of his arms and the younger man looked at
Jim.
“I’m fine, Commissionaire, thank you…”
“We were chasing Joker and his thugs in the woods” Jim said.
Bruce smiled.
“I know: did you catch them?”
“His thugs, they were the same who were arrested in the attack at City Hall’s
square: they escaped from Arkham. We chased Joker too but we didn’t find him.”
“Of course” Tony uttered exasperated rolling his eyes.
Arrow was retreating to the forest.
“Ei, archer!” Tony addressed him and the Arrow turned his head to him.
“I prefer ‘Arrow’…” he retorted smiling.
“Thank you! Bruce is…” he inhaled as his voice cracked from emotion. “Saving
him is greater than if you had saved me…”
“You are welcomed to the Avengers” Steve said walking to him and Bruce looked
at Captain America: he still didn’t trust completely the archer.
Arrow shook his head.
“That’s an honor, Captain, but I’m not a hero.”
“Then ask me whatever you want” Tony said completely serious.
Arrow’s eyes found Bruce.
“Look after Mr. Wayne: it is odd how evil is drawn to purity…” he stared at the
youth for some seconds and then withdrew to the forest.
Tony held tighter Bruce and turned to his comrades and Jim.
“I’m taking this. young man out of here…”
Bruce shook his head.
“The car…and the phone is ringing” his smartphone was in his black jacket’s
inner pocket.
“Alfred probably: it’d be better to see you in flesh as for the car we’ll take
it later” he said sharply not wanting to disclose that the car had auto pilot.
What was obvious to Bruce as Ironman took off was that Tony was shaking from
ultimate terror and wanted to take him to safety as soon as possible. His
friend’s face was still pale.
***** Chapter 55 *****
“Are you hurt?” Tony asked tightening his embrace around Bruce’s waist. “Do you
feel any pain?” his voice was pressed, hasty.
Bruce shook his head.
“No, Tony, I…” he was ready to say that there was no reason for hastiness and
that he could at least answer his Smartphone that was ringing, but his friend
had already activated his face plate and left the valley which looked like a
battle field.
Under them people lay unconscious on the frozen soil, some of them moving
weakly and moaning. Police officers were handcuffing those conscious and the
paramedics who had just come with ambulances gathered those injured or
unconscious. The heavy smell of used firepower hovered over the narrow strip of
land as the big rock and even the soil had the marks of bullets; smoke still
swirled all over.
Jim was taking Steve’s and Thor’s testimonies clenching his waist troubled from
this unexpected attack – not the one from Joker: anything was expected from the
jester. But the second one was a mystery.
After everything that just happened Bruce felt a cold wave running his spine;
Ironman although fake had just tried to kill him and now he was taken away by
the same entity – of course, it was his best friend under the plate and he knew
he was safe yet he’d like to be able to see Tony’s eyes and not that soulless
alloy.
He could guess that Tony was checking his body for any serious injury: Tony
must have been through a Hell knowing that Bruce was under attack by…Ironman.
He had seen the dead paleness over his face, the blankness in his eyes, his
disheveled hair, his ragged breath…
Bruce felt awful…and his friend’s suffering just added a load more. He tried to
not think of what just took place, of how he had acted, but his mind replayed
all. And Bruce felt horrible because once again he had crawled to save his
life, waiting to be saved… Of course, he had done a lot of this during his
years with Falcone: crawling waiting to take the blows just begging to be
spared…during the last years was part of the plan, an act but before he just
waited to be saved.
He had waited years to be saved, craving for someone to help him and nobody
came…and now after the battle he gave to save himself, he was disgusted seeing
himself being a ‘damsel in distress’: he was used to save people not being
saved…
But he had to burry those feelings in the back side of the deeper depths of his
mind to focus once again to more important aspects: the fake Ironman, the
Arrow, Thor’s expression when he was fighting ‘Ironman’. He pressed his lips
and the pain throughout his jaw line made him aware of the hits he got while
rolling on the ground…like a warm.
“Hiding behind a tree trunk waiting better people to save you…” Diana sneered
at him.
He swallowed the acid in his mouth and looked into Ironman’s cold lenses.
“Tony?”
“Almost there, litt’ guy…”
But still the face plate covered his friend’s features. Bruce turned his head
towards the Manor that was coming closer fast. He could see Alfred already
standing before the open main door: worry and relief playing on his wrinkled
face. Next to him stood Matt; of course…it was almost the time for their
session.
Ironman landed smoothly but then Tony’s movements were anything but smooth; he
rushed inside supporting Bruce settling him gently on the sofa.
Alfred’s fast moving eyes were appraising his young master’s condition appalled
from the tears on Bruce’s expensive fine clothes that were wrinkled, dirty and
drenched: appalled not for the clothes’ damage, of course, but for the
conditions that led there. But it was the sight of the youth’s face that
clenched his chest because he hoped that he wouldn’t have to see again bruises
and scratches on that beloved face. And blood: Bruce’s left eyebrow had a wound
enough deep to bleed. He ran to the sofa to help Bruce take off his soaked
jacket.
“Leslie is on her way here” Alfred said and Tony who had just deactivated his
face plate nodded, his eyes determined.
“Is there a serious injury?” Matt asked Tony; the physiotherapist of the
Avengers was certain that Tony had already scanned his friend.
Bruce used his hands to come into sitting position.
“I’m here, you know; and I’m alright, Tony, you didn’t have to call Leslie.”
Tony having disassembled his armor clenched his waist with both hands and
looked at his friend in a way that made Bruce feel oddly.
“I didn’t call her” Tony realized the odd expression in his eyes and changed to
something more Stark-ish. “I just saw her car approaching: she must have
figured that I’d bring you to the Manor and rushed here; she will be probably
stalled a bit from the police blocks” he licked his lips uncomfortable and
looked at Matt. “There’s no major injury according to my scans and the energy
casts are in their place, just contusions but I want to be sure.”
“I told you that I’m fine” Bruce said.
“No, you’re not: I’m not fine so you can’t be fine either” Tony spat.
Bruce was watching frowned Tony speaking for him without giving him any
attention; in the meantime, Hero climbed on the sofa and on his lap licking the
scratches over his face.
Alfred took softly the kitten and placed him down holding a piece of cotton
drenched with alcohol. He began cleaning gently his young master’s scratches
once again impressed by the youth’s handling of pain. Of course, Master Bruce
was used to much worse pain than the sting of alcohol on open scratches.
“Master Bruce, pardon me for the pain” he had forced his voice to not shake
from his previous terror upon hearing that Master Bruce was under attack.
Yet Bruce could sense how shaken his good friend was; he brushed his upper arms
smiling.
“It’s nothing, Alfred…and I’m fine” he chuckled. “A bit shaken; scared” Matt
was there after all “but I’ll live.”
Alfred knew that it was inappropriate for a butler but his fingertips moved a
bit out of the cotton and touched his young master’s cold cheek. He grinned.
Tony turned his head to them, his expression still tense as if ready to
explode.
“His temperature is below normal: he is on the verge of hypothermia.”
“I’ll prepare a hot bath” Alfred suggested.
“No, Alfred, thank you but I want Matt to make a first examination” Tony
retorted looking at Matt who nodded. “Leslie should be here any moment now so
she’ll make her own assessment.”
He strode to Bruce who stared at him with narrowed eyes but Tony didn’t have
the luxury to acknowledge that stare; Alfred stood and the billionaire from
Malibu placed his hands around Bruce’s waist and under his knees lifting him up
in bridal style. Two friends’ eyes collided.
“Tony…” Bruce could see in Tony’s eyes still the fear and the distress along
with a dry determination; he needed to speak with his friend.
“Not now, Bruce” Tony cut him sharply “your health is the priority.”
Bruce pressed his lips and was ready to retort but Tony’s eyes became softer.
“Can you do me this favor, littl’ guy?”
Bruce closed his eyes and Tony activating Ironman’s boots took Bruce to the gym
where a fully equipped examination room was attached. Matt followed but Alfred
stayed in the salon shaking his head troubled having sensed the odd atmosphere
between the two friends. He saw Hero storming to the way his master was taken
and the butler grinned.
“Your young master needs your warmth…”
Tony laid Bruce softly on the examination table and put his hands on both his
shoulders looking his friend straight in the eyes.
“Listen to Matt, will you? Leslie will be here soon.”
Bruce shook his head and huffed.
“Tony, I’m fine!”
Tony grinned.
“I know you are, buddy, but it is better to be sure, huh?” he winked and walked
towards the exit. “When you’re finished” he said to Matt “notify me to come and
get Bruce.”
“Okay, Tony” Matt nodded and closed the door behind Tony.
He came to Bruce who had raised himself in a sitting position.
“I’d like you to take off your clothes and wear your sweat shorts to examine
you” he took the screen and adjusted it around the examination table knowing
how shy his patient was. “And we’ll make some massage afterwards to ease the
tension and possible cramps from the exertion.”
“Fine” Bruce said licking his lips, swallowing his distaste.
Upon returning to the salon Tony found Leslie as he had guessed. Her face was
like made of granite and her eyes sparkled with a mix of worry and anger while
her tight bun of working hours was disheveled.
“How is he?” she demanded as soon as she saw Tony.
Alfred cocked his eyebrows.
“I told dear Leslie that Master Bruce is fine but she wasn’t satisfied with my
diagnosis’’ he remarked in his snide way.
“My scans showed nothing worrisome but Matt is examining him right now at the
gym.”
“You scanned him for brain injuries? Internal bleeding?” she asked already
starting to move towards the gym. “We can transfer him to the clinic.”
“I’d have taken him there immediately if I had found anything yet you know
better.”
But Leslie had already moved out of the room just nodding.
“I’ll make some tea” Alfred said “since bath is called off for now a hot
brewage will warm Master Bruce up.”
Tony nodded and watched Alfred leaving. He however needed something more than a
tea…
When Alfred returned to the salon his eyes slightly widened.
“Master Anthony, I do not think that…”
Tony raised his index finger stopping him and swallowed in a gulp the rest of
his glass’ whiskey. He filled it again from the bottle he had on the fireplace.
Alfred approached: he could see from the remaining booze in the bottle that
Master Anthony had drunk at least two more glasses; also, he could see that
Ironman was shaken; scared maybe...
The Englishman took softly the bottle and the glass from the younger man’s
hand.
“Alcohol isn’t any kind of solution, sir.”
Tony yanked his head backwards huffing and ran his fingers through his messy
hair.
“Thankfully, I have a spare wheelchair – I must bring it because the other is
completely wrecked” he said bypassing the subject.
Alfred pressed his lips: so that was the reason for Master Anthony’s weird
behavior. The attack was really lethal if Master Bruce’s wheelchair was
destroyed. Tony as if reading the butler’s understanding stretched his hand to
take the glass back raising his eyebrows.
“I’m afraid I can’t comply with your wishes, Master Anthony” Alfred said with
his voice of conviction holding the bottle away from his hand and Tony let his
head hang on his chest disappointed. “Drinking won’t correct things neither
will change what has happened.”
Tony yanked his head backwards growling and made a small twist to turn his back
to the Englishman hiding his face in his palms only to raise his head a second
later turning again to Alfred.
“Alfred” he said confiding, leaning towards him “the chair’s protecting field
was destroyed! If Thor had come a second later Bruce would have been dead!” he
pointed out widening his eyes. “In the hands of a bastard impersonating me!” he
stabbed his index finger to his own chest. “Dead! It was sooooo close…” he
showed the tip of his fingertip. “We almost lost him again, Alfred, after
everything! And this time it’d be definite…”
Alfred left the bottle and glass on the fireplace’s white marble mantelpiece
and approached his young master: he felt for him, he shared his agony and
dread. He was still distraught himself.
“Master Anthony, it is alright now. Master Bruce is here, safe and sound.”
Tony shook his head.
“Till when, Alfred?” he closed his eyes “Can’t take it anymore…Won’t let it
anymore…I won’t lose him again…” he turned his back to the butler. “I love that
little guy and I can’t just watch each time a bastard attacks him at will
endangering his life…I was late today, Alfred…and my delay could have cost
Bruce’s life…”
Alfred touched his hands to the younger man’s hunched shoulders.
“It wasn’t your fault, sir” Tony was shaking his head in disbelief.
“It is, Alfred, because I let it happen…”
Alfred frowned.
“Sir, you must be careful; do not be hasty to make something that you might
regret later” Tony turned to him, his eyes glimmering. “It is better to calm
down.”
“No, Alfred: if I calm down as you say, I will continue this failed Mondus
Vivendi and next time Bruce might…He is so selfish in his self sacrificing
nature...” he sighed.
“Master Anthony…” Tony closed his eyes and ruffled his locks discerning
Alfred's disagreement. “Miss Potts called: she tried to reach you through your
personal phone number and Jarvis but she couldn’t. She is very distressed: if I
may, I think you should speak with her.”
Tony smiled and nodded.
“I will; thank you, Alfred” he pouted “I’m going upstairs to talk to her; if
Matt and Leslie finish before I return you know where the spare chair is.”
Alfred gave a court nod.
“I certainly do, sir.”
Tony saluted Alfred in military style and ascended slowly the main staircase to
the bedrooms. Alfred pressed his lips.
 
The Smartphone rang and in the complete silence of Harleen’s office at Arkham
echoed like a thunder. The young psychiatrist was writing at her laptop and was
startled; she cast a glare at the gadget: it was her second Smartphone, the
personal one… she crooked her mouth annoyed and picked it up.
“Dr. Quinzel speaking.”
“Do yaaaa make aaaah… house calls? Hehehehaha…”
A shiver ran Harleen’s spine hearing that nasal voice.
“It depends…” she slurred.
“Touuuuugh piece…” Joker mumbled and chuckled. “Mmm…even when youuur patient
bleeeeds to see ya?”
Harleen took off her glasses.
“Where are you?”
“There’s an abandoned kiosk at the right alleyway besiiiide our favorite
Asylum…”
She bit her bottom lip.
“You’re…”
“Let me guess…crazyyyyy?! Wowww! You reaaaaally needed those Phds to make that
diagnose, huh? Hehe!”
Harleen crooked her mouth and snorted.
“I’m coming.”
Joker heard the end of the dial and smirked.
“Of course you are, Harlequin…”
He squeezed the spot on his upper arm where the thick arrow had pierced the
skin; Joker had already removed the arrow himself. He could have treated his
injury yet he thought that this was a great chance to have Harlequin more
invested in him: women loved to take care of wounded people.
And truly it took Harleen only ten minutes to arrive. She had stashed in her
briefcase the contents of a first aid kit and entered her car. In order to not
raise suspicions to the guards she drove away from the Asylum and when she was
out of vision range took a sideways road to approach the abandoned kiosk from
the road behind the kiosk.
Joker heard the car and his eyes stayed focused on the door till the young
psychiatrist entered; the jester noticed that her glasses were slightly askew
despite the calmness all over her face. Harleen regarded the covered in spider
webs and dust small space with disgust but as soon as she laid eyes on him her
eyes bulged: his left side was drenched in blood and some drops had stained the
dust covered cement.
Harleen rushed to him and fell on her knees touching the spot where the blood
spurted. Joker giggled.
“Oh! Dooooc, sooooo much interest for good oooool’ me?”
“Take your jacket off!” she ordered him pressing her lips.
Joker cocked his eyes.
“Soooooo haaasty!! I sympathize with your thirst for this goooooorgeous booody
but” he blinked cute “be gentle, baaabe… I’m a virgin! HUHUUUUUHUHUHUUUU…”
“Shut up!” Harleen cut his shit and helped him remove the jacket and then his
shirt.
She looked at his wound hiding her loathe under her poignant professional
expression and opened the first aid kit.
“Who did that?” she demanded as she began cleaning the wound.
Joker giggled.
“Youuuuu don’t even waaaaatch the news?! Nerd! If people don’t watch the news
how am I going to become faaaaamous?”
Harleen placed her palm over his brow to see if he ran a fever.
“Noooooo, doc, I’m my charming usual self…Uuuuuuu! I’m always hot headed aaand
hoot all over!” he twitched his eyebrows glancing at his groin pointedly.
“Ouch-y!” he uttered as Harleen cleaned the wound with antiseptic.
“HAHAHAHAHAHAAAA! Youuuu like making me pain, huh? Nauuughty girl!”
“You attacked Wayne again?” she asked dissaprovingly, her disbelief evident.
Joker looked at her with cocked eyebrows enjoying her reaction.
“Everyon’ has his soft spots!”
“He is going to be the death of you, Mr. J.”
Joker closed his eyes in delight.
“Aaaaand what sweet deaaaath that’d be…Uah! I’m so rom--antic!”
Harleen rolled her eyes.
“It looks like a wound made from an arrow…”
Joker nodded giggling and stretched his other arm to take from the floor a
thick arrow whose head was drenched in blood and flesh.
“Yeah! This one…HEHEHEHEHEEEEE!! I was hit by freakin’ Robin Hood himself” he
scratched his head thoughtful. “I guess this makes me the Sheeeeeriff of Gotham
and Brucey Lady Maaaarion?” he burst out in a fit of maniacal laughter.
The young psychiatrist didn’t comment and occupied herself in preparing the
needle for sewing the wound.
“You pulled out the arrow yourself?”
“Yeeeees, Ma’m! Since maaany of my boys were busted! Oh! It was such a
spreeeeeee; I couldn’t stop laughing!”
Harleen stabbed a bit hard the needle and Joker jerked.
“Then you won’t have a problem with that…” she snorted.
Joker yanked his head backwards completely unfazed.
“Dooooo your magic, doc…”
“I think you’re a masochist, Mr. J” she said sewing the flesh.
“For loving Bruuuuucey?”
She cocked an eyebrow.
“That too; but mainly because you laughed pulling the arrow of yourself.”
Joker pouted surprised.
“Aaaand what should I have done? Crying? Pain is soooooo much fun…”
Harleen lolled her head on the side.
“Then you are a masochist!”
Joker sobered and leaned towards her; his eyes engaging hers with a sick shine
framed by his untamed green curls.
“Dooooo I look like a masochist?” he hissed and then cackled. “HEHEHEHEEEEE!
The American Psychiatry Association would have to make a new DSM only for
meeeee…and still they’d have failed to scratch even the surface…” he whispered
sensually to the young doctor who was almost done with the sewing.
She knew that; Joker was a unique sample: different from everything known; out
of any category. Suddenly she realized that his lips were too close to hers and
slightly open; this time her eyes dove into his. They were both serious as if
estimating the pros and cos of this proximity.
And then Joker captured her lips making funny noises like in cartoons and
detached abruptly.
“Mmmmuuuuuaaaaaaa! Thanks, doc…Ooooooh! You doooo look good in my lipstick…” he
scratched the top of his head “good think I didn’t wear the other: the baaaaad
lipctick with the spicy mix” he pointed his index finger at her lips where
Joker’s lips’ outline had stayed in a grotesque red.
Harleen wiped her lips with the back of her palm and Joker giggled because the
result was worse. The young psychiatrist annoyed took out from the first aid
kit the adhesive gauze and stuck it to Joker’s upper arm.
“Mmmm…Teeeeell me, Harlequin, aren’t you happy that I told you to get a new
phone for the two of us?” she rolled her eyes. “Otherwise now our little
kioooooosk would have been flooded by cops an’ I’d have to use you as a shield
against the bullet rain, Hehe…Youuuuu know that the big bad bat certainly is
watching your phone an’ not only that…”
Harleen began gathering her things in the kit indifferent.
“And how do you know that he isn’t watching right now and won’t surge at any
moment?”
Joker jumped to his feet wearing his jacket without wearing the shirt.
“Shirts are ooooooverprized…’ he smirked slyly taking in Harleen’s stare at his
torso “you agree to that, huh?” he cocked his eyebrows smugly “my shaggy chest
are legendary after all...” he looked at his hairless chest and shoo his head
“almost shaggy…Weeell, I know that Batsy won’t come ‘cause…” he narrowed his
eyes pouting “hm…bats are nocturnal” he exclaimed in the end in a scientific
manner “an’ during the day they are disabled! HEHEHEHEEEEE!” he giggled with
his hint that only he could understand.
He stooped to take the arrow and hopped to the exit happy with himself for the
allegory he had just made. Grabbing the knob turned to Harleen who had stood.
“Dr. Harle--quin, my booooys will be delivered to you…You know what to do,
huh?” he winked.
“I don’t know, Mr. J” she said “it has become too risky: they will suspect.”
Joker shrugged pouted.
“Whoooo cares ‘bout them? I’ll find new ones: idiots are easy to find – it’s
like they sprout up everywhere…like weeeeeeds…See ya lator, alli--gator!” he
jumped out and after a few moments Harleen heard enraged horns as the jester
crossed the road without seeing around.
She huffed and shook her head. Her fingers touched intrigued her lips where she
still tasted Joker’s lipstick.
 
The ceiling was light blue like the walls and had some stern, simple
geometrical shapes at the corners…
Dick was sprawled on his mattress from the moment he reached the Manor and ran
to his room. He had no mood to make his homework: if Wayne wanted war he’d get
it!
He had his hands under the back of his neck and sketched mentally shapes on the
ceiling like the good old days with Brian. He was pissed from yesterday but
finally something came to somewhat lift his spirits: at some point he heard
some weird fuss downstairs and left his room to find out. Of course he didn’t
eavesdrop – he wouldn’t fall so low – but still it was easy to discern how
distressed Alfred and Wayne’s physiotherapist were. It was almost the time for
Wayne’s session yet he wasn’t there and the upset of the two men said much.
He returned to his room and opened his tablet to watch the news on the net
and…bingo! Gotham’s news’ outlets were transmitting updates about some attack
on Wayne. Now Dick could relax on his soft mattress… Some justice at last!
His tablet rang and Dick jumped startled: it was Jay’s melody.
“Hi, Jay…Sorry we didn’t meet but Wayne put me in detention.”
Jason cackled and Dick pouted.
“What’s so funny, brat?”
“He finally decided to give ya what ya deserve?”
“What?!!!! You’re a traitor! I deserve to be forbidden to go to my training?”
“’Course, man: ya ran away” the boy chuckled. “An’ I was punished ‘cause of ya!
Not that this can stop littl’ ol’ Jay… Anyway…Ya bought some voodoo doll with
Wayne’s face?”
“What do you mean?”
“The attack: don’t tell me ya didn’t hear? Mom called Alfred to learn what
happened: yar voodoo isn’t strong enough after all – Wayne is still alive.”
“Yeah…” Dick mumbled.
“Oh, man! Ya remind me of that coyote that chases road runner an’ always
loses…C’mon, man: ya can’t honestly want him dead…”
“Why not? He was the reason my family was murdered and I’m imprisoned now…Hold
on, I have another call” he read the name on the screen. “Jay, will talk
later.”
“Fine, chaya!”
Dick answered the call with his heartbeat rising.
“Hi, Mr. Breizic.”
“How are you, Richard?”
“Please call me Dick.”
“Okay.”
“Mr. Breizic, my guardian forbade me to attend my training for one week” he
said haughtily expecting to find an ally.
There was some seconds of silence.
“I can see his point, Dick…I saw in the news the reason of this decision. You
ran away, drank alcohol and created an episode with an adult. Dick, drinking
alcohol in your age is very bad and you’re aspiring to be a professional
gymnast which makes your deed even worse.”
Dick pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes licking his lips
nervously.
“Mr. Breizic…I…”
“You want to follow your father’s career, don’t you?”
“Of course I do! It is my dream; what keeps me moving on…”
Breizic sigh reached the other end of the line.
“Then why are you…how you Americans say it? Shooting yourself in the foot?
Listen, Dick, your father detested alcohol and any drug and that was the reason
I never believed that he had used illegal drugs. So if someone” Dick could
sense in the coach’s voice that he had already someone in mind “urges you to
that kind of behavior, he is your enemy. Imagine how your father would have
felt…”
Dick lowered his head.
“If my father was alive I would never have drunk” he said blatantly. “My father
would have understood why I did that…”
“He would have been very hurt, Dick…But I cannot say more for him, I think that
deep inside you know better than me. I can speak for myself, Dick.”
Dick’s eyes widened and his breathe was pressed because the man’s
disappointment was evident in his tone.
“Mr. Breizic…”
“Dick, many athletes – with admirable responsibility and devotion to their
craft - want me in their coaching team so I’m very selective and strict in my
criteria. Therefore…”
Dick felt the room spinning: he was sure that his father’s old coach would
dismiss him.
“I won’t hide from you that at first thought of leaving your coaching…”
“No! I mean…it was…”
“For a young athlete was very bad and unprofessional” Dick let his head fall to
his chest his breath turning into pants; he felt his eyes watering: not this
too… “But considering all the things that have happened to you I’ll give you a
second chance.”
Dick managed to breathe again; the room turning solid again. He couldn’t
believe that Breizic wouldn’t leave him: the man had indeed the fame of being
very adamant in his demands – besides, that was the reason his athletes were
the best.
“Thank you, Mr. Breizic! Thank you very much! I won’t disappoint you! I swear!”
“What matters, Dick, is to not disappoint yourself not me…I want you to know
that I agree with your guardian’s decision: Mr. Wayne is very wise for his age
and lax” he chuckled. “I’d have made your detention longer…I think you should
thank him for being so lenient with you.”
Dick’s face tightened again; thanking Wayne for anything? No way!
“Use those days to think properly, Dick. I want you to know that I’m here for
everything you want to discuss.”
“Thank you, sir…I…I’ll do that.”
 
Bagdana emerged in the center of Darkseid’s throne hall and the oval shaped
vessels framing the wide aisle to the god’s throne launched their flames to the
high ceiling as he marched towards his ally. With the corner of his eyes he
registered beside Darkseid’s throne ‘Ironman’ standing like a bodyguard yet the
ancient demon had eyes only for his ‘master’. The demon’s eyes were red
spitting fires that accompanied the fumes from his nose-less nostrils.
Darkseid looked sideways at ‘Ironman’ and smirked to his minion’s enraged
marching. He turned his head to Bagdana and the demon felt something colliding
with him – something like an invisible barrier that stopped him in front of the
four granite steps leading to the alien god’s throne.
Bagdana’s eyes narrowed to fire slits stabbing his ally’s gleeful confident
eyes: the demon’s short horns sparkled like silver thunders making the smirk on
Darkseid’s face more intense.
“What have you done?!”
Darkseid snorted and cocked his hairless eyebrows.
“Judging from your expression you don’t need me to answer that…you already
know…”
‘Ironman’ at his side chuckled and Bagdana clenched his fists.
“You almost killed him!”
Darskeid clenched the edges of the armrests with pleasure and yanked his head.
“If I wanted him dead now his friends would have only his ashes!” he growled
and the twirls of thunders on his thrones sides moved. “Besides” he calmed his
tone “I prefer doing that myself…” he smirked to the demon’s ire.
‘Ironman’ sniggered and Bagdana stabbed him with his eyes; Darkseid glanced at
the impostor and ‘Ironman’ dissolved to give his place to Granny Goodness who
laughed maniac like a chalk grazing a blackboard making her bush of hair move
around.
“It was so funny seeing the pest crawling to save his pathetic life!” she
cackled and two rays of fire surged at her to be grabbed by Darkseid who
casually threw them to the wall causing several stones to shatter.
The alien god looked at Bagdana whose eyes were ready to launch more fire
against Granny.
“We agreed that you wouldn’t harm him!” Bagdana barked. “He is mine!”
Granny made a move forwards at the edge of the platoon of her master’s throne.
“Everything belongs to Master Darkseid! You have too much nerve speaking about
something being yours” Darkseid grinned satisfied. “He decides if you will take
anything from the spoils!” she hissed enjoying the demon’s face that was
distorted in wrath.
“Exactly” Darskeid added. “The human pest provoked me and I punished him…too
magnanimously: he demanded an answer from me about my things he has stolen and
I gave him my answer.”
Bagdana shook his head.
“He doesn’t know who you are neither that you are behind this attack…not that
it’d make much difference.”
“It is useful to be reminded of his mortality…”
Bagdana yanked his head exasperated.
“If you believe that this will scare him, you’re wrong! He isn’t a pest as you
think!”
Granny sniggered, her ugly eyes glimmering spiteful.
“He looked like one when I almost squashed him under my foot!”
Bagdana roared with his eyes bulging like fire balls ready to hit her but
Darkseid stood.
“Enough!”
“The fact you crave for his beautiful ass doesn’t make him any better from the
rest of this worthless lot!” Granny hissed and Bagdana ground his teeth making
the walls of the hall tremble.
Darkseid sat again at his throne and Bagdana shook his head.
“You’re carried away from your self confidence and your minions” Bagdana cast a
glare at Granny “and you are damaging your cause. If you had discussed this
with me…”
“You would have discouraged him in favor of your pest” Granny barked.
“In favor of your cause, Lord Darkseid” Bagdana said and bowed. “Your cause is
mine too and my duty is to advice you about this planet and its inhabitants.
Now with that attack you have alerted them about something powerful that
threatens them from the shadows and that can be quite the obstacle to your
plans.”
Darkseid raised his eyebrows smirking.
“And here is where you come…your use: cover my traces, though I’d gladly
confront the Avengers and every other useless hero this garbage planet has” he
said casually spreading his hands.
“That moment will come but you want to be ready by then…You told me that you
want your machine ready and if they suspect that Mannheim is behind that attack
– the power that was launched during that attack – will make them destroy your
precious items.’’
Darkseid smiled.
“Prove your usefulness then: you are an ancient demon after all. Make them
suspect someone else.”
Bagdana snorted.
“Why should I do that? You put my prize to lethal danger and I’m not persuaded
that you wouldn’t have killed him if the Avengers hadn’t intervened” he turned
his back ready to storm out of the hall.
Darkseid tapped his armrests watching through narrowed eyes.
“If you break our alliance, if you leave now, there’s nothing that stops me
from burning your precious pet to ashes.”
Bagdana turned his head to him.
“Do not threat me…”
“Why not? I can…Well?” he lolled slightly his head to the side.
Bagdana seemed to think hard under Granny’s gleeful expression. In the end he
turned towards the throne and nodded.
“Fine but no more surprises: no more attempts against Bruce. Do not let him
distract your attention.”
“As he does to you?” the enormous god laughed. “How intriguing that littl’
human is…” he mumbled behind his intertwined fingers and seeing the demon’s
uneasiness: “That will depend on your effectiveness…So…who is behind the attack
on Mr. Wayne?”
Bagdana smirked.
“Luthor.”
“I just released him from prison; I won’t like to waste more energy for him.”
“You won’t need to…We talk about suspicions not proof.”
When Bagdana evaporated from the room Granny looked at her master.
“It was too pleasant to torment that human, your Majesty! If you give me the
permission I could make him a good sport for your entertainment…” she smirked.
“He showed an odd disregard to the imminent death…he fought back.”
Darskeid pouted interested gazing at the dancing perpetual flames of the
vessels.
“Bravery…I’m interested to uncover more from the secrets of the human that
Bagdana wants to hide from me…”
 
When Tony returned to the great salon Steve and Thor were there talking with
Alfred. Both men turned to look at S.H.I.E.L.D.’s director and their teammate
and from their astonished expressions Tony realized that his look was too grim
but…frankly he didn’t give a damn!
He walked casually to them and grabbed one of the oval shaped glasses from the
buffet and filled it with whiskey.
“I see Alfred has taken care of you” he said looking at the neglected tea set
on the coffee table; his voice was just an imitation of his usual cheer.
Alfred walked to him and looked him in the eyes.
“Master Anthony, if I’m permitted to make a suggestion, I believe that some tea
would be better than alcohol” the Englishman felt for his young master but he
wanted to refrain him from worsening things.
“Alfred, please: let me know better about alcohol’s healing qualities…”
Alfred pressed his lips.
“I think that Alfred is right, Tony” Steve intervened having approached.
Tony rolled his eyes and emptied his glass with one gulp twitching his eyebrows
challenging.
“Party pooper!” he spat to his Captain and placed the glass back to the bar.
Thor came closer too.
“Alfred told us that there’s nothing worrisome in Bruce’s condition: has
anything changed?” the god’s voice was steady and determined but Tony could see
the angst in his warm eyes so different from the wild eyes he saw upon arriving
at attack’s site.
Tony pinched the bridge of his nose and shook his head, grinning: that was what
they needed right now – a lovesick god! He sighed and marched to the Asgardian,
stood before him and grabbed both his upper arms in a gesture of appreciation.
“Thank you, Thor: if you hadn’t arrived, that impostor would have killed Bruce”
he bowed slightly his head and then turned to Steve. “Thank you too, Steve…”
Steve approached them.
“Don’t mention it, Tony.”
Thor held his comrade’s upper arms too.
“There’s no need to thank me, Tony; I’m just glad I arrived on time.”
Tony cleared his throat and looked pointedly at the god.
“About that…hm…although it was very useful this time, ehm…we have to talk.
Later” Thor blushed a bit and Tony turned to Alfred who was watching the scene
in his cool demeanor. “Alfred, is everything alright with Bruce?” he looked at
his wristwatch. “It takes too long…”
“There is nothing to worry about, sir; Master Bruce is having a nice, hot
shower and Mr. Leench will massage him. Now, if you excuse me I shall go to the
kitchen and prepare lunch; will the kind masters honor us with their esteemed
presence?”
“The honor and pleasure will be ours, Alfred” Steve replied and Thor nodded.
“Do you have any idea who attacked Bruce?” he asked Tony after Alfred was gone.
“A coward!” Thor spat; his wrath for the attacker returning. “To attack someone
in a wheelchair.”
Tony shook his head.
“That too…and a powerful one…”
Steve frowned.
“But he was an imitator.”
Tony snorted.
“That doesn’t thwart him from being strong…” he ruffled his hair. “He destroyed
the protective shield field of Bruce’s wheelchair” he licked his lips and
huffed. “I’ve made that shield to last my full firepower…”
Both his comrades looked at him shaken and Tony nodded.
“Exactly! Fuck this!”
“I can’t imagine who might have that kind of power” Steve mumbled frowned.
“As I was fighting with him I thought Loki: he usually takes forms at will but
it wasn’t him.”
“How do you know?” Steve asked.
“He wouldn’t lose the opportunity to laugh at my face and I can sense his
presence.”
“Then we have to do with an unknown enemy” Steve said.
Tony shook his head.
“I have my suspicions but no proof…”
“Well?” Thor asked approaching him. “I’d like to meet him again and have a
word.”
Tony locked eyes with him but the doorbell interrupted them and he yanked his
head to see who it was. Though that wasn’t necessary since Selina stormed there
as soon as Alfred opened the door, her eyes frenzied and her face distorted
from fear.
“Where’s Bruce?” she demanded from the three men.
Steve came to her and held her upper arms.
“I told you on the phone, dear, that he is fine…”
She nodded looking at him with arched eyebrows but her clenched jaw revealed
that this wasn’t enough.
“I prefer my own eyes, handsome!”
“Then look here” Bruce said grinning to her.
Selina turned to the right entrance from the corridor that led to the gym.
Bruce’s smile was broad and he was calm between Leslie and Matt yet Selina
noticed the adhesive gauzes on her friend’s face and the butterfly stitch on
his left eyebrow.
“Sweetie!” she exclaimed and rushed to him, kneeling and hugging him, Hero
along since the kitten was on Bruce’s lap.
She cupped his face with both hands and kissed his cheeks under Steve’s touched
and slightly amused stare that was asking: should I be jealous? No... Thor’s
eyes were fixed on Bruce and his friend admiring their relationship and wishing
he could have some of this. Tony’s stare however was grim.
“I’m fine, Sel; calm down…” Bruce said to her rubbing her back.
“I should be trying to calm you down after what happened…” she answered
searching with her eyes and hands Bruce for injuries as she was doing every
night while he was Falcone’s captive. “I won’t ever leave you alone again: so
if someone thinks to do that again…”
“It won’t happen again!” Tony said determined and Bruce looked at him facing
again that strange unfamiliar expression on his friend’s features.
“What do you mean?” Selina asked. “Have you thought another something to stop
them?”
Tony walked to them.
“The best” he said with conviction. “Bruce will come to my house at Malibu.
I’ll tell Alfred to pack your things.”
Bruce frowned and met Selina’s puzzled eyes for an instance before staring at
Tony.
“Are you taking me away from Gotham?”
“Actually I’m taking you away from your death” Tony cocked his eyebrows.
Bruce licked his lips.
“Without asking me first…Tony, I can’t leave my city.”
Tony blinked: that stubborn boy! He crossed his arms over the chest.
“You can and you will, Bruce! I had had enough of this!”
His tone made those present frown despite the fact they knew how much Tony
cared about Bruce.
“Richard has his friends, his school here, his training; I can’t disrupt his
program.”
Tony lolled his head on the side looking at Bruce with an expression crying:
‘seriously? We both know what it is your true concern.’
“Pepper is already making arrangements for him” he retorted in a smartass way.
“There’s no reason for you to not come.”
Bruce shook his head and Selina stood clenching her waist staring at Tony.
“I doubt that Pepper is doing that” Bruce said calmly “she can’t agree with
something so unreasonable.”
Now Tony’s eyes flashed; he grabbed the armrests of Bruce’s chair and leaned to
him so their faces were one breath away.
“Unreasonable? Unreasonable is your obsession with this city! That drives you
to stay here even if that leads to your death!”
“Tony…” Leslie tried to intervene because Matt and Steve who didn’t know
Bruce’s secret were staring puzzled.
But Tony wasn’t listening to her absorbed in his friend’s mesmerizing eyes.
“It is unreasonable that I want to keep you alive?!”
Hero on Bruce’s lap hissed and Tony rolled his eyes.
“No, it is unreasonable that you try to force me into things that I…”
Tony nodded.
“You don’t want!” he completed for him. “You were telling me that you feel bad
for holding me away from my own affairs, here; well, that’s your chance to
prove that you were saying the truth. Come to Malibu so I’m free to see into my
business. Prove that you’re not selfish!”
Bruce inhaled sharply.
“Tony, your breath smells of whiskey…maybe it is better to talk some other…”
Tony lolled his head on the side chuckling.
“No! We’ll talk everything now! Don’t try to run away from this!”
“Don’t talk to him like that!” Selina spat to him, her eyes flashing like a
wild cat’s.
Steve touched his comrade’s upper arm.
“Tony, Selina is right: calm down.”
Thor approached too, his eyes a bit angry.
“I’ll take Bruce away from you. You better sober up” he remarked calm but a bit
disapproving.
But Tony stood and looked at his teammates’ determined faces. He chuckled and
locked eyes with Bruce.
“Oh, Bruce! I wish you used your charm on people for your own good” Bruce
lowered his head sighing. “Steve, Thor!” he spread his arms in a dramatic
gesture “I’m the real Ironman therefore Bruce doesn’t need your protection.”
Thor stretched his impressive body.
“Then stop acting like the fake Ironman! Bruce doesn’t deserve that kind of
treatment.”
“Poor blondie!” Tony exclaimed understanding the god’s soft spot for Bruce.
Thor frowned but Bruce yanked his head.
“Please…We’re having a discussion with Tony – no need for such tension. Alfred,
can you treat our guests some aperitif till the lunch? Tony and I will be at
the study.”
Tony crossed his arms and stared at his friend with cocked eyebrows almost
amused.
“Of course, Master Bruce” the Englishman was completely undeterred from the
tension.
Steve understanding Bruce’s need of calming the spirits retreated to one of the
armchairs, Thor however was still adamant in his place looking puzzled at Tony
who pouted.
“What?” he snapped to the Asgardian. “You heard him!”
Thor shook his head and followed his captain casting a last glance at Bruce who
blinked and looked at Tony.
“Shall we?” he asked his friend with an inviting gesture and let Hero on the
floor.
Tony nodded.
“I’ll come with you” Selina said still pissed glaring at Tony.
“Me too” Leslie said.
Tony looked at his comrades.
“As you see, we’ll have our peace forces…” he chuckled.
However Thor remained standing even after they left while Steve and Matt
settled down.
“Come sit, Thor” Steve said to his comrade.
Thor shook his head.
“Maybe we should go along?”
Steve smiled.
“Tony adores Bruce: his life is for Tony more valuable than his own.”
“I agree” Matt added nodding.
Thor looked to the corridor leading to the lift.
“Yes, but Tony has drunk a lot and he is sick from the terror he experienced…”
“You know, huh?” Steve said to him teasingly. “You experienced the same
terror?” Thor met his gaze annoyed and Steve nodded. “Selina and Leslie are
with them.”
 
“I’m sorry, Tony” Bruce said to his friend the moment they were in the first
floor’s study.
Tony grinned and shook his head.
“So, we tell Alfred to start packing?”
Bruce huffed and lolled his head on the side.
“Not for that; I didn’t want to create a problem with your teammates”
Tony waved that off.
“What matters now is your answer: will you come to Malibu?”
Bruce closed his eyes.
“Tony, you know I can’t.”
“It’s not a matter if you can or not: it has to do with your will. You don’t
want. You’re thinking only yourself, Bruce; only what you want. You don’t think
of the others.”
Bruce gulped.
“You don’t believe that, Tony; I just have some things that can’t be delayed.”
Tony shook his head.
“One of these things almost led to your death” Bruce inhaled. “You had to
provoke Mannheim, don’t you?”
“Tony, we were in this together!”
“Then why you didn’t let me do the call?”
“Because LexLabs are under my control, Tony: I have the responsibility of this
company and he came to me.”
“Yes, but I could take that kind of attacks while you can’t. Do you realize
that you were almost killed? The protecting field of the chair was broken by
his attack and I had made it to hold back all of my firepower. He was more
powerful than me…Weren’t for Thor and the Arrow you would be dead! Do you
realize?!”
Bruce huffed.
“Tony, calm down…I’m alive; I’m safe.”
Tony stormed at him and Selina’s eyes bulged but then she relaxed seeing him
just leaning above Bruce.
“Until the next time…You continue picking fights with them while you’re in no
position to handle it! I can’t take it any longer, Bruce! I won’t tolerate it
anymore! Fighting criminals in your state.”
“We can’t let them terrorize us, Tony! Would you prefer to have had cringed
before him?! Because of my impairment? You prefer me in my room scared to come
out in case someone attacks me? You saw today that wearing the armor is less
dangerous than being Bruce Wayne” the study’s walls were full soundproof so
Bruce could speak freely.
Tony grabbed the armrests and brought his face in front of Bruce’s.
“I won’t gamble your life! I won’t take no for an answer! StarkExpo is starting
next week: it is the perfect excuse to come to Malibu and STAY: I’ll handle the
rest till you have your surgery and walk again.”
He let the armrests.
“I’m saying Alfred to pack…”
Bruce yanked his head.
“No, Tony. Let me explain…”
But Tony snorted, yanked his head backwards and opened the door.
“Call me for a ‘yes’…” he spat and stormed outside.
Selina hugged Bruce.
“He’ll rethink it, Bruce. He was a bit dizzy…’’
Leslie marched there and sat on the sofa near Bruce’s chair.
“He’ll come over…”
Bruce shook his head.
“I made him drink” he mumbled looking at the floor.
“Don’t say that, Bruce” Leslie retorted.
Selina cupped her friend’s face and locked eyes with him. “The only one to
blame is Joker and the other lunatic who attacked you. Tony isn’t mad at you…”
she gritted her teeth but only mentally: I dare him to be angry with you!
Bruce bit his lip.
“I wish he was just angry with me…” he inhaled deeply and looked at the two
women.
Leslie rubbed his back.
“He’ll be downstairs waiting for you; you know how much he loves you.”
However Tony took his car and drove to the city as soon as he left the study
and didn’t return for lunch. Thor also had to leave to due to an urgent call
from Asgard.
It wasn’t the first time Tony wasn’t at the table yet today wasn’t the same:
his absence wasn’t due to obligations but anger and that made Bruce’s stomach a
painful knot. Memories of Tony’s anger the last Christmas they spent together
at the Manor were coming to him. Then by mistake he had thrown his favorite
toolbox to the cliff – today was even worse because Tony believed that Bruce on
purpose was throwing himself from the same cliff.
He was feeling the other people staring at him every now and then so Bruce
pushed some food down his throat to not aggravate their worries but the corner
of his eyes constantly slipped to his friend’s empty chair…Of course Richard’s
chair was also empty since the boy was furious for his punishment in addition
to his overall loathing.
Bruce closed his eyes, the need to get some fresh air was demanding: all this
worry for his well being that surrounded him was heartwarming but also made him
uncomfortable; he pushed a bit his chair backwards but Leslie cleared her
throat. She as everyone else was unusually silent.
“You need to eat to get your medicine, young man” understanding was clear in
her voice yet her eyes were strict.
“I can’t eat more, Leslie but what I had till now is enough for my medication”
he answered  and moved his chair to the sink bench where Alfred had left his
pills ready for him to take.
“Excuse me” he said after swallowing them and moved out of the room patting
Selina’s shoulder acknowledging his friend’s sad stare.
He had just left the room when she caught up with him.
“I won’t leave you alone.”
“They won’t attack me in the Manor…Continue your meal, Sel…”
She sighed because she didn’t want to leave Bruce but sensed his need to stay
alone. She nodded and watched her friend moving to the back salon before
defeated returned to the kitchen.
Staying inside was unbearable for Bruce, so upon arriving to the back salon
slipped out to the back garden. He closed his eyes and performed some
diaphragmatic breaths sucking the clean air of the Palisades.
He pulled out of his jacket the Cosmos Smartphone hoping to find some message
from Tony. But nothing: Tony needed some time alone and that prevented Bruce
from following his whim and calling him; the shock must have been severe for
Tony…He huffed and turned the Smartphone into tablet to peruse the news sites.
Bruce was sure that Mannheim was behind the attack: the methodology was the
same. The thugs who were arrested during the interrogation manifested the same
signs of confusion: Bruce was reading their ‘testimonies’ in GCPD’s data base.
As for Joker he was injured but the police had lost his traces…
Bruce was sure that the jester had run to his psychiatrist for help though his
surveillance didn’t have any indications of that.
Gotham Gazzette’s site had full coverage of the valley where the attack took
place and Bruce relived those moments that the fake Ironman launched lethal
firepower after lethal firepower to kill him.
“You’re in no position to handle this!” Tony’s exasperated voice echoed again
in his ears.
Bruce looked at his non-responsive legs and rubbed his thighs so strong that it
should have ached. But nothing…He focused there, his stare intense and he was
ready to apply his mind’s will to them forcing his legs to move; his left hand
touched the Black Butterfly pouch that hanged on his chest. Walking again would
ease Tony’s dread and panic and all of his loved ones’ sadness… And he wouldn’t
have to crawl like a worm before assailants.
His legs were almost ready to respond to his orders and Bruce felt the thrill
yet at the last second he turned his head away breaking his focus… He shouldn’t
do that nor take the Immortality Water…He wouldn’t become Ra’s Al Ghul.
He turned his eyes to the grey sky; he recalled the moments when Thor was
fighting with Ironman and then when Arrow fought the thugs. He felt again the
heartbeat, the sub conscious expectation…The expectation for the red-blue
figure to arrive to the scene and hammer the bad guys…
It wasn’t flattering for him; Bruce didn’t want to be saved by others yet
seeing Superman flying to his aid never made him feel bad for himself…It was
almost pleasant even if that was buried deep inside him and the thought now
made him flushed. It was a remnant of his years in Falcone’s clutches, he
realized: when he waited for the raven haired angel to come and save him, even
though he knew then, as he knew now, that Superman wouldn’t come…
On his screen, a folder smiled to him: the folder with the video Leslie and
Alfred made for him. His Christmas present. He tapped on it.
***** Chapter 56 *****
“…Joker and his thugs ran away and Gotham’s police managed to apprehend many of
them minus their leader; but another attack took place against Mister Wayne.
Our information say that a full blown battle took place here in this narrow
patch of soil – as you can see from what is left behind. Intelligence says that
an impostor impersonating Ironman attacked Bruce Wayne and it was Thor’s
intervention that prevented the worst for the young billionaire. However, it is
reported that a small army of thugs from Gotham’s underground resumed the
attack and the situation escalated to a full range battle with the Avengers
coming to the rescue along with another mysterious hero. Police is conducting
investigation for the mastermind behind the attack.”
The camera zoomed to the cordoned narrow strip of terrain – officers were still
there not allowing entrance to anyone. However the cameras managed to capture
some pieces of elegant wood and metal scattered around and Clark immediately
understood what they were.
He still remembered the day Stark presented to Bruce the wheelchair he
manufactured…Bruce was impressed by the chair but decided to stick with the one
Superman had made for him. That day Clark felt proud and triumphant both
because Bruce chose his chair over Stark’s and because the airhead billionaire
was disappointed. Not that Stark had seemed much disappointed that day: Clark
could see in his expression that he wished that Bruce didn’t need any chair and
actually it pained him to manufacture that illusion of mobility for his friend.
It was obvious from the pieces that had remained in the field – Stark must have
taken the rest for conducting his analyses - that the attack was really fierce.
And if they managed to destroy the chair to pieces then Bruce’s life had been
really at stake there…The fake Ironman was definitely far too powerful if he
managed to overcome Stark’s protective measures…
They almost succeeded in killing Bruce…a shudder ran his spine: the young man
had stayed alone and unprotected after Joker’s retreat and someone took
advantage, someone powerful enough to engage the Avengers in full
confrontation.
Superman rubbed unconsciously his chest because an unpleasant feeling settled
there: he could imagine the scene. The fake Ironman launching fire against
Bruce who had to rely on the wheelchair’s shield for his life; and then the
chair must have fallen dragging Bruce along; the fall could have injured him.
The reports Planetgot said that Bruce was fine yet how could they be sure? He
felt tempted to seek the young man’s vitals…But held himself: Bruce had kicked
him off; he had stabbed him…
However he couldn’t stop himself from imagining Bruce’s feelings as he realized
that the shield was breached…no, Bruce definitely wasn’t scared…instead, he
must have been filled with determination and outrage that he had to endure
without being able to fight: Bruce could fight but doing that would mean using
his brain’s power and that could deteriorate his condition. And there was the
issue of maintaining his secret…Nobody, especially his enemies, should know
Bruce Wayne’s true abilities; that he was Batman.
Superman shook his head: if Bruce was in the wheelchair he had made with the
Fortress’ alien tech, nobody would have been able to breach the shield. He
would be safe…But the stubborn human sent the chair back. He lolled his head
backwards: what else was he to do after everything that happened? The proud,
dignified human…
He remembered Lois’ urge to fly to Bruce…She was right: if he had been there
Bruce wouldn’t have been in such danger and Thor wouldn’t have been the savior,
the hero. He snorted…Thor… images of the blond god pinning Bruce under the
Battery park’s bridge and thrusting in him, Bruce moaning in pleasure made
Superman’s stomach twist, though he knew that it was only products of his
imagination. What happened today proved that the Asgardian wasn’t losing his
time.
A snort came out…Maybe Bruce wanted to be saved by the blond god; after all, he
had refused Superman’s advances when they met on that rooftop at Metropolis.
Maybe now he was celebrating his rescue with Thor… His jaw clenched as scenes
of passionate sex breached his mind’s barriers. The too familiar naked body of
Bruce under the divine body of the Asgardian…Bruce’s hands hugging the broad
back clenching the perfect flesh every time he was rocked by the god’s passion;
panting as Thor thrust wild in him, kissing hungrily the mortal’s neck that was
lolling backwards to permit him freer access; Bruce’s sapphire stars of eyes
sparkled from pleasure as the god’s mouth sucked his erected nipples. Their
combined moans and grunts moisturized the half darkness of Bruce’s bedroom.
His groin twitched from Bruce’s sensual body covered with the sheen of
sweat…Bruce was moving sensually in his unique hips’ slow dance that had
brought Superman to Heaven every time…for Thor’s pleasure… Superman knew so
well that irresistible aspect of Bruce. The mortal’s intoxicating, cinnamon
perfume conquered his nostrils making him realize how much he had missed this
perfume.
Superman pressed the button of the remote closing the TV set hearing Diana’s
light footsteps coming from the bedroom. He shook his head and sucked her
powerful perfume clearing his head: that woman was for him; and at the moment
the important was Diana not suspect his momentary arousal (?).
Diana was there so he smiled and crossed every other thought: everything with
Bruce was over – the human could use his body as he wished… However just the
thought of Bruce giving his body to somebody else made Superman angry.
“Good thing you turned that thing off” she said meaning the TV. “They are
showing constantly things about Wayne…that attack…You know…I was almost sure
that I’d see you there…”
He jerked.
“Why?’
She shrugged.
“I don’t know…maybe his charm is still too strong on you…”
“That’s not true!”
She nodded.
“I figured” she wrapped her snake-like arms around his neck feeling the semi
god shivering from pleasure. “I’m glad you didn’t run behind him – it shows how
strong willed you are. And that your love for me is real…”
Her eyes on him were paralyzing his body and mind.
“Did you have any doubts?” he asked almost insulted.
She captured his lips with hers.
“I did, Kal El…because Wayne knows all the tricks to light the flames of desire
in someone while I am a warrior: my dignity doesn’t allow me compete someone
like him in such things. I don’t know the whore tricks he practiced all these
years.”
Superman smiled.
“And you don’t have to, darling…You are everything I ever wanted.”
The melody from his Smartphone fell like a thunder in the room and Superman
felt a cold current running his spine seeing Diana’s frown. He had forgotten to
leave his Smartphone to his apartment before coming here.
However he smiled carefree to her.
“I need a Smartphone so various officials and organizations can find me when
they need me” he said indifferent and stood hurrying to the bedroom.
He didn’t want Diana hear him talking with his mother because it was the melody
for his mother.
“Hi, Ma! How are you?”
“Disappointed, pissed…sad.”
Clark frowned and ruffled his locks; he could easily figure the reason for
these emotions. The bedroom’s door was closed and thankfully the apartment was
sound proof.
“Ma, don’t be unfair to me. Let me…”
“You weren’t there, Clark” her voice was more sad than angry and that hurt him.
“They attacked Bruce, they almost killed him; the Avengers were there but not
you…”
“There was no reason for me to be there, Ma: we are finished with Bruce.”
“This wasn’t a matter of being in a relationship with him; his life was in
danger: he is a human being, you know…And you didn’t go there; you knew he was
in danger and you ignored his need, Clark…How could you?”
Clark huffed and yanked his head backwards.
“Clark, you have taken a wrong path…and I’m afraid that this is…”
“You’re overreacting” he didn’t want to use much ‘Ma’ in case his voice passed
the walls. “I haven’t taken any wrong path; I’m still Superman. I just knew
that Bruce would be rescued by Stark and his teammates.”
“How on Earth you could be sure? They could be busy with some other urgency or
reach Bruce too late while Superman could arrive immediately; however you
stayed with your arms crossed watching. Imagine if Bruce was killed! What
excuse you’d have used then? How would you look at yourself in the Mirror if
Bruce had died because you weren’t there?”
Clark closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose.
“There was no such option!”
“How do you know?! It is what that woman told you?”
“Don’t bring Diana into this…”
“I will! Because when you were with Bruce you never denied your help to anyone
even to your enemies. And now under this woman’s influence you stayed
indifferent in Bruce’s need!”
“I…”
“Do you remember the story of Hercules I used to narrate you when you were a
boy?”
Clark huffed: he had an eidetic memory, of course he remembered.
“Ma, I don’t understand…”
“He was standing in a road and before him two roads opened; he was indecisive
about the road he should follow. Two women appeared to him: the one was
breathtakingly beautiful, luxuriously dressed and stood in the one road. The
other woman was aged and dressed in rags; she stood in the other road. The
beautiful young woman was called Vice; she flattered Hercules for his semi-god
nature and strength and promised him glory, wealth and all kind of pleasures if
he chose her road. The old, ragged woman was called Virtue: she didn’t promise
Hercules any of these, instead she warned him that her road was filled with
hardships and hurdles but in the end of the road he will win purity and eternal
morality. Hercules chose the path Virtue offered him. Those days you were
telling me that you choose the same as Hercules but now I realize that you left
that path…”
“Of course not…I’m still Superman; I haven’t changed.”
“This is what you say but your deeds prove otherwise; I hope you wake up soon,
sweetheart. Think, Clark and be careful.”
Superman stayed staring at the Smartphone’s screen with the indication of the
ended call. The knock on the door startled him.
“Come in.”
“Bad news?”
“No…” he hugged Diana; it was the only way to escape that grim feeling inside
him. His Ma had misjudged; only Diana wasn’t unfair to him.
They ended up on the bed making love to her emptied his mind from everything.
But afterwards as he was lying beside Diana’s naked body her beauty wasn’t
drawing his eyes; his eyes were seeing again the Chickey’s factory in Gotham
ready to collapse and kill someone who was trapped inside, barely alive; his
heartbeat weak but still calling his name.
And then he saw himself in the endless darkness of the Universe holding Bruce’s
dead body; floating in eternity, his life having lost its meaning: not
breathing; the dark void having swallowed every life inside him…He remembered
his father: his death was still haunting him…he was watching his mother
withering year by year and dreaded the inevitable day that he would lose her
too…the pain worse than being hit with Kryptonite. Although he was immortal
Superman realized that he was ensnared in human mortality… His only escape
route lying beside him.
His nostrils sucked Diana’s cheerful perfume and caressed her naked back. He
needed at least one person in his life that would be always there with him; a
person like himself blessed with immortality. Diana was the pillar in his life;
he wouldn’t lose her in the wind’s slightest blow…
 
The baby was hardly one month old: his cheeks were rosy and fluffy and his lips
so small and red. He was smiling and blinking; his long eyelashes making the
sparkling of his big eyes playful. His small head was covered with raven hair
that seemed so soft…
The baby seemed so happy in the nest of his mother’s chest and he was looking
awed and mesmerized her beautiful face as she sang his favorite lullaby. At
times his eyelids covered his eyes as he was ready to fall asleep but suddenly
the baby was opening his eyes to watch his mom singing. And she would kiss his
dot of a nose making the boy giggle happy.
Bruce’s eyes were absorbed in the images played on his screen, heavy; he knew
that his father was there too, behind the camera, watching Martha and him,
touched and happy.
“Everything will be fine this time, Martha”
Bruce remembered his father’s reassurance to her about her pregnacy. She had
many miscarriages prior to him and Bruce couldn’t stop himself from thinking
that maybe it would have been better for everyone if he hadn’t managed to stay
perched to his mother’s womb. Then she and his father would be still alive with
an adopted child blessed with their love: maybe Selina…
The baby was watching his mom mesmerized, with so much love that blended with
the love in Martha’s eyes…and then softly his eyelids covered his eyes and
Martha gathered him tighter to her chest; she kissed feathery his brow and then
the top of his tiny head.
“Good night, Bruce…Daddy and mommy are here: we won’t let anyone hurt you…”
And they didn’t, Bruce thought: they sacrificed their lives to safe him…His
eyes lowered to the marble terrain but was seeing the blood stained filthy
cement of an alley feeling again the same painful, frantic heartbeat, the iron,
burning knot in his throat and the acid fluid running from his eyes as he
stared at his dead parents. Fleetingly because his dad had asked him to run
away and he was running…to nowhere…although he wanted to stay there with them,
to go with them wherever they were going.
“What a beautiful little angel!”
Bruce was startled to hear that touched voice; he was so absorbed in the video
that hadn’t heard him coming. He knew who he was.
Oliver Queen was standing by his side staring at the paused image of the
sleeping baby. Bruce fixed his eyes on him.
“Your father would give his entire fortune to keep that beautiful smile on this
angel’s face.”
Bruce turned his head on the other side.
“He did.”
But Queen’s expression was grim.
“He failed.”
Bruce gritted his teeth and snapped his head towards him.
“Thomas Wayne didn’t fail in anything!”
“Except for the thing that counted more to him: protecting and saving his only
son.”
Bruce averted his gaze.
“It wasn’t his fault…”
“She was very beautiful and she seems so content, so perfectly happy holding
her little angel…”
Bruce looked at his tablet and abruptly touched the screen closing the video.
Queen grinned bitterly and his fingertips almost touched the tears on Bruce’s
cheeks that the young man had forgotten that were there. Bruce hastened to wipe
them with the back of his hand.
“Please…” Queen said with his velvet voice omitting entirely his usual
smugness. “Your tears are the most precious gems on earth…like diamonds…only
purer.’’
Bruce clenched his jaw disgusted by Queen’s shameless flattery.
“There’s nothing pure in me!” he spat.
Queen crouched beside him; his eyes locked with Bruce’s; they were filled with
warmth but also a vein of hot anger.
“Nothing of what those people did to you, left a stain to you, Bruce!” his
voice slightly trembled. “They were more stained than you!”
Bruce chuckled.
“I assure you that they didn’t have any stain… unlike me.”
“Do not do that to yourself…”
“You don’t know anything.”
Oliver looked at the Manor and then back at Bruce smiling.
“It is they who don’t understand…am I right?”
Bruce knew what he meant but he didn’t want to discuss it.
“How come and you’re here?” he chose to divert the subject.
“I heard what happened and I was worried so I came here; your butler was so
kind to let me pass the gates – the back gates because the front gates are
besieged by reporters.”
Bruce shook his head.
“As you can see I’m fine: you could just call.”
Queen smiled and pointed to the stitches on Bruce’s face almost touching the
skin.
“Not completely fine but physical injuries are not the worst thing, right?”
Bruce frowned.
“I don’t understand…”
Queen brought his face closer to Bruce placing his hand on the armrest.
“I think you do…You’re outside away from them, alone, secluded…” he grinned
“because you know that they can’t understand you.”
“They love me.”
“And that makes things worse, more painful. You know they love you; you know
they want to understand and you wish they could…and then you wish they never
understand you…because what they can’t understand is for their own good…Right,
Bruce? You long for someone from your loved ones to understand but at the same
time you dread the moment they will see what you have inside…the darkness, the
loneliness, your need to be free…”
Bruce looked at him puzzled.
“You don’t know anything about me!”
Queen smiled benevolently.
“I think you know that I understand you more than anyone other…because I feel
the same” his cheek almost touched Bruce’s and he felt Queen shivering.
“Feeling happy for being again with them only to realize that you’re a
stranger; you don’t, you can’t be part of their world…and then the moments you
feel that maybe you should have stayed trapped in the other world you know
better…saving your loved ones from the distress of being unable to feel and
help you…”
Bruce turned his head to the other side and Queen closed his eyes sucking the
younger man’s perfume; he could have stayed years breathing that perfume rather
than oxygen but he didn’t want to freak out Bruce so he focused on the tablet’s
screen.
“Sometimes you wish you could be with them” he gestured to Bruce’s mother and
Bruce hurried to turn off the screen. “You seek understanding to them; feeling
that you belong more to their world.”
Bruce locked eyes with him: how he could know so much?
“I feel the same, Bruce: a stranger, an outcast despite people’s good
intentions. My dead father sometimes seems better company than the living…”
Bruce’s heartbeat was heavy but he couldn’t afford to be carried by that man’s
words – he remembered what happened during their meeting. He searched for an
outing and his eyes focused on Queen’s white leather gloves.
“You wear gloves?” Bruce’s mind recalled another gloved hand in green leather
this time; Arrow’s green leather glove had a rip from where he had seen a
bleeding scar.
Queen smiled.
“Of course: it is freezing – you should be dressed warmer too.”
Bruce noticed that while Queen acted indifference he instantly stood, pushing
his hands out of Bruce’s sight.
“…it is odd how evil is drawn to purity…” Arrow had said.
“…like diamonds…only purer…” Queen said.
Bruce frowned inside: it could be?
Queen’s eyes were filled with sadness taking Bruce’s silence as displeasure;
for the first time Bruce couldn’t discern any speck of smugness and he hated
that. Bruce preferred his smugness rather than that sympathy.
“Do not take that for pity, Bruce” Queen said as if he had read his mind. “It
is only understanding.”
“Mr. Queen, there you are!” Alfred came out. “I was waiting for you from the
main entrance. Please do come in and you too, Master Bruce: the tea is ready.”
 
Tony sat on the stool in front of the bar, the flashing blue neon with the word
‘Bar’ was illuminating his grim features. He had chosen a low profile bar in
the Downtown to have his privacy.
Behind the bartender the shelves with the bottles was settled over a mirror and
it was the first time Tony didn’t like to look at his reflection.
The young bartender with the long raven ponytail brushing his sturdy back gave
Tony his glass of bourbon and gestured with his gaze at the flat screen TV that
was built in the central rectangular pillar of the bar.
“Good job there, Mr. Stark; Gotham can count on the Avengers now that Batman
slacks off…I never believed the bullshit for a flying rodent after all…”
Tony stared at the screen where footage from the location of the attack was
played. The bartender left to attend to another customer and Tony swallowed
hard thinking what he just had heard:
“…Batman got idle…I never believed the bullshit…”
He pushed the glass away pressing his lips.
“Alex, it seems, that the Avengers have taken over Gotham…” the female reporter
told to her colleague.
He closed his eyes and mumbled a curse. Bruce almost died for these people; he
had been rendered paraplegic for Gothamites’ sake and…
He sighed. He cursed Bruce’s obsession with secrecy: his friend should have
come out and announced that he was the Batman thus nobody could say anything
and Bruce would have the acknowledgement and respect he deserved. Yet for Bruce
the praise and the appreciation didn’t matter: what was important for him was
to fight injustice and evil…
He ran his hand through his locks: and that was killing his young friend. Why
Bruce couldn’t see that this city was eating him alive?
“Tony…” a voice behind him stopped his thoughts.
The billionaire jerked on his stool startled and turned to see a sturdy,
imposing fellow in jeans, leather jacket and a jockey; a blond ponytail was
falling to his back.
“I’m too young and handsome to die from heart attack” he said grim but in the
end chuckled on the sight of the other man. “Nice outfit!” he raised his index
finger “I admit it flatters you and hides your identity…Thor” the rock music
was loud enough to muffle his words.
The blond sat at the stool beside Tony and nodded to the glass of bourbon.
“You shouldn’t be here, Tony” the billionaire shook his head crooking his
mouth. ‘You should be with Bruce. Drinking won’t help in anything.”
“Thanks, Alfred…” Tony replied snidely. “I won’t return if Bruce doesn’t call
and say that he will come in Malibu.”
Thor closed his eyes.
“Blackmail?”
“There’s no other way…I’m trying to save the stubborn brat for his own self!”
Thor shook his head.
“He is so stubborn! So obstinate! So defiant!” Tony huffed. “So…”
“That man has a strong, passionate fire in him…”
Tony looked with narrowed eyes the hue of admiration and something else in the
god’s eyes. He cocked his eyebrows.
“And this fire is gonna consume him…”
“So you want to put out that fire?”
“No; put a stop before this fire kills him… and can you stop being so in love
with him?”
Thor yanked his head.
“I just care for him and you, Tony. Have you thought that if you force him to
quench that fire, Bruce will be unhappy? He won’t be himself.”
“But he’ll be alive. His life will be saved!”
“Exactly, Tony. It is his life: you can’t blackmail him to change his life
according to what you believe is right for him. Do you really want him to
decide things scared that he’ll lose you?”
“At first…Later he’ll realize that it was for the best.”
“Would you like it if he had done the same thing to you? A few hours ago Bruce
was almost killed; you almost lost him forever and now you try to lose him with
your choices. Tony, Bruce is right now in the Manor without his best friend: do
you really want to do this favor to the people that attacked him? Give them the
satisfaction to rip you apart? Scaring you so much to dictate your deeds?”
Tony chuckled shaking his head and raised the glass gulping at once the
content.
“It is easy for you to speak like that. Your family; your loved ones; you are
immortal. You don’t know anything about death and mortality. I buried my
parents! I lived 18 years mourning my best friend, my little guy. Blaming
myself because I didn’t save him. Few hours ago he almost died because I failed
to be there for him, to protect him: every measure I took for his safety proved
inadequate. And to make matters worse: I was late! I won’t spend the rest of my
life having lost again Bruce and knowing that I didn’t do what I could to save
his life. I prefer hate myself because I blackmailed him than hate myself for
letting him being killed.”
Thor inhaled.
“You’re right: I’m immortal, my family is immortal but many of my friends are
mortals; I can feel your agony, believe me. But bringing Bruce before this
difficult choice doesn’t help things. What if he doesn’t come with you? Do you
honestly believe that this means that he doesn’t love you enough? And then
what? You’ll leave and let him continue his dangerous life without his best
friend? Superman has already broken his heart: you’re willing to add another
blow? You realize that if you leave the friend you love so much you won’t be
there when he’ll need you? I don’t know anything about death but I’m sure that
if anything happens to Bruce while you stubbornly are away then you’ll feel
much worse.”
Tony huffed and Thor raised an eyebrow.
“Think about it. You’re the genius after all” he stood, patted his friend’s
back and walked away, hunching his proud body to not be recognized.
 
Steve caressed Selina’s locks and kissed her neck that bent on the side for
him. He could tell that the young woman was still shaken.
They had stayed to the Manor for the night: Selina didn’t want even to consider
leaving Bruce alone. When Bruce went to his bedroom, they ended up to their
usual bedroom and now they had settled on the bed without having stripped.
“You were afraid that your nightmare might come true…”
Selina looked at him.
“I always dread that…I can’t understand why people try so much to hurt Bruce.”
Steve huffed.
“Arrow said that purity draws evil… I guess he is right: like the evil tries to
extinct everything pure on this planet or just capture and maim it…” Selina
closed her eyes recounting the tortures Bruce suffered all these years and
Steve rubbed her back. “You said that you’ll be all the time with him and if
someone tries again he’ll have to face you first…I admire that devotion…”
Selina however could see in his eyes that he was curious about how she could
have defended Bruce. Steve didn’t know who she really was and her fighting
skills nontheless he didn’t doubt her ability to protect her friend.
She smiled.
“I might not have your strength or training; and certainly I’m not a god with a
hammer or a billionaire in a can but I’d use everything I got to defend Bruce”
she cocked an eyebrow. “Sometimes even when you are an untrained amateur you
manage to fight…”
Steve kissed her lips.
“I’m sure that your spirit alone would make them run for their lives but I
don’t think that Bruce would like you in danger for his sake.” He pressed his
lips. “I do understand how you feel” he raised his eyebrows “I had many
friends, brothers in arms…” his eyes were lost in his past. “They weren’t as
lucky as me to be turned into invincible super soldiers…”
Selina caressed his jaw staring at him with sympathy.
“I still remember them…especially Bucky” he chuckled. “With all the chemicals
they instilled in me, all my strength and speed I didn’t manage to protect my
friends…Not that they would be still alive now…after decades.”
Selina kissed his lips.
“Aren’t you happy you live in this era and having the chance to meet me?” she
asked playfully to raise his spirits.
He laughed.
“You seriously have to ask that?”
“Sometimes girls face some insecurity…” she pouted sensually.
“I just wonder: if you defend Bruce then what would be our usefulness if you
take our job? Huh?”
Selina grabbed the hem of his T-shirt and took it off, Steve helping her. Her
lean, dexterous fingers caressed his stony abdominals loving the arousal of his
flesh.
“Hm…I don’t know ‘bout the other lot but I could certainly think of some things
where you’d be always useful…” she said slyly and pushed him flat on his back
straddling him.
Steve chuckled and raised his torso to meet her lips.
“We will never let Bruce unprotected, darling…You can be sure of this.”
She cocked an eyebrow.
“I know that a soldier would never lie to a lady…” she said unzipping his pants
and Steve grabbed her waist and glued her to his body capturing her lips to a
passionate kiss.
However Selina’s heart was heavy because Bruce and Tony had quarreled and that
certainly had a toll to her friend. And when Bruce was unhappy how could she
enjoy anything in full? Even if that involved her Captain?
 
Tony thought of staying at his penthouse at Gotham’s midtown: he wished he was
angry with Bruce for his stubborn, stupid refusal to come to Malibu. The little
guy didn’t call: Peps did and as usual she reprimanded him… He rolled his eyes:
that injustice should have made him more pissed with his best buddy.
But he wasn’t angry: shit! He understood how Bruce felt but there was no way to
continue this kind of life without risking being killed and that for Tony was
atrocious! Yet he wasn’t angry. He was in agony; he was sad for having yelled
at Bruce and storming away: it was as if his anger of the last Christmas they
spent together re-happened; then he had told the eight year boy off because he
had accidentally tossed his tools over a cliff. What a moron 14 year old Tony
had been!
And how moron the thirty…- well, something - year old Tony was now! His stupid,
childish wrath taking the better of him. And Bruce had spoken to him and he
still rushed away without a second word, giving another blow to his friend’s
already wounded heart.
However if that was necessary for making Bruce change his mind…well, Tony was
willing to spend his rest life hating himself. Yet he couldn’t stay away from
his friend while they had quarreled…Actually, he quarreled, Bruce just listened
to him and keeping his tranquility refused: damn, that ninja training! He
envied Bruce’s ability to be so calm when he had to do with Tony – fucking -
Stark.
Tony didn’t ring the doorbell because he didn’t want to wake anyone: it was
well past midnight. He walked inner in complete darkness pumping on the narrow
marble dresser.
“Fuck! I should have used the night vision goggles.”
“Tony…”
Tony’s heart gave a joyful jolt forgetting what had happened before. There was
no reason for secrecy anymore so he clapped once and light flooded the corridor
revealing Bruce dressed in his pajamas and night robe, Hero on his lap. His
eyes were full with love and Tony inhaled deeply lolling his head on the side.
“You sneaked out from Alfred, huh? Naughty littl’ guy! You should be sleeping,
you know.”
Bruce grinned discerning that his friend was in better mood.
“I couldn’t sleep while we’re not in speaking terms…”
Tony ruffled his hair.
“C’mon! It’s not that serious! It happens to the best families, you know…Ask
Peps how many times we ripped one another… And don’t start crying like that
day…this time I’ll start crying too!”
Bruce laughed.
“And we don’t want that, huh?”
Tony pouted.
“No! It would hurt my image irrevocably” he kneeled by Bruce. “How are you?”
“Perfect! Tony…”
“Hm…”
“I’ll come to Malibu.”
Tony huffed.
“You don’t have to, buddy! I was wrong…I was…”
“Panicked…Scared for my life…” he mumbled and Tony nodded. “I know how much you
love me, Tony…and I want you to know how much I appreciate that and…I love you
too.”
“Shsssss…” he hugged him. “You don’t have to say anything…I know…” he kissed
the top of Bruce’s head and Hero between them hissed to the billionaire. “I
guess I deserve that, huh?” he petted Hero’s head.
“I’ll come for a few days and then I’ll return; after all, it will be better
for everyone and will persuade them that I’m scared; and that will give them
open space to steal the items.”
Tony shook his head amused.
“So it is work and pleasure, huh? Only I don’t know if I am work or pleasure…”
he frowned.
“Always pleasure…”
“Thank God for that!”
Bruce chuckled.
“Also, I think that our ‘friend’, the Arrow knows who I am and follows me
around.”
 
Thor hovered over the Wayne Estate, just in case. He knew that Tony had
returned and that the place had the best security but still it was better to be
sure. Also, he wished the assailant would try something so he could finish what
was left half with the coward’s runaway.
His gaze was drawn to the gravestones over the small hill. The graves of
Bruce’s parents. He flew there and landed softly bowing his head slightly in
respect. The place was filled with melancholy and Thor could only imagine how
Bruce was feeling every time he came here. On the soil, were placed bouquets
with white roses.
The god pressed his lips. Death…Losing the people you love…knowing that this
was irrevocable and you won’t see them ever again…
“You don’t know anything about death; about mortality…” Tony snorted to his ear
again.
He could admit that this kind of fear was unbeatable: the terror of losing
someone you love so much; someone who is the meaning of your life. It must be
the worst torture…Being weak before the absolute absence of your loved one; the
potential of losing your loved one, a noble, brave warrior sacrificing himself
for the others…So perfect but so…mortal…
“This place has something that helps meditation…” a serious voice said behind
him and the Asgardian startled turned to see Bruce grinning to him.
The human was fully dressed, wrapped in his black long coat. The god blushed as
if being caught in mischief.
 “How?” the god asked baffled. “I didn’t hear you coming…”
“Ninja training” Bruce mumbled “very handy when you want to startle a mighty
god.”
 “I hope you don’t mind I’m here… I keep an eye on the Manor”
“Two eyes…No, I don’t mind you being here…” he steered his chair closer to the
graves and touched the stone with his fingertips; his eyes stayed for a few
seconds fixed on the stones and then turned to Thor. “Before I didn’t thank you
as I should.”
Thor waved that off.
“You don’t have to.”
“I was cold, abrupt and maybe rude.”
“Not at all… I understand: a noble, brave, mighty warrior like you being forced
to watch as others fight…” he smiled shyly “ not to mention that you would have
prefered to see Superman fighting with the impostor.”
Bruce shook his head.
“You’re a great person, Thor, and I always am happy to see you. And that’s the
reason I don’t want you to…” he locked eyes with Thor’s baby blues and bit his
bottom lip. “I can’t love you the way you wish and you deserve.”
“I know…”
“Then fight it off, my friend: you deserve someone to make you happy. You must
realize that what you feel for me is…” he inhaled. “You have to understand that
there are things in me that could influence someone…My half DNA is Lilith’s”
Thor frowned; he had heard of her – Bruce nodded “she was an irresistible
enchantress and unfortunately this comes out of me affecting people…great
people like you.”
“You were saying these things to Superman too?”
Bruce pressed his lips.
“I was…but he didn’t want to understand and…it was my fault. I didn’t stop it
and look where that brought us.”
“Nothing of what happened is your fault, Bruce” Thor came closer.
“Do not torment yourself with me, Thor. I’m not made for love like this…Your
feelings are too much for me... And I don’t want you to be hurt.”
“You care so much for people…even if they are gods…You want to protect
everyone.”
Bruce chuckled.
“Which is ridiculous, I know. I can’t protect myself, huh?”
“No, no! I know you felt awfully being forced to not do what you best know.
You’re a great warrior who saved so many people and it must have been torturous
to wait from others to stop evil people. But you have to be patient, Bruce,
until you get fully healed. Nothing of these should make you feel bad: you
still protect and save people with your acts and self sacrifice: you’re so
unique and special that it is not only your fighting skills that win the
battles.”
“Thank you” Bruce nodded his head in appreciation.
“And I’m proud to be in the circle of your trusted people; it’s an honor to
have your love…whatever kind of love. Let me continue being around you” however
the blond god couldn’t guarantee that he’d stop feeling for Bruce the way he
did.
The human could sense that yet he didn’t want to insist.
“You don’t have to ask that, Thor.”
“Everything alright with Tony?”
Bruce grinned and nodded.
“He loves me so much that he wouldn’t have stayed angry whatever I had done…”
he gazed at the sky.
Thor followed his gaze.
“This is mutual…”
Bruce turned to him, the freezing breeze ruffling his locks as much as Thor’s.
“I love Tony so much that sometimes I wish he had never met me” Thor narrowed
his eyes. “Tony is life in flesh and blood and I drain that life out of him.”
Thor kneeled before him.
“Do not say that, Bruce” he locked eyes with the human his blond locks touching
Bruce’s face. “It is a blessing you two were met…a blessing for everyone. When
I saw that coward scoundrel attacking you…threatening your life…”
Bruce raised his fingertips stopping him.
“I saw you there, Thor…please, do not do that to yourself: it is a mistake…”
Thor seemed to be lost for a minute and Bruce averted a bit his gaze; he had to
change the subject.
 “Tell me, Thor: have you ever heard of Themyscirra?”
“The island of the Amazons?”
“Exactly.’’
Thor stood. 
“You’re thinking of going there?” he chose to not utter his thought: Bruce
still had Superman's best interest in mind.
“I know that many answers to our questions lie there…” Bruce looking in the
god's eyes realized what Thor was thinking and appreciated his discretion to
not address this; he loathed himself because this kind person felt bad yet
maybe he was helping him to accept it and go on.
Thor pouted.
“I’m sorry, Bruce; but the Asgardians have no affairs with the Amazons. But
I’ll try to find anything that will contribute to your quest.”
Bruce smiled, the flapping of Thor’s red cape reminding him of another cape.
“Thank you.”
Thor smiled and gestured to the quiet Manor.
“Now I think you should go to sleep because I’ll have to face both Alfred and
Tony for keeping you awake.”
Bruce chuckled.
“Hm…Believe me they are quiet formidable those two, even for a god.”
 
 
“Don’t tell me you had any doubt that I’d come for you?”
In the twinkling blue topaz of those beautiful eyes Bruce saw his reflection:
the face of a teen; a skinny face, dirty with bruises but with the shine of
joy. The raven haired angel in red and blue had surged Falcone’s camparet and
taken him in his strong arms. Saving him, carrying him to the sky; in complete
freedom, in complete happiness.
His angel had come…Bruce wrapped his skinny left hand around the man’s neck –
his right arm was dead but now it didn’t hurt. The angel looked at him with so
much love and smiled his blinding smile.
Bruce let his head nestle to the young man’s broad chest…so warm…so safe…
That was a lie…
Bruce even in the depths of his exhausted sleep was finally aware that this
wasn’t true; it never happened. He wanted to open his eyes but he was so tired
that he couldn’t. However the raven haired angel had left as he had done in
reality…
 
When Alfred knocked the door to Bruce’s bedroom, the youth was already dressed
and Hero was purring at his feet urging him to go downstairs and have
breakfast.
“Come in. Good morning, Alfred.”
“Good morning, sir.”
“I overslept.”
“Hardly, sir: it is just 35 minutes after nine. Also, you very much needed some
extra hours of sleep. Would you like me to bring your breakfast here?”
“No, I’ll come downstairs.”
“Mr. Collins called while you were asleep; I asked him if he wanted to wake you
up but he said that he would call later.”
“Thank you, Alfred. I’ll call him.”
Alfred was tidying up the room without missing his young master’s reactions to
what Mr. Collins was saying to him. Well, not much reaction since Bruce had
learnt to hide his feelings. However the paleness that settled over the youth’s
face was enough.
“Is anything the matter, Master Bruce?”
Bruce just looked at him.
“Alright. Thank you, Mr. Collins; I’m coming to the Tower to discuss it from up
close.”
“What happened, Master Bruce?” the Englishman approached.
“Zucco had petitioned against my guardianship” Bruce replied dryly.
 
***** Chapter 57 *****
“A hearing will be held by the court examining Mr. Zucco’s petition and the
state of your guardianship.”
Bruce watched calm Mr. Collins seated behind his office’s desk detailing the
procedure.
“But Ms. Turner made me the legal guardian of Richard.”
Mr. Collins nodded.
“Indeed but in some cases the state can countermand that if judges that it is
for the child’s best interest.”
Bruce licked his lips.
“Is it possible to judge that?”
Mr. Collins inhaled; he took the letter from his desk.
“Mr. Zucco claims that you are inadequate for Richard’s guardianship and he
mentions the recent incident when Mr. Grayson was seen drinking alcohol and
quarrelling with adults; he ran away when an officer came. Furthermore, he
references another older incident where the teen was seen by several witnesses
running away from you” Bruce shook his head and Mr. Collins pressed his lips.
“Also, he claims that the boy is in constant danger since you are often the
subject of violent attacks that could affect the boy’s life.”
Bruce nodded and raised his eyebrows.
“Like yesterday…”
Mr. Collins intertwined his fingers on the desk.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Wayne.”
“The hearing procedure what will include?”
Mr. Collins waved his hands.
“Testimonies from both sides.’’
“And Richard? I don’t want him dragged into this.’’
Collins raised his eyebrows.
“I’m afraid that this doesn’t depend on what we want, Mr. Wayne. Zucco asks for
the boy’s presence.”
Bruce snorted.
“Of course. For him Richard is not the priority and he knows that the boy hates
me: he took care to fuel this.”
Collins stood and came out of his desk to approach Bruce.
“We’ll try to prove exactly what you said, that Richard isn’t the priority for
Zucco. However the youth evidently favors him and Zucco is married” he inhaled.
“And there is something else.”
Bruce frowned.
“What?”
“He makes insinuation about your mental and emotional health…”
Bruce yanked his head.
“I have been evaluated by psychiatrists when I testified against Falcone.”
Collins nodded.
“I know but it’s up to the court to decide and ask a new evaluation.”
Bruce shook his head.
“Whatever…The important thing is Zucco doesn’t get the boy. So Richard will
have to be present?”
“That is not necessary but the court will eventually decide if his testimony is
needed.”
Bruce pressed his lips.
“I wouldn’t like him in all this; he has had enough to be dragged in court
rooms; a court isn’t the best place for a young boy.”
Mr. Collins approached Bruce and patted him on the back.
“We’ll do everything in our power for you to retain the guardianship of the
boy.”
Bruce nodded and smiled.
“I know, Mr. Collins. Thank you.”
Upon coming out of the lift to his office’s floor, Bruce met Tony who was also
heading to Bruce’s office.
“What happened, Bruce?”
“Come inside.”
Once in the office, Tony looked at his friend.
“I called to the Manor looking for you and Alfred told me that you are in the
Tower and then Synthia tells me that you immediately went to the legal
department. What’s going on?”
“Zucco petitioned against my guardianship and the thing will go to the court.”
Tony shook his head infuriated and cursed.
“That sonovabitch!” he pinched the bridge of his nose thoughtful – another test
for his friend: why they couldn’t let him alone to heal?
But then he felt that he should encourage his friend and crouched in front of
him holding his upper arms. Their eyes locked.
“Everything will be fine, littl’ guy…You’re the best surrogate father there
is!”
Bruce laughed.
“Thank you, Tony! I hope the court has the same opinion with you because Zucco
is really dangerous” his face became grim. “I gathered evidence that he was the
one that caused John Grayson’s death and prior to that he made fraud resulting
in John losing his savings.”
Tony’s eyes flashed with determination.
“Great! Show this evidence and send him in jail.”
Bruce huffed.
“Tony, it is just evidence not proof: I need to prove his guilt without any
doubt because otherwise there is the risk of him being exonerated and then his
influence to Dick would be even greater and so the danger for the boy. So we
must win this to the court and buy some time.”
Tony pursed his lips.
“Yes, but starting a case against him for John Grayson’s death will erase any
possibility of him getting Dick’s guardianship.”
Bruce shook his head.
“Or not. They could claim that I used my connections to issue this case just to
degrade and blackmail him into retreating from Dick’s guardianship. Everything
is a matter of right timing.”
Tony raised his eyebrows.
“As you proved perfectly with Falcone and the League of Shadows, huh?”
“I hope everything goes as smoothly…”
Tony cupped his friend’s face.
“Me too; with the League of Shadows you were tortured by them before we managed
to exterminate them. You’re stressed?” he frowned because usually his friend
was tranquil.
“It is Richard’s life…Enough damage has been done to this boy.”
Tony brushed his cheek.
“And that just proves that you’re the best guardian for this ungrateful brat.”
Bruce just crooked his lips.
Tony stood and ruffled his hair.
“Let me guess: that cancels your visit in Malibu, right?” he asked almost
laughing hiding his disappointment.
But Bruce smiled reassuring.
“No, I’ll come but for a couple of days. You honored me with the central stand
in StarkExpo; I’d be ungrateful to not come.’’
Tony leaned to him and held his shoulders.
“You don’t have to, Bruce” he said seriously. “I want you to forget everything
I told you yesterday: I wasn’t my usual, sweet self” Bruce chuckled and Tony
did the same.
“I want to come, Tony: the last time I was in Malibu it was great. Also my
absence from Gotham will fit our plans.’’
Tony nodded.
 
“Problems for Bruce Wayne don’t seem to stop, Alex. According to reliable
sources there is a petition against the billionaire’s guardianship of Richard
Grayson – and after the videos showing the boy drinking alcohol wandering
Gotham at night time the petition would certainly be solid for the court. Not
to mention that the constant attacks against Bruce Wayne’s life – not only by
Joker but also by this new attacker - can be a real concern about the well
being of the orphan.”
“Do you know who made the petition, Tom?’’Alex Knox from the studio asked his
colleague.
“Our sources say that it is the boy’s only remaining blood relative that
petitioned. It’s Richard Grayson’s uncle, Tony Zucco, cousin of the boy’s late
father John Grayson the world famous gymnastics’ Olympic Champion.”
“When the hearing is going to take place?’’
“In a few days.”
Knox raised his eyebrows.
“Let’s hope that the court will decide the best for the boy. Thank you, Tom.”
The image of his colleague vanished from the screen on the wall and Alex Knox
turned to face the camera.
“And as if this wasn’t enough for our Prince, there is a leak from Wayne
Enterprises stating where the company keeps priced items taken from LexCorps.
Lucius Fox, the Wayne Enterprises’ chief of the Research and Development sector
denied that the information was true.”
Footage from the packed with people coming and going Wayne Enterprises’ foyer
was played where a brightly smiling Lucius Fox waved the question off.
“I assure you there’s no truth in that leaked information: someone tried to
gain money and attention leaking false information.”
Mannheim cocked an eyebrow watching the news playing in thin air between him
and Bagdana that sat at an armchair in his business office at Metropolis.
“As soon as you informed me about the leaked information, I sent Granny
Goodness and her minions to watch every movement at the Wayne Tower” the square
shaped gangster said to his minion who watched frowned from his seat. “This
Afro-American might have said that it was a lie but” Mannheim smirked and his
eyes took the fire essence of his real self “the fact is that trunks are moving
from the Tower to some location outside Gotham where Wayne has storage units.”
Bagdana cleared his throat thoughtful.
“They are trying to denounce the information but they are panicked and attempt
to get my property to a new unknown – as they believe – location.”
“Hm…” the ancient demon rubbed his square jaw.
Mannheim stood and the footage from the news evaporated.
“What?” he asked approaching his minion.
“Movements of panic are not Bruce’s characteristic.”
Mannheim rolled his eyes.
“The fact you failed to make him your slave and mistress makes you overestimate
him” Bagdana cocked an eyebrow. “He is panicked, Bagdana: two days ago he was
almost killed and now someone figured that inside the Tower he had stashed the
items from Luthor’s labs and leaked that information. The pest didn’t expect
that and in his fear of me stealing them he takes them away” he lolled his head
on the side. “As he did with himself…” he sneered “he ran to the safety of
Stark’s house. He doesn’t suspect that I’m already watching and I’m going to
take what’s mine.”
Bagdana intertwined his fingers in front of his face.
“He didn’t expect?” he asked mostly himself deep in thought.
Mannheim narrowed his eyes to slits.
“You mean that all this is a scheme to frame me up?” he snorted. “Is this man
so wicked? No way…If you believe that then why you rushed to report the leaked
information? ”
“Because it is my job, right?” Bagdana raised his eyebrows. “You’re the boss
and you make the decisions after all.”
Mannheim crossed his arms.
“If Wayne thinks that he can fool me by sending my things away or that he can
frame me up, then you’re heading to a new shock” he shook his head self
satisfied “I’d like to see his face when he finds out that the items are gone.
For a demon you are much too scared, Bagdana” he sniggered and the demon
crooked his mouth. “It is time to get back what is mine. I waited enough:
things must start moving.”
Bagdana stood.
“You’re planning to attack the storage units and steal the items?”
Mannheim lolled his head on the side and smirked.
“Granny has already been ordered to acquire the items for me…”
Bagdana nodded and bowed slightly his head.
“As you wish.”
Mannheim grinned satisfied for the demon’s submission.
“What have you done about your other duty?” he asked abruptly.
“Your traces are covered.”
“Then you are dismissed” he waved him off and Bagdana bowed once again and
vanished.
Mannheim smirked and his eyes shone gleefully.
“Now you realized that nothing stops me from killing your pet you are in line,
you worthless demon!” he smirked. “But you are going to be punished for your
prior behavior” he chuckled “and I know what to use to chastise you so you
never dare to doubt me again.”
 
Pepper gave Bruce a warm hug that made Tony cock an eyebrow. The red haired
kissed the youth in both cheeks.
“I’m here, you know!” Tony exclaimed raising his voice though the buzz from the
jet’s engines was very mild. “And I’m not blind! Also I’m a bit selfish so when
my girlfriend shows so much enthusiasm for someone else than me…”
Pepper turned to him – of course both she and Bruce knew that Tony was joking.
“Your girlfriend? I see you remember that once in a while…”
“He never forgets that” Bruce hurried to defend his friend and Tony nodded
pouting.
“Thanks, buddy! I need a lawyer…”
Pepper stood and smirked at him before turning again to Bruce.
“How was your flight? Are you feeling tired?”
Bruce chuckled.
“Don’t tell me! You were speaking with Alfred, right?”
The red haired laughed.
“As a matter of fact I did…He is worried and I’m too after that last attack.”
“I’m fine, Peps.”
She cleared her throat and cast a sideways glance at Tony who frowned.
“You know, Bruce, he is a good kid deep inside but sometimes he acts like a
brat – especially, when he is scared. And when they attacked you, he pissed
himself.”
Tony opened his mouth enraged and slapped his thighs increasing Pepper’s
amusement.
“Wha’…Of course not!” he looked around.
Thankfully, they were inside the hangar at his house’s grounds; Tony’s jet
could easily land vertically in the moderate space of a hangar. Of course, as
with everything owned by Tony Stark this wasn’t a usual hangar: its dome roof
opened to admit the owner’s jet. All in all, one of the blessings of a private
‘airport’ was that the only one that could have heard was Happy but he was
still inside the jet and he was used to hear Pepper reprimanding him for worse.
Pepper crooked her mouth to Tony and turned again to Bruce.
“What I wanted to say, Bruce, is that what your stupid friend said to you that
day was due to his terror and panic, he didn’t mean it; so, please, do forget
everything. He loves you more than anything.”
Bruce smiled.
“I know, Peps…I already forgot everything.”
Pepper nodded and Tony surged to her from the back and hugged her kissing her
cheek.
“My sweet Peps! Always takes care of me and worries about my well being…I’m so
lucky!”
Pepper rolled her eyes and then locked eyes with Bruce who chuckled at his
friends’ happiness.
As they slowly left the hangar the cheerful sun of California greeted them and
Bruce looked around the carefully manicured lawn, the Olympic dimensions’ pool
with the isle in the middle where a beautiful polygonal marble kiosk stood
under the shadow of two enormous palm trees. The nearby sound of the sea waves
under the hill on top of which Tony’s house was built completed the whole sense
of relaxation and particularly the seagulls’ cries made Bruce feel numb.
“I missed that place…” he said as they crossed the grounds to enter the house.
Tony cocked his eyebrows having his arm wrapped around Pepper’s shoulder
causing her rolling of eyes.
“Definitely you need some sun, buddy and you can stay as long as you like
whenever you like” he commented as the main door opened automatically.
“Welcome back, Master Tony, Master Bruce; I’m very happy to see you again, Miss
Potts: you are lovely as ever.”
“Hello, Jarvis” Bruce said.
But Pepper turned to Tony.
“You need to program your AI to stop his Stark-ish attempts at flattering.”
Tony pouted.
“Yeah…he lacks my charm so it sounds stupid.”
Pepper shook her head and smirked.
“Even with your…charm still sounds stupid!”
Bruce chuckled and Tony grimaced.
“That hurt my pride…” he said pouting like a baby.
Pepper winked.
“I know; that’s why I said it!” she smiled and escaped Tony’s hug heading to
the kitchen. “I’ll bring some coffee, boys.”
“Use the espresso gadget this time!” he remarked and turned to Bruce
conspiratorially. “You don’t want to drink Pepper made coffee…” his eyes bulged
in terror.
However he stayed still watching her. He shook his head.
“In any case, she is crazy for me!”
Bruce smiled.
“You are lucky, Tony: you need to take care of her” Bruce commented as they
headed to the vast minimally decorated leaving room.
“I’m doing my best, littl’ guy…” he said diving into his elliptic armchair.
“Just before we landed I received a report from Fury – by the way, he is
furious about the attack against you.”
Bruce smirked.
“He fears that he’ll lose his potential Avenger…He never accepted that I’m not
Batman.”
Tony cocked his eyebrows and pouted.
“I’m not a fan of good ol’ Nick but he is a very clever man…”
“What about that report?”
“Right…SHIELD’s agents sent urgent intelligence about appearances of a flying
robot which is similar to Ironman” Bruce nodded smirking.
“Did they manage to locate it? Or identify the culprit?”
“No but our men speak about high levels of activity in newly created labs near
Metropolis which our agents found that belong to none other than our friend
Luthor. Intelligence speak about a flying android” Bruce pursed his lips in
disbelief and Tony frowned. “You don’t believe that, don’t you?”
Bruce inhaled.
“I do believe your agents and that these are real.”
“Then?”
“I just don’t believe that Luthor was behind the attack.”
Tony narrowed his eyes.
 “What?” he exclaimed surprised. “But that android is a copy of Ironman and we
know that Luthor was working with Obadiah who had manufactured a replica of my
masterpiece. So Luthor could easily take his information and improve what old
Obadiah did.”
Bruce rubbed his palms together together.
“It could be but I don’t believe it, Tony. First of all, it is the timing this
info came: too convenient, don’t you think? Plant some clues so to turn our
attention to Luthor: who could be a better candidate for an attack against me?
He hates me and what happened during the meeting in LexCorp is a very
persuasive motive. Yet even if we accept that Luthor made that attack, what
about the thugs that attacked at the same time?”
Tony lolled his head on the side.
“He could buy them – he has done that again when he planned to use that weapon
to breach the Wayne Tower.”
“Yes, but the thugs manifest the same symptoms with the thugs that made the
attack at the Metropolis’ subway and those who broke in LexLabs.”
“Still Luthor could be implicated with Intergang.”
“Yes, but when all these happened Luthor was in jail and if he had ordered the
attacks at the Labs he would know exactly where to look for what he wanted so
Mannheim wouldn’t be so pissed for his unfinished order.”
“Then we’re still with Mannheim…”
Bruce nodded.
“I’m positive that it is him. After I told him that the items would be
destroyed, I expected him to wait the right moment to steal them; I didn’t
expect that he would make an attempt against me because it would be too
obvious. However he acted impetuously and exactly like a man with great power
who isn’t afraid of the consequences” Tony pressed his lips “his wrath urged
him to give me a lesson. But now probably someone of his allies advised him to
cover his tracks by spreading information that will turn the suspicions
elsewhere – very much like we did leaking the items’ location and sending them
away to show that we are panicked by the breach in secrecy.”
“So that makes him the ghost leader of Intergang.”
“I don’t have proof but there are too many connections to be ignored. The
secrecy around him and his business’ activity; Luthor’s release with the use of
high connections exactly like the way several gangsters of Metropolis were
released from prison; the LexLabs’ burglaries and then his demand to deliver
him the items.”
Tony clapped: he liked action not waiting.
“So get him!”
Bruce on the other hand was a man of patience; he shook his head calmly.
“If we act now, our case will be easily dismissed and if not easily he still
will be released in no time: we should be patient.”
Tony clenched the armrests.
“Things took their way then.”
Bruce nodded.
“Lucius called and told me that the items’ shipping started in tight secrecy
but I’m sure that Mannheim knows and has his people to it.”
“The items have been wired in a way that they wouldn’t be able to detect no
matter the means they got. Also will have the control to whatever they’ll
manufacture with these thingies.”
Bruce nodded thoughtful.
“I made sure that there won’t be any casualties – I spoke with Lucius and we
agreed to place only mechanical security system without people.”
Tony slapped his thighs.
“So the ball is in their field, huh? Great! I hate waiting: I just want to kick
his ass really hard after what he did.”
“Alea jacta est…” Bruce said solemnly.
Tony met his gaze: this was a phrase Bruce used often.
“Ra’s Al Ghul had you study Latin, huh? The bastard knew the gem he had in his
hands and tried to exploit you in every possible way!” he pinched the bridge of
his nose thinking of Ra’s Al Ghul using the weak teen for his twisted desires
and plans.
Bruce could understand what his friend was thinking and wished to bring him out
of those thoughts.
“He was obsessed with the ancient great generals.”
Tony smiled and lolled his head on the side.
“No wonder you’re a great general yourself…” Bruce fixed his eyes on his friend
and Tony cocked his eyebrows. “C’mon! Don’t be so modest! You are!”
The clicking of Pepper’s heels echoed on the light golden granite floor as she
came carrying a tray with cups of hot steaming coffee.
“What he tells you, Bruce?”
Tony shook his head and sighed.
“I’m sooooo misunderstood!”
Bruce chuckled and took his cup of coffee thanking Pepper.
“He didn’t say anything bad, Pepper: I swear.”
Tony nodded widening his eyes for emphasis.
“You see how prejudiced you are against me?”
Pepper crossed her arms and cocked an eyebrow.
“Yeah…sure. I heard about the hearing on Richard’s guardianship, Bruce.”
He shook his head.
“As if the boy didn’t have enough…”
Pepper pressed her lips.
“I’m sure everything is going to be fine: Mr. Collins is one of the best
lawyers.”
Bruce grinned.
“He is and I trust him” however he was wary about the whole ordeal of the
hearing and uncertain about the outcome. However for now he had other things to
settle too. “Tony, you had found Princess Diana’s apartment.”
Tony frowned over his cup of coffee.
“Of course” he cocked an eyebrow “nobody can hide from the sun and Tony Stark”
Pepper cast him an amused and exasperated glance.
“Great!’’
Tony rolled his eyes.
“You are still tormenting yourself with that sonovabitch?” he shook his head.
“I mean Superman!” Bruce closed his eyes. “Bruce, stop thinking about him: he
has done enough damage!”
“I think that she plays a role in this scheme, Tony: I don’t believe in
coincidences and the way she entered our lives and acted doesn’t seem random at
all.”
Tony huffed grimacing.
“Then Oliver Queen could be implicated too.”
Bruce looked at his friends.
“That remains to be seen…Of what I’m sure though is that Arrow knows who I am”
he took in Pepper’s questioning look. “I mean Batman.”
Tony narrowed his eyes.
“We were talking about Queen” he said suspiciously. “What Arrow has to do with
this?”
Bruce smiled.
“Nothing. I just jumped from one subject to another: Arrow is another mystery.”
Bruce was almost sure that Queen was the Arrow but he didn't want to share yet
the man's secret with anyone. He thought about the clues he had: Queen wore
gloves and that might not be so odd except that he wore them only that day
after the attack when Arrow was wounded on the back of his hand and naturally
Queen knew that Bruce would notice and make the connection. And the hurried way
he removed his hand as soon as Bruce mentioned the gloves… The two men had the
same body and though Arrow’s face was always shadowed Bruce could discern that
it had the same structure as Queen’s. Also, the Arrow first appeared in the
Avengers’ Tower where Queen was; and then Arrow led him to the rooftop where
Superman and the Amazon was having sex because he knew what this meant to
Batman and because he was interested in Bruce.
Of course Arrow appeared once in Chicago while Queen was in Gotham but for a
billionaire with a private jet the distance wasn’t a problem. He just wanted to
confuse Bruce. And then again in Metropolis when Batman met Superman, the Arrow
was conveniently there watching ready to even kill Superman with a Kryptonite
arrow.
“He was great in every sport except than archery”
Queen’s friend from university had said and the man seemed annoyed for the
mention of archery. He was helpless in archery: that troubled Bruce: of course
Queen could have trained in the years that followed however archery – Ra’s had
been telling him - wasn’t something someone could easily improve from being
lousy into becoming a modern Robin Hood…
“We certainly have to solve Queen’s riddle and find his role in the pattern” he
said thoughtful deciding that he had to close some deals with the man in order
to watch him closely.
 
Zucco was waiting at the yard of Dick’s school covered behind the small shed
with the janitor’s equipment; he had texted the boy and it took no more than a
few minutes for the boy to appear.
Dick looked around searching for his uncle and Zucco stretched his hand to draw
his attention and then popped his head for a second just for Dick to see him.
Zucco knew that the boy had bodyguards watching his movements.
Dick walked casually behind the shed and as soon as he saw his uncle rushed to
his arms. Zucco chuckled for the boy’s enthusiasm.
“So I assume that you heard the news?” he asked pressed in the boy’s hug.
“It was about time!” Dick exclaimed. “I thought you wouldn’t do it! I couldn’t
take it anymore: Wayne playing my daddy and punishing me!”
“Calm down, champ!” he laughed. “Soon it’ll be over and we’ll be together.”
“Are you sure we’ll win? Wayne is filthy rich…”
Zucco ruffled the boy’s raven hair and pinched playfully his blushed cheeks.
“Don’t worry, Dick. The days of your suffering will be soon over – a bad
memory. He might be rich but justice cares more about your well being so they
won’t give you to a mental case like him.”
Dick grinned broadly.
“And I have showed many times how unhappy I am with him. Thank Goodness he went
to Malibu and I don’t have to endure his presence.”
Zucco nodded.
“I feel for you…And you really made a fantastic job, champ, showing to the
world who is Wayne!”
Dick locked eyes with him.
“I’ll speak in the court too?” he asked eagerly.
Zucco raised his eyebrows.
“I don’t know if you should get mingled in this…” he said thoughtful wanting to
show concern hiding the fact that he indeed ased for the boy’s presence at the
court. “I wouldn’t want you in a court being examined by lawyers” he chuckled
“I hate the lot.”
Dick shook his head unconcerned.
“I don’t mind testifying if that helps…”
Zucco grinned.
“I’m sure Wayne will do everything in his power to stop that” he frowned
slightly his eyebrows. “How are things between you and Breizic?”
Dick shrugged surprised that his uncle brought that up.
“We haven’t been able to interact much but I see already that people are right
about him: he is great! He has given me some very useful advice that thanks to
Wayne” his voice was filled with poison “I didn’t have the chance to practice
in the gym but I’m sure they will help my technique.”
Zucco pressed his lips thoughtful: he didn’t like the sudden reappearance of
Breizic in Gotham and his interest in Grayson’s boy. That could ruin things for
him.
“Listen, Dick, I know that ol’ Breizic is a legend and he enjoys the
appreciation of the federation yet…there are things” Dick frowned. “Your father
had many quarrels with him and in the end he fired him.”
“And you became his trainer – I know – but later they reconciled and Breizic
returned to his team. What do you want to say?”
“That he is skilled, smart; top in his job but he isn’t trustworthy.”
Dick’s frown became deeper – frankly, he was tired of being advised all the
time against people he liked. First, his granny warned him against Tony and now
Tony against Breizic.
Zucco read the boy’s expression and ruffled the boy’s locks.
“He is trustworthy in everything that has to do with gymnastics but not to
everything else…” he huffed. “Your dad didn’t trust him in other matters
because Breizic…” he licked his lips feigning uneasiness “of course, he was
doing it for John’s best interest but many times he tried to close deals for
John with sponsors that John didn’t like.”
“You mean…”
“Breizic likes money” he opened his arms “that’s his biggest sin that sometimes
ruins his relationships with people. And as a matter of fact his sudden
returning to Gotham after you became Wayne’s ward…”
Dick’s eyes widened and Zucco stopped because the boy understood without him
having to say anything.
“You mean that he came to Gotham and approached me because Wayne asked him to?”
the boy was baffled and almost angry.
Zucco licked his lips uncomfortable and shrugged one shoulder.
“All these years he was absent and then when you became the ward of a
billionaire he returns and becomes your advisor…”
Dick’s mouth stayed agape; he remembered the discussion he had with Breizic
after Wayne’s punishment.
“He told me that he agrees with Wayne’s punishment…”
Zucco smirked and huffed exasperated.
“Of course he would!”
However Dick was troubled. His granny used to say about Tony the same things
Tony was saying for Breizic now. What was true? He turned his eyes away and
Zucco brushed his upper arm.
“Are you alright?”
The boy nodded.
“I have to return…” he gestured with the head to the building.
“Okay, champ; remember: everything is going to be fine – soon you’ll be free
and things will get better.”
Dick looked at him and smiled but his eyes were clouded.
“See you, Tony!”
Zucco watched him running towards the school and smiled.
“Indeed some people are so much drawn by the money…” he sneered and headed to
the back exit of the yard.
 
The StarkExpo was traditionally held in the center of Malibu in a gargantuan
area owned by Stark Industries.
Tony had guided Bruce again to the facilities when he had come immediately
after Falcone’s fall. Yet now, during Stark Expo which was the event of the
year for Stark Industries, the whole area was more impressive than ever.
The rectangular endless space had two floors with such high ceilings that gave
the impression of being even more enormous. The walls, floor and ceiling was
painted in flashing red and gold and rolling stairs or glass lifts scattered
around brought the visitors to the upper level where someone could find
cafeterias, restaurants, bowling and shop. The StarkExpo facility was one of
the favorite event centers throughout the year where live concerts were held.
Bruce couldn’t stop himself from staring around awed like a small child causing
Tony’s amused and satisfied grins.
The place was flooded with people that goggled on the Star Industries’ new
products that were displayed in spectacular stands; the most impressive was
that the products however massive or heavy didn’t need any base to support them
and floated in their stands washed in light.
Despite the vast number of visitors since it was evening, the peak hour, the
facilities were so spacious that it was very easy to move even if you were in a
wheelchair.
“Congratulations, Tony!” Bruce said to his friend smiling broadly.
Tony was waving to people beaming for the visitors’ cameras that once in a
while didn’t shoot the products but the Ironman himself. He turned to Bruce.
“You like it?”
Bruce laughed.
“Like it?! I’m awestruck! This is a wonder, Tony: not only your creations but
also the facilities, the organization, the planning…”
“Sorry for not blushing before such praise but I’m a genius, babe!” Tony took
his smuggest expression though he was blushed and his eyes shone cheerful.
A dry cough caught their attention and Pepper joined them.
“The points for the planning and organization belong to someone else, Mr.
Stark. "Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's…”
She was wearing an elegant dress suit with black midi jacket, black knee length
skirt and a shiny white silk shirt that its lapels fell on the jacket’s lapels.
Of course, the assorted black stiletto heels made her shapely legs even more
breathtaking.
“Pepper, you are dazzling!” Bruce said.
She beamed at Bruce.
“Thank you, Bruce: it is the grand opening after all” the Expo had started two
days ago but the official opening was today. “I’m glad someone noticed me…” she
said snidely to Tony who was eyeing her from feet to head goggling.
“Oh, boy! We must get isolated soon…” Tony mumbled cocking his eyebrows.
Pepper rolled her eyes but Bruce could see the satisfied shine in her eyes.
“Mr. Stark, be—have…” she said in heavy British accent and Tony chuckled.
“Ugh! That attire and that stern look make my creativity flow…and I don’t mean
inventions…” he twisted his eyebrows upwards.
“Now, Tony” Pepper said “we are among people…”
He looked around shocked.
“Really?! Suddenly, I felt like only three people were here…”
Pepper smirked.
“You need to check this with your doctor” she snapped and stretched her body
walking ahead.
As they explored the exhibition and Tony explained to him each product – better
than the person in each stand, Bruce was sure – Bruce felt dazzled.
“The more I see the more inadequate our products look…I don’t know if Wayne
Enterprises deserve the central stand in StarkExpo, Tony.”
The older man rolled his eyes.
“Lucius would be very disappointed hearing that! Littl’ guy, you need to take
some lessons of self esteem from the best…that is: moi.”
Bruce chuckled and Pepper smiled to him.
“You know which stand had gathered the most visitors?” she asked. “The central
stand featuring Wayne Enterprises’ Cosmos polymorphic tablet.”
“Really?”
Tony nodded.
“Pepper never tells lies, buddy: I’ve got bitter experience…”
They moved ahead towards the central stand that was situated in a huge round
shaped space; in the middle, there was a light blue column where the Cosmos
tablet stood in midair changing in its various sizes while the female employees
demonstrated how the tablet turned into a Smartphone and then to a professional
camera.
As Pepper had said, this place was the most packed with people asking questions
and watching avidly the demonstration.
“We have already people asking if they can preorder” Pepper remarked. “Not to
mention their interest on the applications Wayne Enterprises features.”
“And as you see” Tony gestured to the next light green column “our joined
project about the bionic body parts is as fascinating for people. I can’t
imagine their reaction when they see you walking again.”
Tony crouched and held Bruce’s upper arms.
“And that will happen soon – I promise you, littl’ guy.”
“I know, Tony; you will make another miracle.”
“Together…We’ll make wonders together, buddy…”
Pepper smiled touched but cleared her throat because some journalists turned to
them and began taking pictures.
Tony stood and Pepper leaned to his ear.
“It’s show time, Mr. Stark – time to announce the official opening.”
Tony dusted his impeccable shining, light gray two piece suit and fixed his tie
of the same color. He sighed.
“They wait everything from me, littl’ guy…I feel being exploited.”
Bruce chuckled and followed them to the glistening stage where Tony was to
announce the official opening giving the signal for the party to start – the
stage was still cast in darkness waiting for the billionaire to give the signal
for the party. Tony had brought the most popular pop stars to sing for
StarkExpo’s grand event.
Pepper ascended the few steps and announced Tony to the crowd that cheered.
Tony fixed his hair and looked at Bruce’s loving stare.
“Dazzling as ever?” he asked Bruce who nodded. “A heartbreaker?” the younger
man chuckled nodding. “Great ass?” he asked glancing at his buttocks.
“Perfect.”
“Then fire at will, babe!” he winked. “Right back to you, littl’ guy!”
 
“Are you enjoying yourself, Bruce?” Pepper asked.
The party was in full vibe and the three friends watched the people dancing
from the upper level: the central cafeteria had tables on the balcony that was
made of reinforced glass so it gave the impression of floating. The lights were
lowered and the music loud even louder from the special effects that
accompanied the live performances; Tony in his chair was moving to the rhythm.
“It’s great, Peps, thank you for everything. I wish I could stay longer.”
Tony shook his head getting serious.
“I wish that too…Being away from that city would have benefited you.”
Bruce didn’t answer: however great his time in Malibu he missed his grim,
grouchy city.
“Mr. Wayne, you prefer Malibu’s safety over Gotham?”
Tony jerked like a snake startled by the journalist who had approached them
unnoticed; Bruce had sensed him but didn’t want to show.
“You’re intruding, buddy! We already made statements!” Tony said annoyed.
 “After that attack nobody blames you for wanting to get away from Gotham” a
second reporter joined.
Bruce remained calm.
“I came in Malibu because my friend Tony honored me by giving Wayne Enterprises
a very special place in the greatest Expo in the world. The timing is
completely random. I feel equally safe in Gotham and in Malibu.”
More reporters rushed there noticing the famous company. One of the lot
snorted.
“That’s not very flattering for Malibu…” he remarked.
“Actually, is flattering for both cities” Bruce smiled but Tony was still
pissed and Pepper wasn’t better.
“Do you know anything about the attacker?”
Bruce shrugged.
“Gotham’s police is doing investigation right now…but I don’t have any
knowledge – I’ll wait like all of you.”
“Luthor was clearly pissed in the last meeting at LexCorp… Can he be the
mastermind?”
“Do you worry about the guardianship of Richard Grayson?”
Bruce smiled calmly.
“I trust that Gotham’s system will decide the best for my ward.”
Now Tony had had enough. He stood.
“Luthor isn’t the only one pissed!”
Pepper however stood and put her body between him and the paparazzi.
“As soon as some development occurs you’ll be the first to know, ladies and
gentlemen. Now, I’m sure you’ll have more interesting and thrilling things to
cover downstairs.”
At the same time, security guards came and politely but decisively removed the
gang.
“Sorry about that Bruce” Tony said grim resuming his seat.
“It’s okay, Tony: I’m used to it. And I’m sure this was nothing compared to
what waits me once I return to Gotham.”
Tony stretched his hand and squeezed Bruce’s hand on the round glass table.
“You have all your friends on your side, Bruce…” he said locking eyes with him
and Bruce grinned.
 
Thomas Elliot sat at the couch in his apartment’s living room the only light
coming from his tablet. He wore his maroon silk night robe above his pajamas
and he was sipping his fine, rare molt whiskey; his tablet’s screen showed
footage from GCTV’s news. He smirked listening to the newscaster speaking about
the case against Bruce’s guardianship.
“So, Brucey, you have many fronts to fight…Someone wants to take from you the
ward you care so much about…”
He turned his head towards the bedroom; from the open door he could see Kelly
sleeping on his bed with the dark purple silken sheet covering the down half of
her naked body.
He closed his eyes and snorted shaking his head. Thomas was really annoyed with
all this secrecy about Bruce’s medical file. Kelly didn’t manage to find the
report from his latest exams…Not that he expected much from her but still the
dump girl would have made everything to give him what he wanted. However Leslie
and her colleagues were doing everything to hide the details about Bruce’s
condition. Why? Such secrecy certainly hid fascinating things…
“Damn!” he growled from the frustration of being denied something so alluring.
He stared again at his tablet’s screen where the GCTV’s news showed now footage
from Gotham’s courthouse where the procedure would be held.
“I have some surprises for you, Brucie…Your love for this stray brat will bite
you hard…”
 
Clark stared at the small delicacy in his hand, stupidly indecisive.
Ms. Rose looked at him surprised when he placed his order; he had stopped
ordering that for long.
He was tempted for days…he missed that. He had resisted the temptation but
today he was defeated. He brought the delicacy to his mouth and took a large
bite.
“The Prince’s Donuts, Mr. Kent? I thought you didn’t like them anymore…”
Clark closed his eyes letting the delicious taste fill his mind and erase the
fuss of the Planet’s reporter area. However soon his satisfaction gave its
place to disappointment: it wasn’t the same.
He knew what the problem was: what was missing…It wasn’t the same taste as when
he ate the donut’s crumbs from Bruce’s smeary lips. The younger man laughed
like a small child realizing that he had crumbs and cream all over his mouth;
and blushed because it wasn’t appropriate for an adult…
Clark smiled: donut was delicious only because it was mingled with Bruce’s
taste…
He suddenly realized what he was thinking and slapped his face to come over. It
was stupid: he loved Diana; he had made his choice and Bruce kicked him out.
There was nothing more beautiful than Diana and with her he was happier than
ever.
He licked his lips and tapped his pen on the desk staring at his PC screen’s
customized wallpaper. He realized that it was the recent attack against Bruce
that stirred all these to him and of course his Ma’s reprimand. The idea that
Bruce could have died there while he just watched…
“Don’t you think that the attack’s method reminds the way Intergang acted?”
Clark heard Lois’ voice.
“You mean that Intergang never ceased to exist and now reemerged?” Martin
replied.
Clark felt annoyed. He stood and walked to Lois’ desk. Martin looked at him
while Lois ignored him as always.
“Martin, can you leave us for a moment?”
The man shrugged.
“Sure, Clark.”
“What do you think you’re doing?’’ he whispered to Lois who began typing
looking at her screen avoiding him. “Lois! We were in Intergang’s case
together! It is my case not Martin’s.”
Lois jerked her head at him.
“Lately you don’t have time for your old interests and I don’t want to
interrupt you from what really matters to you now.”
“Lois, stop that! You know how much I love my job. As a reporter.”
Lois cocked an eyebrow.
“Only as a reporter?” she asked snidely.
Clark lolled his head on the side and huffed.
“Everything!” he retorted.
She snorted.
“Funny…Because I noticed that you’re not interested in your old job anymore.”
“You mean the attack against…” he ran his fingers in his hair. “Lois, let me
explain…”
“Don’t bother…” she turned her head away from him. “If you want to investigate
Intergang, do it yourself. I already have a partner. And stop eavesdropping:
it’s rude and unethical.”
“Lois…”
But she didn’t even glance at him.
“I’m working!”
Clark returned to his desk disappointed and stared at the donuts. He didn’t
like his sudden attraction to those delicacies which were tied with Bruce. He
wiped them off the desk tossing them to the bin under his desk.
He sat heavily in his chair and clenched his jaw. He wouldn’t let Bruce ruin
his happiness with Diana…Clark had a suspicion about what was wrong with him:
he loved Diana, he desired her like a man dying of thirst desire water but
lately his insides twitched for things connected with Bruce.
There was only one explanation.
***** Chapter 58 *****
Superman hovered outside Wayne Tower, in front of the glistening window of
Bruce Wayne’s office. The glass was reinforced after the incident with Joker
and of course didn’t permit anyone to see inside even him. He smirked: lead
lined – how authentic! Stark and Bruce took every precaution against him…The
feeling of betrayal fuelled the anger that already burned inside him.
He was angry yet he was hesitant to surge inside and the fact that certainly
the glass was Superman proof was the least reason. He wasn’t a criminal.
His hesitance came to a stop by the soundless opening of the central panel
which dove inside the wall and revealed Bruce sat in his chair staring at him
determined. Despite the fact he was now a paraplegic he still wasn’t afraid of
heights.
“Do you want to come inside?” the younger man asked with an inviting gesture.
Superman smiled and floated inside, the panel rapidly returning to its place
isolating them from the outside world.
The Man of Steel landed on the light brown carpeted floor and looked at Bruce.
“You aren’t going to reprimand me for coming to Gotham and specifically to your
office?” he asked smirking because he knew that Bruce wanted him to come.
The human locked eyes with him.
“What do you want, Superman?”
“You don’t know?” Superman retorted and crossed his arms on the chest; when
Bruce didn’t answer he shook his head sniggering. “Oh! That’s good! You’re a
great actor after all! Feigning ignorance is too easy compared with your other
roles.”
Bruce pressed his lips.
“If you came to insult me get out!” his eyes flashed.
Superman felt irritated by the man’s nerve to try to fool him. Bruce was trying
to play with him again; and dared to kick him out once again.
In a flicker of a second he surged on him and grabbed his wrists wanting to
stop him before conjuring some of his weapons. He dragged him along and pinned
him to his desk, having toppled the wheelchair in his rush.
Bruce gritted his teeth but his wrists were pinned over his head with such
force that no human could overcome. However Superman was using only one hand to
keep Bruce’s wrists pinioned, his other arm wrapping Bruce’s waist in order to
protect him from injury.
The human’s breath was calm – Bruce had nerves of steel after all – but
Superman could feel the defiance, the trapped body vibrating from resistance.
Bruce’s mesmerizing eyes sparkled like the rarest gems: midnight blue sapphires
with emerald stars; locked with Superman’s in a stare contest that the Man of
Steel felt that Bruce was sure he would win. And that perfume was intoxicating
Superman casting his mind in fog and his body in trembling arousal.
“You don’t carry your dagger with you here, huh?” Superman sniggered and cocked
an eyebrow “It’d be inappropriate for a businessman, right?”
The perfume of rare cinnamon was like a magnet and Bruce’s rosy lips waiting
and frankly there was no reason for Superman to oppress his desire. He lowered
his lips to capture Bruce’s but the human averted his face leaving Superman
kissing the void.
“What do you want, Superman?” Bruce spat. “Let go off me.”
Superman chuckled. Bruce thought that he could still boss him around: after
all, the wicked human had secured his power over him. He felt enraged: Bruce
knew about strategy and he was sneaky enough to destroy two empires at once –
Falcone’s and Ra’s Al Ghul’s – so the naïve Superman wasn’t a difficult
opponent, right?
It took only a fragment of a second for him to torn with one movement Bruce’s
jacket and expensive shirt stripping his torso, enjoying the human’s shiver at
the violence of the deed. Superman admired the the younger man’s body that
despite its scars remained the most beautiful body he ever saw.
Bruce stabbed him with his eyes since Superman captured again his wrists
immobilizing him on the desk, his groin rubbing on Bruce’s dead one. Superman
knew that he couldn’t feel that but could see and hear the sound.
“Stop that” Bruce told him completely unfazed by the fact that the most
powerful being on the galaxy had him half naked at his mercy.
But Superman smirked.
“Why? Thor is jealous?”
Bruce clenched his jaw.
“Why are you here? What do you want?”
Superman felt enraged by the human’s insist on playing the innocent. He
tightened his grip on the man’s wrists failing to get a pain expression out of
the stubborn human whose stare became more defiant.
“Stop pretending that you don’t know! You planned it that way!” he ground his
teeth over Bruce’s face.
The human narrowed his eyes and shook his head.
“I don’t know what you are talking about.”
“Really?” Superman snorted. “You kicked me out of the Manor; you forbade me
from coming to Gotham knowing that in the end I would be forced to return
and…beg you.”
Bruce frowned.
“What’s wrong with you, Clark?”
The Man of Steel wrapped his powerful arms around Bruce’s back and lifted him
slightly off the desk; their faces came close, their breaths blended, their
eyes collided hard.
“Well?” Bruce asked unfazed but Superman felt that he was jeering him.
His breath became heavier and his eyes roamed the human’s naked torso.
“Your body is made to give pleasure to gods…” he mumbled and tightening his
hold choked Bruce’s attempt to shake him off.
“Let me go!” he growled and his eyes flashed like thunders; like the thunders
Thor used to attack him.
Thor whom now Bruce could have in his bed without any obstacle and at the same
time torment him; just to have fun with Superman’s torment, maybe sharing the
information with Thor and laugh together.
Bruce was looking at him as if he was reading him but there was no fear. And
that enraged more the Man of Steel.
In a blur he pinned the human face first on the wall, taking off of him the
remnants of his jacket and shirt and then pinioning his arms on the wall above
his head handcuffing with his grips Bruce’s wrists separately. Bruce couldn’t
resist him; actually Superman’s body was the only thing holding him upright. He
was breathing a bit harsh but otherwise he was calm though Superman was sure
that Bruce’s past experiences were ringing crazy alarms in his head.
“You don’t want to do this, Clark” he said calm but determined.
However Superman couldn’t stop now: he was enraged with the human and being so
close to his body erased any self control Superman had; he clenched Bruce’s
wrists with one hand and with the other unzipped Bruce’s pants pushing the
fabric down along with his black boxer. Bruce certainly heard the sound of
Superman’s fervent movements and then the fabric falling to his ankles. The Man
of Steel grabbed again Bruce’s wrists separately satisfied from the younger
man’s surprised intake of air.
“Don’t you dare tell me what I want!” Superman’s whisper in Bruce’s ear was
something between threat and moan; his body suffered from desire; he was
shaking. “Besides it is what YOU want; you denied my advances at Metropolis
because you wanted to break me and force me to beg.”
Bruce made to yank his head but Superman didn’t let him squeezing him to the
wall with his body and pressed his head to the human’s. The perfume and the
softness of his hair made Superman’s mind go crazy and his length harden –
Bruce would have panicked if he could sense that iron erection pressing his
buttocks but Superman knew that he could feel only the penetration.
“I really don’t understand, Clark: what are you talking about?”
Why he had to pretend? Why he had to be so sneaky?! Bruce did it on purpose to
gain him back from Diana and hurt her. He bit Bruce’s ear lobe and felt the man
twitch. If Bruce wanted him then he’d have him but he wouldn’t have the
pleasure to wreck Diana’s heart.
He pushed with his knee Bruce’s unfeeling legs apart; the trapped man hearing
the motion and understanding his intentions writhed but Superman pressed him
more against the wall and his clench on Bruce’s wrists became vicious so much
that he felt the fragile human blood vessels tearing.
“I don’t want to hurt you, Bruce…’’ he hissed to his ear; his throbbing
erection making his voice rough “though you keep hunting me trying to ruin my
life. Don’t try to resist” he cocked his eyebrows “though I know you like it
violent but I’m not that kind…I’ll give you what you want and then you’ll leave
me and Diana alone” he changed his clench to Bruce’s wrists holding them one
upon another with one hand because he needed one hand to get rid of his
annoying suit and his length rushed to find its target.
Bruce cast him a sideways glance since Superman’s head pressed to his didn’t
permit him any motion.
“I’m not trying to ruin your life…” but he didn’t manage to finish his phrase
because a sharp intake of air accompanied with a grunt left his lungs as
Superman thrust his entire length at once inside him.
Superman felt the fragile body tremble from the strength of the motion and the
sudden pain which was worse coming from an area that didn’t give any stimuli
for long. Bruce was biting his bottom lip to not scream and Superman used his
free hand to caress his lair, his mouth sucking the man’s cheek.
“This is what you wanted from me…” he breathed burning the soft human skin.
“Take it…”
Keeping his body glued to Bruce’s began moving inside-out of him progressively
increasing the speed and power of his thrusts, enjoying the human’s convulsions
on his body. Bruce insisted on muffling his moans and cries even as the alien’s
thrusts became much more than any human could endure – exactly the pace he used
to give extreme pleasure to Diana: if Bruce envied her, then Superman would
oblige and give him the same.
Bruce’s body was covered from the sheen of sweat and that made his cinnamon
perfume stronger, so intoxicating that Superman’s senses went foggy and on fire
making his need for satisfaction torturing and demanding; his heart beat
frantically. His rapid pants hit the back of Bruce’s neck before Superman
realized and bit hard the taut, delicious flesh causing a desperate jerk: a
feeble attempt to get away which Superman squashed increasing with an angry
roar the power of his thrusts and the clenching in Bruce’s wrists.
“You like this, don’t you?” he whispered licking silken flesh on Bruce’s back.
“Like the last time I fucked you…You wanted that again, huh? And you knew that
I’d be dragged back to give it…” he sucked Bruce’s neckline devouring Bruce’s
elevated heartbeat and his helpless trembling from the force and the pain he
was put through. “What’s the matter? Your golden haired god doesn’t fuck as
perfect as me?” he sneered and pushed even harder getting at last a grunt from
the stubborn human who might have had his eyes fixed on the wall but hadn’t
allowed himself a single moan till now.
“I didn’t do anything to you, Clark” he said gulping his screams and Superman
admired how steady this voice came despite the fact he was in dire pain –
Superman could read the brain waves of severe pain flooding Bruce’s skull.
“Liar!” he roared and pushed so hard that Bruce grunted and fisted his trapped
hands desperately.
Superman felt the human body tremble underneath him and Bruce trying to draw
away his hips which was stupid really, definitely a childish reaction remnant
of his years with Falcone. He continued moving in and out with his super speed
making the human moan and pant as if he was ready to pass out. Bruce’s hair was
soaked in sweat and Superman fisted them yanking his head to touch his; he
could feel the human’s exhaustion: it was almost an hour pinned to that wall
subject to Superman’s power.
He released abruptly his head but before it touched the wall, Superman captured
the half opened lips kissing so wildly that looked more like biting and chewing
the soft flesh. He could have prolonged that savage kiss forever establishing
more his superiority but he sensed Bruce’s air supplies finishing. He released
his lips yet he fisted viciously the soaked locks; his grip was mighty like the
rush that surged to his erection. He roared his orgasm in Bruce’s ear and his
fluids attacked the younger man’s insides with such force and hotness that the
wounds from the frantic friction hurt like Hell and made Bruce’s bare naked
body writhe helplessly.
Yet Superman didn’t yield; he kept the human pressed on his body, completely
immobile – not that the spent human could have resist. He mouthed the human’s
hot, drenched in sweat cheek, chewing as if trying to jail inside him that
perfume so that he’d never have to come back to get relief. Bruce was on the
verge of fainting but he wasn’t going to permit it.
“Now that you got what you wanted, Bruce, call Fox.”
“Superman!” a voice that wasn’t Bruce’s called.
 
Bruce had spoken with Lucius and now he waited for him in his office at Wayne
Tower working at his tablet while in the cave, his monster processor was
connected with Tony’s system that was tracking the items that had been stolen
from the Wayne Enterprises’ storage units.
His Cosmos’ screen was split in two: in the right half Bruce was perusing the
data from the analysis of the screw cork that Mr. Breizic had found in the gym
after John Grayson’s death.
In the left half, he was watching a video from one of Oliver Queen’s public
appearances before the shipwreck; it was the tenth he had seen: he wanted to
observe better the man in occasions that he wasn’t aware of Bruce’s eyes on
him. Of course, a life threatening experience like a shipwreck could change
someone yet Bruce focused on other aspects of him rather than his psychology.
For instance, Bruce had noticed that the Arrow was left handed while Oliver
Queen during their meeting for dinner manifested his preference for his right
hand. Bruce couldn’t cross out the possibility of the man doing that to confuse
him – actually, he was sure that Queen did it exactly for that. However there
was also the possibility that the man was amphidextrous, that is, he used
equally right and left hand.
That was the reason he wanted to watch videos from Queen in public, to know
more about the man, since Queen knew so much about him. Yet after his return
from the dead the man had made barely any appearance so Bruce had to rely on
the videos prior to the shipwreck. He wanted to observe everything: his facial
expressions, his voice, the way he moved around – his preferred hand. Which was
the right hand, fact that proved that Queen was playing with Bruce using his
left hand when being Arrow in order to shake off any suspicion.
Bruce frowned…Yes, that was quite clear but Queen’s friend had said that Queen
was lousy in archery so being so skilled now at his 35 with his left hand was
impossible.
He glanced at his right hand that never fully recovered from the bullets and
the lack of proper healing: after Ra’s’ masterful relocation of the bones and
years of training he had managed to restore the rough movements while the fine
movements were still problematic. Could something like that had happened to
Queen as well? He stared at the man on the screen. No, because if he had
injured his right hand so badly to be forced to develop his left hand’s skills
then he wouldn’t be able to handle the knife and fork as being right handed.
At the same time, his research about Vivian’s apartment showed what he
expected: it was bought by Oliver Queen some days after he made his return to
the world at his company’s annual meeting.
He huffed and stopped thinking for a second as his mind travelled elsewhere.
The temptation was great and he had to know. He brushed the screen to push the
video he was currently watching to have live footage from the evacuation
process in Texas.
A blast had occurred in a sea oil platform and now the large premises were on
fire ready to collapse trapping the people working there and causing major
pollution to the ocean due to the breach in the undersea pipeline.
 
“Superman! The evacuation is over: the people are safe in the coast!”
Superman blinked and registered the massive weight he was holding: the burning
platform that he kept from collapsing and trapping the people working there. A
figure dressed in flashy red skin tight uniform with a yellow thunder across
his chest looked at him puzzled.
“Okay, Flash; where’s Diana?” Superman said casually.
“Covering you, of course” he heard the melody of her voice from the other edge
of the platform.
She was holding the gargantuan platform’s other edge to ease Superman’s effort
and thwart any accident as Flash with his speed took the people to the safety
of the shore.
“Are you alright?” concern was evident in her voice but the frown over her brow
showed that she was suspecting something from his absent mindness during his
reverie.
Superman smiled.
“Of course! On the count of three, we let the platform fall to the water,
okay?”
Over their heads the news helicopter buzzed like a giant mosquito and Flash
waved them to go before he sped away too.
Superman and Diana released the enormous mass to the ocean flying away just a
second before the mass caused a huge wave.
The Man of Steel floating over the site watched the fire slowly being quenched
by the water and dove to the sea using debris to seal the breach from where oil
was purring to the sea.
Upon emerging from the water, the helicopter was again over them capturing the
proceedings. Diana flew fast to hug him searching his body to find any
potential injury.
He kissed her lips gently but in his mind twirled what he had seen during his
daydream. Subduing Bruce like that night…Tasting his body and flesh again…That
must stop right away: Diana was the only one for him and he loved only her.
What was happening, this obsession had one simple explanation and he knew where
to go to solve this.
 
Bruce rubbed his chin seeing the three heroes clearing the mess: Superman had
formed a small team around him. He was happy that Clark was still thinking of
humankind and gathered allies – apart from the Princess who was serving other
purposes mimicking Superman’s concern for the world. Nevertheless, the Man of
Steel’s effort showed that Vivian’s influence hadn’t corrupted him…And that
made him so proud of Clark.
However as Bruce looked at Superman’s face through the zoom of the news’
helicopter’s camera, he could see that the hero was deep in thought, absent
minded as if he was somewhere else and only his body was there.
Thankfully, Flash woke him up before some accident occurred and Superman took
the lead. His heart clenched in agony when Superman went underwater despite the
fact he knew that Superman could survive without oxygen; however the previous
expression on the hero’s face could be indication of Kryptonite’s presence or
of something connected with the influence cast on him. Bruce gulped: if
anything happened to Clark, he would never forgive himself for letting him go
and sink to Vivian’s toxicity.
Fortunately, the Man of Steel immerged safe and sound and Bruce felt his eyes
flashing from relief and joy but then Superman hugged Diana and Bruce knew that
he shouldn’t but a sense of depression clenched his insides.
He touched his lips; he still remembered how sweet Clark’s kisses were; how
velvety soft and careful and gradually strong and passionate and fervent his
lips became each time…Exactly as he had imagined them all these years before
meeting the clumsy reporter at the balcony during Falcone’s party…
His pelvis still experienced the shadow of the last night Superman spent in his
bedroom…When he had claimed him like a stranger; an enemy…So unlike every other
time. Bruce bit his bottom lip: only to remind him cruelly of the times Clark
had made love to him; so tender; so dreamy…
He ruffled his hair with both hands: that was over. Actually, it shouldn’t have
even started. He knew that it was a mistake…and now it hurt so much…No! He
ground his teeth and closed his eyes: his emotions had to be buried as he
always had done because there were more important things than his…stupid body,
a body that now reacted again with repulsion on the thought of being
again…touched.
Bruce pressed his hands on his face: nice! This would stop him from making the
same mistake again and let him focus on all the mysteries around him.
Dick had run to him stopping his tactic of avoiding him.
Bruce had still Hero on his lap caressing him a bit more before leaving for the
Tower. Alfred had opened the door for him. He intended to first go to the Tower
and then to the court: it was the first day of the hearing. It was too early in
the morning so the boy hadn’t come downstairs yet for his breakfast before
school – not that Bruce expected from Dick wanting to see him.
Bruce looked at the boy surprised; Dick’s expression was determined.
“I want to come to the court!” he snapped at him.
Bruce inhaled deeply feeling Alfred’s concerned eyes on him.
“That won’t be necessary, Richard” he answered calmly. “And you have your
school.”
Dick crossed his arms on the chest and snorted.
“You’re going to jail me as you did to keep me from training?”
Bruce shook his head.
“I didn’t jail you then and I’m not now: it was the mere consequence of your
deeds” he blinked. “Believe me, court rooms are not the best place for anyone.”
Dick sniggered and Alfred glared at him making the boy stop.
“Of course you’d say that! You don’t want me there because you know what I want
and you don’t want the judge to know.”
Bruce pressed his lips and shook his head.
“I just want the best for you, Dick.”
“Really now?” the boy spat. “Then how about quit my guardianship and let me
live with my uncle?’
Bruce closed his eyes and Hero sensing his distress licked his hand.
“Your grandmother didn’t want that, Richard. She didn’t think Zucco a good man.
I’m just doing what she wanted for you.”
“She was wrong about Tony and wrong about you!”
Bruce met the boy’s eyes.
“I must stay true to what I promised to her, Richard. She didn’t want Zucco to
have you so I won’t quit your guardianship to his favor. When your grandmother
returns” the boy shook his head in disbelief “you can discuss all these matters
with her but till then…”
“She won’t return and you know it!” Dick snarled and leaned towards Bruce
causing Alfred’s twitch as if he feared that the teen would attack his master..
Yet Bruce remained completely calm.
“You’re my evil demon!” the boy spat and Bruce felt a stab in his chest. “I
lost my family because of you and when my granny began speaking with you she
disappeared as well! What do you want from me?!Why are you chasing me?!”
“Master Richard, I must insist that you mind your language.”
But the boy didn’t even look at him absorbed in the staring contest with Bruce
who remained calm as ever.
“I’m sorry, Richard…I’d never wanted to cause any damage to anyone and I wish I
could reverse things somehow so that you wouldn’t have to suffer so much and
endure my presence. I only want you to become happy again.”
“That’s impossible!” Dick snarled. “And whatever tricks you might use stick it
right in your head that you’ll lose! And whatever you might do to stop me I
will testify in that court so that everyone learns the truth.”
Bruce looked at him.
“What truth?”
“That you are a lousy guardian that made my life a Hell and only Tony can give
me back some of my happiness.”
He turned his back and ran to the stairs and back to his room. Bruce pressed
his lips and inhaled making Hero perch to his chest and touch his pink nose to
Bruce’s chin. Alfred walked to him slowly and placed his hand on his shoulder.
Bruce raised his eyes to his butler’s always comforting face.
“Maybe you should tell him the truth about his so-called uncle?”
Bruce shook his head.
“No; at the moment it will only make things worse... When the proof it’s
gathered and everything comes to the fore he’ll understand” he licked his lips.
“Believe me, Alfred I don’t care if he hates me…as long as the boy finds a
piece of his lost peace.”
Alfred smiled.
“I wish he could overcome his pain and his stubbornness and see how much you
care about him, sir…and how many things you have done for him.”
Bruce looked him in the eyes and frowned.
“Never! Promise me, Alfred, that you won’t tell him anything.”
“Of course, sir” Alfred said solemnly yet Bruce could discern his disagreement.
“I would never even think of betraying your trust.”
Bruce let Hero down slowly and moved his chair to pass the open door.
 “I’ll come to the Tower later to drive you to the court house” Alfred said.
“Thank you, Alfred, but I’ll drive myself: you know how much I love to drive”
he smiled trying to make his butler forget what just happened.
“I do, sir” the Englishman mirrored his smile. “Well, since I won’t see you
again till then, allow me to wish you good luck, Master Bruce.”
Knocks on the door brought him back to his office.
“Come in.”
Lucius’ beaming face was sunshine to Gotham’s cloudy morning.
“Good morning, Mr. Wayne! How are you today?”
“Fine, thanks, Lucius, and you? Please have a seat.”
Lucius sat at the armchair in front of Bruce’s office and intertwined his
fingers on his crossed leg.
“Lucius, have you found some time to look at Queen’s proposals for
cooperation?’’
Lucius smiled.
“Of course, Mr. Wayne.”
“And?”
Lucius grinned and Bruce saw in his eyes the smart shine of understanding.
“I think that collaboration with Queen Industries would be highly creative and
profitable for both corporations. Especially, in the field of transportation
and trading I believe that Wayne Enterprises will make a nice profit by
shipping Queen Industries’ products. Not to mention that we’ll secure another
important alliance in the field: Mr. Queen expressed his fervent interest in
our medical projects and he is willing to invest a large amount of funds. I’ve
already added our counterproposals for your consideration.”
Bruce nodded.
“So we can speed up the sign of the deals?” Lucius cocked his eyebrows smiling.
“I see…” he mumbled with deeper knowledge “I bet there are other reasons as
well behind your interest and hastiness?”
Bruce lolled his head on the side and regarded his loyal scientist amused.
“You know me so well, Lucius…”
Lucius waved his hand.
“You flatter me, Mr. Wayne. Well? The fact that Mr. Queen has a connection with
Princess Diana is relevant, right?”
Bruce shook his head.
“Absolutely. I want to observe this man, Lucius, because he might hold the key
to finding out the truth about her.”
Lucius sobered.
“And free Superman from her potentially dangerous… hm…proximity? Given that
something is off.”
Bruce pressed his lips and nodded.
“If what I suspect is true then not only Superman could be faced with a grave
danger but also the entire planet.”
Lucius frowned and gave up his relaxed stance to lean forward.
“You believe that her presence might be connected with something larger that
affects the world? That the image of the heroin she presents is a façade and
she is in fact a villain?”
Bruce looked elsewhere for a second and then back to Lucius.
“For the time being I have only the connections I traced and…my instinct”
Lucius nodded “so I want to get proof in case I’m wrong.”
Lucius pursed his lips and narrowed his eyes.
“Do you think there might be some underlying connection between her and the
artifacts we so meticulously made them steal?”
Bruce tapped his fingers on the desk. That was still a thought in the
background: he couldn’t accept nor deny the possibility of being
true…Everything was possible till he found more evidence.
“That remains to be seen, Lucius…You handled the whole think brilliantly.”
The scientist cocked his eyebrows.
“I just followed your instructions: leaking again some inside information about
a huge robbery in Wayne Enterprises’ storage units; denouncing them and in the
meantime, conducting a shadow of an investigation to persuade our thieves that
they achieved a major blow against us…Genius playing, Mr. Wayne.”
“Thank you, Lucius; but the end will show…For the time being, the surveillance
system didn’t give us anything useful about the culprits” Bruce blushed and the
older man smiled.
 “Mr. Stark’s tracing system works perfectly so they didn’t suspect anything
nor were able to find it; we are watching them constantly. In the meantime,
I’ll contact the legal department about the deal with Queen Industries and then
discuss the terms with Mr. Queen but I’m sure he’ll ask for your presence in
the proceedings, given” he cleared his throat “his great interest in you.”
Bruce crooked his mouth.
“Whatever it takes, Lucius. Ehm… Lucius, the research on the Immortality Water:
how is it going?
“We have made huge steps, sir, for developing medicine” Lucius locked eyes with
his young employer. “Excuse me for my indiscretion…”
“Please speak freely.”
Lucius blinked and pursed his lips.
“You’re thinking to use the Water to heal your wounds and walk again faster
than with the orthodox method?” he leaned forward and his eyes shone with
concern.
Bruce inhaled deeply and intertwined his fingers on the desk.
“I won’t refuse that the temptation is too great, Lucius…especially, now that
imminent threat might be near and I must…’’ he met Lucius’ eyes that were
concerned and gulped. “But I won’t make use of that rare gift: using the pure,
mighty form of the Water has terrible impact in people’s morality and sanity –
Ra’s Al Ghul was using it all the time and in the end he became worse than the
criminals he wanted to stop.”
Lucius was lost in his thoughts for a few seconds: he didn’t know a lot about
Al Ghul but from what he had heard and more from what he understood he wasn’t
sure that the Water corrupted the man: more it increased the man’s exist
immorality. Yet he definitely wouldn’t have like his young employ using that
powerful elixir that the side effects of its miraculous strength weren’t known
so he was relieved and proud for Mr. Wayne’s maturity to not exploit what it
was in his disposition. Now he could relax again in his seat.
“I won’t become like him…” Bruce remarked looking him in the eyes as if having
guessed his thoughts.
The scientist breathed a bit easier, smiled and crossed his legs casually:
Thomas Wayne would have been proud of his little ghost.
“Not many people would have the golden morals to not exploit such a great power
for their self and instead use it for curing other people’s suffering” the
scientist said solemn.
Bruce pressed his lips and rubbed his temple.
“Maybe I don’t want such power but I have to thwart others from getting it and
I’m lucky to have people like you helping me” he shook his head. “You and Tony
gave me the armor that gives me enough independency to settle some things” he
preferred to change the subject.
“Mr. Wayne, I trust that you won’t attempt something that exceeds the limits of
the armor…and yours” he raised his eyebrows for emphasis.
“I’ll try not to, Lucius. That I can promise you.”
“The project for your operation is almost perfected. Mr. Stark and I believe
that it won’t take long before we are ready for our most important and
ambitious project.”
Bruce nodded, clenching his jaw.
“About that…” he said thoughtful and Lucius frowned.
“You’re getting second thoughts?”
Bruce met Lucius’ gaze.
“Of course not. Yet the whole surgery thing drives Tony extremely stressed and
I worry about him…”
Lucius licked his lips.
“He knows how difficult this procedure will be and his love for you makes him
wanting to test and re-test everything, every tiny detail to make sure that
everything will be perfect” he saw that the young man was concerned. “Do you
want to undergo this surgery?” he asked carefully; he didn’t want to question
this man’s bravery, it’d be ridiculous; yet maybe Bruce was seeing things
differently.
The younger man ran his hands through his hair.
“It is my dream, Lucius. Walking again and for that I’d do everything however
dangerous.”
Lucius knew that already; he had told so to Tony.
“I can’t wait for that surgery…” he continued “however I don’t know if I have
the luxury to dedicate so much time to that, given the circumstances.”
Lucius narrowed his eyes.
“Don’t think that way, Mr. Wayne. Your recovery must be your first priority and
when you walk again you’d be able to settle all the matters.”
Bruce smiled.
“You are right, Lucius, but from a brief discussion I had with Leslie I will
have to stay in a hospital for at least one month after the surgery. And I
don’t know if I can afford that…for now. I will definitely do the surgery –
nothing will change that – but the time concerns me and the urgent things that
demand my attention…”
Lucius understood.
“Like the hearing about your ward’s guardianship that begins today.”
Bruce nodded and shook his hand.
“Exactly” he looked at his wristwatch. “As a matter of fact, it’s about time I
left for the court” he said pressing the option in his Cosmos turning it into a
smartphone which he slipped into his jacket’s inner pocket.
Lucius smiled and stood.
“Our Cosmos made quite the impression in StarExpo” Bruce nodded “and Wayne
Enterprises’ shares show a nice rising. So to take advantage of that momentum,
I’ll prepare everything for our deal with Mr. Queen.”
Bruce wheeled his chair outside his desk.
“Thank you, Lucius.”
“You welcome, Mr. Wayne” they moved along to the office door and Lucius opened.
“Good luck with the hearing.”
“Thank you, Lucius” Bruce had the feeling that he’d need as much luck as
possible for this case.
 
Superman was flying over the endless, white, sparkling landscape of the North
Pole. It seemed to him like ages from the last time he came here to bring the
wheelchair Bruce sent him back; and even longer since the night he had carried
Bruce; dead; to his Fortress. All the times he had returned here during his
relationship with the human he wasn’t noticing the things that stood out today.
He wanted to close his senses to all these but it was impossible. Impossible to
not discern the deep marks on the icebergs he had caused with his scream of
despair when Bruce left his last breath in his arms whispering that he was
happy because now Superman wouldn’t be in danger from the Kryptonites of his
eyes.
That memory bit hard on his heart even now… When Bruce’s condition had
stabilized that night Superman returned there and froze with his breath the
icebergs to their previous form stopping their melting; if Bruce had died he
wouldn’t have cared if the entire world had flooded…But despite his repairing
work the marks were still there for him to see and remember.
He pressed his eyes shut, clenched his fist and rushed to the glowing crystal
pyramid of the Fortress of Solitude. The roof of the cone opened like the
petals of a blossom at his approach and he immediately floated to the hall of
the holograms where Jor El always waited for him.
The silver haired image of his late Kryptonian father regarded him solemnly.
“Kal El, to what do I owe the honor of your returning?”
Superman yanked his head: he wanted to discern irony in his voice yet there was
none; only a slight melancholy.
“I need the antidote” Superman crossed his arms.
Jor El frowned.
“Antidote to what? Are you experiencing any symptoms, Kal El?”
Superman huffed.
“Just make the antidote” and seeing the hologram’s puzzlement. “The antidote to
Bruce’s body effect on me.”
Jor El widened his eyes slightly on realization.
“What do you experience?”
Superman blinked and shook his head.
“What I experience is my business. I know what’s happening to me: the
inoculation Bruce gave me was of limited duration: he did that to have me under
control so that when the inoculation wore off I’d return to him. Well, the
inoculation is wearing off and…I re-experience the same symptoms.”
Jor El didn’t seem persuaded.
“Are your powers lessened? Are your senses disturbed? You feel the need to be
around Bruce?”
Superman was shaking nervously his head in denial in every question. In the end
he pinched the bridge of his nose.
“No! But I know it’s happening and I want you to create again the antidote and
the inoculation.”
“You really believe that Bruce had given you deliberately an inoculation that
would wear off and sink you to agony?”
Superman clenched his waist with both hands and lolled his head on the side
thoughtful. Bruce deliberately had set the bases of rendering him again under
the same effect that the human made everything in his power to stop? It seemed
unlikely yet Bruce had attacked him with a dagger that could kill him: they had
become enemies; he couldn’t trust him anymore. He yanked his head.
“There’s no other explanation: my mind constantly replays incidents from our
life together; my senses seek stimuli from his body” he admitted. “It is like
what I have with Diana only with her is real whereas that is the product of the
effect Ra’s Al Ghul created using Bruce’s body: it is confirmed that this
effect was true.”
Jor El cocked an eyebrow regarding his son skeptical.
“If you remember when you first experienced those symptoms with her you
believed that you were ill.”
Superman felt irritation rising.
“But I wasn’t!”
“We never had the chance to find out. I told you that I would need to examine
you more but you never accepted to be examined again.”
Superman looked at the hologram challenging.
“And I was right! If I was ill one time would have sufficed to find out. But
now we have the prior experience and we know that it is indeed the effect of
the essence that is inside Bruce’s body. I need the inoculation.”
Jor El was expressionless.
“Why didn’t you ask it from him? I don’t believe he would have denied giving
you the inoculation.”
Superman rolled his eyes and snorted.
“Yeah, sure. He gave me that inoculation knowing that eventually would wear off
and tie me with him; when I realized that Diana was my true love and left him,
he kicked me out because he knew that sooner or later the return of the effect
would bring me back to him.”
Jor El pouted and cocked his eyebrows.
“So Bruce is that evil, huh?”
Superman huffed.
“No…no…it’s not exactly malice…I mean he is sneaky but also he must believe
that he saves me from…something. Bruce is selfish and will use any means to
achieve what he believes is right.”
Jor El’s look was still questioning and Superman shook his head.
“And I won’t give him the satisfaction of crawling to his feet; besides being
close to him will only make the effect stronger, remember? Also, I don’t have
any business with him: he attacked me.”
He rolled his sleeve and showed to his father the scar from the Knife of
Justice on his upper arm. Jor El seemed impressed.
“So there is an earth weapon that can hurt you, after all.”
Superman growled frustrated.
“Bruce is relentless when he wants something as you can see.”
“Or he just defended himself after what you did to him that night…”
Superman lolled his head on the side and ran his hand in his hair: despite the
fact he didn’t believe that he had done anything wrong that night, still he
didn’t want to remember.
“I explained to you that Bruce liked it…Maybe he enjoyed that night more than
all the other times with me…”
“Really?”
Superman yanked his head upwards.
“Would you make that inoculation or I must give the orders myself?!” Kal El
could re-create the inoculation from the data the Fortress had stored analyzing
his blood after Bruce injected him yet he preferred his father’s expertise.
Jor El nodded solemnly.
“I will make it myself but I had to examine you first, Kal El.”
The Man of Steel frowned.
“Why?”
“It is simple. Months have passed since you took that inoculation so I need to
estimate your body’s condition and readjust the synthesis to your current needs
exactly as the human scientist…”
“Lucius Fox.”
Jor El nodded.
“Did.”
Superman huffed and pursed his lips thoughtful causing Jor El’s frown.
“You don’t trust your own father? You know that I and the Fortress are here to
serve you.”
“Right.”
He won his last hesitance and stepped in the central crystal column, the
examination cylindrical column that with a hissing opened at his approach; he
locked his eyes with Jor El.
Superman was suspicious and expected to feel something odd that would attempt
to change him. But nothing happened apart from the custom procedure he
underwent every now and then when Jor El wanted to be sure about his son’s
condition and study how the earth environment affected the Kryptonian nature.
So when he stepped out he was feeling the same passionate love about Diana –
his major fear was that Jor El would do something to alter that – a strong
guilt flooded his insides about doubting Jor El’s loyalty.
“Well?” he asked his father’s hologram. “You see that I was right? Bruce did
try to trap me with Ra’s Al Ghul’s effect.”
Jor El stared at him.
“I agree: it is Bruce’s fault” Superman smiled but anger boiled inside him for
the sneaky human. “There’s no sign of that effect, Kal El: your organism is
clean from any trace of the effect we encountered months ago.”
He frowned.
“You said that it is Bruce’s fault.”
“A figure of speech. It is inevitable to remember and seek him, Kal El: he is
your true love.”
Superman’s eyes began to redden but Jor El gazed unfazed his irritation till
his son calmed down.
“Give me the inoculation!”
Jor El looked down at him with his wisdom’s authority.
“Certainly” a crystal syringe-like object popped out of the examination column
and Superman grabbed it and stabbed the sharp point to his thigh. “But do not
expect to stop experiencing these symptoms…”
The Man of Steel turned his back, his red cape ripping the air and the
Fortress’ spike opened for his departure. Jor El watched his son disappearing
as the spike of the crystal pyramid closed back.
He had gotten his answers at last.
 
Two green acid eyes watched the entrance of Gotham’s court house; in front of
the building the same fussy lot of reporters had been gathered closing the
street and creating sound pollution. He wanted to laugh hysterically but he was
in a cafeteria, in a corner booth and for once he didn’t want to draw
attention. He was eager to see his batsy-Brucie…and that scarf he had wrapped
around his face was itching him!
He chuckled seeing his own reflection on the glass of the window: he looked
like an old lady.
After his failed attack, his wife had fled to Malibu.
“Hehe!”
Ooops, here we go! He couldn’t stop himself; thankfully, the place was empty
and the owner had gone to the bathroom probably while the young waitress had
found the chance to go to her boyfriend outside.
 Oh, that Brucie! He was playing everyone in his fingers! Well, he knew someone
else that wanted to be played in these beautiful, lean fingers…Jockey twitched
from anticipation.
“Shsssss! Baaaaad boyyyy!”
He had come there because he missed his darling. TV – that fabulous and damned
gadget – had offered him a glimpse of Brucie at Malibu – well, not exactly a
glimpse… since the paparazzi there were quite persistent. The youth had gone to
the StarkExpo and Joker’s jaw once again went slack: Brucie was dressed in an
impeccable black suit and a white silk shirt with a black stripped tie. Yummy!
Black was really Brucie’s favorite color – not that Joker had a doubt…
But now he waited in that corner cafeteria opposite the court to have a live
image.
He huffed.
“I aaaaam jealouuuus…” he mumbled.
“What?’’ the waitress was passing by and turned to him. “May I help you?”
“No, dear. I’m just speaking to myself” he said in a carefree voice.
The girl laughed.
“Please continue…” she said and walked away.
Joker rolled his eyes.
“I coooome to Gotham an’ suddenly eeeeeveryone sprouts a sense of humor…”
Well, he was jealous…Brucie cared so much for this brat that he was willing to
put himself to the testing process of a court hearing. And a few months ago he
almost died to save the same brat. That was…mmm…disgusting!
Suddenly, the bunch of reporters surged forwards ascending the stairs to enter
the gothic building but police officers held them back. Joker hadn’t seen a
glimpse of Brucie and that meant that the babe had entered from the back
entrance of the building to avoid the annoying lot. Joker snorted: he should
have known and now he had lost his chance…
“Shit!”
But all his envy for the brat for the care and attention he had from Brucie
could work in his favor. Hm…
He pulled away the scarf from his face and hopped to the exit turning his head
to the young waitress who was petrified upon seeing his best Cheshire smile.
“Thaaaaank you, my dear” he said kindly throwing to her a generous tip and
getting out to vanish in the nearby alley.
 
Mr. Collins was waiting in the second’s floor corridor where the hall of the
hearing was situated. As soon as the lift’s door opened and Bruce steered his
wheelchair out the veteran lawyer walked there holding his leather briefcase.
“Good morning, Mr. Colins. How are you?”
“Fine, Mr. Wayne, thank you. Are you ready?”
Bruce smiled.
“Of course” he replied though he understood that the experienced lawyer knew
his agony.
Collins made an inviting gesture towards the small hall’s door. Bruce knew the
room because he had studied every detail beforehand wanting to ready himself as
best as possible: his experience from Falcone’s trial still distressed him.
Yet despite his preparation still seeing it now made him nervous as if he was
going to write school exams, which was ridiculous given his life experiences.
“Everything is going to be fine, Mr. Wayne” Collins said reassuringly walking
by his side sensing the young man’s nervousness. “Also, whatever they might say
you shouldn’t get affected: erase it immediately from your mind: they’ll try to
unsettle you.”
Bruce grinned and nodded.
As they were ready to enter the hall that thankfully wouldn’t have any
audience, a man of average height and weight met them. He was brown haired and
around thirty; a bright smile appeared on his face seeing them and his gray
eyes sparkled.
“Mr. Wayne, I’m so happy to see you.”
“May I know the reason?” he asked smiling and the fine dressed man blushed
uncomfortable.
He offered his hand for a handshake.
“You are right; I didn’t even introduce myself. Griffon Magnie” Bruce shook his
hand taking in Mr. Collins’ grin. “I’m Mr. Zucco’s attorney.”
Bruce knew the name but he hadn’t found a picture so his surprise wasn’t
entirely pretended.
“Nice to meet you. Mmm…Griffon?” he asked because it was a strange name.
Magnie smiled.
“Mom was French. I understand that meeting me isn’t so nice to you… I’m the
enemy” he grinned. “But we’re all here for the boy’s best interest” Bruce
nodded. “So I just wanted you to know that whatever happens during the hearing
isn’t personal. Actually, my respect for you is great and I wouldn’t want you
to form a wrong impression for me based on whatever happens in this court
room.”
Bruce lolled his head on the side.
“I guess that will depend on the nature of that ‘whatever’…”
Mr. Collins grinned approvingly and they moved inside. Bruce couldn’t shake off
of him the feeling of being the accused… Zucco was already seated at the chair
next to his attorney; he looked at Bruce gleefully but the youth didn’t pay any
attention to him.
Judge Moot was going to handle the case and Bruce’s research had ensured him
that at least the man was an honest servant of the law. Not that this made his
uneasiness less…
“We are here to discuss the petition of Mr. Zucco against Mr. Wayne’s
guardianship of Richard Grayson” the judge said in a strict, authoritative
voice.
“Your honor I would like to ask the presence of Richard Grayson as the boy is
old enough to have an opinion about his guardianship” Magnie said.
“Objection, your honor. At the present, there is nothing to demand Richard
Grayson’s presence in this court room. We all know that court hearings may have
a negative impact to children.”
Judge looked them over his round glasses.
“Sustained” he said. “If during the process I consider it useful I shall call
the boy to testify but till then I think it is for Richard’s best interest to
not be involved to the proceedings.”
Bruce breathed easier and felt the judge’s eyes on him. Zucco was also glaring
at him and Magnie cleared his throat to make him stop staring at Bruce and look
at him instead.
Judge Moot took in his hand the paperwork with which Ms. Turner gave her
grandson’s custody to Bruce Wayne.
“Ms. Turner, the boy’s grandmother and closest alive relative gave Richard
Grayson’s guardianship to Mr. Wayne in case anything happened to her” he said.
Magnie stood.
“We believe, Your Honor, that Ms. Turner did that influenced by her sympathy
for the man. However, my client made that petition because he worries about the
suitability of Mr. Wayne for the role of the foster father. You see, Your
Honor, there is extensive bibliography that proves that the victims of abuse
are very keen to manifest abusive behavior to their children or wards.”
Bruce twitched hearing that but Collins touched his upper arm calming him.
“Mr. Wayne has suffered abuse that surpasses anything charted in the history of
US justice so there are much more chances he turns abusive towards a child
under his care.”
Mr. Collins stood when Magnie finished.
“The bibliography, Mr. Magnie, mentions doesn’t prove anything” he came out of
the desk and gave to the judge a thick packet of documents. “There are indeed
some cases where abusive behavior is manifested from parents who had suffered
abuse in their childhood yet there are even more cases where victims of severe
abuse became perfect parents” he smiled confidently. “Following Mr. Magnie’s
reasoning would have to forbid every person who suffered abuse from becoming
parent thus punishing those people and stigmatizing them more. Therefore that
argument is both non-solid, non-scientifically based and an insult to everyone
who had the misfortune to be subject to abuse.”
Suddenly Bruce felt a slight vibration to his Cosmos that was in silent mode.
He looked on his lap where he had his wristwatch hand. He pressed a small
button and the wristwatch showed the message his Cosmos had received: it
wouldn’t be proper to bring out his Smartphone during the process. He read:
“There is indeed an effect on our common friend”
 The message had reached his Cosmos through the cave computer and there where
an indication showing the latitude and longitude from where the message was
sent. The North Pole. And it wasn't from Santa Claus...
***** Chapter 59 *****
“The data from scientific research on abuse victims may be ambiguous yet there
is no objection to the fact that Mr. Wayne – unfortunately – remains the target
of many manifestations of violence, the latest occurring just a few days ago”
Magnie continued unfazed. “These constant threats not only can affect a
teenager’s emotional stability but also his very safety.”
Judge Moot was staring calm and without any trace of what he was thinking. Mr.
Colins stood up.
“Mr. Wayne has taken every possible security measure to ensure that Richard
won’t be in any danger. Following your reasoning, Mr. Magnie, no celebrity or
politician should have a child due to the threats they face. Also, their
children are equally normal emotionally and mentally with every other child
whose parents aren’t facing attacks or threats.”
Zucco stood up.
“He doesn’t care about Dick’s safety” Magnie tried to calm him down but Zucco
didn’t relent “he uses his gorillas to keep the boy away from me!”
Judge Moot yanked calmly his head and looked sternly at both Zucco and his
attorney while Collins smiled to Bruce who didn’t follow Zucco in yelling.
Bruce knew better than biting such baits.
“Mr. Magnie, I suggest you advice your client not react like this because I
will refer him for contempt of the court.”
Zucco sat and Magnie looked at the judge.
“It won’t happen again, Your Honor; my client was carried away from his concern
for his nephew.”
“Whom, according to Ms. Turner, he did never visit once since his birth” Mr.
Collins pointed calmly.
The judge looked at Zucco whose face became red.
“There were reasons” he retorted.
Mr. Collins grinned and nodded.
“Of that I’m certain, Mr. Zucco; as I’m sure that there are reasons for your
sudden interest about your…nephew.”
“Objection, Your Honor!” Magnie jolted upright. “These are unfounded
insinuations.”
“No, Mr. Magnie. These are facts” Mr. Collins replied with conviction “based on
the frequency or better the absence of Mr. Zucco from his nephew’s life until
very recently.”
Bruce would have liked to present everything he had found about Zucco and his
shady activities yet he knew that it was not the time yet. Speaking now, it
would only serve into making him look like trying to slander the man and thus
proving that he is unsuitable for Dick’s guardianship. Despite the fact he‘d
like to end as soon as possible with this man first and foremost to save the
boy from him once and for all and second to be able to focus on what the
message had just revealed, Bruce knew that he needed to be patient once again.
“Councilors, I would like both of you to stay on the subject. Mr. Wayne, is it
true that you thwart Richard from seeing his uncle?”
Bruce looked at him in perfect tranquility.
“Not at all. I don’t see why Mr. Zucco feels that way, especially since he
often meets with Richard. During the Christmas’ Gymnastics Gala nobody stopped
Mr. Zucco to watch Richard’s performance from up close or posed any obstacle
when he congratulated Richard.”
Zucco nodded nervously.
“Yeah, sure…Because people were all around and you didn’t want them to know.”
Magnie glared at his client. Bruce didn’t follow the man’s lead into personal
quarrels which the youth could tell that the Judge appreciated by the slightest
of sparkle into his rather poised eyes.
 
Luthor stood before the huge column of light where the strange items he was so
familiar with hovered. He had his hands clenching his waist and a grin was
spread on his face as he was full aware of Mannheim’s narrowed eyes on him.
This time the gangster had brought with him his right hand: that ugly woman
with the bushy bleached out blond hair. She wore skin tight blue trousers that
displayed her plumb legs and buttocks; an equally tight blue leather jacket
completed her attire reaching the beginning of her hips. Luthor cocked an
eyebrow at the bad taste of this woman yet she looked at him with more smugness
than her boss and the tycoon felt chills even if he wanted to suppress that.
He met Mercy’s suspicious eyes which were estimating the situation for possible
threats to her boss.
“My dear lady, how lovely to see you again!” the tycoon addressed Granny
Goodness on purpose omitting her surname though he knew it; she showed him her
teeth and Luthor turned to Mannheim “I see you’re quite efficient” Lex said
grinning broadly to his partner.
Mannheim walked closer.
“You had any doubts?” he growled and Luthor lost every trace of humor.
“Of course not.”
Mannheim gave a poor mimic of a grin.
“Nice.”
Luthor shook his head trying to shake off that foggy sensation from his head.
“It must be a heavy blow for Wayne’s ego” he said trying to entertain his own
insecurity. “Losing the items he so avidly was using to piss us: I’d have given
my half fortune to see his face when he found out about the theft…”
Mannheim cocked both his eyebrows.
“No theft: re-acquiring what it is mine.”
Luthor smiled.
“You’re right! He chose the wrong man to challenge, huh?” he said and patted
Mannheim’s back only to get a glare from the gangster that made his blood ran
cold and his hand stay in midair over Mannheim’s back.
Mannheim stretched his imposing figure and Luthor thought that the man towered
him even more than ever. It felt as if clouds had gathered all over the
premises casting the place in darkness.
“Now it is your turn to show that you are useful and not a waste of space as
your lot” Mannheim’s voice sounded like thunders in Luthor’s head and even
Mercy was shaken though the woman was always dead calm however difficult the
situation. “Finish the job you were hired for!” the gangster clenched his fist
in the air. “I had had enough with your inadequacy.”
Goodness sniggered satisfied but Luthor nodded slavishly without feeling any
twinge of anger.
“I will but I’m getting daily nuisances from government agents insinuating that
I was the mastermind behind the attack on Wayne.”
Mannheim cocked an eyebrow and crooked his mouth.
“You did?” Luthor shook his head in denial “If they had any proof you’d have
been already in jail again. So focus on your job.”
Mannheim turned to live, his lieutenant following, when Luthor cleared his
throat.
“Did you check the items for any tracking devices?”
The gangster stopped on his heels and just tilted his head to Luthor smirking.
“You too are afraid of this man’s cunning…” he remarked jeering.
“I have bad experience…”
Mannheim laughed.
“Though I don’t share your fears, the items are clear – so just do your job.
Fast!”
Both he and Goodness began again walking towards the exit and the woman’s
snigger echoed through the vast premises making Luthor and Mercy shiver.
 
“There are traces of a foreign influence on Kal El” Jor El’s deep, solemn voice
told Bruce from the screen of the processor in the cave.
As soon as the hearing ended for today Bruce returned to the Manor and
descended to the cave despite Alfred’s efforts to persuade him to eat something
first; Jor El was already waiting on the screen. Bruce knew that the
Kryptoniian could gain access to his processor since he had come to the cave
many times with the wheelchair Superman created for him: the wheelchair
gathered information about the environment and his computer. However he didn’t
take measures to thwart to block Jor El’s access because he wanted to be
informed in case something happened to Clark.
From the moment he watched the evacuation operation in Texas Bruce was almost
expecting – no, hoping – that he’d take a notice. He was hoping because if he
was right and something was off with Superman, then Jor El was the only safe
option for the hero to run to for help.
Bruce rubbed his chin with his hand.
“Organic symptoms? Body malfunction? Weakening? Illness?” he asked but Jor El
shook his head in refusal. “His brain is affected?”
“No. There is nothing life threatening.’’
The relief in Bruce’s eyes was evident to the Kryptonian yet Bruce realized and
instantly made his gaze neutral.
“Then how you came to that conclusion?”
“It is more abstract; something in his aura as you humans name it.”
Bruce pursed his lips.
“Magic?’’
Jor El gave a slight wave with his hand.
“It is more complicated than that and I’m afraid that at the moment I’m not
able to isolate the factors that constitute it. There was an odd perfume around
him – a strong perfume that was affecting everything but I am certain that
there was more.’’
Bruce looked at him lopsided, mentally noting the perfume factor.
“What kind of perfume?”
“Of flowers of every kind – not artificial.”
The human nodded remembering Vivian’s room in his nightmare and Tony’s
description of the Amazon’s apartment: the abundance of pots with flowers and
plants. Yet something else troubled him right now.
“If he didn’t have any bodily symptom and the effect is located in his aura” he
waved his hand “influencing abstractly his behavior, then how did you persuade
him to get examined?”
“He thought that he might be ill.”
Bruce nodded.
“Yes; I saw him during the evacuation mission in Texas; he seemed a bit
troubled but I’m glad he is fine and” he nodded “his love for humankind is
stronger than this effect.”
Bruce’s voice was steady and indifferent just stating the facts yet Jor El
immediately felt that the young man had accepted that Superman’s love for him
wasn’t strong enough since the effect had defeated it.
“It is not the only love that it is stronger than this effect.”
Bruce nodded.
“Thankfully, he never stopped loving his human mother.”
“His love for you is also strong, Bruce” the young man shook his head cocking
his eyebrows. “He came to the Fortress because he indeed experiences some
symptoms: he thinks about you; his nostalgia urges him back to you. So he
thought that the inoculation you gave him to stop Ra’s Al Ghul’s effect wore
off resulting in the old effect resurfacing.’’
Bruce pinched the bridge of his nose.
“He considers me so devious that I’d have given him imperfect inoculation?” he
shook his head. “What I’m saying? Of course he does.”
Jor El looked at him with sympathy which was something new for the hologram.
“You know that these ill thoughts about you are the result of that strange
influence. The fact remains that his resisting love for you made him believe
that he is ill giving me the chance to find an excuse to examine him.”
Bruce nodded though he wasn’t convinced about the love part. However he didn’t
want to discuss it.
“Yes, what matters is that you confirmed our suspicions” he raised his eyes to
Jor El’s. “Can you make an antidote?”
Jor El closed his eyes and then looked at him.
“I’m afraid that I can’t: there is nothing organic to base the antidote.”
Bruce bit his bottom lip.
“What about the perfume? Can’t you make an antidote analyzing the synthesis of
it?”
Jor El shook his head.
“It is not a common perfume: it cannot be analyzed.”
Bruce pursed his lips.
“And? Was he persuaded that his symptoms weren’t due to the inoculation wearing
off?”
“I am afraid that he didn’t… so I gave him the inoculation again.”
“Good” Bruce said determined ignoring the growing disappointment for Clark’s
persistence to believe the worst for him; besides it was expected…“I wouldn’t
want him stop trusting you. Jor El, I wonder…As you tested his body did you
find any information on Diana? You said that this perfume can’t be analyzed but
maybe something else?”
Jor El grinned.
“Whether she is indeed divine?”
Bruce looked at him.
“That too.”
“You know already that she isn’t the semi-goddess my son believes.”
The human nodded.
“I have met her before many years. She was one of the whores in Falcone’s
cabaret; she had a slightly different appearance then but she definitely was
the same person. A person of trust confirmed that this woman existed and she
wasn’t one of my nightmares’ illusions. However I couldn’t find her in the
files of Gotham’s police or the public archives.”
“A mystery then.”
Bruce tapped some buttons on his keyboard and in the smaller screen on the
right of the one with Jor El, the Amazon’s sword and her golden lasso appeared
accompanied by a thick raw of data in the right part of the screen. He showed
there with his index finger.
“Batman encountered her once and the Tumbler analyzed the weapons she
carried…Her weapons aren’t of human creation” he raised his eyebrows “and the
material doesn’t match anything known: maybe you can recognize the materials’
origin?”
“You mean if her weapons are coming from another planet” Bruce nodded but Jor
El after a thorough examination of the data shook his head in refusal. “I am
afraid the material doesn’t match anything in my knowledge. That however
doesn’t change the possibility of someone providing them to her.”
“That actually fits my theory of her acting as part of a broader scheme” Jor El
knitted his thick silver eyebrows. “And she is also able to fly, has incredible
strength, fighting skills of an Amazon…” he shook his head.
 “I’m sure you’ll find the answers, Bruce. I trust your intelligence, my
friend. Your intellect is brilliant…for a human” Bruce chuckled. “I have missed
our chess games.”
“Me too, Jor El” well, not only the chess games… his mind travelled back to the
happy times in the Fortress before he stopped it.
Jor El’s expression was filled with understanding.
“Bruce, he still loves you.”
The young man shook his head.
“Jor El, you know better than anyone that I’m not the proper one for Kal El. So
it is for his best interest that he doesn’t love me.”
Jor El’s face became grim.
“I don’t know a more appropriate person than you for my son.”
Bruce smiled.
“But you know very few people, Jor El…”
Jor El smiled.
“How is your kitten? I’m glad my son didn’t bend so low to take the animal from
you.”
Bruce grinned.
“Hero is fine: he has grown a lot – Clark will be proud of him when he comes
round. Maybe despite the effect he knew deep inside that Hero would be better
staying here.”
Jor El inclined his head solemnly.
“My son treated you awfully, Bruce yet I detect how deep is your love for him”
Bruce shook his head in denial and the Kryptonian grinned with sympathy. “I
must leave you now: as a scientist, I’m not much religious yet may Rao help you
in your efforts. Please, do bear in mind that I’ll be at your services for
whatever you may need.”
 
Dick came out of the showers carrying his backpack on the shoulder; he headed
to the main hall of the public gym only to find Jeffrey waiting for him. The
Afro-American patted the boy on the back and Dick answered only with a lukewarm
grin.
“Dick, you were great today” his trainer sighed “I hope we now focus on our
work here and don’t have any incident again.”
Dick rolled his eyes and huffed.
“If only you could understand, Jeff…”
The trainer crooked his mouth.
“I do understand, Dick” he shook his head “and I see that from the moment Zucco
entered your life he pushes you to wrong choices.”
Dick crossed his arms on the chest and pressed his lips.
“You’re not fan of his, huh?” he spat.
Jeffrey licked his lips and locked eyes with the teen.
“No; and I know that he started a court dispute to get your guardianship from
Mr. Wayne…and I’m worried.”
Dick shook his head.
“You’re wrong, Jeff…Tony is a good man and cares for me” Jeffrey crooked his
mouth and Dick widened his eyes for emphasis. “You’ll see that as soon as I’m
with him and free from Wayne nothing would distract me again from my training.
Because, Jeff, what happened that night was Wayne’s fault. You know me: I
wouldn’t have done something like this if his presence wasn’t imposed to me.
This man makes me sick.”
Jeffrey huffed.
“I think you’re wrong about Zucco, Dick” the boy yanked his head frustrated and
his trainer held his upper arms and met his gaze. “He isn’t a good man.”
But it was obvious that the teen didn’t believe him.
“Ya’re losing yar breath, pal” a young voice that tried too hard to sound older
came behind him and Dick detached from Jeffrey to pat his younger friend. “Are
ya a free bird again?” Jason chuckled.
Dick crooked his mouth.
“Yeah… my…” he cocked his eyebrows ironically “ban from the gym has ended…”
Jeffrey cleared his throat.
“You deserved that, Dick – wandering Gotham at night was very dangerous and
consuming beer can easily push you to stronger booze which can destroy not only
your future in gymnastics but also your life as a whole.”
“Yeah, sure…”
Jason cocked his eyebrows to the trainer lolling his head on the side helpless.
“Jay, care to join me for a juice?” Dick asked pointing out the ‘juice’.
“Only if juice isn’t for me!”
Jeffrey patted Dick and pulled of his hoody’s pocket a USB stick.
“Mr. Breizic sent me an entire set of new movements to practice. Study them and
tomorrow we’ll discuss and put them into practise, okay?”
Dick’s face brightened hearing that the veteran trainer had sent him new
material but then he remembered Zucco’s warnings about Breizic and hesitated to
take the stick. Jeffrey frowned.
“Is anything wrong, Dick?”
The boy shook his head in denial and took the stick putting it into the front
pocket of his backpack.
“Thanks, Jeff!” he said and began to walk with Jason towards the cafeteria.
The boys chose a corner table.
“I saw yar face when Jeff gave ya that stick; I thought ya liked Breizic” Jason
mumbled chewing the straw of his milk shake. “Ya were as if ya’re given shit…”
Dick sipped from his juice.
“You exaggerate as always.”
Jason frowned.
“Cut the crap, pal! Ya’re talking to me now!”
Dick rolled his eyes and sighed.
“Okay, okay…I just realized that he came into my life rather suddenly and…it
might not be in random.”
Jason slapped himself.
“Wow! Don’t tell me there’s another plot against you?!” Dick rolled his eyes
and snorted. “An’ who mighta alert ya to that? Mmmm…” he pouted and tapped his
finger on his temple as if thinking hard. “Oh! Zucco!”
Dick crossed his arms on the chest and shook his head exasperated.
“Wayne will do everything to keep me away from my uncle so he put Breizic to
slander Tony taking advantage of my enthusiasm to have him as my trainer.”
Jason took a big gulp from his milk shake.
“So everyone is evil except Zucco? Oh, man! I thoughta ya’re smart but ya’re
dump as a brick… Ya’re granny was lyin’ to ya too?! Get a grip, dude! Why not
Zucco lyin’ about everyone? What do ya know ‘bout that guy except from what he
says an’ what yar dump mind makes?”
Dick ran both his hands in his still wet hair.
“Ya put Zucco above yar granny, man?! Why? What has he done for ya all these
years?”
“He knew my father…he…he cares for me and even if his fears about Breizic are
too much he does it only for me…”
Jason widened his eyes, cocking his eyebrows jeering.
“Yeah, sure…”
Dick licked his lips and twirled his straw in the orange juice.
“Tony will take my guardianship from Wayne and I’ll be again calm and happy.”
Jason formed his hand like a gun and pretended he shot his own head. Then
leaned towards his friend.
“I don’t trust him, man…he sucks…” but then his eyes fell on the built-in TV
screen at the wall far behind Dick’s back and laughed. “Speakin’ of this…it
seems ya’re a celebrity, man!”
Dick frowned and twisted in his chair to look at what Jayson was talking about.
Vicky Vale’s talk show played on the screen and Dick saw on the wall screen his
face pixelated – since he was underage - along with Wayne’s and his uncle’s.
 
“Media and audience are not allowed inside the court room yet we have
information that Mr. Zucco’s side bases their case about Mr. Wayne’s inability
to be a guardian to the fact that the young heir has a really lumbered up past
that definitely has left some mental disorders on him. Thus, making him a
potential danger for a child.”
Vicky Vale watched with attention her guest and her audience did the same. She
had formed a panel to discuss the currently hottest issue in Gotham’s social
life. She turned to a man around 50 on her right.
“Dr. Spellman, what’s your opinion about the matter?”
The man pursed his lips in a hard thinking grimace and shook his head.
“People get marked for all their life by lesser things than what Mr. Wayne has
suffered.”
“But could these wounds really make Mr. Wayne a danger for a child’s well
being?” she asked.
The doctor cocked his eyebrows.
“This isn’t something that can be answered easily, Vicky. There are cases with
victims of abuse that became great parents and others that the victims became
the perpetrators repeating their awful experiences to their children…”
Vicky touched her earphone and nodded.
“We have Gil with Mr. Zucco” in the wall screen behind her a young female
reporter held a microphone in front of Tony Zucco.
“Good evening, Mr. Zucco. I’m Vicky Vale.”
“Hello, Miss. Vale.”
“Do you really believe that Mr. Wayne is potentially dangerous for your
nephew?”
Zucco pressed his lips.
“Miss. Vale, what matters is not what I believe but what is happening to
Richard. You all saw the boy drinking alcohol and quarrelling with adults,
running away when a police officer came in” he shook his head sad. “This isn’t
my nephew; this is all Bruce Wayne’s bad influence. And that was the reason I
was forced to petition: to save my boy who suffers under Wayne’s custody.”
Vale cocked an eyebrow.
“But from all we know you came back in Gotham only a few months ago so you
don’t know that much about Richard.”
A shine of irritation crossed Zucco’s eyes but he grinned.
“It is true that I didn’t have the chance to be very close to my nephew but
that doesn’t mean that we don’t have a really wonderful relationship that Bruce
Wayne tried many times to thwart by putting his security people guarding
Richard.”
Vale lolled her head on the side.
“Richard is the ward of a billionaire and Joker is unleashed so I think it’s
reasonable to have tight security around the boy.”
“And only for the dangers that threaten Richard because of him it would be
better for the boy to be with me rather than Wayne; my attorney, Mr. Magnie,
has pointed out that to the judge. Everything that surrounds Wayne is
inappropriate for a boy. You certainly have heard the rumors about him and
Superman…”
Many people from the audience chuckled but Vale chose to not answer and played
her golden pen between her fingers.
“Mr. Zucco, do you believe that the court’s decision will justify you?’’
“Definitely!” his smile was almost Cheshire.
“Thank you, for our discussion, Mr. Zucco. Good luck to you and of course we
all wish the best for Richard.”
 
“Man” Jason shook his head “I don’t trust this buffoon…”
Dick rolled his eyes.
“Yeah, talks Jay, the Wayne fanboy…”
Jason’s eyes widened and he jerked exasperated.
“Bollocks! Ya’re an asshole! I’m yar granny’s fanboy an’ ya shoulda be too!”
Jason huffed and puffed a bit before calming. “If Zucco begins sayin’ bad
things ‘bout me, ya’ll believe him?”
Dick looked at the younger boy’s eyes and for the first time he saw the eleven
year old boy without any acted coolness or macho facade. Only the little boy
who had seen his mother in jail and almost dying from alcohol. He touched
Jason’s forearm and smiled.
“Tony has never said anything bad about you.”
“An’ if he does?”
Dick pressed his lips.
“I’ll say to him that he is wrong; Jay, you’re my best friend: nothing is gonna
change that.”
The younger boy nodded and resumed his macho expression causing Dick’s smile.
“Mmm…Ya’re a lucky sonovagun, ya know?”
Dick snorted.
“Why, Jay?”
“I mean, ya know, not for…ya know, what happened to yar family…Lucky ‘cause
Batguy took ya in his car…I’m thinkn’ that all the time! How was it?”
“Awesome!” the older boy exclaimed overenthusiastic on purpose to tease his
friend.
Jason slapped the table.
“Fuck! I want a ride too!”
Dick chuckled.
“It’s not the roller coaster, you know!” he cocked an eyebrow amused from the
childish pout in Jason’s face; but then Dick became serious. “I want to see him
again…now that I know he is alive…”
“I told ya so…”
“He saved my life…”
Jason nodded.
“It’s what Batguy does…”
Dick lolled his head on the side and snorted.
“No kiddin’! I didn’t know, thanks for telling me!” he sneered. “Maybe if I run
away again…”
Jason blinked.
“Forget it, dude! The Bat sure has better things to do than babysittin’ a brat
an’ this time Breizic will ditch ya an’ Wayne will ban ya for a month.”
Dick snorted.
“Wayne won’t have me for long…” he said relieved. “And then I’ll be free!”
Jason crooked his mouth.
“Speakin’ of which…Wayne is comin’…” he whispered to his friend seeing Bruce
leading his wheelchair towards them. “Yar trainer didna say that Alfred would
come?”
Dick snorted.
“Wayne wants to show off how good guardian he is…”
Jason raised his eyebrows at his friend’s grudge and his gaze caught again the
huge TV screen.
“Fuck!” he exclaimed and Dick seeing his friend’s goggling eyes turned curious
to see as Bruce reached their table.
“Hi, boys. Nice to see you again, Jason” Bruce greeted them but immediately
frowned seeing both of them absorbed in the TV screen and turned his gaze
there.
 
Vicky Vale after the discussion with Zucco ended turned again to her guests,
vaguely aware that the wall screen was resuming the initial theme with the
faces of the three protagonists in the court dispute. However soon she
registered that her audience was looking at the wall screen with bulged eyes.
That was odd because they hadn’t scheduled to present anything so fascinating
that would caught the audience’s attention; curious she turned to see what was
going on.
Vale frowned and paled.
 
Bruce’s face lost every color: he knew the place that the TV played: the
quality wasn’t high but it was good enough to show every detail.
“Strip!”
This brute roar was so familiar and so close as if he was experiencing one of
his nightmares, here in a public place. The healthy part of his spine froze as
if the order was made to him.
Falcone was standing in front of his big desk at his office in Dolcettoand his
fist had a little blood.His face was – as always – contorted in a grimace of
rage. And the object of his wrath was lying in the floor, right in the base of
the wall: a cringing ragged mass of a small boy who trembled.
“Stay there!” Bruce almost yelled to the boy.
But the boy stood up stumbling on his shaking weak legs – Bruce knew he would
and bit his bottom lip making the flesh bleed. Exactly as the mouth and
nostrils of the bruised boy…
The gaunt boy could use only his left arm since his right hung by his side like
a dead log but that didn’t stop him from taking off hastily his tattered
clothes. He was crying and his chest heaved violently but he didn’t stop
because he knew there would be more beating if he did. He stopped only when his
bony body stayed completely naked in front of Falcone’s gleeful eyes.
The Grey Wolf surged at the boy and fisted his hair and dragged him to his
desk. The crime lord used his other arm to push the objects off the desk and
dropped the boy on letting his miserable trembling legs dangling off the floor.
Bruce saw appalled his buttocks displayed in common view but he couldn’t avert
his eyes, which were glued there freezing his existence and erasing everything
else around.
“Open yar fuckin’ legs, ya bastard!”
The boy forced his legs that shook uncontrollably to open as much as possible
yet Falcone barked unsatisfied.
“More!” he growled “And stick yar asshole out for me! Ya slut!”
The boy immediately obeyed, trying to swallow his sobs but failing; his
buttocks convulsed because he was crying and because he knew what was coming
next… Falcone laughing came and stood between his legs slapping cruelly the
naked buttocks causing more sobs.
 
Vale’s eyes bulged as everyone else’s in the studio: what was that? Who was
doing that?
She saw Falcone, his backside to the camera, dropping his pants and briefs; his
erection was visible and it was rock hard.
She had had enough: she stood and ran incredibly fast for someone in stiletto
heels to the control panel where the staff there watched equally shocked.
“Sam, cut it!” she screamed outraged.
The man with the raven ponytail in front of the control panel turned to her and
shrugged helpless.
“I can’t! It comes from somewhere else and I can’t overcome it! Somebody hacked
our signal!’’
“Then cut our signal entirely! We can’t let that play!”
Steve widened his eyes.
“You’re crazy! The Boss will kill me!”
“Absolutely!” a rough voice came behind her and she knew that Solomon Wizze,
the President and owner of the station had just arrived.
She turned with a nasty frown on her face and glared at him. Unlike her he was
completely calm in his fine tailored suit, smoking his cigar.
“Solomon, you surely don’t want this abomination broadcasting from GTV.”
But the sturdy man chewed his cigar and cocked his eyebrows.
“Show must go on, Vick! This might be gruesome but we won’t hide the truth –
people have the right to know everything.”
Vicky narrowed her eyes to slits that flashed; she gestured to the screen where
a half naked Falcone had thrust to the bent boy.
“Wayne here is barely eleven! What truth?! This is child pornography! This is a
federal crime, Solomon!”
“They have hacked our signal” he cut her “we’re not responsible for that
and…our numbers are exploding!”
Vicky could see the $s flashing to Wizze’s eyes; she was disgusted.
“And unethical…” she ended her phrase hissing between her gritted teeth.
Leslie was returning to her office at the clinic having finished her visits to
the patients’ rooms; she was holding the tablet with the latest data on her
patients’ condition. She stopped to the nurses’ station to sign a patient’s
discharge when unusual fuss from the waiting area drew her attention.
“What’s this?” she asked Michael who was making his shift at the nurses’
station.
“Probably something they see in Vale’s show: it is very popular with these
people.”
Leslie stretched her posture and her face took its strictest expression.
“This is a hospital though!” she marched there and she was ready to scowl at
them when she saw what they were seeing.
Leslie during these months since Falcone’s downfall had watched everything
about the crime lord trying to gain some knowledge about Bruce’s experiences to
help the youth; so she recognized immediately the office and of course the
skinny, battered boy.
She stayed like a thunder had just struck her: Falcone was abusing Bruce and
everyone was audience to that. She felt the breath caught in her lungs and bile
filling her mouth forcing her to gulp constantly; her eyes watered seeing the
little boy taking off his clothes obeying Falcone’s orders shaking from his
terror.
And then the sturdy adult grabbed the poor thing and bent him on the desk
barking to him to spread his legs…
“Enough!” she screamed and pressed the button to the remote control closing the
TV.
People still shocked from what they had just seen looked at her dumbstruck
trying to register her presence.
“Leave! There’s nothing to see!” she clapped her hands glaring at the nurses
who had been watching along with the visitors.
When everyone had dispersed she closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. She heard
footsteps approaching and saw Kelly.
“Dr. Thompkins, are you alright? Do you need something?”
“No, Kelly, thank you” she turned and hurried to her office; she couldn’t leave
the hospital right now but her heart was bleeding for Bruce.
She dialled Alfred’s cell number to warn him – Leslie didn’t call the Manor’s
number because usually at this hour Alfred was in the city to bring Dick back
home from his training. And she didn’t want to make Bruce suspect that
something had happened.
“Good evening, Leslie” her friend’s poised voice greeted her.
“Alfred, where are you?”
“At the Manor; Leslie, I detect you are upset…” his face’s frown was reflected
in his observation.
“Open your TV at GTV” she ordered and Alfred obliged.
The cell phone almost fell from his hand seeing the footage.
“Good Lord!” he exclaimed. “Bloody Hell! That is impossible!”
“Alfred, if you’re in the Manor, where is Bruce now?”
“He went to the city to bring Master Richard back to the Manor” the man felt
the room spinning as the images from Falcone’s brutal abuse played before his
eyes as if they had sprung from one of his nightmares. “Oh, my Goodness! Do you
gather that he is seeing this?”
“I don’t know, Alfred…If he is…Damn!”
“I’ll try to reach him, Leslie and understand his condition. We must keep our
calm, my dear: he might not have seen.”
“Alright. Call me right away as soon as you hear from him…Damn! I can’t leave
the clinic right now but if Bruce needs me, call me ASAP, okay?”
“I will, Leslie.”
 
Kelly ran to the little closet with the nurses uniforms to call Thomas; she was
sure that he would want to know about Leslie’s sudden distress.
“Hi, Tommy: something odd just happened: people were watching TV and Dr.
Thompkins furious closed the TV and yelled at everyone. She was shocked and her
eyes almost terrorized.”
Thomas Elliot smirked. He was sprawled on his sofa, still dressed in his
tailored blue stripped suit minus the jacket and held between his fingers a
crystal flute filled with champagne.
“I know, babe, I know. Thank you…I can’t wait to see you tonight after your
shift!”
The nurse giggled and ended the call sending him kisses.
Thomas rolled his eyes at her stupidity and shook his head exasperated; he
hurried to focus again on what he was watching the moment Kelly called: GTV’s
show – Falcone fucking the underage Bruce Wayne.
He sipped from his flute and raised the glass.
“Cheers, Brucie!”
 
 
Bruce, his eyes still fixed on the screen, realized that people were goggling
at the screen and at him slowly realizing his presence there. Operating in auto
pilot he brushed one of his wrist watch’s buttons and the screen became black
as Falcone began cruelly thrusting in his younger self.
Only then he managed to take his eyes from the screen while everyone else in
the room was still staring at the screen. The boys too.
“Boys” he said calm as ever and both Dick and Jason looked at him with widened
eyes. “We have to go.”
Even Dick didn’t protest and hastily took his backpack and stood. Bruce left a
bill on the table and followed the boys while still people numb were trying to
understand what had happened.
As Bruce crossed the gym’s central hall his mind was racing: he had closed that
TV set but everywhere else in Gotham people continued watching…He bit his lips
that now bled more and brushed the panel on the armrest to speed up the
wheelchair to catch the boys who were rushing to the exit.
 
Vicky’s face was distorted from rage watching her boss’ mock sad face and his
glistening eyes that manifested his triumph for the attention the station would
get and of course the money from the advertisements.
“They hacked us, alright, but this doesn’t mean we can’t stop the
broadcasting!” she felt her perfectly groomed hair becoming a bush.
Wizze frowned, not understanding like the crowed that had gathered in the
meantime. The frown became a full grimace of rage when Vicky rushed to the
control panel, grabbed the foam cup with Sam’s steaming coffee and splashed the
content on the bench with the audio visual aids.
Her eyes shone enthusiastic when sparkles began dancing from the bench making
Sam and the others who sat there jumped away scared. Thankfully, the foam cup
was almost full.
“You crazy bitch!” Wizze growled.
The sparkles became more and smoke began emitting before a loud bang that made
everyone bent for cover. Vicky stood unfazed watching satisfied the blank
screen: the signal and the image were down.
The technicians and Wizze knew very well that it would take much time for the
damage to be restored and of course the hacking signal would be lost.
 
The boys had jumped in the car’s back seat and Bruce calm as if nothing had
happened slipped from his armchair to the driver’s seat.
He felt numb, like being in a surreal world; empty from everything; he wasn’t
thinking and his eyes weren’t seeing although somewhat aware of the world
around.
However, he knew his condition and felt grateful to Tony for having installed
auto pilot to every car Bruce had to ease him with his disability. Bruce didn’t
make use of the auto pilot in his black car neither in this custom one but now
that system was very useful.  Despite the fact his eyes were fixed on the
street, were seeing only blurred lights and masses; his hands were holding
casually the steer wheel but he didn’t trust his current ability to drive
safely. Sweat was purring all over his body although his heartbeat and his
breath were below the normal levels.
“Jason, we’ll first drive you home” he said so casually and indifferent that
Jason goggled.
“Dude…” the younger of the boys mumbled “I’m sorry, man…”
Dick elbowed him scowling him with the eyes and mouthing that he should shut up
but it was too late.
But Bruce turned his eyes to them and smiled though his face muscles felt
cramped.
“Thank you, Jason but I am the one who should apologize to you…for what you saw
there” he replied.
 
When the sparks from the blast stopped and people recovered from the shock
Wizze stormed at Vicky who looked at him unfazed smirking satisfied. The old
man was fuming and almost eating his cigar.
“You’re fired!” he screamed and his cigar along with a lot of spit dropped from
his mouth.
Vicky laughed at his spectacle.
“Nah! I’m quitting, you cock sucking, greedy bastard!”
She ground her teeth gathering her entire strength and stabbed her stiletto
heel to his foot; Wizze bent in two and growled like a wounded beast.
“And I’ll testify in the sue Wayne will do against you” she spat at his face
smirking and stretched her posture, fixed her hair and left elegantly the
control room in front of the eyes of every member of the staff and her show’s
audience. Several people applauded and wolf whistled.
 
“Here we are” Bruce stopped the car and turned in his seat to look the boys.
They had arrived at the apartment building where Ms. Todd and Jason lived.
Jason eyed first Bruce and then Dick.
“Ya’ll be okay?” he said without being sure to whom he was making the question.
Dick nodded and Bruce grinned.
“Your mother…” he showed with a head gesture at Ms. Todd who had just come out
of the building.
The woman leaned to the window of the driver’s seat and Bruce lowered the
glass. Her face was pale and Bruce felt a cold current running through his back
realizing that she had seen…
“Bruce…” she said panting trying to read if he knew. “The GTV’s signal is
down…” she chose to give that ambiguous information.
Bruce didn’t expect to hear that: he definitely could have brought down the
signal but from the cave. Maybe Tony? But Tony was in New York and perhaps he
didn’t even know about…
“Thank you, Kate” he replied with a smile that flickered uncertain. “I brought
Jason.”
“Thank you…” the woman’s bottom lip was trembling obviously from shock and
sadness for what she just saw.
Jason sensing that her mother’s presence at the moment was worsening things
jumped out of the car and grabbed her upper arm.
“We leavin’ now, mom…” he found Bruce’s eyes “goodnight” he mumbled and Bruce
grinned.
“Goodnight to both of you.”
 
The two men slipped through the shadows of Metropolis’ dusk leaving the
warehouse they were in for hours. They stepped out from the shady alleys to the
crowded, buzzy, innocent streets mixing with the pedestrians to end up to the
corner bar.
A third shadow followed them from a distance and after waiting a couple of
minutes to not raise suspicions entered the same bar choosing a secluded table
on the less lighted part of the place.
The two men had chosen to sit at the bar’s stools – the third shadow grinned:
of course they wanted to act the innocent, law abiding citizens.
Suddenly someone sat at the chair next to him.
“What are you doing here?” a whispered demand came in a pissed female voice.
“The same as you” he answered.
“It’s not your business, farmboy” Lois spat.
“It is! We were in this together from the start and it’s my case as much as
yours!”
Lois gritted her teeth and cocked her eyebrows.
“Your passion for her died so fast that you stopped running back to her as soon
as the school bell rings?” she sniggered.
Clark lolled his head on the side.
“Why you’re bringing her into this? I’m doing my job.”
She smirked.
“Which she obviously doesn’t know because you’re afraid to tell her because she
snubs everything human related.”
“Lois…Stop spitting poison at her” the woman rolled her eyes. “I’m looking
forward to go back to her as soon as my job is done.”
“Then go! I don’t need you…And I’m right: you’re scared of her reaction if she
learns that you work as a” her face turned a feigned expression of disgust
“common human.”
Clark pressed his lips.
“Can we just continue our job here? It seems that something stirs in the city’s
underbelly.”
Lois nodded.
“And those two indicate that Intergang is in fact alive and kicking.’’
Clark remembered Bruce’s doubts when everyone believed that the Intergang died
at the Metropolis’ Subway attack.
“However we can’t be positive yet” he said not wanting to accept something that
Bruce had said: the man had tried to trap him giving him a faulty inoculation.
“I’m not talking to you!” Lois spat and turned her head at the bar where a flat
screen played the news.
Clark took in the rising of her heartbeat and looked too. He had heard the
newscaster warning the viewers for the disturbing content but he assumed that
it was another one of those ISIS videos.
“Holly shit!” Lois exclaimed.
Clark didn’t speak but his heartbeat spiked too: the late Falcone from several
years ago in his office at Dolcetto was barking to a boy of barely eleven to
strip. From that moment on the image was mostly pixelized but it was obvious
that the sturdy man was penetrating the sobbing boy.
 
The car had hardly stopped in front of the Wayne Manor when Alfred ran to the
driver’s door opening for his young master. Dick opened his door and jumped out
but didn’t rush inside the Manor and to his room as usual; instead he stood
staring at the two men like paralyzed.
“Master Bruce…” Alfred was almost shaking but found the calmness to take the
folded wheelchair and press the small control panel on the armrest to unfold it
for Bruce who thanked him sitting. The butler had eyes only for his young
master, agony and worry radiating though he didn’t want that.
Bruce felt exhausted: driving to the Manor seemed like the most difficult thing
in the world. However inside him there was nothing; he was numb as if he didn’t
exist.
“So…you saw…” he said expressionless to his butler registering with a pang
Alfred’s paleness. Bruce’s heart that till now beat very slowly gave a hard
kick with a thud that pained his chest.
Alfred’s wet eyes searched his young master’s face and Bruce smiled to him
raising his eyebrows.
“I’m fine, Alfred. Nothing happened. Can we go inside now?”
His eyes met for a second Dick’s and the boy walked first; Bruce lowered his
head only for a second hasty to play indifference as Alfred still shaken looked
at him.
“I was calling you, sir…” Alfred tried to hide his worry walking by his young
master’s side.
Bruce frowned realizing that he hadn’t heard anything…and remembered the
puzzled expressions of the boys. However he couldn’t admit that to Alfred.
“Oh! I must have forgotten the Cosmos in silent mode. I’m sorry, Alfred, I
didn’t want to worry you.”
Alfred grinned to him as he ascended the stairs and Bruce the ramp.
“Master Anthony called…he was calling you too.”
Bruce closed his eyes as his heart gave another violent kick.
“He saw too?” he asked in a low voice. “I was hoping this hadn’t reached New
York…” he pressed his lips and inhaled. “Anyway, I’ll call him now.”
However as soon as they reached the great salon the telephone Bruce and Tony
had set for their private communication rang. Bruce steered his chair there
determined, being aware of Dick’s eyes on him. Hero who was curled in front of
the fireplace ran to his master and climbed to his lap stealing a smile and a
caress from Bruce.
“Littl’ guy?” agony was evident in Tony’s voice and made the tombstone on
Bruce’s chest heavier.
“Yes, Tony: everything is fine, I’m fine – end of story. I’m sorry for the
upset I caused you.”
“What are you saying now, littl’ guy?! You don’t have to apologize for
anything” a small pause. “I’m coming there.”
Bruce yanked his head and huffed pressing his hand to his hair.
“You don’t have to, Tony: continue your work. It didn’t kill me then, it
certainly won’t kill me now.”
Alfred pressed his lips: Dick stared at the Englishman’s face and could say
that he wasn’t so sure about the harmlessness of that video.
Bruce returned the receiver to its place feeling exhausted and Hero rubbed his
small head to the human’s jaw purring.
“Sir, would you like to have some tea? The cinnamon biscuits are just out of
the oven” he added with hope.
Bruce shook his head.
“No, Alfred, thank you. I have work.”
“Of course, sir” the butler said burying his disappointment.
 
Bruce had isolated himself in the cave, alone with Hero who as usual didn’t let
the bats alone till the flying rodents left for hunting.
 His odd heartbeat had stopped from the moment his wheelchair touched the rough
surface of the cave. As if this place was a haven: a place where he could
escape the outside world and be safe; free and lacking any memory…
It seemed that the humid, cold air of the cave swept away what had happened…
and he delved into what he should be doing – what he loved doing:
investigating.
The central processor was connected with Tony’s surveillance system receiving
image from the stolen items and Bruce focused on the footage they had received:
Luthor had gone there with Mercy and he was talking with two other people which
Bruce couldn’t see. He frowned – that was odd: if the tracking system had a
visual failure then Luthor and Mercy wouldn’t be visible as well. Something
else hid these people from the nanocameras…
Bruce huffed and tapped the keyboard frantically trying everything in hopes of
overcoming whatever made the other two bystanders ‘invisible’.
He slapped the working bench frustrated and felt Hero’s surprised eyes on him.
He shook his head and breathed slowly to calm himself.
Luthor was too clever to say any names: even if his partner reassured him that
he didn’t find any tracing system he still didn’t name them. The voice of
Luthor’s ally as Bruce expected was definitely that of the man’s that had come
to Bruce’s office to demand the same objects: Brunno Mannheim.
However they would need more than a voice identifier to convict him… Of course
the man had said ‘re-acquiring what’s mine’ yet it wouldn’t suffice for a
judge. Not to mention that arresting him for the theft wouldn’t solve the
mystery. He tapped his fingers on the bench and watched closer for any detail
that could help.
He narrowed his eyes and leaned closer. Was Luthor…scared? And the ‘invisible’
man had said “as your lot”…What did he mean? What ‘lot’? The businessmen? The
billionaires?
Sure thing Luthor didn’t retort as he always did in such circumstances and both
he and Mercy looked shaken…What could have made Luthor indifferent to such
attitude; so slavish and so…scared? Even with the League of Shadows Luthor
wasn’t scared but he made his counter-schemes in order to backstab them…
The Manor’s phone rang and Bruce pressed the key on his keyboard to answer from
the cave since obviously Alfred was too busy to answer.
“Bruce Wayne speaking.”
“Well, hello, Bruce…”
Speaking of the devil… Bruce thought rolling his eyes. It was Luthor and in
contrast with his demeanor in the video he sounded jubilant.
“What do you want, Mr. Luthor?”
“To congratulate you, my young friend” Bruce’s mind went immediately to the
incident during Vale’s show.
“If you refer to that video everyone already knew what Facone did to me” he
said indifferent.
“Yeah…but the continuation of the video was very interesting…fascinating I’d
say” he sniggered and Bruce could imagine the smug expression on his face and
the flute of champagne in his fingers. “I didn’t expect your tiny asshole to
have such capacity” he sneered. “And you managed to impress millions of others:
congratulations, Brucie – after the Person of the Year you managed to break
Youtube’s record!”
Luthor’s laughter was the last impression before the dial ended.
Bruce leaned on the keyboard and opened the Youtube site where what he wanted
was on the top of the list with an insane number of hits.
His heart began beating faster, cold sweat washing his body seeing the duration
of the video: it wasn’t the ten minutes footage that the GTV’s signal’s
breakdown stopped abruptly - it was the whole thing.
 
***** Chapter 60 *****
Jim Gordon was pacing inside his office at the MCU’s building hardly containing
his eagerness to rush outside. He had to be calm and collected before his
colleagues even if his insides were upturned; what happened earlier at GTV was
sick; inhumane…After the DA’s order, Jim had initiated police activity but he
decided to not act himself though he wanted it so much: he had a soft spot for
the Little Prince after all.
Yet he was the Police Commissionaire and he shouldn’t show partiality to any
citizen especially to someone as rich as Mr. Wayne. So he was waiting in his
office for his officers to return; also, Robert Hatchet the temporary DA was on
his way there. The man had issued a warrant for GTV’s president.
After Harvey’s resignation, Jim had continued the good co-operation with the
DA’s office through Harvey’s replacement. And he was very happy about that.
“Come in” he said when knocks on the door interrupted his thoughts.
Robert Hatchet entered the room with his leather briefcase in his hand. He
offered his hand to Jim for a handshake and the police commissionaire shook it
appreciatively.
“Did they bring Wizze yet?”
“They are on their way here trying to avoid reporters” Jim replied raising his
eyebrows.
Robert shook his head.
“You have already a horde of them on your doorstep” Jim nodded with an
expression of helplessness. “Can I have a cup of coffee?” he asked gazing at
the machine on the small cabinet.
Montoya had given it to Gordon.
Jim looked there.
“Of course…Sorry I forgot to offer you.”
Robert filled a small foam cup and lolled his head towards Jim.
“Don’t mention it…We are all a bit shaken, huh? Anyway I’d like to put behind
bars that bastard Wizze.”
Jim fixed his glasses.
“You know better than me that we can’t hold him much…The GTV’s signal was
hacked…although he could have stopped it as Vale did.”
Robert sipped from his coffee.
“Yeah, who would have thought that she would do that: she earned my respect.
Did you locate the hacking spot?”
Jim paced a bit more.
“The officers at Cyber Crime are close.”
Robert grinned.
“I can’t wait to press charges on the sonovabitch who did that!” Jim ran his
hand through his hair and nodded.
“What kind of person does that? I mean, Wayne has suffered so much…what kind of
a sick mind puts salt to his wounds like that?”
Robert shook his head.
“Harvey called; he was very upset.”
Jim shook his head.
“Harvey still watches Gotham’s developments, huh?”
“He loves his city.”
Suddenly, Montoya burst into the office.
“Commissionaire, there’s a leak on the internet!” Robert frowned. “It is the
entire video that was stopped after the signal’s breakdown.”
Robert immediately dialled the DA’s office in his Smartphone.
“Order Youtube and the other file hosting sites to take down the video!” he
barked to his subordinates in the office. “Contact FBI for instant results.”
Jim clenched his waist with both hands and shook his head: he dreaded what the
entire video could be showing.
A young officer ran to the open door.
“Commissionaire! We have located the hacker!’’
Jim grabbed his jacket and Robert shoved his Smartphone in his jacket’s inner
pocket.
“Montoya, Bullock, take some officers and follow me!”
 
The long, rectangular window opened at Superman’s arrival and the Man of Steel
landed on the dark green carpet of Diana’s apartment; the sweet, mesmerizing
smell welcoming him. He was still shaken but as soon as he entered the room his
head cleared and he felt careless, peaceful; free from every sadness and
wonder.
Diana was standing with her arms crossed and watched the flat screen fascinated
– a smirk on her face.
“Welcome, Kal El” she greeted him without taking her eyes off the screen
watching greedily.
“Good evening, Diana” he answered and suddenly he felt so exhilarated that flew
to her wrapping his arms around her waist and kissing her neck.
Until his eyes fell on the screen…
“How can you watch this?” he asked sick.
She gestured indifferent to the screen.
“You mean Wayne being fucked?” she snorted. “This is the entire video: I
connected the TV with Internet. As you can see it’s more than a simple fuck.
Superman’s face was distorted in disgust: it was never a ‘simple fuck’…
“Sometimes I find it difficult to understand you, Diana.”
Diana turned her head to him narrowing her eyes.
“For watching this?” she snorted. “I am a warrior, Kal El: I have seen much
worse than this in the battlefield” her voice was contemptuous. “How can this
upset me?”
Superman shook his head: he didn’t feel anymore the heavy tombstone over his
chest that fell there since he saw the news but still Diana’s indifference
bothered him.
“Yes but still…It’s a little child…being brutally abused.”
Diana kissed his lips and looked him deep in the eyes making his misery
evaporate.
“Aren’t you happy you’re not connected to this man anymore?” she whispered in
his ear sending goose bumps to his spine. “Imagine if you were in the middle of
all this; all this filth passing to you…Kal El” she sucked his ear lobe and
Superman closed his eyes. “He never deserved you: he is filth and you’re pure
light…Every time you touched him this dirt was transferred to you…”
Bruce was saying exactly the same things to him. Bruce…He was hearing the
little boy screaming and crying and one part of him wanted to save him or flew
to Gotham and hug Bruce and another part was happy that this wasn’t his problem
anymore.
He blew at the remote just enough air to turn off the TV set. He tightened his
embrace on Diana’s body.
“I don’t want to waste our time together with that” he said determined and
Diana nodded gifting him her brightest smile.
“I agree.”
 
The man turned on his car’s engine and sped away from the dark alley satisfied
for the merchandise he just bought that lay inside a small innocent paper bag.
At the same time however he was a bit shaken and stepped on the accelerator:
his provider was clearly a wacko coming to their meeting wearing that sack
mask…What was wrong with Gothamites and masks?
He shook his head rolling his eyes. At least, the stuff was of great quality.
Crane followed the car with his eyes till it was out of sight: the pack of
bills was pleasantly warm in his jacket’s pocket. He knew that this kind of
activities was below a great genius like him but he needed the money for
survival and for his experiments.
He turned towards the rusty door of the abandoned building; he wouldn’t come
out of the alley in case someone stalked there; instead he’d cross the building
and come out of the back exit to another alley.
“Waaaaait, waaaait, waiiiit!”
Crane under the mask crooked his lips and rolled his eyes before turning
displeased to face his uninvited guest.
“HEHEHEHEHEHEEEEEE!” the purple dressed clown bent in two giggling hard.
“How you sprang out here? How did you find me?” he hissed.
“I’m a clown sooooooooo I spring out of boooooxes” he blinked “and not only…
Aaaand I juuust follow the smeeeel of the weed: youuuu’re the hoooooot dealer
in the town. UHUHUHUHUUUUU! Nice mask, crooooow! Thoooooough…” he slowly
straightened his body sweeping imaginary tears from laughter “hehe…though” he
ran to him and brought his face close to the sack mask “you’re like a potato in
a sack! HAHAHAHAHAAAA!”
Scarescrow crossed his arms on the chest and stared at him blankly. Joker took
his most solemn expression and watched him puzzled before patting his back.
“Youuuuu need to do something wiith the styliiiiing, huh?”
“What do you want, clown?!” Scarescrow hissed coldly.
But Joker just giggled.
“Oooooops! It seems I stepped on a callus or something? Sooooorry, mate” he
said with a totally un-honest expression “buuuuuut you have to love your friend
with his faults” he blinked innocently.
“You’re not my friend!”
Joker pouted and cocked his eyebrows. He leaned closer.
“Why? Do youuuu have someone elseeeee? HEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEEEEEE!” he burst out in
giggles.
Scarescrow gritted his teeth.
“What do you want?!” he spat.
Joker raised his palms in a motion of appease.
“Oooookay, oooookay…Let’s talk like civilized gangsters…I can see you rolling
your eyes…Why? I’m not civiliiiiiiized?”
“Get over with it!”
Joker patted him on the chest and nodded.
“I just waaaaant what I ordered. It’s your job after all – selling drugs an’
stuff…You made what I asked or it was too difficult?”
Crane grabbed his mask and revealed his face that was distorted with disgust
and smugness.
“There’s no substance that Dr. Crane can’t make.”
Joker leaked his lips nodding like a hungry dog.
“Weeeeell?”
Crane lolled his head on the side smirking.
“You don’t expect me to have it on me…I’ll contact you when the time comes.”
Joker’s face hardened and he locked eyes with the doctor.
“The tiiiiime has already come: I want myyyyy order.”
Crane nodded gulping.
“You’ll have it.”
“In twooooo days, I’ll meet you here” he hissed threateningly but immediately
he scratched his head. “Unless I change my mind…I’m a bit…mercurial, ya know…”
He made a spin in his position and began walking towards the alley’s exit under
Crane’s knowing smirk.
“Wait!” the scientist yelled.
Joker made another spin and looked at him blinking.
“I knewwwww you’ll want moooooore ooof your paaaal…” he poured.
Crane cackled.
“As a pal” he said snidely “I owe to inform you about your legally wedded
wife…”
Joker frowned.
“My…Brucie?”
“Not only yours” he cocked his eyebrows and pouted. “Are you sure you’ve made
the right choice?” he held his Smartphone up with a video already playing. “The
whole Gotham and States goggles at this!”
Joker narrowed his eyes and surged to him grabbing the phone and bringing it to
his face that was completely still except than a nerve that ticked next to his
right eye as he watched Falcone thrusting in little Bruce’s body.
Crane watched him wildly satisfied; he was sure that if Joker’s face wasn’t
covered with paint he would be ashen or red from wrath.
“Who did that?” the clown hissed low with no nasal hue in his voice which had
more effect than his usual hysterics.
However Crane held his composure.
“Falcone!” he answered nonchalant but Joker tossed away the phone and grabbed
him from the lapels dangling him.
“You destroyed my phone, you fool!”
Joker’s teeth shone in the half darkness close to Crane’s face.
“You want to have the same?!” his teeth shone in the dim light of the street
lamps outside the alley.
Crane felt something cold touching his cheek before seeing the sparkle of a
blade.
“Someone hacked GTV’s signal and broadcasted this…the signal broke down soon
but the whole video leaked to Youtube…” he said in one breath.
Joker detached the hand that held Crane’s lapels and the doctor hardly stayed
erect fixing his clothes with dignity. He saw intrigued Joker’s eyes going
completely blank.
“I should have tortured more that motherfucker!” the jester almost whispered to
himself erasing Crane’s presence. “Anyway…someone is going to suffer tonight…”
He turned towards the alley’s exit and ran, Crane breathing relieved that
Joker’s wrath was for someone else. He walked to the place where his phone
ended among cans and used condoms: he took it grimacing disgusted. The screen
was badly scratched but the video was still playing showing what Falcone did
after the rape.
“I have to buy a new phone now, you imbecile!”
 
Bruce stayed numb in the confinement of his chair; his eyes fixed on the small
square of the video that aggregated a record number of views; duration: 1hour
and something.
His palm touched his mouth without even knowing…Thankfully, Selina was away
from Gotham with Steve and if he was lucky she hadn’t seen the video or heard
anything.
“That video is down from every site in the net” Bruce was startled and turned
to the entrance of the cave where one second ago Ironman floated; because now
the red and gold android stood only a few feet away from him. “Pepper and
Lucius took care of that.”
Bruce nodded calmly noticing Tony’s hesitance to get closer; his friend didn’t
deactivate the face plate probably because he didn’t want Bruce to see his
face. However Bruce could imagine his friend’s turmoil.
He ran his hand through his hair.
“Tony, I told you I was fine; you didn’t have to let your work in New York and
come here.”
Ironman now walked closer.
“No way I would stay there while…” he stopped abruptly unwilling to utter what
he had in mind or not knowing how to express it to not hurt more his friend.
Bruce felt his stomach becoming a knot but simply turned his head towards the
screen changing Youtube’s site with the footage from the warehouse where the
stolen items ended up.
Tony rolled his eyes behind the cold face plate. He huffed shaking his head and
finally deactivated the face plate: although he would like to hide his feelings
from Bruce he just couldn’t continue looking at his friend through the face
plate.
“You should have alerted Lucius about the video and asked him to act stopping
it from spreading to every site” Tony berated. “It was a happy coincidence he
heard what happened and acted on his own accord.”
However Bruce was staring at the screen where the footage with Luthor was
playing. Tony glanced at Hero who sat on the bench and watched puzzled his
human friend.
“Bruce, I’m talking to you.”
The younger man turned nonchalant to him.
“I’m listening, Tony but since you’re here we should examine this. Do you have
any program to overcome whatever hides the other people present in the
warehouse? It’s very odd.”
Tony closed his eyes exasperated and leaned to his friend.
“You should be tracing the hacking location right now, Bruce! To find the
bastard who uploaded this” Bruce frowned and Tony sensing that something odd
was taking place inside his friend calmed himself. “Jarvis has almost located
the hacker and…”
But Bruce shook his head.
“Why don’t you leave it to the police? This is more important! We have to
understand what’s going on: Luthor’s behavior is bizarre – he looks scared
and…confused.”
Tony yanked his head backwards and huffed.
“Fuck Luthor! Fuck everything!” he shouted. “Nothing is more important than
finding the sonovabitch that did that!” he stood abruptly but realizing that he
had raised his voice again ruffled his hair and looked tenderly at Bruce.
He could understand that his friend was still in a state of shock.
“Listen, littl’ guy” he licked his lips “go upstairs: it’s dinner time.”
“I’m not hungry, Tony.”
Tony closed his eyes and jerked his arms to the air.
“Of course you’re not!” he exclaimed exasperated. “But you must, Bruce! You
need to take your medication…” this reminded him that his friend was still
recovering and some bastard chose to give him that devious blow – that thought
alone made him want to tear him into pieces but Bruce’s narrowed eyes were
fixed on him and was reading him.
Suddenly, Jarvis sent him the data he anxiously awaited and Tony forgot
everything.
“Tony, let police handle it…” Bruce repeated realizing but Tony was adamant.
“No way!’’
Bruce watched Ironman taking off and flying out of the cave; he pressed his
lips, inhaled deeply and turned to the computer screen when the Manor’s cable
phone rang again. He closed his eyes because answering seemed exhausting but
thankfully it stopped ringing; probably Alfred had answered.
Bruce felt relief only for a few seconds because the line was passed there.
“Yes, Alfred” he said pinching the bridge of his nose.
“Pardon me for the interruption, sir, but Mr. Collins would like to talk with
you.”
Bruce looked at the cave’s ceiling as if trying to gather strength from the
rocks.
“I’ll speak to him, Alfred” Hero came to him and rubbed his head to his hand
that had stayed forgotten on the working bench; Bruce smiled to him.
“Mr. Wayne, I’m terribly sorry for what happened” the veteran lawyer told him
in his admirably calm voice. “The DA’s office has already posted a warrant
against GTV’s president but we can sue him as well.”
However that wasn’t what bothered Bruce right now.
“Mr. Collins, what happened…I mean that video can affect our case negatively?’’
Mr. Collins certainly didn’t expect that to be his employer’s main concern
right now although he had called for that case as well.
“To be honest, Mr. Wayne, in a case of guardianship everything can have an
effect” Bruce nodded. “As a matter of fact, I called you to suggest that we ask
for an adjournment; I’m sure that Judge Moot won’t deny that.”
“Adjournment?”
“A break of the hearing for a few days until…” he couldn’t utter ‘you’re
better’ though he was sure that that video had a major impact on his young
employer – the truth was that he was prepared to hear from Alfred that Mr.
Wayne couldn’t talk to him; Collins expected that Bruce would have taken some
sedatives to handle this. But the youth was talking to him calm as ever. “Until
the ruckus calms down” he said exploiting his skill on finding quickly the best
words to say something.
Bruce bit his bottom lip staring at the display case with Batman’s armor.
“It won’t be necessary, Mr. Collins” he could almost hear the man’s surprise.
“I’m alright and it is exactly what would serve Zucco best: manifesting
weakness and being unable to meet Richard’s needs. I won’t let this undermine
what’s important, that is Richard’s life.”
Collins stayed silent for a few seconds.
“That’s…” brave he wanted to say but he felt that Bruce wouldn’t want to hear
that. “As you wish, Mr. Wayne…however if you change your mind do not hesitate
to call me.”
“Thank you, Mr. Collins. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Goodnight, Mr. Wayne.”
“Goodnight, Mr. Collins” he replied but his eyes were fixed on the armor inside
the transparent case.
 
Selina was staring fascinated at the painting at the wall before her, glad that
the mass of visitors was somewhere else. She tapped her index finger to her
lips thoughtful. El Greco was one of her favorite painters.
Being in that enormous exhibit hall in New York’s Metropolitan Museum
inadvertently reminded her of that night, almost a year ago in another museum
when she snatched the black diamond that helped her friend being free. Of
course a Museum’s hall was completely different with people around and broad
artificial lighting.
Steve had gone to the Avengers’ Tower for the team’s meeting and she decided to
fill those empty hours by visiting one of the world’s biggest museums.
Behind the fake spectacles she wore her eyes narrowed hearing familiar
footsteps on the glistening floor approaching her. She turned smiling to greet
Steve who dressed in jeans, leather jacket and hockey cap passed unnoticed.
He kissed her on the cheek.
“I left you here but I didn’t expect to find you still here…”
Selina lolled her head on the side and raised her eyebrows.
“I’m a dilettante, handsome.”
“Really? I didn’t consider you for that type…”
Selina slipped her arm under his upper arm and cuddled to him.
“I wore glasses” she said pointing to her spectacles “and…it’s clear I am an
art lover: I spend hours staring at your abs…” she winked but she noticed that
Steve’s smile was a bit forced. “School ended so soon?”
Steve gulped and looked her in the eyes.
“You didn’t hear anything…” it was evident. “There wasn’t any meeting” Selina
detached from him and frowned worried. “Tony flew to Gotham…”
“Bruce…”
Steve took out of the jacket’s pocket his StarkStel; he didn’t know how to use
every application but Selina did.
“There is a site…Youtube I think…there’s a video.”
She didn’t need more; with fast movements opened the said site and show what
Steve was talking about. She bit her lips; Steve could see her eyes flashing
like flames sad and angry at the same time.
The young woman stormed through the hall to the exit and he followed her.
Steve was there as she mounted her bike. Their eyes locked as she turned on the
engine.
 “I’m sorry…but I can’t stay…”
“Do not apologize. I understand: Bruce needs you.”
She took her helmet.
“You don’t have to come along” she said and put on the helmet.
“There’s no other place for me to be; I’ll lead you through shorter routes” he
replied and jumped on his own bike that he had parked next to Selina’s having
foreseen her reaction.
 
Ironman flew over Gotham seeing nothing else than Bruce’s indifferent eyes;
Tony didn’t brag about his ability to read people yet he knew that under this
indifference lay an emotional numbness, a great shock that when subsided his
friend would be in terrible pain.
His fists clenched without realizing: Bruce shouldn’t be in pain anymore,
damnit! His systems displayed in front of his eyes the exact location from
where the hacking occurred: no surprise there, a small house, near the
outskirts of the city.
Though he wasn’t registering the landscape underneath him he could hear the
police sirens heading to the same place he was. He crooked his mouth: so
Gotham’s police had made progress in technology – Bruce’s donations certainly
had been used for the best. But officers wouldn’t ruin his plans. Not to
mention that if the culprit heard the sirens would run away.
He sped up to the maximum and scanned the house that was situated in a
neighborhood near the exit of the city towards the airport. A man sat before a
computer that seemed custom but Tony could see that had increased capabilities.
“Kirk Isaac, student of the Engineering Department; Gotham University” Jarvis
sent him what he had dug for the owner.
Tony gritted his teeth: a nerd bastard who probably bragged over his feat and
found ways to spread the video despite the ban from the hosting sites.
Ironman surged through the exterior wall to the small living room filling the
space with debris and smoke. The man, no older than 20, sprang up, shocked –
obviously, he didn’t believe that they would manage to overcome his firewalls
and trace him: the arrogant motherfucker believed that even Stark would fail.
Well, his shock became complete terror seeing the red and gold android glaring
at him through the cloud of dust the debris had raised.
The screen of the PC was still filled with data related with his current effort
to spread the video.
“Ironman! Wow! Look, man…” his voice trembled as the emotionless android walked
slowly to him glaring through the cold lenses.
Tony couldn’t stand this bastard looking and speaking to him: the cruel monster
had wrenched Bruce’s heart; he dreaded to consider what lay under his friend’s
tranquility. He never thought of putting a growling system in his face plate
but his own roar was more effective than any artificial one.
He surged against the man and his growl was gradually becoming louder as he
grabbed him from the throat and lifted him in the air with his legs dangling.
Tony was happy seeing the man’s eyes goggled in terror as Ironman was closing
his air supply.
“Look, man, I didn’t know what the video was about…” he squealed but Tony
clenched more causing a sob.
“Motherfucker!”
“I” he gargled “I hacked the signal and…uploaded the video to the net before…”
Isaac’s eyes bulged more.
“Okay, okay, you’re right…but I swear I didn’t know…” he panted. “I found the
DVD in my mail with a letter saying that it’ll rock Gotham…I thought it’d be
fun…” he yelled as the iron fingers squeezed his throat. “Help!”
Fun…That word fell like thunder and lightning in Tony’s head. Fun?! He tossed
the man to the opposite intact wall and before the long haired man slumped on
the floor he grabbed him again from the throat and pressed him to the wall.
“Having fun now?” he spat.
The man closed his eyes and began sobbing.
“Please…”
“You humiliated a brave man who did nothing wrong! You realize how much he
suffers from what you did?! Do you imagine his emotional state?!!”
The man tried to nod though Ironman’s hold on his neck was unrelenting.
“I’m sorry…” Isaac sobbed.
But Ironman shook his head in denial.
“Not good enough!”
The man began crying and his eyes widened as Ironman’s clench became fierce
busting blood vessels.
“Mr. Stark, don’t do that!”
Tony closed his eyes behind the face plate, recognizing the voice. In his manic
haze didn’t realize that the police had arrived. Neither the door being
demolished, as they burst in. It was Jim Gordon who had spoken the first of a
team of officers with guns in their hands.
“Mr. Stark” a second voice was added and Tony recognized the new DA. “Give him
to us and he’ll face justice.”
Tony snorted and would have rolled his eyes if he was less enraged.
“You won’t make Bruce feel better with that” Jim insisted his eyes fixed on the
hero.
But Tony didn’t want to acknowledge the man.
“Jim, keep yourself and your cops off this” he said coldly without looking at
them.
Jim pressed his lips because he felt for the man.
“Tony, you know that I can’t do this. You’ll only make things worse.”
Isaac whose face was almost blue from lack of air darted his panicked eyes to
the Commissionaire; he was drenched in sweat and his eyes watered.
Tony clenched his jaw and tightened his grasp on the man.
“No fuckin’ way!” his boots emitted flames and Ironman took off taking the
hacker with him.
Jim cursed.
“Follow him!” he said and ran through his officers.
“He is Ironman, Commissionaire” a rookie officer said awed but Jim glared at
him and the youth gulped and ran behind his captain.
But Ironman was already far from the wrecked house carrying Isaac along: the
man who was looking terrorized down and sobbed inside the hero’s suffocating
hold. He breathed easier when Ironman landed on a rooftop but immediately
moaned as Ironman brought his metal face to his.
“Please, Mr. Stark…I’m sorry…Please, don’t hurt me…”
“But you hurt my friend: a man who has offered everything to the people of this
city.”
The man gasped and nodded.
“I know, I know…as soon as I realized what the video showed I tried to…”
“Cut the crap! You did nothing! You just enjoyed your…feat!” he raised his iron
fist in the air ready to catapult the man’s face.
But a dry cough made him halt and frown.
“Oh, oh, oh! Youuuuuu were always my favorite hero, Iron--y – hehehehehe!” a
pout “after Batsy, ‘course. Hehe! I want you tooooo know that I approve from
the bottomest boooootom of my heart what you’re gonna do, Tony ol’ pal!”
Tony sniffed behind his face plate; he didn’t cast even a sideways glance but
he knew who was. Joker was hopping to the rooftop with his hands inside his
pockets.
The clown lolled his head on the side and pursed his lips.
“Al--though I’d loooooove to see you doing somethin’ useful for once…Mmm…I
suggest you give ‘im to me” he patted himself on the chest. “The past showed
that I’m better in these things” he blinked emphatically. “You remember
gooooood ol’ Falconi? I think you doooooo! An’ since Brucie is myyyyy wife”
Ironman snapped his head at him growling and Joker cocked his eyebrows.
“Sensitive subject, I know, my friend, yet” he raised his index finger “I have
equal rights to revenge aaaaaaaand I’m the crazy villain here sooooooooo this
fella will certainly take what heeee deserves.”
Isaac began shaking uncontrollably Ironman’s grasp the memory of Falcone’s fate
making him indecisive as to which option was the lesser of two evils.
“Shut the fuck up, Joker!” Ironman roared and Joker giggled.
The jester shook his head.
“Uhhhhh! I definitely like youuuuuur style, Starky boy!Buuuuuut” he pursed his
lips and put his palm beside his mout as if he was to share a secret “you
loooooook liiike copying Batsyyyy…UHUHUHHUUUUHAHAHAHAAA!”
“After him is your turn, bastard!”
Joker stopped abruptly lolling his head to the side.
“I’m shaking from fear now…” he said nasally.
Tony clenched more his fist and lowered it to the cowering hacker who had
closed his eyes and waited for his fate.
Tony was ready for the blood this blow would splash yet as his fist was a
breath from his target something stopped it; something that he couldn’t
overcome. Ironman growled frustrated and turned his face.
Batman stood there; his steady hand grabbing Ironman’s wrist keeping it still
even if the hero tried to free it. Batman’s lenses locked with Ironman’s.
“Enough!” he spat.
Joker jumped several times in the air and clapped enthusiastic like a fanboy.
“Oh, boy! Oh, boy! My two favowite hewoes together!” he mimicked a child’s
voice. “Wow! I’m gonna wet my pants!”
Tony clenched his jaw: Bruce…He risked his health for a sonovabitch! To stop
him! He was pissed beyond words. He jerked his arm but Batman managed to keep
his hold.
“Beat it!’’ Ironman barked. “It’s not your business!”
The hacker still trapped in Tony’s grasp breathed a bit relieved. Joker on the
other hand was watching fascinated rubbing his chin thoughtful.
“This is Gotham!” Batman said calm but adamant. “It is my business!”
“Go save some old lady then! Do somethin’ useful than protecting someone who
spreads child pornography.”
“I’m saving you from a mistake” Batman growled.
“Fuck you!”
Joker clapped and whistled.
“Wooooow! Greeeeeeat performance, guys! Soooooooo persuasive…”
Yet Batman had eyes only for Ironman.
“Someone else gave him the video. He couldn’t have it in his possession: he is
too young and without any connection to Falcone. Someone else did it and just
used him. Killing him you’ll let the real culprit get away and do more damage.”
Isaac nodded trembling and Joker snorted.
“Party pooooooper!” the jester cried seeing Ironman dropping the hacker who
caressed his bruised neck and coughed. “Byyyy the way, Batsyyyy, nice to see
you again! Youuuuu wanna  playyyy oooor you’re incapacitated?”
Batman glared at him but then hurried footsteps were heard coming to the
rooftop and Joker began running.
“Oooooops! I have to leave now, kids!”
“No, you won’t!” Tony having recovered a bit from his trance surged behind him:
he had unfinished business with him.
Batman followed and dove taking him along to the ground just a second before
Joker’s small bomb made impact with his arc reactor.
The jester cackled as police officers flooded the rooftop shooting at him.
“We’ll see each ooooother again, Mr. hacker!” Jocker said cheerfully and
grabbed the fire escape ladder that unfolded taking him to the alley.
Batman fell to the void spreading his wings to chase him and Ironman followed
as Jim handcuffed the hacker who laughing still shocked but very happy for his
arrest.
Ten minutes later Ironman stood in the middle of an alley unable to locate
either Joker or Batman. He was following both of them when they just vanished
from his systems.
“Fuck!” he shouted iron teeth biting his insides from worry; Bruce had come out
and was facing Joker alone.
 
“You’re going back to Arkham.”
Joker looked the wall that had stopped his course; he was trapped like a mouse
in an alley. He lolled his head on the side and his acid green eyes sparkled
focusing on Batman who walked slowly to him.
“Oooooh! It’s a highly misunderstoooood facility – not bad at all. Aaaand
greaaaat company tooooo! Fiiive stars from me” he made a spin and faced his
pursuer. “Walking slower for the impression effect oooooor because you can’t
faster?” he rubbed thoughtful his chin.
“No more nonsense, Joker” he moved to grab him but calls for help made him
stop.
The yells were coming from the street and the victim was desperate. There was
no option for him but he couldn’t let Joker free; he was ready to punch him to
knock him out when something pull him up – a cable.
“I’m learning from you, Batsyyyyyy! Huhuhuhurray!”
Two of his goons were pulling Joker up and the yells for help became faint.
Batman knew he hadn’t any time but he wasn’t going to leave Joker like this.
“Huuuuurry up, Batsyyyyy baby, because my men out there will killllllll…Youuuu
muuust acknowledge my wits: having my men attack innocents was ingen…Ugh…”
One of Batman’s sedative Batarangs found him in the butt and Joker passed out
immediately and fell to the ground exactly as his men who had been hit by the
same Batarangs. That way he’d get Joker as soon as he finished with the others.
Yet as he exited the alley to confront the thugs who had attacked a couple he
saw with the corner of his eyes Joker disappearing. He growled realizing that
Loki had interfered but he had to harry up.
 
Tony deactivated his armor as soon as Alfred opened the door for him. The
butler frowned seeing the rushing movement of his young master who didn’t stop
a second as his armor vanished.
Alfred followed him inside keeping his composure in complete contradiction to
the man’s anger and upset.
“Where is he?” Tony demanded. “You know what he did?! He wore that damned suit
and went out!” he knew that his voice wouldn’t reach the soundproof rooms
upstairs but to be honest he didn’t give a fuck.
Alfred was watching him calm as ever and all over his face was apparent that he
already knew. Tony was expecting that Alfred would share his anger learning
what Bruce had done but there wasn’t any anger in the older man’s face.
“You did know?” he raised his eyebrows.
“I’m afraid I did, sir.”
Tony ruffled his wet hair.
“And you’re not mad at him? You didn’t try to stop him?!” his puzzlement was
greater than his wrath.
Alfred pressed his lips.
“I’m afraid I did not, sir. I didn’t try to dissuade him because he needed to
act like that. The consequences if he had stayed inside would have been worse
than now he got out. You see, Master Anthony, there are times that Master Bruce
is in dire need of an outlet and being bereft of that could hurt him more…
Moreover I reckon that his intervention was beneficial for you too.”
“You were watching?”
“Through the cave’s system, I did, sir. I wouldn’t let Master Wayne out of my
sight just in case.”
However Tony’s wrath didn’t subside.
“Where is he?! We have to talk!” and taking in Alfred’s reluctance “Never mind,
flying here I saw that he was in his bedroom.”
He surged to the stairs and Alfred followed him catching up with him at the
corridor.
“If I may, sir, since you scanned the Manor and found him, you must have
realized that he is sleeping: he was exhausted.”
Tony yanked his head.
“Of course he was! The stubborn, strong headed dork! But I don’t care: he can
lose some sleep since he could come out and…”
Alfred hushed him sensing that he was going to say something that it should not
be heard so close to Dick’s bedroom.
“Pardon me, sir, but I think it is prudent to keep your voice low.”
“If he can do what he did, he can afford to wake up and speak with me.”
He turned and stormed at the master’s bedroom, Alfred follow him afraid that
Master Anthony would wake up Master Bruce and quarrel with him.
But as soon as Tony reached the bed and the flames from the fireplace
illuminated his friend’s calm, sleeping face the billionaire from Malibu
stopped abruptly and closed his eyes touched.
Hero who was sleeping on Bruce’s belly opened his eyes and stared at him. Tony
hushed him with his index finger and caressed his friend’s hair lowering to his
cheek. The sight of Bruce sleeping calmed his own boiling insides. He looked
Alfred and then left carefully the room; Alfred followed closing the door
silently.
Tony stood.
“I can’t stay angry with him” he said ruffling his hair uncomfortable.
Alfred smiled.
“Nobody can, sir; especially in times like this.”
Tony nodded.
“I’m still seeing the same kitten boy I met at his father’s office…”
“I know, sir…I can certainly see your point.”
Tony shook his head regretful for his previous anger.
“Do you want me to prepare your bedroom, sir? I dare say that you are tired
too.”
“Thank you, Al. But still I’m gonna tell that brat off first thing in the
morning!”
Alfred grinned.
“Of course you will, sir.”
 
Bruce was seeing the large restrooms while the loud music and the laughter from
the main hall of the building hurt his ears. People were so cheerful…He
couldn’t understand that; okay, he could understand but it seemed so strange…
The door to the restrooms seemed so distant…so high above him…
Wait. Bruce realized that he was small and his insides clenched: he knew he was
dreaming; he knew where he was and the danger that lurked but he couldn’t run
away. He couldn’t stop what was happening…he couldn’t halt and not go inside
the restrooms: he was supposed to clean up whenever a customer left.
He pushed the door with his shoulder but as soon as he was in someone grabbed
him from the waist and lifted his body to sit him on the granite countertop of
the sinks’ row. His breath was pressed in his lungs and his eyes widened: a man
he didn’t know stood in front of him pressing his body on him.
The man was approximately at Falcone’s age but thin with a prominent chin and
small, sneaky eyes that smirked gleefully.
“I didn’t know that Falcone had such a treasure in his store…Oh! A little
angel…” he began fondling the boy’s torso undeterred by the filth on his
clothes.
Bruce’s heartbeat got frantic; he knew what this meant.
“Please, sir” he mumbled “I don’t do this job…”
The man cackled.
“Don’t be afraid, sonny…You’ll like it…” his hands slipped inside his pants and
groped his buttocks causing the boy’s gasp.
“Please, no…I can’t…Please…”
“Hush, angel…you’ll like it” he whispered and suddenly pushed his index finger
inside Bruce who jerked upright with a sob. “Ooooh, my cutie…” the man smiled
knowing. “I see you’re not new to that…” he moved his finger deeper twitching
it to make the boy convulse. “So you have already a master?”
Bruce’s eyes were wet as the man touched his lips hungrily to his cheek.
“Please…He’ll be angry…Let me go…”
But the man’s finger played more inside him and it hurt grazing the existent
scratches and burnings from past frictions.
“He is possessive, huh?” he mumbled licking the boy’s cheek and thrusting
another finger to the narrow channel making the boy squirm and sob. “I think
with the proper cash, he’ll stop being that…I can be better than him, boy…I’ll
make you moan from pleasure…I’ll give you candies…”
“Please, sir…Don’t” the man with one hand lowered the boy’s pants. “You must
ask Mr. Falcone…”
The man cocked an eyebrow.
“So good ol’ Carmine is the lucky guy?” he chuckled. “He’s my friend, boy…” he
withdrew his fingers and brought them to his nose sucking the smell with closed
eyes. “Your scent is awesome, kid! I’ll fix everything with Carmine and then
will do more…”
The man grabbed Bruce from the armpits and brought him down. He unlocked the
door, winked to him and left.
He was mopping the floor near Falcone’s office after the songs and the music
died and the cabaret was left quiet and dark; his butt still hurt from the
stranger’s fingers but he had had worse than that and at least the man stopped
there: Falcone definitely wouldn’t accept to give him to that man…
“C’mon, Carmine, I’m gonna pay you handsomely for the boy…One time I ask – you
know how much I like small boys…and he’s like an angel.”
Falcone cackled.
“You’re a scum pedophile, Roth – I know you ‘collect’ fucks with boys but this
isn’t for rent.”
Bruce’s heart was clenched: he was begging inside that his master wouldn’t be
persuaded and give him to that man.
“You have him filthy and in rags…and he works in the toilets: I don’t think
that he is so important that you won’t rent him to me for once. I’ll give you
much.”
“Roth, we’re pals but forget this! The boy is not for rent!”
Bruce heard the man sighing.
“You’re so selfish, Carm. At least, gimme a compensation” he sniggered. “You
know how much I like watching videos…be a littl’ generous and share somethin’
with your friend…”
Falcone’s laughter was amused but made Bruce’s spine froze.
“Roth, you ol’ scum! You’re such a perv!”
Bruce saw the man leaving Falcone’s office whistling a melody and his guts
clenched.
“Ya’re fishin’ clients, slut?!”
The blow to his face was devastating and sent him crash to the opposite wall.
He gasped but he didn’t dare to sob, just stayed there waiting; his Master
never stopped with one punch…
“No, sir, I swear I didn’t…” he mumbled wiping with the back of his palm the
blood from his lips.
“Fuckin’ liar! Ya shook yar ass to ‘im, huh?”
Falcone’s mass stood over him casting him in his shadow; the mobster was
regarding his property and then suddenly he grabbed him from the ragged T-shirt
and lifted him, grinding his teeth to Bruce’s face; Bruce wanted to be brave;
he had promised that he would be brave and not cry but his heart was kicking in
his bony chest and it hurt so much that he couldn’t breathe properly.
A second punch harder this time crashed on his right eye and sent him to the
niche of the two walls; he cringed there gathering his legs to his chest to a
quivering ball.
“Please, Master…I…I swear I did nothing…He just grabbed me” he hiccupped choked
in his sobs.
A kick to his ribs was the only answer and he yelped like a wounded puppy
causing a chuckle from Chill who stood some feet away watching amused.
“C’mere, ya faggot!” he grabbed him from the hair and Bruce closed his eyes
feeling his legs dangling.
“Pleas…” a slap tossed him again to the floor.
Falcone paced for a few seconds and then stopped facing the boy’s cowering
mass. Bruce’s guts twisted in nausea as the copper taste filled his mouth and
the blood flawed from his throbbing nose. Another kick found his belly and he
convulsed grunting.
The Gray Wolf clenched his waist with both hands.
“Strip!”
This order always came as a stronger punch than the physical ones. He didn’t
want to but he knew that he couldn’t do anything else. He used his one working
arm to support his trembling body; it was difficult to persuade his tired and
scared members to support him but hearing Falcone’s impatient snort he closed
his eyes, gritted his teeth and finally managed to stand staggering.
“Strip!” the mobster barked again.
Bruce swallowed hard and hurried to take off his clothes baring himself
completely. His breath had become rasps that were disrupted by choked sobs; he
was trembling harder than before because he knew his fate.
Falcone fisted his hair and dragged him to his desk: Bruce’s heart was
shivering more than his weak body. The Gray Wolf pushed away the objects from
the desk and tossed Bruce face first to the desk, his legs dangling over the
floor.
“Open your legs!”
Bruce obeyed; the air was trapped in his lungs hurting him; tears ran from his
eyes blending with the blood dripping to the desk. His legs wanted to close not
open for the mobster but he clenched his jaw and kept them open wide.
“Spread them more an’ stick out yar asshole!” Falcone barked and Chill
sniggered.
He did that though it was difficult as if his legs had their own will. Closed
his eyes and bit his lips knowing that the time had come. He heard the familiar
sounds of Falcone unfastening his belt, unzipping his fly and lowering his
clothes. He felt the air being ripped by the man’s mass coming near, too near.
Bruce felt the man’s hard length already touching his buttocks; he clenched the
only hand he could and let his cheek touch the desk though his wounded face
hurt. The pain was excruciating as always as Falcone thrust his entire length
at once.
Bruce yelled, his body jerking like a dying fish but Falcone’s heavy hand
pushed his waist down and began thrusting in him harder and deeper causing his
sobs and cries.
The pain became worse with every thrust and Bruce was panting, trying to tell
his heart to not pound like this…but it was futile…Falcone’s length was hardly
contained in his narrow channel and every motion ripped his insides burning
him; nausea flooded him as the sound of Falcone’s flesh slapping his became
louder – the man’s testicles blew his stretched buttocks worsening his torture.
Falcone slapped his buttocks and chuckled hearing his moan;
“I love yar squirmin’…” he sniggered and continued hitting him laughing with
his body’s desperate jerks to escape. “Ya like that, huh?”
Suddenly, Falcone’s hands clenched cruelly Bruce’s buttocks stretching them
more to the point of tearing and thrust deeper than before roaring as hot
liquid made Bruce’s wounded insides burn.
The boy’s body convulsed desperately but Falcone pressed his head on the desk
pulling his member out.
Bruce was still breathing in rasps and his heart trembled; but at least it was
over. He heard relieved his master wearing his clothes and closed his eyes
swallowing the pain, waiting to be left alone.
But then he heard footsteps approaching him and knew it was Chill. He felt the
thug’s hand fisting his hair and lifting him from the desk dragging him away.
He was tossed on the bare, rectangular table on the other side of the room;
face first; to his panic Chill grabbed his ankle and tied it with rope that
fastened to the table’s leg.
One thought made his heart begin kicking again inside his ribs. That thought
became certainty when Chill grabbed his other ankle and repeated what he did
with the other binding his leg to the opposite table’s leg spreading him.
Falcone approached smirking and Bruce lifted his head to look at him through
the water curtains covering his eyes; the blood from nostrils, eyebrow and lips
was still slithering hot on his face. Chill was binding his crippled right arm
and with every cruel move Bruce moaned.
“Please, sir…” he pressed his lips choking a cry from Chill’s cruel handling of
his arm. “Please, not tonight…Please let me…only for tonight…”
But the mobster fisted his hair and yanked his head upwards; his gleeful eyes
shone angrily and jeeringly to Bruce’s.
“The only reason ya exist is my entertainment” he jerked his head harder “ya
know that?!”
Bruce wanted to nod but his master’s hand was unrelenting so he gathered the
few air in his lungs, swallowed sobs and grunts and looked at him.
“Y…Yes, sir…”
Falcone let his head so abruptly that it fell hard on the wood but Bruce didn’t
care. Chill was fastening his other arm spreading him so much that he felt his
body ready to tear in half…and he knew that this was nothing.
Gotham’s Emperor returned smirking and showed him what he was holding; it was
bigger and broader than every other they had used on him…it had the width of a
Coca Cola’s glass bottle. Bruce’s heart stopped. He shook his head desperate.
“It’s too big, sir…please…I can’t…”
Falcone raised the thick, metal dildo and slapped him in his already bleeding
nose sending his head crashing to the table.
“Ya became an expert now?!” he leaned above Bruce’s ear “I know ya like them
big and thick, stretching yar asshole…”
Bruce’s body was shaking drenched in cold sweat; sobs were heaving his trapped
chest burning his constricted throat.
“I beg you…please…”
“Open yar mouth!”
He did though his mouth trembled. The mobster pushed the dildo inside
violently, stretching his cavity. The metal was thrust deeper choking him; his
eyes bulged as he was choked.
Falcone drew out the dildo and punched him in the jaw. Bruce gargled on the
wood, coughing and salivating.
“If it fits in yar mouth, it fits to yar hole too… Don’t ya dare clenchin’ yar
asshole! I’m gonna skin ya alive, ya bastard!”
The metal was cold to his hot abused skin; his opening was stretched to its
limits and waiting agape still beating and hurting from Falcone’s penetration.
Bruce felt Chill’s hand pressing his buttocks and then something enormous and
cold hit his opening trying to invade. Bruce wished it got inside so that
Falcone wouldn’t get mad at him but even after Falcone’s hard treatment his
opening was too small for that object… Chill pressed harder his buttock to the
table and pushed more the object cursing.
“It’s too small…” he said to his boss.
“Nah…The bastard clenches his asshole…If it doesn’t get in I’m gonna skin ya
alive, sonovabitch!”
Bruce clenched his hand and closed his eyes as the metal wounded his flesh
trying to expand the opening to fit; he bit his lip but then a hard movement
that stretched his burnt from friction flesh made him scream and his extended
body began trembling trying to escape the bounds and the pain.
A blow to his buttocks made him scream.
“Please…” he howled as the dildo managed to stretch the opening so much that
the peak managed to fit – he wanted to beg again but his howlings swallowed his
voice.
His body was drenched in sweat that was getting cold instantly; he felt his
anal channel tearing as the metal slowly, torturously invaded. He was crying
like a baby; moaning and begging; his outstretched body twitching in its bounds
in vain just worsening the pain.
“Push it deeper!” Falcone cheered. “The littl’ slut likes that!” he said
goggling at the boy’s bleeding opening.
Bruce heard Chill’s teeth rattling and then the metal impaled him with a swift,
rapid motion aggravating his existent wounds and making new. His eyes shut…
Cold liquid washed his head and every pain returned worse than before. He was
seeing everything under fog but he could feel Falcone’s enraged breath on his
hot, sweaty face. The mobster grabbed his hair and brought his face to his
mouth.
“Passin’ out is forbidden” he growled. “Ya know that but ya did it to ruin my
fun!”
“No, sir…I didn’t do it on purpose…Please…”
“Ya’ll be punished!”
“No, I beg you…I didn’t want to…forgive me…Please forgive me!”
“There’s no forgiveness for a brat like ya! Ya understand only with
punishment!”
He dropped his head on the table and ordered Chill to continue. He was
thrusting the big object in and out of him deeper, stronger and faster…It was
so big that his channel was unbearably stretched and every motion hurt like his
entire spine was cracking and breaking. Bruce closed his eyes and clenched his
fist crying and yelling, his throat burning; his body squirmed desperately
causing the men’s laughter. He was exhausted and feigning seemed his only
escape but he struggled to not pass out because his punishment would be worse.
 
Alfred was in the kitchen wearing his dark maroon night robe; he couldn’t sleep
and decided to prepare a tea since he wasn’t going to lie down again. He wanted
to be alert, in case his young master needed something: he knew that this day
was devastating for the youth even if he hid it so perfectly.
The Englishman was scared for what was going on inside his young Master but it
was relieved that at least Master Anthony had managed to calm down a bit.
Well, it seemed that he was wrong because he heard the familiar footsteps of
Master Anthony entering the kitchen. Alfred turned. The billionaire from Malibu
was dressed in his turquoise pajamas with Garfield winking face all over his
torso.
“I am preparing tea, would you like some, Master Anthony?”
Tony raffled his messy hair with a grimace crossing his face.
“I prefer a cup of good ol’ espresso” he yawned and walked to the black granite
countertop where a brand new espresso machine awaited. “It is a good thing that
at least Bruce is sleeping.”
Alfred nodded but frowned hearing running footsteps heading to the kitchen.
Both men saw puzzled Dick in his pajamas surging into the kitchen. The boy was
clearly shaken.
“Wayne is crying…” the boy said and Tony shook his head.
Alfred leaned to the boy.
“Master Bruce has as many reasons as you to cry, Master Richard…in his sleep,
because during the day, in front of us he smiles to not make us sad.”
Dick closed his eyes and shook his head.
“But he is crying right now and…and begs and groans…as if he is in great pain”
the boy’s eyes were almost wet and Tony frowned at that sudden change. “He
writhes in his bed…I was walking to the corridor…to come downstairs and drink
something when I heard and I opened the door” he explained in one breath. “He
suffers…”
Alfred and Tony simultaneous hurried towards the stairs to reach Bruce’s
bedroom but the Englishman halted the younger man.
“Master Anthony, could you do me the favor and contact Leslie to come here.”
Tony understood that the butler wanted to handle this himself at least at
first. He nodded because Alfred had more experience with Bruce’s nightmares and
Leslie should be informed.
 
Falcone approached him holding his thick, tight leather crop. They left the
dildo stabbed in him keeping his opening spread to its limits.
Bruce looked at his master sobbing; his eyes were wet as his entire face.
“I beg you, sir…please, no…no, no…forgive me…”
“Boys like ya learn only with the crop.”
Bruce heard his footsteps going back and his heart beat so fast and hard that
he thought it was going to jump out of his chest. The man stopped along with
Bruce’s breath.
Falcone grabbed the edge of the dildo and pushed it inside causing Bruce’s cry.
But the small body had hardly returned to the table when the sound of leather
ripping the air made Bruce’s heart stop…and then the sound of leather
lacerating tender flesh, the pain…the pain…that pain stabbing his cranium like
a blade and piercing it throughout squashing the bones.
He howled with all the power that his exhausted lungs didn’t have. It was crazy
but he squirmed in his bindings to get away only to cause the two men’s
sniggers; finally he slumped down to the table sobbing and moaning whispering
futile pleading.
The crop hissed angrily and crushed again to his buttocks stronger than before
and Bruce cried.
“Please, stop, please, please, I beg you, I’ll do anything…” his body squirmed
again only irritating his pains and the stretching of his anus.
“Anything…please forgive me”
The same whistle, the same crushing sound, the same pain tearing apart his
bones and burning every muscle.
“Please, I do anything…Please…”
“How many strokes did ya get?” Falcone asked strictly. “Let me see how watchful
pupil ya’re.”
Bruce didn’t know and his heart began convulsing; it was hurting so much that
he didn’t count. The blood in his mouth choked him.
“If ya give a wrong answer we’ll start all over.”
“No, please…”
“Don’t try to evade the answer! I said how many?!”
He gulped hard; they seemed so many…
“TTen…” he mumbled and Chill gave a loud laughter.
“Wrong!” Falcone cheered. “Ya’re not payin’ attention to yar lesson: we start
again – ya’ll count aloud this time. Ya see how good I am?”
The crop howled again and landed splashing flesh and blood from his back this
time.
“One…” Bruce moaned.
“Louder, ya bastard, or I’ll double the strokes!” the crop slashed again his
flesh.
“Two!” Bruce cried before his voice was choked in moans.
“That was one, ya dork! Again!”
Every time the leather string stabbed his flesh Bruce counted gathering every
drop of quivering stamina he was left…his body didn’t convulse anymore,
resigned to its fate.
He was a quivering, cringing mass before Falcone’s feet; his punishment was
over but his body was throbbed from pain. With the corners of his swollen eyes
he saw Chill carrying a small disk that he put on his boss’ desk.
“Up!” the mobster demanded and Bruce hurried to use his healthy arm to obey but
his legs couldn’t move although they had removed the dildo.
Falcone cupped his jaw and spat to his face. Then he turned to Chill who was
staring at the still naked boy.
“Take him down and then take the disk to Roth.”
Chill stopped abruptly a few feet before Bruce’s cage; he forced him to his
knees; Bruce couldn’t lift his head so the thug grabbed his hair and yanked
cruelly his head.
“I didna carry ya her’ free of charge…Time for my reward.”
Bruce gulped a sob and the torturing loud thud of his heart began again; his
anal channel was throbbing and each throb sent waves of excruciating pain to
his entire body.
“But yar ass is a mess so…open yar mouth, faggot!”
Bruce obeyed though his lips were bruised and swollen and his jaw hurt like
Hell.
 
Alfred opened hesitantly the door to the Master’s bedroom and clapped for the
lights. The bed was empty and the wheelchair was in its place. Hero ran to him;
the Englishman could see that the kitten was distraught and he caressed his
head.
“It’s alright, Master Hero…I’m here now…”
He heard the shower. Master Bruce was in the bathroom. He won his hesitance and
fear hurrying his steps; opened the door and walked inside the enormous space.
He saw remnants of vomit in the toilet and flushed.
Master Bruce’s pajamas were discarded on the floor.
“Master Bruce?” he asked carefully not wanting to burst inside the hydromassage
cabin.
However when the water kept running and Bruce didn’t answer Alfred forgot his
discretion and opened the door determined to be composed and not disturbed
whatever he’d see.
But his determination evaporated at once with what he saw…
***** Chapter 61 *****
Desperate screams echoed to the entirety of the endless circular cave that
opened to many new caves forming a dark labyrinth; yells filled with agony and
pain that seemed to be coming from inside the rock formations. The enormous
mineral columns that nature had made from stalagmites and stalactites seemed to
emanate these eerie shrieks.
The circular cave was cast in dim yellow-red light that looked as if being
radiated from the stone walls and the big lake at the center the water of which
boiled emitting sulfur.
“Interesting…” Darkseid’s jeering voice towered the cries of pain as he marched
through the cave to the lake.
Bagdana in his granite like body, dressed in leather was bent over the dark
boiling waters and his eyes – two black stains – were completely immobile. He
sensed his ally’s coming but he didn’t care. He was in pain and while physical
pain wasn’t something new to a demon, this kind of pain was.
Pain which situated everywhere inside him; pain that was unbearable; pain that
made him want to rip his own body to get the pain out. A demon wasn’t supposed
to be in that kind of pain; a demon wasn’t made to suffer this kind of pain.
But Bagdana was in the worst kind of this type of pain. And this wasn’t the
first time in his endless life…
The first time was when he held in his arms Lilith’s dead body…The second when
he sensed that Bruce had breathed his last breath. And the third, now having
access to his human’s suffering: double suffering – the pain of a small child
whose body was tortured mercilessly along with his pure soul and the pain of a
youth who re-experienced all these through his nightmares... He had his fists
clenched but this wasn’t something that could be intimidated by his wrath: it
was irony…pain wasn’t afraid of anything.
Before his eyes replayed the night he first saw the ragged, skinny boy who was
to rock his eternal life. A small boy wandering to the caves, at night time; a
boy who wasn’t scared of the bats that swarmed the caves; the boy loved the
flying rodents that everyone else hated.
It wasn’t difficult to see into the boy’s troubled mind – tortured souls were
always easy to penetrate yet there was another reason for being instantly drawn
to that boy; a reason that he figured long after, a reason that Ra’s Al Ghul
already knew: Lilith’s blood.
He took the form of the boy’s father to play with his suffering and have fun
with the momentary hopeful shine in his unique eyes. But most fun the demon had
when the smart boy realized the fraud and his hopes, his happiness shred with
the pieces stabbing his insides. Bagdana had laughed then: he enjoyed, he
feasted on that boy’s pain: the bigger the pain the bigger the demon’s
entertainment – the stupid demon didn’t suspect that this horrible pain was to
become his as well…
Bagdana felt Darkseid’s presence next to him but insisted on ignoring him in
hopes that he’d get the Hell out of his domain. But the alien god was arrogant
and selfish; always wanting to get what he wanted.
“Your lair’s decoration is interesting” Darkseid cocked his eyebrows “plain but
atmospheric – the sounds as well.”
Bagdana didn’t reply; his eyes were still fixed on the boiling water that
slowly turned the golden color of the lava.
“I summoned you” Darkseid said frowned irritated from the demon’s indifference.
“Why you ignored my call?”
Bagdana’s nostrils were fuming.
“What do you want?”
Darkseid stilled his red eyes on the demon’s face despite his unwillingness to
look at him.
“My servants owe to answer my calls immediately!”
Bagdana didn’t reply but the silver peaks on his head filled with red dancing
flames.
“You didn’t need my services” he retorted hissing “you just wanted to laugh at
me.”
Darkseid snorted and a smirk carved his blue, square face.
“You do know me, demon…I see that you are…” he sniffed “heartbroken?” he asked
snidely. “I couldn’t imagine that a demon would have a heart neither that he
would be bent by the revelation of his pet’s true, filthy nature. That video
was highly entertaining…”
Bagdana clenched his jaw.
“Leave…” he growled.
Darkseid’s teeth rattled and sparkles were emitted around.
“You’re too cheap to order Darkseid!” he yelled and for an instant his voice
covered the miserable cries of pain. “Your demeanor is another proof that
you’re the most pathetic, ridiculous demon!”
Bagdana turned his head to lock eyes with him: he’d like to show that arrogant
fool who Bagdana truly was but it wasn’t the time. He needed the alien idiot.
However his state at the moment prevented him from controlling entirely
himself.
“Then I work for the proper god…” he spat calm cocking an eyebrow.
Darkseid raised his gigantic fist to hit him and the demon just stared at him
undeterred, a faint smirk shadowing his features. The new god growled several
times but eventually lowered his fist containing his wrath.
“It is the first and last time I spare your miserable existence.”
Bagdana made a deep bow but his eyes were red.
“Thank you for your generosity, my Lord” he replied humbly but Darkseid had the
feeling he was jeered.
“I understand your carnal interest in Wayne but I do not see the reason you
esteemed so much that Batman…He isn’t anywhere; he doesn’t do anything” he
chuckled. “He is the worst of all these pathetic heroes in this waste of a
planet.”
“He doesn’t act to be seen…he acts mostly in the shadows and he is deadly
effective.”
Darkseid wasn’t persuaded.
“Follow me.”
“I beg your generosity to give me some hours…”
Darkeid stopped and turned his head to look at him.
“Why?”
Bagdana gazed at the quivering stony arches of the cave.
“I have some souls to torture…” he hissed and the shrieks and sobs became more
desperate.
Darkseid smirked.
“Inferno and Paradise in action?”
Bagdana’s eyes became two enflamed slits.
“What chose me during life is attributable to me.”
Darkseid snorted.
“All these for a pathetic pest…”
Bagdana saw with the corners of his eyes his ally vanishing knowing that
despite Darkseid’s snubbing expressions the alien god was intrigued by Bruce
and the ancient demon hated that.
 
Superman hovered over Gotham with his fists touching his hips; the naughty
raven lock fell on his brow playfully. The strong wind waved his red cape.
His acute sight could see through buildings and his hearing could overcome
every wall. Everyone knew that this city was the capital of crime and
corruption so Superman was more useful here than anywhere else. Yet till now he
hesitated to come here: he was a Kryptonian but at the same time he was a
journalist that knew very well how the world worked so he was aware that
Superman’s action wasn’t enough to clean that hellhole.
Till now he had chosen to act in places where his actions would manage
something even if he felt bad for leaving the citizens of that city in their
fate. On the other hand he had heard countless times that Gothamites weren’t
much better than the crime lords who ruled the city.
He didn’t have any faith in Gotham’s people or the city’s salvation…and that
made him disappointed because this city was not only his failure but also the
proof of his cowardice…So it was easy to turn his gaze elsewhere and forget
this city.
Till now…Something inside was stinging him to fly there; a clenching in his
guts; agony like someone was in dire need of him. Someone was dying or too
close to that.
He turned his head to every directions hearing carefully… Despite the usual
ruckus of the big city, one sound topped everything else; a sound that seemed
coming from inside him rather than outside. A heartbeat: a weak, tired, scared
heartbeat – a heartbeat of a teen…
His super sight turned there as if drawn by a powerful magnet: one of the
Gotham Emperor’s buildings, his first and most beloved cabaret – Dolcetto. The
heartbeat was coming from the kitchen; he focused there and he saw him.
A boy no older than 14 years but he definitely looked younger. He was dressed
in rags, rags stained with filth and…Superman’s heart clenched as much as the
boy’s…blood, dried and fresh. The boy was skinny and his right arm was immobile
and in pain; he was on his knees mopping the floor but Superman could see him
carefully and shyly lifting his beautiful eyes to glance at the table over him.
There was a TV set open. The footage showed Superman rescuing a woman from a
burning building. The boy forgot his fear and stared at the small screen, his
eyes full with hope and despair at the same time.
“Help me…” the boy whispered and a sob sadder than anything other Superman had
heard left his lungs.
And suddenly the same boy was tied spread eagled to a table, completely naked,
his face touching the hard surface in hopelessness; completely resigned to his
fate, to the merciless abuse of the adults who held him captive.
Superman was hearing the boy’s desperate howls of pain, his sobs, his pleading
for mercy. A fire inside the hero urged him to smash the wall and take the boy
away, to the safety of his arms…but something held him in his place.
The boy lifted his bruised face, his tired, blood shot eyes and it was as if
those unique, mesmerizing eyes pierced him to the core. His lucky Kryptonites…
“Save me…” the boy whispered in a weak voice that emanated his awareness that
he wouldn’t be saved.
Superman pressed his lips and stormed…
Two tender yet strong arms hugged his torso and a flexible, naked body cuddled
to him. He felt two breasts slithering up his chest, dominating, and he opened
his eyes only to meet with two glazing dark blue eyes in the darkness of the
bedroom.
“You’re dreaming about him?” she asked concerned but demand was evident as the
flashes from the after midnight traffic slipped through the drapes.
Clark wrapped his arms around her naked back and caressed the hot flesh.
“That video…”
She shook her head and smiled.
“You’re too strong yet too soft hearted…Or Wayne’s spells on you still hold…”
Superman frowned and his mind went to the effect that Bruce’s body had on him.
Diana couldn’t know about that; she must have used that word as a figure of
speech.
“Or you just pity him…after all he is a pitiful being” her lips curled in
disgust. “I’m glad your glory isn’t connected with his miserable existence.”
Her lips touched Superman’s lips and electric current surged through his body
making him forget all the misery of the world; all the misery that thinking
about Bruce brought to him. Her groin rubbed sensually to his aroused length
and Superman just wanted to be happy; to enjoy his life, to not be bothered by
other people’s misery and suffering. He just wanted to delve into his lover’s
body without remorse or fear that he might cause more pain.
Diana’s magic fingers cupped his face and her sparkling eyes pierced his.
“You know that I love you, Kal El. From the first time I lay eyes on you I knew
that you were my one and only mate; the one I want to make happy and give him
what he deserves. When I learnt about you and Wayne, my heart clenched because
I was sure that this man would cause you only pain and you, after all the good
you made for these people, deserve only the best. ”
She captured his lips in a passionate kiss that numbed Superman to the core and
Clark knew that this was true love, true pathos and not mercy.
 
It was still dark and the cold was bone crashing; his entire body was howling
in pain but he gathered his quivering strength and walked, just walked, hoping
against hope that nobody was going to see him. After all, it was too early and
everyone was still asleep. He needed to go there.
He stood in front of the ready to collapse small wooden cabinet that served as
his shower. He had discarded his ragged, filthy clothes around and stepped
inside hoping that Signora Bruna would stay asleep till he finished. He hoped
that he’d have the time to mop the blood drops he had left on his way here.
His fingers shook as he twisted the tap for the water to start washing his
quivering from the cold body. He was ready for the shock of the icy water since
they didn’t allow him warm water. However his major fear was that they will
hear the water running and bust him…
The water crashed on him like bricks making his muscles cramp and his teeth
rattle yet he didn’t care; he only wanted to get cleaned.
“Nothing of what those people did to you left a stain on you, Bruce! They were
more stained than you!”
However Bruce could see the stains all over his body: big stains with all kinds
of shapes and others that were drops from splashing liquid. Red-brown stains
that were dried blood blended with flesh specks that stuck there, and sick
yellow stamps that were the remnants of…He felt again the rush of hot liquid
inside his anus…It had dripped everywhere…marking him as Falcone’s toy, a
useless vessel for his body liquids.
He shivered because the water was so cold and because it irritated his
injuries; yet it was the persistent stains that mattered to him so he rubbed
with all his despair and disgust wishing that his right arm was operative to
help.
He twisted more the tap increasing the quantity of the water in hopes that the
increased pressure would help to rub off the dirt. But the water was of no
help…So he rubbed; he rubbed desperately to remove the stains and chase away
the stink, the stench.
He stank of Falcone…of the copper smell of blood…of his own sour sweat…of his
own gross body…of dried semen… And that stench twisted his stomach so much that
he felt the need to throw up again even if he had done so before…
In his frenzy to scrub his skin clean, his legs lost their balance and he
landed to the filthy cement…His heart was convulsing with hopelessness: the
stains didn’t vanish…
He saw again people goggling, their eyes wide watching Falcone using him;
watching his outstretched opening being invaded…and then turning their eyes and
goggle at him…smelling the stench of semen on him; the stench of the people who
violated him; his own stench.
For an instance he brought his forearm to cover his eyes to stop seeing the
disgusted Gothamites goggling at him but then he remembered what he had come to
do and began scratching his skin with more persistence, gritting his teeth to
the point of sobbing.
He couldn’t stand neither he wanted to stand…some soap would have helped…a bath
foam even more but he had years to use bath foam. The bath foam his mom used to
wash him with: the perfume of hibiscus and orange hit for a second his nostrils
and he saw again his mom’s smile reassuring, soothing. But then the foul smells
from his body attacked him again and he surrendered…resigned…stopped rubbing
accepting that he couldn’t get rid of the stench.
He used his arm to gather his non responsive legs to his chest and called his
mom to console him singing that beautiful lullaby…
 
Jim Gordon and Robert Hatchet were still at the Commissionaire’s office; the
first standing thoughtful with his hands clenching his waist and the later
pacing nervously. They had just finished Isaac’s interrogation.
“He swears that he doesn’t know who sent the parcel with the video…”
Jim shook his head.
“If he knew he’d have betrayed him to save himself; he is too scared after
Stark’s attack.”
Robert took the transparent case containing the disk.
“Only his fingertips” and then took the other case with the parcel that
contained the disk they had found in Isaac’s apartment. “Of course no sender’s
address and Isaac’s address is typed. Our man is very clever.”
Jim shook his head and lifted his eyebrows.
“So we end up in this: who could have access to that video?”
Robert nodded.
“Someone working for Falcone or someone associate. Harvey told me that he spoke
to his father and he knows some mobsters for which nobody except Falcone and
Chill knew the exact nature of their businesses.”
“You took the names?”
“Of course.”
Jim pinched the bridge of his nose.
“Still, why would some former associate of Falcone want to publish that video
risking being arrested?”
“Maybe someone who hates Wayne learnt about that video and managed to acquire
it.”
Jim nodded.
“And he must hate him too much to do something like this” Jim tapped nervously
his fingers on the desk. “We must watch the video” he told the DA who was
startled.
“What?”
“Maybe we can notice some detail that will help.”
Robert rubbed his face; it was evident that his abhorrence in the prospect of
watching that content was as strong as Jim’s.
“What do you think you can find in that shit?” he said grimly.
Jim yanked his head pissed; his eyes widened.
“Anything!” he yelled jerking his hands. “Anything that could spare Wayne from
the process of answering our questions!”
Robert pressed his lips and sighed.
“You know that we can’t spare him from the ordeal: it is the standard
procedure. Wayne must answer some questions.”
Jim cursed.
“Yes, I know but if we find something, the procedure will be fast and it won’t
have to be too persistent. Don’t you prefer to endure this appalling video than
torment Wayne?”
Jim knew that having to answer questions about something like this was like
living it again in front of strangers and Wayne had already experienced that
with every stranger in the world goggling at the spectacle. His conscience
revolted in the thought.
Robert bit his lip and nodded determined.
“I do. And it is my job, after all” he spat and sat in the chair.
Jim walked to the door and popped his head outside.
“Montoya, Bullock!” eight eyes were better than four.
 
The water was running but the system’s quality was such that the sound was
soft, so soft that a low murmured melody managed to be heard.
Alfred’s eyes widened and froze on the curled body in the niche the two walls
of the cabin made. Master Bruce in his confusion used his mind’s power to make
his legs move till the cabin but then the same confusion made him lose control
falling on the cabin’s floor.
The Englishman’s eyes were glued on the youth’s convulsing body: his young
master had his legs gathered to his chest and was rocking slowly back and
forth; his blank, sparkling eyes were turned to the floor not seeing
anything…or better seeing somewhere else.
The young man was murmuring; singing in a low voice that was cracked every now
and then by sobs; he sang the melody that made butler’s heart break: Bruce was
singing his favorite lullaby, the one his mother used to sing to her only
child. It was the same song Alfred found him mumbling that day he went secretly
to Dolcetto. It was easy for the Englishman to figure that the poor boy all
these years sang this song to console himself whenever his suffering was
unbearable – maybe bringing back his mother’s voice to blend with his own.
In spite his paralyzing sorrow, Alfred registered the deep fresh scratches
running Bruce’s naked back and by the blood on Master Bruce’s left hand
fingernails, Bruce had done them just now. And then another awful realization
came like thunder to shake his numb with sorrow and fear mind: his young
Master’s back was too red as his entire body…irritated but not just from the
scratches.
Suddenly, he dawned to him that the cabin was filled with steam, too hot
steam…His eyes bulged more seeing the temperature of the water.
“Dear Lord!”
The temperature was much higher than what a human body could tolerate and
Alfred bet that Bruce’s body had burnings where the butler couldn’t see. His
hand flew instinctively to the control screen turning off the water yet Master
Bruce didn’t seem to realize and his sad song continued having greater impact
on Alfred’s soul now that it wasn’t disrupt by the water’s falling.
He rushed outside, grabbed the bath robe from the stand and squatted next to
his young Master wrapping carefully the wounded and superficially burned skin.
The feeling of something touching his oversensitive skin drew Bruce out of his
secluded world; he turned his eyes confused and Alfred relieved saw
recognition.
“Alfred?”
The voice was so low, so cracked, so filled with complain that Alfred’s eyes
watered.
“Yes, Master Bruce, I’m here now…” he said trying to hide his distress and be
soothing.
“I need the water…”
Alfred gulped.
“It was too hot, Master Bruce and was hurting you.”
Bruce’s eyes were sparkling stabbing Alfred’s.
“I’m not Master…” he whispered “I’m just Bruce…” his voice was too hoarse. “And
I need the water…”
Alfred made a pathetic attempt at smiling.
“You made those scratches, Master Bruce?”
Bruce closed his eyes tired.
“Signora Bruna brings me here for shower…and the water is always cold…it was
too cold and I need to scrub off the filth… too cold…but it’s nothing…after all
the lashes hurt more…”
The youth’s body was quivering and though it wasn’t the only reason certainly
his young Master was cold because his teeth rattled. Also, Alfred noticed
Bruce’s right arm placed over his belly, completely immobile.
The Englishman felt his heart beating fast as the boy’s he had wrapped in his
hug; he felt sobs besieging his filled with thorns throat but he knew he should
be strong so he pressed his lips.
“You’re clean now, Master Bruce and it’s time for us to leave…”
But the youth shook his head.
“No, I need to… more…the stains are too deep…they don’t leave…” he moved his
left hand and began rubbing his skin grounding his teeth.
Alfred took gently his hand to stop him from injuring more his skin.
“No, Master Bruce…it’s alright…let us wear the bath robe now…” he guided the
arm to the sleeve and Bruce shyly slid it to the end.
It was more difficult with the other arm and Alfred felt helpless: Bruce’s
right arm was like a log and as soon as he touched it Bruce cried in pain.
“Forgive me, Master Bruce.”
The youth gulped.
“It’s my fault, Alfred…” he mumbled and with his left arm helped his immobile
arm wear the other sleeve despite the fact his grimaces showed how much that
hurt.
Bruce’s eyes fell on the drenched floor.
“I’m sorry” he said and when Alfred looked at him questioning what he couldn’t
utter “for the blood…” there wasn’t any blood on the floor (the blood from the
scratches had stayed on the skin) but Alfred swallowed his panic and didn’t
mention it. “I…I’ll mop it right away before Signora Bruna sees!”
“There’s no need for that, Master Bruce” he reassured him with a faint smile
“I’ll take care of everything…Now, can you do me the favor and lean on me?
Please, Master Bruce, do not try to support your body on your legs; can you do
that for me? Just… lean on me, sir, please.”
Bruce gave a shy nod and wrapped his arm around Alfred’s neck and the
Englishman put his arm around the youth’s torso rising carefully. Bruce did as
he was told and leaned on Alfred for support; the kind man fixed Bruce’s bath
robe to give him the decency he deserved and moved out of the hydromassage
cabin.
“I’m sorry for everything, Alfred” Bruce said with the steadiness of the
determined youth of the previous day and Alfred grinned to him.
“You did nothing to apologize for, sir” he answered reassuringly.
Bruce’s arm around his neck was put exactly the way a little child would have
done with an adult he’d consider safe and Alfred felt his young Master’s head
resting exhausted in his chest. His face was cold and Alfred felt Bruce’s
entire body shivering. Hypothermia and pain: Alfred prayed that Leslie would
come soon. But what worried him more was his young Master’s quick breathing.
“Alfred…” his voice had lost the momentary steadiness.
“Yes, Master Bruce?” he didn’t haste his movements because he didn’t want to
upset more the young man.
Bruce’s face was hidden in Alfred’s chest and the butler wanted to caress his
dripping hair but he needed both hands to support him right.
“Promise me that this time you won’t leave me here…Promise me that you’ll get
me with you…” there was complain and a small sob in his voice. “I can’t take it
anymore…please…”
Alfred’s heart bled remembering that time he had gone to Dolcetto and found the
little boy mopping the floor on his knees bleeding from his anus. Those child
eyes when he was forced to leave and let the boy in Falcone’s clutches still
haunted Alfred’s nightmares. Eyes filled with pleading and despair; eyes that
became resigned realizing that the only adult who could help abandoned him.
Bruce had lifted his head and was looking at him with the same eyes as 15 years
before; Alfred couldn’t stop the flow of liquid from his eyes so he stopped
walking.
“I swear, Master Bruce: this time I’ll take you with me…”
Bruce wrapped his arm tighter to the man’s neck and let his head nestle with
trust in his chest. Alfred closed his eyes swallowing a sob for Bruce’s pain.
“I’m sorry for causing you pain, Alfred” Bruce said in his steady voice
subduing his panting breaths for a moment.
Alfred was ready to reassure him that he was alright but the youth jerked
forward and the butler hardly restrained him from falling.
“I have to…”
Alfred understood and helped his young master knee before the toilet to throw
up. Bruce’s body jerked violently and Alfred hugged him from behind to smoothen
the effect; but still the motion was too strong and Bruce bent over the toilet
throwing up the contents of his stomach and after a couple of wrenches just
transparent fluids. Alfred knew that the pain in Bruce’s diaphragm was horrible
and with clenched jaw was caressing the youth’s hair throughout the ordeal.
When the jerks stopped Bruce’s exhausted body made to collapse on the cold
floor but Alfred held him gentle but determined. The Englishman used his sleeve
to wipe the youth’s mouth and caressed his cold cheeks.
But then his Master began panting, breathing too fast and too swallow that
Alfred felt his own breath choking him. He cupped Bruce’s face with both hands
and made their eyes lock.
“Master Bruce, please, I want you to breath slow and deep; do you understand
what I’m saying?” the young  man nodded and tried to slow down his breaths
failing.
“I can’t” he whispered through his panting.
“Look at me. Master Bruce: you know how to breathe right; follow me, sir” he
inhaled deeply, held the air and then exhaled slowly.
Yet Bruce couldn’t master something in which he was expert.
“You’ll make it, Master Bruce: do not give up the effort.”
And then a cute meow caught Alfred’s and Bruce’s attention. The butler turned
behind him and saw the black and white fur ball running on the glistening
floor, a paw slipping every now and then. But Hero reached them and rubbed his
head to the human’s hand urging him to pet him. Alfred smiled.
“Hero…” he mumbled grateful seeing his young Master petting the animal causing
the kitten’s purring that made Bruce somehow relaxing in Alfred’s arms. “Now,
Master Bruce, breathe in the rhythm of Master Hero’s purring.”
Bruce did as he was said and after some efforts, his breath reached almost
normality. Alfred caressed the young man’s wet hair.
“It is over now, Master Bruce. Do you want us to stand?”
Bruce nodded: wet stray locks had fallen to his eyes and made his sight even
more difficult but he could see his kitten’s bright eyes looking at him with
love. Hero was there and Alfred was there and wouldn’t abandon him.
The Englishman clenched his jaw to lift himself and his exhausted master
however hurried steps entered the bathroom stopping him.
“Leslie was already on her way here: she suspected that something like this
would happen and…” Alfred heard the gasp and after the initial shock Tony ran
to them. “Let him to me…” he whispered in a hoarse, cracked voice.
Alfred was hesitant because he was afraid that Bruce would panic if he felt
other hands on him.
Indeed, Bruce is his hypervigilant state sensed the new presence in the space
and jerked in Alfred’s arms ready to flee. But the Englishman caressed his
locks calming.
“Master Bruce, please, calm down…I’m Alfred, remember? I won’t let anyone hurt
you” he bit his bottom lip because that was a blatant lie: he had let many
people hurt the defenseless child. “It is Master Anthony he came to help us…”
Bruce nodded closing his eyes and Tony’s insides clenched painfully seeing his
friend in such suffering, some scratches visible on his friend’s shivering
torso.
“Is it alright if he touches you?” Alfred asked carefully and Bruce nodded.
The butler raised his eyes to Tony who was watching avidly and when Alfred gave
him a nod he leaned and carefully put one hand around Bruce’s back and one
under his knees. Tony wasn’t the most empathetic man on the world but now
seeing Bruce on his knees, quivering with his head bowed having just thrown his
guts out; he knew that his movements should be very gentle and extra careful.
So he brought his face to Bruce’s eye field; the younger man was staring at
Hero who enjoyed his rather mechanic petting.
“Little guy…it’s me, Tony…”
Bruce hearing that voice felt new courage filling him. He raised his eyes and
Tony smiled reassuringly though his eyes watered because Bruce’s eyes were now
exactly as he remembered them from their childhood.
“I’m going to lift you up now, okay?”
Bruce nodded and Tony having already activated Ironman’s boots lifted him in
bridal style and Alfred who stood up took Bruce’s right arm that hung dead and
placed it carefully over the youth’s belly.
“Carefully, Master Anthony: his skin is injured and he has some minor
burnings…” Tony licked his lips and inhaled deeply.
Bruce knew that he was safe now and exhaustion invaded every cell of his body
breaking every resistance his body sustained till now. He wrapped his left arm
around Tony’s neck and let his head nestle to his shoulder closing his eyes.
Tony did the same, his insides screaming for his friend’s suffering. However at
the same time he realized how cold his friend was.
“He is frozen…” he whispered to Alfred.
The butler had stormed to the granite cabinet on the wall and rummaged the
first aids’ stuff.
“We’ll fix that, sir…”
Tony began walking to the bedroom minding his steps to not upset the trembling
man in his arms.
“I knew you’d come, Tony…” Bruce mumbled to his neck and Tony pressed his lips
because that wasn’t true and stabbed him cruelly.
“I’m late, littl’ guy…” he answered in a raspy voice. “Too late…” his touched
eyes met with Bruce’s puzzled ones.
“No” he protested “you did come: the bats were telling me you will…” the
younger man closed his eyes and Tony was happy that the comment about the bats
was told while still inside the bathroom because Dick stood at the bedroom’s
doorstep watching expressionless.
Dick’s eyes were narrowed but not from anger…he was numb, speechless in front
of so much suffering.
“Master Anthony, place him on the chair to sweep the water” Alfred said coming
out of the bathroom with a big, fluffy towel under his armpit and some medical
stuff in his hands.
As Tony put Bruce gently on the wheelchair the bathrobe’s sleeve slithered and
Dick saw the man’s torso. He frowned: Jason was right – Wayne’s body was
staggering. The body of an athlete. And there were scars the nastier one that
throughout his stomach; a scar definitely made with knife.
Alfred was sweeping Bruce’s wet hair with the towel and then he continued with
his young master’s body. Bruce was silent watching him; Hero who had followed
them from the bathroom stood at his human’s feet and stared at him. Bruce
suddenly registered again the kitten’s presence and smiled to him shyly petting
him with his trembling hand.
“Hero…”
Alfred’s ministrations were extra careful due to the scratches and the
superficial burnings all over Bruce’s body but still he sensed the young body
cringing in every touch. Tony who had squatted and watched his friend noticed
too.
“Master Bruce, where does it hurt?”
Bruce rubbed his eye with his left hand.
“I know it’s not real…” he retorted in a steady, undeterred voice. “I’m sorry I
upset all of you…” he shook his head. “I know it’s not real but it hurts…
everywhere…” he inhaled grimacing.
Tony met Alfred’s eyes sharing their agony.
“Leslie is coming, Master Bruce; she’ll take care of everything… Master
Anthony, can you take Master Bruce to the bed?”
“Of course…”
But Bruce shook his head.
“I don’t wanna sleep” he said stubbornly.
“There’s no need to sleep, sir” Alfred said softly and Tony lifted him
carefully to lay him even gentler to the mattress.
Alfred chose to not dress yet his young Master because he wanted to tend to his
injuries first.
Alfred hurried to his side to take care of his injuries; at the same moment,
Hero climbed to the bed and curled at Bruce’s side leaking his immobile hand.
But then the doorbell fell like a thunder in the silence of the room and Alfred
raised his head toward the bedroom’s door. He registered Dick’s presence there
and the boy felt uncomfortable like he’d been intruding something that he had
no right.
“I…I’ll open…” the boy mumbled hastily and ran downstairs.
Leslie reached the bedroom faster than Dick and she rushed to the bed placing
her tool case on the nightstand. She sat at Bruce’s side and cupped his cheek.
“How are you, dear?”
Bruce shook his head.
“I’m sorry for all the trouble…I…I…it was just a dream…a nightmare…and I
shouldn’t…”
“Hush now, Bruce” Leslie said smiling tenderly, as she was already checking his
heartbeat registering at the same time that his temperature was too low.
She took of her briefcase the stethoscope and examined his chest. Her stare was
estimating the burnings and the scratches on his skin.
“What happened?” she asked Alfred and Tony.
“I found Master Bruce in the hydromassage cabin; the water was too hot.”
“It felt so cold” Bruce said gulping realizing that he must have been in a
hallucination.
"Jarvis checked his body for any injury to his bones" Tony added. "We were
lucky" his voice was deep.
Leslie didn’t need to ask about the scratches: she was sure that Bruce rubbed
his skin trying to clean himself. She washed the scratches using the water
Alfred brought and disinfected them bandaging the deepest. Then she cleaned the
burnings and applied ointment that was instantly absorbed by the skin.
“You’re frozen” she said “but we’ll take care of that.”
In the meantime Alfred took from the drawer new underwear and pajamas and began
helping Bruce to put them on. Leslie frowned seeing that the youth wasn’t using
at all his right arm. She felt Tony’s persistent stare on her and met his eyes.
“It’ll pass” she answered calm his unsaid question and prepared a syringe.
She cleaned with alcohol Bruce’s forearm but as she brought the syringe near
the skin, Bruce looked at her frowned if not scared.
“It’s for your hypothermia, Bruce” she said reassuringly and when he nodded she
made the injection.
When the doorbell rang again everyone was startled. They didn’t expect anyone
else but there were a handful of people that could enter the grounds without
the need of someone ordering the gates to open.
Dick went again returning with Selina and Steve. Selina ran to Bruce’s side
immediately and Bruce turned his head to her their eyes locking.
“Sweetie…” her voice cracked stopping her from saying anything else and she
cupped Bruce’s face kissing his cold.
Bruce pressed his lips as Selina caressed his face taking in with agony his
death paleness.
“You shouldn’t have returned, Sel…It’s nothing…I just…I had a nightmare and…it
wasn’t something serious…” he sighed “I messed things up…I panicked everyone.”
Selina hushed him caressing his hair.
“You’re ashen, sweetie and Leslie is here so I doubt it was nothing… and you
didn’t mess anything up: you didn’t do anything wrong” Hero rubbed his head to
her hand and she petted him.
Steve approached Tony who stood at some distance from the bed, grim with his
arms crossed.
“We left New York as soon as I told Selina about the video – I couldn’t hide it
from her.”
Tony pressed his lips and nodded.
“How is Bruce?” Captain America asked in a whisper.
Tony huffed and didn’t answer; Steve shook his head with sympathy.
Leslie and Alfred were relieved that Selina was there; her presence seemed to
bring Bruce out of his hallucination and establish a solid connection with the
real world. Alfred went to the bathroom and returned with mouthwash and a
porcelain vessel.
“Master Bruce, would you like to wash your mouth?”
Bruce looked shyly at his butler.
“I can go to the bathroom, Alfred; there’s no need to…” he gestured to the
things he held.
The Englishman smiled although the fact Bruce still didn’t move his right arm
troubled him and Leslie.
“No worry, Master Bruce; I have everything you need here.”
Bruce washed his mouth spitting to the vessel though he felt bad doing this.
“What happened, Bruce?” Leslie asked carefully.
“I had a nightmare…a flashback with…you know…what happened…and I woke up but it
looked like I wasn’t in the Manor but back there…I…I’m sorry…I should have
known and…I caused you so much turmoil” his eyes hugged his loved ones and
stopped on Dick who stood at the door step. Their eyes stayed locked only for a
second before Dick turned his head away.
“Don’t think about that, Bruce” Leslie told caressing his hair, bringing the
stray locks back. “Are you in pain? The truth” she arched her eyebrows mock
strictly.
Bruce blinked.
“No.”
Alfred cleared his throat and Leslie raised her eyebrow more.
“I know it’s not real…”
“But…” Selina prompted.
“I feel pain…everywhere…”
Leslie opened a small vial and dripped a few drops of liquid in the glass of
water Alfred had brought. She moved it to Bruce’s lips but he looked at her
suspicious.
“Some sedative: it will stop the pain and help you sleep, dear.”
Bruce met Selina’s eyes and she nodded but her friend shook his head with
conviction.
“No…I don’t wanna sleep!” his eyes shone determined and his voice was steady
but it was clear to everyone that he was afraid of re-experiencing the same.
Bruce realized and pressed his lips.
“I’ll do some work…”
Tony hearing that moved forward.
“You’re in no position to do anything other than rest” his voice was altered,
raspier from the night’s strong emotions. “Do not stretch yourself more, littl’
guy…And I’ll call Collins to ask for the hearing to be postponed.”
Bruce shook his head.
“No, the hearing will take place normally” Tony frowned and Dick did the same:
Wayne’s face was death pale and his arm still placed on his bale like a log,
surely he wouldn’t want to face the hearing like this.
The boy just couldn’t understand the man’s stubbornness.
Tony wanted to retort, to force Bruce to see his own good but Alfred looked at
him in a way that told him to forget it.
“Okay, little guy, but this makes some hours of good, restful sleep even more
necessary.”
“Exactly” Leslie agreed.
But Bruce looked at his hands and shook his head.
“No…I don’t need any sleep” his voice lost its steadiness.
Selina noticed the change of his voice and her insides twisted.
“But I do, Bruce” she said quietly and widened her eyes when he looked at her.
“I’m tired so if you want it, can I sleep here with you?”
Leslie smiled realizing her intention: Selina hoped that her presence would
help Bruce relax and sleep. But Bruce realized too.
“Sel, you don’t have to…I’m fine now.”
Selina crooked her mouth.
“But I’m not, sweetie. I need to sleep here to have some of your strength and
bravery infused to me” she pushed the shoes off her feet, discarded her jacket
carelessly to the floor and lied on his side, Hero settling between them. “You
won’t deny your friend the favor?” she looked at Steve and he smiled nodding.
Bruce closed his eyes and shook his head.
“I’ll drink that sedative” he told Leslie knowing that this would calm at last
his loved ones after what he made them suffer; he sipped the water with the
sedative.
Leslie put on Bruce's index finger a small device that would keep her informed
about the young man's vitals and then stood tucking both of them with the
blankets smiling touched.
“I think it is time we went to sleep, as well” Alfred said giving the signal
for them to leave the room.
Dick left first running to his room not wanting his presence to be noticed
again and to avoid any exchange with Wayne’s friends.
As Steve was ready to leave the room cast a tender look to Selina and Bruce
that reclined face to face with the kitten curled between them purring happy.
“Don’t tell me you’re jealous?” Tony asked him having come to his side turning
his head to see what his comrade did.
Steve shook his head.
“Not at all… I was just thinking…How wrong people that call us superheroes
are.”
Tony patted his back and stepped to the corridor casting a last tender glance
at the bed.
“Do you have any hint about who did that to Bruce?” Steve asked in a low voice
to not be heard by Bruce.
Tony snorted.
“I was ready to kill the fucking hacker who published that video…Batman stopped
me” he shook his head remembering his stupid previous anger at Bruce. “Of
course that stupid nerd just worked for another who had access to the video and
hated Bruce.”
Steve smirked shaking his head.
“I think you have already someone in mind…”
Tony smirked and his eyes flashed.
“I do, my friend.”
Steve lifted a shoulder.
“Then what are we waiting for? Let’s get the bastard!”
The last to leave the room were Alfred and Leslie.
“I’ll be sleeping in the guestroom” Leslie said to the youths “just call me for
whatever you need” Selina nodded and Hero meowed causing Bruce’s weak smile.
“Sleep well, Miss Kyle, Master Bruce” Alfred said before clapping once to turn
off the lights leaving only the gentle light of the flames in the fireplace. He
wanted to stay there wake at the bedside yet he knew that this would only make
Master Bruce nervous.
“You’re too good for me, Sel” Bruce whispered when the door closed. “I
constantly ruin your life…”
“Nonsense! You never did that.”
“You could have a home, a family and you tossed away all these to stay with
me.”
Selina licked her lips.
“You’re the only family I ever wanted.”
Bruce lowered his head.
“Because of me you witnessed so many horrors…” they both understood that he
meant the times Selina saw Chill rape him.
She caressed his hair.
“Don’t think about that, sweetie: you gave me more than I ever hoped.”
Bruce sighed.
“Everybody saw, Sel…everybody knows what should have stayed inside me…”
“Bruce…” she whispered. “Everyone now appreciates more the brave man you are.”
He shook his head and Hero licked his cheek.
“I feel so much shame…” he narrowed his eyes.
Selina shook her head.
“No, no, Bruce! There’s nothing you should be ashamed of! You survived through
all these Hell; you defeated them! You should be proud of yourself as all of
us!”
Bruce pressed his lips.
“Clark was right to leave…”
Selina inhaled.
“You said that this was due to some control over him…He wouldn’t have done it
otherwise and he’d be very sorry when the control is over…”
“But still it was the best for him to be detached from me…from all the filth,
the disgust, the humiliation…” his eyes went blank for a few moments “I don’t
want to look at anyone ever again unless the cowl is on my face and the lenses
are my eyes… I should have killed off Bruce Wayne…” his friend bit her lip. “It
would have been better if Batman only existed.”
Selina clenched her jaw.
“No! Bruce Wayne inspires people…Bruce Wayne has made so many people happy: Mr.
Petrou and Harvey; Billy and the other kids in the Haven; Falcone’s working
girls; Jason’s mother without you would have been still struggling with
addictions, selling drugs and ending up in jail leaving Jason completely
exposed to the underworld.”
“Batman, Tony and Lucius could have taken care of these better than me.”
Selina now was crying.
“You want to kill my only friend?”
Bruce rubbed her back soothingly.
“Batman is your friend and he is strong and brave and nobody will ever look at
him with pity.”
She shook her head.
“My Bruce is the strongest and bravest man in the whole fucking planet!” she
growled and Hero caressed her with his paw.
“No, Sel: he is not” he pressed his lips. “I thought many times to kill myself
back then…when the pain, the shame and the hunger were too much…It wasn’t
difficult: I planned it every time. Stealing a knife from the kitchen drawers:
no problem there…every day I was cleaning there…and then when alone in my cage,
cutting my wrists, lying on the ground waiting…”
Selina’s cheeks were wet and sobs heaved her chest.
“Everything would end there: no more pain, no more humiliation, no more
curses…I’d see my parents again – I’d be peaceful or at least I would not
exist…I’d be nothing…” he gulped and met his friend’s eyes. “But then…every
time…when I was ready to open the drawer and steal the knife…your image flashed
before my eyes…” Bruce’s eyes sparkled wet in the semidarkness. “Every night
behind the bin…the happiness in your eyes when you looked at me; our chat…I was
thinking you waiting for me in the dirty light of the alley, behind our
bin…waiting in vain…and then after some days realizing that I was not going to
come again…that I was dead. I felt your pain…and my chest was clenched more…I
knew I was the only person you had; your only loved one and I didn’t want to
let you alone…sad…crying…for my shake…I don’t worth so much.”
Selina wrapped her arms around her friend minding his wounds and cuddled him
tightly in her chest; her head nestling to his shoulder wetting his pajama
shirt with her tears as he wetted her blouse with his.
“Thank you, Bruce; thank you for not making my nightmares reality…thank you for
not leaving me…” she kissed his cheeks and swept his tears.“I’d be lost without
you…”
Bruce smiled.
“No…you would have made it without me. You’re a great girl, Sel” he petted Hero
that placed his one front leg on Bruce’s shoulder and the other on Selina’s.
Bruce felt his eyelids flickering and knew that the sedative was working; it
took only a few moments before his eyes were defeated by exhaustion and the
sedative and his head rested on Selina’s chest. She cupped it gently with both
hands and placed it carefully to the pillow; then she cuddled him close to her
chest, Hero settling on the blanket over their bodies.
“No nightmare will dare mess with me, sweetie!”
***** Chapter 62 *****
Dick had returned to his room an hour ago but still he couldn’t decide to
recline. He was pacing the room without any other light than that coming from
the garden’s lighting; his arms were crossed on his chest. There was no trace
of sleepiness though he did feel tired.
Thoughts twirled in his mind. Thoughts about what he had witnessed tonight;
about himself: doubts about his own stance. The image of Wayne in Stark’s arms
kept coming to his mind: the man was exhausted, weak, suffering and though Dick
hated him and even a few hours ago would say that he wanted him to suffer for
the death of his family he caused, now his stomach was clenched.
For the first time, Dick was thinking that maybe he was unfair with Wayne…No,
no. It wasn’t easy for him to accept that only because Wayne had a nightmare.
But then…
The boy sighed because he had nightmares as well…not as horrific as Wayne’s but
still he could understand a bit. It could be his conscience that bit him? Or
just the incident? The upset he was experiencing?
He sat on the mattress and shook his head sighing. His eyes searched the room
not knowing what he was looking for. Suddenly, he eyed his forgotten tablet on
the nightstand. The need to open his heart to someone became urging: he needed
to bring it out of his system.
He took the tablet and browsed his contacts stopping to Jason’s number. Dick
was ready to call his best friend but the hour was late and though Jay used to
sleep afterhours still he could be in his home and calling him would disturb
his mother. He could speak with him tomorrow.
Tony’s number: yes, Tony would want him to call since it would help him feel
better. He brushed the number and after two times the call was answered.
“Champ, what’s wrong?” Tony’s voice was filled with worry. “You should be
sleeping.”
“I know, Tony but…I couldn’t sleep and I thought to call you to speak a bit…I
hope I’m not bothering you or your wife.”
Zucco was heard sighing.
“Not at all, Dick, I told you to call me whenever you felt needing it. What
happened? You sound troubled…”
“Wayne…”
Zucco huffed and then groaned.
“Don’t tell me he punished you again?”
“No, no” Dick interrupted him.
“Tell me he didn’t take out that video matter on you? Because if he did…”
Dick sighed: hearing Tony blaming Wayne for these things made him feel worse
because Dick himself had fuelled those accusations – unfounded accusations.
“No, Tony, he didn’t do anything…”
“Then?”
Dick hesitated for a moment feeling that it was Wayne’s secret he had just come
across uninvited but then it was Tony whom he trusted so the boy felt that he
could share with him.
“I was crossing the corridor to go to the kitchen and I heard sounds from his
room so I opened the door…”
“And?” eagerness was evident in his uncle’s voice and Dick’s embarrassment
worsened realizing that his uncle imagined the worst things.
“He was wrestling in his sleep, sobbing and begging…and then I told Alfred and
Stark…and Alfred found him in the bathroom but I didn’t see what happened there
because I came later; but when Stark brought him in the bedroom Wayne looked
disoriented like he was in a hallucination or something…He must have had a fit
or something…and he had burnings from hot water.”
“And you were disturbed, my poor boy… Try to calm down, champ; and get some
sleep: you have school tomorrow. Wayne’s problems is not yours, Dick; try to
remember that. You have your own life to care about – Wayne is not your family
and soon we’ll have the official decision for that.”
Dick pursed his lips thoughtful.
“Dick? Are you there?”
The boy mumbled something.
“I understand that you’re distressed from what you saw but think that in a few
days we’ll be together and all these we’ll be forgotten. Don’t forget who Wayne
is: the man who because of him your family was murdered and the one who forbids
you from living with your uncle.”
Dick nodded; that was quite true but he still felt something that slightly
resembled sympathy. The image of Wayne in the children’s hospital hugging the
paraplegic girl flashed in his mind intensifying his feelings. Maybe he was
wrong about the man and his granny and Jay was right? Maybe Wayne was a
tormented man with that much kindness? Maybe he was so upset because Wayne
indeed resembled Brian and seeing Wayne in suffering was like seeing his little
brother?
“Dick, I understand that you feel sorry for this man. You pity him for the
things he suffered and that because you are a great, generous, kind boy. Yet
don’t let him take advantage of your kind feelings into ruining our common
purpose. Champ? You remember our common purpose, right?”
Dick rubbed his palm on his eye.
“Of course I do, Tony. What happened today doesn’t change anything. I dream the
day that you’ll be my guardian and I will come to live with you.”
Tony’s relieved smile was almost audible.
“You’re great, Dick! And I promise you that it is a matter of days before your
troubles are over. You’ll be free, my boy.”
Dick inhaled deeply.
“Thank you, Tony.”
“Oh! It’s nothing, Dick…Now, promise me that you’ll get immediately to bed and
sleep.”
“I will, Tony. Goodnight.”
“Goodnight. We’ll see each other soon.”
Dick held his promise to his uncle and lay down immediately after they ended
their dial. He hated that things got so perplexed all of a sudden: he preferred
it when he just loathed Wayne. He didn’t want to see him as anything different
than someone who entered his life causing him pain. He raised his eyes on the
dark ceiling and sighed: why did his granny make him live with Wayne?
Thankfully, he was enough tired to sleep almost at once sparing himself from
these tormenting and self-doubting thoughts…and feelings.
 
Luthor enjoyed a carefree half-drunk sleep in his king size bed, sprawled half
naked among his maroon silken sheets. His face had a satisfied smirk left over
of the day’s great entertainment. It was the same smile he had the entire hour
he was watching the video of Falcone giving Wayne what he deserved.
He ordered Mercy to keep an eye on the case so that he’d send some flowers to
the one that published that video. Oh! How he would like to see the face of
Wayne or Stark’s…the arrogant bastard being ridiculed through his spoiled brat
and Wayne remembering who he really was and waking from his illusion that
people didn’t see beyond his façade of dignity: naked, spanked,
screwed…sobbing, yelling, begging for mercy…
Also, his work with Mannheim’s machine was in good progress and Luthor was
happy because the moment he wouldn’t have to bear the man’s presence was near.
Of course, this was his mood while the mobster was away because when in his
presence Luthor felt obliged to this man; grateful for serving him…serving…he
serving someone?
However Luthor could oversee everything else for the top satisfaction of his
enemies’ humiliation…Someone else took revenge for him till he was in position
to make his own move.
Suddenly, even in his deep intoxicated sleep something felt off and Luthor
stirred. Something was on him. He opened his eyes.
“Lights” he ordered and the huge, luxurious bedroom was flooded with light.
Luthor frowned seeing his smiling uninvited guest.
Natasha Romanov dressed in black skin tight leather had straddled him, sitting
on his grown her juicy thighs pressing the mattress while her arms positioned
on both sides of his torso trapped him. She slithered her torso over his
bringing her face over his.
“Mercy!” he barked for his loyal bodyguard.
“It is still early to beg for that, Lex” she spat indifferent. However if you
ask for your lap dog, be a good employer and let her sleep” she cocked an
eyebrow “Don’t tell me you’re afraid of me?”
Luthor rolled his eyes.
“You’re a master assassin, of course I’m afraid.”
She chuckled.
“I’m with the good guys now so people who are innocent have nothing to fear…”
she lolled slightly her head. “And you are innocent, right?”
Luthor blinked annoyed.
“What do you want, Romanov?”
“Actually, is Romanova” she cocked an eyebrow.
She cast a sideways glance to the nightstand where an empty bottle of champagne
sat.
“I see you were celebrating, huh?”
“It’s none of your business!”
“I think it is!”
The Black Window clenched her jaw and grabbed the waistband of Luthor’s pyjama
pants since he wasn’t wearing the shirt. She jumped off the bed dragging him
with her and with fast movements brought him to the vast balcony pinning him to
the wall. The night’s cold pierced Luthor’s naked torso causing him goose bumps
for which the cold wasn’t the only responsible.
“I think I know what you celebrated, Luthor” she hissed in her heavy Russian
accent “a hideous video; you enjoyed the pain of a tortured child.”
Luthor laughed.
“So what? What now, Romanov? You became Stark’s lackey?”
She hit him to the wall grounding her teeth.
“I hate pedophiles and those who distribute that sick material.”
“And what I have to do with that?”
“You had business with Falcone and you already allied with the League of
Shadows to surrender Wayne to them…few days ago someone attacked him. You hate
Bruce Wayne and Stark so you had the perfect motive and chance to succeed your
purpose.”
“Exactly!”
A third voice was added and Luthor saw with a deep frown Ironman landing on his
balcony and after him Captain America.
“What is that?!” he barked outraged. “You two are committing trespassing, and
you, Romanov, broke into my penthouse! You can’t do this!”
Ironman marched at him fuming inside his face plate and Luthor grimaced enraged
though admittedly Ironman approaching was a terrifying sight. Natasha
sidestepped to leave the field empty for her comrade and Ironman clenched with
one hand Luthor’s neck; the tycoon from Metropolis gritted his teeth hiding his
terror with his equal hatred.
“Your filth this time surpassed any limit!” he hissed. “You’ll pay for all the
pain you inflicted on Bruce…”
Luthor pursed his lips.
“This is a classic case of harassment and attack: you’re the criminal here,
Stark!”
But Ironman clenched more.
“You’re a filthy motherfucker: who do you think will give a fuck about your
allegations?!”
Luthor licked his bottom lip.
“Okay, I very much enjoyed the video for the humiliation it was for you and
your brat” Luthor admitted cynically and Ironman growled. “Yet I wasn’t the one
who published it. I didn’t know that Falcone was holding Wayne as a prisoner
neither that he fucked him; moreover that he used to tape those sessions.”
“Do you expect him to believe you?” Steve spat. “Everyone knows that you’re
capable of the worst immorality” he snorted haughtily. “Look at you! You
laughed with Bruce’s suffering but look at you now: you stuttering excuses to
save your hide.”
Luthor glared at Captain America.
“I’m not stuttering, you obsolete doughboy! I’m not afraid of your pathetic
mob!”
“We know that you were behind the attack against Bruce few days ago” Natasha
added.
Well, that wasn’t the truth, Tony thought. Bruce was sure that Mannheim was the
mastermind yet it was handy for making Luthor completely lose it.
However the tycoon knew how to keep his cool.
“You’re not great detectives, aren’t you?” he asked sniggering but Ironman’s
grip shut his laughter. “Alright! How could I have attacked Wayne since he has
my Labs and the storages in his control?”
“You can have more labs in secret locations” Natasha offered having her arms
crossed and her head slightly lolled to the side.
Luthor rolled his eyes.
“Then you would have found them by now and I’ll be in prison again. But you
don’t! I had nothing to do with that attack though I wish I did. I enjoyed it
as I enjoyed the leak of that video – but you can’t arrest me for that, can
you? You don’t have any proof” he narrowed his eyes challenging.
Tony knew that he couldn’t arrest the sonovabitch: he indeed had no proof…yet.
He opened his fingers and Luthor slumped on the floor caressing his bruised
neck and glaring at Ironman who had taken off.
“Now, get out of my property” he barked hoarsely from the pressure his throat
had endured though the Avengers had already left his rectangular balcony.
Ironman turned his head to him and his lenses flashed.
“Pray I don’t find you were behind this…because I’ll make you wish you were
never born!”
Steve on his shield followed Ironman till they stopped on a rooftop; Natasha
landing a few seconds later.
“I’m sorry, Tony, but you know we couldn’t arrest him.”
Ironman nodded.
“He is a motherfucker but…I believe him though I wish I didn’t.”
“What are you going to do now with Bruce?” Black Window asked him looking him
in the eyes with her icy eyes shining with a shade of concern.
“Find a way to help him.”
 
The small, old grandfather clock on the oaken dresser showed 4 in the morning.
In the semi-darkness of his bedroom Alfred cast a sideways glance to the
beautiful carved clock; yet his focus was on the old paper he held above his
elegant small, round shaped table at the center of his bedroom.
The classic table lamp on the nightstand was the only light in the room but the
external lighting of the garden slithered also in the grim room so Alfred had
no problem to read the paper he had in front of him caressing with his other
hand the stuffed old toy that lay on the desk.
He sighed; his mind’s eyes travelled back, far back in his past.
Martha Wayne held his forearm and smiled to him looking him in the eyes. Thomas
sat behind his desk in his study and read aloud the contents of the paper
causing a shiver to his butler’s spine. Alfred wasn’t a coward but the prospect
of what the paper described left him shaken.
“I know that we can trust you, Alfred…” Martha said smiling to him to ease his
tension.
Alfred gulped and rimmed the rectangular glass with whiskey he had on the
table. His eyes focused on the signatures on the perfectly preserved formal
paper: the doctor-ish untidy signature of Thomas Wayne, the neat, calligraphic
signature of Martha Wayne and his own.
Thomas stood and came out of his desk having tucked the paper in the desk’s
first drawer that always kept locked. He placed his hand on the butler’s
shoulder and gave a tight lips smile under his wife’s touched eyes.
“Bruce will be happy with you, Alfred. And we know that you will always protect
him.”
“I am quite honoured by your trust, madam, Master Wayne…but I am praying that
young Master Wayne will always be with you.”
Alfred massaged his brow and after a little thought he grabbed determined the
glass and gulped the whiskey.
If only he had managed to protect the little boy as his parents had believed
and hoped…But he disappointed them; he failed both his madam and his Master but
most of all he failed young Master Bruce.
“Promise me that this time you’ll take me with you…” his young Master’s weak,
tired voice whispered again to his neck and a shaking arm held tighter to him
scared that the butler would leave him.
Alfred’s guts hurt from thousands unseen stabs and he took reverently the Tao-
Tao stuffed toy, his eyes gazing at it tenderly; his eyes registered the neat
sewing that kept the toy’s leg connected to its body: a tiny Master Bruce had
begged him to help his toy refusing to dump the old, ripped toy to the garbage.
Alfred saw again Bruce’s eyes when he was walking out of Dolcetto leaving him
to Falcone’s abusing hands…the butler’s eyes focusing on the small boy’s
crippled arm…he had dumped the child who wouldn’t dump even an inanimate toy!
“Bloody Hell, Pennyworth!” he gritted his teeth.
He had to help Master Bruce even now after all the times he didn’t.
He dragged the tablet that was neglected on the other end of the table till it
was in front of him. He didn’t like technology yet he knew how to use its
products: he inhaled deeply to strengthen himself and brushed the screen until
he found what he wanted.
Miss Peppers and Lucius had taken meticulous care to take down the file from
the known sites yet unfortunately other, less known sites continued to host the
file. He intended to send the link to Lucius but after he finished his job.
His head dropped to his chest: what he had decided to do weighed so much on his
shoulders; it made his entire body shake from dread. He brought his palm to his
mouth. He ought to be courageous as young Master Bruce always was…for the boy’s
sake…
He gulped again, closed his eyes once again and brushed the arrow for playing…
The sound of the door opening suddenly fell like a thunder but Alfred didn’t
move from his seat.
“Alfred, what are you doing?”
Alfred closed his eyes and brushed again the icon to stop the video.
“Leslie, I would most appreciate it if you left me alone.”
Yet his old friend wasn’t someone to fool; she walked to the table and looked
at the tablet. Alfred didn’t bother trying to hide it; he was numb. Even when
Leslie’s narrowed eyes stabbed him.
“You intended to watch the video?” her voice wasn’t accusing; it was
astonished.
Alfred nodded collected.
“If Master Bruce endured it when he was 11 years old and again now then I can,
as well…” he bit his bottom lip as these words brought back to him Martha the
night Falcone sent them the tape with the bastards chopping the child’s toe;
Master Thomas then had tried to turn the TV set off to spare his distraught
wife.
“If Bruce suffered this, I will too!”
Leslie saw her friend’s eyes watering and brushed his upped arms.
“Why, Alfred? You don’t have to suffer that twisted product of Falcone’s
cruelty.”
Alfred yanked his head proudly.
“I have to understand, Leslie; I have to see in order to understand what is
going on inside Master Bruce. Maybe I can help him better this way because he
won’t ever speak about this.”
Leslie closed her eyes; she could see Alfred’s point…
“Do you believe that witnessing the tortures Bruce suffered will make you able
to help him more than you do now?”
“That is exactly what I believe.”
“But then the way you look at him will change, Alfred. Every time your eyes
will meet with Bruce’s you will see the tied, violated boy and Bruce will
realize that you’re not seeing him the way you looked him before his parents’
murders. And you will lower your eyes every time…The way you look at Bruce now
is a way for him to feel again innocent – he finds his lost innocence in your
eyes, Alfred. If you see that video that innocence will die and that will be
another heavy brow to Bruce.”
The Englishman showed her the stuffed toy.
“It is Master Bruce’s…It was rather old even when Master Bruce was just six and
Tommy Elliot had ripped the toy’s leg… Master Bruce came to me crying with the
little bear in his hands and asked me to help…I suggested that he should throw
the toy because it was too old” he shook his head. “I was so insensitive…but
Master Bruce wouldn’t dump his toy to be alone in the garbage…”
Leslie closed her eyes understanding how this memory increased her friend’s
guilt.
“I never gave the toy back to him…”
Alfred’s head lowered and Leslie caressed his hair.
“You’re perfect as you are, Alfred; your presence is a great support for Bruce.
He knows how much you love him and even if you don’t believe it he takes
strength from you.”
“I failed his parents, Leslie…I failed the poor boy: I have abandoned him so
many times…”
“You couldn’t have done anything else, Alfred; Bruce knows that and you know it
deep inside: if you had tried to take Bruce from Falcone.”
“You didn’t see his eyes every time Falcone detached him away from me brutally
and I stood there worthless, unable to help, to save him…”
Leslie pressed her lips.
“When you told me that Bruce was alive I was mad at you” she chuckled. “For
letting me all these years to live with the pain of believing our boy dead”
Alfred licked his lips. “But then thinking how it was for you to live all these
years knowing that the child was held by Falcone, suffering the man’s cruelty;
I imagined you enduring the dragging of the days aware of how much Bruce was
suffering: every day, every hour, every minute, every second…” she gulped and
shook her head. “I admire you, Alfred; I would have lost my sanity bearing that
cross…”
Alfred’s eyes were still a bit blank and Leslie held his hand.
“You accuse yourself for letting his little hand slip of yours the moments he
needed you but now, Alfred, it is your hand he holds…to be connected with his
lost innocence, his parents. You do save him, Alfred, every day, every moment”
she cast a furious glance at the video. “Don’t ruin that!”
Alfred pressed his lips and nodded. He brushed the option and the screen turned
off.
 
Thor patted the hammer in his belt as his heavy footsteps echoed throughout the
glistening, golden hall of Odin’s throne. The light blue crystal throne greeted
him in its emptiness at the other end of the hall.
His eyes regarded the golden-black round shaped endless columns that supported
the enormous dome that depicted the starry sky. He smiled because this dazzling
sight even now that he wasn’t the naughty toddler caught his eyes. However what
always fascinated Thor more since his childhood lay on the right side of the
throne hall: outside the arches that were the only think that framed the hall
from what was there: infinite, silent darkness and countless different sized
spheres.
Spheres that twirled lazily around themselves floating in the endless darkness
of the universe. They were so different that the young Thor goggled at them for
hours: some plain brown, some red, some gray, some with multicolored rings
around them; but one stood out with its uniqueness and beauty. A blue and green
sphere… Thor’s legs had dragged him without realizing to the edge.
“I think that one planet holds your intellect captive” Odin’s deep, respectful
voice echoed throughout the hall and Thor turned to regard the respectful
figure of his father.
Odin crossed the central corridor leading to his throne only to divert and come
to his son who was looking at him with pride. Thor always look up to his
father: his gray, long hair, his neat gray beard, his clear blue eye, the black
leather patch over his missing eye, a relic of the war with the icy giants.
They held each other’s forearms as a greeting and their eyes locked.
“Earth captures your eyes and your mind, son.”
Thor lolled slightly his head towards the universe that was lying idly and
graciously a grasp away.
“The fate of this planet and of its inhabitants is deep in my heart but that
doesn’t stop me from caring about Asgard’s affairs, as well.”
Odin grinned.
“Of course. You just returned from handling a serious issue after all.”
Thor frowned because his father’s voice had something different.
“And I imagine you are in a haste to return to Earth” Odin added.
“I’m not in a hurry. I always enjoy being with you, father. But eventually I
need to go there: my comrades had a meeting which I missed so at some point I
should be informed.”
Odin stretched his impressive body and bound his hands behind his back staring
at the blue and green sphere.
“If the meeting is your concern, you don’t have to worry: the meeting was
cancelled.”
Thor frowned; that wasn’t good news: only something important could cancel a
meeting of the Avengers.
“I must contact Tony.”
Odin cocked an eyebrow.
“I don’t think that this is the proper moment to do that. Your human comrade
has other problems.”
“Father, what happened? Your words make me worry more not only for the
cancelling of the meeting but also for the plain fact that you turned your
attention to Earth. I know that you always believed that this planet would
benefit me yet till now your stance was more distant.”
Odin pressed his lips.
“I do care for the mortals – not as much as you of course.”
“Father, what made the Avengers cancel their meeting?”
“Tony Stark had to return to Gotham.”
Thor’s eyes widened: Gotham and Tony’s haste meant one thing. Bruce was in
trouble. Odin read his son’s face and nodded.
“A…” he searched for the human term “video was broadcasted showing a very young
Bruce Wayne being abused.”
Now Thor’s eyes widened in horror and he moved forward but Odin held firmly his
forearm. The younger god looked his father puzzled.
“Then, indeed, a human has captured my son’s intellect and heart.”
Thor frowned.
“What?”
“I mean the young man named Bruce Wayne; the Batman.”
“Father…”
“Your interest for him is too great, son.”
Thor locked eyes with his father.
“He saved me from the demon. And yes I’m honored by his friendship and
alliance” he noticed the shadow over his father’s features. “I thought you
respected him as much as I.”
Odin let his eyelids cover slightly his eye.
“My appreciation for him is unique for a mortal yet I ought to protect my son.”
Thor narrowed his eyes.
“Father, there is no need to protect me from anything; more so from Bruce.”
“I understand that this mortal’s charm is irresistible yet you must realize
that a god can’t pursuit very intimate relationships with a mortal.”
The younger god shook his head exasperated from the turn their discussion had
taken and from his father’s words.
“Intimate relationships? I have already befriended many mortals.”
Odin’s stare became firm.
“You know what I mean, Thor. You are infatuated with this mortal…and I’m afraid
that you are in love with him.”
Thor inhaled deeply as realization dawned on him.
“You spoke with Loki?” he asked his father.
“I don’t understand what does this have to do with our discussion.”
“Loki spends a lot of time on Earth and he cooperates with a known mortal
criminal. He harassed a couple of times Bruce because he detected my interest
in him so he now attempts to bring you in his plans for upheaval.”
“Thor, Loki is your brother and cares for you and that’s the only reason he
informed me.”
Thor shook his head and fumed frustrated.
“He wants to upset you planting ideas to you! He tried to do the same with me.
Do you happen to know where his palace is right now?” Odin frowned. “He hides
his palace and himself and that can only mean that he is up to something.”
“My son, Loki’s pranks don’t interest me. Your feelings about this mortal are
that worry me. You must understand, Thor, that whenever a god was lured by a
mortal’s charm the results were disastrous…”
Thor chuckled and took away his eyes.
“Nothing can be disastrous for me: I’m immortal.”
“But he is not” Odin placed his hand on his son’s shoulder. “And the pain of
mortality is even worse for a god. Losing your love to the eternity of death is
too much even for a god.”
“I’m bound with Bruce in mutual respect, alliance and friendship. You don’t
need to worry: Bruce is from the special beings that love only once in their
life. And I wasn’t the one who won his heart.”
Odin nodded.
“Superman…”
Thor crossed his arms.
“I see that Loki briefed you thoroughly.”
Odin placed both his hands on Thor’s shoulders.
“You owe to realize, son, that his destiny is pain and death.”
“There is no destiny for Bruce, father: he creates his destiny himself – he
defeated his enemies, he neutralized Bagdana while I and Superman were rendered
useless. So if there is some destiny for Bruce that is grandeur.”
The older god shook his head.
“No doubt the mortal is a great man but this doesn’t change the pain that
resides in him: you wouldn’t want your life bound to so much pain. Superman did
not and took his decision to part his life from the mortal’s.”
Thor yanked his head backwards.
“Superman’s decision was stupid and he eventually will be sorry… But Bruce is
capable to give heavenly happiness to people – he isn’t just pain.”
“Yes, but he is still mortal, Thor! Now he is extraordinarily beautiful but
this won’t last” Thor shook his head exasperated. “In a few decades his beauty
will be weathered” he saw his son ready to retort and caught him “his body will
start to collapse until death claims him forever “Odin noticed his son’s
pressed breath. “And that if he is lucky enough and doesn’t die an unnatural,
premature death in the prime of his physical beauty. Imagine the pain when you
will hold his dead body in your arms…when his mortal loved ones put him to rot
in a grave…when you’ll realize that he is lost forever and he won’t ever come
back for you to see him again…There is no physical pain that can compare with
this, son” his voice became lower.
Thor closed his eyes.
“You speak as if you know…” he said bitterly and Odin gazed with blank eyes at
Earth.
“Mortal love always lures Gods like an irresistible magnet…”
The younger god huffed.
“Why are you telling me all these? You don’t have to utter such things to keep
me from doing something: Bruce is only my friend.”
Odin’s eyes sparkled.
“But you wish there was something more. Alright: the mortal is your friend but
I want to protect you from escalating it to something more” his agonized eyes
locked with his son’s “because I sense the flames in you…”
Thor clenched his jaw and nodded.
“Do not, fret, father: Bruce won’t let anything happen. He is adamant about
reminding me the exact things you just did.”
“Then he is wise for his very young age.”
Thor nodded.
“He is. But he has suffered so much in his life without anyone of our powerful
kind ever helping him so I want to offer my support even now. Is that wrong for
you?”
Odin pressed his lips.
“No, it is noble and kind: what I always wanted for my son.”
Thor made a move forward.
“Then, excuse me but I have to leave immediately.”
Odin nodded but a second before his son vanished he opened his mouth.
“Be careful, son...”
 
“Up!” Falcone’s cruel voice roared to the trembling mass of the boy at his
feet.
The boy’s only working arm moved shaking trying to find support to the floor in
order to lift his trembling from pain body. Sobs and moans of pain made his
weak body convulse so his skinny arm bent sending him to collapse again.
The video stopped abruptly there…The first sick rays of dawn slipped into the
silent vastness of Tony’s penthouse yet the billionaire ignored them and the
world around him. His eyes stayed glued to the hologram screen in front of his
minimal elliptic desk of titanium and glass.
Beside his fisted hand stood the half empty bottle of bourbon, his loyal
companion during the last hour. He didn’t need to turn his eyes to the bottle
and it was handy because his eyes weren’t obeying stuck in their tear fog: his
hand moved on its own and grabbed the bottle bringing it rapidly to his mouth
to gulp a sufficient quantity. His hand was shaking as much as his entire body.
He smacked the bottle to the table: he was aware that his face had changed a
lot of colors during the last hour. Every shade of the sick yellow to the color
of the ash to end up to the light green his skin had right now…
Tony jerked up feeling the bile that till now besieged his mouth pushing to get
out. He tried to keep it inside but all the images he had seen the last hour
kept coming out from every corner of his mind stirring the contents of his
stomach and making the pressure stronger.
So he stormed to his glistening bathroom which was quite far from the living
room…damn! He had to choose such an enormous penthouse? He hardly made it to
the toilet before wrenching the contents of his stomach having the image of the
stretched, tied boy squirming from the pain, crying desperately as the enormous
dildo was pressed in and out of his ripping body... as the crop was sinking in
his tender flesh…the blood that was splashed everywhere…the specks of flesh…the
desperate crying as the small, stretched body twitched hopelessly to escape the
horrible pain…the cruel sniggers…
“It is odd how evil is drawn to purity…” he heard again Arrow’s voice and felt
again Bruce’s shaking body in his arms as he was taking him to the bedroom; the
way his arm around his neck wrapped with despair and trust…
When his stomach was emptied from the bourbon he had consumed, he flashed and
stood carefully rubbing his diaphragm. He wasn’t used to throw up: despite his
heavy consumption of alcohol his experience with booze had limited very much
the hangover symptoms. Tony was used to watch Bruce being convulsing upon a
toilet not himself.
He moved slowly to the sink and splashed his face not only to wake himself up
but also to push away the cold tears that had stuck on his cheeks; he enjoyed
the cool water. He didn’t cast a glance to his reflection on the built-in
frameless rectangular mirror. He was a mess, he was aware of that and he didn’t
need a confirmation, thank you very much.
Tony wiped his face with a towel and dragged his feet back to the desk. His
eyes fell tenderly to the boy on the hologram that had stayed on the floor. He
pressed his lips and caressed him – actually, the air - with his fingertips:
his insides were clenched by invisible pinchers at once and his hand reached
the bottle that had still some liquid.
But then a gentle but firm hand touched his and Tony turned to see Peppers. He
frowned because he hadn’t heard her coming.
“You were in the bathroom when I left the lift…” she answered reading hi
puzzlement.
He rubbed his eyes.
“When you arrived?”
“Just; the helipad on the roof is very handy” she cast a strict glance at the
hologram. “You watched that sick shit?! I though Lucius and I had done a good
job vanishing it from everywhere.”
Tony shook his head cocking his eyebrow.
“Einstein said that there are two things that are limitless: the universe and
human stupidity. Well, I must correct him” he said wisely “there are two more.
Human cruelty” his voice slightly bent but he hid it with a fake cough “…and
the net. And when you’re Tony Stark and can easily access the dark internet
then you can find even vanished things or things you’d wish they didn’t exist.”
Pepper closed her eyes.
“You are drunk, Tony.”
He laughed and lifted his index finger.
“No, actually, I’m wasted…I needed to…” he gestured to the hologram and Pepper
waved her hand making the hologram disappear.
“Tony, why on Earth you had to do that? Why do you have to see that video?” she
pressed her lips.
Tony took away his eyes and made to grab again the bottle but Pepper stopped
him again.
“What?!” he snapped. “I need to wash my mouth after throwing up.”
Pepper stabbed him with her strict eyes.
“This isn’t a mouthwash; and if you insist on something to change the taste of
vomit from your mouth” she pulled off her pants pocket a chocolate, unwrapped
it and broke a piece which she shoved into Tony’s mouth. “It will help to get
sober.”
Tony cocked his eyebrows.
“Mmm…You’re planning to go juicy?”
But Pepper was looking at him sternly.
“Do you want Bruce knowing that you got drunk after watching this video?”
Tony jerked nervously and rubbed his eyes with both hands: if Bruce learnt that
he had done that then his friend would blame himself…
“There’s no reason for him to know – he has so much to fight…”
“If you care about Bruce not finding out you shouldn’t do that again” Tony just
nodded and Pepper growled pissed “Why, Tony?” she insisted and Tony ran his
fingers through his messy raven locks.
He inhaled deeply.
“Because I wanted to share with Bruce; to understand; to know…so I can be
more…more helpful…”
Pepper licked her lips and caressed his locks.
“I know that nobody can understand what Bruce has been through enduring this
cruelty but…I hoped…I hoped that sharing even through that cold video would
make me more able to support him…”
Pepper sighed.
“Oh, Tony… I’m sure that Bruce is happy having you on his side whether you knew
or not…Your presence is always a great support for him. Watching what Falcone
did to him wasn’t necessary for helping him…as a matter of fact I think that
Bruce wouldn’t want anyone to know what these people did to him – I mean apart
from his testimony at Falcone’s trial.”
Tony nodded.
“But I needed to…”
“I believe you just wanted to punish yourself watching what Bruce suffered
while everyone considered him dead. Because you blame yourself for biting that
like everyone else.”
Tony closed his eyes.
“I tried masochism once with a blond mistress…” he made an attempt to cheer
things up but it was lame – especially, when he just witnessed his friend being
subjected to merciless sadism. “Yes!” he snapped at Peppers. “I wanted to see
what these people did to Bruce so that I realize the size of my stupidity –
my…my indifference. My corruption.”
He held Peppers’ upper arms and locked their eyes.
“It was my fault, Pep!” he licked his lips. “I was partying, drinking, fucking
while my best friend, my baby friend was brutally tortured. I could have
searched for him; I could have found and saved him…Oh, Pepper! Alfred found him
in the bathroom, curled in the hydromassage cabin murmuring his favorite
lullaby; he had the water turned on to the maximum pressure trying to rub their
filth off his body” Pepper lowered her wet eyes. “He thought that he was still
in that filthy bordel: the monsters whenever allowed him to shower was with
cold water…so Bruce felt cold and had the water’s temperature too high” Pepper
brought her palm to her mouth. “Thankfully, Alfred turned it off while no great
damage was done. When I took him in my arms he whispered that he was sure I’d
come and save him; he believed that he was still in that fucking building and I
arrived saving him. You get it, Peps?! He waited and pleaded every day for me
to come and save him; he hoped every second and every second he was
disappointed and desperate…making excuses for my not coming…”
His eyes faucets opened and he didn’t want to persuade them to stop.
“Don’t blame yourself, Tony…” Peppers’ sympathy was evident “if you had
suspected that Bruce was alive you’d have given your life to save him.”
Tony shook his head and looked at Peppers’ face; her cheeks were wet like his.
“Don’t make excuses for me, Peps.”
“I don’t…I’m just stating the facts. Bruce knows that. Watching him suffer that
much makes you feel weak and you need to take it out somehow…so you punch
yourself…”
“How should I help him, Peps?” he cupped her face with both hands.
“There is only one way; the best way, Tony; what Bruce wants the most: be
yourself, the Tony he loves.”
She kissed him on the forehead. Tony wrapped his arms around her and she held
him tight till he felt a bit calm and let his head sink to her shoulder. Pepper
caressed his locks feeling his exhaustion.
 
Bullock stormed outside Jim’s office and he barely made it to the restrooms at
the end of the corridor. He threw up the coffees he had drunk watching the
video.
In Jim’s office the other three remained at their seats watching the end. They
might have not followed the rough lieutenant in the bathroom but their faces
had the same paleness and shaken expression.
When the video ended Jim stood and turned it off immediately but nobody spoke.
Jim inhaled understanding his team’s emotional state but he had to break that
shocked silence. He looked at them.
“Well, that video didn’t enlighten us about who might have acquired that video
from Falcone.”
Robert shook his head still numb from his emotions.
“That bastard was too engrossed in what he was doing to mention anything
useful” his voice was hoarse.
Montoya fisted her hands.
“How someone – even a crime lord – can do such things to a small child?”
The door opened and Bullock came in with his face still a bit wet.
“Wayne was so skinny and fragile…” he said having heard the end of Montoya’s
phrase. “It’s a miracle the boy survived…”
Jim arched his eyebrows.
“Falcone had a doctor to mend the boy’s injuries…he didn’t want to lose his
trophy.”
Robert stood from his chair.
“The thing that matters now is that we must put Wayne through the affliction of
answering our questions.”
Bullock shook his head and turned his sturdy figure towards the window; through
its blinds the dawn was casting the first pale shades of light blue. Jim
watched his toughest officer being bent from watching the child’s suffering.
“Fuck!” Bullock yelled. “Surely we can spare the man from this? I mean…it seems
like cowardice to me…us being unable to make it on our own and forcing him to
do the hard job for us…”
“It is not like that, Lieutenant” Robert answered walking to him. “I wish there
was another way but it is standard procedure and it might help save other
children if the man who had the video is in some child pornography net.
Harvey’s father gave us some information but it’s not sufficient.”
Montoya stood as well.
“At least, let the man some hours of sleep before we interrogate him.”
“It is not interrogation, Detective” Robert retorted feeling like defending
himself from something he felt awful to do.
“But that’s how it will seem to him! Damn those motherfuckers! ” Bullock
snapped turning abruptly to him.
“I wish I could do otherwise!” Robert answered offended.
Jim stood between them and raised his arms calming.
“Nobody wants to torment Mr. Wayne and we’ll do everything to make this as
smooth as possible. Mr. Wayne is a very brave youth and will understand” he
looked at Montoya whose face was gloom and she was watching grimly. “We will
postpone our visit for some hours.”
 
Clark walked in the reporters’ floor at Daily Planet building, being welcomed
by the familiar ruckus of typing and chat. His mood was in excellent state: the
weather in Metropolis was sunny, quite warm for the season; also, it helped
that he woke up with Diana curled to his body. Her flowery perfume was cleaning
his system from any speck of disgust or ill feeling.
And of course…a broad grin formed over his face… she showed him once again her
love giving him some great unblemished with guilt sex.
His pleasant feeling made even the approaching Lois seem something positive
despite the fact she was frowned. He cocked an eyebrow: at least, she
acknowledged his presence: that was a great improvement.
“What are you doing here? I thought you wouldn’t come today.”
Now it was his turn to frown puzzled.
“Why? I’m not ill…” he thought a bit and lowered his voice “not that this is a
probability.”
Lois shook her head disappointed and clenched her waist with both hands before
turning on her heels ready to leave him but Clark touched her upper arm.
“What is it, Lois?”
“I believed that you would have the sensitivity to be in Gotham right now, to
comfort Bruce” she spat in a whisper.
Clark yanked his head exasperated.
“Why would I do that, Lois?! Are you serious? There’s nothing between him and
me anymore: I am with Diana now!”
“That has nothing to do with whom you’re currently fucking” she said coldly
arching her eyebrows. “I thought that you still cared about him as a friend and
as a friend your place is with him.”
Clark huffed: Bruce his friend? The man had kicked him out; he had stabbed him
with a knife; he tricked him into giving him insufficient vaccination.
“Lois, you’re attempting once again to set me up with him. There’s no way I’ll
return to him. Diana is the woman I love and I won’t risk my happiness with her
for anything.”
Lois yanked her head and snorted.
“Clark Kent, you’re an asshole! You can stay with your stupid bimbo as long as
you want: I was plainly speaking about being human…” she shook her head
chuckling snidely “I forgot that this seems to bother you lately…be it… let’s
change that: being considerate. After that video, Bruce will need every kind
word he can’t get. Not only the blow was tremendous but also the ramifications
will enhance the pain. They will definitely try to use this to take Richard
Grayson from him.”
“Maybe that’s the best: the boy hates him…” Clark stated calmly.
Lois’s face contorted in rage.
“You’re deplorable!”
“No, I’m just saying the truth, Lois” but his friend crossed her arms on the
chest and made to leave but he held her.
Clark felt his pleasant mood washing off and that pissed him. He closed his
eyes because he didn’t want to quarrel with Lois again.
“If I had gone to him he’d have understood that I did it from…from feeling
sorry and he would feel worse: he doesn’t like to be pitied.”
Lois nodded.
“Of course he is dignified! But a friend doesn’t support a friend from pity…”
she shook her head “it is better you stay away if pity is the only thing you
can feel about Bruce... That woman damaged everything inside you.”
Clark’s eyes flashed angry.
“Lois, that’s not true! Stop talking about her like that!” Lois’s lips pursed
in disgust and no fear at all though she knew that in front of her was the most
powerful being on Earth.
She shook her head and cocked an eyebrow.
“Have it your way then!” she sidestepped him directing to the exit.
Clark caught up with her fearing that she had some intelligence on Intergang’s
movements and was going there.
“Where are you going? Remember that Intergang is my case too.”
Lois frowned; then registering what she had just heard rolled her eyes and
snorted.
“Hardly! However, don’t be afraid. I’m going to Gotham: my priorities lie there
right now: Bruce needs support from people who don’t pity him” she yanked her
head proudly and left furious.
 
His eyelids didn’t want to uncover his eyes because this sleep was so sweet, so
peaceful… he was blinded by the light. He felt as if he had the sun right in
front of his eyes.
But then slowly he was able to see clearly: it was a person leaning above him
smiling though his beautiful blue topaz eyes were concerned.
“How do you feel?” the sun asked and his voice was sweeter than he had
imagined.
As his vision focused more he identified who the stranger was and his heart
gave several jolts that for once were from joy after all these years. His eyes
bulged: it was the angel from TV; the one Sel told him that people called
Superman. He was even more beautiful than on TV! So beautiful that Bruce was
speechless…
However he registered the worried frown of the young man who definitely took
the lack of answer as indication of illness.
“I…I’m fine, thank you…” and the truth was that most of his pain was gone
though he still felt dull throbs from the places Falcone had wiped him and from
his…anus. Only the thought of that part of his body made him blush.
The angel smiled and his smile made every pain run away.
“Then we’re good” the angel said.
“Where am I?” Bruce asked not that he had any problem with the place: it was
warm, illuminated in light blue and despite the fact the crystal columns were
an odd decoration he found it beautiful.
Superman narrowed his eyes.
“You don’t remember?”
Bruce looked at his hands though it was difficult to part with the sight of the
beautiful angel. He noticed that his cripple arm was wrapped in a strange kind
of cast that was almost transparent and vibrating. And for the first time after
six years it didn’t pain.
Slowly the images from last night came back to him: what Falcone did to him…
the crucifying pain from his master’s crop…and then the external wall crashing
and the raven haired angel floating there clenching his waist, his red cape
flapping. His beautiful eyes sparkled angrily. He regarded the scene for a
second and then blew a wave of icy air and sent both Falcone and Chill to smash
to the opposite wall.
Bruce remembered that he wanted to gaze at the young man but he was exhausted
and in so much pain that his head didn’t last and dropped to the table.
The angel didn’t walk on the floor but still Bruce could hear him approaching
and sighing with sympathy. And then his wrists and ankles stopped being
painfully squeezed; Bruce knew from his father than when an area has been
without blood much time when the blood flow starts again the pain was
considerable – besides that was what happened every other time…
But not tonight because the angel knew that and blew frozen air to his members
to not feel the pain. And then his body was lifted gently and something
extremely soft and warm wrapped him meticulously.
Bruce had opened his eyes slightly seeing the red cape muffling his naked body;
the angel took him in his arms carefully and flew away from Dolcetto and then
from Gotham.
He was so tired and the cape was so warm and soft – not to mention, the angel’s
arms – that Bruce fell asleep during the flight. However every now and then his
eyelids flapped open for a second and he could see endless white, sparkling
landscape underneath him and multicolored fluorescent waves of light
surrounding him. Then he thought that it was just a dream but now…
“The north pole!” Bruce yelled waking up from his recollection and the angel
smiled.
“You’re a clever boy. Yes, we are in the North Pole. You’re safe here.”
Bruce nodded but immediately he fell silent and his eyes turned again to his
hands. The angel worried took gently his chin and made him lock eyes with him.
“What troubles you?”
“Back in Gotham…Selina stayed there and she doesn’t have anyone else…and
there’s Alfred too…Falcone will harm him if I escape…”
The angel’s face became touched but in the end he grinned.
“No need to worry: your friend Tony Stark and I are cleaning Gotham: Falcone
and Chill are already in jail but it is better for you to stay here till we
finish the job” and seeing that the boy wasn’t completely satisfied, he smiled
“it will be only for a few days and you’ll have good company till then…”
He leaned to the floor and when erected his body he was holding something that
made Bruce laugh.
“Hero!”
The angel let the one-eyed kitten on Bruce’s lap and the animal rushed to him
licking his cheeks.
“Thank you!” he met the angel’s satisfied stare.
“Your eyes are like star sapphires” the angel said. “May I call you ‘Star’?”
Bruce opened his eyes that were heavy from the sedative and the first thing he
saw was Selina’s beautiful face calm under sleep’s vale. He caressed carefully
her hair and seeing Hero opening a lazy eye hushed him.
He looked at the clock on the nightstand: it was half past eight but the
morning light was meticulously kept outside the room since Alfred had taken
care to close the heavy curtains.
It was time for him to start the day; he looked around for his chair that had
been forgotten at the middle of the room. Bruce was happy that Tony’s chair
like Clark’s could take his mental orders. And move silently.
When the chair was to his bed he placed a soft kiss to Selina’s cheek and
caressed Hero before slipping to the chair and wearing his robe.
Coming out to the corridor he heard the bell of the main entrance and hurried
to the lift.
Leslie opened the door since Alfred had left to drive Richard to school. She
frowned seeing Jim Gordon, Lieutenant Bullock and Detective Montoya along with
the DA. Of course she understood immediately.
“Good morning, Dr. Thompkins” Jim greeted her. “I wonder if we can speak with
Mr. Wayne.”
Leslie clenched her jaw.
“No, you can’t! He had a very rough night and the least he needs is you asking
him questions twisting the knife in his wounds. For fuck’s sake, Gordon!”
Jim licked his lips nervously.
“Dr. Thompkins, I assure you that I understand and I wish I could do otherwise
but we must have a discussion with him.”
“Discussion?” she asked challengingly cocking an eyebrow.
Robert moved forward.
“Dr. Thompkins, we need Mr. Wayne’s testimony to found the culprit and bring
him to justice.”
She smirked and shook her head.
“I’m afraid you can’t see him right now – give him some time, Jim!” she used
his name, their old, underground partnership during Falcone’s reign
resurfacing.
Gordon gulped and nodded respecting the strong woman’s wish.
“Alright, Leslie; we’ll come another time.”
“No need for that, Commissionaire” Bruce said strolling his wheelchair through
the corridor and everyone looked at him.
Bruce had thought that from now on when people would look at him, he’d see in
their eyes pity and disgust. But now this wasn’t the case; although he was
aware that his appearance wasn’t impeccable his visitors looked at him with
respect and even admiration…
“Since you did the distance here I can answer your questions…Unless…am I
arrested for…? I don’t know…something?”
Jim smiled.
“Of course not, Mr. Wayne, just some questions about” his whim was to lower his
gaze but this youth wouldn’t have liked that “that video.”
Bruce nodded and made an inviting gesture towards the grand salon.
Bullock elbowed Montoya.
“Have you seen a bravest man?”
Montoya smirked to her rough partner.
“No, but he is extremely pale and looks rugged. His night was definitely very
difficult…”
Leslie rushed to Bruce.
“You haven’t eaten anything, Bruce…I’m sure this can wait.”
Bruce grinned and looked at Jim and Robert.
“No, it can’t.”
Robert licked his lips.
“It won’t take long.”
“Thank you” Bruce said “Would you like some coffee or tea?” he asked since
Leslie didn’t have any intention on being a nice hostess.
“No, Mr. Wayne, thank you.”
“As you wish…Please, have a seat.”
“Mr. Wayne, it was the first time Falcone videotaped while abusing you?” Jim
decided to get it over as soon as possible.
“I didn’t know that he was doing it even that time; so I don’t have the
slightest idea whether he did it more times…”
Robert met Bruce’s eyes.
“Do you know of anyone having access to that video?”
Bruce lowered his head thinking.
“I admit that I had no recollection of what the video showed…you see” he
inhaled “such things happened many times and were blend…but last night I had a
flashback and I remember a night before what Falcone did to me…I was mopping
near Falcone’s office and overheard him speaking with a friend of his…”
Gordon frowned.
“What they were saying?”
“This man was asking from Falcone to…to rent me for one time…” he hesitated
“you understand for what…but Falcone refused and then the man told him to give
him a refund…a video…”
“So this video was made for that man?” Robert asked hiding his disgust.
Bruce nodded.
“I think so…You see, when Falcone ordered Chill to take me back to my cage he
asked him to give a DVD disk to someone.”
Montoya leaned forward making eye contact with Bruce.
“Did you happen to hear some name?”
Bruce closed his eyes.
“I think Falcone called him Roth…”
Robert frowned.
“Roth Pielser?” he asked but Bruce shrugged.
The DA turned to Jim who looked thoughtful too.
“I know that name” the Commissionaire said.
Robert nodded.
“It was a federal case. I remember that FBI was investigating trying to find
evidence to bust him. He is one of the worst pedophiles and he led the widest
network of child pornography” Bruce’s breath became harder and Robert hurried
to change the subject. “The office eventually had managed to arrest and convict
him: he is now at the Federal Prison in Washington. Mr. Wayne, if we showed you
a picture of him would be able to recognize him?”
Bruce pursed his lips.
“I don’t know…I…I think so…”
“Brave boy…” Bullock didn’t manage to stop his comment and Montoya elbowed him.
“Tons of material was confiscated but not that video” Robert diverted the
attention from Bullock but the tough lieutenant pressed his lips and spoke.
“Either he had hidden it somewhere safe or given it to someone else.”
Bruce clenched the edges of his armrests: though he knew that the one who
published that video had personal conflicts with him, still the prospect of
more people having seen that content sickened him. Which was stupid now that
millions of people had already seen it.
The main entrance opened suddenly and closed with a bang making everyone to
look there. Bruce saw Tony storming enraged at Jim.
“How could you, Jim?! I expected better from you than tormenting Bruce!”
***** Chapter 63 *****
Despite the fact he had an enraged Tony Stark in front of him, the always
composed Commissionaire was seeing behind him to their young host. Bruce Wayne
was still in his robe, confined in a modern first seen wheelchair, pale and
with bloodshot eyes which were a sign of how hard the previous night was for
him. However, Bruce Wayne’s stare was determined, strong only with a flicker of
upset now that his friend stormed at Jim.
“Tony, please” Bruce said moving his wheelchair towards him.
But Tony raised his palm to silence him.
“Bruce, stay out of this. Gordon, okay, with everyone else doing this but you?
I thought you’d have the minimum of empathy and sympathy to leave Bruce alone
and not pestering him right now.”
Jim stood up and looked calm at the billionaire.
“Mr. Stark, I assure you that if I had an option I wouldn’t be here right now.
I’m terribly sorry for disturbing Mr. Wayne and you but the matter is urgent
and our effort is to get the most information we can so that the culprit behind
this deed is brought to justice.”
Tony rolled his eyes.
“You could do that without forcing Bruce to re-experience all these. He had a
horrible night because of that motherfucker and now you’re twitching the knife
in his wounds! If you want to catch the bastard, investigate or squeeze that
bastard into telling you who sent him the video!” he yanked his head pointing
his chin.
Gordon didn’t lower his eyes which didn’t follow Tony in his angry attitude.
“We do investigate, Mr. Stark, yet, I’m afraid that the investigation can’t be
effective without Mr. Wayne’s contribution.”
Bruce moved forward.
“Exactly, Tony. They are only doing their jobs; nothing of what we spoke about
till now made feel bad.”
Tony lolled his head to him crossing his arms.
“Stop being so stupidly selfless! You haven’t even dressed yet and I bet you
didn’t have the time to eat something.”
“We are sorry for that” Robert made a move towards them. “But we must act
rapidly.”
Tony smirked and stabbed a jeering stare to the DA who frowned.
“I’m tired of ‘buts’, Mr. DA.”
Bruce understood that he had to intervene.
“Tony, it was I that insisted on them staying and doing the questioning.”
Tony locked eyes with his friend fuming.
“I think that we are finished, Mr. Wayne” Gordon said looking at Robert who
nodded. “Your help is much appreciated” he gave his hand for a handshake and
Bruce took it.
Robert did the same.
“I’m terribly sorry for upsetting you; I wish there was another way” the DA
said casting a pointed glance at Tony who groaned.
“Not at all” Bruce asked. “If that helps you find and arrest someone dangerous
then I’m satisfied. And of course if you need to, I’ll be at your disposal for
anything you want to ask.”
Robert smiled.
“Thank you, Mr. Wayne: we’ll find the culprit and bring him to justice.”
“I’m sure” Bruce replied causing Tony’s snort.
“Mr. Stark” Jim nodded courtly to the billionaire in his trademark tranquil
demeanor and followed Leslie who came to lead them to the door.
As he was the last of the company to leave the salon Bullock cast a glance to
Bruce and then at Tony with sympathy flickering in his hardened eyes: even
though till now he didn’t have the best of opinions about him, he couldn’t
blame Stark for being so protective of his friend. Montoya stopped, looking at
her partner and cleared her throat which made Bullock hasten to catch them.
Tony remained in his position with his hands clenching his waist and listened
as the police car left the grounds. Only then he moved to his friend.
“Tony, that was really unnecessary” Bruce said. “You know that they are just
doing their jobs and no harm was done by their questions.”
Tony opened his mouth ready to say something still pissed for his friend’s
intervention when he was speaking with Gordon. However the images from that
video flooded in a second his mind and he closed his mouth running his hand to
his hair.
“Sometimes I wish you were not so selflessly brave, littl’ guy” he replied
calm. “But you had an awful night and the least they could do was leaving the
matter for one or two days. Reporters are lurking outside like hungry wolves
and interrogation could have been avoided right now.”
Bruce huffed.
“Tony, I’m not so fragile. I know that last night I scared you and I’m sorry…I
shouldn’t have lost control” Tony shook his head. “But now it’s another day.”
Tony kneeled before him and cupped his friend’s face under Bruce’s puzzled
eyes.
“I hate it that people keep hurting you and you…” he sighed. “Sacrificing
yourself for the others hiding your suffering…” he touched his forehead to
Bruce’s and the younger man pressed his lips sensing Tony’s torment. “And,
listen to me, don’t be sorry for anything, okay?”
Bruce frowned.
“Tony, have you been drinking?” he asked calmly and Tony let out a surrendered
chuckle closing his eyes.
“No, littl’ guy” he lied because he didn’t want Bruce feel guilty about his own
stupidity.
However Bruce wasn’t completely convinced.
“I can confirm that too” a nonchalant voice came from the corridor that led
there from the main entrance and Bruce saw Pepper walking in with Leslie.
Tony hearing his girlfriend’s voice stood up and Pepper found the opportunity
to hug Bruce.
“How are you, Bruce?” she asked him with a peck to the cheek.
He smiled.
“Though my appearance says otherwise, I’m fine.”
“Despite the fact he does everything to torture himself” Tony grouched.
“Is that so? A girl cannot sleep without bad things happening?”
Selina was descending the grand stair with Hero perched to her chest.
“Why are you up so early, Bruce?” she demanded frowned as soon as reached her
friend. “You sneaked of me, bad boy…And why you’re still in your pajamas?”
Bruce chuckled.
“Now that’s what I call a third degree interrogation” he winked to Tony.
“Police were here” Leslie said gloom. “Now, ladies and gentlemen, to the
kitchen for breakfast.”
“You cooked?” Tony asked under a deep, suspicious frown and Leslie chuckled.
“Of course not! I want to preserve my patients’ health…Alfred took care of
everything before taking Richard to school.”
Hero jumped from Selina’s chest and ran first towards the kitchen causing
Bruce’s light hearted laugh. Tony looked at his friend sad and Pepper elbowed
him casting him a reprimanding glare when he met her eyes.
“Why do you have to give them all these information?” Tony asked Bruce
exasperated sitting on the stool next to him at the kitchen island. You should
have told to me about that pervert and I’d have persuaded the bastard to sing.”
Bruce took a bite from his cupcake and stared at him calm.
“Exactly. It is better if police handles that, Tony.”
Tony jerked in his stool.
“What?!”
Bruce sipped from his milk.
“You don’t trust me?” Tony insisted and Pepper looked at him disapprovingly.
“Of course I do, Tony. But it is too personal and I don’t want you to test your
limits…in a revenge quest” he met his friend’s pissed eyes. “Besides there are
more important things to focus our efforts.”
Selina frowned.
“More important? There is nothing more important than you, Bruce” Tony looked
at her with arched eyebrows and nodded his approval.
“And I want to catch this motherfucker ASAP” Tony said determined “to show him
the amount of pain he caused!”
Bruce licked his lips and met Leslie’s eyes; the doctor sat opposite him with
her arms crossed on her chest watching him as if evaluating his health which
probably was what she really did.
“Tony, let the police find and give him what he deserves” he replied adamant.
“Last night I had that…fit but everything is alright. He didn’t manage what he
wanted and this will be the worst punishment for him. Now, let’s leave this
aside and return to our job.”
Tony couldn’t stop his eyes from rolling.
“Which is?”
“Zucco, Joker…He managed to escape last night.”
Tony shook his head.
“You know that you shouldn’t have been there at all? Now you mention it, I’m
still pissed with you.”
Leslie looked at Bruce frowned.
“You were out last night?”
Bruce huffed.
“I had to…”
Leslie pressed her lips.
“What were you thinking, young man?” she scolded Bruce.
“Leslie, I’m well protected with the armor and I’m very careful.”
Leslie growled and Tony smiled satisfied.
“Maybe we must chain you?” she spat.
“He will escape…” Tony cocked an eyebrow. “Ra’s Al Ghul taught him many
tricks.”
“Speaking of Zucco” Pepper intervened to change the subject “he could have
mailed the video to that hacker wanting to damage your image now that the
hearing is in progress.”
Bruce shook his head.
“He could have done anything to achieve his purpose yet he was away from Gotham
for years and I don’t think he had access to that video.”
“What about Joker?” Selina asked. “He tortured Falcone so maybe the bastard
revealed to him the existence of that video and its location. Knowing how much
Joker likes to play why not broadcasting that video to bring a reaction out of
you?”
Tony scratched his head.
“Joker was there when I got that scum who hacked GCN’s signal” he didn’t
mention all the details. “He was very angry and wanted to punish himself the
guy.”
Selina shrugged and twisted her lips.
“Joker’s games…”
“I don’t think that he did this; it’s not Joker’s style: he likes to show off;
he’d have presented the video himself making some statement” Bruce commented.
But Selina shook her head chewing her covered with jam slice of bread.
“We’re talking about Joker: he likes to break patterns even if those patterns
were made by him.”
“You have a point” Bruce replied. “Yet even if Falcone had told him about the
video, he couldn’t know where the video was at the time since he had given it
to Pielser.”
Tony gulped.
“He shot that video to sell it?” his face was distorted with disgust.
Bruce’s face on the other hand was completely emotionless.
“Actually, it was a gift. Pielser is a pedophile and he was one of Falcone’s
partners. He saw me once in Dolcetto and asked from Falcone to rent me for one
time” Bruce realized that everyone was staring at him distraught and hurried to
conclude. “Falcone refused and then Pielser asked him at least a video of…” his
voice was almost indifferent as if all these referred to someone else “what he
wouldn’t have the chance to do himself.”
“You re-experienced all these to last night’s flashback?” Selina asked in a low
but steady voice.
Bruce nodded and to break the touched atmosphere continued keeping his
composure.
“Therefore Joker couldn’t have access to that video because if he had taken it
from the pedophile it would have become news: Pielser is in a federal jail.”
Tony pursed his lips and Bruce cleared his throat.
 “So we leave that case to the Police; we have Mannheim, Luthor and what are
they up to with those strange artifacts.”
Tony snorted twisting his lips. He didn’t give a damn about Mannheim and those
fucking items.
“I knew it…Sure thing, our friend Luthor yesterday had only one thing in his
mind and that wasn’t Mannheim or the stupid objects…”
Bruce nodded and his eyes fell on Hero who was kicking between his paws a chunk
of food he threw out of his bawl.
“I know…he called me.”
Tony clenched his fist and hit the granite island.
“That sonov…If I knew that, I’d have broken his stupid nose last night!”
“You went to Luthor last night?”
Tony licked his lips.
“Yeah with Steve…Natasha was already there…We wanted him to confess that he
gave the video but it seems that he isn’t the culprit.”
Bruce rubbed his forehead.
“Tony, that was…” he huffed. “He can sue you – I mean all of you – for assault”
he shook his head.
“He won’t dare.”
Bruce closed his eyes.
“Thank you – all of you but…”
“We are here to serve justice, Bruce; the fact you were the victim this time
doesn’t change our role.”
Pepper bit her lip and the other two women looked at Tony with narrowed eyes.
However Bruce didn’t comment on that.
“I hope you changed your mind about that court and call Collins to as for an
adjournment” Tony continued.
“Not at all” Bruce replied a bit down hearted about Tony calling him ‘a
victim’. “The hearing will take place as scheduled; there’s no reason to cancel
it. On the contrary…”
He stopped abruptly his phrase as Alfred came in from the kitchen’s door.
“Bloody Hell!” he said unaware that his young Master was speaking. “Those
reporters are swarming the Palisades! I had to come from the back road.”
Tony lolled his head towards Alfred locking eyes with Bruce pointedly.
“You see? They are going to eat you alive!” Tony said. “I think you should stay
away from them.”
Bruce frowned: Tony was always overprotective but now…He recollected what
happened last night, the way his friend carried him in his arms deluded and
scared. He felt sweat spurting all over his body from shame.
“On the contrary, Tony, facing the reporters will definitely ruin it for the
culprit: he’ll realize that he failed to break me. Also, better me than Dick.”
Selina took Hero from the floor and petted him.
“Meaning?” she asked.
“If I hide they will remember the ongoing court and will chase the boy instead,
so with my appearance two things are achieved at once: we show to the culprit
that he failed to break me and spare Richard from the annoying chase of the
reporters.”
“What about you, Bruce?” Selina asked. “You are exhausted after the last night:
facing that lot isn’t the better thing…”
Bruce nodded.
“I’m alright now, Sel: believe me, facing reporters isn’t that bad.”
Leslie stood.
“Before anything else, young man, I want to examine you. Do you feel any pain?
You forced yourself to walk last night and fell, not to mention the burnings.”
Tony stared at Bruce with raised eyebrows, his face was filled with worry and
demand; the younger man didn’t want any more distress to his friends. He
nodded.
“Though I don’t feel any pain, you can examine me.”
 
Mr. Collins was waiting in front of the hearing hall and he hurried to shake
Bruce’s hand as soon as he saw him coming this time not from the lift of the
back side of the corridor but the opposite one that was coming from the front
of the building.
The veteran attorney examined his employer’s presence. The young man was
impeccably dressed as always, clean shaven, perfectly groomed and his face
although a bit pale was calm and determined.
Bruce smiled to him.
“Good morning, Mr. Collins.”
“Good morning, Mr. Wayne, though I’ m sure that the hungry pack of reporters
outside the court house gave you a hard time. Maybe it would have been better
if you had chosen the back entrance as the previous times?”
The younger man shook his head.
“Not today but there’s no problem, Mr. Collins, I’m used to the reporters”
Bruce had thought of it and decided that it was better to tell everything to
his lawyer so he didn’t hesitate at all. “Mr. Collins, last night I had a
nightmare – actually, a flashback – and I woke up believing that I was still in
Falcone’s cabaret, still his prisoner…I” he inhaled “I had lost my connection
to reality.”
“I’m terribly sorry for that, Mr. Wayne: you could have called me to ask to
postpone the hearing but even now we can ask Judge Moot…” Bruce was shaking his
head in denial.
“No need for that: I’m perfectly fine now but last night my loved ones were
upset and distraught because I was a bit delusional. And Dick witnessed all
that…”
Mr. Collins nodded.
“I wanted you to know…Can this harm our case?”
“In a hearing of guardianship everything can affect things” Bruce nodded
appreciating Mr. Collins’ honesty. “The other side doesn’t know about this but
even if they found out the fact that you decided to attend the hearing even
after that incident will show how much you care about the boy.”
The experienced lawyer patted the younger man’s shoulder and smiled to him.
“Do not feel bad, Mr. Wayne.”
Bruce nodded and they moved inside where Zucco and his lawyer were already
seated to their table. However Bruce instantly noticed a woman sitting at the
spectators’ seats behind Zucco: it was a woman approximately at the same age
with Zucco with short brown hair and big hazel eyes.
And Bruce knew her. He was pressing his memory to remember as he approached
their table and made a mental note to ask the constable that was in the room:
for being allowed to the hall she must have some relation to the case. The
moment he was passing by their opponents’ table Magnie greeted him in his
cordial way that was at the same time creepy coming from the opponent’s
attorney.
Bruce shook the hand Magnie offered once again to him.
“I’m honestly sorry about what happened yesterday, Mr. Wayne” Bruce frowned
internally with this reference that could mean both the video and his fit but
didn’t show anything in case this was just bait. “The broadcasting of that
video was disgusting and I hope the police arrests the culprit soon.”
Bruce sighed inside relieved that Magnie meant the video.
“Thank you, Mr. Magnie; I really appreciate that.”
Magnie smiled and Bruce guided his wheelchair to take his position. Judge Moot
entered the courtroom two minutes later.
“Your Honor, I think that everyone knows about the broadcasting of a hideous
video that took place yesterday; I would like this video to be projected”
Magnie raised his hand that held a DVD disc towards the court’s clerk.
Bruce inhaled sharply and his sparkling eyes turned rapidly to Mr. Collins who
had already jerked up.
“Objection, Your Honor! This is really deplorable!”
Judge Moot hit his hammer on the shining wood of his bench; his face was
distorted in anger.
“Mr. Magnie, I cannot understand how did you thought to bring this piece of
junk to my court! There is no chance this court use this video for any
purpose!”
Bruce had pressed his lips without looking at anyone however with the corner of
his eyes he was eyeing Magnie and his client. Zucco hardly hid his displeasure
for the Judge’s reprimand while Bruce could detect in Magnie’s immobile eyes
that he wasn’t in any way affected by that stern scolding.
“I do sincerely apologize, Your Honor but the mere existence and publication of
this video is very important to this sensitive guardianship case. I also ask
from Mr. Wayne to forgive me for the distress I’m causing to him” Bruce rolled
his eyes inside “yet we are here to decide what the best for a child is.”
Judge Moot hadn’t completely forgotten his wrath yet looked at Magnie and waved
his hand.
“Continue but without any reference to the content of this video. And, Mr.
Magnie, be extra careful otherwise I will charge you for contempt.”
“I will, Your Honor” he said grinning. “What I wanted to stress out is that
unfortunate incidents like that can have a tremendous effect to an adolescent
who is at the most sensitive stages of his personality formation. Such
incidents can be very stressful for a child at Mr. Grayson’s age: socialization
is very important at this age and we know how cruel sometimes children and
young teens can become when such revelations take place for one of their peer’s
parent or guardian.”
“Objection, Your Honor” Collins said calmly. “Mr. Wayne hasn’t done anything
for which a child should be ashamed.”
“Mr. Wayne certainly hasn’t done” Magnie replied “and he is admirable yet we
know how cruel our society is and especially the teens who still don’t
understand many things.”
Collins cast a sideways glance to his colleague.
“According to your reasoning, Mr. Magnie, every individual who has suffered a
sexual assault should lose the guardianship of their children because of some
people’s lack of understanding. In your logic, the state should furthermore
punish the people who were subjected to violence because some members of our
society are insensitive.”
“Mr. Collins has a great point, Mr. Magnie” the Judge remarked.
Magnie licked his lips.
“However you cannot deny that young Richard would be subjected to stress due to
Mr. Wayne’s past and presence. I’m sure that you have noticed how reporters
swarm the courthouse: today even more than the previous days. The most
unfortunate thing is that this publicity isn’t due to some great achievement of
Mr. Wayne but due to the mere fact that he was abused” Collins made to retort
but Magnie made an appeasing gesture. “However what that video made obvious is
that Mr. Wayne’s psychological state can’t be trusted for…”
“Objection!” Mr. Collins stood up. “Mr. Magnie’s assumptions are unfounded and
insulting: my client was psychologically evaluated recently and the experts
found him absolutely capable of…”
“Testifying in a court case against a crime lord which is completely different
from raising a child” Magnie completed the phrase cocking an eyebrow.
Judge Moot eyed Magnie above his small round glasses.
“Mr. Magnie, let me remind you that Mr. Wayne isn’t the accused here so I
suggest you be more careful of your insinuations. The court already has Mr.
Wayne’s evaluation.”
“That evaluation is almost one year old, Your Honor. Since then unfortunately
Mr. Wayne became the subject of many tragic incidents specifically a crazy
criminal’s attacks and captivity from a hideous terroristic group during which
he was the subject of experimentation with psychotropic drugs and such horrific
tortures that rendered him paraplegic.”
Mr. Collins looked at Bruce concerned.
“Are you alright?”
Bruce grinned.
“Don’t worry about me, Mr. Collins.”
“I think that an updated evaluation is needed so that the court gets a proper
idea” Magnie added.
“There is nothing in my client’s behavior that points to that need as you name
it.”
Bruce felt a knot in his stomach and sensed Zucco’s jeering glare.
“I think there is, Mr. Collins” Magnie said almost triumphant and Judge Moot
frowned. “Last night Mr. Wayne experienced a horrific flashback which made him
delirious to the point of being unable to distinguish reality from nightmare;
his mental stability was so badly affected that his senses were distorted
resulting in causing burnings to himself with hot water. Richard witnessed all
these…”
Zucco jerked to his feet.
“And my nephew was very upset and distraught! He couldn’t calm down and sleep:
he called me at 4 o’clock in the morning trembling. This isn’t the proper
environment for a child!”
Hammers began hitting Bruce’s head: Dick said everything to Zucco – he thought
of that yet he didn’t want to believe it.
“Every family has such incidents” Mr. Collins replied tranquil thanks to his
long experience. “Almost in every household children grow up with an adult who
has a health condition; some of these conditions are chronic with daily
incidents but children learn from that and become more responsible adults.
Richard wasn’t in danger during this incident which after all was something
very rare for Mr. Wayne – even a person without Mr. Wayne’s past could have a
reaction like this to a highly stressful event as the broadcasting of that
video.”
Magnie looked at his older colleague.
“Perhaps it would be useful if Richard testified everything he saw” he cocked
an eyebrow “in case there is a doubt about that incident really happening.”
Mr. Collins was ready to reply but Bruce caught him to that.
“No, Mr. Magnie: nobody will doubt that incident: Richard told the truth. I had
a flashback and I was disoriented for some minutes.”
 
Bruce waited for Mr. Collins to a secluded corner of the court house: he had
asked from his lawyer to find who the woman spectator was – he didn’t want to
show his personal interest.
After the two hours the hearing lasted he was a bit dizzy and his breath had
become faster. Bruce had hidden it from everyone but now that he was alone,
hidden from the hasty bystanders that crossed the court house’s corridors, he
didn’t need to keep doing that. Besides now it was worse: his head was
throbbing from the hammers of a bad migraine and images from last night’s
flashback returned giving him punches from everywhere.
He wished he could wear Batman’s cowl right now chasing away Bruce’s traumas;
Bruce’s weakness; he recalled the sense of the icy air of midnight Gotham; the
sense of danger; the sense of freedom those nights he escaped from Falcone’s
jail to sabotage him…
“I order you to cum for me, ya useless sonovabitch!” the crime lord roared to
him.
Bruce could see himself lying on his back at the king size bed in the Falcone’s
Manor master’s bedroom. The mobster had his wrists bound on the headboard and
was thrusting in him with all his strength and rage.
“I want ya prick fly, ya bastard!” he barked pumping crudely his unresponsive
length.
It was pain as his wrists were crushed in the leather, his body was impaled and
his length was brutally abused. Yet the worse was the shame, besides he had
learnt to endure the pain of the body.
But the really unbearable was that this came hours after his latest escapee as
Batman; he had beaten to a pulp a pack of Falcone’s henchmen and it had felt so
great as if he was free and wouldn’t have to go back. As if he wasn’t himself
but someone else… Yet as soon as he took off the armor he was the same slave;
he did come back because it was the only way and now he was enduring Falcone’s
violent penetration; the humiliation…
Batman was roaring in his head demanding from him to stop taking that; the bat
was staring at him with contempt, with pity…
The ring of his Cosmos brought him out of his reverie. It was Ms. Kent.
“How are you, dear? I heard what happened. I’m terribly sorry, sweetheart –
they are monsters! If I had them here I’d smash his head.”
Bruce pinched the bridge of his nose and chuckled.
“I’m fine, Martha.”
“You are such a brave young man…Did Clark call you?”
Bruce licked his lips.
“No but it is better that way, Martha” he heard the woman’s angry intake of air
“Please, do not say anything to him about not calling.”
“But…”
“Promise me, Martha.”
“As you wish, dear…Do you want me to come there?”
Bruce smiled.
“Thank you, Martha, you are wonderful. But you don’t have to make the trip
here. I had much worse…”
“Certainly you did, dear” she sighed. “Remember that if you need anything you
can call me.”
“I will, Martha…”
He bit his lip and his mind went to Clark…he never blamed him for choosing
Diana – even if she was a fake – but now even more than before he was seeing
that Clark was right to leave him. It was his mistake that their relationship
even began; he knew that it wouldn’t go anywhere…
Of course there was the control that the fake Diana put on him that accelerated
things…Maybe it was for the best: weren’t for the effect Clark would have
realized that this relationship was wrong but would have postponed the end
afraid of hurting him. Because Clark was so good and kind; he would slowly
wither inside their relationship but would bit his lips and stay with him even
if that made Clark miserable…
Even though he was absorbed in his thoughts he heard someone coming towards him
but he didn’t show anything till the footsteps were near him.
“Mr. Wayne!”
Bruce smiled.
“Miss Lane, what a nice surprise.”
She gave him her hand for a handshake.
“Please call me Lois.”
“Only if you call me Bruce.”
“Fair enough!”
“I guess you are here to cover the latest events?” he asked nonchalant.
“No, I’m not here as reporter but as a friend…” she locked eyes with him. “I’m
so sorry for what happened…”
“Thank you. It means so much for me.”
Lois cleared her throat.
“Clark is also very sorry” she added and Bruce cocked an eyebrow. “He sends his
greetings.”
Bruce smiled.
“Lois, you don’t have to…” he shook his hand because he didn’t want to tell her
that she was lying. “I know that Clark is a wonderful man and still cares
…but…” he lolled his head.
Lois pursed her lips.
“I don’t know what is wrong with him.”
“He is still the great man we know; please, Lois, remember that.”
“It’s very hard to do that, Bruce: he seems the same but there are those
changes...subtle but important” Bruce’s eyes flashed – Lois knew Clark better
than he did and so she was able to notice the differences; Lois huffed “And
you, my precious boy? How are you? You look pale…”
Bruce smiled.
“Nothing serious; I just didn’t sleep well last night.”
Lois pressed her lips.
“Flashbacks?” she asked sad and smiled to Bruce’s puzzled look “I read some
psychology… I bet the hearing wasn’t the best medicine for that, huh?” Bruce
shook his head. “I won’t ask for details” she chuckled “though the occupational
curiosity itches me…It was very brave coming here today and facing all those
reporters out there…ugh! Gotham’s reporters drive me mad!”
Another pair echoed coming slowly to their spot; Bruce was able to see Vicky
Vale but Lois had to turn around.
“Hello, Mr. Wayne. Hello, Lois” she greeted them.
“How are you, Miss Vale?” Bruce asked.
“I am the one who should ask that” she said. “Mr. Wayne, I want you to know how
sorry I am that this video was broadcasted through my show.”
“But thanks to you the broadcasting stopped” Lois pointed out and Vicky looked
at her perplexed because till then Lois never hid her detest for the Gothamite.
“That is true and I’d like to thank you” Bruce added “you were fired for my
sake.”
Vicky smirked.
“Actually I resigned. To tell you the truth I was bored and tired by this show.
I always wanted something else; something better. And that pig Wizze always
made me sick. Well, I do realize that I was no better…” she twitched her
eyebrows “I was too rude to you.”
“Don’t mention that.”
Lois drummed her index finger to her lips.
“If you want a job I can speak to Perry. Daily Planet needs dignified
reporters.”
“Thank you for the dignified; I know you didn’t think much of me and I don’t
blame you. Your proposition honors me but Gotham is my city and I’ll try to
find something here.”
“I think that you will manage: you acted very bravely” Bruce said “and many
editors will want to their staff the reporter who will take Bruce Wayne’s first
interview.”
Vale’s eyes widened.
“Are you sure?”
“I know that you were one of the few reporters that weren’t in Falcone’s
payroll and that says a lot for me; also, very few people have the guts to do
what you did causing a small explosion to save a stranger’s dignity: this
proves your high morals, Miss Vale.”
“I wanted this interview for myself” Lois said smiling “yet I think that you’ve
made the right choice, Bruce.”
 
Superman flew over Metropolis enjoying the cool air of the night. He was
keeping his ears and eyes open not only for anyone in need of help but also for
signs of Intergang. Lois had dropped everything and ran to Gotham at Bruce’s
side.
He licked his lips. She had reprimanded him for not doing the same but Lois
couldn’t understand. Superman could have gone there yet it would have been
fake: that old effect dragging his body there.
However that effect wasn’t there anymore: Bruce’s trick had failed and Superman
had managed to fight off the initial urge to run to his side. The inocculation
Jor El administered him was effective so his strength of will.
And now he felt free to dive into what he had with Diana…
 
Mr. Collins had informed Bruce that the woman in the court room was Zucco’s
wife, Rebecca Irwin. However Bruce knew that she was more than that; he was
sure that he had seen her again somewhere and now at his study was perusing his
archives for the Zucco case on his Cosmos. He was glancing at Hero who was
curled on the thick carpet and played with one of his fluffy toys; that was
enough to mae him smile and return to his work.
He nodded: exactly. Looking at the newspapers of the time John Grayson died he
soon fell upon the picture of the same woman: she was the head of the ‘Build &
Fit’ technicians that carried through the city gym’s renovation. She was
brought in GCPD for questioning but naturally no charges were made against her
and she was free.
However just the fact that the same woman appeared again as Zucco’s wife was
enough to indicate that there was a connection between John Grayson’s death and
Zucco especially since the company belonged to Zucco and Mr. Breizic had given
him the tampered bolt. So this could be a good start for reopening the case: he
had the paperwork that proved that Zucco was the owner of that company.
“Master Richard, please do wait…”
The door burst open and Bruce having heard Alfred’s voice managed to hide his
Cosmos tablet under a pile of papers. Hero surprised, stood and stretched his
agile body.
Dick stormed in the room and stood before his desk; the boy was upset and
panting. His eyes were flashing. Bruce frowned.
“Richard, are you alright?”
Alfred came to the room, some panting coloring his breath.
“I am deeply sorry, Master Bruce.”
Bruce smiled.
“It’s okay, Alfred, thank you. Can you leave us alone?”
Alfred gave a courteous nod.
“As you wish, sir.”
As soon as the door closed the flushed boy unleashed the storm he had inside
him.
“No, I’m not! Is that what you wanted?!”
Bruce pressed his lips.
“I don’t understand.”
Dick clenched his waist with both hands.
“Till now my classmates respected and admired me for my father but now…” he
huffed exasperated. “They sneer at me! I became a laughing stock!”
The boy’s voice was filled with rage but Bruce could discern his bitterness and
sadness so he steered his wheelchair out of the desk and approached him.
“What happened, Richard?”
Dick snorted and slapped his own face.
“You pretend that you don’t understand?! Okay, I’ll make it clear! People were
laughing behind my back and jeered me because of that video…’cause my guardian
was fucked right to the ass!”
Bruce’s eyes narrowed.
“Do not use such vulgar language” he commented calmly.
“Why?” Dick snapped. “You don’t like to hear the truth?! That’s the truth! You
were Falcone’s whore! A pussy!”
Bruce’s face lost its color but still he met the boy’s eyes calm.
“Is that your words or what you heard from your peers?”
Dick stayed speechless for a second; he waved his hands and frowned.
“That’s your problem? That’s bullshit! What counts is that it’s the truth:
you’re what they say and everyone saw and knows every detail and they jeer and
laugh…Why did you take me in your custody when you are what people are saying?
To punish me for hating you?”
Bruce rubbed his forehead.
“I never wanted to punish you, Richard and…”
Dick leaned to him.
“Stop playing the victim, okay? Stop trying to make me pity you!”
Bruce’s eyes became blank: it was the second time that day that the word victim
was addressed to him, this time coupled with pity and it hurt.
“Or since you are a victim stop pretending my father! My father was pride and
nobody pitied him! And I feel proud for him! Till now I was an orphan; I didn’t
have anything but I had my pride – my father’s name; I never felt ashamed. From
the moment you forced me to live with you ruined my life but I had still my
dignity – now you made me lost that as well! I feel ashamed because of you and
I don’t want to go back to that school! Are you happy that you mucked me up
with your shame?”
Bruce felt hammers drumming in his skull yet he didn’t show it to the boy.
“I never wanted anything like that, Dick…I’m sorry for what you suffered
because of me but it is your school and it is your life so you must not let
some people make you run away. Your father would never want you to be upset by
these people…”
Dick grabbed the armrests and brought his face in front of Bruce’s.
“Quit from my guardianship! If you care for me as you brag prove it! quit and
let me go!”
Bruce locked eyes with him.
“Is that why you told your uncle what happened yesterday?” he asked without any
trace of accusation.
Dick’s eyes trembled puzzled and suddenly his rage evaporated.
“What?” he asked letting go of the armrests. “How do you know? Someone
eavesdropped on me?”
Bruce shook his head.
“Of course not. Your uncle brought that up in the court as a proof of my
inappropriateness.”
Dick widened his eyes and shook his head: no, that was…His uncle couldn’t have
done that; Dick didn’t want him to.
“I…I didn’t tell him what happened to use it in the court…I just…I was…I just
wanted to speak with someone.”
Bruce inhaled deeply.
“And he judged that the end justifies the means…”
“No! I didn’t want anyone to learn about last night; I knew it was your secret
and that it’d be a devious blow!”
Bruce nodded appreciatively.
“I know you’re a good boy, Richard.”
But the boy shook his head.
“He shouldn’t say that! I didn’t want him to.”
“You told him so?”
“No, but Tony…Tony understands me and I’m sure he’d never do anything I
wouldn’t want.”
“Maybe you shouldn’t be so sure” the boy lifted his eyes to Bruce’s pale face.
“Maybe your wants don’t coincide with his.”
Dick closed his eyes and then looked at Bruce.
“What…what happened?”
Bruce grinned.
“The court ordered that I be assessed. If I want to sustain your guardianship.”
Dick gulped: he could imagine the impact when the reporters found out about
Wayne’s psychiatric assessment.
“And what would you do?”
“Visit the psychiatrist the court will suggest.”
Dick couldn’t understand; he licked his lips.
“Why? Why are you enduring all these? You know that I hate you. From the moment
I came here I’m giving you Hell; I’m constantly telling you off. Why accepting
to be subjected to this while you easily can quit? I’m not your problem.”
Bruce lolled his head.
“Your grandmother trusted me with your well being and I won’t betray her trust
whatever I have to go through. She believed that I would protect you and I’ll
do that. And even if you hate me…I care about you and understand what you’re
been through – even your hatred” he inhaled “and I don’t trust that man to take
you under his authority. Believe me, Richard, it is not stubbornness: the
moment your grandmother is back you will never have to see me again but till
then I won’t let this man hurt you.”
Dick looked at Bruce determined.
“I’ll come to the court and say that I lied.”
Bruce shook his head and grinned.
“You won’t do that: I admitted that I had that fit. You’re not a liar, Richard
and I won’t let anyone call you that.”
Dick pressed his lips; he made to say something but after two attempts he
turned and left running.
Bruce hid his face in his palms and then ran his fingers through his hair
huffing.
Alfred entered hesitant the study and Bruce looked at him.
“Master Bruce…”
The younger man shook his head.
“Maybe I was wrong, Alfred…”
“No, Master Bruce.”
But Bruce steered his wheelchair towards the door and Alfred made to follow
him.
“No, Alfred, stay here” Bruce smiled with pressed lips to him and patted his
wrinkled hand.
“As you wish, sir…” Alfred mumbled sad watching his young master leaving.
 
Bruce ended up to the back salon and then to the garden that was cast under the
early night’s light dark colors. The cold air was refreshing but it couldn’t
cool his mind where thousands thoughts boiled deteriorating the drumming of a
full migraine. The beauty and peace of the night; the tranquility of the
perfectly groomed garden made the last 48 hours’ exhaustion sink deeply in his
bones and flesh.
His body throbbed and made the burnings hurt more; his back ached reminding him
that he was still healing; weak and fragile.
Falcone’s whore! A pussy! Everyone laughed…
Hero had followed him and meowed drawing his attention. The kitten was sitting
on the marble floor, at the side of his wheelchair and was staring at him with
sparkling eyes.
Bruce gave him a faint smile and took him on his lap only for the kitten to
stand on his back legs and perch to his chest. The human caressed his head.
“Hero” he sighed.
He was ready to speak but he heard something and looked at the star flooded
horizon. Thor landed softly before him.
“Am I intruding?”
“Of course not” Bruce answered. “Welcome back.”
They grabbed each other’s forearms; the warriors’ greeting.
“I heard about the video” the blond said not wanting to lie and Bruce nodded.
“I appreciate your honesty, Thor.”
Thor kneeled before him and Hero looked at the god puzzled.
“I’m sorry, Bruce…that was monstrous! Preposterous! Horrible! What kind of a
sick mind could do such a think? Have you any idea of the scum’s identity?”
Bruce tranquil petted Hero.
“I just know who didn’t do it…but I leave that to police…”
Thor lolled his head to the side and pressed his lips; his eyes were sparkling
ready to water.
“You’re so tired…exhausted…and you suffer not only physically” he touched
Bruce’s right forearm; he had noticed how the human was holding awkwardly that
limb and Bruce twitched with the gentle touch. “I’m sorry; I didn’t want to
hurt you.”
“Don’t…it’s not real pain…my mind sometimes…”
“I was…I was in Gotham all day” he mumbled “I wanted to talk to you, to say…”
he shrugged and smiled uncomfortable “what I’m saying now. But you were busy…I
mean, you should have been resting but you…” he shook his head “so strong, so
brave; never stopping fighting; never hiding…”
Bruce looked at Hero and tapped his pink nose.
“It’s not bravery or strength...” he shrugged. “I’m not ill…so, no reason to
stay at home.”
Thor nodded.
“Not brave? With all these reporters attacking you with questions…I wanted to
appear and chase them away but I knew you didn’t want that. The truth is I
didn’t find the…” he chuckled “the courage to speak to you…during all these
hours: I didn’t know what to say to someone great as you…Sad? Angry? I was
afraid that whatever I might have told you would be unworthy of you…”
Bruce closed his eyes feeling exhaustion eroding the healthy part of his spine.
He didn’t know what to answer to this; he didn’t want to hurt the god: he had
hurt enough people.
“I felt that someone was watching” he said instead.
“I feel like a prowler…”
“You’re not…”
“You must be disappointed now you learnt that the one who had his eyes on you
wasn’t…Superman.”
Bruce smiled.
“I knew it wasn’t Superman” Thor frowned and Bruce blinked. “I can feel his
presence.”
Thor nodded.
“Of course…” he smiled “did he…”
Bruce shook his head.
“No and he shouldn’t. He did the right thing not calling” he said determined.
Thor shook his head and huffed exasperated.
“I feel disgusted that someone of our kind treated you like this” Bruce
narrowed his eyes. “Bruce, I wish you stopped making excuses for Superman.”
Bruce pressed his lips.
“I’m a realist, Thor; I see things clear. There is darkness inside me; darkness
that absorbs every light cast on it. Beings like Superman or you are made for
the light; you’re bright as suns” he smiled. “But my darkness can’t be lighted
by anything; it’s like a black hole: swallows every light. Do you know why?
Because your light is  not compatible with a creature of darkness like me. Bats
can’t live under the sun’s light. Eventually I’d have put off Superman’s pure
light. So, yes, I’m happy he saved himself from me and he is indifferent to
anything that happens to me” his breath was a bit fast and Hero rubbed to his
neck purring.
Thor couldn’t fight the urge and cupped the human’s face with both hands
locking their eyes but Bruce yanked his head and Thor detached his hands
blushing. The god stood up realizing he had made something he shouldn’t have.
“I’m sorry…it was nothing more than a friendly gesture: I swear.”
Bruce nodded and settled Hero to his lap.
“Do not feel bad, Thor…I know you are kind and noble but you have to understand
Superman…don’t blame him and try to see the truth about me…If you had seen that
video you’d have realized that my past will haunt me forever: I don’t let that
past determine my life but I won’t make again the mistake to bring another
person in my darkness” Thor gulped. “I love my darkness; this darkness kept me
alive all these years; I’m used to living in that darkness but I won’t impose
my darkness to anyone else even if that person believes mistakenly that wants
to share it.”
He stabbed Thor with his eyes and the blond felt thunders running his spine.
“Your darkness is brighter than any other light I ever lay eyes upon…” the god
said with conviction.
 
 
***** Chapter 64 *****
“Mr. Wayne!”
“Mr. Wayne!”
The ruckus from the reporter group that swarmed the street outside Gotham’s
courthouse was really confusing however Bruce Wayne was eyeing them completely
calm though his wheelchair was trapped among people pointing their microphones
like guns to him. Not to mention the cascade of flashes from the cameras all
over.
“You saw the video?”
Bruce smiled.
“I know about the broadcasting but there was no need for me to see the
content…”
He made to brush the control screen on the chair’s armrest to move ahead but
seeing that the mob didn’t have any intention to withdraw he let his hand fall
on his lap.
“How do you feel, Mr. Wayne?”
Bruce looked at the man who had asked and raised his eyebrows.
“I think there can’t be much originality in that.”
“Police located and arrested the man that hacked GCN’s signal.”
Bruce nodded.
“Yes, I’m aware of that.”
“Police says that the hacker was just a pawn and the culprit was someone else.”
“Do you suspect someone?” a young reporter asked.
“I’m not a detective” Bruce smiled though his smile was faint and looked at the
one who asked him “do you?”
The man’s colleagues laughed as constables from the building’s security rushed
there pushing away the reporters and forming a corridor for Bruce to approach
the ramp leading inside the building.
“Are you afraid that this video would lose you the court?”
The young billionaire continued his path.
“Have you anything to say to the one who publicized that video?”
Bruce stopped, looked at the woman who asked and yanked slightly his head.
“That distributing child pornography material is a federal offence.”
He drove his wheelchair fast through the ramp ignoring the rest of the buzzing
questions that were launched at him.
The screen split in two, one part showing Bruce moving into the court house and
the other showing the newscaster from the studio.
“Despite Mr. Wayne’s collected demeanor this morning it became known that the
said video caused him a serious fit last night which was mentioned in the court
and created major questions about Mr. Wayne’s stability and thus suitability
for the role of guardian – Judge Moot ordered for the young billionaire to be
evaluated by a mental health professional. Meanwhile, Gotham is shocked from
the revelation of eye witnesses that Mr. Wizze, the president of GTV, didn’t
have in fact no intention to stop the broadcasting of the video which was
eventually stopped when Vicky Vale caused a serious blackout to the station…”
“Wayne has a crazy, pathological need to attract attention” Diana’s haughty
voice startled Superman whose focus was on the TV screen in Diana’s living
room; that was the reason he didn’t hear her coming.
When he arrived, half an hour ago, the Amazon Princess wasn’t there so Superman
didn’t have anything to keep him from watching the evening news and
specifically the footage from Bruce’s arrival at the courthouse this morning.
He closed the TV and smiled at her. The long rectangular window was slowly
closing after Diana’s entrance. Superman really gaped on her proud, imposing
figure: beauty and strength bound together in harmony and her minimal attire
made his body scream from longing: her dynamic presence as she stared with
contempt at the closed now TV screen, her naked muscle bound arms adorned only
with the wide golden bracelets were folded over her rich breasts that seemed
ready to pop out of the corset.
He stood and hugged her capturing her hot, ruby red lips thirsty for her
perfume; for her velvet flesh.
“It’s pathetic!” she exclaimed and Superman scratched his head uncomfortable.
“My kiss?” he chuckled and she caressed his cheek.
“Of course not, Kal El.I just came from rescuing a sinking ship’s crew”
Superman frowned because he hadn’t heard any SOS signal. “Those humans are so
weak that makes me sick” she smiled “yet we have to take care of them, huh? We
want to save them.”
Superman smiled and nodded.
“It is the meaning of our existence.”
She smirked and caressed his hair sending goose bumps to his body.
“However some of them are really pathetic to look…” her eyes looked at the
closed now TV. “Wayne…he uses his disgrace to gain people’s attention…and
yours.”
Superman’s smile vanished.
“Bruce doesn’t like attention on him.”
She chuckled and shook her head.
“I just saw that…” she remarked snidely “he could have used the back entrance
of that building. That creature is so devious: he certainly knows that you were
touched by his new adventure and showed off to draw your attention to him.”
Superman shook his head.
“I don’t think that’s the case, Diana; he doesn’t have any reason to believe
that I care about his…misfortune” his eyes dropped because suddenly the fact
that he didn’t even called him nudged him bad. “On the contrary, what he did
was a message to the person that orchestrated the broadcasting: Bruce is
spitting at his face his bravery manifesting that the culprit didn’t manage to
break or make him hide.”
The pride in his voice didn’t escape his attention and neither Diana’s who
arched an eyebrow.
“You’re really proud of him?!” puzzlement, exasperation and irony blended in
her voice. “I don’t think that it is either brave or honorable to show yourself
after the revelation of your total disgrace. He should have hidden himself and
his disgrace and not parading proud of that!”
Superman frowned and crossed his arms over the chest.
“Why do you hate him so much?” he asked with true wonder. “I didn’t consider
you able of such hatred.”
Diana yanked her head proud but her face was turned into stone from offense.
“It is not hatred; it is plain contempt and scorn for a man who took advantage
of your generosity and kindness to drag you into his disgrace” she cocked her
eyebrows. “He knew that he wasn’t the proper one for you but still trapped you:
and why not? Years and years he was witnessing whores doing exactly the same
and when he had the chance to trap the greatest being of this planet he used
everything he was taught. He shouldn’t have dragged you into a situation that
was certain that would be detrimental for your status.”
Superman grinned and his eyes became blank.
“Actually, Bruce tried hard to keep me at a distance; he insisted that I
shouldn’t engage to a relationship with him. It was his concern for my best
interest that kept our relationship secret.”
Diana shook her head annoyed from him defending Bruce yet she smiled snidely.
“Not for your interest, Kal El…” she said slyly. “He just was scared that he
might get targeted by your enemies” she chuckled “and the attack in Thassos
made that worse: it’s not accidental that he became so bad to you after those
creatures attacked him…I bet he was scared shitless…”
Superman felt a surge of anger that he was aware that it was irrational.
“It wasn’t fear that made Bruce want our relationship secret and he didn’t
become bad to me: I was bad to him!”
The Amazon frowned.
“Are you defending him?!” she demanded exasperated. “You forgot Thor? I bet
your human angel considered him safer than you so played with him while being
with you: it is better to have two gods guarding you instead of one, right?”
Superman shook his head. The thought of Thor with Bruce still made his insights
clench.
“I was the one with the parallel affair if you remember: Bruce didn’t have
anything with anyone.”
Diana yanked her head backwards and sniggered with half closed eyes.
“I love your naivety! He really learned all the tricks, didn’t he? I bet Thor
last night was comforting the human – keeping him busy in his bed…I don’t
believe we are quarrelling for his sake! It makes me feel inferior: I’m an
Amazon, Kal El: it is beyond me to argue for my mate’s ex. So if you feel the
carnal longing for him you’re free to go and relief yourself.”
Superman remembered that night on a Metropolis rooftop: Bruce would never
accept that role. And Diana was upset by this discussion. Diana was giving him
so much; she made him happy; he couldn’t imagine his life without her and
wouldn’t let the leftovers of a dirty effect ruin that. So he smiled.
“I didn’t go to him: I’m here with you and I won’t change that for anything.”
Diana smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck slithering her rich lips
through his neck line causing Superman close his eyes and glue her body on his.
Their eyes locked.
“You are the only one for me, Diana…” he said and his hands pushed down her
corset to free her erect breasts. “The sunshine in my life…”
 
His voice sounded much too exhilarated which made Dick angrier.
“Dick! How great you called!”
Dick gritted his teeth.
“I don’t think so, Tony!” he snarled.
“Dick, what’s wrong, champ? Did Wayne make your life difficult again?” he asked
with a deep frown in his voice.
Dick rolled his eyes which shone slyly.
“Why? Something happened that would make him angry with me?”
A long pause as the adult was thinking hard the proper answer.
“He doesn’t need something specific to be mean to you. And now with the court…”
Dick chuckled loud enough for his uncle to hear.
“Actually, I’m mean to him all the time…So you say that the court is going
badly for him?”
“From the start, buddy; he has no chance.”
Now Dick couldn’t hold his anger anymore: Tony not only used something he had
confided in him but also didn’t have the decency to say it openly.
“Tony, you had no right to do that!”
“What do you mean, Dick? And why are you so upset? I know that the video with
Wayne might have caused problems to your school life but…”
“Tony, cut the crap! And why you don’t say the truth?”
“Wait, wait…Are you calling me a liar?” his voice was hurt but Dick could
discern some anger well hidden.
“Not only liar, Tony… And since you won’t admit what you did I’ll help you. You
had no right to use in the court what I confided in you last night!” he almost
growled. “Wayne was down and as much as I dislike the guy I don’t kick someone
already down!
Zucco cleared his throat.
“Look, champ…”
“No, Tony, that was…”
“It was for your own good, Dick: you’re too young to understand how this world
works…”
Wayne’s words came back to Dick:
And he judged that the end justifies the means…
 “I don’t believe that the end justifies the means, Tony!”
Zucco sighed from the other side of the line.
“He whined to you? How predictable!”
“Stop doing that! Wayne didn’t whine! We are talking about you now, Tony! I
trusted you and you betrayed my trust in the worst way!”
“Calm down, Dick; I didn’t betray your trust” he retorted sighing. “You didn’t
say anything about keeping it a secret, remember?”
Dick growled frustrated and yanked his head backwards.
“Is this really your excuse?! Oh, Tony! You could have asked me! You made me
look like a monster!”
“Dick, you’re giving much value to Wayne…You forgot what he has done to you?”
Dick licked his lips and gulped recalling the past months he knew Wayne.
“Your family was murdered because of him, remember? He accepted to become your
guardian while he knew your feelings but he didn’t care, did he? He knows that
you want to be with me but still pursuit this court to keep you against your
will. I’m sorry, champ but I thought that you saw through the big chance before
us: we have many odds to win this now that judge knows how unstable Wayne is.”
“He isn’t unstable…But this shit video was too much for someone who suffered
such shit. You were ready to bring me to court to testify what I saw without
giving a shit about what I wanted or what people would think about me…I offered
Wayne to come and say that I lied.”
“What?!” Zucco’s rage distorted his voice before he realized and calmed down.
“Who’s the one betraying the other now? Are you nuts, Dick?!”
Dick frowned hearing that voice.
“No but I wanted to do the right thing!”
“You’re gonna ruin everything, Dick! You don’t understand that Wayne plays you
for a fool? He knows that you’re a good boy and takes advantage of you playing
the victim. Dick, you can’t do that!”
Dick closed his eyes and shook his head.
“He didn’t play the victim…the opposite.”
Zucco growled frustrated.
“So you betray our common goal? C’mon, Dick; you can’t testify that you lied.”
Dick shook his head.
“I won’t testify.”
A big sigh of relief from the other end of the line.
“I’m glad you got your senses…”
“I won’t testify because Wayne doesn’t want people think that I’m a liar: he
prefers everyone to believe him unstable than have me go through trial and
being scowled for lying…He…”it was difficult to say it out loud “he wants to
protect even though I…”
Zucco couldn’t tolerate the boy’s remorse and the consequences this might have.
“Dick, don’t fall for that! This is his game: you know that the one who really
cares for you is me.”
“Goodnight, Tony.”
“Dick, I’m sorry, alright?” he lowered his tone and changed his voice to sound
regretful. “I was carried away from my concern about your well being and my
agony to help you get free. Did you change your mind about being with me?”
Dick yanked his head backwards and closed his eyes.
“No, I didn’t. Bye…”
He brushed the scene to end the dial and collapsed to his mattress sighing
dropping his Smart Phone. He ran his hands through his hair; his mind was in a
storm of thoughts battling against each other.
The knocks on his door startled him.
“Come” he was expecting Alfred so it was a surprise seeing Jason marching
inside. “I was gonna call you…”
Jason jumped to the bed, sprawled and bound his hands under the back of his
neck.
“Big minds think alike, huh? I thought ya wanna yar buddy after everythin’
today – I know what scum us kids are …”
“Did you find a way to break into the Manor?” he thought that his friend had
sneaked to him.
Jason pursed his lips.
“Yup! The best! I pressed the bell button – ya know, that ancient lookin’ one?
- an’ Alfie opened – he’ll brin’ us biscuits an’ hot chocolate. So what’s up,
man? They gave ya a hard time, huh? I can come to yar school an’ teach one or
two things…”
Dick sighed and lied down beside him.
“I don’t care ‘bout these motherfuckers anymore…”
Jason goggled at him mock awed.
“Wow! ‘Motherfuckers’! Ya’re really takin’ the bad road, huh?”
Dick rolled his eyes.
“You’re right…’bout the bad road but not for the ‘motherfuckers’. You saw
Wayne?”
“Nope, why the sudden interest?”
Dick inhaled.
“Last night Wayne had a nasty nightmare ‘bout what that video showed…and then
he had a fit or something and I saw everything…and then I was so shaken that I
called Tony and told him…”
Jason nodded; he could imagine that this wasn’t the best choice.
“So?”
“I told him what happened and he used it in the court…”
Jason pouted.
“So? You hate Wayne…” he shrugged.
Dick grabbed the pillow and hit Jason with that.
“I might hate him but I didn’t want his suffering to be used against him!”
Jason cocked his eyebrows and pouted.
“Nor the news make a party ‘bout that, huh?” Dick widened his eyes and Jason
nodded mutter-of- fact “yup! They rave! Ya told everythin’ to Zucco…what did ya
expect?”
Dick shook his head.
“I never expected him to do that…I thought he would think like me…that he
wouldn’t…I’m pissed, Jay! He made me seem like a heartless asshole!”
“Maybe Zucco doesn’t care about yar image, pal…”
“I’m so confused, Jay…I feel awful for what was done to Wayne ‘cause of me…and
when I returned from practice I told him off ‘bout kids jeering me…I didn’t
know…but…later when I heard what Tony did I offered to go to the court and say
that I lied…but Wayne didn’t accept.”
Jason widened his eyes.
“Why?”
Dick pressed his lips and lowered his head.
“He didn’t want to expose me…he didn’t want people to speak ill of me…that I’m
a liar…”
Jason pouted and scratched his head.
“I told ya that the man wasn’t as bad as ya thought him…” Dick didn’t answer in
any way. “An’ now?”
“He is going to be assessed by a shrink to see if he’s stable enough to be my
guardian…”
“Fuck!”
“I prefer to be with Tony any time yet after this…I’m so confused…I mean, I
still…hate Wayne but” he sighed “I also feel bad for him.”
Jason rolled his eyes.
“Maybe ya need to go to that shrink as well?” Dic hit him again with the
pillow. “I told ya I don’t like Zucco an’ ya saw: he made ya seem like a brat
while Wayne preferred being called loony than have ya called liar: he coulda
claim that ya lied in the first place but he didna.”
Dick huffed.
“I feel shit…like I ashamed my loved ones…”
“It’s not yar fault, man…ya didna do anythin’. Ya offered to correct yar
mistake.”
“Still…it’s not enough, Jay…” he growled frustrated and punched the mattress.
 
Bruce was lying to his bed feeling relieved for that: those two days seemed
endless and though he wouldn’t admit to anyone he felt exhausted.
His bedroom was cast in deep dark except for the warm light of the lazily
dancing flames inside the fireplace.
This time he had taken Leslie’s sedative without anyone pressing him because he
needed the deep, dreamless sleep it could provide. And sleep came really fast
with Hero’s relaxing purring on his side – he had reassured Selina that he
would take the sedative so she didn’t have to worry for him. Bruce didn’t want
her to lose precious moments with Steve for his sake.
Even though his sleep was deep and undisturbed thoughts swirled like ghosts in
his mind: Dick’s rage when he learnt his uncle’s deed, Vicky Vale losing her
job to protect him, Lois’ rush to come see him, Martha’s concern and love,
Clark’s indifference – Thor’s baby eyes looking at him with so much sympathy.
He wished it was only sympathy…
He didn’t want anything else for the kind god… Bruce twisted a bit under the
blankets. No more of that…Thor like Clark was different than him…they had
nothing to do with him. They were light and he was darkness…He was pain.
He heard a slow, content breath near his face; Bruce knew that it was Oliver
Queen who watched him sleeping on the bed of that hotel’s suite. And then he
saw the man putting the shoes to Bruce’s feet.
The ablaze green of Queen’s eyes was on him:
“I think you know that I understand you more than anyone other…because I feel
the same” his cheek had almost touched Bruce’s and he felt Queen shivering.
“Some people don’t have to know each other much: it’s like being together for
an eternity. I know the darkness you live in and nobody else could understand…”
 
 
 
Wizze was inside the lift that took him to his luxurious penthouse. He was
living alone three years now after his divorce – his wife had demanded a
fortune to give it to him.
He was infuriated and was huffing through the ascending. He had stayed 24 hours
in jail before that idiot lawyer managed to bail him out. At the same time, GTV
was still black due to the damage that bimbo Vale caused and that led to losses
of millions! Not to mention the sue from Wayne Enterprises since Vale took care
of informing everyone that he had no intention of stopping the signal.
He kicked the lift’s doors before they opened and walked to his door cursing.
He got inside and headed to the vast living room without turning any light on.
Suddenly, all lights opened and clowns jumped from everywhere with firearms;
they withdraw and the Prince of Clowns walked forward with a hand camera on his
shoulder his eye on the lens.
“Heeeeeello, Mister Wiiiiiizzzzzzze! Smiiiiiile! You’re on Can--did Camera!”
Wizze gulped and cold sweat covered his body and face: he had forgotten Joker
and his ridiculous love for Wayne.
“I…I didn’t do anything, Mr. Joker” Joker lolled his head to the side along
with the camera. “They hacked my signal; I couldn’t stop it!”
Joker touched his finger to his lip thoughtful and suddenly threw the camera to
one of his goons and conjured a blade which the next second was touching
Wizze’s lips.
“Mmm…I seeee you’re a clever boyyyyy…right to the point!” he narrowed his eyes
“Yar lips are a bit pale for the screen… need some color, my friend…Reeeeeed…”
the blade flashed and blood splattered allover Wizze’s mouth.
The GTV president yelled and moved his hands to touch his injured lips only for
Joker to kick him in the groin sending him on his knees. The man began crying.
“It wasn’t my fault! Please!”
Joker leaned over him and brought his mouth close to his ear.
“You humiliated my Brucie…You hurt him…Nobody had the right to see him like
this…Cops might have released you but Joker is the ultimate Judge here” hearing
Joker speaking without dragging the words was terrorizing.
A second blade appeared to his other hand and both blades flashed in the air
and became hot as they attacked the kneeled man’s clothes scratching flesh.
Wizze’s scared cries were melody for Joker.
When the jester stopped with a manic but determined glint in his eyes Wizze was
completely naked and his body was covered with superficial but painful
scratches. The man had literary pissed himself and was sobbing.
“Do you like being naked, Wiiiizzeee boy?”
“He writes on camera, Boss!” the goon with the camera exclaimed thrilled.
Joker lolled his head to him and shook his head.
“I’m the GOooooAT director, baaaby – know a talent when I see it…” Wizze’s sobs
had subsided a bit from Joker’s change in attention but then without even
seeing it a hand slapped him twice sending him to the thick carpet. “You like
slaps? You enjoyed seeing Brucie being slapped?”
He circled him cleaning his nails with the blade and then suddenly kicked him
in his plumb belly causing a new round of sobs.
“Since you liked so much that video I say we make a reeeeeemake with you as the
star – HEHEHE! I bet many channels will want that blockbuster. The cam is
already rooooling!”
“Noooo, no, please!”
Joker fisted Wizze’s head and yanked it to lock eyes with him.
“Why? Since you think that having a stiiiick drilling your ass makes millions
let’s do it…I’m sure your fat ass will make money; tooooooo bad you won’t take
any…HEHEHEHEHEHEHE! Poetic irony – my favorite joke ever! Bring the
proooooops!”
Two of his goons brought in a table and a third one dragged a machine with a
dildo attached: it was the biggest dildo Wizze ever saw and he began sobbing.
“Help! Help please!” he shrieked desperately panicked because he knew that the
damned penthouse was soundproof.
Joker lolled his head to the side and eyed him curious.
“You enjoyed seeing petit Bruce being ripped by a monstrous stick; time you
seeeeee how funny it really is” he clenched his jaw and kicked the man’s
exposed length making the man slump. “Tie him spread eagled!”
“No, no, please, no!” he yelled as goons grabbed him. “Please!”
Joker brought his face to the man’s.
“Brucie was crying and begging and you made it a show…”
“Not me…not me, Mr. Joker…that fucking hacker!”
Joker breathed like an angry beast.
“He’ll have his 15 minutes fame too but someone gave him that video…Why not
you?”
“Pleaaaaseeee!”
“Boys, boys, boys, I think you’re a bit hasty…”
Everyone turned to rectangular frame leading there from the bedroom; Catwoman
stood there holding her whip.
Joker licked his fingers and groomed his hair walking towards her.
“Whataaaaat’s new, pussycat?” he began singing the famous song and Catwoman
snorted. “Wooooo, woooo…” he cleared his throat and got serious “How may I help
you?”
“That bug of shit is mine!”
Joker giggled and then hiccupped.
“Youuuuu’re too popular, Wizzeeeee! I have unsettled business with him – he
played with my wife’s honor” he winked to her “aaaaand, c’mon, Kitty: I know
that women get desperate sometimes buuuuuuut you caaaan fiiiind better than
him” he twitched his eyebrows suggestively and fixed his jacket’s lapels
“gorgeous, family men clowns active in every field?”
She cocked an eyebrow and snorted.
“Keep dreaming, handsome!”
Joker cast a sideways glance to his goons.
“Handsome… She fancies me, boooooys!” but suddenly his face became dead serious
“Are you connected with Brucie as well?” he asked wickedly.
Catwoman shook her head smiling.
“No, I’m pissed he fired Vale: her show was my favorite…”
“HUHUHUHUHUUUUUU! Wanna play him in cards?” he pulled out of his pocket a deck
but as he shuffled them every card had his face on. “Oooooops! It’s marked!
Ts…ts…ts…Well, youuuu liiiike strip poker?” he twitched his eyebrows pointedly.
Catwoman rolled her eyes.
“Sorry, handsome, not my game…”
She slashed her whip to the air smashing the lamps casting the entire room into
darkness. Exclamations of puzzlement filled the space as Catwoman enabled her
night vision. She stormed at the confused goons who held Wizze and with a kick
sent both flying to the opposite wall.
“Stop her!” Joker cried figuring out her plan.
However Catwoman had already grabbed her pray and crashed on the whole wall
window landing on the balcony of the next floor; Selina had studied the
building and knew where her dive would lead but Wizze howled scared.
She jerked her whip and hooked it around the fire escape of the opposite alley.
Then she jumped keeping him on her with one arm– something that disgusted her
but she ignored the nausea for her goal’s sake.
As soon as she landed on the filthy cement dropped the scared man. He collapsed
like a sack of potatoes; he was naked and the cold pierced him so he was
trembling but Selina knew that terror was the main reason.
“You’re not feeling so strong now, huh?” she jeered him.
Wizze relieved that he was safe from Joker raised his head.
“Th…thank you for saving me…I’ll give you whatever you… you want…”
She rolled her eyes and snorted.
“Maybe a show for cats?!” she spat his face “I didn’t save you, asshole! I just
wanted you for myself!”
Wizze’s eyes widened shocked; shock that became terror seeing Catwoman
stretching her fingers and sharp 3 inches nails popping up from the tips: the
razor like nails flashed to the dim light coming from the distant public lamps.
Selina was grateful to Tony for adding that small detail to her costume:
“What’s a cat without sharp nails?” he had said playfully winking.
“Wait, wait! Why are you doing this? I’m sorry if I did something…”
She shook her head and smiled devilishly.
“Cats like to play with dirty rats!”
Her nails flashed to the half darkness and Wizze cried as his face was grazed
savagely; Selina’s eyes were still, flashing like lightings seeing again Bruce
sleeping in her hug still shaking a bit in his sleep despite the sedative
Leslie had given him: his beautiful face was so pale and drained… Tony had told
her how they had found him in the bathroom and every phrase Tony had said
pushed her fingers to the man’s flesh.
She was ready to rip his throat.
“Stop!” a voice she knew came from the alley’s entrance and she closed her eyes
frustrated.
“It’s none of your business!” she changed her voice realizing why Bruce always
did that while in armor.
Confident strides approached her and a respiration so familiar.
“You’re ready to kill a defenseless man: it is my business.”
She was sniffing from rage.
“Gotham is not your city and you can’t understand its rules: clear off!”
The footsteps stopped right next to her and her body reacted the way it was
used to.
“I won’t: first of all, because Bruce is my friend and will be distraught
knowing that someone died because of him and second because Catwoman isn’t a
murderer.”
She snorted.
“This has nothing to do with your friend – I have my own issues with the man”
if she told him that she was there to take revenge for Bruce he would
understand who she was.
Steve walked in front of her meeting her eyes.
“He is going to be tried and punished according to the law for everything he
has done: you don’t have to dirt your hands with him.”
She lolled her head and crooked her lips.
“Cut the fairytale with me! And believe me if I don’t do it Joker will…”
“Police will guard him.”
She arched her eyebrows.
“Great use of citizens’ taxes!”
“We are not here to judge.”
“What do you know, you obsolete soldier?!” she made to attack Wizze again but
Steve held her wrists and their faces came close. Her enraged pants blended
with his calm ones. “You don’t have a girlfriend, big guy?” she asked slyly
“’cause you seem a bit horny…”
Steve flashed.
“I do; a very special girl whom I love.”
“Then go to her and let me finish my job!” she growled and jerked her hands to
free them but he insisted.
“I won’t let you kill someone even him!”
Catwoman jerked her knee and hit his groin; his surprise and pain was perfect
for her to use the whip to launch herself to the rooftop.
“Asshole!” she shouted before vanishing leaving Steve shaking his head and
trying to catch his pained breath.
 
Tony watched the railing of the lift as it brought him down to the cave. He
hardly contained his frustration huffing every now and then. As the lift slowed
to stop Tony saw Bruce in front of his working bench watching the flow of data
in the five screens. A few feet away Hero was curled on the Tumbler’s hood and
stared at the hanging bats waiting patiently to make his attack.
Tony smiled and walked towards his friend who turned his head.
“Good morning, Tony.”
“Morning. The fur ball is not going to make peace with your flying mates…”
Bruce chuckled. “He reminds me of Tom with Jerry…He grew up, huh?”
Bruce smiled fondly.
“He did; he is a husky kitten.”
Tony looked at the screens.
“Zucco, reports on possible Joker and Crane sightings, Intergang…” he counted
cocking an eyebrow. “You should be resting, you know…after everything that
happened and definitely not being in that cold and humid place.”
Bruce pressed his lips: it was obvious that Tony had no intention to give up
his over protectiveness.
“I’m fine, Tony: Leslie examined me and two days have passed already. I’m made
of rough material, you know.”
Tony crossed his arms over his chest and shook his head.
“I heard that Zucco’s lawyer said everything about that incident in the court.
That brat spilled everything, huh?” he huffed. “I wonder why you put up with
this…and you accepted to get evaluated by psychiatrist?”
Bruce nodded though he could read his friend’s distaste and anger.
“For his sake?! Mercy, Bruce! He witnessed your suffering and used it to
humiliate you even more! The boy doesn’t have the minimum of decency to respect
someone’s pain! And you agreed to see a psychiatrist? What were you thinking?”
“I was evaluated for Falcone’s trial as well” he answered calmly.
“Yes but it wasn’t like this! And this brat doesn’t worth it!”
Bruce would like to be able to stand but instead he fixed his eyes on Tony’s.
“Let me decide that, Tony. I’ve spoken with Dick and he did speak to his uncle
but he didn’t want that incident to be revealed.”
Tony huffed and shook his head.
“Yeah…sure. And you believed him?”
“He had no reason to lie: if he had done it with that purpose he’d have bragged
about…he hates me after all. And I saw in his eyes that he was honest.”
“As Superman was?” Bruce’s eyes fell before regaining their indifference. “You
were saying the same for him, remember? Defending him all the time…and what he
did? Betrayed you with that bimbo Amazon and now doesn’t give a shit about
you…”
“Are you watching the stolen objects?” Bruce preferred to change the subject
and Tony yanked his head ruffling his hair with both hands.
“I’m sorry…” he said regretting his outburst.
Bruce shook his head.
“You didn’t do anything…so is there anything new on Luthor?”
“He is definitely assembling a machine with the items – a really bizarre
machine following a code or something that doesn’t match anything we know.
Luthor seems to be in a hurry.”
“I think that this machine is crucial for what they are planning.”
“Mannheim…”
“And his allies.”
Tony snorted.
“We can take anyone” he said and Bruce pressed his lips. “What? Is this your
pessimism, or you use this doubt as an excuse to work your ass off?”
“I don’t need an excuse, Tony: if I needed rest I’d be resting.”
Tony held his shoulder and locked eyes with him.
“I’m worried, Bruce; that night I realized how fragile you are…”
Bruce closed his eyes and huffed exasperated.
“Tony, that night I had a moment of weakness – every human being has such
moments…I’m not the weak, broken kid, Tony. Remember that I was Batman even
when I was still under Falcone’s captivity?” Tony nodded. “They can’t break me,
Tony! Not anymore.”
Tony lowered his eyes; he could still hear the cries and the sobs of that
tortured boy; his beautiful wet eyes were stamped in his mind. He smiled.
“Of course…they can’t.”
Bruce grinned.
“Tony, I want a favor.”
“Go ahead.”
“I want you to give Jim the evidence I gathered for Zucco: I think they are
enough for reopening the case and eventually convict Zucco.”
“Why isn’t Batman doing that? I mean you use the armor to more dangerous
activities so I don’t think that you wouldn’t use it for paying your ally a
visit” he crooked his mouth slyly.
“You’re right. I don’t want Batman do this, because if Batman shows he is
interested in that case then Jim would make the connection between Bruce
Wayne’s interest and Batman’s. It’d be strange if Batman and Bruce Wayne are so
interested in Zucco more so in the same time.”
Tony smiled.
“However if Tony Stark” he said pointing at himself “appears with evidence for
an old case concerning the man who wants to get his friend’s ward it won’t be
suspicious because obviously his friend’s worries made him investigate the
man’s past.”
“Exactly! It would be more natural if Iron Man learnt from Bruce Wayne about
the tampered bolt Mr. Breizic gave him and Ms. Turner’s suspicions. Iron Man is
Bruce Wayne’s friend so he can have access to Bruce Wayne’s information but
Batman can’t and would be too suspicious if he came out with this information.”
Tony forgot all his dark thoughts and laughed light hearted.
“Very clever, littl’ guy!”
“Practical” Bruce said modest.
 
Jim watched Robert Hatchet pacing the interrogation room: the temporary DA was
always calm yet in this case his upset was evident. And was evident throughout
their flight from Gotham to Washington: Robert had asked permission to
interrogate Roth Pielser and through his associations in the bureau and the
importance of the case his request was approved very fast.
“You need to calm, Robert” Jim told him.
Robert stopped abruptly and nodded.
“You are right but this case…”
Jim pinched the bridge of his nose massaging the tension.
“I know but we’ll catch the culprit.”
Two guards entered bringing inside Pielser dressed in the orange suit of the
convicts. He had an annoying smirk all over his thin face that tried Jim’s
infamous tranquility.
It was obvious that the guards detested the man and they dropped him in the
seat rather unceremoniously.
“Thank you” Robert said to the guards. “Leave us.”
“Let me guess” the man said as soon as the guards left “you’re coming from
Gotham so this must have to do with the video of the gorgeous Prince of Gotham”
he smiled reminiscently. “I see that the cutie still remembers me…” he shook
his head “I wish Falcone wasn’t so selfish and had shared his little treasure…”
Jim saw Robert clenching his jaw but cast him a warning glance though he felt
himself a fire bulging inside him.
“I’m glad we all aware of the issue” Robert said calm but stern “we know that
the video was in your hands.”
Pielser nodded.
“Bruce told you; nobody else could have known that. I made an impression to the
little angel after all.”
Jim struggled with himself to keep his calm.
“It’s Mr. Wayne” he said dryly.
Pielser smiled.
“I spent too many hot nights watching his delicious small body in such
intriguing poses and manifestations that I feel too connected – till now I
didn’t have a name but now I do…well, you can’t expect me to use that cold ‘Mr.
Wayne’ for that squirming hot child.”
Jim jerked up from his seat and slapped his hands on the metallic table between
him and Pielser.
“Stop that! For your own good, Pielser! Mind your words about Mr. Wayne!”
Pielser pursed his lips and drummed his fingers on the table.
“Okay, okay… Cool down, man! When I saw that dirty, beautiful boy in Falcone’s
cabaret I couldn’t imagine he was the lost Prince of Gotham.”
“Every child is a little Prince or Princess” Robert said “and you damaged
hundreds of innocent souls: I wish they had fried you!”
Pielser lolled his head towards Jim.
“Not the best way to contact an interrogation.”
“Is the best for a scum like you” Jim answered nonchalant. “We know you didn’t
send anything to the hacker from here: so either you sent it through someone
else or the video had passed to another person and that person did it.”
Robert leaned above him.
“To whom you gave the video?”
Pielser rolled his eyes.
“Why should I help you? What is there for me to gain?”
Robert gritted his teeth.
“Let’s say that if you don’t help us we will take care for you to be
transferred to the high security section” he widened his eyes seeing Pielser’s
wary expression. “You know, with the dangerous criminals who hate pedophiles?”
Some sweat drops appeared to Pielser’s face.
“Or” Jim added “we can arrange things for you to be chemically castrated. Huh?”
he cocked his eyebrows.
“Police confiscated all the material in my home and my facilities.”
“The video was never found” Robert replied.
“Some police officer took it for his own entertainment.”
Jim walked to him.
“You know that this is not true…so how you sent the video to the hacker?”
“I didn’t! How would I know that hacker? I learnt about that boy’s true
identity when I was already in jail: If I knew sooner I‘d have made a fortune
selling the porn video where Bruce Wayne stars: many people would pay millions
to see that babe losing his virginity” he cackled.
It was enough! Jim stormed to him and grabbed him from the lapels lifting him
up.
“Shut the fuck up! Open your mouth only to answer our questions or else the
high security sector will have a party tonight!”
Robert approached.
“I think that you did exactly that” he whispered to Pielser’s ear. “You sold
that video after you learnt that Bruce Wayne was the boy that Falcone had in
his cabaret – to the highest bidder.”
Pielser sweating and panting in Jim’s hands gulped.
“I don’t know his identity, I swear…the transaction was made through my lawyer
but he also didn’t know who bought it. These things are arranged anonymously.”
“We’ll see what he’ll tell us” Jim spat letting him slump on the plastic seat.
Pielser breathed easier but shook his head.
“My lawyer died in a car accident one month ago…”
“How convenient!” Jim said yanking his head and turned to the door.
“Wish that we’ll find that sonovabitch or else you’ll be considered the culprit
and then the high security sector will look like heaven in comparison!”    
 
It was afternoon. The quiet slithering was the only thing that accompanied him.
The silence was creepy and although he had been through a lot worse situations
still this had an impact on him as if the air had something bizarre on its own.
The lighting was normal yet he felt as if being watched.
The building had been renovated in a modern state and it was odd that it still
retained his gothic character and atmosphere even though every relic of its
legendary owners had been transferred to the ward that was turned into a
museum.
The nurse at the information desk in the entrance of the building had given him
directions.
Bruce couldn’t understand why his assessment should take place there. Arkham
Asylum was a closed institution with many dangerous inmates. Normally, cases of
evaluation shouldn’t be examined there. Moreover since the psychiatrist
appointed by the court was only an associate to the asylum.
And as he was slithering his way inner he felt like Clarice in the Silence of
the Lambs going to meet Dr. Lecter; he smiled amused. Tony and his choices of
movies!
“Mr. Wayne!”
He had heard the light footsteps coming behind him in the narrow corridor yet
he feigned that the addressing took him by surprise. He stopped the wheelchair
and turned to see Dr. Quinzel coming to him; Bruce knew that she had a soft
spot for Joker but his surveillance hadn’t reveal anything bad enough except
than that incident during New Year’s Eve when Joker broke into her apartment.
She offered her hand and Bruce took it for a handshake.
“To what do we owe the honor of your presence here? I haven’t been informed.”
“Really? I’m here to visit Dr. Hugo Strange.”
She frowned but she didn’t express her puzzlement though Bruce understood that
she was thinking the same with him.
“Someone should have come with you” she said.
“An orderly offered to but I didn’t think that it would be so difficult…” his
eyes became wary. “Do you think that I could be in danger?” he looked around
cautious.
Harleen smiled and remembered Joker: well, if he was here then Mr. Wayneshwould
have to be afraid.
“Not at all, Mr. Wayne: the doctors’ offices are in a section where the
patients have no access unless for their sessions” of course Bruce knew that
already since he had studied the ancient building’s blueprints. “Allow me to
escort you to Dr. Strange’s office.”
Bruce smiled.
“Gladly, Dr. Quinzel.”
She made an inviting gesture but Bruce let her pass first.
“I heard about that video” she said casually. “It is a happy coincidence I
don’t like TV. I’m terribly sorry, Mr. Wayne; it was really hideous what
happened. How are you coping?”
Bruce shrugged.
“It’s not the best thing when a horrible experience of your life becomes a show
for everyone” Quinzel pressed her lips. “The worst of this is the ramifications
on my loved ones” he inhaled. “I have passed it; it still hurts more when it is
shoved like this to my face but it isn’t new to me while for my loved ones is
and hurts them more.”
Quinzel smiled with sympathy.
“I believe that your loved ones are as strong as you and get inspiration from
your courageous stance.”
Bruce didn’t answer and Harleen gestured to a heavy old fashioned dark brown
door at the end of the corridor.
“Here we are! Now would you excuse me? I have a session; it was a pleasure
seeing you again.”
“For me too, Dr. Quinzel.”
He steered his wheelchair to the door waiting for Quinzel’s footsteps to faint.
He saw the yellow gold label reading ‘DR. HUGO STRANGE’ and knocked.
Two minutes later the door opened revealing a man around 50 with average height
and weight. He was bald and his eyes were big and round like lamps, gray with a
shine of cleverness and sympathy that for Bruce was evident that was
pretentious.
“Mr. Wayne! Why they didn’t inform me that you came; I would have escorted you
myself.”
Bruce waved that off.
“Dr. Quinzel was kind enough to show me the way.”
Dr. Strange arched his eyebrows.
“Very kind of her indeed; I shall thank her. Please, do come in” he said
cordially opening more the door and gesturing invitingly.
“Thank you.”
The room was dimly lit: the chandelier was lit but so low that the main light
in the room came from the desk’s lamp. The decoration was classic with nothing
personal: a whole wall book library behind the big, old desk; a leather
armchair in front of the desk that had been moved a bit because Strange
certainly considered his client’s wheelchair.
The psychiatrist walked behind his desk and sat. He glanced around.
“It is the custom office of the Asylum: as an associate I have no interest to
change something. Do you like the lights like this or do you want me to make it
stronger?”
Bruce shook his head.
“No, it’s alright.”
Strange smiled.
“So we can start. We are here to assess your suitability to be the surrogate
father of young mister Grayson.”
Bruce nodded and Dr. Strange knitted his fingers on the desk.
“Mr. Wayne, first of all I would like you to relax. You seem a bit nervous.”
Bruce grinned.
“I’m quite relaxed as for the nervousness I think that most people would be
nervous being in the notorious Arkham Asylum even for an evaluation.”
“There is a point in that and I apologize for bringing you here but my private
office is not yet ready and my office in the University isn’t ideal for keeping
the necessary confidentiality.”
Bruce nodded.
“I see…Well, can we begin?”
Dr. Strange raised an eyebrow.
“Determination…Certainly, a prominent quality of yours that allowed you not
only to survive all these years but also to come out victorious over your
captor.”
Bruce looked at him calmly.
“I was rescued, Dr. Strange; it wasn’t my victory at all.”
“I see…So how do you feel about your liberation from captivity not being your
achievement?”
“Dr. Strange, I’m here for assessment and not analysis.”
Dr. Strange smiled friendly.
“I do remember that, Mr. Wayne. Is there something that troubles you?”
“I don’t see any test…Last year I was assessed for Falcone’s trial and I was
administered many tests.”
Dr. Strange smiled confidently.
“I understand. However, Mr. Wayne” he cocked his eyebrows “there is an
unwritten law in assessments: the less competent a professional the more tests
he/she uses; to cover his/her insecurities.”
Bruce shook his head.
“He hadn’t seemed incompetent to me.”
“Every professional chooses his own method and mine is quite independent of
cold and mechanical tests. I prefer a more direct and personal approach.”
Bruce lolled his head.
“I’d prefer the tests…”
Dr. Strange smiled friendly.
“What is it that makes you feel threatened?”
“I don’t feel threatened, Dr. Strange; I just don’t like this approach.”
“At first; as soon as you loosen up you’ll feel better. Mr. Wayne. I do
understand that after the brutal broadcasting of the video of your abuse you
have raised all your shields. However, in this office you are quite safe:
everything you say it is protected by confidentiality.”
“I see” Bruce said pretending uneasiness.
“I would like you to talk to me about the video that was broadcasted two days
ago: you did have a really intense flashback, let us start with your feelings.”
Bruce felt an invisible wall of granite built around him at once; he would have
leave that office at once yet he had to stay there and go through that in order
to keep Richard’s guardianship.
“I was numb at first and then it was as if ice had covered everything inside
me…”
Dr. Strange felt the cold barriers the young man built around him but it was
content that he was speaking.
“And the flashback?”
Bruce pressed his lips.
“It occurred while I was asleep and then, as you already know, I woke up
thinking that I was still in the cabaret. I felt scared and dirty…and I used my
wheelchair to get to the shower” of course there was no chance he’d tell
Strange that he used his legs.
But the psychiatrist looked at him interested.
“You were in a hallucination but still you used the wheelchair?”
Bruce shrugged.
“It seems that some learnt things overcome the hallucination…”
“Indeed. Please, continue.”
“There’s not much to add: Alfred and Tony found me and took me back to my bed.”
Dr. Strange nodded.
“Alfred is your parents’ butler and as I understand you have a very warm
relationship.”
“That’s true.”
“Something like a second father…”
“Alfred is very special to me…”
“Talk to me about the night of your parents’ murder.”
Bruce made his eyes widen.
“What has this to do with my assessment?” he said making his voice tremble a
bit.
Dr. Strange raised slightly his eyebrows.
“Everything has to do with that, Mr. Wayne.”
“Falcone lured them there” he inhaled deeply “supposedly to exchange me with
the papers that gave him my father’s fortune but eventually they killed them.”
“Please, go back to that night and describe your feelings.”
Bruce shook his head.
“Can we talk about something else?”
Dr. Strange pressed his lips; his eyes were filled with understanding.
 “Believe me, Mr. Wayne, it isn’t my intention to torment you. I understand
that you care for that child’s welfare and you want to be a real suitable
guardian for him. Your recent flashback manifests that you face symptoms of
untreated PTSD so if you want the best for your ward you must help me evaluate
accurately your condition.”
“I haven’t experienced a flashback for many months.”
Dr. Strange nodded.
“I’m glad to hear that yet we must touch your past, Mr. Wayne in order to stop
it from upsetting your present life” Bruce didn’t answer and Dr. Strange opened
the first drawer of his desk.
Bruce frowned inside but made his eyes widen seeing the psychiatrist placing on
his desk a small vial and a syringe. He acted as if being panicked by the sight
but keeping a brave face. Dr. Strange was eyeing him like X-raying.
“This is amitali, a substance that is totally safe and scientifically approved
for use with people suffering from extreme anxiety disorders like the Post
Traumatic Syndrome Disorder. It helps the individual to relax and speak about
his/her experiences releasing the tension that intervenes in their life; this
substance loosens the boundaries that don’t allow you get rid of all the things
that erode you from inside.”
Bruce shook his head.
“No; I won’t accept being injected with that.”
Dr. Strange looked at him with empathy.
“I see that your experience with Dr. Crane’s experimentation has let its marks
on you. Dr. Thompkins informed me about the nature of his treatment asking for
my professional opinion: your personal doctor and friend trusted me, maybe you
should do the same? The substances Dr. Crane used might have distorted your
conscious memories: amitali will help us evaluate not only your emotional state
but also the damage he had caused.”
Bruce could understand the reason Leslie and Tony had sought his advice few
months ago but still didn’t like it. At least, Tony had informed him so
Strange’s mentions didn’t find him unprepared.
“I am not Dr. Crane, Mr. Wayne. I understand that your experience with him
still influences the way you act in your present life.”
“I think that this goes for everyone not only me: everyone’s experiences
influence the way he/she acts.”
Dr. Strange placed his palms on the desk.
“That is true but in some cases it can become a serious obstacle. Mr. Wayne,
you understand that if I’m not able to contact the assessment in the proper way
I’d have to testify that to the court. And it won’t create the best
impressions.”
Bruce frowned.
“This sounded like blackmail: you can’t force me do something I don’t want:
what you are talking about is not assessment but treatment and the court
appointed you to assess me. I’m sure that a brilliant psychiatrist like you can
find another way.”
Dr. Strange smiled.
“Well, how about ending our meeting for today so that you can calm and think
about it till tomorrow when we will have our next session.”
Bruce eyed the psychiatrist: he could have denied yet Dick’s well being was
more important. He wouldn’t accept being subjected to a psychotropic drug again
even if it was scientifically approved. He couldn’t risk losing control and
Crane’s previous treatment could complicate the amitali’s effects: in which
case Batman’s secret would be compromised and that Bruce couldn’t allow. Yet a
blatant refusal would lead to Strange’s negative report in the court. So he
should buy some time.
“Thank you, Dr. Strange” he steered his wheelchair towards the door and Strange
stood and followed him.
He opened politely and let Bruce come out.
“Please, allow me to come with you till the exit.”
“As you wish.”
 “Mr. Wayne, I must remind you once again that our meetings are bound by the
patient-doctor confidentiality. You can read my file and you will see that I
never had any issue with the morality code of my science. You can trust me, Mr.
Wayne. I wish to offer you my services into helping you have a better life. You
have suffered enough to have the rest of your life marred by those horrors. You
had achieved tremendous things that – I’ll be entirely honest with you – have
me impressed. I totally respect and admire you which urge me to assist you in
your course through life.”
Bruce raised his eyes to him.
“Thank you, Doctor.”
The older man smiled benevolently and nodded. They had reached the information
desk at the building’s foyer.
“George” the psychiatrist addressed an orderly that stood guard in the door
leading to the interior “can you please escort Mr. Wayne to his car?”
Bruce shook his head.
“That won’t be needed, thank you.”
“Fine then” Dr. Strange smiled with his benevolent but still odd smile and gave
his hand to Bruce who shook it. “Have a nice, uneventful evening, Mr. Wayne.”
“Good evening, Doctor” Bruce answered and moved his wheelchair outside the
building and down the ramp that had been added parallel to the old marble stair
in the front of the ancient majestic gothic building. Even when he had his back
turned moving towards his parked car, Bruce could sense the psychiatrist’s eyes
on him.
 
“Aren’t you afraid of your dear brother?” Joker asked exaggerating his nasal
voice.
Loki stood at the rooftop’s ledge on the other side with his back on Joker
gazing at the night Gotham. He lolled his head casting a sideways glance at the
jester and smiled. Then he turned and walked to him.
“Thor can’t see through the magic I cast on this rooftop exactly as with your
safehouse…he might be the god of thunders but I’m better than him in every
aspect” he cocked his eyebrows and gestured to himself “isn’t that obvious from
my looks?”
Joker lolled his head inspecting him carefully and then began laughing with
hysterics pointing his finger at his ally. Loki pissed narrowed his eyes and
slowly raised his hand ready to snap his fingers.
That movement was enough for Joker to stop laughing because he definitely
wouldn’t want to be subject to Loki’s humor – not that Joker wouldn’t laugh but
he didn’t like this petty god’s arrogance. He was panting and weeping imaginary
tears.
“I don’t wanna…uuuu… cooooompliment you, Loki but beeeeetter not mention looks,
hehe! The blooooond is a hunk.”
Loki twisted his mouth.
“Then you won’t be pissed knowing that he screws your Brucie…” he retorted
snidely enjoying the way Joker’s eyebrows frowned. “Looks aren’t in your favor
either…”
Joker bound his hands behind the back and made circles around Loki who cocked
his eyebrows.
“Bruuuuuucie isn’t like this.”
Loki clapped.
“That’s a spouse faith! Concerning that Brucie was fucking around with Supes…By
the way, I’d expect you to at least have killed those who humiliated your…wife
but it seems that you’ve lost your touch.”
Joer leaned his head over Loki’s shoulder.
“Dooooon’t worry…Joker has everything under control” he scratched his head
“wait! I haaaaate control…”
It was Loki’s turn to laugh.
“You have the control? As with Batman? Weren’t for me you’d be in prison now…”
“Prison isn’t sooooo bad…” suddenly he began giggling and Loki rolled his eyes.
“A sedative batarang to my buttcheek – HEHEHEHEHEHAHAHAHA! – oh! I aaaaalways
knew Bats has humor – HEHEHEHEHEHUHUHUHU!”
Loki shook his head exasperated and all of a sudden Joker’s scars became a
zipped fly much to the jester’s amusement.
“That’s what I call useful magic!” Loki exclaimed. “Now you would listen for a
change: enough waiting, I want to make my movement soon – I’m bored; I want
some fun” he drummed his fingers on Joker’s chest. “Understood?”
Joker began moving his hands mimicking the movements of sign language and Loki
blinked bored removing the fly.
“HEHEHEHEHEHEEEEEE! Wow! Youuuuu definitely impressed me with that, Lok – I
also know some spells for silence buuuuut with blades…UHUHUHUUUU!”
“Understood?” Loki demanded.
Joker lolled his head to the side.
“You dooooo remember that we don’t have a cont----ract?”
“Yes but we have common interests…”
Joker licked his lips.
“Now you’re talking, Lok.”
The melody from ‘Muppet Show’ echoed suddenly and Loki stared at Joker who
pulled off his inner pocket his old-fashioned cell that it had his face painted
on the back side; the god rolled his eyes.
“Heeeellooooo, Dr. Harlequin!” the jester exclaimed ignoring Loki’s reaction.
“Ooooooooh…” his voice became heavily nasal “that’s veery interesting…”
Loki frowned.
“Sooooo Brucie visits our beloooooved establishment, huh? He could have done
that while his husband was there!” he snapped pissed. “We would have our honey
mooooon in that idyyyyllic environment… Anyway, thaaaaanks, Harlequin!”
He shoved his cell back to his pocket and lolled his head to the side grinning
with his Cheshire smile.
“Thinking what I’m thinking?” he asked Loki.
The god rolled his eyes and snorted.
“I wouldn’t call ‘thinking’ what takes place in that thing you call head…” he
commented since monitoring Joker’s mind was really like being swimming in a
stormy sea.
“HEHEHE!” he patted Loki’s back. “Goooooood point…”
 
***** Chapter 65 *****
Steve opened hesitantly the door of Selina’s apartment; since last night he was
feeling that something had changed between them in the wrong way.
After his confrontation with Catwoman he secured Wizze in MCU and returned to
Selina’s apartment. Steve knew that she would be there tonight since Bruce had
reassured her that he would be alright so she chose to sleep at her apartment.
He had come eager to speak with her; eat and…well, what other things do a
couple in love? But the apartment was dark and when he reached her bedroom he
found her deep asleep. She was tired both physically and emotionally from
everything that happened after that video’s broadcasting so Steve didn’t want
to disturb her sleep. He undressed, wore his pajamas, kissed her cheek and lay
beside her.
The morning when he woke up she was gone…as if she was avoiding him. So Steve
came tonight to her apartment after much thought expecting everything even a
changed lock but fortunately his key worked.
Getting inside he was met with darkness…again but as he turned towards the
bedroom a cough stopped him. He frowned and instead moved towards the living
room that was one with the kitchen. He clenched his fists and set his senses in
vigilance to face everything.
“Easy, handsome…” the same sensual voice from last night welcomed him and at
the same time the room got lighted.
Steve narrowed his eyes on the sight before him: Catwoman sat on the kitchen
island one long shapely leg on the other.
“What are you doing here?” he asked and walked closer.
She stood up, stretched her body and minced to meet him.
“I live here” she said casually in her true voice and Steve’s eyes bulged.
“Selina?”
“You see, darling?” she lolled her head to the side. “You finally saw the
light.”
Steve clenched his waist and licked his lips shocked.
“The jewelry thief?”
“Among other things…A girl has needs and in Falcone’s Gotham stealing from his
rich friends was an act of resistance and defiance.”
Steve nodded: during Falcone’s reign Gotham’s aristocracy included merely rich
guys who collaborated with him. Suddenly, he remembered something else.
“The stolen jewels that were return to the police these last months was your
doing?”
She smiled.
“Not much of a challenge but someone had to do it.”
“Bruce knows?”
“I wouldn’t keep it secret from my sweetie…”
It was so many the things Steve had heard about Catwoman that they popped up
one after another.
“And you helped Batman bring down Falcone.”
“I wanted to liberate Bruce and my purpose matched the Bats’ so I gave him my
allegiance” she said casually cocking her eyebrows.
Steve nodded.
“You didn’t tell me before…”
“I didn’t know then if I could trust you with that…and I like my secrets.”
“And now?” he came closer to her locking eyes with her. “You don’t like your
secrets anymore?”
Selina wrapped her arms around his neck bringing her lips close to his.
“I like you more…” she said in a deep sensual voice and captured his lips
hungrily; he followed rubbing her leather clad back with logging. “Do you like
cats in leather, handsome?”
Steve grabbed her, glued her body to his and Selina wrapped her legs around his
hips.
“Let me show you how much…” he twirled her around and sat her at the island’s
edge never letting her lips.
His hands fumbled with her suit as Selina grabbed his shirt’s lapels and opened
the cloth with an abrupt movement that ripped every button; she pushed the
fabric to his arms revealing his perfectly toned torso and moaned
appreciatively when Steve pulled down the zip in the middle of her chest
freeing her sweaty breasts.
Their bodies were rubbing on each other as Steve trailed sucking her bent
backwards neck and she rubbed her groin on his aroused length demanding more,
her hands hastily unzipping his jeans
“I like old-fashioned boys” she said eyeing his blue briefs that revealed his
hungry erection and pushed the underwear down to follow his jeans.
“I’m so relieved” he replied rolling her suit off her arms and then down her
hips till her hot body was completely naked but for her Catwoman mask.
He slipped his erection into her and she moaned clenching her legs more around
his hips.
“I think that this mask will become my fetish…” Steve whispered in her ear
beginning to thrust in her.
“Careful, handsome: you don’t want me suspect that you fancy Catwoman more than
Selina…”
Steve chuckled but Selina pushed his hips to urge him to continue.
“If you like my mask perhaps you like my whip too?” she slurred. “Now, don’t
slack off, soldier!”
 
Oliver Queen stood before the breathtaking view of Gotham’s skyline through the
whole wall window of the Wayne Tower’s board room at the top floor. The fact
that it was morning didn’t take anything from the city’s mystery.
Behind him, over the large elliptic glass table the legal departments’ heads of
Wayne Enterprises and Queen Consolidate were discussing the latest details of
the deals and the contracts that lay before them ready to be signed; all these
under Lucius Fox’s vigilant eye. On the contrary, the billion from Star city
didn’t seem to care in the least about the deal and that was the truth; his
face was thoughtful and his hands behind his back.
“You must like our city very much, Mr. Queen” Lucius interrupted Queen’s
reverie having approached quietly. “If I may make a judgement from your
prolonged stay in Gotham – this is most flattering for a city with Gotham’s
less than stellar fame.”
Queen’s eyes turned to the grinning man and nodded.
“I like Gotham and if my staying contributes in changing that fame I’m
satisfied. Mr. Fox, did Mr. Wayne reaffirm his presence at the meeting? I mean,
after what happened two days ago with that dreadful video…”
Lucius shook his head.
“Of course he did; otherwise I would have informed you. Both he and I know how
important Mr. Wayne’s presence was for the signing of this deal.”
Queen’s face was serious when he nodded yet Lucius didn’t see the satisfaction
that certainly the man should have felt.
“I’d expect that Bruce would have chosen this floor to set his office” Queen
chose to change the subject “Taking into account his love for the city only the
view from the top floor would be enough for him. So it is odd that he chosen
the 46th floor for his office.”
Lucius gazed at the city.
“The 46th floor has a nice view as well. Mr. Wayne chose to have the same
office his father had” Queen watched intrigued. “Both Thomas and Bruce had in
mind something more important than the view: they wanted to be at the heart of
their Tower; among their employees and not on top of them.”
Queen cocked his eyebrows impressed and pursed his lips.
“Interesting…”
The discreet sound of the wheelchair was enough for Queen to turn at the open
door. Bruce greeted Mr. Collins and his colleague, Tommy Merlin and moved
towards Lucius and Oliver who walked to meet him.
Oliver hastened to give his hand to Bruce for a shake.
“I’m glad to see you again, Bruce” he said stilling his gaze in Bruce’s eyes.
“The same, Mr. Queen” Bruce replied politely but detached shaking his hand and
Queen pressed his lips.
“We could have postponed the sign of the deal” the older man continued. “After
the recent events I’d understand.”
Bruce smiled.
“I can’t see the reason…As I think you already know I continue my activities
normally after the recent events so why postponing this one?”
“Unlike the rest of your obligations, after all, I’d like you to not consider
me another obligation; I could have waited…” Bruce felt ‘for an eternity’
hovering.
Bruce answered with a serious expression.
“I’m fine” he looked up at his loyal scientist “Lucius, how are you?”
Lucius twitched his eyebrows and grinned.
“Fine, Mr. Wayne” he gestured to the table “we can start.”
Bruce was listening carefully to both lawyers explaining the details of the
deal but his attention was on Queen as discreetly as possible.
In the end, Mr. Collins laid the contract in front of Queen while Mr. Merlin
did the same with the second copy of the contract for Bruce who perused one
last time the document under Queen’s amused smile.
“So careful! I assure you, Bruce: I would never even think to fool you. And as
a proof I sign without further reading…”
Bruce smiled and in Queen’s eyes he discerned a sparkle of pleasure.
“It is not a matter of mistrust…I just have to justify my role as Wayne
Enterprises’ President…”
Oliver chuckled shaking his head and pulled off of the inner pocket of his
jacket an ancient and priceless looking golden pen. He cast a pointed glance at
Bruce cocking an eyebrow and moved to sign. Using his left hand: Bruce’s eyes
fixed on the ease with which Queen used his left hand to write. Activity which
prior to the shipwreck Queen did only with his right hand.
Suddenly, Queen coughed and lifted his eyes to meet Bruce’s glance. He smiled
uncomfortably and moved the pen to his right hand.
“Sometimes after the shipwreck I switch hands unconsciously…I had injured my
right hand in the island and for some time I was using mainly the left yet
still my right hand is my good hand.”
Bruce grinned and nodded.
“As someone who spent six years with his good hand destroyed I certainly
understand you; my right hand never recovered fully so my left hand does most
of the complex work.”
Queen seemed relieved but Bruce noticed his lawyer’s odd look and kept watching
the man while signing the same papers Queen just did.
After the signing, the details and the prospects of the cooperation were put in
discussion at which point Mr. Collins found the opportunity to take Bruce from
the table.
“How was your first session with Dr. Strange?”
Bruce shrugged.
“I can’t answer that with certainty but I’ll meet him again today.”
“Was there anything that made you feel uncomfortable?” the experienced lawyer
said eyeing carefully his employer. “If that’s the case I want you to remember
that we can always ask for a different psychiatrist. You have that right, Mr.
Wayne.”
Bruce grinned and nodded.
“Thank you, Mr. Collins; I’ll remember that.”
A small reception was prepared to celebrate the collaboration of the two
companies in the reception hall of the Tower and Lucius suggested that it was
time to go there which was gladly accepted since everything concerning the deal
was settled.
Yet Bruce remained in the room bringing his wheelchair in front of the whole
wall window mesmerized from the breathtaking view it offered. He enjoyed the
loneliness yet soon his peace was disrupted when he heard footsteps which he
knew that belonged to Oliver Queen or…The Arrow. Bruce didn’t intend to show to
him that he was aware of his secret identity because there were more about the
man that needed to be deciphered. Besides, the Arrow knew Bruce’s secret
identity too and he wanted to learn how.
He felt his insides clench when the man stood beside him.
“Beautiful view” Queen said.
“For me it is…”
Queen looked straight in Bruce’s eyes.
“I’m honestly sorry about what they did to you…”
Bruce frowned.
“Meaning?”
“The broadcasting of that video; and what Falcone did to you.”
Bruce raised his eyebrows.
“You realize now that my darkness has nothing to do with yours?” he smiled.
“You still insist that you understand me? Because it is quite obvious that we
don’t share anything.”
Queen’s face became dead serious and his green eyes gave the impression of
slowly burning fires.
“On the contrary, I feel closer to you now…Those smugglers in that island
almost killed me and if Princess Diana hadn’t intervened I would be dead” Bruce
shook his head hearing about the supposed Amazon. “However, you’re right: my
experiences weren’t anything like yours yet your pain is mine, too. The hours
that passed since that video was shown I was in turmoil: I wanted to run to
you; to express my feelings; to offer everything I could offer…yet” he pressed
his lips “I knew that you’d feel me like an intruder; that my presence would be
pressing and disturbing for you. And that you’d feel better only with your
loved ones…”
Bruce was watching him with interest.
“I wish I was one of these fortunate people…” Queen added in a husky voice.
Bruce turned his head away to the view.
“They are not fortunate” he retorted with conviction.
Queen squatted in front of him and held his shoulders.
“Bruce” the younger man turned his head and looked at him with a deep frowning.
“If only you were willing to give me a chance to become one of your friends…”
his eyes were filled with warmth, with pure pleading and Bruce felt
uncomfortable as goose bumps ran his spine.
“Are you not coming?”
Lucius’ cheerful voice broke the tension; the Afro-American stood at the door
and Bruce looked at him grateful for his intervention. The scientist frowned
the tiniest bit but didn’t express his disapproval for Queen’s intimacy in
favor of diplomacy and smiled.
“Shall we? Our attorneys are waiting” Bruce said.
Queen stood, letting Bruce’s shoulders too reluctantly and walked towards the
exit nodding to Lucius.
 
“Mr. Queen is very fortunate to have such a loyal associate as you” Bruce said
to Mr. Merlin steering his wheelchair to the corner where the man stood
detached from the guests in the reception hall.
Lucius, Collins and Queen were avidly talking thus Bruce found the opportunity
to ‘interrogate’ the man.
“I’m with Queen family many years. I owe them much.”
“You were one of the few who didn’t cooperate to the illegal acquiring of the
Consolidate, much as Lucius did for me.”
The man smiled.
“I couldn’t betray them: I worked decades for Richard and I know Oliver since
he was born.”
Bruce hoped to that.
“I imagine your delight when he appeared in that event…seeing again someone you
considered dead.”
Tommy shook his head thoughtful.
“Yes, certainly…yet…”
“Yet?”
The man cast a glance at his employer.
“What happened those months changed Oliver” he said.
Bruce nodded.
“Such experiences do have a great impact on people.”
Merlin took a sip from his red wine looking at Queen.
“Oliver was… Oliver was always an open character, a playful youth, a playboy;
very sociable… now he is cold and detached even when he discusses with me or
his other associates. I can’t explain it: it’s in his eyes, in his demeanor.”
“The use of his left hand…”
“Oliver is right handed: even after he returned he uses his right hand all the
time – today was the first time I saw him using his left hand.”
“Once we meet one of his old classmates and he said that Mr. Queen was a great
athlete in every sport.”
Merlin smiled.
“Except than archery and that was” he chuckled “a blow because in childhood
Robin Hood was his favorite hero.”
Bruce smiled too.
“Does he ever speak about his experiences in the island?”
Tommy shook his head.
“Mr. Wayne, if Oliver was to speak to someone about that this would be you.
Since he came back Oliver spends most of his time with you or around you… In
Gotham…Oliver he always said that he would never set foot in Gotham no matter
what.”
Bruce saw Queen approaching with a glass in his head and his usual smugness
back; he patted his lawyer’s back.
“What are you two talking about? Tommy, you shouldn’t monopolize Bruce.”
The lawyer shook his head.
“We were discussing about the new prospects that our cooperation opens” Bruce
said to save the lawyer from the uneasiness and Queen smirked.
 
“So the culprit can be anyone” Bullock gritted his teeth.
Jim was pacing at his office in MCU building; he had arrived back in Gotham
only a couple of hours ago and was briefing his trustees about Pielser’s
interrogation.
He cocked his eyebrows.
“I’m afraid so…The bastard advertised in the proper sites that he had in his
hands the video with young Wayne being molested and a bid competition began” he
huffed eyeing his partners’ disgusted looks. “The higher bidder took the video
and of course the whole transaction evolved anonymously through Pielser’s
lawyer who was killed in a car accident a month ago” he shook his head.
Montoya waved her hand.
“If the bidder had kept the video for himself it could be anyone yet the bidder
publicized the video clearly wanting to humiliate and break Mr. Wayne.”
Bullock shook his head chuckling.
“I’d give anythin’ to see his shit face now that Wayne showed that he wasn’t
broken by this and he failed! So we’re lookin’ for someone who hates Wayne.” He
pursed his lips. “Luthor is one candidate: he had cooperated with the League to
capture Wayne for which he ended up in the joint an’ then Wayne managed to buy
his Labs and a nice percentage of his company. Recently they had a face off in
LexCorp annual meeting.”
Montoya nodded but Gordon shook his head.
“Luthor was in jail the time the auction for the video took place; also, his
accounts were frozen all this time so although I’m sure he enjoyed what
happened he wasn’t the culprit.”
“Then we have Dagget: he had expressed his hatred for Wayne in several
occasions and he was Luthor’s ally to bring down Wayne” Montoya pointed.
“But he is also in the joint” Bullock said standing from the chair he was
slumped and looked out of the small window.
“Earl is also in jail” Montoya continued counting Bruce’s enemies.
Jim rubbed his chin with his hand.
“Could be some member of the League of Shadows who escaped arrest – maybe that
Talia Al Ghul herself: we never had something concrete about her death. The
League knew much about Falcone, so they could know about that video as well and
when Pielser came out to find a buyer they rushed for the chance.”
Both his trustees looked at him with flashing eyes. Bullock nodded.
“That actually makes sense, chief.”
Montoya detached from the desk she was leaning.
“Looking for hair in a stuck…that group was hard to find when in power not now
that they are injured and hide…”
Jim pursed his lips and raised his eyebrows.
“That’s true…unfortunately” he admitted.
Bullock clenched his waist.
“The hackin’ of the signal brings in mind Joker” he lolled his head. “Why not
him?”
“It’s not his style: he’d have made a show and he wanted to kill the hacker”
Jim answered.
Montoya shook her head.
“He could have done that to fool us…”
“He doesn’t give a damn about us” Jim remarked. “No, it must be someone else…”
Suddenly, a ruckus came from outside and the Commissioner frowned. Without a
second thought he stormed outside, his lieutenants following suit.
Jim closed his eyes exasperated and relieved from the sight.
Tony Stark impeccably dressed in a tailored expensive gray suit beamed to the
police officers – mostly female – that had gathered around him. Jim ran his
hands to his hair seeing Ironman signing autographs to his officers.
Tony realized Jim’s presence and yanked his head.
“Hi, Jim! You’re the man I was looking for.”
Jim shook his head and cast a glare to the clustered officers who reluctantly
dispersed; Tony marched towards Jim and his lieutenants smiling and Jim noticed
that he was caring a red and gold briefcase.
“How come an’ ya haven’t printed Ironman on it?” Bullock asked jeeringly
cocking an eyebrow.
Tony smirked and patted him on the shoulder causing a glare from the rough
lieutenant who hadn’t forgotten the incident in Wayne Manor.
“Brilliant idea, lieutenant!”
Jim met the billionaire’s eyes with seriousness.
“I’m glad to see you found your mood, Mr. Stark.”
Tony lolled his head on the side.
“C’mon, Jim: I told you to call me ‘Tony’; as for the incident in the Manor, I
was distraught – no hard feelings, huh?” he winked grinning friendly.
He offered his hand and Jim took it.
“I didn’t know that I had so many fans in Gotham MCU!” Tony said smugly casting
playful glances to the female officers who were staring at them.
“Our local attraction prefers rooftops and doesn’t give live performances…”
Bullock growled snidely and Montoya chuckled.
Tony grinned.
“I like cops with sense of humor…”
“Who’s joking?” Montoya asked shrugging.
“Jim, can we speak in private?” Tony asked passing abruptly from lightness to
seriousness.
Jim nodded.
“Of course, Tony” he gestured invitingly “please come in” he closed the door
behind Tony dismissing his trustees with a glance. “Have a seat.”
Tony sat at the cheap armchair elegantly and crossed his legs.
“I want to talk to you about something important.”
Jim sat behind his desk and nodded.
“Of course. I’m listening.”
Tony touched his thump on an invisible receptor in the corner of the briefcase
which opened with a hissing sound. He put the briefcase on the desk pushing it
slowly towards Jim.
The police commissioner began immediately examining the documents inside: old
police reports, listings of accounts, reports about companies; printed pieces
of old newspapers. He frowned and looked up at Tony’s sparkling black eyes
which were estimating Gordon’s reaction.
“John Grayson’s case…” Jim said shaking his head.
“Exactly” Tony answered.
“The case had been closed rather fast attributing the death to accident – there
were suspicions about sabotage but they were never proved” Jim coughed. “Police
those days was deep in corruption, carelessness and laziness.”
Tony leaned to the desk and took from the bottom of the briefcase a forensic
case containing a bolt.
“I think we have strong evidence here.”
Jim took it and studied it.
“Built & Fit” he read the small inscription on the metal.
“The company that was appointed with the gym’s renovation.”
“There are signs of tampering” Jim murmured examining the bolt. “Where did you
find that bolt, Tony?”
Tony leaned back to the armchair.
“I didn’t. Bruce did” and seeing Jim’s frowning he smiled. “You know that Bruce
is Dick Grayson’s guardian” Jim nodded. “Well, one of Dick’s trainers is
Trevor. Breizic who was also John Grayson’s trainer the time he was killed.
Breizc had found that bolt then but police didn’t even examine it; however the
man kept it all this time and gave it to Bruce.”
“And he to you.”
Tony grinned.
“That’s right. Bruce confided in me Breizic’s concerns about his former
athlete’s death not being an accident and showed me the bolt which I examined.
Also, Ms. Turner before disappearing had also expressed the same concerns. So I
decided to make some digging.”
Jim held two different papers with reports about companies.
“Agiltex…I remember that company: many years ago a major scandal had shaken the
Falcone reigned Gotham when that company bankrupted and people lost their
savings. The company was a meteor; appeared suddenly, its shares went rocket
high making people invest frantically and then equally suddenly its shares went
to the bottom leading the company to bankruptcy and investors to despair.”
Tony nodded: Bruce had tutored him perfectly.
“John Grayson had invested too in that company and lost all his savings:
according to Ms. Turner and Breizic he did that following his trainer’s
suggestions: then his trainer was his cousin, Tony Zucco. However if you look
at Tony Zucco’s accounts he didn’t lose any money.”
Jim looked at Tony over his glasses.
“Mr. Zucco isn’t the one who claims Richard Grayson’s guardianship from Mr.
Wayne?”
Tony smiled and nodded.
“You’re well informed, Jim.”
“This is my job” he looked at the second paper. “This is about Build & Fit the
company that made the renovation a couple of days before Grayson’s accident”
Tony nodded. “Here it is clear that Agiltex and Build & Fit are the same
company; even the off shore account where their revenue ended up is the same…”
he took another paper and his eyebrows knitted. “The off shore account belongs
to…” He met Tony’s eyes “Tony Zucco?”
“That’s right. He made the fraud with Agiltex and after a few years he created
a new company – hiding in the shadows again. First, he convinced John Grayson
to invest all his money to Agiltex – his company - and then committed fraud to
get his money. John didn’t know that Zucco not only didn’t lose his money but
also orchestrated all this to get his money, so their close relationship
continued. However, when Grayson’s sport’s career declined there was tension
and then the doping scandal made things worse between them: Grayson took back
Breizic as his trainer and pushed away Zucco. Then all of a sudden a new
company appears which was appointed the renovation of the gym without any
competition. Just a day after that John Grayson died falling from the parallel
bars.”
He tapped the case with the tampered bolt.
“The organ was sabotaged. Build & Fit was made in one night with one purpose:
John Grayson’s death. After that the company disappeared as sudden as it
appeared.”
“You say that Zucco orchestrated Grayson’s death?”
“Mr. Breizic and Ms. Turner had the same suspicions but they didn’t have enough
evidence. And…” he searched through the paperwork and found the picture of a
woman “Rebecca Irwin: she was the head technician of the renovation.”
Jim nodded.
“Yes, she was questioned about the accident.”
Tony cocked his eyebrows.
“Now she is Zucco’s wife.”
Jim met his eyes interested.
“Quite the coincidence, don’t you think?” Tony asked winking. “Not to mention
that Sandrey Felix, the supposed president of Agiltex was killed in a car
accident two years after the big fraud.”
Jim nodded.
“This case certainly needs to be reopened…”
Tony wanted to smile broadly yet looked at Jim serious.
“I’d like to ask you to handle the matter discreetly: I wouldn’t want this to
create the impression that was a scheme for influencing the judge’s decision
about Richard’s guardianship.”
“You can rest assured, Tony; nothing will be announced before we make our
investigation in collaboration with DA’s office.”
“Thank you, Jim. From the moment I told Bruce about my findings he is worried
about his ward: he is afraid that Zucco might want Dick’s guardianship to harm
the boy, you see…” Tony pressed his lips “between you and me Bruce bought an
apartment in the boy’s name and has established a fund with a very tempting
amount of money so his fear is that the money brought Zucco back in Gotham and
he wants the boy only to get the money.”
Jim rubbed his chin thoughtful.
“We won’t let anything bad happen to the boy: we’ll reopen the case, review the
facts, make inquiries and press charges to those responsible. Secretly and as
fast as possible. He can be responsible for Ms. Turner’s disappearance too: he
is the only relative so he believed that when the grandmother would be gone he
would take the boy: he didn’t expect that Ms. Turner had given the guardianship
to Mr. Wayne.”
Tony cocked his eyebrows.
“I can’t say that…everything is possible.”
Jim pursed his lips and eyed Tony.
“The DA and I went to Washington’s federal prison: we spoke with Pielser. He
sold the video a couple of months ago: he organized an auction...”
Tony’s eyebrows knitted: Bruce’s torture had become an auction item!
“To whom?” he asked grimly.
“The transaction took place in complete secrecy.”
“Damn!” Tony slapped his hand to the desk.
“We’ll find him, Tony and maybe with your impressive detective skills you’ll
help us.”
“I’m afraid that from now on I’d be devoted to preparing Bruce’s surgery and
between that and the S.H.I.E.L.D. my time will be very limited. Yet I’ll do my
best and I’ll be happy to offer you any assistance.”
 
“Mission accomplished!” Tony said as soon as he entered the study at the
Manor’s first floor.
Bruce behind the classic desk was working in his Cosmos and Selina was also
there leaning over Bruce’s shoulder obviously interested about what her friend
was searching.
“By the way, I’m sexier than Tom Cruise, don’t you think?” Tony chirped. “And
way younger…”
Bruce raised his eyes from the tablet and smiled while Selina rolled her eyes.
“Certainly; I think he must be very jealous of you…” the young woman said
slyly.
“Poor thing!” he made a spectacular dive to the armchair before the desk and
jerked startled as Hero climbed rapidly on his lap having left his perch before
the fireplace. “And here’s the biggest proof” he glanced at the kitten. “By the
way, fur buddy: why all this sudden show of affection?”
“What did Jim say?” Bruce asked.
“That the evidence is sufficient to reopen the case and possibly press charges
– I also made clear that nothing should be made known during the trial.”
Bruce nodded and made to return to his work.
“I love to be praised…” Tony said.
“No, kidding…” Selina snidely remarked and Tony winked playfully.
 “…yet I don’t like getting credit for your work, Bruce.”
“Zucco in jail will be the best credit for me” he answered and began scrolling
the contents in his screen.
“Jim said that Pielser had organized an auction for that video and sold it to
the highest bidder.”
Bruce didn’t react but his eyes went blank for a second.
“However Pielser didn’t know the buyer’s identity and his lawyer was killed in
a car accident a month ago. Don’t you think that we could use your brilliant
detective skills in that too?”
The younger man lifted his head.
“There are things more urgent than that” and before Tony retorting something
“yesterday when I was in Arkham I met Quinzel: I’m sure that she will inform
Joker. And given that today I will go again to Strange Joker will make his
move.”
Tony sat straight in the armchair.
“You won’t go: let me and the police handle that.”
Selina sat with an elegant move on Bruce’s desk.
“Count also Catwoman…” she met Bruce’s eyes.
Tony lolled his head and pursed his lips thoughtful.
“I don’t know…wouldn’t this make Steve suspicious that his darling is Catwoman
with Catwoman being constantly involved in things concerning Bruce? He is old-
fashioned, you know, but he isn’t stupid.”
Selina took a pen and tapped her lips.
“As I told Bruce earlier…I revealed everything to Steve…”
Tony widened his eyes awed.
“And?”
Selina smirked slyly.
“A lady doesn’t speak about things happening in her bedroom…or living room…or
kitchen” Tony’s eyes bulged and Bruce chuckled. “It seems that Captain America
has a soft spot for cats dressed in leather…”
Tony shook his head and pouted.
“I don’t blame him…”
“Sorry for spoiling your chat” Bruce said “but I must go to Arkham Asylum.”
Tony nodded frustrated.
“Yadda, Yadda, Yadda…because Batman has to make his appearance, huh? Or else
it’d be suspicious.”
“Right.”
Tony huffed.
“Forget it, pal! There’s no chance you’d wear that armor and face that madman!”
Bruce smiled cunningly and Tony frowned.
“I won’t wear the armor – you will.”
Tony jerked up and Hero jumped from his lap.
“But I still have to go there: first because Joker might not appear if he
doesn’t see me there.”
“He has already many of his goons inside Arkham and given that Quinzel is his
ally they will be ready to take action” Selina commented “whether you go there
or not”.
Bruce nodded.
“They are inside but Joker isn’t so if I don’t appear Joker won’t show up or
order them to attack. And second, it is crucial that Batman and Bruce Wayne are
both there – I mean, separately – so that Joker gets convinced that we’re not
the same person.”
“Arresting him is not enough, huh?” Tony asked glum.
Bruce shook his head.
“No; I want him to stop believing that Wayne and Batman is the same person.”
Selina lolled her head on the side.
“Joker might be a nutcase but he is clever: he’ll notice the difference – he
did when…” she halted abruptly hesitant to utter Superman’s name but Bruce
prompted her to continue with his eyes “Superman pretended to be Batman.”
“Tony will remain in the shadows.”
“What about the patients and the doctors?” Selina asked. “Won’t be in danger?”
“The Asylum’s newest security addition locks up the patients’ and doctors’
areas as soon as a breach is detected.”
Tony stood up: above all, Bruce’s safety was what bothered him.
“It’s very dangerous, littl’ guy: having to act through the shadows avoiding
much impact with Joker. My hands will be tied and he might find the chance to
hurt you.”
Bruce smiled.
“You will stun him in the first chance, Tony.”
However Tony shook his head not persuaded at all.
“That man is completely unpredictable – I don’t want you there, Bruce” the
billionaire from Malibu said exasperated.
“Tony…”
“Don’t ‘Tony’ me, Bruce! Enough with you getting yourself in danger” Bruce
closed his eyes. “Lucius and I have everything ready for your operation but you
seem to care for everything else than your operation.”
“That’s not true, Tony!”
Tony slapped his hands on the desk and leaned to look in Bruce’s eyes.
“You should be resting, gathering your strength, relaxing but instead you work
harder than ever – not relaxing at all, barely sleeping…Do you realize that we
talk about one of the most perplexed operations ever? You will be in that table
more than ten hours and your body is already spent…” he stopped to catch his
breath.
 “The fact I work as I used to, doesn’t mean that I’m not prepared for the
operation: I follow the instructions Leslie and Matt give me” Tony rolled his
eyes in a ‘yeah, sure…” expression “I never cancelled my physiotherapy
sessions; I take my medication…I’m meditating…” Bruce locked eyes with his
friend “I won’t die on that table, Tony…” he said with conviction.
But Tony froze: the mention of ‘table’ brought like a flash in his mind the
image of that skinny boy convulsing from pain on Falcone’s table with a huge
dildo ripping his insides; the blood dripping from the crying boy’s body.
Bruce noticed his friend’s sudden change and Selina as well.
“Tony, are you alr…” the deep worry in Bruce’s voice shook up Tony who smiled.
“Of course you won’t die…” he said. “Mmm…what you two were looking at that
tablet? By the way, you know that the Cosmos gadget has broken Starcell’s
record in pre-orders?”
Bruce nodded.
“Lucius told me.”
“Don’t worry though: I’m gonna retaliate…Now since that is settled: what were
you looking there?” Tony pointed with his eyes at the tablet hasty.
Bruce turned the tablet for Tony to see the screen. The screen was covered with
squares showing old newspaper articles.
“Old fraud cases…” Tony said. “What are you looking for?”
“You had told me that the fake Diana’s apartment was filled with pots with
plants and flowers; also, that there was a beautiful, heavy perfume in the air.
Vivian in her room at Dolcetto was also swarmed with plants and there was a
heavy intoxicating perfume. So taking into account that Vivian isn’t in any
public record I thought to look for any mention of peculiar plants and perfumes
– maybe the plants and the perfume lead us to the real person since they seem
to be very important to her.”
“And?”
Bruce lifted his eyebrows.
“There are too many results about plants and perfumes that are irrelevant so I
programmed the processor to cross these results with police reports but it will
take time.”
“Why is so important to find who she really is?” Selina asked. “We know she
isn’t the Amazon Princess – that should be enough.”
“I want to know with whom I’m dealing.”
Tony crossed his arms over the chest.
“And having proofs of who she really is you’ll persuade easier Superman.”
Bruce’s face became grim.
“I don’t think that he will believe me even if I present him with proofs.”
Selina could discern a deep sadness in Bruce though his voice was cool and
indifferent.
“How did it go with Queen?” Tony changed the subject.
“We signed the deal…”
“You seem troubled” Tony remarked.
“The man is complicated; there are things that…”
The polite knock on the door interrupted him.
“Master Bruce, Mr. Leench is here; he is waiting for you at the gym.”
“Thank you, Alfred” he turned to his friends. “I have to go, make my
physiotherapy and then I have to get ready for my session with Strange.”
Tony was ready to start an argument but he swallowed it as Bruce moved his
chair out of his desk.
“I’ll see you later” he grinned before closing the door.
Tony sighed and sank into the leather armchair running his hands to his hair.
“I’m not convinced you’re going to let him go to Arkham…” Selina said standing
from the desk and walking to him.
“I won’t.”
Selina chuckled.
“You know how stubborn our friend is…”
“There’s no way I let him expose himself like this to Joker: I won’t risk him
getting injured or worse. And I’m more stubborn than him.”
Selina frowned.
“What are you going to do?”
Tony slapped his face with both palms.
“Why you didn’t kill Joker that night with Wizze?”
Her face became grim.
“Steve told you…” Tony nodded. “My mind was on getting Wizze: he was my primary
target – it was a mistake I should have killed them both!” Tony saw the
murderous shine of her eyes – she shook her head. “It’s never too late for
that…”
“Bruce knows about Joker, Wizze etc, etc?” he waved his hand.
“NO, you know how he feels about killings…” she cocked her eyebrows.
“Especially when one of us does that…Steve had taken that bastard Wizze at MCU
but at some point he left: he probably got the Hell out of Gotham – he is more
scared of me and Joker than the police.”
“We must end with Joker today: I’m sick of this nutcase threatening Bruce.”
Selina nodded.
“I’ll be there too. If he makes a move we’ll get him.”
 
Dick had just worn his training uniform and was walking to meet Jeffrey at the
main hall to start practice when Jason bumped on him at the corridor.
“What’s yar step, man!” the younger boy exclaimed before seeing that he had
collided with his friend. “Oh! Dick, I was looking for ya.”
Dick lolled his head; his mood was still bad.
“What do you want, Jay?” he snapped.
“Why ya had yar cell closed all day?”
Dick closed his eyes.
“Jay, say what ya want: I don’t have time - Jeff is waiting.”
Jason rolled his eyes.
“Okay” he glanced suspiciously at an athlete who passed them and dragged Dick
to a corner. “Last night I was out…”
“What you snatched?” Dick asked bored.
Jason shook his head.
“Scratch that…I was strollin’ the Narrows an’ I heard somethin’ really
interestin’…”
“Some new curseword?” Dick snorted and Jason growled impatient.
“I heard two guys speakin’: they were talkin’ ‘bout their boss an’ his fixation
with Wayne” he met Dick’s eyes widening his with emphasis.
Dick nodded.
“You think they were Joker’s goons?”
Jayson blinked frustrated.
“The way they’re talkin’ showed they weren’t the cleverest blocks in town; an’
at some point they even threw up Joker’s name.”
“Why didn’t you call the police?”
Jason sighed exasperated.
“Do ya know me to like cops? Not to mention that I’d be in deep shit myself.”
“Well?”
“They said that Joker will attack Arkham today when Wayne will go there to his
shrink.”
Dick’s eyes bulged.
“That’s in afternoon: yesterday Wayne went there at this time. Why didn’t you
inform Wayne?”
Jason shook his head impatient snorting.
“That’s the reason I was lookin’ for ya all time, ya dork! I thought that if ya
informed him ‘bout that ya’ll redeem yarself an’ feel better.”
“And how on earth I’ll explain that I know that?”
“Ya’ll say that ya heard them.”
Jason frowned seeing his friend’s eyes blank.
“Well, open yar fuckin’ phone an’ call ‘im!”
But Dick stormed back in the locker room and began taking off hastily his gym
uniform to wear his normal clothes. Jason followed him jerking his hands
exasperated.
“What are ya doin’?”
“I have a better idea…”
Jason shook his head.
“I’m not gonna like what I’ll hear…”
Dick met his friend’s eyes standing up.
“I’m gonna kill the asshole today!”
Jason widened his eyes.
“Are ya nuts? We’re talkin’ ‘bout Joker!” he exclaimed lowering his voice as he
mentioned the name.
“If you’re afraid stay here!”
“Jason Todd isn’t afraid of anyone – much more a fuckin’ clown!”
Dick smiled and cocked an eyebrow.
“Let’s go then! We’ll be there when Joker makes his move.”
 
Alfred caught up with Bruce as the young man was discussing with Tony in the
salon. Bruce was already dressed for his session with Dr. Strange and Tony was
trying to talk him out of this even now having Hero rubbing at his feet.
“Do you think your fur buddy is in heat and takes me for a cat?” Tony
reinforced his persuasion efforts recruiting his humor to add some charm.
Bruce chuckled.
“He is still too young for that and you don’t look like a cat…”
“More like a mutt…” he changed the playful tone for seriousness “listen,
Bruce…”
“Master Bruce, Mr. Laurie called: Master Richard isn’t at the gym…”
“What?” Bruce clenched the armrests.
Tony yanked his head backwards.
“Not again! We have so many things going on and the brat staged another show to
undermine your guardianship! This time I’m gonna spank the little bastard!”
Bruce pinched the bridge of his nose feeling the throb of a starting migraine
and took his Cosmos out of the pocket of his jacket.
“I’m calling Jim – we must find Richard” he looked at Tony calm.
Tony shook his head with his friend’s patience but then compassion won and he
placed his hand on Bruce’s shoulder.
“Are you alright, littl’ guy?”
Bruce nodded and brushed the screen calling Jim but then he noticed Tony’s
forearm glowing. His friend had activated the forearm part of his Ironman armor
to be constantly updated by Jarvis that had gained access to Arkham’s
surveillance cameras. Bruce ended the call before been made and watched Tony
speaking to his AI.
“Master Anthony, Joker is already inside Arkham Asylum.”
The AI projected a hologram in the salon transmitting footage from the Asylum’s
interior showing the jester hopping at the corridor his scars forming a wide
Cheshire smile.
Tony smiled to Bruce.
“Now you don’t have to go there to lure Joker” Bruce opened his mouth to retort
but Tony raised his palm cutting him “I’m not hearing anything: I’m going
downstairs to dress up.”
Bruce’s phone rang with Selina’s melody. Bruce frowned and Tony gulped: this
wasn’t good.
“Sel, what you got?”
 
“An’ how are ya gonna kill Joker, big guy?” Jason jeered his friend as he
stopped his bike to an alley behind the imposing gothic building. “With
telepathy?”
Dick frowned but shook his head.
“I’ll think something…”
Jason rolled his eyes and snorted. He leaned and opened a leather case at his
bike’s side.
“What’s this?!” Dick asked gaping and Jason sniggered.
 “A fuckin’ lollipop! Isn’t obvious, hit man?” he brushed the G43 handgun.
“You have a gun?”
“’Course, man – I’m strollin’ Gotham’s mean streets, I need some reassurance.”
Dick snatched the gun and dismounted.
“Let’s go!”
“How are we gonna pass the guards?” Jason asked hooking their helmets to the
bike’s handles.
“We’ll climb the fence from the back and we’ll see…”
Jason rolled his eyes.
“Great plan, man…” he stared at the imposing building that under the dim lights
of the twilight looked like taken from a horror movie; a shiver ran his spine.
“This place is spooky, man…it’s like those haunted houses in the movies.”
Dick rolled his eyes exasperated trying to control the same fear that had spurt
in him seeing the legendary building: every Gothamite kid had been raised with
stories for ghosts strolling at the Manor’s corridors.
“Stop that!”
“What if the fence is wired?” Jason asked following his friend bent. “At least,
is darkening and they won’t see us…”
Jason’s fears evaporated when the two boys reached the fence; the back entrance
to the yard was open with no guards. Dick turned to him smiling.
“You see? You don’t need to worry: we’re lucky!”
Jason shook his head.
“Bullshit! We’re not lucky: Joker is already inside, man!”
Dick’s eyes flashed determined and the boy pressed his lips.
“Let’s go!”
 
“Bruce, Dick and Jason are here!” Selina’s voice was calm but a flickering of
worry blended with rage was audible.
Tony saw panicked Bruce’s face paling; Alfred came closer to his master
worried.
“Master Bruce?”
Bruce rubbed his temple.
“Jarvis, give me image from inside. Every available camera!”
Tony wished he had told Jarvis to not obey any order Bruce gave him but it was
too late.
Image from different spots of the building began appearing one after another.
“Stop!” Bruce ordered.
Two small figures walked in the brightly lit corridor that Bruce recognized as
the corridor leading from the back entrance to the lounge room. Suddenly, Jason
registered the camera and elbowed his friend pointing there with his eyes. The
two boys hurried to move to a sideways corridor out of the camera’s range but
Bruce spotted what Dick held: a small handgun.
“Fuck!” Bruce shouted so much unlike himself and Tony narrowed his eyes seeing
sweat drops on his friend’s face. “He is going after Joker!”
“Stupid brats!” Tony exploded because now Bruce wasn’t going to stay behind.
And to confirm his fears Bruce steered his chair towards the lift but Tony
stood determined before him blocking his way. Bruce frowned.
“Tony, get out of my way! I’m going there!”
“Not this time, buddy!” Tony’s eyes flashed colliding with his friends’ in a
staring battle. “You’re in no condition for that!”
Alfred was watching holding his breath, even Hero stood there confused.
And then Bruce grabbed the armrests and stood on his feet towering his friend.
“I’m perfectly able, Tony.”
“Bruce, stop that nonsense: you know that you shouldn’t force your legs to do
that! And this time you’ll stay here!”
Bruce’s eyes were completely still and his breath a growl. The determined flash
in his irises frightened Alfred as much as seeing his young master exerting
himself standing.
“The boys are in danger; I’m going there and you can’t stop me!”
Alfred sensed that something really bad was going to happen – Master Anthony’s
eyes were icy.
“Master Bruce, Master Anthony…” he tried to intervene but nobody listened to
him.
Tony knew that it was now or never: he wasn’t going to let anyone ever again
tie his friend and abuse him. He yanked his head.
“I can, Bruce…”
Bruce barely managed to narrow his eyes in realization of what his friend had
done before collapsing in Tony’s waiting arms –. Tony hugged his friend
carefully.
Alfred rushed to him upset for what Tony had done.
“Master Anthony!” he began feeling Bruce.
“He is fine, Alfred, just sleeping. I used Ironman’s stunning beam” he showed
him the forearm part of Ironman’s armor that was returning to its previous
state after shooting the stunning beam.
However, Alfred’s eyes remained widened and Tony inhaled determined and lifted
his friend’s unconscious body in bridal style.
“He saved my life, Alfred and he is my best friend: I’d rather face his wrath
than his death, Alfred” he activated his Ironman boots and flew to the upper
floor.
He wouldn’t waste time explaining his decision to Alfred; the butler would have
done the same if he could.
Tony opened the door to the Master’s bedroom and placed his friend tenderly on
the mattress. He stared at his sleeping face and caressed his cheek.
“It’s for your own good, littl’ guy…” he placed a soft kiss on his forehead as
Alfred and Hero rushed inside.
Alfred reached the bed and Hero climbed the bed and cuddled on Bruce’s chest as
Tony turned to leave.
“I’m gonna end this Joker business once and for all” he said placing his hand
on the butler’s shoulder.
Alfred met his gaze and Tony’s stubbornness was shaken but the billionaire
choked any doubt.
“He’ll be safe here, Alfred.”
 
Dick was leading the way through the empty corridors of Arkham; both boys were
walking hunched in order to not be caught by the cameras.
“Don’t ya think that somethin’ very bizarre takes place her’?”
Dick turned his head to him.
“We’re in Arkham Asylum: what did you expect?”
“I mean, it’s like there’s no life in her’, man…No guards, no doctors, no
loonies, not even goons…It’s creepy, man…”
Dick chuckled to hide his own fear.
“Maybe we’ll see a ghost in the next corner…” he snorted.
Suddenly, both boys stopped on their heels.
“Voices…” Dick whispered and gestured to Jason to go closer.
It was the lounge room: a huge space consisted of the cafeteria and the
recreation room where the built-in TV was open broadcasting cartoons. The boys
squatted under the big window on the side wall and looked carefully inside;
Jason chuckled seeing the cartoons but Dick hushed him.
Joker stood there among his goons some of them wore the orange uniforms of the
asylum’s inmates while others wore custom clothes and clown masks. Dick gritted
his teeth and clenched the gun ready to burst inside but Jason held his upper
arm determined.
“They’ll catch ya if ya go now…it’s better to wait for the party to begin; in
the fuss ya’ll go unnoticed.”
Dick nodded and relaxed turning to look inside.
Suddenly, another person appeared in the room in front of Joker causing the
goons’ panic and their leader’s wicked smirk.
Dick and Jason exchanged surprised looks.
“Thor!” Dick whispered and Jason lolled his head.
“It seems ya won’t get yar chance after all, mate…”
“Thoooooor, hooooow niiice you decided to hoooonor us with your presence.”
The blond god’s face was tense; his jaw clenched so much unlike his usual mild
demeanor. He fisted his hammer which was emitting sparkles reflecting its
master’s mood.
“Cut the crap! I know who you really are…What are you up to, Loki?”
The goons looked at their leader and despite the fact they had the masks on it
was easy to tell that they were goggling. Joker burst into laughter that was
like a cackle and not Joker’s usual giggle.
“Boss?” one of the goons asked confused.
And then Joker snapped his fingers and the goons collapsed to the floor.
Dick and Jayson goggled as Joker became someone else: a man with long black
straight hair that fell around his thin face; he had slightly pointy ears and
nose and he was staring intensely at Thor with a sarcastic glint. He was
dressed in dark green leather stockings and a dark green long vest.
“What the fuck?!” Jason exclaimed before Dick hushed him hastily. “Elves go for
Gotham now?!” he continued in a exasperated whisper.
“Shsssssss!”
Thor narrowed his eyes and shook his head.
“Finally I got you!” the blond god said.
 
“Sel, I see the Asylum – in less than a minute I’m in” Tony in Ironman’s armor
informed Selina. “And police is on the way.”
He had decided that he needed the speed of his own armor if he wanted to get
Joker. Enough with Bruce’s obsession with secrecy games.
Selina frowned.
“What about Bruce?”
“He is safe…” he said cold as he began descending to the Asylum’s eerily quiet
yard.
“I’m coming” Selina said, feeling that something serious had happened but now
 wasn’t the time to discuss it.
 
“You, brother? Got me?” the raven haired god chuckled shaking his head. “You
were always so arrogant, Thor!” he said strutting around him with his hands
behind his back.
“What are you up to taking Joker’s form? Where is he?”
Loki touched his ear the way newscasters did when hearing something from the
control room
“Control room just informs me…Oh! How touching! Ironman is here!” he smirked
fixing his wickedly glimmering eyes on Thor whose face tensed in suspicion.
“You brought your people here? What have you done this time, Loki?”
Loki stretched his arms horizontally and yanked his head upwards.
“You and your genius” he uttered sarcastically the ‘genius’ “friend are so
predictable” he sniggered. “Even a lunatic like Joker knows your every
movement.”
Dick and Jason were gaping at the scene holding their breaths.
Thor was fuming and his hand grabbed his hammer; Loki chuckled amused.
“You know, brother: strength is soooooo weak before wits…” he lolled his head
on the side. “Where can Joker be when his darling, Bruce is not here?”
Thor’s eyes bulged.
“Joker is going to attack the Manor!” he exclaimed as Ironman entered the room
having opened the window breaching its codes.
 Dick and Jason exchanged horrified looks.
Tony was astonished by Loki’s presence there yet as soon as he heard Thor
saying those few words everything became a fog around him: Bruce was
unconscious in the Manor and Joker had again Loki’s help – those two had
attacked the Avengers’ Tower, they could do the same with the Manor.
“Jarvis, call Alfred!” he barked already turning towards the window to take off
back to the Manor.
“I’m sorry, sir; I can’t connect with the Manor.”
AI’s reply came exactly at the moment Tony saw that the window had closed.
“Find Steve!” he shouted fuming as Loki laughed with his agonizing efforts.
Thor however didn’t stand to watch; he turned towards the window ready to fly
to the Manor only to collide hard on an invisible and unyielding wall.
“Watch where your step, bro!” Loki cackled and Thor stormed at him catching
only thin air as the mischievous god vanished reappearing sat on the cafeteria
buffet.
“I’m afraid, sir, that I can’t find Mr. Rogers – something blocks my calls.”
Loki whistled to the air playing the innocent.
“I block the calls; you can’t defeat my magic, Stark – neither do you, bro” his
smirk and his gaze leaked triumph and irony.
Dick turned to Jason.
“They can’t get out of the room – we must warn Wayne!”
Jason nodded and they began running towards the back exit from where they had
come in. Suddenly as they turned the curve to the door they bumped on something
and Dick panicked remembered the gun he was still holding. He pointed at their
obstacle only to be kicked in the hand losing the gun.
“You shouldn’t play with such toys, boy…” a sly sensual voice told him.
Dick and Jason goggled at the gorgeous leather clad body of Catwoman who was
frowning at them.
“This isn’t a place for puppies! Beat it before I spank you!”
Jason slapped his face to wake his numb mind.
“Joker isn’t her’!” he pointed with his hand at the lounge room. “Joker’s gonna
attack the Manor!”
Catwoman’s eyes widened and she felt sweat showering her body.
“What?!”
Dick rubbed unconsciously his hand realizing that the kick wasn’t as strong as
Catwoman could hit.
“Some Loki guy is there with Thor and Stark and has the room locked with magic
or something…He told them that Joker…” Dick said with one breath.
But Catwoman didn’t need to hear more.
“Let’s go!” she said and ran to the exit as police sirens get closer.
 
Thor lifted his Mjolnir threateningly; his teeth were gritted as he glared at
his brother.
“Loki, this isn’t funny…” he hissed.
Loki placed his hands on his open knees and looked his brother in the eyes.
“For once I agree with you, bro…This isn’t funny – real fun is on the way!”
Tony’s heart was drumming in his head and he just couldn’t stand that fucking
god throwing up bullshit while Bruce was exposed to Joker. He clenched his jaw
and stormed at him using the momentum from his boots.
Loki pouted and feigned the scared but at the last second before Ironman
grabbed his neck he vanished with a puff leaving only his snigger echoing in
the empty space.
“See ya, suckers!” he exclaimed and a hand giving the finger appeared in the
air.
“Fuck you, sonovabitch!” Tony roared. “Jarvis, can you overcome whatever the
motherfucker did? I want to get out, damn it!”
“I’m trying, sir; I also try to contact the Manor or Mr. Rogers.”
Thor was throwing himself to the wall trying to break it, growling.
“Move over!” Ironman spat and as soon as the god obeyed he launched every
weapon he had on the wall. To no avail. “Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!” he shouted with
increased volume as his despair mounted.
Thor grabbed his comrade’s stretched hand.
“Tony, stop! It’s no use…we have to wait. Tony jerked his hand.
“I can’t wait!” Ironman spat.
“Do not panic: Bruce can defend himself and the Manor is his castle.”
Tony deactivated his face plate to take some air feeling choking; he ran his
fingers in his wet hair.
“He is unconscious, Thor” the god’s eyes widened and Tony licked his lips. “I
stunned him to stop him from coming here thinking that I was protecting him!”
Thor stared at the floor in loss for words…what had Tony done? He still
couldn’t believe it yet he couldn’t let his friend blaming only himself.
“Tony, do not blame yourself: it’s my fault Loki did this – if haven’t shown
interest in Bruce Loki wouldn’t…”
“Stop the consoling, okay!”
 
Alfred was in the kitchen preparing some soup for the dinner. Master Bruce
would certainly need some after the effect of Master Anthony’s stunning beam
was over. However he doubted that the young man would have any mood for food
after that.
He sighed and turned his eyes to the ceiling: he didn’t want to imagine the
ramifications of what Master Anthony did to their friendship. He just hoped
that everything would go as planned and then the two youths would find a way to
overcome this.
The phone in the salon rang and Alfred wiped his hands in a towel and pressed
the button in the square shaped panel on the wall next to the built in black
fridge to answer.
“Wayne Manor, may I help you?”
“Alfred…”
The butler recognized Master Richard’s voice: the boy sounded upset, in agony,
out of breath; also, he could hear what seemed like the roaring of a running
motorcycle.
“Master Richard, where are you? Master Bruce is worried.”
“Alfred, Joker is coming…We called the police…” he had seen Catwoman trying to
call someone else but he hadn’t made out whom and from her frustration Dic
could tell that she didn't find him/her.
Suddenly, a deafening bang shook the building and Alfred’s eyes widened as his
legs already headed out of the kitchen forgetting to end the dial.
“Master Bruce…”
 
“Sir, I think that now the wall will subside.”
Tony pointed the inside of his palm to the wall and Thor did the same with the
Mjolnir; the blow was deafening but the wall finally collapsed. The two
Avengers took off flying desperately towards the Palisades as police officers
stormed inside the building – Tony knew already that doctors and patients were
safely locked in their sections.
“Master Anthony” Jarvis’ voice was a bit upset and that was bad news “Avengers’
Tower is under attack…”
“Again?!” Tony growled and Thor stopped in midair looking at him perplexed.
“Actually, the entire New York city downtown is under attack. Mr. Fury has
already called the Avengers: Dr. Banner is on his way; Captain America and Ms.
Romanov too.”
Tony felt his blood drumming throughout his body.
“Go!” He said to Thor. “I’ll go to Bruce.”
“No! If Loki’s magic helps Joker you’ll need me.”
“Master Anthony, Wayne Manor is breached.”
***** Chapter 66 *****
Chapter Summary
     No animal was abused during the writing of this chapter...
A huge hole stood where the big rectangular window of the master’s bedroom used
to be; dust and particles of debris hovered thick in the air around.
Hero stood from his perch on Bruce’s chest and arched his back in defensive-
aggressive stance; his hairs were stretched and his tail erect.
“Iiiiiit’s great to haaaave the right pals!”
Among the dust cloud a form was distinct baring an arrogant stance but then his
foot found a piece of debris and he slipped a bit.
“Stuuuuupid brick!” he snapped and regained his posture fixing his hair and
slipping his hand inside his chest in an imitation of Napoleon. “I came, I saw,
I conquered!” he said gruffly but then pulled his Napoleon hand out and
scratched his hair. “Thaaaaat was Julius Caesar” he shook his head. “Never
mind…” he waved that off.
He walked away from the pile of dusty debris shaking his head in frustration
and stretching his arms.
“Wheeeere’s my weeeeelcome committee? Such a dramatic entrance and nooooo
applause?” he lolled his head and rolled his eyes.
But then his eyes fell on the bed and widened seeing Bruce sleeping peacefully;
he rushed there his purple jacket waving behind him.
“Nooooow…this is the beeeeeest welcome!” he licked his lips like a hungry wolf
travelling Bruce’s body with his eyes.
Hero’s eyes flashed seeing the man goggling at his human and he hissed angrier
than ever in his life.
Joker lolled his head and looked at the kitten intrigued.
“Brucie’s kitten? Brucie’s husband – niiiiiice to meet you” he stretched his
hand for a handshake but the kitten hissed again and jumped on him digging its
nails to his cheek.
Joker grabbed the kitten and after much struggle and several scratches held him
in front of him smiling.
“New scaaaaars? Thank youuuuu, pal! But now I must reunite with my wife…”
He let the animal on the floor but Hero instantly climbed the bed and hissed at
Joker who had just sat on the chair beside the bed. The jester rolled his eyes
and shook his head which was the only thing he managed to do before the kitten
attacked his neck stabbing his claws.
“Take that beast ooooooff me!” he shouted angrily and his goons who just
entered through the hole in the wall rushed to him.
Hero wasn’t willing to let the jester and the goons struggled to take him from
their boss; once they managed to detach him the animal attacked them with his
claws ripping their clown masks.
Joker giggled touching the deep bleeding wounds on his neck.
“Heheheheheeeeee! The littl’ one is touuuugh!” his eyes fell on Bruce “how
fitting…”
“Boss, ya want me to kill it?” Bags Bunny asked Joker pointing his gun at the
kitten that hissed and struggled in the hands of a third goon.
Joker smirked.
“Only if youuuuu want to die next…I never kill animals…” he lolled his head on
the side thoughtful “except than those bats buuuuut they were defiling Gotham’s
sky”. Then he became dead serious “and this fella is Brucie’s kitten…Put him in
the bathroom and close the door before he eats you alive – HEHEHEHEHEEEEEE!”
the goon moved towards the bathroom fighting to avoid Hero’s sharp claws and
teeth. “Now soooome priiiiiivacy, boys…Cloooose your eyes” he stared at them
shaking his index finger warningly “nooooo cheatin’ – I can seeeeee under the
mask…” he couldn’t but his lads were so stupid that would believe that.
He sat again and gazed at Bruce’s calm, peaceful face admiring the way the air
left so feathery his lips.
“My Sleeping Beauty…an’ I’m your Priiiiiiince Charming…” he giggled. “I was
wrong ‘bout gooooood oooool’ Tony: he wanted us together all
along…Heheheheeee!”
He leaned above Bruce’s face and brought his lips a breath away from Bruce’s.
“Mmm…Cinnamon…Ugh!” he jerked his head nervously. “I missed that smell sooooo
much! Grrrrrrr!”
He surged at Bruce’s lips and captured them greedily.
“Get away from him!”
Joker half closed his eyes frustrated and turned towards the door from where
the voice was heard. He licked his lips and lolled his head on the side eyeing
Bruce’s butler who was holding a silver handgun that shone in the twilight; he
was pointing at him with his finger tight around the trigger.
“You’re mmm… inter—rupting – I forgot to put the ‘doooon’t disturuurb’ sign on
the door, huh?” Joker said calm but suddenly lolled his head on the side “what
do ya use to pooolish your guuun – my blaaades need some of thatttt…” he yanked
his head “youuu see we’re in a tender moment here: where’s your English
manners?”
Alfred gritted his teeth.
“Kept for gentlemen! Your hands off of Master Bruce!”
Joker pouted and cocked an eyebrow sighing.
“That’s a baaaaad father in law! Ugh! The dangers of marriage life…” he cast a
glare at Alfred “you want me to believe that you will risk Brucie’s life by
shooting me?”
The goons were watching agitated.
Alfred’s blue eyes were completely still in icy determination. He pressed
smoothly the trigger and Joker jerked feeling a burning at his shoulder, the
bullet sinking on the wall only an inch away from him. The jester whistled
awed.
“Ohhhhhhh!” he exclaimed pursing his lips. “I think that myyyyy daddy has some
skeletons in his closet…” his face stretched in a Cheshire smile among Hero’s
bleeding scratches. “Eeeenough is enough though…”
Alfred barely saw the flash that was coming at him realizing that it was a
blade only when it was too late to avoid it. It was obvious that the blade
didn’t aim at his heart but he was ready for the pain. However he pressed the
trigger again hoping that at least would hit the jester.
His surprise was overwhelming for two reasons simultaneously: his bullet
bounced off Joker as if meeting an invisible barrier and the blade that was an
inch from his upper arm was deflected with a clang. The butler followed the
blade to the floor and saw an arrow having pierced the metal.
When he raised his eyes in front of the dusty pile of debris stood a man
dressed like Robin Hood; his bow’s cord was still trembling from the arrows
that after the one who hit the blade launched to hit the goons who had fallen
on the floor screaming. Alfred felt encouraged.
“Away from him!” the green clad man said sharply to Joker.
But the jester giggled not afraid at all.
“Oh! Robin! How niiiiiice you joined us! I knew it wasn’t going to be
boooooring” he shook his head “I expected Brucie-action but anyway…You think
that you can scaaaare me ooooff with your littl’ arrows?” he cackled. “By the
way I kept your last one: great piece for my collection.”
Arrow’s goatteed jaw clenched in disgust and without any hesitation he let the
arrow in his bow leave with a gracious motion aiming at the jester’s heart.
Alfred hated violence but in this case he was willing to forgive it since only
a minute ago he had fired as well. His eyes bulged.
Arrow narrowed his eyes: there was no way this could happen…His arrow had
bounced and landed on Joker’s feet who began hopping and gesturing as if he had
scored in the pitch.
“I loooooooove it, babe! Nothin’ like a god proteeeeectin’ you!” he stopped his
bubbling abruptly taking a serious expression “Now, I love your company, guys,
but I got to goooooo…” he leaned above Bruce and put his arms under his body.
“Don’t touch him!” the Arrow roared and a flood of arrows flew at Joker ending
up on the carpet.
“No!” Alfred yelled understanding the jester’s intention.
Joker turned his head to them as the Arrow ground his teeth and surged at him –
Alfred doing the same.
“Sorry, guys, I’d like to plaaaaay more but I have a honeymoon to atteeeend!”
The Arrow clashed with the invisible shield that protected Joker and felt the
barrier yielding; he was ready to snap the clown’s neck but suddenly the jester
vanished taking with him Bruce.
Tony and Thor landed in the room through the gaping hole; the billionaire had
eyes for nothing except the bed where he laid his sedated friend. Thor despite
his compassion for Tony and his own sadness noticed Arrow’s presence. Although
the man’s face was cast under the shadow of his hood his eyes flashed like
lightning in rage and his jaw was clenched. It wasn’t difficult for Thor to
understand that the man couldn’t accept the fact that he was defeated and what
made his frustration greater was that Bruce was taken because of his failure.
Without looking at anyone Arrow rushed at the broken wall and outside to vanish
into the twilight.
Tony aware of Alfred’s sad, blank eyes rushed to the empty bed; the face plate
deactivated as he touched the still warm mattress.
“No…” he mumbled. “No!” he shouted furious with himself.
 
Fury was leaned above the central control panel of the Tower which covered the
entire wall of the management room. His face was collected but his only eye
shone with determination as he was watching the agents trying to regain control
of the Tower’s complicated operational systems. Maria Hill was one of the
agents who struggled to overcome the unknown factor that blocked their access.
His gaze went to the huge screen that was built-in to the wall at the right;
footage from New York’s downtown was projected: people screaming and running
trying to take cover in buildings and alleys; abandoned cars that had crashed
on fireplugs creating columns of rushing water; other cars screamed trying to
speed up to escape from the area.
It was odd that the person that took control of the Tower left the screen
working; he smirked. Not that odd…The bastard wanted them to watch as green
clad human-like creatures chased and attacked people in the city where the
Avengers had their headquarters.
Fury was consoled from the fact that he at least managed to communicate with
the Avengers before the unknown factor blocked any in and outcoming calls; even
though he couldn’t have any feedback from them he was sure that they were on
their way there.
Maria turned her head to Fury.
“Stark could help here; is his baby after all…”
“I’m afraid he is preoccupied with other things right now…” a sly voice that
didn’t belong to anyone of Fury’s agents answered.
Fury turned rapidly with his black firearm pointing at the intruder and the
agents that were fumbling with the control panel followed their superior’s
move. S.H.I.E.L.D.’s vice director frowned: the man was dressed in dark green
leggings and tunic; a long leather vest embroidered with gold waved at his
sides. He wore some kind of helmet made from gold with long curved horns
beginning from the back and ending at front. His forearms and upper arms were
covered with golden plates.
Silence fell on the hall but for the low humming of the machines. Fury knew
that his agents despite brave and courageous were shocked from their guest who
stared at them smirking, his sneaky eyes sparkled gleeful making his narrow
framed by his black hair face look like an old sketch of playful, mischief
demons.
“Who are you?” Fury spat in his cold, rough voice completely undeterred.
Their uninvited guest rolled his eyes and began strolling at the hall as if it
was his home.
“You’re not the smartest block in town, huh?” he said turning his head to Fury.
“Hello?!” he stretched his arms horizontally and showed his clothes with his
eyes. “What my attire say to you about my identity? And the fact I popped up in
the most secure” he chuckled “not so secure” he jeered “building in the world?”
Fury cocked an eyebrow smirking.
“That you’re a nut job conjurer with bad taste in clothes…” he snapped and the
stranger laughed.
“Nice, Fury, charming…Finally, I see how you made my brother join your petty
team.”
“Your brother?” Fury narrowed his eye.
Loki yanked his head backwards sighing and touched his horns for emphasis.
“Made in Asgard – all rights reserved” he cackled and then pouted. “You’re not
laughing? Mortals don’t have humor…”
“Thor’s brother…” agent Hill said and their guest bowed.
“Clever girl! Now, you’ll get bonus points if you say my name” but as nobody in
the room said anything, he shook his head exasperated and raised his hands.
“Okay, I’m not a star right now but I’m making my dynamic breakthrough
appearance. Well, ladies and gentlemen, I’m Loki  Laufeyjarson – for the
enemies, just Loki.”
He looked around.
“It’s nice to see the place again…”
Fury frowned.
“Joker’s attack. You helped him overcome the building’s defenses. What do you
want? World domination?”
Loki crooked his mouth in dislike.
“It sounds too mundane for someone like me…” Fury frowned and Loki smiled. “And
now, ladies and gentlemen, I’m sorry to part with your delightful company but I
need to watch the show from a better place” he tapped his index to his bottom
lip “Stark’s apartment on the top floor: I don’t think he’ll bother…I suggest
you stop trying overcome my magic which” he cocked his eyebrows smugly “is
impossible and watch the show” he gestured to the screen. “See ya!”
“Back to your work!” Fury barked as soon as Loki vanished. “We must take back
the Tower!”
“The control hall is locked” Maria said. “We can’t get the bastard!”
Fury looked at his agents calm and determined.
“We’ll overcome his conjures and then we’ll teach him a lesson!”
 
“What happened, Alfred?” Thor asked since he was seeing that Tony wasn’t in a
state to ask.
Alfred didn’t react for a few seconds but then he regained his collected
demeanor and looked at the blond god.
“I received a phone call from Master Richard that Joker was going to attack the
Manor and then I heard a loud bang and the whole building shook. I ran
immediately to Master bedroom” he cast a glance at the gun he was still holding
“no, pardon me, sir, first I went to my bedroom to collect my gun. When I
entered the Master bedroom Joker was…” he inhaled deeply “touching his lips to
Master Bruce’s lips…”
Thor bit his bottom lip hearing that and Tony listening through a long tunnel
closed his eyes imagining that scene with his mind’s eyes: it was his fault.
“I shot him” Alfred continued “and the first time it scrapped him but the
second bullet bound off of him; even Mr. Arrow’s…well, arrow bounced, as if he
had an invisible shield around him. And then when we both realized that our
weapons wouldn’t manage anything we surged at him but he…he put his hands
around Master Bruce’s body and just disappeared” he gulped as elegantly as
possible. “I don’t understand how on earth he managed to breach the Manor’s
security and then why our weapons couldn’t touch him…and the disappearing…”
Thor gulped.
“Loki, one of the Asgardian gods, helps him…He is my…let’s say brother. I’m
sorry, Alfred” he placed his hand on the butler’s shoulder who shook his head.
“Is not your fault, Master Thor…” and then he suddenly remembered and narrowed
his eyes. “Master Hero was with Master Bruce…Good Lord! He can’t be dead…”
Thor however registered some strange sounds from the bathroom and rushed there.
He opened the door and the angry kitten stormed outside his claws already armed
from scratching the door; Hero ran to his Master’s bed and climbed. Upon not
seeing his human he began sniffing desperate and both Alfred and Thor looked at
the animal sad.
“He is taken, buddy…” Tony mumbled and petted the kitten’s head. “But I swear
I’ll bring him back.”
Tony in his numbness heard the pained groans of Joker’s goons that were left
behind. His face distorted in rage, he turned on his heels and stormed at them
grabbing the first slumped form. He lifted him and gritted his teeth to his
scared face since his clown mask had fallen.
“Where did Joker take Bruce?!” he shouted. “Speak or I’ll rip your filthy guts,
motherfucker!”
The goon began shaking: he was already in pain from the arrow that was stabbed
to his upper arm and the blood loss made things worse. He shook his head.
“I…I swear…I don’t know…he didn’t tell anythin’.”
Tony had no patience to repeat his question; he punched the man with his iron
glove and left him with broken nose on the floor. He grabbed another trembling
goon and lifted him to the air with one hand clenching his throat.
“Where has Joker gone?!” he tightened his grip and the man’s eyes bulged as the
loss of air made him cough. He opened his mouth to say something but Tony
brought his other hand in front of his face with his nano missiles launcher
opening with a low humming. “In your place I’d think twice what I’ll say: if I
don’t like the answer my missiles will melt your ugly pan!” the lack of his
face plate wasn’t diminishing the threatening impression.
The man tried to gulp but Tony clenched more his throat gritting his teeth.
“Speak, you sonovabitch!”
“Master Anthony” Alfred tried to reason with him as the launcher rattled ready
to fire.
The goon looked at the Englishman silently begging yet Tony didn’t relent
neither gave any indication that he had heard Alfred’s appeal.
“Speak! I’m counting to three: 1, 2…”
Thor grabbed his armed hand and lowered it; Tony glared at him without letting
the goon.
“Stay out of this, Asgardian!”
Tony’s blazing black eyes collided with Thor’s calm baby blues.
“I’m doing what Bruce would want me to do: stop you before you do something
you’ll regret.”
“I won’t regret!”
He jerked his hand to free it but Thor was unyielding.
“Think Bruce, Tony…” Tony blinked nervously. “Joker would never have told
anything to his goons – let them to the police.”
A new pair of feet rushed inside from the open door; a panting respiration
broke the tension.
“Where’s Bruce?!” Catwoman’s slightly alienated voice demanded. “Every security
measure is down! Why are you all here?!”
Her manic eyes scanned the room: the whole in the exterior wall, the writhing
goons, the blood on the carpet, Hero rubbing his head desperately to the
mattress.
“Why are you in the Master’s bedroom?” and then it dawned to her: Bruce’s
absence from Arkham Asylum, Tony’s tone when he told her that Bruce wasn’t
coming.
She marched to Tony, her eyes sending daggers. Ironman let the goon fall from
his hand literally paralyzed from the sight of the angry cat.
“What have you done to him?” she hissed.
Alfred made to hold her upper arms soothingly but Catwoman jerked them away.
“He wanted to meet Strange at the Asylum and I sedated him; I brought him here
before I left; Joker found him unconscious” Ironman admitted.
Catwoman’s eyes widened, icy cold; she raised her hand and struck him in the
face. Tony let his head loll to the side: he deserved that.
Two pair of feet invaded the room and the two panting respirations stopped
abruptly taking in the condition of the room. Both Dick and Jason looked
stunned at Catwoman and Ironman not understanding. Dick turned his gaze to
Alfred’s pale face and then at the bed where Hero was purring sniffing his gone
human’s perfume: the boy rushed there and hugged the distraught animal, Jason
following giving some kicks to the goons on the floor.
“Master Anthony, the situation in New York has escalated”
The AI projected a hologram showing the chaos in the roads around Avengers’
Tower: people screaming and running panicked as human-like soldiers with odd
machine guns shot at will at buildings and people the rattling of the shooting
creating more panic.
“Dr. Banner, Captain America and Black Widow are almost there and calling you.”
Tony’s eyes were still locked with Catwoman’s, apologizing and urging her to
punish him more but Thor broke their silent confrontation.
“Tony, they need us…”
“Bruce needs me too!”
“Get the Hell out of here!” Catwoman spat. “Gotham is my city and you’re
useless!” she stormed at the window and jumped outside.
Police sirens filled the grounds and tires were heard stopping abruptly.
Thor looked again at his comrade and Tony lowered his head a second before the
face plate covered it. Both Avengers flew outside.
 
Loki stood before the whole wall window in Tony Stark’s leaving room at the top
floor of Avengers’ Tower. He had his hands behind his back and enjoyed the
view: not the city’s breathtaking skyline that sparkled in the twilight but
what was taking place down on the street and the surrounding area. The fact
that he was a god helped a lot to that because a human couldn’t be able to have
such range.
The roads that crossed before the Tower where among the most bustling so that
time of the day they were washed by all kinds of multicolored lights:
billboards, shops’ headlights, internal lighting of the surrounding
skyscrapers, public lightings. And all this light illustrated more the action;
the chaos underneath.
His army of humanoids marched icy cold through the streets and fired with their
unseen before firearms causing refreshed shrieks of panic and running – some
people were falling as they collided with others. Cars’ horns added to the
whole chaotic impression accompanied with the eerie sound of screeching tires,
crashing and broken glass. Police officers ran around trying to guide citizens
away from the fire or shooting at the attacking horde.
“And that’s all about Avengers…Tomorrow the world will be laughing at you.
Where are you, Thor? Still pulled by your dick?”
Suddenly, something caught his eye: in one corner, two of his soldiers were
launched in the air and where they stood till then a shapely woman in dark blue
skin tight attire looked around her with determined eyes.
“Get her…” Loki mumbled indifferently knowing that his order echoed in the
heads of his soldiers.
Humanoids from every corner ran to her closing in; Natasha eyed them amused.
They swarmed at her but then a flash ripped the air and half the humanoids were
swept away; Natasha continued kicking their opponents and Captain America
grabbed his shield that returned to him and sure that his comrade could handle
them ran to the other side where a cluster of them were shooting the front
windows of a café to attack the customers and the people who had found refuge
there.
Captain America launched himself and fell on them with his legs united,
crushing them to the sidewalk; he immediately stood to his feet and began
punching them swiftly.
Loki nodded satisfied.
“The team is gathering…Nice. Let’s make the show more captivating” he snapped
his fingers smirking wickedly.
Natasha and Steve had just knocked out their last opponents running to face
others when loud thuds lie from heavy footsteps drew their attention. Both
looked north.
A herd of some kind of animals was running frantically at them; at first they
weren’t clearly visible but when under the lights, the two Avengers saw beasts
they haven’t seen before.
They looked like rhinos only they were light brown with iron covering their
backs, chests and heads; from the top of their nose protruded a long, curved
gold horn while lower a smaller straight silver horn stack out. Their eyes were
human shaped except they were yellow, flashing like lamps; their nostrils and
mouths emitted fume that in the cold air formed crystals.
People from their covering in stores and behind bins saw and began screaming,
some of them blinded by their panic ran for it causing the animals chasing.
“Someone is a Lord of the Rings fan” Fury commented dryly casting a glance at
the screen while hitting the hall’s door with his shoulder along with two other
agents.
Captain America looked at Natasha, new humanoids attacking them from everywhere
while the beasts targeted the scared people.
Loki lolled his head on the side.
“What? Have you lost your color?”
Steve tossed his shield to the legs of a beast that was ready to stab his horns
to a woman pushing it a few feet away. He made to run closer but several
humanoids fell on him. Natasha was also fighting with a bunch of them hitting
with everything she had.
“Tough job, huh?” Loki mumbled through his smirk.
Steve jerked upwards roaring pushing off of him the humanoids that held him; he
began running towards the attacking beasts throwing again his shield to one and
jumping on the back of another punching it trying to knocked it out or kill it
but its armor was very strong.
It took him several punches to finally yield the beast but he saw with horror
that the beasts had hit some people.
“Damn!”
He dismounted from the slumped beast as some policemen tried to lead the people
to safety; Steve threw his shield against two beasts at once but a flock of
them was already heading frantically at him; he grabbed his shield that
returned to him. He could jump off their way but they would hit the policemen
that led citizens away. He tossed his shield at the feet of the beasts at the
front but their stampede was such that the following beasts jumped over them
ready to tread on Steve.
Natasha saw her comrade’s tough situation and made to run to him but humanoids
surrounded her.
“Now we’re talking!” Loki’s smiled became even broader.
A roar shook New York’s downtown as the sound of gigantic feet made everything
tremble more than the running beasts. Steve and Natasha both looked up waiting
a new calamity. But Loki turned his narrowed eyes there too.
A green giant half naked with torn pants covering half of his things showed his
teeth and stormed at the herd of rhinos that were a breath from squashing Steve
who cleverly jumped away attacking with his landing a group of Loki’s soldiers.
Hulk’s enormous fists began hammering the beasts sending them to hit at walls
smashing glass and cement.
“So the green giant is here…” Loki said and snapped his fingers.
More humanoids flooded the street chasing police officers and citizens firing
at will right and left. Some of them shot with flamethrowers burning cars and
bins but thanks to the police and the National guard no human.
Steve and Natasha moved to meet each other knocking out every enemy that stood
before them. Hulk was growling at the odd beasts grabbing one by the leg and
using it as a bat to knock the others clearing the field.
A nightmarish sound as if thousand wolves howled at once cracked the battle
field and the two Avengers looked at the sky: a giant black cloud covered the
area; a cloud that different colored waves crossed it as if something was
stirring inside. And indeed the cloud parted and jet like objects with shark-
like fronts flooded the evening sky.
“You’re kidding!” Natasha exclaimed exasperated before surging at a group of
humanoids. “What’s this?” she asked Steve who was also fighting with several
men. “Who’s doing it and why?”
 
Ironman and Thor were yards from New York’s Downtown; Tony was both watching
the battle field in front of the Tower and trying to find a way to regain
control over the building’s systems
“Loki’s ability in magic is great” Thor said his face tight listening to the
echo of the battle.
“And I’m a genius!” Ironman spat but instantly he remembered what had just
happened in Gotham and his guts clenched. “And I hate magic!”
They both knew that Loki’s magic took down every security measure in Wayne
Manor permitting Joker to enter and escape; otherwise Arrow and Alfred would
have stopped him.
“What is this?” Thor asked frowned hearing the mixed sound of jets and roaring.
“Planes with jaws” Tony said nonchalant “and Hulk is having a party with some
rhinos. Captain and Natasha are fist fighting as usual. Let’s save the day!”
Ironman’s heels emitted fires as he surged forward and Thor followed clenching
Mjolnir and his jaw.
“I want Loki alive!” Ironman shouted and launched a purple beam that sent the
first black jet-shark he saw to crash in the ocean the same time as Thor waved
his hammer launching thunders at a group of humanoids that had surrounded
citizens ready to shoot them.
Loki smiled devilishly seeing the new arrivals.
“Time to smash them all…” he nodded and the black cloud filled with dark green
waves breaking the cloud to release Loki’s army: hundreds of men and women
dressed as their leader – but without the glimmering gold - holding machine
guns and axes began descending with parachutes.
 
The few remaining reporters in the press room of the Dialy Planet’s building
had gathered around one desk and watched awed the events that were taking place
right now at New York.
“It’s a handy coincidence Mary is at New York these days” Perry said. “Who is
attacking? What he wants?”
“He must be really powerful to manage to breach Avengers’ Tower and unleash all
these creatures.”
Clark who was watching leaning above his colleagues remembered that night in
the same building when Joker attacked; it was obvious that the madman then was
assisted by the same who was launching the attack now. Bruce had saved the day
then…he lowered his eyes thoughtful on the memory of the brave human.
The ring of his smart phone startled not only him but also his colleagues.
Clark smiled uncomfortable and back stepped out of the reporters’ space to the
corridor because this ringtone was Lois’.
“What are you doing?” his friend almost screamed to him outraged.
Clark pushed his glasses with his finger.
“I’m at Planet,right now.”
“Exactly! What’s wrong with you, farm boy? You forget who are you? You should
be in New York right now helping people!”
“The Avengers are handling the situation.”
Lois growled.
“What do you have in your head?! Kryptonite?! People are in danger: some are
already injured or dead and you say that Avengers are handling it?!” Clark
shook his head. “Don’t shake your head and get your Kryptonian butt there!
UFO!”
“Okay, Lois; you’re right” he inhaled. “Are you heading to New York?”
“No, we have a situation in Gotham. Some attack at Arkham – I’m there right now
and from what I hear something else has happened. I’m gonna find out. Are you
still standing there?! Move!”
She closed abruptly and Clark rushed to the elevator pressing the rooftop
button; he jumped out and ripped his clothes revealing Superman’s attire. He
took off heading to New York but he had barely reached Metropolis’ limits when
he stopped abruptly.
Diana hovered before him with her arms crossed over the chest. Her face was
stern.
“Where are you going, Kal El?”
“New York, come with me, they need us.”
She cocked her eyebrows.
“I don’t think so…” she said with conviction and Superman frowned.
“What do you mean?” he asked gloom. “People are in danger.”
“If they did want you there they would have asked for your help. Their
selfishness doesn’t let them ask for your help so their arrogance must be
squashed once and for all. And if you appear there uninvited they will accuse
you for trying to intervene in their affairs intending to undermine them: all
these petty things are beyond your greatness, Kal El.”
Superman met her gaze: she was right, he had experienced Stark’s arrogance and
egoism and his hatred certainly would find an excuse to insult Superman for
interfering with their business.
“But people are in danger.”
Diana smiled.
“Let them handle it: it is their responsibility if they don’t ask for your
assistance. They should have thought the people there but they didn’t for the
sake of their arrogance. We’ll wait and if they ask our help we’ll gladly give
it to them. But if they don’t, the fault for what happens will be only theirs
and it will show humans who is their real, their true hero and protector.”
Superman pressed his lips indecisive: the cries from New York clenched his guts
but Diana had a point.
She stood before him and looked deep in his eyes and Superman felt numb, every
other concern obliterated.
“You know I’m right…” she kissed him.
 
Thor landed with such force that he pushed away Natasha’s opponents sending
with Mjolnir twirling thunders to neutralize a group of attackers that was
firing at the national guards who had taken cover behind a pile of crushed cars
shooting the invaders.
Ironman was attacking simultaneously two different craft-sharks blasting them
to pieces over the battle field. As he was flying to meet more of these bizarre
aircrafts he was helping his comrades sending laser and bullets to Loki’s
soldiers with Jarvis constant updates about the battle.
Hulk was still struggling with the frantic beasts; some of them had run away
from him smashing a store’s front window, rushing inside and threatening people
that had found refuge there. The green giant with fast and wide strides reached
the store and made a spectacular jolt and dive to fall on the back of a beast
knocking it out with a punch on the forehead; instantly he used the massive
body as a catapult to hit the rest of the animals one by one propelling them
out of the store. The people inside who had covered behind the counter looked
awed at the giant who was taming the beasts.
Ironman was blasting Loki’s soldiers during their descent butt they were so
many and he had the crafts to worry too, so hundreds of them managed to land.
“How on Hell did Loki gather all these shit?!” Tony snapped.
“Master Anthony, Mr. Fury and his agents managed to break out of the control
room.”
“How?”
“I don’t know, sir, but it seems that your warm found a way to breach the wall
that was blocking access to the building’s systems.”
“Can you locate Loki?”
“He is in your apartment, sir.”
“The motherfucker! Defiles my space!”
He wanted nothing more than to storm there and rip this guy in pieces but he
couldn’t abandon his comrades who were fighting what looked like endless
opponents.
Suddenly, dozens of soldiers were tossed to the air forming a line towards
Steve who among his opponents squinted to make out what was that red flash
approaching him; his enemies fell on him but he pushed them off of him and the
red flash finished the job with punches that were so rapid that escaped the
human eye.
Steve stood eyeing the newcomer: a lean man dressed in red skin tight uniform
with a yellow thunder on his chest; he knew him from the operation against the
League of Shadows.
The Flash saluted him in military style and smiled.
“I thought that you could use some help with the hordes of…” he chuckled
“Mordor!”
Steve smiled.
“Every help is highly appreciated” he said and tossed his shield like a frisbee
haying five enemies at once while Flash disappeared from sight, his traces the
humanoids that fell down.
Hulk had finished with the beasts and now his entire attention focused on the
human-like enemies; with wide strides he reached a cluster and sent all of them
flying around with two punches.
Natasha jumped over a pile of crashed cars to stop three of Loki’s men from
attacking some police officers.
Thor seeing a horde of green-clad soldiers leaving the area to swarm and threat
other parts of the city hit his hammer on the street creating a fast running
crack that upon reaching his enemies turned into a thunder tornado that tossed
them all over the place.
Ironman flew around launching everything he got against the bizarre crafts and
helping his comrades whenever someone was cornered. He frowned seeing that
Loki’s army finding resistance in Downtown was moving to other places. He
readied his stunning weapons feeling a bitter bit because that reminded him
what he had done to Bruce. However he overcame his hesitation and hit them
neutralizing them.
 His pissed face lightened a bit seeing Hulk with spectacular jumps reaching
others and squashing them using his arms like a scythe. Tony got the impression
of a giant green monkey the way Hulk jumped from bin to crashed car and falling
to their enemies like a tornado.
 
Loki had his arms crossed watching the battle field feeling that the tide was
changed against his army but what made him frown was the sound of approaching
running feet.
Suddenly, it dawned to him what in the heat of the battle had evaded his
attention: his spells were weakened…no, broken. That was impossible; nobody
could break his spells. He gritted his teeth and tried to get inside to the one
that had done that; in vain, a very dark cloud was hiding him.
The door to Stark’s apartment that till now was blocked opened to reveal Fury
leading a group of agents surging inside.
Loki pursed his lips: time to fight!
 
Suddenly, Ironman saw Loki landing in the middle of the field carrying a golden
spear and sending beams against Thor who dodged them and turned to confront him
waving his spiting fires hammer.
Ironman saw the sneaky god and forgot anything else. He surged against him
unaware that one of the crafts had opened its canons ready to shoot him.
“Sir, watch out!”Jarvis shouted.
Tony turned around seeing the fire ready to leave the canon but suddenly the
craft changed course and along its firepower. He frowned trying to make out his
savior: Hulk had jumped and hugged the craft’s tail turning it around causing
the fire to hit the other crafts.
Thor and Loki were dueling with sparkles and thunders diffused around; Tony
launched one of his missiles to hit Loki but the god dodged it cackling. A pile
of cars was blasted and Tony was relieved to find that no people had taken
cover there.
Loki’s smirk froze on his face as a beam swept Loki’s army neutralizing them;
the Avengers and Flash looked at the Tower from where the beam had come. Tony’s
lips formed a faint smile: Fury had managed to gain full control now that Loki
left the building; the ingenious inventor recognized his weapon in action. Now
he could deal with the devious god.
However the god looked his knocked out army and smirked.
“Time to say goodbye, guys! See ya!”
Ironman was already on him but once again Loki vanished and Ironman left with
empty hands cursing aloud.
The Avengers gathered with their faces smoked and scratched; tired and
thoughtful. Natasha and Steve looked at the meshed up Downtown as Hulk
approached with heavy strides and Flash in a quarter of the second.
People came out of their corners fearful but upon realizing that the danger was
over cheered.
Thor moved to Ironman with his eyes filled with sadness. Only the two of them
knew what had happened in Gotham.
“It seems that we’ve made it” Natasha said.
Steve shook Flash’s hand.
“Thank you; we wouldn’t have made it without your help.”
“Don’t mention it, dude: you’d have done the same for me…” yet Flash’s wide
smile was somewhat restrained as his eyes looked around perplexed about
Superman’s absence.
“Tony…” Thor said to Ironman.
Ironman didn’t answer and Thor shook his head.
“I promise you that I’ll find Loki – I won’t fail you this time.”
Ironman remained silent, the cold face plate in place: the only thing that
haunted his mind was that Bruce would wake up with the realization that his
best friend betrayed him and even worse he’d have to face Joker. Thor’s
reassurance didn’t say anything to him; there was no solace for him. He took
off away from them.
“What? No drinks this time?” Natasha asked slyly cocking an eyebrow but seeing
Thor’s grim face walked to him with Steve and Flash. “What’s wrong with Stark?”
“With Loki’s help Joker got Bruce” Thor answered and Steve huffed.
Thor took in the gazes of his comrades and Flash’s but he was deep in thought:
he had promised Bruce that he would watch Loki’s movements but he lost his
sneaky brother. Loki wasn’t only a god but he knew much about magic and all
this time that he and his palace was nowhere to be found obviously he
strengthened his magical power and gathered his army: Bruce kept in his bedroom
his cape and Eir’s elixir – they should have blocked Loki’s attack; not to
mention that Thor suspected that Bruce had in his possession some powerful
charm as well.
 So it was clear that if he wanted to find Loki and therefore Joker and Bruce
he would need help.
 
He tried to control his uneasiness, his terror but still his skinny body
shivered in the thick darkness; the blindfold felt too heavy on his face and he
struggled to not run away. The fact that he couldn’t see panicked him though
this time knew that he was safe.
Two hands cupped his face gently but his instinctive reaction was to jerk to
escape; however the hands were stubborn in their gentleness until his
resistance was quenched.
“Falcone used blindfold while using you?” the suave voice of the lion like man
caressed his ears.
Bruce gulped an embarrassing knot and nodded.
“Sometimes…”
Two hot demanding lips touched his cold cheek sucking needy.
“You know that you have nothing to fear when I’m here…I don’t want to upset you
but you must learn to rely on your other senses: eliminating the sight
strengthens the rest…Sight shouldn’t shackle you, child…”
Fingers were touching curiously his abdominals and then played with his
nipples…Clark as usually took advantage of his independence of sleep to watch
him sleeping and touching him…
His torso felt the cold of the room so his lover must have took off his pajama
shirt at some point – well, for his pants couldn’t say because below waist he
couldn’t feel anything…Anyway, what was more important than his paraplegia was
that Clark was there, beside him. He smiled: Clark loved him so much…
But then realization dawned to him colder than the room: Clark was away…He
didn’t love him anymore; he didn’t want to touch him…Hence, someone else
undressed him – he wasn’t on a mattress; he was positioned vertically – his
senses were on fire – his surroundings were unfamiliar – someone was there – a
flash crossed his mind: Tony had hit him with his stunning beam! Someone was
there, close to him, touching him…A rough touch: leather in his abdominals,
cold metal in his nipple…He jerked trying to escape.
“Gooooood mooorning, sunshiiiiiine! Your Prince Charming has broken the
speeeeeeel!”
 
Thor walked decisively inside the old temple that seemed devoid of human
presence: he would have stared at the strange place intrigued if he wasn’t
totally engrossed in his musing…if his agony wasn’t so demanding…if he could
think anything else.
He walked to the interior till he met a round shaped area. Thor looked around
indecisive of the direction he should follow.
Suddenly, in the places half darkness he heard light footsteps approaching and
the Asgardian turned to see a man dressed in dark blue attire with a burgundy
cape falling from his shoulders; a golden round pendant fell on his chest. He
had dark brown hair grayed in the temples and sported a well trimmed goatee.
His sharp blue eyes stabbed the blond god with intense curiosity that seemed
natural to him.
“Thor…in our humble residence…” he said in a deep baritone voice.
The god inhaled deeply and looked at him determined.
“I need your help” he said sharply.
 
***** Chapter 67 *****
“Surreal scenes took place – just a few minutes ago – at New York’s hot
Downtown…” Mary Thorn, Daily Planet’s reporter was saying in a still shaken
voice in front of the aftermath’s scenery.
The camera stopped showing her to zoom at the nightmarish situation behind her.
The darkness was thick but the abundance of New York’s lights made everything
visible: the picture of a disaster.
Crashed cars piled in every corner of the road; rescuers were now searching
among the crumpled metal for any trapped citizen; shattered store windows the
shreds sparkling under the lights of the bent traffic signals; billboards
smashed  on the cement marked from the battle; buildings carrying thousands of
bullet holes and burnings; strange rhino-like beasts sprawled in the cement
sedated or dead: police and authorities were wondering what to do with them
because unlike with his army Loki didn’t take care to take the animals with
him.
 Ambulances formed a perimeter around the place and their sirens along with
those of police cars gave the sad soundtrack for the scene; their multicolored
lights dazzled the eyes. Police officers, National Guard members and paramedics
gathered the injured or the dead which were both taken to the ambulances on
stretchers.
“Till now the toll is 4 dead and 30 injured, ten of them in serious condition”
the blond reporter said as images from the battle were shown. “The footage
you’re watching right now is from video taken by witnesses… Police estimates
that the number of injured will increase yet without the intervention of both
the Avengers and Flash the toll would have been devastating given the busy hour
that the attack took place. At the moment there’s no official announcement
about the culprit of the attack neither of his demands but eye witnesses speak
about a man with strange attire that wore a golden helmet with horns; at some
point he engaged in battle with Thor. However what makes the greatest
impression and monopolizes the discussion everywhere is why Superman didn’t
rush to help: it is definitely something that doesn’t fit him and we know that
he wasn’t busy in another corner of the planet. So the main question is: has
the Man of Steel any misunderstanding with Avengers and if that so, is it so
important to ignore the dire need of innocents?”
Superman watched with gloomy expression seated in front of the TV set in
Diana’s living room. That last phrase made his insides clench: Superman wasn’t
that selfish to ignore people in danger for the sake of any grudge – especially
when there was no grudge…
Diana clapped her hands and the TV closed. She was watching too standing behind
the sofa over Superman. She had a smirk curving her beautiful face.
“I told you before that humans are selfish and ungrateful” she said indifferent
cocking an eyebrow. “I sense that you are sad about what they are saying…” she
walked proudly, stood in front of him and cupped his face with one hand,
locking their eyes. “But you shouldn’t: you did nothing wrong.”
Superman crooked his mouth.
“Yeah… As a matter of fact, I didn’t do anything at all…” he pressed his lips.
“People died, got injured and I didn’t do anything to help.”
Diana’s gaze was strong and adamant.
“It wasn’t your fault, Kal El: Avengers could have asked your help but they
didn’t do it – so it’s their fault that people died. Their arrogance made them
believe that they could handle this without your help and look what happened.
All these people talking about your absence don’t know that it was the
Avengers’ fault; that they blocked your coming.”
Superman shook his head.
“I should have gone there without their invitation as Flash did…”
Diana cocked her eyebrows.
“Flash acted foolishly – he is too young to understand.”
“Understand what?”
Diana shook her head and smiled.
“Kal El, you are so generous and kind; your greatness can’t even suspect their
devious intentions.”
Superman lowered his head, Diana’s words not having the appeasing effect she
intended to.
“What matters, Diana, is that people died and they might have not if I had come
to their aid” he fixed his eyes on hers. “To people’s aid not Avengers’!” he
ran his fingers through his messy hair.
She shook her head exasperated.
“You are an honorable warrior and that makes you ignore what is at stake”
Superman looked her frowned and Diana’s eyes became soft but determined. “If
you had gone there and helped them won that battle then the Avengers would have
established their world rule…” she smirked “as world’s saviors of course…But we
both know that they couldn’t be trusted with that role: we both know that they
very easily could use that respect and position to something more totalitarian.
Do not forget that their director and unofficial leader is Stark, that
arrogant, thirsty for power dork: he is easily the smartest of them all and he
can guide them into dominating the world for his account. And what about Black
Widow? A former cold blooded assassin all of a sudden becoming protector of
innocents?” she sniggered. “Consider that green powerful thing…mindless, prone
to his teammates’ manipulation.”
Diana smiled seeing Superman’s eyes narrowed, deep in thought. Clark remembered
how the League of Shadows had spread its web around the world using the
S.H.I.E.L.D. Superman had no more trust to Stark. He raised his eyes to Diana’s
face and she caressed his forehead.
“If you have helped them to triumph then you’d have contributed to their rapid
increase of power; however, now that the battle ended with heavy toll, the
world would never trust their fates to that team of losers” her smile was wide.
“And people will continue to accept Superman as their true protector: a king
with morals of granite who’d never seek dominance for his egoistic reasons.”
Clark felt charmed as if a powerful, wonderful spell had fell on him making him
a better being. Diana was right as always. She made him understand that his
absence from New York wasn’t a mistake; was in fact the right thing to do
because he pointed to people how wrong it was to trust the Avengers.
He stood and cupped the back of her head, losing himself in the softness of her
silken her and her perfume of every flower in the world. He stormed at her lips
but she did the same meeting him half way: their collision was mighty and
arousing as their hot lips battled violently for sucking each other’s taste.
A ring tone cracked the hot air and Superman closed his eyes realizing that he
had forgotten his smart phone open. Definitely Lois wanting to tell him
off…Ugh! That Lois! Always believing that she knows everything!
Diana raised her eyebrows.
“You won’t answer that?” she asked determined. “Maybe it is something
important” she smiled. “Go! I won’t go anywhere…”
Superman nodded disgruntled: it was certain that Lois would make him feel
worse. However he walked to the bedroom and inhaled deeply.
“Yes, Lois…” he rolled his eyes before she even started.
“Are you crazy? Why you didn’t go to New York? People died, farm boy! People
who if you had helped would have been with their families now!”
Clark crooked his mouth and pinched the bridge of his nose.
“You don’t understand, Lois; after all, you always respect only your own view
of things.”
“What?” the woman was enraged. “MY VIEW OF THINGS?! And what should I have
understood other than you turning your fuckin’ ass to innocents screaming for
help?!”
“Avengers didn’t ask for my help, Lois! If they wanted me there; if they did
care about people they would have called me; but they believed arrogantly that
they could make it by themselves – so I’m alright with my decision: that will
teach them some humility. You really can see the devious politics of them?”
Lois huffed and rattled her teeth.
“Are you nuts?! Or are you high? You really expected an official invitation?”
she laughed but her wrath was such that the laughter was cut sharply. “I bet
Flash didn’t wait to be invited…This wasn’t a reception, farm boy: this was an
emergency!” she fumed. “Remember when Stark, the arrogant, air head tycoon came
to your aid at Metropolis’ attack? You had invited him?”
“That was something else, Lois…Stark did it just to boost himself and his team
and only because Bruce would have scolded him.”
“You know, Clark…I think that all these are petty, ridiculous excuses and
probably they aren’t even your own words. You’re not yourself, Clark: the man I
knew would never have ignored calls for help even to his own death…You’re
ruining yourself, farm boy…”
Superman licked his lips and inhaled erasing Lois’ burning words immediately.
She was saying all these just to make him feel bad – she never had forgiven him
for choosing Diana over Bruce…He frowned remembering suddenly what his
colleague had said to him during their last call.
“Did you find out if really something happened in Gotham?”
“Do you care?” she sneered and after a small pause. “Never mind…There’s nothing
official but it seems that there was another attack simultaneously with Arkham
– Now, fuck off!”
Superman pressed his lips shaking his head: typical Lois! Whenever she doesn’t
get what she wants relies on calling names. He shrugged: she’d have to accept
him if she wanted to remain Superman’s friend.
He was eager to return to Diana’s waiting body but his damn phone rang again
and this time he didn’t think even for a second to ignore it.
“Ma? Is everything alright?” with his stupid remorse about New York’s incident
he forgot to monitor his mother’s vitals.
“I think it’s not, Clark” her voice was calm but deeply sad though Superman was
hearing that everything was fine with her vitals. “What happened to you, son?
It is the second time you didn’t run to someone’s help while you knew the
danger…Clark…”
His eyes became blank; hearing his Ma saying that had a greater impact.
“Ma, it would be a mistake if I had gone there; they would have used that to
achieve their devious plans.”
“Bollocks!” the old lady shouted and Clark was stunned because he had never
heard her like this before. “Your father’s and my greatest fear was that your
unique powers would eventually ruin our sweet, good hearted boy: during his
last moments, Jonathan asked me to always protect you from the wrong choices;
from being corrupted. And I failed!”
Clark’s heart broke hearing his mother’s trembling, angry voice telling that;
her sorrow deep inside, her tears stubbornly kept locked.
“No, Ma, you didn’t fail; your son did the right thing: it might not be clear
now but in the long run…”
“Stop the excuses, Clark! You never relied on excuses before…There is only one
truth: you first ignored Bruce being in danger and now hundreds of people.
People died there, Clark, waiting till their last breath for Superman to save
them…” her loud voice broke reaching the end of that phrase.
Clark felt his eyes getting wet: it wasn’t only the gist of that phrase but
also the hue of his Ma’s voice. He had promised that he would always make his
parents proud of him; he had promised that he’d never let anyone make them
cry…and now he…the baby they took in and raised as their own did the very thing
he sworn to prevent.
“Ma, please…”
“While you were with Bruce you were helping everyone; you shone like a true
sun…now…now you hide the light in you: the light that you permit being little
by little put out…I wish I was stronger and better to have managed to protect
you…to not lose my only son.”
“Ma, you’re the best in this world. You haven’t lost me; you’d never ever lose
me, I’ll be always your son…”
“Then prove it, Clark.”
“How?”
“By stopping using her words as guidance…It is easy for your Ma to distinguish
her poison in your words. My Clark would have never stayed away. She poisoned
you against helping – she is ruining you, Clark.”
“Ma, no…You’re wrong. Diana wants the best for me…”
He heard a sigh and the dial was cut leaving him empty; cold: he remembered
that dream. The dark void he was hovering in; the despair he was feeling and
then the bright star, the only light in the darkness that surrounded him…He
pressed stubbornly his lips to stop that image of the star being Bruce…
 
Joker was there. His mind went immediately in frantic function: obviously,
Joker and his ally, Loki, set the trap; suspected that Tony wouldn’t let him go
to Arkham and when he left Joker attacked the Manor. Loki’s power defeated
their defenses exactly like during the Avengers’ Tower attack.
He knew he had to act the scared, the panicked but he was angry. Sick of the
times he found himself prisoner of someone and had to pretend the weak; the
damsel in distress… but he knew he had to…
He was aware that he was naked above the waist and who knows about the bottom
part of his body. His arms were in pain and discomfort, stretched above his
head and tied, one wrist on the other; yet there was no rope or chain; Bruce
frowned. He knew that behind his back was stone: all these years in Falcone’s
cage Bruce had been tied so many times to that stalactite that could easily
figure. But there was no metal or fabric restraining his hands…a realization
made him shiver: his wrists were covered with heavy stone – he wasn’t tied, his
wrists were buried in the stone! He had to exert his self control to not panic
from that notion.
 And he was blindfolded; the fabric covering his nose.
Leather fingers were touching his abs and Bruce wanted to huff in exasperation
yet he just trembled from fear. Shaking that became greater when he realized
that the cold thing in his nipple was sharp metal which suddenly stabbed gently
the flesh drawing some blood. He inhaled scared.
“Uuuuuuuu! I could dooooo this forever! Cooooounting an’ coooounting those abs”
the jester giggled thrilled. “Greeeeat abs! And thooooose cute, pink
nipples….Mmmm!”
Bruce felt a wet, warm mouth gulping his erect from the cold nipple, licking
the hot drops of blood; he jerked backwards resulting in pain that would have
been much worse if he didn’t know the way to protect his body.
“What is it, hoooooney? Didn’t Super-Goofy lick the lollipops?”
Bruce shook a bit his head.
“Wwhat? Where am I? Who are you?”
“Heheheheheheee!” his giggles stopped abruptly and Bruce heard Joker’s head
lolling on the side. “Youuuuu don’t recognize my voooice? Ooooooh, babe” a
leather palm was heard slapping Joker’s heart in a dramatic gesture “you’re
shhhhhhredding my poooor heart in pieces!” the jester lamented but then a
shoulder shrugged “it must be the shock or the sedation aftermath” he commented
calm. “Oooooh! Sorry, I forgot…”
Bruce felt Joker’s fingers approaching his face and then the fabric that
covered exactly his eyes was removed, leaving the rest of the blindfold. Being
aware of Joker’s suspicions about Batman it wasn’t difficult for Bruce to
figure what the jester was trying to do.
However, he played the innocent and just looked around scared and curious: he
was on his knees, judging from the way everything around him looked. It was a
dudgeon from shining, dark green stone no bigger than his cage in Dolcetto; it
was cast in darkness that was cracked by torches in two niches at the corners
of the walls. There wasn’t any kind of door just stone and Bruce though not
claustrophobic felt a bit distressed.
He could feel Joker’s staring eyes on his face.
“That’s muuuuch better!” the jester exclaimed. “You shouldn’t use those lenses:
these eyes must be visible – aaaand I bet your intimidating glare is moooooore
effective than the lenses.”
“Joker?” he turned his eyes to jester’s exhilarated face.
“How niiiiice you finally noticed me!” he stood and bowed, only to fell again
on his knees.
“Why are you doing this?” he asked passing the lenses mention pretending that
he took it for Joker’s usual nonsense. “What do you want?”
Joker lolled his head on the side pouting thoughtful.
“Let’s see…What I want?! Soooooome quality tiiime with my beautiful wife?”
 
The man with the burgundy cape that at times gave Thor the impression that had
its own life showed him to a chair before a small round table made from
glistening light brown wood.
Thor sat and the man did the same.
“Dr. Strange, I need your help…immediately.”
The man’s features took the hue of amusement and an eyebrow arched.
“It’s very flattering when an Asgardian knows the name of a mere mortal” he
said in his deep, bass voice.
Thor’s eyes fell on the man’s hand over the table and Strange smiled.
“Yeah…it’s still a bit shaky at times” he focused his eyes on the hand that
went immediately completely still.
Thor felt the urge of the situation pressing him.
“My father Odin knew the Ancient One and through their mutual respect he
maintained some knowledge about your…”
Strange smiled, focusing his eyes on the god.
“Cult? This is how one of my former colleagues had called it.”
The blond shook his head.
“I know it’s not a cult but an Order protecting the world.”
“Then we are colleagues” Strange commented looking at him a bit ironically.
Thor felt Strange’s stance like a cold shower: if this was for himself he would
have left yet it was for Bruce and it was urgent, every moment passing could be
detrimental to him.
“Look, I don’t know your impression of the Avengers and me personally but I do
need your help.”
Strange pressed his lips and looked him serious.
“Don’t misjudge my attitude for dislike: is a leftover of my past” he stretched
slightly his arms horizontally. “I’m a new person now” he raised his eyebrows
“thankfully…I’ll gladly help you if is in my powers.”
Thor nodded.
“I’m sure it is. Have you heard of Loki?”
Strange grinned.
“Some things have reached my ears…He made quite the show in New York, huh?”
Thor fumed.
“I want your help to stop him” Dr. Strange cocked an eyebrow puzzled. “Loki is
not a real Asgardian: he might be a god but he also has magical powers” Thor
answered the question in Strange’s eyes: the man certainly was wondering why he
had come to him. “I was always able to face and defeat him…till now. For months
I was trying to locate him in vain…He and his palace are beyond my reach. I’m
certain that all these months he increased his powers; and with his new powers
assembled the army you saw and I’m afraid more than that…Loki is a threat as
all of us just realized.”
Strange nodded.
“You know what Loki wants?”
“Nobody knows” Thor leaned closer “and I don’t really care right now. What
burns me is to find him ASAP!”
The man’s gray eyes shone.
“After his defeat he will stay low for some time.”
“We can’t be sure with him and…” he gulped “there is something really urgent.”
Strange frowned.
“Which is?”
Thor pressed his lips and inhaled.
“He holds someone.”
Stephen Strange knitted his fingers.
“A hostage…Whom?”
“Tony Stark’s best friend.”
“Bruce Wayne” he said. “He intends to blackmail Stark, huh?”
“I don’t know his intentions but he works with a human criminal; it was
actually this criminal who took Bruce with Loki’s help.”
Dr. Strange lolled slightly his head.
“Who is that criminal?”
“Joker. He has a sick fascination for Bruce and I don’t even want to think what
he might be doing to him as we speak. I know that Joker holds Bruce where Loki
is located – out of our sight. Probably somewhere between different dimensions”
he clenched his fist “and that’s where your assistance is crucial. His palace
can’t be found neither by a mere a god nor by a mere mortal: and you are a man
with special powers and abilities.”
Strange’s expression was thoughtful and Thor narrowed his eyes.
“Loki’s powers are great. Bruce was in his Manor when Joker attacked: the Manor
has the tightest security there is but that doesn’t say anything for Loki’s
powers; but what makes me sure about his enhanced powers is that there were
other things protecting Bruce.”
Strange raised an eyebrow interested and Thor lowered a bit his eyes.
“I gave him one of my capes and Bruce was keeping it in his room; my garments
could protect from Loki’s attacks – till now at least” the man’s clever eyes
shone interested. “And Bruce had also Eir’s elixir which is a powerful
protecting charm.”
The wizard nodded and waved his hand.
“Which obviously you gave to him…”
Thor closed his eyes for a second.
“Yes, because Bruce is constantly in danger; it’s like all the evil in the
world has him in target.”
Strange leaned closer.
“I see that Bruce Wayne is really important to you. What is he to you?” he
asked in an almost demanding, playful manner.
Thor locked eyes with him and Strange coughed.
“Sorry…I know I have no right to ask that.”
“He is a great, brave man and I’m honored with his friendship.”
Strange smiled.
“I have heard the man’s story.”
“Then you do understand that we must find him as soon as possible. He is still
recovering from multiple injuries” Strange’s eyes became blank for a moment.
“He is a paraplegic and he is on complex medication; necessary for sustaining
his organism” he sighed “I don’t know how long he can last without proper
treatment and under Joker’s madness…”
Strange drummed his fingers on the table and lowered his gaze. Thor eyed him
eager, his gaze intense and impatient; he felt that he was losing precious
time. He stood.
“You’ll help?”
Dr. Strange raised his eyes and met the god’s determined gaze.
“We will find him.”
 
Bruce closed his eyes in hopelessness.
“How?” he asked making it clear that he was trying too hard to keep his
composure; Joker was looking at him smiling amused. “How you managed…”
Joker cocked his eyebrows mockingly.
“What? Getting you?” he laughed and yanked his head backwards. “Oh! I could
have demolisssssshed castles to get to you!” he shook his head. “And actually
that I did” he snapped.
Of course…Bruce thought but Joker shouldn’t see that; Bruce should be surprised
that Joker managed to overcome Tony’s security measures. It was supposed that
he didn’t know about Joker’s partnership with Loki; Joker had to admit that.
“But…there was security all over the place…nobody gets inside…”
Joker lolled his head on the side and watched him with the same amusement.
“Oh…” he dusted his jacket cocking an eyebrow “I don’t want to brag but I have
over--come ol’ Tony’s booby traps again in the past so it wasn’t really a
problem…”
Bruce narrowed his eyes.
“You’re a tech expert then?”
Joker began hopping in the dudgeon giggling. In the end squatted again in front
of Bruce and grabbed his chin between his fingers.
“No, daaaar-ling…I could be a tech freak buuuuuut I’m just a freak; as for
expert…mmmm…I’d say that I’m an aaaally expert…By the way, I love your kitten
and he loves me too…” he gestured to the scratches all over his face. “And the
fur ball immediately understood that I love scars.”
Now Bruce was really scared; he tried to move but his torso was stretched to
its limits and his wrists deep in stone.
“You didn’t…You didn’t kill him?!”
Joker tapped Bruce’s lips with the fingers that were holding his chin.
“Oh, hon--ey! You’re pale…HEHEHEHEEEE…You loooooove that littl’ fur ball, huh?”
“Did you?” he insisted with trembling voice: Bruce wouldn’t stand losing Hero
again.
Joker rolled his eyes and left Bruce’s chin to jerk his arms upwards.
“For what kind of monster you have me?”
“The one you are…” Bruce mumbled giving much tremor to his voice but Joker
burst out in laughter so much so that he lost his balance and fell on the stony
floor.
He rolled in the floor for a bit under Bruce’s exasperated gaze and then stood
up taking a serious expression.
“Diiiiignity, Joker!” he said in a gruff voice to himself and shook his index
finger to Bruce. “You’ve gooooot sooooo much spirit in you…and humor…aaaand
cinnamon…uuuuuuuh! I’m a lucky man I married you.”
“You didn’t kill the kitten then?” he asked with hope.
“Noooooope! I looooove animals after all…Bats for instance…”
Bruce let his head loll on the shoulder tired but relieved that Hero was alive.
“You sent me a tree full with killed bats for Christmas.”
Joker pouted.
“I sent a card” he said dignified “they were mmm…impostors -defilers…I want
only one bat in my sky” he twitched his eyebrows indicatively.
Bruce inhaled deeply.
“And why you sent that to me?”
Joker giggled and tapped his finger on Bruce’s chest.
“You don’t know, huh?” he dragged more his nasal voice.
Bruce closed his eyes.
“Am I supposed to know?”
Joker lolled his head on the side and looked at him curious.
“Batsy, let’s talk with open cards” he conjured a joker card from his sleeve;
he had sketched a heart with red paint; inside it read ‘J loves B’…
Bruce narrowed his eyes.
“What?”
Joker yanked his head backwards exasperated and leaned to Bruce’s ear.
“I know who you are…an’ I ap---prove. Actually, I’m thrilled I’m married with
nooooone other thaaaaaan…” he put his palm as if he was going to share a secret
“Baaaaatman!”
Bruce yanked his head and Joker managed at the last moment to hold it before
hitting the stone.
“I’m not!” Bruce said with widened eyes. “How is it possible?” he writhed on
the cold stone. “I’m not!”
Joker held him firmer to quench his resistance and licked his lips.
“Eaaaaasy, babe…” he caressed the fabric that covered Bruce’s half face. “I had
much time to observe you with half your face covered and noooooow with your
eyes uncovered: it matches.”
Bruce shook his head.
“No…faces can resemble each other.”
Joker smiled stretching his scars to a full Cheshire smile.
“Aaaaand then I stripped you…” Bruce panicked tried to look at his body’s lower
half since he couldn’t feel its state; Joker giggled. “I admit that it was a
greeeeeat temptation to unwrap my presents yet I wanted you to be fully
conscious foooor that. Anyway, I took off your beautiful shirt and I had the
pleasure to goggle and drooooool at your gooooooorgeouuuuus torso…Ooooh, boy!
That Falcone was a very lucky bastard! Soooooo taut and sooooooft…Sooooo
perfectly toooooned, exactly as my Batsy should be.”
“No, you’re wrong…”
Joker stabbed his finger to the big scar that crossed Bruce’s stomach and
looked pointedly at his prisoner.
“I remember this veeeery well – I did that to you.”
Bruce breathed heavily and closed his eyes.
“Falcone did that…”
“No!” Joker roared angry. “The first time I saw your naked torso when I was
still Napier you didn’t have that scar; then I stabbed Batman and the next time
I had you half naked…voila! The scar!”
“You must remember wrong…I have this scar years…”
Joker was enraged; raised his hand and slapped violently Bruce whose head ended
up on his shoulder. Bruce began breathing fast and heavily, panicked; his body
shook.
“Myyyyy memory is notorious as another member of my deeelicious body…lower.”
“Please…” he whispered and Joker cupped violently his face with both hands and
made him look him in the eyes.
“Stop pretending that you’re scared of me! I know you’re not! You’re boiling
with anger Grrrrrr! C’mon! Cut the act! Giiive a bit of grrrrrrr to me…”
 Bruce was trying to shake his head in the negative.
“Stop, please…”
But Joker tightened his grip and kissed crudely Bruce’s lips licking the blood
his slap had left on the corner.
“Beeeeeee yourself with me, Batsy…I won’t kiss and tell…” he said completely
serious keeping his eyes fixed on Bruce’s. “I’m craaaaazy for the beaten kitten
that hides a tiger!”
Bruce closed his eyes.
“Please, let me go…I’ll give you whatever you want…just…” he stopped talking as
if his courage had run out.
Joker released his face and stood staring at Bruce who let his head fall to his
chest breathing fast.
“I’ve got one uni--que bat in the cage: I’d be an idiot if I let the bat go…”
“How could I be Batman?” Bruce mumbled without raising his head. “I can’t even
walk…”
Joker smiled.
“Exactly, babe…” he said exerting his nasal voice. “That night at the factory…”
Bruce lifted his head and narrowed his eyes.
“What factory?”
Joker lolled his head on the side.
“I should believe that you don’t remember or that you weren’t there?” Bruce
closed his eyes.
“I don’t know what you are talking about…”
“I had asked for you and Batsy to come meet me there oooor I’d kill those
brats…Hehehehe” he chuckled amused on the memory. “Of course, oooooone of you
would have been enough, right? And Batsy did come.”
“I was in the clinic, injured.”
Joker giggled.
“You found a way to overcome that and cooooome” Bruce sighed exasperated.
“Heheheeeee! The puuuuuurfect cover – you play these things in your long, lean
fingers – but you can’t fooooooool Joker: your husband. You came an’ saved the
brats but you didn’t estimate that I’d have a secret ace: that brat Grayson.
You fought me to save him and that doooooork Lou shot starting a fire: you took
me out of danger – oh! Daaaaaaarling, you do love me, huh?” he blinked cutely.
“Theeeeeen you saved that brat but you didn’t manage to leave the building on
time; the roof collapsed on you” Bruce’s eyes were widened and Joker’s voice
became serious. “You’d have died there but Super-Goofy saved you – huh? I’m
saying it right? But your spine was shattered rendering you paraplegic” his
voice was strangely serious.
Bruce shook his head.
“I?” he asked puzzled.
Joker surged on him and grabbed his face.
“You!”
“But…”
Joker nodded nervously.
“I knoooow…I knooooow…Batsy is active even after that night…Buuuuut” his
Cheshire smile cracked his face “your friend is Tony-fucking-Stark: he
definitely found a way for you to be able to appeaaar so that nobody puts one
and one together, huh?”
“You are crazy…” Bruce mumbled.
Joker shook his head and casually bit the tip of his glove and removed it,
repeating the same with his other hand.
“Noooooooo, I’m not” he lolled his head “Well, I am; but you can’t fool me,
babe…By the way, that Lou…I should have killed him loooooong ago” he scratched
his head “I must keep some sticky notes… youuuu know all over the fridge – I
must find little magnets with Batsy on them…”
All of a sudden, he took his blade that had remained on the floor and touched
it to Bruce’s cheek; Bruce took a sharp inhale and his eyes widened.
“Please…”
Joker touched the blade on Bruce’s lips.
“Shsssssss…” he licked his lips and took the black fabric off of Bruce’s face.
“Who would think that that cowl hides such a pretty, cute face…Hehe!
Definitely, not Falc--one, huh?” he bit his lips. “Mmm…time for soooooome
fuuuuuun at laaaaaast!”
 
Black smoke swirled under Darkseid’s unimpressed eyes and Bagdana emerged in
front of his ally’s enormous granite throne; the tornadoes engraved in the
stone began twisting.
“You called me” the demon said indifferent eyeing the new god.
“You saw what happened at New York?” Darkseid asked slyly.
“I saw.”
“The Avengers stopped that army.”
“I’m aware of that.”
Darkseid smirked.
“But they had very difficult time stopping that clown-god. Their Tower was
breached and controlled by their enemy’s power…and they couldn’t break his
spells.”
It wasn’t difficult for Bagdana to discern the irony in his ally voice neither
the hints. And he really didn’t have the patience for the arrogant god’s
bullshit.
“What do you want, Darkseid?”
Darkseid’s eyes became angry.
“Someone broke the spells and gave them the chance to regain their Tower’s
control.”
“So?”
“I know you did it.”
Bagdana knew that there was no use to deny it and he had no reason to do so.
“So?” he repeated cocking an eyebrow; his naked torso shone with heat through
the voids his black leather vest; the ancient demon was enraged.
Darkseid clenched the armrests.
“How do you expect me to trust someone who helps my enemies?” he ground his
teeth.
Bagdana laughed.
“Helped?” he shook his head. “I thought you smarter than that” actually,
Bagdana thought the new god no smart at all.
Darkseid smirked.
“So you want to tell me that there is a deeper reason you did that than helping
the humans who were in danger?”
Bagdana rolled his eyes disgusted.
“Only hearing that disgusts me…”
Darkseid raised his eyebrows and pursed his plump lips.
“It seems that loving that mortal pest made you more sensitive to humans.”
Bagdana knitted his eyebrows and fume was emitted from his nostrils; his silver
spikes radiating sparks all over his head.
“I only care for Bruce: I don’t give a damn about humans! They have given me
only…” pain? A demon couldn’t feel pain, could he?
Darkseid snorted and stood.
“Then explain to me this treachery!”
“What treachery! Can’t you see what happened? A petty god was ready to squash
the Avengers and dominate the world: if nobody had stopped him your glory would
have been dimmed. A petty god taking what is rightfully yours? He ought to be
defeated just for his arrogance to claim what is yours. Besides his deeds might
have ruined the effectiveness of your machine’s operation. I didn’t betray you:
on the contrary, I protected your best interest.”
Darkseid smirked; his sneaky eyes shouting his doubt.
“You’re a cunning demon, Bagdana; after all, this was the reason I saved you
from your prison…I’m not sure you’re saying the truth – your mind is well shut
as your human’s” his expression became grimmer when he remembered Bruce. “Do
not think that you can fool me…” his eyes turned to the fire inside the vessel
in front of his throne.
Scenes from New York’s battle revived between the flames.
“Thanks to that foolish Asgardian I got the chance to watch my enemies…Superman
was absent: that says a lot for his power and will: his superiority is
collapsing and I shall squash him between my fingers!” he clenched his square
fingers under Bagdana’s I-don’t-give-a-shit gaze. “I just hope for your own
good that when the time comes you will have proved yourself worthy and escape
my judgement…otherwise the fate of yourself and your pet’s will be horrific!”
Bagdana stretched his body unfazed.
“If you finished I have some matters to attend.”
Darkseid cocked an eyebrow.
“Betraying me again?”
Bagdana looked at him dead serious and then grinned.
“I have always your best interest as my priority. My Lord…”
Darkseid snorted but Bagdana made a deep bow and vanished.
 
With one hand Joker pressed the blade to Bruce’s cheek and with the other
fondled his prisoner’s naked chest; his painted lips captured violently Bruce’s
sucking and licking, moaning as his hands appreciated Bruce’s taut flesh.
Bruce felt his breath being cut not only from the force of the motion but also
from disgust; he tried weakly to take his face but the blade dinged his skin
threateningly. Joker touched his cheek to Bruce’s and their eyes collided.
“You gaaaaave that abundantly to Supes but not to your husband?” he hissed in a
low voice and licked Bruce’s cheek.
Some sweat drops spurt all over Bruce’s face.
“I didn’t have anything with Super…” his phrase was cut abruptly by a sharp,
scared intake of air as Joker’s blade cut slightly his flesh.
Joker sucked the blood on Bruce’s skin.
“Maybe I should give you aaaaaa permanent smiiiiiile…then you’ll be forced to
stop lying about who you are…” the blade left abruptly Bruce’s face but he
couldn’t breathe easier having Joker’s face on his cheek and his leathered hand
squeezing his nipple sadistically; his breath became faster as Joker’s blade
caressed his torso going slowly, sensually lower.
He stopped feeling the metal when it reached his waist but he heard the sound
of fabric being ripped; his trousers and his underwear. The blood drummed
inside his head.
“Don’t…” he whispered meeting his captor’s eye.
Joker answered sucking his cheek and pinching viciously his nipple.
“I waited tooooooo much for our first night, Brucie-Bats…Dooooon’t be afraid,
hon: I won’t do to you something you haven’t experienced yet…although…not that
I want to brag…buuuuuut I’m a sex bomb…”
Bruce jerked backwards meeting the stone and Joker let his nipple to fist his
hair; he mouthed Bruce’s lips pushing his wet tongue deep inside. Bruce could
hear the sound of Joker’s other hand and he knew that the jester was fondling
his paralyzed length; nausea boiled in his stomach and he had to recruit his
training to calm himself into stop the room from spinning.
“I’m jeaaaaalous, Brucie-Batsy…” he mumbled keeping Bruce’s lips trapped. “You
see my hair?” he lowered a bit his head for Bruce to see. “I don’t have to dye
them anymore: they are green from jealousy…”
Bruce pretended that was unsuccessfully trying to control his quick breath.
“I told you… I don’t have anything with S…”
Joker took out of his pocket a black velvet pouch and Bruce’s eyes widened: it
was the Black Butterfly! He looked down to his chest and was gone.
“It’s his present?” Joker demanded.
“No” Bruce answered “please, give it back…”
The jester opened the pouch and took out the sparkling dark gem under Bruce’s
gaze that he managed to turn into scared hiding the anger.
“Uuuuuu! Seems tooooo priceyyyyy…”
“If it’s for money I’ll give you whatever you want but don’t get it from me…”
Joker lolled his head curious.
“Whyyyyyy? Why is it so preeeeeeeecious to you? A suvenir from another lover?”
Bruce inhaled deeply and looked him in the eyes though with a flickering of
fear.
“It was my mother’s…” he mumbled. “Please…”
Joker scratched his head, crooked his mouth and in the end put the pendant
around Bruce’s neck patting the pouch over his prisoner’s chest.
“It fits you puuuuuurfectly, Bbbbatsy…Black, hard, shining an’
prooooud…Heheheheeee…Mommy had a hunch about her baby, huh?”
Bruce closed his eyes.
“I told you: you’re wrong…”
Joker’s mouth engulfed Bruce’s and the disgusting tongue invaded again
furiously choking him, licking the warm cavities of his mouth while the wet
sounds of Joker’s both hands now reached Bruce from his non-feeling pelvis.
Bruce saw Joker’s eyes closing in pleasure and the healthy part of his spine
shivered feeling the man’s erection on his belly.
“Oooooh! It feels fan---tastic even with the fingers…sooooo warm and soft…like
velvet ooooor chocolate…melt chocolate…inviting…I can’t wait shoving Jokey
there” he cast a fleeting glance to his bulging groin “hehehehe…neither does
he…” he pouted “c’mon, babe; don’t be soooooo shyyyy! Ooooooh! You’re driving
me crazy: brutal and shy on the same packet…UuuuuuH! Meeeeeercy!”
“Please, don’t do that…”
Joker bit hard Bruce’s bottom lip and his prisoner sobbed because all of a
sudden he felt pain in his anus as Joker shoved three fingers deep inside. The
jester smiled satisfied.
“Soooooo it’s true what they say…Paraplegics do feel when are fucked…Now it’s
more fan-----tastic! Uhuuuuuu!” and then he became dead serious bringing the
hand that was rubbing Bruce’s length to his prisoner’s face. “Do you like your
own smell?”
Bruce tried to averse his face but Joker withdrew the hand from his prisoner’s
inside and fisted his hair forcing him to breathe his smell from Joker’s wet
hand. The younger man closed his eyes defeated while Batman inside him growled.
Joker watched him curious and a bit sympathetic; in the end, he smelled his
fingers and groaned with pleasure; he petted his prisoner’s sweaty cheek.
“I don’t want to torment you like the others did…” he whispered.
“But you do…” Bruce commented in a voice that was just heard between his ragged
breaths.
“You’re a tremendous actor, you know…Buuuuuut I get the feeling that you dooooo
suffer…Look at me!” he growled and Bruce’s wet eyes opened. “I’m very angry you
took that brat in your house!” he shouted.
Bruce narrowed his eyes confused.
“Leave Richard out of this…He has nothing to do with this” he mumbled
trembling.
“You almost died for him an’ now you have him live with you…I haaaaate it!
Whyyyyyy he an’ noooot me?! Huh?!”
Bruce lifted his head and Joker caressed the sweat drenched locks that had
fallen to his forehead.
“He has done nothing to you; he has suffered enough…” Bruce said.
Joker stood his erection bulging.
“I under---stand that at some point the need to have a child becomes
pppppressing” he said in a mocking scientific attitude. “Yet if you wanted a
child you should have come to me” he moved his eyebrows suggestively with his
eyes showing his erection. “I’m fertility in flesh and blood!” he stretched his
arms in the air.
Bruce rolled his eyes inside. Joker pouted and kneeled again before Bruce
taking his blade from the floor.
“Of course, there’s a tiiiiiny problem: you lack sooooome…mmm…necessary
equipment” he touched his blade to Bruce’s taut belly and giggled. “Otherwise
by now this world would have been filled with beauuuuuutiful babies – if they
didn’t have Falcone’s ugly pan” his face distorted in aversion “Eeeeeek!”
Bruce’s mind went to his dreams of the possible lost child but shook himself
because Joker was already watching him curious behind his green curls.
“You’re a bit melan--cholic, huh? Time to lighten uuuup your spirits!”
“No…” Bruce said realizing Joker’s intention.
But Joker grabbed both his thighs and spread them grinning broadly to Bruce’s
blank gaze; he lowered his own pants and underwear ready to thrust in his
prisoner.
“A smaaaaaaaall motion for Joooookey a laaaaarge screw for Joker…”
But all of a sudden a voice called his name and Joker yanked his head
backwards, rolling his eyes and huffed.
“You’re…joooooking nooow!”
Loki’s voice echoed again like in the long tunnel calling him and stood up
looking amused at his hungry erection.
“Down, boy, doooooown…You’ll eat later” he brushed his erection on Bruce’s
chest and soon his fluids splashed the wall making Bruce’s nausea torturing as
he recalled the times Falcone had used his body to jerk off. “Oooooops! Pre----
mature ejaculaaation?” he frowned. “Don’t get disappointed, babe: it’s just
performance anxiety.”
Bruce would have said some nice things to him that had learnt hearing Falcone’s
thugs but stayed silent shaking from fear and cold.
Joker zipped his pants and moved to the wall opposite Bruce and a part of the
stone shaped like a door vanished waiting Joker to walk out. The jester lolled
his head backwards.
“Stayyyy liiiike this, babe: with open legs, mmm…” he licked his lips like a
cow. “Dooooon’t try to untie yourself…I bet the big baaaaad bat knows many
tricks to escape. Buuuuuut these shackles are magic: the more you try to mooove
your hands the stone will preeeeess them moooore” he winked and walked out the
door that just appeared giving its place to concrete stone.
 
Pepper walked slowly in the dark vastness of Tony’s penthouse in Gotham.
Everyone was looking for her boss: Nick Fury, Steven, Alfred and Leslie who
despite their worry for Bruce were equally scared for Tony. Jarvis was
unavailable even for her.
She was fuming: not only because of Tony’s hide and seek game at this crucial
point but also because he shut her off. At the same time she was worried for
that stupid air head: she didn’t know what had happened but she was certain
that it had to do with Bruce’s kidnap.
She had a hunch that he would be there but the penthouse was creepily silent
and dark as if haunted.
“Jarvis!” she called but as she expected no answer. “Tony!”
Nothing…She huffed exasperated. If Tony was here there was only one room where
he would be at his difficult hour. She took the lift and felt relief that at
least the descent wasn’t blocked too.
When the doors opened she was greeted by the bluish hue of Tony’s several
working holograms; some of them was flooded with constantly renewed data and
others giving different points of view of what Pepper recognized as Bruce’s
damaged spine; the bionic parts hovering around the spine constantly taking
their places as if in a puzzle and then getting removed to be adjusted in
perfect detail.
At the far end stood gloomy the three different Ironman armors that Tony had in
Gotham. She walked there bypassing the holograms that covered the whole view;
but Pepper already knew what else was there.
Tony stood before the classic version of the armor, at the far right staring at
the empty sell with eyes bloodshot and emptier than the alloy. A bottle of
whiskey almost empty was clenched in his hand and Pepper took in more empty
bottles around his feet.
“They weren’t full…” Tony said gruff reading her mind. “Can you leave now?”
Pepper walked closer and crossed her arms.
“No!” she retorted determined her eyes fixed on Tony’s; the billionaire
chuckled, lifted the bottle and drunk a large quantity at once under his
assistant’s pissed gaze. “Are you content now you drank that thing?” she asked
snidely.
He didn’t answer just looked at his armor.
“Peps, leave now…”
“You wish, buster!” she grabbed the bottle off of his hand and shattered it on
the second armor causing a slight flickering in Tony’s eyes; she crooked her
mouth. “What? Don’t tell me your alloy is so weak?”
Tony thought that she was going to add “like you” but she didn’t. He strode
calm at the mini bar he had in his workshop and took another bottle. But Pepper
followed him so when he turned found her in front of him.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
He cocked his eyebrow and shrugged without his old playful mood.
“Boozing…”
“You don’t help Bruce that way…” she touched the invisible elephant in the room
and Tony shivered.
He ruffled his messy locks and went to his working bench, his back on Peppers.
“I never helped him in any way…” he said hoarsely. “I didn’t help him eighteen
years in Falcone’s captivity; I didn’t help him when that fucking factory fell
on him almost killing him…and now…I bestowed him to Joker…”
Pepper came closer and placed her hands on his shoulders.
“I felt that something was off when I spoke with Alfred but the man was just
worried about you and didn’t mention anything.”
Tony smirked and shook his head.
“Worried about me?” he huffed. “Oh, Al…”
“Listen, Tony, if you had another petty argument with Bruce, you know that
these things…”
Tony turned swiftly to her, his eyes shining angrily not for her but himself.
“I used Ironman’s stunning beam on him, Peps!” she should know. “I stunned and
left him unconscious in his bedroom!”
Pepper continued looking at him as if waiting for him to say more.
“We knew that Joker was to attack Arkham and we were going to bust him – from
the start I tried to persuade him to not go there but when Joker finally made
his move, Bruce insisted on wearing the armor and going; I block his way saying
that I wouldn’t let him but he retorted that I couldn’t stop him and he stood…”
he inhaled deeply. “I believed that I had no other choice and shot him with my
stunning beam; I thought he’d be safe in the Manor” he closed his eyes and
shook his head. “I was selfish; I wanted him to do what I thought was the best
and I doomed him…I was afraid that if he went there he would be captured and
once again abused – I thought I was right! But that bastard clown knew how I
was going to act and with Loki set the trap… I managed exactly what I wanted to
stop…His sobs and the pleadings were constantly on my mind: I wanted to stop
this from happening again…And now this fuckin’ monster has him at his mercy…and
Joker has no mercy…”
“Do you expect from me to comfort you?”
Tony licked his lips.
“No, I don’t deserve that: I condemned Bruce; I gave him to Joker.”
“You didn’t. You just make a mistake but sitting here getting wasted doesn’t
change anything! Selina is out there looking for Bruce; your comrades as well;
we have lost Thor’s traces but I’m sure he searches too. And you sit here and
weep! This is preposterous, Tony!”
Tony shook his head.
“Maybe it’s better if I don’t do anything: whatever I do concerning Bruce
causes him more troubles.”
Pepper raised her hand and slapped him; Tony looked at her startled.
“From the moment Bruce came back you whine that he was tortured while you were
drinking and partying and fucking without searching for him! And now that he
needs you again, what are you doing? You sit here drinking and whining like a
brat and again don’t do anything to help him!”
Tony was staring at her.
 “When Bruce comes back – because we know Bruce and he will make it again! –
what will you do then? Pitying yourself for being inert throughout the whole
ordeal? Alfred and Leslie have their agony for Bruce and you make them worry
even more with your whims! Don’t look at me with that stupid, totally un-
Starkish way! You were discussing everything with Bruce: if you put your air-
filled mind to work you’ll remember things and find leads!”
She clenched her waist with both hands, yanked her head and groaned.
“First, you find Bruce and bring him back safe and then you’ll have plenty of
time to kneel before him and beg him for forgiveness for the rest of your life.
Tony Stark, I’m going to slap you again if you don’t move your sorry iron ass
to look for Bruce!” she raised again her hand.
Tony smiled tired but with a sparkle that encouraged Pepper and himself. He
took her raised hand and kissed the knuckles.
“You’d be right to slap me again, Peps: Bruce needs me and there are things
Bruce told me that I can use” he cocked his eyebrow and pursed his lips. “This
time slap my other cheek because you girls slap always the same cheek – Selina
slapped me too and you two have really strong hands.”
 
Joker crossed the shining marble isle that led to Loki’s throne hall; as he
entered the hall he cast a glance at the round fountain where piranhas swam
calmly and sent them kisses. He hopped to meet his ally looking appreciatively
the naked statues that formed the columns around the room.
“Brucie’s body is better, assholes!”
Loki was pacing with his arms crossed over his upper arms; he was still wearing
his golden horned helmet and Joker chuckled.
“Niiiiiice touch!” he said pointing at the horns “but the coooolor…” he crooked
his lips “gold is a bit kitsch” he lolled his head on the side and studied the
god. “Mmm…things didn’t go as you wanted?” he patted him in the back under
Loki’s pissed eyes. “Shiiiiit happens to anyone…” he pouted “except than me of
course.”
Loki squinted.
“Your humor sucks, you know that?”
Joker’s smile was huge.
“Oooonly for low intelligence guys… Sooooo Avengers kicked your ass?
Heheheheeee…C’mon, Lo-loki: it’s not thaaaaaat bad.”
Loki rolled his eyes.
“Of course: we’re not finished. I’ll be back!”
“Huhuhuuuuu! Like Terminator? Someone’s a cinephile…”
Loki lowered a bit his head deep in thought.
“They had help – someone broke my spells… otherwise they wouldn’t have a
chance.”
Joker nodded.
“Who am I to contra---dict youuuuu?”
“How’s our guest?”
“Great! Brucie woke up and we had a heartwarming reunion.”
Loki rolled his eyes.
“Woke up? You sedated him to bring him here?”
“No, actually, I found him ready for shipping…our Tony not only locked myyyy
sleeping beauty but also he put him to sleep so to keep him safe in the Manor.”
Loki smirked; his sneaky eyes blazing.
“Exactly, as we predicted! Stupid Stark! Now, I feel that I’m the true victor!”
Joker cocked his eyebrows.
“Or Victoria…” he shrugged.
“What?”
“This is a…film quiz, right?”
Loki fumed and rolled his eyes pissed.
“Anyway…As long as I have his best friend in my grasp then I hold Stark and my
dear brother from the balls. And of course what happened in New York won’t be
the last…”
Joker narrowed his eyes annoyed.
“Brucie is mine” he hissed in a low, evil voice.
But Loki leaned to him and met his eyes with equal determination.
“You have Bruce down there thanks to me: weren’t for me you wouldn’t even have
gotten near him. So don’t forget who I am and the magnitude of my power.”
An enormous Cheshire smile stretched Joker’s lips. The jester patted his jacket
over the place of his inside pocket and noise from the things there was heard
causing Loki’s interest.
“I don’t forget that, Loki” Joker said amused but with eyes icy still patting
the place of his inside pocket confidently. “Noooooow, if you’ll excuse me –
frankly, I dooooon’t give a shit if you excuse me… I must feed my caged little
bird!”
He began prancing out of the hall.
“IIIIIII…I got you, baaaaabe…” his nasal voice echoed through the halls.
Loki shook his head: he didn’t trust much that jester but he didn’t have
anything to fear from that idiot: he was a god and when penetrating Joker’s
mind he found only mayhem and disorder. Joker wasn’t a threat to him; just a
pawn to his board.
***** Chapter 68 *****
“How long can he last without his medication?”
Alfred’s composed voice cracked the death silence of the kitchen; for an
outsider this voice would have seemed emotionless yet for Leslie who was
standing supporting her back on the built-in stainless steel closet fridge it
was anything but that.
The butler stood in front of the big window over the sink and gazed at the dark
grounds but only seemingly. On his right, lay on the black granite counter the
crystal bowl with the pile of pills Bruce was taking at this time of the day.
Leslie could discern in her friend’s low voice the almost inaudible crack and
the hidden agony. She detached from the fridge and walked to him placing her
hand on his shoulder and Alfred looked at her, his eyes calm as ever trying to
hide his internal suffering.
“Bruce has been inoculated so he isn’t in danger from most viruses. Also, a
satisfying amount of recovering time has passed from the accident so his
organism’s resilience is enhanced. Missing some of his medication dosages won’t
be detrimental…”
“However this cannot be extended much, right?”
Leslie couldn’t lie; she pressed her lips.
“No, it can’t be much” she inhaled “but our Bruce is strong and his friends are
out there looking for him.”
Alfred shook his head and his hand hovered over the pills with almost
tenderness.
“It is so unfair, Leslie…Not even a year has passed since the boy gained his
freedom and people don’t seem to give him a tiny break to enjoy what he hard
earned and heal his wounds properly…It is like the life constantly snarls at
him that…” he didn’t have the heart to articulate his thought.
But Leslie understood: life seemed to snarl at their boy that he wasn’t meant
to be happy or even live...The fearless doctor locked eyes with her friend.
“It is unfair…” she agreed “our boy is special, unique and we know that scum is
drawn to anything that shines…”
Alfred yanked his head and his eyes were lost in the vastness of the Palisades.
“Sometimes I wish that Master Bruce wasn’t so special just for being happy… I’m
afraid, Leslie” he turned his eyes to her “I dread to imagine what this
horrible man can do to him…I wish that Joker had taken me along so that I could
tend to Master Bruce.”
Leslie caressed her friend’s cheeks.
“Bruce wouldn’t want that, Alfred; maybe if what you wish had happened things
would have been worse for him…We’ll take him back.”
 He pressed his lips and nodded.
“I’m worried about Master Anthony too; he has disappeared and I’m sure he feels
guilty about what happened.”
Leslie cocked her eyebrows; Alfred had told her about how Tony stunned Bruce.
“I wouldn’t want to be in his shoes right now…He had the best intentions but he
did something wrong and to make matters worse the outcome was the opposite of
what he hoped. I hope he realizes that he isn’t responsible for Joker’s deeds…”
she shook her head.
Alfred nodded.
“I should go upstairs to see if the crew Lucius sent to fix the wall needs
anything” he said nonchalant but as he moved towards the arc leading to the
corridor Dick ran to him with Hero in his hands still restless after Bruce’s
kidnap; Jason following.
Alfred looked at the boys with sympathy: he didn’t get the chance to ask what
exactly happened and they came immediately after Selina. Dick released Hero who
rubbed to Alfred’s legs as if he wanted to comfort him.
“Alfred, it’s all my fault” Dick said in one breath raising his eyes to meet
the butler’s. “I’m sorry…”
Alfred shook his head and Leslie came closer interested.
“Nonsense, Master Richard” Alfred said kindly to the boy who closed his eyes
exasperated.
“Jason had heard Joker’s goons discussing that Joker would attack Arkham and
told me” Jason nodded affirming. “But I” Dick bit his bottom lip “I chose to go
to Arkham…”
“May I ask the reason, sir?”
The boy averted his gaze and huffed.
“To kill Joker!” he said through gritted teeth.
Alfred placed his hands on the boy’s shoulders and looked him in the eyes.
“If I may, Master Richard, that was foolish: first, you positioned yourself and
Master Jason to a grave danger going there – we are very fortunate that you two
are unharmed; second, by killing someone you never gain anything, on the
contrary the complications just make matters worse” the boy watched Alfred
carefully and the butler smiled kindly. “Nevertheless it isn’t your fault that
Master Bruce was taken: Joker attacked the Manor not the Arkham Asylum.”
Jason crossed his arms.
“That’s true, man…” he pointed to his friend.
Suddenly, it dawned to Dick.
“That funny guy that pretended Joker in Arkham said that it was easy to guess
Stark’s plan to keep Bruce away from there – how did Stark knew that Joker will
be in the Asylum?”
Alfred saw the curiosity and suspicion glimmering in both boys’ eyes and shared
a sideways glance with Leslie.
“Master Bruce was meeting with Dr. Strange so it was certain that someone would
see him and the word would reach Joker so Master Anthony had people watching
the Asylum just in case” Alfred managed to explain. “Now, I believe that it is
time for both of you to have a light supper; Master Jason, would you do us the
favor and stay for the night?”
Jason cocked his eyebrows smugly.
“Master Jason…” he mimicked Alfred’s thick English accent and Leslie chuckled.
“Wow! Call me Jay, Alfie. Mmm…I’ll call mom.”
Dick noticed something on the shining surface of the long black kitchen island.
He moved there with knitted eyebrows and both Leslie and Alfred watched him
touching Bruce’s Cosmos tablet that Alfred had brought there to not be seen by
the police that had done forensic work in the bedroom some hours ago.
“Is anything the matter, Master Richard?” Alfred asked.
“This is Wayne’s smart phone?”
“But of course, sir, why?”
Dick gave a tight smile.
“Nothing…” he walked to Jason who met his eyes with a knowing expression. “Will
be at my room till the supper is ready…” he grabbed his friend and ran out of
kitchen under the two adults’ frown, Hero at their heels.
“You saw that tablet?” he asked Jayson as soon as they entered his bedroom and
he closed the door after letting Hero hop inside.
The younger boy nodded.
Dick rushed to his neglected backpack and opened it to take out his tablet. He
turned to Jason.
“It’s like mine…”
Jason cocked an eyebrow, crooked his mouth and came closer.
“Maybe he saw yars, got jealous an’ bought one?” he asked sarcastic and Dick
lolled his head on the side exasperated.
“Very funny!”
“I told ya from the start that this thingy wasn’t on the market when yar granny
gave it to ya…An’ still it’s not in stores though…I’ve seen some posters an’
ads in the net…It’s brand new…from Wayne Enterprises…” he pouted.
Dick shook his head and eyed his tablet.
“Maybe I’m wrong – maybe it’s not the same…”
Jason came closer.
“Or maybe the guy wanted ya to have the newest model an’ gave it to yar granny
tellin’ her not say anythin’ ‘bout him…” he twitched his eyebrows for emphasis
and Dick averted his eyes to look at Hero who was pacing nervously probably
having remembered his missing human.
Many conflicting things twirled in his mind: his granny’s words, Tony’s warm
presence that all of a sudden started to emanate things that made Dick numb
with cold, Wayne’s stoic stance…so many things had happened that doubted
everything he knew and believed till then. It was so overwhelming that he
needed to stop thinking and just let things unfold.
 
Jim took off his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose; he was still at his
office in MCU reading reports from officers all over Gotham looking for Joker.
There was nothing; he raised his eyebrows…of course.
Alfred Pennyworth had explained to him the unbelievable way the criminal had
vanished from the Manor with Bruce Wayne. In other case, Jim wouldn’t have
believed him but what happened at Arkham reaffirmed the man’s sayings; not to
mention that overcoming Stark’s security measures certainly would demand
something, well, beyond common.
Jim had distrust for magic or god-like beings: not that he didn’t like
Superman, Thor or the rest of extraordinary beings that had entered human
ordinary life – yet the existence of these benevolent heroes meant that major
threats of the same powers could be out there too. And frankly, humankind had
already suffered enough from human criminals: thinking of a god helping Joker
was at least disconcerting.
He shook his head: how could Gotham’s police help Bruce and his loved ones
against this? Certainly they were doing the best they could yet Jim had to
admit that they had to rely on Tony Stark’s super powered friends – though
after the attack in New York they certainly had their hands full.
The Commissionaire felt guilt about the Wayne heir: not only he had been unable
to protect him but also Gotham’s police had failed to make any progress in
finding the grandmother of Wayne’s charge. He had read a report a few hours ago
with no development in that case: it was as if the earth had swallowed the old
lady. On the other hand, if she was dead they would have found a body by now…
At least, Tony Zucco’s case was in the DA’s hands and from what they discussed
there were enough evidence to build a strong case.
“I just want to see the Commissionaire!”
Jim frowned and stood from his chair; he walked to the door listening to his
officer dispute with a woman. He opened the door.
“Pete, let her come” and when the woman was close enough “how can I help you,
Miss Lane? We just had a briefing about the attack at Arkham.”
Lois nodded and looked Gordon in the eyes with a shine that Jim didn’t like.
“I know, Commissionaire but something else happened in Gotham, right?”
“Miss Lane…” he said calm.
Lois arched an eyebrow.
“Police is guarding the Wayne Estate…something happened to Bruce Wayne, right?”
she asked almost demanding but also with a hue of worry in her voice. “I have
heard some rumors” she whispered but Jim’s expression remained neutral denying
her a clue.
“We would have made an announcement if something had happened” he made to turn
to his office; they had decided to not announce anything yet on Wayne’s kidnap.
“Commissionaire” Lois said calm but determined “I understand that you want to
keep it secret…I’m not here as a reporter but as Bruce’s friend.”
Jim looked at her.
“I give you my word that everything you tell me will stay between us and I
won’t harass Bruce’s loved ones… but I’m worried” the young woman continued
serious.
Jim was looking her in the eyes estimating her honesty.
“While Mr. Stark was at Arkham Joker breached the Manor and took Mr. Wayne” he
confirmed her suspicions.
“Damn!” Lois exclaimed through gritted teeth.
Jim nodded.
“Excuse me, Miss Lane” he mumbled and walked opposite her to the waiting room’s
exit where Lieutenant Bullock was waiting for him.
Lois noticed the way the two men exchanged some words seemingly indifferent and
then left; she was sure that those nonchalant words were for something
important and felt bad for Jim Gordon that had so many emergencies to face at
once…but the man was used to this and absolutely the best for this work.
Her first instinctive urge was to take out her smart phone and call Clark to
inform him about Bruce. But she closed her eyes and sighed disappointed.
It was futile: she knew that Superman wouldn’t come and though she was tireless
in giving him Hell…she was very tired of being constantly disappointed by her
friend and her hero being so indifferent…
 
Bruce looked around free from Joker’s presence: definitely, a dudgeon and
judging from the magic around, some building belonging to Loki – maybe his
palace; Thor had told him that he couldn’t locate the mischievous god.
Naturally, since Loki was preparing something along with Joker. And Bruce had a
suspicion that the attack at Arkham and the Manor wasn’t the only.
His eyes fell on the stone ground: Joker had let there his stuff, the blade
with Bruce’s blood still on it and the black blindfold. He pressed his lips –
Joker’s belief that he was Batman was so solid that rational arguments wouldn’t
do anything. After all, the jester didn’t care about logic.
Looking at the items, with the corner of his eyes caught a glimpse of his own
body, bare naked and violated. He closed his eyes and turned his head
elsewhere: from the day Clark was out of his life, Bruce returned to his
aversion for his own body; since then he avoided any eye contact with his body,
especially without clothes. Gross…
He licked his dry lips and looked at the wall opposite him.
The only way Joker was going to be persuaded was if he saw both Bruce and
Batman…the real Batman not one of his friends dressed as Batman: Joker might be
impulsive and even careless about most things but he was very observational
about what he wanted and he definitely knew every detail of Batman.
Thinking about other things different than his own naked body was safer and
more useful…
There was a way for this simultaneous presence to be achieved but being here
made it impossible for Batman to appear because Bruce was sure that they were
far away from Gotham.
He made to move his wrists to test his restraint and to ease them, only to feel
the stone pressing bone-crushingly as Joker had warned. So Bruce stopped
immediately not only because the pain was horrific but also because having two
crushed wrists wouldn’t help.
He bit his lip; he was used to cold and pain and could ignore them yet he
couldn’t deny their presence; and given his body’s condition it wasn’t good
that his back ached – this could be bad news for the healthy part of his spine.
He shook his head: no, he could say that this pain albeit annoying wasn’t
meaning any danger – there were the energy casts protecting him…
A faint smile appeared on his face because the alien casts brought the memory
of the good moments with Clark – how much he cared; how gently he was taking
care of him; how much he loved him…He shook his head clenching his jaw
determined: that was over. Clark wouldn’t come back.
He forced his mind to focus elsewhere…somewhere with meaning. To things that
were urging. Bruce gathered the information the current developments gave him.
Loki wasn’t working with someone else; he wasn’t part of a greater scheme – the
god worked for himself, for his own goals. He might have appeared in Thasos the
time of the attack against him but that was a coincidence; Bruce was sure that
Loki wasn’t working with Vivian which would have been the conclusion if the
mischievous god had orchestrated the attack to bring Diana into their lives.
Also, Loki didn’t have any involvement in the raids to LexLabs which would have
indicated that he had recruited Mannheim.
Not to mention that Mannheim didn’t seem the man to be recruited even by a
god…Joker wasn’t either but the jester did it for his own interest while
Mannheim was taking care of his interests by himself: he looked like one to
recruit others not to be recruited…Of course, Loki could take forms so he could
have presented himself as Mannheim however Bruce didn’t believe that for the
extra reason that Loki wouldn’t hesitate to reveal it to laugh at him.
Bruce was sure that they were faced with two different schemes at the same
time; each independent of the other. The healthy half of his body filled with
agitation and impatience to go to his cave and dive in the results of the
search about anything on Vivian: he was sure that if he found the truth about
her he would be able to figure everything. She couldn’t be working alone: she
definitely had the ability to manipulate and even control people yet there were
more things related to her that she couldn’t manage – at least, from what Bruce
knew about her. The powers mimicking the real Amazon Princess weren’t her doing
and the way she had been appearing wherever Superman was…
He closed his eyes and almost smell the humid, cold scent of his cave; the
metal smell of the Tumbler; of the waterfall; of the bats. His heart beat fast
from the need to be there despite the fact Tony certainly would object…
Tony…Bruce remembered his friends’ determined almost angry – desperate – eyes a
second before he felt the beam running through his body. Bruce bit his lip and
sighed; he was sure that the damn video had a great impact on Tony driving his
overprotectiveness beyond the limits…
That video…The images and the feelings from the night Falcone did all these to
him attempted to slip through his mind’s barriers but he stubbornly shut the
door to them. He didn’t want to touch at all that, leaving the investigation to
the police yet he knew that to find the buyer of the video who was the
mastermind they had to start from the hacker and unroll the skein: who knew
Isaac’s skills in hacking?
He felt Tony’s anger; his sadness…Oh, Tony…
He heard the inaudible hissing of the wall opposite him that he knew that
announced someone’s entrance…
 
Tony was at Lucius’ workshop in Wayne Tower; Pepper had called Alfred to tell
him that Tony was fine but the billionaire couldn’t find the courage to speak
to him.
Lucius was casting glances at the younger man who was perusing the flood of
data in the hologram before them.
“Jarvis, get access to Bruce’s surveillance system to Harleen Quinzel’s
apartment: cable phone, smart phone, phone at Arkham, everything.”
“Harleen Quinzel?” Lucius asked and stood from his stool to approach Tony who
seemed unable to sit down.
“She was Joker’s shrink in Arkham and she has a fascination with the man; Bruce
was watching her. Actually, we knew that Joker would attack Arkham because she
had seen Bruce visiting Strange there – and we were right” Tony elaborated.
Lucius nodded: Bruce had said to him some days ago that he had appointed to his
trusted scientist too many responsibilities so obviously the young man didn’t
want to put more weight on Lucius’ shoulders.
“So you hope that Joker will eventually get sick of Loki’s ‘custody’ and
reappear in Gotham seeking his docile former therapist and she will lead us to
him.”
Tony looked at Lucius and pursed his lips.
“You think the chances for that are negligible?” he asked almost discouraged.
But Lucius gave a faint but so confident smile that Tony felt his hopes up. The
African American arched his eyebrows.
“On the contrary, I think that it is very possible this will be the course
Joker will follow – besides, it is what Mr. Wayne believed as well” he gestured
to the flood of data.
Tony watched the new data moving rapidly in the hologram in front of him.
“I hope so…”
“I understand that bringing police in this is for the time being forbidden.”
Tony nodded.
“My urge is to have the bitch arrested and interrogated to spill where that
nutcase but I need to think like Bruce to help him – patience is not my
expertise but it is Bruce’s: arresting her right now might not get us anywhere
as I bet she doesn’t know anything about his current location. So for now we
can only watch her and wait for Joker’s move.”
Lucius put on his glasses.
“Informing the police right now about Quinzel’s role will require explain to
them how we know her relationship with Joker which won’t help Mr. Wayne’s need
for secrecy.”
Tony crooked his mouth.
“That damned secrecy…” but he didn’t continue. “On the other hand, I doubt that
police’s monitoring will be better than ours…”
Lucius nodded.
Watching the telephone numbers of Quinzel’s calls that the processor
automatically crossed with registered numbers, Tony didn’t find anything
suspicious. He remembered that Bruce had pointed out that Joker probably
suspected that his associate was watched and found another way to contact her –
maybe another phone registered with different name or no registered at all.
“We can’t just rely on the monitoring of her phones and apartment – we need to
watch her movements constantly.”
“Definitely” Lucius said and he touched the screen of his phone like gadget
bringing up another hologram showing a bleeping spot that was Quinzel in her
apartment.
Tony was scanning the data from the processor from the cave; Bruce had also
detailed logs with reports about Crane’s supposed whereabouts: there was a
interactive map where every location was noted constantly updated whenever a
new report arrived in the police’s database; flashing lights had formed a
rectangular where his movements where restricted – rectangular that was
shrinking or broadening according to the updates.
“So Bruce believes that Crane is also important to find Joker…”
Lucius shook his head.
“We need to keep an eye for him too…”
Suddenly, Lucius noticed something.
“The cave’s processor alerts on an emergency” he pointed with his index to a
yellow blinking little light. “A breakout from MCU” he looked at Tony who
ruffled his hair.
“I don’t have time for that; let the GCPD handle it…”
“Master Anthony…”Jarvis’ quiet voice fell like thunder in the lab.
Tony closed his eyes and sighed.
“Don’t tell me…”
“We have a situation at Siberia.”
“Loki?”
“There is no indication of his presence…”
Tony shook his head.
“The others can handle it” he said adamant “inform Fury.”
“Sir, there are more reports about emergencies all over the globe.”
Tony ground his teeth and locked eyes with Lucius.
“The bastard wants to keep me busy to not look for Bruce…What he is up to?!”
Lucius pressed his lips.
“I think you should go, Mr. Stark. Bruce would want you to and I’ll be here
constantly updating you.”
Tony’s armor rapidly began enclosing his body. His eyes were filled with
gratitude when he met Lucius’s eyes.
“Thank you, Lucius.”
“No need, Mr. Stark” he answered with his warm smile “it’s what I’m here for…”
 
Steve closed the door to the rooftop and walked calm towards the edge. Catwoman
was standing on the ledge watching across with her hands fisted in her sides.
“I’m sorry I didn’t answer your call. I left my phone in the apartment when
Fury beeped us for the attack in New York. I saw your call when I returned.”
He hugged her shoulders.
“Thor told us that Joker took Bruce…” he rubbed her upper arms. “I’m so sorry,
honey… Any luck?”
Catwoman bit her lip.
“This city is empty…That sonovabitch is nowhere!”
“Maybe you should return to the Manor and wait? Loki must have hid Joker
somewhere.”
She turned to him with blazing eyes.
“No, I won’t stand and watch! Joker won’t stay for long with Loki – I’m sure at
some point he’s going to get rid of him. He isn’t the guy to be someone’s
footman” she cocked her eyebrows “it’s too boring for him.”
“Then?”
“When he’ll make his movement I’ll be ready, watching that bitch…” she gestured
with her head to the opposing building.
Steve frowned.
“Whom?”
“Harleen Quinzel, she was Joker’s shrink in the nut house. Bruce was positive
that they are connected and in constant” she shook her head with conviction.
“He’ll get in touch with her soon, summoning his puppet.”
“I’ll be here with you.”
Catwoman shook her head.
“World needs you…”
And as if wanting to confirm her Steve’s beeper sounded demanding; Catwoman
smirked as Steve eyed frustrated the small gadget in his belt.
“Go…” she urged him meeting his eyes and placing a small kiss to his lips.
 
 
 The stone opposite Bruce dissolved forming an oval opening to reveal Joker who
hopped inside carrying on his hand a golden tray with food.
Bruce filled his eyes with terror and tensed because he knew that the jester
would try to finish what he had started – his nudity returned more strikingly
to the center of his awareness.
Joker cast a sideways glance to the wall that was taking again its solid form.
“Uuuuaaaahhhhh!! I aaaaaaalways wanted to do that: pass through walls like a
gggggggghost – heheheheeeeee…”
He turned his head to his prisoner and a wide Cheshire smile cracked his white
painted smile. He walked closer, kneeled before Bruce and placed the tray on
the ground.
Bruce began breathing fast with fear not even casting a glance to the food and
his captor, keeping his eyes down.
Joker murmured annoyed and grabbed Bruce’s chin yanking his head to look at
him.
“You must be hungry, littl’ gem…” he said nasally.
Bruce made a deliberately clumsy effort to an angry stare.
“Don’t call me that” he took care that his demand was flickering with terror
and Joker smiled.
“I looooooove your acting skills, littl’ geeeeem…”
Bruce closed his eyes defeated.
“Please, don’t call me that…” he deserted any effort to demand it and Joker
chuckled impressed.
“’Cause Falconi called you that? C’mon, baaaaabe, you know I don’t like to
repeat things but this suits youuuuuu…” he licked his lips. “Noooow, I saw how
skinny you were in that disg—usting video an’ daaaddy Joker won’t let you
starve again.”
Bruce shook his head.
“I’m not hungry” he mumbled and raised shyly his eyes to Joker’s face. “My
back…hurts…” his voice lost more of its volume saying that and Joker lolled his
head backwards.
He cupped his prisoner’s face and caressed his cheeks with his ungloved hands;
his fingertips touching Bruce’s flesh fascinated.
“I can’t un—restrain you, can I?”
Bruce breathed fast.
“I…I can’t do anything…I’m disabled and even if I wasn’t…what could I do?”
Joker pouted.
“Poooooor thing…” he sneered at him. “As if I believe you – HEHEHEHE!” he
stopped abruptly laughing turning a serious expression. “Nooooooow, mum! Umm…I
don’t know what bats eat…HEHEHEHEHEEEE! Soooome say that they eat miiiiice and
drink blood – HEHEHEHEEE!” he became serious again and waved that off.
“Buuuulshit! An’ where I was going to find thooooose, huh? Not that the staff
of this establishment isn’t helpful…”
Bruce let his head loll on the shoulder tired but Joker cupped his chin with
one hand caressing the stray locks on his forehead with the other.
“Weeeell, look what good daaaddy brought to his puuuppy! Miiiilk, chicken
fillet and apple pie for dessert” he lolled his head to the side and regarded
his prisoner’s scared eyes. “Whaaaat?! I didn’t puuuut any surprise in there,
oooon myyyy mmm…blades’ sharpness!”
The jester detached his hand from Bruce’s hair, broke a bite from the fillet
with the spoon and brought it to Bruce’s mouth; the younger man averted his
face but Joker tightened his one hand grip on his chin forcing him to return to
his previous position.
“Aaaaaaaa! Come…For Daaaaddyyyyy Jooooooker… OPEN YOUR DAMN MOUTH!” he shouted
frustrated.
Bruce closed his eyes and opened slightly his mouth permitting Joker to shove
the food inside. The jester caressed tenderly his prisoner’s cheek.
“It wasn’t thaaaaat difficult, huh?”
Thankfully, Bruce didn’t detect anything suspicious in the chicken’s taste;
actually, it was very tasty yet his stomach was a knot. Joker was staring at
him fascinated.
“Do you want moooooore, littl’ gem?”
Bruce shook his head.
“But it was sooooooo little: a big, bad bat needs more food to be…weeeeell, big
an’ scaaary an’…mmm…del--ICIOUS, huh?”
Bruce yanked his head huffing.
“I’m not he…Please, give me my clothes – it’s so cold here.”
Joker pouted and eyed the rugs around Bruce’s thighs that were what was left
from his expensive pants. He shrugged.
“You mean these?” he chuckled arching his eyebrows like the child who had
broken the vase. “I don’t think that they are mmm…wearable but I can do
something for the cold…I can’t let myyyy little bat shivering, can I?” he said
with a wicked shine in his green eyes.
Bruce tensed but Joker was on him in a rapid motion, his arms tightly wrapped
around his stretched torso fondling fast and roughly.
“HEHEHEHEEEE, eeeee? Daddy Joker found the sol—ution: I’ll keep you warm
aaaaaaand I’ll give you a niiiice massage for your back pains. Hihihiiiiiiii!”
Bruce closed his eyes to choke the nausea and the all familiar panic that
rapidly filled his mind as Joker took out his jacket with hasty movements
touching his torso on Bruce’s; his hands more greedy than before.
“I want real contact, damn it!” the jester said with seriousness and a deep
voice completely foreign to him.
“No” Bruce mumbled “don’t do this…no, please, stop…” but Joker silenced him
capturing his mouth with his, shoving his wet tongue deep inside exploring
demandingly, one hand fondling his prisoner’s back and the other ruffling
violently his silken locks.
“Hoooooooolly Blades! Thiiiiiis is toooooo goooood…” he moaned without
interrupting his kiss.
The jester’s brutal kiss lasted more than a minute and in the end Joker
detached reluctantly from Bruce’s lips biting hard the younger man’s bottom lip
drawing blood which the jester licked closing his eyes and groaning in delight.
“Youuuuu taste like a jester’s most beautiful dreams” he mumbled and his hands
travelled fast Bruce’s back to his buttocks. “Mmm…Myyyy baaaaat has a greaaaat
butt: what more can a poooooor clown ask?”
Bruce was coughing choked from Joker’s brutal kiss but the jester fisted his
hair and yanked his head to the side plunging his mouth on his prisoner’s neck
sucking and licking the drumming vein while his hands were groping violently
his buttocks.
Bruce couldn’t feel his brutal ministrations but he could hear the wet sounds
and the effect was almost the same; he tried to keep his mind busy and away
from all these as Ra’s had taught him but once again the result wasn’t good
enough.
“Please…” he could resist yet that wouldn’t have a result and wouldn’t fit
Bruce’s submissive past.
“As much as…” he dove again to Bruce’s neck; he detached “I looooove your
playing the weak” his mouth sucked again flesh; he detached “why not demaaaaand
that with your batsy voice, huh?” his mouth travelled lower to the chest
“oooooooh! That chest is fantastic! Like statue…the muscles sooooo…mmm…the
fleeesh so taut and velvet…oooooh…”
Joker took off his shirt in a rapid motion.
“Few!” he exclaimed relieved “it’s with press stuuuuuuds” he giggled and rubbed
his naked torso that burned from arousal on Bruce’s cold one. “Oooooooh! Littl’
gem, you’re a piece of ice buuuuuut I’m a sex boooomb…sooooooo I’ll be your
liberaaaator…uuuuuuh…”
The violent friction from Joker’s torso was suddenly combined with the brutal
friction of two fingers inside him and Bruce’s heart went frantic; his breath
became panting.
“You’re hooorny, baaaaabe? Doooon’t worry, I won’t leeet your sweet hooole
waiting looooong for the good stuff…”
Bruce sobbed; all the times Falcone used him crushed on his mind like thunders
on trees. He clenched his fists as he had learnt but the tightening stone
warned him crudely to stop crushing more his wrists.
Joker was licking his abs now and Bruce felt the jester’s panting breath going
faster, and hotter which meant that he was about to…Without taking his mouth
off Bruce Joker brought his one hand to his fly ready to free his throbbing
member.
Bruce in the deep mist his mind was heard the distinctive hissing of the wall
opening. He turned his sweaty head to see while Joker didn’t notice absorbed in
his arousal both sucking Bruce’s member and thrusting three fingers so fast and
deep that it hurt horribly.
“Sorry to interrupt…” an ironic voice said and Joker growled.
 
Thor stood by Dr. Strange’s side on the marble floor of the temple’s exterior
watching the man performing odd, precise movements with his hands which created
colorful sparkles.
“I’ll come with you; I might be able to be of some help.”
Strange looked at him with an eyebrow arched.
“You don’t trust me with your friend?”
“Of course I do but I don’t know what Loki might have in store for anyone
approaching; maybe when you find him you’ll need my help.”
His beeper’s sound hit the peace of the scenery hard and Thor’s frown was deep;
his determination to go with Strange unbreakable.
Steven smiled and patted the god’s upper arm.
“Go…It’s better if I’m alone in that search. If I need your help be sure that
I’ll ask…” he smiled seeing Thor’s hesitance to leave. “I’ll find him, Thor.”
 
 “WHAT DO YOU WANT?!!” Joker shouted still attached to Bruce’s length. “That
Asgard place doesn’t teach you manners?”
Bruce looked at their visitor: Loki had his arms crossed over the chest and
regarded the scene before him with a mixture of amusement and distaste. Despite
the serious of the situation Bruce chuckled inside thinking Joker's state being
every time cut abruptly at the moment of his culmination...
“This place is mine if you forgot” he said pointedly and with a nod of his head
Joker was tossed away from Bruce. “And Bruce here is my guest – I didn’t give
you permission to do him such things.”
Bruce gulped and lowered his head embarrassed.
Joker was fuming; he jumped on his feet and glared at the god with his green
eyes flashing among his disheveled green curls.
“Brucie is only MINE, you stupid freak!” he shouted nasally, his stuttering
vanishing completely.
Loki smirked and Joker was tossed to the opposite wall and then to the floor.
The mischievous god cocked an eyebrow.
“Take your rags and leave…” he ordered Joker indifferent and watched as the
jester clearly enraged gathered his clothes and left the cell.
The space became dead silent minus Bruce’s asthmatic breath that let every now
and then an almost inaudible sob with the youth every time pressing his lips
silencing himself. Loki after a minute walked closer and Bruce feeling his
sneaky eyes on him raised tiredly his head and met his gaze.
“Is that what you wanted?”  he asked quietly but accusingly.
Loki moved closer, his privy eyes travelling Bruce’s naked body.
“I should say, yes” he cocked an eyebrow and his grin became broader “this body
is magnificent: has my dear brother devoured its beauties yet?”
Bruce gulped but didn’t lower his eyes.
“Thor never touched me; he is honest and honorable; his mind isn’t on these
things.”
Loki rolled his eyes.
“How stupid!” he narrowed his eyes wickedly. “Do you gather he is…impotent?” he
sniggered.
Bruce lowered his eyes again breathing hard.
“There’s nothing funny…” he mumbled exhausted. “You act like Joker…What do you
want from me?”
Loki squatted in front of him and brought his face close to Bruce’s. He raised
his hand and his fingers touched hesitantly the youth’s sweaty but cold cheek;
he sniffed mesmerized.
“Mmm…I never met such a perfume again: the rarest cinnamon – sweet and spicy
with hues of orange and hibiscus’ blossoms” he closed his eyes reminiscent “it
makes my groin twitch. Superman was so lucky…” his fingers moved to Bruce’s
neck and he looked him scared “and so idiot!”
“Please, don’t touch me…”
“Joker was ready to do worse things to you…” he cocked an eyebrow “and I’m your
savior.”
“Because you gave him the chance. Is this really what a god like you wants from
his power? To bend as low as a mad criminal who butchers children?”
Loki touched his hand on Bruce’s chest and caressing moved lower to his abs.
“Thor will be enraged…”
Bruce closed his eyes.
“Is that why you stopped Joker? To finish this yourself?” he mumbled.
Loki cast him a lopsided glance without taking his hand from Bruce’s body.
“I can’t resist a piece of art…I’m a collector – I should show you my throne
hall.”
Bruce shook his head.
“Do you understand that you have become Joker’s accomplice? He has dragged you
in his madness…I understand that you feel neglected, wronged by your kind but…”
he felt Loki’s eyes on his face “because of you Joker killed a young man during
the attack at Avengers’ Tower; you set him loose and many people are in danger
because of you…”
Loki grabbed Bruce’s face with both hands and Bruce’s eyes flickered pretending
fear.
“You’re cold” Loki said.
“I’m naked in a dudgeon…but I’m used to that…my entire life I was buried in a
dudgeon, in the cold…You said once that we are alike; but you gave me to Joker
or you will do to me…what Joker wanted to…just to piss your brother.”
“I don’t want to harm you…”
Bruce smiled.
“I’m sure…” he said in disbelief.
Loki blinked and instantly Bruce felt warmth; beautiful dark red clothes from
velvet covering his body. He looked at Loki.
“I’ll hold you till I achieve my goal…” the god said blatantly.
“Which is?”
“Showing to everyone in Asgard that I’m the best among them” he smirked. “A
bastard – that is what they called me – better than them.”
“Working with Joker and helping him with his crimes you only prove them right!
They might treat you badly; they might bully you but taking the responsibility
for Joker’s crimes makes you like him!” he shook his head seeing Loki’s
thoughtful but at the same time doubtful eyes. “You can’t trust Joker…He will
double cross you!”
Loki licked his lips and patted Bruce head like he was petting a cute puppy.
Bruce rolled his eyes frustrated but only inside.
“Don’t fret: I won’t let him near you again. I’ll take you to a beautiful
room.”
“You think so!”
Bruce saw Joker emerging from the wall, a bottle in his hand; the jester
smashed the bottle on the ground and thick smoke filled the place. Bruce
coughed but Loki’s eyes bulged recognizing the gas.
Joker came to them as Loki weakened slumped to Bruce’s torso. Bruce without of
course showing anything realized what Joker did: that gas was the same Loki had
asked from Crane to create; the gas that neutralized any special or godly power
– the one they used at the Avengers’ Tower attack.
 The jester laughed and grabbed Loki from the collar of his vest tossing him to
the floor away from Bruce.
“Do you recognize this?” he hissed blinking his eyes cutely but maliciously.
Loki clenched his jaw in anger but as much as he tried to react his powers were
thinning rapidly.
“You used my gas!”
Joker leaned above him with his Cheshire smile reaching his ears.
“No, not ‘youuuuuuuurs’: you gave the instructions and the ingredients an’
gooood ol’ Crane manufactured it…HEHEHEHEHEEEEE!” he smacked his lips and
hugged Loki’s shoulders like a friend “Listen a tip from an expert in the
field” he grabbed the pale god’s chin “doooooon’t you eeeeeever trust a shrink
with knowledge” he rolled his eyes “especially, a loony shrink. HEHEHEHEEEE!
With the right amount of money he made it for me…”
Loki was fuming causing Joker’s amused giggle.
“Uuuuuuuuh…I loooooooove weak, boooooiling ANGER!!!!”
 The jester tightened his grip on Loki’s jaw and the god was surprised to feel
pain for the first time; pain that became worse when a needle stabbed his upper
arm.
“Oooour goooood crow-doctor maaaaade a compound mixture with loooooonger
duration – heheheeeee! Ooooh, that Crane! Sooooooo seeeerious but with a sour
taste of humor…”
Joker turned rapidly into seriousness and Loki’s surprise became utter fear
hued with wrath when his former pawn touched a blade to his cheek.
“I told you that Brucie was MINE an’ you had the audacity to stand between us”
he shook his head and licked his lips “I could kill you for that bbbbbuuuuut
it’d be funnier to let you here weak for your brother to fiiiiiind…”
“You fucking…” Loki said through gritted teeth but his eyes widened in terror
when the blade cut his cheek and the god felt warm blood slithering his mortal-
like flesh.
Bruce knew that he had to intervene.
“Don’t kill him…”
Joker rolled his eyes and looked at him.
“Youuuuuur soft spot for goooods it’s disconcerting, babe…we need to sort this
out. Well, I don’t plan to kill that moron – HEHEHE…I bet you thought you could
move me around like a puppet, huh? Now…” he smacked his lips “Call your half
naked servants and order them to take my Brucie out of this rock and send us
back.”
“I don’t take orders from a ridiculous being like you!”
“Really, now…” a second blade appeared like from thin air and Loki’s throat was
in a second between two stinging blades already cutting flesh.
Sweat drops filled Loki’s face and Bruce frowned.
“Okay!” Loki said.
“If I sense a trick I’ll cut your throat, Ass-gardian!”
Loki said something in a strange language and a half naked fairy appeared; her
face paled seeing Loki kneeled with two blades at his throat and blood
streaking his cheek.
Bruce was watching seemingly shaken yet he was already estimating the new
situation: going back to Gotham would be actually good for him.
“Baaaabe, time for sleeeep now…”
He didn’t have time to react before Joker put a fabric drenched with liquid in
his face; his eyes shut immediately.
 
The burgundy cape gave a slight wave as Steven’s feet touched with the shining
marble floor. He looked around him and the luxury of the place made him raise
his eyebrows: at his side there was a round golden pond with a crystal shark
fountain – he noticed with curiosity that fish swam inside and leaned to see.
One of the fish jumped at him with bare sharp teeth but the cape dragged him
away; Dr. Strange crooked his mouth.
“Piranhas? Goodness…”
He walked hastily away to the seemingly endless space with his eyes captivated
by the dome; he gazed at the murals and smirked when he focused on the
painting: a very extreme orgy with every detail depicted. He chuckled and
coughed forcing his eyes to abandon the fascinating ceiling and continue.
His chuckle became laughter when the pillars that supported the hall became
visible in detail: men and women completely naked.
“We’re talking about a sex addict god…not to mention, lacking any good taste…”
he eyed the golden throne at the far end; on the seat a golden horned helmet
was placed. “At least, it’s the right place…Now where our knave is?”
He felt a force dragging him which he by now had learnt that was his cape.
“Okay, okay…I’m with you” he mumbled in his bass voice finding his balance.
His cocked in sarcasm eyebrows knitted as he crossed the vast corridors
following his gut feeling and his cape. At first, he was puzzled by the lack of
guards or any resistance but then his puzzlement became a grim premonition
eyeing fairy-like beings – gorgeous by the way, and completely naked under the
transparent veils they wore; that Loki knew how to get the most out of his
eternal life!
“Don’t drag!” he snapped to his cape “I’m not losing my focus but I’m a man,
for Goodness’ sake…”
Loki’s maidens were slumped on the edges of the corridor, curled up with shaken
faces and just watched him passing them towards what Strange felt was the
basement – he was going downstairs.
He felt that the dark place – completely different than the shining golden
palace – was full of magic yet these spells were ragged, torn in shreds, the
power that had set them, their master was weak.
Steven hurried his steps following the dark and humid corridor that thankfully
was sparsely lit by torches stack in the stone walls. The wizard kept looking
around with his guard up for any attack though he sensed that there wasn’t
anything dangerous there. The more he regarded the place the more he was sure
that Thor would have beaten his brother to a pulp if he had seen where he kept
Bruce Wayne.
As a doctor and as a patient that had suffered multiple injuries, Steven could
say that this place was the worst possible for a paraplegic who was recovering
from grave traumas. He just hoped that this bad feeling had nothing to do with
Wayne.
He felt the tag from his cape but he had already sensed that the wall before
him was his destination: there was magic absorbed in this stone but now it was
rapidly dissolving; the stone was meant to permit the entrance only to those
the god wanted but Steven knew that he could easily pass the stone. Yet he felt
that he should observe first and then enter.
Behind the stone were two presences, one very weak and the other powerful.
“Where is Bruce? What have you done to him, you hellion?”someone was growling.
Steven cocked an eyebrow.
“Joker took him…” a weak but still cocky voice answered.
“You know where he is…Speak or I’ll end your pathetic days!”
Steven rushed head first to the stone and after a feeling of warm shower he was
inside a rectangular space – a cold, humid dudgeon. He saw on the floor rags of
what must have been tailored, pricy pants and underwear; he sensed agony,
suffering, arousal and anger…His guts clenched: something bad had happened to
Wayne.
He detached his eyes from the stone where Wayne had been tied till recently and
turned to the presences he felt. They haven’t seen him yet – his reflection
invisible.
Loki was on his knees, his long raven hair was disheveled and his thin face
pale; he looked weak and how else could he look?
A man was towering him, having a golden arrow’s point touching the god’s
forehead, the bow’s string ready to launch it. He was dressed in dark green, a
hoodie covering his head casting in shadow his face letting only the sparkle of
his green eyes being seen.
The dark green gloved hand tightened around the thick shining black wood of the
bow and the one touching the arrow seemed eager to release it to pierce Loki’s
head.
“Because of you that bastard got Bruce! You gave Bruce to him! You are guilty
for whatever Joker does to him! You will die for the pain you caused to him!”
the grinding of his teeth was really spooky to hear.
Steven cocked his eyebrows impressed – another man in agony for Wayne…: that
man definitely charmed and infatuated people with a skill that the greatest
wizards would be jealous…
Loki to his merit was calm and even challenging; his eyebrow slightly raised.
“I wish I knew where that fuckin’ clown took Bruce…but I don’t. He stabbed me
in the back.”
Steven could see the angry smirk of the archer’s lips.
“You won’t have to live much with the hurt of his betrayal…” he hissed
sniggering. “You’re useless after all…”
His hand released the arrow and Steven heard the archer’s enraged and surprised
growl when his arrow was snapped in two. It was remarkably difficult for
Steven’s powers to snap this arrow.
Loki breathed relieved but the archer looked around his eyes flashing more than
ever.
“Show yourself!” he barked having sensed the other presence.
Steven yanked his head proudly, fixed his cape and made himself visible with a
dignified cough.
“I know you have your right” he said to the archer “but I can’t let you kill
him.”
The archer cast him a furious but at the same time contemptuous look that made
Steven frown.
“Suit yourself, sorcerer! I’ve got more important things to do!” he said and
walked out of the stone that now was so weakened that anyone could cross.
Loki encouraged from the archer’s departure turned to Strange with a cocked
eyebrow; his mischievous character having somewhat recover.
“It seems I’m lucky after all…” he said with some distress accompanying his
playfulness.
The wizard shook his head and smirked.
“Not when Thor gets you…” he snorted feeling his old sarcasm returning at the
fullest but he couldn’t fight a satisfied grin seeing Loki’s grim expression.
 
The whole wall world map in the center of the Avengers’ Tower’s conference room
was lit with several orange colored lights over different global locations:
nuclear reactors, oil rings, weapon storages. All of them battle sceneries.
Fury gestured with four fingers to the map and the orange lights became green –
the color of safety. He turned to his heroes that were gathered in the room,
seated not around the oval, glass titanium table but anywhere else.
Captain America still in full battle attire sat in a leather armchair
supporting his elbows to his knees. Thor had managed to tame his agitation and
was sitting in one of the conference seats that he had dragged away from the
table. Dr. Spanner dressed in his cheap jeans and T-shirt scrolled data in his
tablet while Natasha watched from the leather sofa at the far end opposite the
big table.
Tony was the only one who didn’t look at the holographic map; he couldn’t
contain his emotions and let himself sit down. His body was still in full
Ironman armor except for the face plate.
“The madness of the last twelve hours is finally over” Fury said. “Of course
our surveillance satellites are in full vigilance exactly as our local
departments all over the planet” he cast a glance at Tony who was gazing at the
dawn colors of New York’s skyline. “This time Loki chose to attack through his
minions to targets that wouldn’t be in the spotlight and in live coverage.”
Thor clenched his fist.
“He just wanted to have us on the run; disoriented; busy.”
Fury nodded and Dr. Spanner raised his eyes to his teammates.
“All the systems in the Tower are fully recovered, in perfect operational
mode.”
Steve pressed his lips.
“I know that the newest attacks took place in facilities that are under strict
secrecy…but it strikes me Superman’s absence: that is unlike him” he raised his
eyebrows. “The New York attack was covered live…I mean, Flash did come.”
Natasha shrugged and cocked an eyebrow.
“Maybe he was busy: he and his girlfriend. What matters is that we managed
without him…”
“Yes but this is worrying” Steve insisted. “Maybe something is wrong with him
and what will happen if the next threat is something that we can’t fight
alone?”
Natasha snorted.
“We’ll fight harder…” Tony spat from his position without turning to them. “The
alien is not worthy of our trust; he is useless…”
Steve exchanged looks with his teammates; Thor knew the depth of Tony’s
bitterness and distaste about the Man of Steel: not only the symbol of hope for
many people hurt his best friend but also he never once helped since then.
“The Asgardian jerk just wanted to play with us…stall me; torment me forcing me
to fight for anything else than…” Tony closed his mouth and shook his head.
“Now, I have to go: if you need me…” he didn’t have the mood even to finish his
phrase.
He made some heavy steps to the exit under his teammates’ gaze, the door
already opening for him: Tony planned to go to the far end of the corridor
where the wall with the huge golden A on the exterior had already opened for
Ironman to take off.
Thor met him half way and Tony stopped.
“Tony, Loki might have done all these to keep us afar but he won’t make it.”
Tony was tired and in grim mood but definitely wasn’t hopeless.
“That goes without saying!” he spat and made to leave but Thor grabbed his
upper arm.
“As we speak Loki might have been already spotted and caught.”
Tony frowned and Thor locked eyes with him.
“I asked the help of the right man.”
Now Tony’s eyes flashed.
“I don’t want another stranger around Bruce!” he grabbed the edges of Thor’s
cape on his shoulders. “You trusted someone we don’t know to find him!” he
gritted his teeth to Thor’s astonished face.
Thor felt for his comrade; Tony had made one major mistake and now was scared
for every tiny possibility of things gone awry.
“We can trust him” he said confident. “He is with the good guys and he has
powers that make him a valuable asset against Loki.”
“Who is he then?” Tony asked doubtful and gloom.
“Dr. Steven Strange, Mr. Stark” a bass baritone cracked the silence and Tony
turned around… Just before storming at the newcomer.
 
***** Chapter 69 *****
Tony’s eyes was seeing only red, his hands had already taken position to punch
or choke to death. But as he was ready to make contact he felt an invisible
barrier and he was bounced off. The push from the impact made him regain his
connection with the environment.
He registered a golden-transparent round shield covering his target; the
newcomer had his hands positioned to form an arch exactly as the shape of the
shield. Tony narrowed his eyes and fumed, his gaze sending daggers to Loki who
behind the safety of the shield smirked.
However his annoying smirk vanished when something smacked the back of his neck
sending him to the floor. Tony turned to see Thor’s hammer emitting sparks.
Dr. Strange arched his eyebrows.
“You can pass my shield? I need to look to it…” he said thoughtful.
Thor moved forward and Tony looked at him.
“Shatter the shield and let Loki to me!” he growled and he saw agreement in
Thor’s eyes.
“I can’t shatter his shield” he answered “I can only send some energy through
it.”
“Damn!” Tony glared at the wizard who was staring at them both. “Take that
shield off!” he spat at him.
Stephen nodded.
“Gladly” he said “but I don’t think that killing him will help you in any way…”
“It’s none of your business what I’m going to do to that sonovabitch!” Tony
barked. “What do you care anyway?”
Stephen shrugged one shoulder and lolled slightly his head.
“I guess another leftover of my past…but overall I hate gore…”
Both Tony and Thor moved forwards ready to attack.
“Guys…” Dr. Strange tried to reason with them holding his palms in the air
appeasing.
“You don’t know anything about that!” Tony spat. “He didn’t harm your best
friend!”
Stephen closed his eyes and cast a sideways look of contempt at Loki who rolled
his eyes.
“I knew that you hated me” Thor said to Loki “but attacking Bruce from all
people…” he shook his head locking eyes with the mischievous god who for the
first time seemed regretful. “He has suffered so much… He didn’t wrong you in
any way! And, damn it! He is a paraplegic!”
“It was your fault, bro!” Loki retorted glaring at his brother through his
disheveled raven hair; his green eyes sparkled sneakily. “You showed so much
interest for him that you turned my focus on him – Bruce was the best way to
get to you; to make you understand how crummy you are – that I’m so much
superior that I could take from you the object of your affection!”
Thor made to storm at him but stopped thoughtful; it was what Loki wanted:
enrage him to have his fun but the important thing was to find Bruce.
“How did you manage to capture him?” he asked Strange. “His powers have
increased considerably during the last months…”
Loki rolled his eyes and sighed.
“When I found him he was weak” Strange answered, registering the other Avengers
and Fury gathering around him curious. “He has lost his divine powers.”
Tony’s eyes sparkled.
“Glad to hear that!” he said and his laser canon on his shoulder was heard
loading.
Thor placed his hand on Tony’s shoulder to restrain him.
“How is that possible?” Captain America asked.
Tony shook his head exasperated, annoyed from Captain’s intervention.
“Oh! It’s obvious! The asshole trusted Joker but Joker knew that Loki had used
a gas that neutralizes super powers: remember the attack at the Tower?”
everyone watching nodded and Tony licked his lips. “Loki hired Crane to do the
job and Joker used the mad doctor to get the same gas and use it against its
creator. You deserved that, asshole!”
Loki clapped sarcastic.
“Wow! Stark! You have a brain after all; it’s not filled with boobs…”
Thor had to hold Tony’s both arms to stop him. Stephen rolled his eyes on
Loki’s last words remembering what he saw in the god’s palace.
Captain America moved forward.
“Where is Bruce?” he asked the question that was boiling in Tony’s and Thor’s
minds but the wrath held back.
Tony put his wrath at bay and Thor released him.
“Yeah, screw Loki!” Natasha spat.
Stephen smirked.
“I’m sure he’ll appreciate that…” he remarked with his old irony coloring his
baritone voice and he looked lopsided at the kneeled god “judging from his
palace he definitely needs some of that…”
Loki arched his eyebrows.
“Is that your professional opinion?” he asked sarcastic but an invisible punch
from Thor brandishing his hammer sent him on the floor.
“You busted the motherfucker” Tony said to Dr. Strange with hope and tried to
control his impatience “you took Bruce to the Manor?” he asked the wizard who
pressed his lips.
Dr. Strange was a doctor and he was used to not chew his words but this time
hesitated.
“I’m afraid not” Tony closed his eyes. “When I found Loki, Bruce Wayne wasn’t
there. And of course the same goes for that Joker guy.”
Tony’s eyes fell for an instant before he narrowed them; he stormed at the weak
god and grabbed him from the lapels lifting him up, the others just realizing
that the shield had vanished.
“I guess it wasn’t safe to withdraw the shield yet…” Stephen mumbled dry.
“Stark, show some restrain here…”
But Tony wasn’t hearing anything.
“What did you do to Bruce?!” he roared. “Where did you take him?! You bastard!
He needs his medication to not lapse! He is vulnerable and you trusted him to
Joker?”
Loki gulped.
“I didn’t…I tried to protect him…”
Tony’s grasp became vicious and he gritted his teeth in front of Loki’s face.
“Tried?!” he made a feeble attempt in sniggering but his ire and agony were
such that gave up. “You’re a fuckin’ god! And you helped that bastard catch
Bruce!”
Thor approached looming over them and Dr. Strange made a step backwards
watching with raised eyebrows: maybe now Loki would cut the crap.
“Are you deaf? Or you lost your connection?” Loki’s snarky remarks were cut
abruptly when Tony released his one hand to punch him in the nose. “I stopped
Joker before…” he hurried to change his tone but he didn’t finish seeing Tony’s
teeth emitting sparkles from the grounding. “But the bastard used the gas and
weakened me and then threatened to kill me if I wouldn’t order my servants to
send them back to Gotham.”
“Gotham?” Tony asked.
Loki licked his lips and nodded nervously.
“I was concealing his presence all this time…”
Thor loomed over him knitting his eyebrows threateningly.
“You’ll give us the location.”
Loki nodded but Tony clenched his lapels.
“Joker isn’t that fool; he won’t go there.”
“I can find him still” Loki said some sweat drops spurting all over his face.
Natasha leaned over him.
“And you better do that…” her thick Russian accent stressed her threatening
tone. “You now Hulk? He so much wants to meet the one who was the reason people
died!”
Loki gulped.
“I dressed Bruce with Asgardian garments and those clothes have a special
aura.”
But Tony heard only till the ‘dressed’.
“Bruce was…NAKED! You sick bastard!” he treated Loki another punch but Thor
took his brother from Tony’s hands only to grab Loki from the neck himself.
The blond god was now fuming: the thought of Loki taking revenge on him by
violating Bruce made his blood boil.
“What have you done to him?!”
Loki sniggered satisfied but his smirk vanished as soon as he was choked from
Thor’s grip; he began coughing.
“Joker torn his clothes but I stopped him before…”
Thor dropped him disgusted on the floor and Captain America hurried to grab
Loki from the upper arm. Everyone looked at Tony’s downcast eyes: the
billionaire felt hopeless now he heard that Joker had stripped Bruce; he didn’t
have any trust to Loki’s words…and whatever happened to Bruce was his fault.
The only comfort he had was that back in Gotham they had Quinzel under
surveillance so as soon as she went to Joker, they would catch them. He just
hoped that it wouldn’t be too late.
“There was another one in the dudgeon when I found Loki” Stephen said “an
archer dressed like Robin Hood.”
Tony looked at him interested.
“The Arrow…” he said and pressed his lips; he hadn’t forgotten that the same
man had saved Bruce from a double attack just a few days ago.
Fury and Steve lifted Loki between them.
“The sonovabich will be tried” Fury said his eye sending daggers to Loki.
Tony had turned ready to leave but hearing them glared at the god.
“The only justice he deserves is from my machine gun! Bruce is disabled, you
coward bastard! You used your godly powers to attack someone in a wheelchair!”
his lips trembled from disgust.
Steve looked at his comrade with understanding.
“He’ll take what he deserves, Tony. Bruce wouldn’t want you to kill him.”
Thor moved forward.
“He must be judged by the Asgard’s high Assembly” he said determined and Fury
crooked his mouth.
“Because of him humans died” Natasha said. “And Bruce Wayne was kidnapped and
is still missing.”
Thor nodded.
“I know, I know; and I feel you and share your wrath: but he is a god and when
the effect of the gas is over no prison could hold him.”
Dr. Strange nodded.
“I concur to that.”
Tony snorted.
“Believe me” Thor looked at each of his comrades separately: they were all
baring the marks of the fierce battles of the last twelve hours “I want him
punished as much as all of you and even more but the Asgardian Assembly is the
best option we have” he brought his fist on his heart. “I give you my word of
honor that I’ll seek the most severe punishment for him.”
Tony shook his head disappointed.
“Whatever…” he spat disgruntled, relenting only because finding Bruce was
pressing and didn’t want to lose more time “I’ve got more urgent things right
now.”
“I’ll come with you” Thor said but Tony not even looked at him.
“Stay here and make sure that the asshole won’t escape…” he retorted and took
off getting out of the open wall.
“Lucius, keep close track on Quinzel” he said immediately as he flew rapidly
through New York’s sky. “Joker is back in Gotham with Bruce.”
 
That sour smell was so familiar; so scary that made his body numb… and that
taste of copper in his mouth…There was blood near him; and over him, stall
blood. His eyes were still shut but he knew that…he could feel the humid
atmosphere…he was in that alley and the smell of blood was from his parents’
bodies! His heart clenched and sobs began burning his throat sending tears to
his eyes.
No…his mind was screaming in despair. No…
But then as he began waking, the dizziness fogging his mind but not his
thinking, Bruce regained his contact with reality. He wasn’t eight years old,
he was a man now, free from Falcone and Chill but – his guts formed a knot –
captive of Joker.
That copper taste was from the bites Joker made to his lips and that smell of
fresh but stall blood was…
He opened his eyes tired; the space was dark and he was lying on a bed with his
wrists tied above his head to the rails of the bed. He waited a couple of
minutes for his eyes to adjust in order to make out forms but then something
screeched and some light came from outside. A light had been turned on outside
and came inside from the small window on the top of the door.
That door was opposite the bed, in pristine condition but clearly old –
definitely restored; the light from outside rushed in the room as the door
opened: and who else would get inside than Joker? A click and dim light filled
the room. Joker closed the door behind him and Bruce without showing got his
surroundings: it was a hospital room – old hospital room judging by the old
fashioned bed.
“Finally, you’re wake, baaaaabe! I think I put more than I should in the
rag…aaaaaaanyway…Oh! I got a sur--prise for you. Dooon’t you like we’re back in
Gotham? Ooooooh! That fresh air of Gotham…” he inhaled deeply closing his eyes
in delight but immediately his face show disgust and he coughed. “Not sooooo
fresh after all…” he shook his head.
Bruce frowned: Joker’s surprises were never nice. As his eyes and his senses
got perfect contact with his environment he realized that the smell of blood
came from the floor; he cast a lopsided glance there and he let a yell leave
his mouth.
Joker jerked startled.
“Eaaaasy, babe…You dooon’t want to give me a heart attack, riiiight?” Bruce
rolled his eyes inside. “What? Oooooooh! So you saw my sur--prise…”
On the floor, lay a body in the middle of a pond of blood. Bruce let his body
begin shaking and his breath become panting.
Joker lolled his head on the side looking with vast curiosity at his captive
and walked towards the body. He grabbed the body from the collar and lifted it
to drag in front of Bruce’s face that became death pale. It was a man with
deep, grotesque scars digging his cheeks formed from black dried blood; Bruce
could see also the dark red gash that almost severed his head.
“Leeeeet me introduce you…deeeear Lou, here…” he scratched his hair “you have
met him already, don’t you? Buuuut he wore a mask then.”
He brought the man’s face closer to Bruce who stopped every effort to withhold
the bile from reaching his mouth. The spectacle and the smell were horrible and
Bruce’s stomach was already upset from the chloroform. So he vomited the little
his stomach contained.
Joker tossed away the body and cupped Bruce’s trembling face with both hands
wiping his captive’s mouth with his sleeve.
“He is the idiot who fired at the chemicals and caused the building’s collapse”
he said dead serious. “He lived to long – you’re disabled because of him.”
Bruce was keeping his eyes shut trying to control his breath but he knew that
Joker’s acid eyes were fixed on his.
“I…I don’t understand. My legs became paralyzed because of the League…they…they
hurt me…they beat me too much…”
Joker shook his head nervously.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah…They might have doooooone that but the fella here caused your
par—alysis - nooooow, baby-bat: how can a bat be so cuuuuuute, uuuuuu? Now,
open your beau--tiful eyes ‘cause daddy Joker has moooooore surprises –
GIFTIES!!!”
Bruce’s insides clenched and opened his eyes.
“No…please no…”
“Ooooh, boys!” he called in a singsong voice and the door opened again.
“Doooooon’t be shy, babe – after all, daaaaddy Joker took care of your attire.”
And really Bruce registered that he was dressed in – what a surprise! – black
pants and a black shirt unbuttoned till the middle of his chest; thankfully,
the pouch with the Black Butterfly lay on his chest. Bruce smirked inside: of
course, the cunning jester must have suspected that the clothes Loki gave him
would emanate a special aura – Superman had told him so when he made him a
scene about keeping Thor’s cape: Bruce’s heart hurt in the memory of that
night... but he had to focus in the present.
Two goons with clown masks entered the small room carrying a man each: the two
men had their heads covered in hoods and their hands were tied back.
“Please, Joker” Bruce whispered “don’t hurt anyone else…”
Joker licked his lips.
“Hush, baby…Wait first to see – you will chaaaange your mind.”
He whistled to his goons and they took off the hoods revealing two pale men
with wet, bruised eyes and dried blood on their faces. Bruce gulped recognizing
them: it was Wizze the president of GTV and Isaac the hacker – he looked Joker
in the eyes and shook his head. He understood immediately: Joker wanted to
punish them for the video… Images of what the jester had done to Falcone rushed
to his mind.
“Please…it wasn’t their fault: let them go – they will be tried.”
Joker squinted.
“Noooooow you’re kidding me, honey…You can’t be soooo forgiving – belieeeeve
me, it’s eeeeextremely un--healthy…an’ they’ll think you of a sucker…trust,
daddy…”
He stood and walked towards the shaking men who become weeping.
Joker with slow movements, so much unlike his habits, pulled out of his jacket
two blades bare of handle as always. He wanted the men to see them and panic: a
new sequence of screaming and begging began.
“No!” Bruce exclaimed and Joker cast him a lopsided stare through his green
curls.
“You’re suuuuuch a kind puppy – we must change that…” his voice became serious.
The two men’s begging became louder and more desperate.
“Please, Joker, don’t kill them” Bruce pleaded with him. “Someone else had the
video – police told me. They didn’t do it!”
Joker smiled and Bruce felt his spine getting frozen.
“I’ll find him too, be suuuure, littl’ gem…till then…” he said calm and in a
flash of steel a blood avalanche spurted splattering his face; the necks of the
two men gaped slashed only a patch of flesh holding the head.
The goons released them to slump on the ground, their dying bodies still
twitching. Joker smirked to their bulged crystallized in ultimate terror eyes.
“Noooobody hurts my Brucie…” he said dead serious and then turned to look at
Bruce.
Joker narrowed his eyes seeing that his captive had fainted. He lolled his head
and stared at him intrigued.
“Take the corpses out and toss them to the junk!” he barked attaching his
calling cards on the sticky blood.
He walked slowly to the bed curious watching closely trying to detect if Bruce
was acting; he touched his gloved fingers to his neck and watched his breath.
“You’re not pretending, huh? Weeeeell…” he licked his lips. “I’d neeeever
expected Batsy to not bear two tiny slashes…yet we should account that you must
be exhausted, huh? And tthat chloroform…”
He rummaged the inside pocket of his jacket and eventually dragged out a small
vial, uncorked it, took gently Bruce’s head and put the vial under his nose
till his captive began stirring and his eyelids moved.
“I was reaaaaady to give you the kiss of life…”
Bruce closed his eyes again, exhausted, disgusted on the idea.
“Why are you doing this to me?” he whispered.
Joker pouted.
“Whaaaa’? Punishing baaaad guys? We are a couple, honey! I’m doing what you do!
These people wanted either to become rich or have fun with your suffering…by
humiliating you!” he shook his head. “That’s unforgivable, babe…”
Bruce opened his eyes and looked at his captor.
“Stop killing people on my name…” he mumbled scared.
But it was obvious that the Joker was thinking other things from the way he was
looking at Bruce. He giggled.
“HEHEHEHEEEE! You wanted to coaaaaax me into believing that the big bad bat
can’t stand seeing a smaaaaall slash of necks? Hooooow long you think you can
continue the game, huh?”
Bruce shook his head.
“I’m not playing any game…Please let me go…”
Joker waved that off.
“Unless…You’re a…now hooooow shrinks call it? Hm…identity disorder? Two
personalities in the same hot body…W—O—W!” he licked his lips. “Then we’ll need
the help of a professional to get the truth out of you.”
Bruce widened his eyes.
“What are you…”
Joker didn’t let him speak: captured his lips and sucked him loudly.
“I got you the best, baaaaaby…Daddy will take care of his hooooot bat baby” he
said his eyes devouring the part of the chest that the open shirt let exposed.
He put his hands at each upper arm of Bruce and ascended the arm fondling
sensually till the bound with handcuffs wrists. Bruce was watching him with
dread and Joker smiled to him.
“I know these re--straints are not as good as the ones Lo-loki provided
buuuuuuut if you release yourself from these then you’ll confirm that you’re my
Batsy…Aaaan’ you’re disabled: you can’t do anything without your armor.”
His Cheshire devilish smile cracked his face with a triumphant glow.
“I loooove your scared attitude, Batsy, yet I’d like also some fiiiire on my
bed…Anyyyyy chance you give up the act an’ fuck with open…” he giggled feigning
shyness and coughed “cards?”
Bruce lowered his eyes and Joker patted his cheek.
“No, huh? I must follow the difficult path then?” he sighed and Bruce frowned.
“Buuuuut I’ll dooooo it” Joker touched his heart dramatically “because that’s
love, huh?”
Bruce took a breath pretending that he was trying to find the courage to say
something.
“Jack?” he asked shyly and Joker looked at him pouting.
“Yeeeees, Batsy?”
Bruce shook his head.
“I…I’m not he…”
Joker nodded in spastic movements.
“Yadda, yadda…we’ll seeeeee ‘bout that, sweetheart. That was what you wanted to
say?”
“No…I…” he huffed “I’m on medication…I need my medicines.”
Joker smiled reassuringly and touched his lips on Bruce’s cheek shucking the
flesh loudly.
“Oooooh, babe! Dooooon’t worry…I’ve got looooooads of that for you…”
Bruce frowned but instantly he felt the sting of a needle and his eyes became
heavy. Joker showed him the syringe he used and with the other hand the
Batarang Batman used to seduce Joker the night he had chased him.
“I treaaaaasure your present, hon…I looove you chose my butt to stick the bat-
thing” he pinched Bruce’s cheek “you nau---ghty boy…”
But Bruce’s eyes had already closed dragging him to a deep sleep.
 
Ironman was seeing Gotham’s skyline approaching. He had already spoken a second
time with Lucius to learn any news on Quinzel’s movements.
“Sir.”
“Jarvis, tell me you have good news for once …” he grunted.
“I cannot give you an answer to that, sir; Mister Fury wants to speak to you.”
“Pass him.”
“Tony” Fury’s always determined voice filled Tony’s helmet “Loki gave us
Joker’s hideout, the place he had under his concealing spells.”
“I’d be able to see Joker?”
“He says so. Since he has lost his powers his spells are weak too. But to cover
every possibility Thor and Dr. Strange are coming.”
Tony snorted.
“I hate magic…” he mumbled “from wherever it may come.”
Fury chuckled.
“Me too but it helps when you have a wizard on your side…”
“Fair point. Give me the location.”
“Chinese Docks, warehouse 113.”
Upon hearing about the Docks, Ironman changed immediately course towards the
sea.
No more than two minutes and the smell of salt passed his helmet giving him
some relaxing feeling he so much needed. The sun was up and workers were
already there stopping their work to look puzzled at Ironman hovering over the
area.
Tony could see the warehouse yet there was no trace of human presence there and
he didn’t expect differently: the warehouse was visible all this time Loki was
helping Joker – it’d be very strange if an entire warehouse suddenly vanished –
yet nobody saw Joker or any odd movement. So Tony for the first time couldn’t
be sure about the accuracy of his systems’ findings; he couldn’t be positive
that indeed Joker and Bruce weren’t there.
Ironman launched a small powered missile to make a hole to the wall and enter.
He didn’t land but continued flying exploring the two storey building trying to
see what his systems might have failed to see. He was in agony and anger
because that stupid spells might be hiding Joker even under his nose.
“Tony!”
He frowned and turned to see Thor and Dr. Strange. Ironman flew to them.
“The spells are still strong” Tony said “I can’t see anything but you can,
right?”
Dr. Strange shook his head.
“You can’t see anything because there’s nothing in this building.”
Thor nodded.
“Joker must have expected that Loki would betray his hideout and he didn’t come
here.”
Tony was glad he wore his face plate because he wouldn’t like them to see him
on the verge of depression. Yet he clenched his jaw: he would find Bruce!
“How about the Asgardian garments?” he asked coldly.
“Dr Strange and I will float over Gotham to find the signals – we’ll find him,
Tony.”
“You shouldn’t be guarding that asshole brother of yours?” Tony asked; he had
no mood to be interrupted again in his search by Loki’s shenanigans.
“For the time being he is too weak” Dr. Strange said.
“And with Dr. Strange we created a field prison he can’t escape” Thor placed
his hand on Tony’s shoulder and looked in his lenses. “This time nothing will
stop us, Tony.”
Dr. Strange looked at Ironman.
“You should take some rest, Mr. Stark. We’ll take it from here; rest and then
you resume the search.”
Ironman shook his head.
“I’m alright; Bruce is out there suffering because of me…You two look for the
garments and I will search with my humble” he said with his snarky way and the
former doctor cocked an eyebrow “ways: as soon as you find anything call me.”
He took off immediately without waiting.
Thor looked at Dr. Strange.
“He loves too much his friend” he said “he is scared that he might lose him
again.”
The wizard nodded.
 
When Bruce opened his eyes again he was tied in a chair: he looked around. It
was certainly a medical lab of old times: at his right stood a big rectangular
machine with all sorts of cables attached; it wasn’t difficult for Bruce to
figure what this was. It helped a lot seeing the examination table in the
center of the room. Only it wasn’t an examination table: it was strange, with
straps all over for the arms and legs and a helmet-like thing. He felt a shiver
running his spine – a table for electroshock therapy.
Right next to the rectangular old fashioned generator was an old trolley with
medical instruments: obsolete syringes, old fashioned bottles of medicine.
Everything clean and pristine as if they were still used. He also registered
that the chair he was tied was actually a hospital wheelchair of the past.
And then it dawned to Bruce: where Joker had taken him. He was in Arkham
Asylum; at the part of the institution which was turned into a museum…He
huffed, of course…Quinzel offered the perfect hideout for her favorite patient
hiding him right under the police’s nose. Bruce remembered the events before
Tony stunned him – the attack at Arkham. Police certainly would have searched
the place after so who would suspect that Joker would choose that exact place
to hide …
His mind was working fast: Joker had killed three people and who knows how many
more he would kill if not stopped. He had to get out of there and stop Joker
yet as the jester said getting out of his restraints which Bruce could do,
would be an admission that he is Batman. He had to set his plan in motion…Joker
should see both the real Batman and Bruce Wayne at the same time.
He looked around: Arkham Asylum. Crane despite the fact he partnered with Joker
didn’t divulge his secrets to him – of course, the former doctor was too clever
to reveal to Joker the passages that led to Jeremiah Arkham’s underground
chambers and from there to the sewers and freedom.
Bruce was already forming the mental map of Gotham’s cave system he had learnt
from years of exploring. Crane knew about Arkham’s basement’s connection with
the sewers but he didn’t know that under the sewers was an entire world:
Bruce’s heart twitched in the memory of the feeling of freedom he got every
time he escaped down there…
His caves would serve him this time too…He closed his eyes because he was aware
of how difficult if impossible this was and his mind fled to the Water of
Immortality: some drops would give him the strength and the healing needed to
perform that task…
He inhaled deeply: no, he had to do this the hard way.
Something screeched in the lock and the door opened; with one click the room
was cast into light and Bruce shut his eyes blinded.
“Oooooh! Sorry, littl’ gem…” the familiar nasal voice said and a snort from
Joker’s side answered him.
Bruce felt joker on him, his hands cupping his face possessively.
“Look whoooom I brought you!”
Bruce opened his eyes cautiously but seeing Joker’s guest a sharp inhale of
breath left his lips; Joker drew back startled.
“Whaaaa’? I thought you knew our Crany-crow!”
Bruce met the former psychiatrist’s cold, jeering stare and averted his face
only for Joker to cup again his face and make him look at him.
“I asked you somethin’…”
Bruce gulped.
“Don’t give me to him, please…” his eyes got wet and Joker lolled his head
curious.
“I know he was with the bad people who tortured you buuuuut daddy won’t let him
huuuurt you again.”
“He was giving me drugs…”
“You toooold me you needed your medication…”
Bruce closed his eyes defeated.
“Drugs to damage my brain.”
Joker pouted thoughtful.
“This isn’t toooooo bad, baaaabe. Ask me.”
Crane walked inside stretching his small posture; he brushed the electroshock
machine.
“I see even a clown like you can appreciate the beauty of science’s history…”
Joker gaped and scratched his head.
“Naaaaah…It’s just that nobody comes here…HEHEHEHEEEE!”
Crane rolled his eyes.
“This time I’d prefer another kind of treatment for your…darling” he spat. “And
since we’re here…” he smirked. “Electroshock can do miracles and combined with
psychopharmacology can open every secret door in his brain – because both of us
know that there’s more to him.”
Joker yanked his head.
“Shut it, crow! I would never do that to Brucie…It’s tooooooo painful. Besides
you’re not here to treat him” he lolled his head on the side and pouted.
Crane frowned.
“Then why you called me?”
Joker giggled.
“This kind of jobs needs stuff an’ doctors need helpers…”
Crane’s glare became dark and his eyebrows knitted.
“You don’t expect me to become the assistant of someone else?”
Joker gave a big nod.
“Oh, yeeeees, I dooooooo!” he made a dramatic gesture to the door like a show
presenter “gentlemen, I present youuuuuu…”
The door opened and Bruce inhaled sharply, his hands fisting the armrests.
“Dr. Haaarlequiiiiiin!!!”
Harleen walked inside dressed in her white rob, wearing her eye glasses and
carrying her briefcase. Her face didn’t show any trace of being working with a
criminal but it was as if she was visiting her patients in a routine shift.
“I’m not working with this ignorant woman!” Crane snapped and marched to the
door passing disgusted the young doctor as she placed her briefcase on the
trolley.
Joker turned to Bruce shaking his head.
“Occupational competition, huh, precious?” I didn’t believe you a sexist,
Crany… An’, yes, you will work with her!” he said in a singsong voice and
turned so swiftly that Bruce managed to see the blade launching from his hand
only thanks to his training.
Crane astonished felt the force of the blade that passed half an inch from his
nose and stabbed the door in front of him. The petit doctor touched his heart
to find his cool and turned slowly to Joker.
“That was a threat?”
Joker twitched his eyebrows and rolled his eyes to Bruce jeering the doctor.
“Oh, doctor, the levels of your intelligence makes my eyes tear…” he wiped his
left eye and twitched his finger tossing an imaginary tear. “No, you asshole”
his voice was sharper than his blade “that was a token of how easy it is for me
to kill you! You want me to bring on my resentment for what you did to Brucie?”
Crane licked his lips and inhaled.
“Alright, I’ll help you.”
“Heeeelp meeee?” Joker arched his eyebrows and then waved that off. “Uuuuuu,
whatever…”
Quinzel was watching with eyes filled with sarcasm.
Joker turned to Bruce showing with his thump back at Crane.
“As if he has a choice…HEHEHEHEEEEE! But I like his style…”
“I should be the insulted here” Quinzel spat. “I don’t wanna work with a mental
case.”
Joker closed his eyes frustrated.
“Geeeet a griiiiip, people!” he groaned. “Before my blades wake up…” he
gestured demanding to the trolley with Harleen’s briefcase.
Bruce licked his lips that were bleeding as he had bit them reopening Joker’s
bites.
“Don’t do that to me, please…”
“It’s for your own good, littl’ gem” he leaned over Bruce’s ear. “Don’t
worry…they woooooon’t be here when you’ll do the big revelations: it will stay
between us, like every loving couple does.”
Crane walked reluctantly to Harleen who had just opened her briefcase and took
out a small vial. He cocked an eyebrow.
“Amytal?” he asked and Bruce felt his spine getting cold.
“Yes, it will lower his defenses and help him speak freely in order to relieve
himself from whatever tortures him subconsciously.”
Crane sniggered.
“So…you’re curing him?”
Harleen yanked her head and looked at him crooking her mouth.
“As a working therapist, of course…MY job” she cocked an eyebrow “is to help
patients not experimenting on them.”
Crane narrowed his eyes.
“My experiments aimed to help patients too in the long time” Harleen shook her
head in disbelief “and I’m way better doctor than you!”
Joker rolled his eyes and turned to them.
“Children! Children! Focus…”
Crane rolled his eyes and looked at the liquid that Quinzel pumped into the
syringe.
“Add three ml more – he has a great resistance to drugs.”
Joker looked at Bruce frowned and then nodded.
“Of course…” he said smirking “Harley, doooo as he says: he has experience with
Brucie.”
Bruce gulped and some sweat drops appeared over his brow yet inside he was
concentrating gathering his mental power as Ra’s had taught him in order to
fight off the drug’s effect. He heard Quinzel’s light steps approaching and bit
his lips; when she raised his sleeve and disinfected a part of his upper arm
Bruce looked her in the eye.
“Please, Dr. Quinzel, don’t do that…you can’t co-operate with Joker.”
She cast a lopsided glance at Joker and smiled.
“But I’m not, Mr. Wayne…I’m merely a hostage like you – I’m just forced to do
what he wants. But we can get useful things out of that: your healing will lead
to his healing…Imagine that!”
Her eyes sparkled thrilled and Bruce clenched his teeth a second before the
needle stabbed his flesh and the liquid was pumped into his vein.
Joker smirked, locking eyes with Bruce; he then yanked his head and looked at
his minion doctors.
“Out!” he ordered. “Give us our privacy!”
Harleen’s eyes widened.
“But, Mr. J, I can help…” she protested almost complaining.
“O-U-T! I’m not going to repeat it, Harlequin.”
Crane didn’t need a second word and hurried to leave the room. Harleen however
pressed her lips disappointed and left reluctantly.
Joker loomed over Bruce whose eyes began to become blank.
“Just the two of us now, Batsy.”
 
Catwoman was watching Arkham Asylum from the rooftop of an abandoned building
opposite the gothic Manor. She had followed Quinzel from her apartment there
and waited for her to leave to meet Joker because Selina was sure that Joker
would call his accomplice.
Her face was tight in determination as she gazed the building, standing on the
rooftop. There was no fatigue in her body, only a calm resolution.
 
“Have you anything on Quinzel?” Tony asked Lucius.
“Nothing suspicious, Mr. Stark; she left from her apartment to the Arkham
Asylum and she is still there.”
“Thank you, Lucius; I’m over Narrows scanning the area…but nothing.”
“You’ll make it, Mr. Stark.”
But Tony was not so sure; it was almost noon and he had no news from Thor and
Dr. Strange. Maybe Loki fooled them saying that the garments would be detected
and show the location – the bastard must have something on them to conceal
them.
Suddenly, he saw Thor coming to him; his face was grim and Tony already knew.
“We found the garments, Tony…but no trace of Joker or Bruce…”
Ironman gritted his teeth: Joker suspected that the clothes would be easy to
detect so he got rid of them either dressing Bruce with common clothes or…
Bruce was naked. That made his hair stand on edge and his pulse elevated; he
made a sharp U turn rushing to Gotham’s sky.
Thor huffed shaking his head equally discouraged and took off to continue.
 
His sleep was too heavy, too abnormal yet he felt relieved because he was aware
that he hadn’t said anything he didn’t want; at the same time, the sense of
urgency became more pressing: he had to get away and realize his plan.
He knew that after the Amytal injection Quinzel at some point injected him with
sedative. Though he was still asleep he could tell that they had brought him
back to the metallic bed, into the first room. Also, he could feel acid eyes on
him and gloved hands rubbing his tied arms.
“Wake up, sweetheart…” the nasal voice breathed in his ear.
 
“Mr. Stark” Lucius’ collected voice interrupted Tony’s thoughts.
It was afternoon and there wasn’t any development on finding Bruce. In the
meantime, as soon as he parted from Thor, Tony found the calm to contact Jim
and inform him that Joker was back in Gotham. Hovering over Gotham Tony had
seen the police being in constant action looking for the jester.
“What do you have, Lucius?”
“Police have found three bodies in the junkyard.”
Tony halted in midair along with his breath: no, it couldn’t be…
“It is Isaac and Wizze and one of Joker’s goons” Lucius added hastily sensing
the younger man’s agony and understanding his fear.
“Then Joker is indeed here and in action” he spat. “What the cops say?”
“They had Joker cards on them; their necks were almost severed; time of death 6
in the morning. Forensics are trying to find anything about the site of the
murders.”
Tony nodded: he was sure that Joker killed them because they hurt Bruce
and…Batman. And judging from the man’s cruelty and madness he might have done
it in front of Bruce to prove his…love. He wished that police might find
something this way.
“Thank you, Lucius.” Hold on, littl’ guy…
 
Bruce pretended to be asleep for a couple of minutes more but he knew that he
couldn’t stay for long that way: Joker might bring Quinzel or Crane to wake him
up with more drugs.
His eyelids twitched tiredly and opened but as soon as he saw Joker’s face over
him, a gasp left his mouth: he might be pretending yet Joker’s face definitely
wasn’t the best sight to wake to…
The room was abundantly lighted and Bruce was grateful that no corpse waited
him this time. He gulped and looked at his captor shyly.
Joker touched feathery the stray locks that had stuck on Bruce’s sweaty
forehead.
“I loooove your hair like this” he mumbled. “It’s like your untamed nature,
huh, Brucie?”
Bruce didn’t answer just let his head loll on the other side of his pillow but
Joker took gently his chin and turned him to regain eye contact.
“You’re my Batsy!” he said thrilled. “Sooooo resilient to those craaaazy-drugs
– like Daaaaaddy Joker…Ooooh! We’re so much alike! I could say to Harlequin to
in--crease the dose buuuuuut I don’t want to cause any damage to your beautiful
brain – it’s so much like mine…”
Bruce didn’t like that ‘compliment’ at all.
“Resilient?” he asked feigning puzzlement and Joker rolled his eyes.
“Doooon’t tell me you don’t remember that you didn’t admit the truth?” he
narrowed his eyes in disbelief.
Bruce closed his eyes exhausted.
“What truth?” he asked.
Joker brought his face even closer.
“That you are Batman.”
“But I’m not…” Bruce protested tired.
Joker didn’t seem to listen and just caressed Bruce’s cheekbone.
“You know how hard it is to not act my conjugal rights, right here and right
now?” he sighed and licked gently Bruce’s cheek. “Back in Loki’s hat I was
ready but here, back in our Gotham, I first want you to admit the truth.”
“There is no…”
But Joker cupped violently his cheeks with both hands and gritted his teeth.
“Do you know what male cats do when they want to mate with a cat with
kittens?!” he howled and Bruce felt a shiver.
“What do you mean?”
Joker smirked.
“The cat of my dreams decided to adopt a kitten named Dick-y and I want to mate
and I’m jealous.”
Bruce’s guts clenched and Joker lolled his head seemingly calm.
“Soooooo do you know what male cats dooooo?”
Bruce didn’t want to learn but Joker leaned his face over his.
“They kill the littl’ ones…sooooo that the cat couples with them” he whispered
and Bruce took in the message.
“No!” he said. “Let the boy alone – he has suffered enough because of you!”
Joker smiled.
“So I can save him once and for all from his misery – reunited him with his
family” he twitched his eyebrows emphatically. “Not to mention that you were
injured and crippled to save him…sooooo he is his fault you’re disabled.”
“That’s not true! Dick has nothing to do with my disability; let him out of
this.”
Joker smirked and licked his lips.
“I’m afraid I can’t; he is between us…I thought it much – bullshit! I neeever
think much… - I’ll bring the brat here to punish him for what he has done to
you…aaaaand get rid of his annoying preeeesence in your hooooome.”
“He has done nothing! Leave him alone!”
Joker cocked his eyebrows.
“Are we getting aaaaaangry? Huuuuuuuh! I LIKE IT! TIME FOR SOME BAT, HUH?!” he
growled and Bruce closed his eyes letting his head sink to the pillow. “What
are you willing to give me to spaaare him?”
“Anything…” he whispered “just don’t hurt him – leave him alone.”
Joker leaned above him and nibbled Bruce’s lower lip.
“Mmm? How about sooooooome confessions?”
Bruce opened his eyes and Joker met his gaze.
“Admit you’re Batman…” the jester hissed dead serious.
Bruce lowered his eyes and gulped.
“Ooooor I’ll come out an’ fetch the littl’ brat myself for some playing…”
Bruce raised his eyes.
“No…Okay, okay: I’m…” he gulped pretending that the word couldn’t come out of
his mouth “he.”
Joker attached to Bruce’s bottom lip raised his gaze to meet his prisoner’s
eyes.
“Saaaaaaay it: I waaaant to hear it…”
 Bruce gulped.
“I’m Batman” he mumbled and Joker pouted skeptical.
“Growl to me, babe: I missed your sexy husky voice…”
Bruce could detect Joker’s skepticism: he believed that Bruce was Batman and he
liked that he forced him admit that yet the way Bruce admitted it wasn’t
satisfying and the jester had his doubts.
“Growl?” Bruce asked puzzled.
Joker yanked his head grunting and squinted.
“Are you playing me for a fool?” he detached. “Okay, baaabe…I’m off: you’ll
stoooop playing when my blade is grazing the bastard’s neck” he was ready to
stand.
“No, please!” Bruce exclaimed yanking his head and his torso as much as the
restraints permitted. “I’ll do what you want…” Joker lolled his head on the
side watching him suspiciously. “Just promise me that you won’t get near the
boy ever again” he gave a feigned growl not exactly like Batman’s.
Joker cocked an eyebrow.
“Hm…It’s not exactly…Maybe I should after all…”
But Bruce didn’t have the mood for more threats; he concentrated and looked
Joker deep in the eyes as Ra’s had taught him to mesmerize his opponents – his
late mentor was thrilled with his student’s effectiveness…
“Naaaaah…Let’s forget the brat” Joker said “there’s so many better things to
do, huh, batsy-babe? Noooooow…”
He straddled Bruce and grabbed the shirt’s lapels pulling off all the buttons;
the jester’s eyes glimmered seeing the perfectly toned thorax. He pushed the
fabric away from Bruce’s body to reveal the entire torso and then he bit his
glove in the finger to pull it off doing the same with the other. He placed his
palms over Bruce’s breasts and began rubbing moaning.
“Uuuuh! Lala… I’ll never have enough of this…My Batsyyyy baby undeeer me!”
Joker leaned and began nibbling Bruce’s face, every now and then licking
greedily yet Bruce put the disgust at bay because he needed to concentrate. Now
they were in Gotham he didn’t have to endure this, especially when for the time
being he managed to make Joker forget Dick. However he couldn’t trust the
jester so it was time for his plan to be in motion.
The jester was sucking Bruce’s ear.
“Noooow that we understand each other, what about giving me what you were
giving to Super-Goofy?” he whispered and licked Bruce’s neck.
“I had nothing with him” Bruce answered in the same un-Batmanish growl.
His captor laughed and shook his index finger.
“I appreciate it that you satisfy my kind request of using growl…although is
not exactly…Mmm…I know you were” he licked his lips “expressing your gratitude
to the alien – he saved you after all…” he lolled his head. “Do you reckon I
owe him?” he waved that off. “Naaaah!”
Joker’s hands were fondling crudely his abs heading lower but Bruce took
advantage of the jester’s eyes looking at his face and concentrated his
thoughts targeting his energy on his captor’s mind. Bruce knew that Joker
wasn’t an easy target for mesmerizing.
The wet hands had slipped under Bruce’s jeans already caressing his genitals
when Joker stopped abruptly with a frown.
“Uuuuuuu…I…I’ve got to…” he frowned puzzled. “I’ve got to speak to Harleen” he
dismounted and turned to leave but stopped and looked at Bruce. “Sorry for the
disruption, babe, but daddy has to make sure that bad guys won’t find us.”
“You’re not dragging your words…”
Jester laughed.
“Hehe! You see what true loooooove can do?”
Bruce nodded but inside was smirking. As the door closed behind Joker he was
sure that Quinzel would bubble Joker enough.
He had already dislocated his thumps so he immediately slipped his hands out of
the handcuffs. But for the next step he hesitated: he remembered the last time
with Tony when he stood on his feet and his friend stunned him.
“You know that you should not be doing that, Bruce…” his friend repeated.
But Bruce knew that he had to do this. He pressed his lips determined and moved
his legs off the bed and to the floor. He closed his eyes to gain focus and
began breathing diaphragmatically; the presence of the Black Butterfly felt so
encouraging; after two minutes he felt a current running his legs and supported
his hands on the bed pushing his body upwards. He stood and walked to the door
stumbling a bit; there was nobody outside – Joker didn’t believe that Bruce
would try anything.
He cast a last glance to the bed to ensure that everything was as he wanted.
Bruce smiled cunningly: Bruce was sleeping tied on the bed. He knew from the
days of his training with Ra’s that his reflection would be there as long as he
wished, fooling everybody who would look from the door’s window.
He opened the door and walked supporting his hands on the wall to not burden
much his legs. From the time he was studying the Arkham Manor’s blueprints to
find Crane’s whereabouts he knew exactly where to go: the secret passage to the
basement and from there to the ancient manhole leading to the caves and then
out of the Asylum. Neither Crane nor Joker knew that in Gotham’s gut lay a
whole world and that Batman was using that labyrinth to his war.
 He slipped inside the secret passage on the end of the west wing’s corridor
and walked. Although it wasn’t visible Bruce found easily the rusty grating
covering the manhole and from there he descended to the sewers; from there
wasn’t much distance to the forgotten manhole that led to the caves.
 The same feeling of freedom washed his body; it was the exact feeling as when
he was flying. He smiled: like a true bat, loving sky and caves the same.
The path to the next manhole leading to the sewers and then to the surface was
short and although he wanted to stay longer to his ‘home’ he knew that in this
case it was a blessing he didn’t have to cover a longer distance.
He’d need a diversion for his plan and Bruce knew where to find it. Bruce
lifted the grating carefully having first listened for any bystanders:
thankfully, he knew the area and knew that the tunnel led to an alley.
 
Catwoman was still watching as the evening covered eerily the Asylum: Quinzel’s
car was parked there all the time and Selina had clear view of every entrance
of the building so she was sure that the doctor hadn’t left unnoticed.
Quinzel was still inside but the working hours had passed: Catwoman frowned –
either she had some work there or she had a very important job there including
Joker.
Selina’s heart jolted: they were holding Bruce there. Her eyes glimmered
determined and her fists clenched; she was ready to jump from the rooftop and
go inside but she felt that someone was watching her.
 
A red and gold bird was hovering over Gotham’s dark blue sky. Ironman wasn’t
going to stop if Bruce wasn’t found. As the hours passed, despair tried to lurk
inside his mind yet it only managed to fuel his determination and anger.
“Any news on Quinzel, Lucius?”
“No, Mr. Stark; she is still in the Asylum.”
Tony frowned.
“She should have left the place, right?”
“I’ll check her shift…yes, her shift ended two hours ago.”
Tony’s eyes flashed as his mind made a rapid connection: she didn’t leave to
find Joker because Joker was in the Asylum! They had Bruce in there with
Quinzel covering the madman. He sped there but he didn’t inform the police
because their intervention might warn Joker.
 
Bruce smiled seeing Catwoman’s lean silhouette standing on the edge watching
the Asylum – he knew she was there, he had sensed her presence; her ponytail
moved slightly and then his favorite cat turned her head towards him. Her frown
gave its place to widened eyes filled with joy. She rushed to him and hugged
him kissing his cheeks.
“I knew you would escape!” she exclaimed and detached a bit to scan him.
Her eyes narrowed seeing his open shirt and the dry blood and bruises on his
face.
“He hit you! The bastard! I’m gonna..!”
Bruce held her rubbing her upper arms.
“I’m alright – don’t worry” she watched him not persuaded.
“Leslie will say that…”
Bruce shook his head.
“Is Dick alright? Safe?” he was worried that Joker had taken the boy despite
his promise.
Selina frowned.
“He is alright, in the Manor; Stark has reinforced the security.”
Bruce discerned her anger for Tony and pressed his lips.
“Now we’ll take you to the Manor” she said “the others will take care of Joker
and his girlfriend.”
She frowned again seeing Bruce’s denial.
“No. Batman must do that.”
“That can’t be…Bruce, you can’t stress that more” she gestured to his legs that
support his body.
“I must: Sel, Joker must stop believing that Bruce Wayne is Batman.”
“How? Even if Batman tackles him Bruce won’t be there…” suddenly it dawned to
her; once Bruce had told her about his ability to create a reflection of
himself.
Bruce nodded.
“I need to contact Lucius to bring me my armor and then you must attack them to
create a diversion; Joker would definitely try to take Bruce and leave – Batman
will find him then.”
Selina bit her bottom lip.
“It’s dangerous, Bruce.”
“The armor will protect me and help me move without exerting myself” he saw his
friend’s hesitation and narrowed his eyes. “Sel, I have done more difficult
things than that…and you are here with me – there’s nothing to fear.”
She inhaled deeply.
“You know that I hate you?” she said giving him her smart phone.
Bruce smiled and took it.
 
“Everything will end by this weekend.”
Zucco was looking at Wayne Manor coming closer.
“Why?” Rebecca asked frowned. “The custody hearing is going pretty well and you
could win.”
Zucco smirked.
“Something is off, Beccy…Wayne’s lawyer today asked for a postponement and I
don’t trust Wayne…Bringing Breizic in the game wasn’t random: that bastard
prepares something and I won’t stay to find out.”
She turned her head towards the Manor.
“Is that why you asked from the judge to spend the weekend with your nephew?”
He smirked.
“I’ll get everything and leave with the kid: Wayne is fond of the brat so he
won’t dare to chase me to not harm him.”
He stopped the car and ascended the stair to the main entrance.
Alfred opened the door collected as ever not showing anything from the turmoil
he was facing. He already knew who the visitor was since he opened the gates
for him.
“Good evening” Zucco said. “I came to take Dick for the weekend – I have judge
Moot’s permission” he made to pull it from his pocket.
“That won’t be needed, sir: Mr. Collins has informed us. Master Richard is
ready.”
He heard the hurried footsteps and turned to see Dick carrying on his shoulder
his backpack with everything he needed for the weekend. Alfred knew the boy’s
adoration for his uncle yet Dick’s face wasn’t as joyful as he expected.
The butler moved to him.
“Is everything alright, sir?”
Dick met the butler’s eye.
“I don’t feel right leaving now…” he said almost whispering because he knew the
secrecy about Bruce’s kidnapping and didn’t want Tony to hear.
Alfred shook his head.
“There is nothing you can do here, Master Richard, and I’m sure that very soon
everything will be back to normal. So enjoy your weekend as much as possible.”
Dick smiled.
“You’ll call me for any news?”
Alfred reflected his smile.
“I will, sir.”
Dick walked to his uncle who hugged him one armed.
“Can we go, champ?”
The boy looked back at the Manor and Alfred. He nodded and followed his uncle.
Alfred stood on the doorstep watching as Zucco opened the back door for Dick to
enter. The car sped following the lane leading outside the grounds.
 
***** Chapter 70 *****
“Life returns slowly back to its usual rhythms here at New York’s Downtown 24
hours after the attack that cost the lives of 10 people.”
The camera was zooming to the yellow police tapes that still cordoned the area
were the battle took place. The debris was mostly removed but still there were
some forgotten ruins reminding the yesterday’s nightmarish scenery.
“S.H.I.E.L.D. and specifically the director of the organization, Mr. Tony
Stark, has given the city’s mayor a fund dedicated to the restoration of the
damage. The tycoon’s personal assistant, Miss Victoria Potts, had a meeting in
the City Hall today with the Mayor discussing the details.”
The image changed to show prerecorded footage from Victoria Potts walking out
of the City Hall accompanied by the Mayor himself.
“I’m here today to bring to Mr. Mayor my employer’s, Mr. Stark’s honest regret
about what took place yesterday in New York and reassure him that the city will
have his funding and technical support to restore all the damage. Also, Mr.
Stark authorized me to express his condolences to the families of the people
who died at the same attack; Mr. Stark will take care of the immediate needs of
the families both of the dead and the injured: S.H.I.E.L.D. and Stark
Industries have already established a special fund for the people who suffered
from yesterday’s attack.”
“Miss Potts, who was the mastermind behind the attack?”
“Do you expect another attack of this scale?”
Pepper’s face was dead serious exactly as the Mayor’s.
“These questions are more for the S.H.I.E.L.D. to answer so I recommend you
stay with the official announcement the organization made.”
“So, no new attack is expected?”
The Mayor turned to the reporter.
“The announcement says exactly that, John.”
“Miss Potts, does Mr. Stark have any explanation for Superman’s absence during
the fight?”
The man who was at the dark corner of the bar felt a shiver.
Pepper’s gaze was calm.
“I’m afraid you have to ask Superman. Now I think that we must focus in healing
our wounds so no more questions, please.”
Clark had followed there two men whom he suspected to be members of the
Intergang – newly recruited from Metropolis’ underworld; he focused on them
because the known members had gone below the radar as if the earth had
swallowed them.
 It was still evening yet they didn’t have any hesitation to be outside
especially since they mixed with innocent people in one of Metropolis’ most
quiet bars.
He was sure by now that the Intergang was very much alive and kicking gathering
forces for ruling Metropolis’ underworld. Actually, the guys Clark followed
were met in the bar with two other shady men and Clark was sure that they were
recruiting.
“Boss was right” one of the guys whispered to his partner “Superman has lost
his grip; he was too afraid even to confront those guys in New York…”
The other chuckled and Clark clenched his jaw enraged.
“I can’t understand why Superman didn’t come to help us” a New Yorker was
saying from the built-in TV over the bar. “I thought he cared about us…”
“I’m disappointed…” a woman said on camera. “And sad…my friend was there: if
Superman was helping she might be alive now…”
Clark bit his lip and heard again his mother’s words:
“People died waiting and hoping till their last breath Superman to save them…”
His guts suddenly felt twisted; his chest heavy and his heart cold, scared like
he never before had felt it. He frowned: no, he recognized that feeling…
Clark saw again himself floating into the dark void with the same cold feeling
of having lost everything…that his loved ones was lost forever; himself was
lost forever. The loneliness, the despair, the hopelessness…He had felt like
this in a dream. But in the dream something lit his darkness, warmed his
coldness. He remembered the star that led his way and the warmth when he
reached it: the presence of that star took away the despair giving him back
hope.
He saw again the star taking the form of a man…Bruce…He saw him again laid
before him his beautiful eyes filled with love and happiness.
All of a sudden Clark’s head filled with a familiar strong heart beating,
determined as always but tired; he could hear the calm breath…And that calmness
filled his own body as well flooding him with a sense of reassurance; knowledge
that he wasn’t absorbed by the darkness… That there was a beacon for him.
Clark’s eyes widened realizing that unconsciously he had found Bruce’s vitals
as he was doing for months. He felt as wonderful as back then.
Bruce was tired…He must be exhausted after being fucked by Thor: they were
celebrating the Avengers’ victory in New York and Superman’s humiliation. The
sniggering voice inside him continued by reminding him how breathtaking Bruce
was under the shine of the love making sweat; his eyes’ dazzling glow during
his orgasm…Clark felt an irresistible urge to surge at the Manor, beat to a
pulp Thor – because Superman could smash all the Avengers together – and claim
Bruce…
But then Diana’s eyes came in his mind; her perfume dizzying his senses. He saw
Thor under that bridge in New York’s park pinning Bruce to the pillar and
thrusting in his body the human begging for more…
He felt the wrath of that day returning like a river of lava: Bruce had
betrayed him maybe not by fucking with Thor, at least then, but certainly with
his thoughts. Because Clark had seen how he talked with the god. And then Bruce
used his knife to hurt him; Clark still had the scar on his upper arm. No, that
stupid dream was a product of the influence’s return since Bruce had inoculated
him inappropriately in order to make Superman his slave as Ra’s wanted.
Yet now that he had taken the right inoculation Clark could see the truth.
Diana was the true star of his life; the only one that gave him tranquility,
love and happiness. He glanced at the screen where more people was whining
about Superman not being in New York ignorant of what was really at stake; they
were so eager to blame him after everything he was doing for them all these
years.
His heart beat faster than usual in anger: Diana was right. Humans were so
ungrateful…even Lois and his own mother…He inhaled deeply…no, not Lois and his
Ma: they simply didn’t understand but he was sure that in the end they would
see the truth as everyone else.
Or…
He didn’t feel the need for them to understand…He didn’t care: all these were
only making him tired. He was Kal El: what did he care about the opinion of
others? Especially when they were wrong? Only Diana was accepting him for what
he was: he knew his worth, his kindness.
He left a bill on the table and stood forgetting the men he was stalking. He
needed, he wanted to be back to Diana: his true star; the source of his
happiness in this dark and hostile world.
 
Lois stopped her car. She chose to do so a block away from her target wanting
to remain unnoticed. She decided to go on foot to the Arkham Asylum.
Officially, there was nothing but she was a fighting field reporter and her
experience of years didn’t let the silence fool her. Since morning she was
wandering the city and noticed the movements of police cars seemingly doing
routine work but in a clearly frantic way like they were searching for
something.
And to confirm her suspicions police announced that they found two bodies:
Isaac and Wizze, both of them connected with the case of that horrible video
with Bruce. Now who else could have killed them than Joker? So police was in
Joker’s traces.
To make matters even clearer Ironman was reported by some news stations being
floating over the city…Ironman patrolling Gotham? No, after the attack in New
York the reasonable would be to patrol New York…So he had some intelligence on
Joker’s whereabouts and he was looking for him and Bruce.
Now, why Arkham Asylum? She asked herself that. Joker could be at any place in
city. However her instinct was telling her that the madman would choose the
mental institution, maybe because nobody would suspect.
Lois knew how to be discreet in order to not become a hurdle in police
operations – not that she saw any police around. She chose to approach through
the alleys of the buildings around.
As soon as she had clear view of the gothic, eerie in the evening’s darkness
building Lois took out her Smart Phone and shot some pictures. Suddenly, she
lowered her phone because something caught her eye.
Lois hurried to the alley opposite and the person that lingered in the shadows
saw her with as much surprise as Lois herself.
“What are you doing here?” Lois asked whispering though there wasn’t an obvious
danger of being heard.
Vicky Vale rolled her eyes.
“The same with you, darling…”
Lois crossed her arms on the chest and lolled her head. Vicky huffed.
“There’s a bizarre silence in the city matched with some things that caught my
attention: police is in frantic action, Tony Stark makes circles over the city
looking for something or someone, three corpses were found all of them
connected with Joker and the two of them connected with Bruce Wayne as
well…Let’s see…I think that Joker took advantage of the turbulence after
yesterday’s attack at Arkham and cooks something concerning Bruce. And I have
sources that informed me that Ironman heads here so Joker must be here. Or
something…”
Lois gave a small crooked smile.
“You would be a nice partner…”
Vicky smiled flattered.
“I thought that you were working with Kent.”
Lois cocked her eyebrows, her disappointment clear in his eyes.
“You know how unreliable boys can be…”
“There is something more to this, huh? I mean the situation with Joker…” Vicky
said narrowing her eyes.
Lois thought it a second.
“It’s confidential…”
Vicky pouted.
“I think I proved that I am trustworthy.”
Lois nodded.
“Fair point. Yesterday, when Arkham Asylum was breached Joker attacked Wayne
Manor and abducted Bruce.”
Vicky pressed her lips.
“How much more has this man to suffer?” she narrowed her eyes pouting “Hm. By
the way, did Bruce have an affair with Superman? You must know” but seeing
Lois’ glare Vicky crooked her mouth. “Oh!” She chuckled “job’s habit… Ugh! And
this Joker guy…”
Lois remembered the interview Vicky had with Jack Napier aka the Joker and then
the hostage situation in Gotham’s Opera.
“You had many experiences with him.”
Her colleague cocked her eyebrows.
“Yeah…I had the…pleasure…” she chuckled and turned towards the building. “What
are we doing now?”
Lois leaned her back to the wall letting the darkness of the evening swallow
her.
“Wait…”
 
Batman came out of the small cavity behind the natural arch created from
stalactites and stalagmites under the street leading to Arkham; Catwoman stood
from the flat rock formation in the right. Lucius was already standing looking
calm as ever but thoughtful the imposing stature of Gotham’s vigilante. It was
obvious that underneath his composure a huge battle was taking place inside the
loyal scientist; a big doubt about what he was helping to happen.
Batman’s hand on his shoulder felt reassuring.
“Everything is going to be fine” Batman said to him with conviction. “You and
Tony equipped me with all the safety I need.”
Lucius met Batman’s eyes which weren’t covered yet from the lenses; the so
familiar sapphire-emerald eyes seemed so different under the hue of iron
determination.
“I sure hope so…” Lucius replied avoiding using his employer’s name.
The caves were the safest place in Gotham yet Lucius still didn’t feel okay
using his employer’s name addressing Batman.
“You better leave now” Batman said to him. “Things might get nasty and I’ll
feel better if you are in a safe distance. Thank you for everything.”
Lucius nodded. Bruce knew that his loyal scientist had no problem finding his
way in the caves since he had come himself there; during his youth Lucius loved
spelunking so he knew enough about the cave system and Bruce’s diagrams made it
even easier to navigate.
“Good luck” he said and walked towards the exit of the cavity that led to a
natural corridor and then to the manhole for the sewers; he stopped and turned
to them. “Be careful, you two.”
“We will” Catwoman answered with a small smile and Lucius walked out.
Batman waited for a couple of minutes for Lucius to cover enough distance; the
scientist had left his car quite afar from the Asylum and followed the
underground route to the meeting point so that even if someone who knew his car
or him saw either no suspicions would be raised about Lucius involvement in
what was going to happen.
Catwoman looked in her friend’s eyes.
“It’s time?” she asked and Batman replied with a nod.
He rubbed her upper arms.
“Don’t worry…”
Catwoman cocked an eyebrow and crooked her mouth.
“That’s impossible, sweetie…”
Batman gave a small grin and activated his eye lenses.
“How do you know that Joker hasn’t already returned to your cell and touched
the reflection realizing the trick?” Selina said as they walked to the opposite
direction from the one Lucius had taken.
“Remember that time at the Haven’s reception?”
She rolled her eyes.
“How can I forget such glorious moments?” she remarked snarky and Batman
crooked his mouth.
“Remember how I dazzled the goon to not betray us?” she nodded. “I did the same
with Joker sending him to Quinzel and knowing her, she will keep him busy
enough time for you to attack. But to be sure…”
He pressed a hidden button in his armor’s forearm part and a neon green diagram
of the Asylum emerged in the humid darkness of the cave.
“Quinzel said to them where to dwell to avoid the security cameras and the
footage from the cameras in the museum section give the same image of the
facilities all the time – good thing we can use satellite feeding to cross the
dots indicating human presence with image…” he ‘touched’ the museum section
part of the diagram and images of the goons guarding the halls appeared in
succession.
“Cool…” she said.
“And this” he showed the room at the far right part of the museum “is where
they hold Bruce…” he pointed at the spot there and Catwoman shook her head.
“Impressive! It gives a signal as if a presence it’s there…”
“But it is…only it’s not an exact presence. And it is only one so Joker hasn’t
returned.”
They inspected the museum section’s zoomed diagram since the jester wouldn’t
leave that area because the rest of the Asylum was normally monitored.
“They can be here.”
Catwoman showed a room where two dots where inside and Bruce ‘touched’ that
part to get image: Joker was speaking with Quinzel.
“And they are quite far from my cell” Batman said.
“Let’s go” Catwoman gritted her teeth. “I can’t wait to kick some ass!”
 
Tony had stood on a rooftop some yards from Arkham; he was watching inside his
helmet Arkham Asylum’s diagram and sequential footage from the security
cameras. He wanted his movements to be precise in order to not give space to
Joker to hurt Bruce or use him as a shield to escape.
“Jarvis, I want every image you can get from the Asylum” he was sure that the
jester was inside the Asylum with Quinzel’s protection yet there was nothing
suspicious coming from the building.
He pressed his lips and cursed.
“You have every available data from the Arkham Asylum, sir.”
“There must be something more, Jarvis…I know Joker and Bruce are there: they
can’t be invisible!” suddenly something flashed into his mind. “Jarvis, give me
all the data Bruce has on Crane – focus on those regarding the Asylum.”
A flood of data began water falling in front of his eyes and Tony was happy for
his ability to read fast. In the data Bruce had about Crane, there was a
diagram of the Manor. Tony frowned and noticed how his friend had marked some
spots…
“That’s it! That’s how Crane escaped from the Asylum: Arkham had secret
passages to the basement and from there he had built paths connected with the
sewers. Crane used that passages and since he is cooperating with Joker then
that is how he got inside unnoticed. On the other side, from what Bruce told me
Crane wasn’t going to trust his secrets to Joker so the madman got inside
otherwise…Damn! That doesn’t help…No! Joker doesn’t know about the passages.”
He perused again the footage from the cameras and reaching those from the
museum section something was off.
“Jarvis, give me the footage from the security cameras in the museum section
from the last 12 hours.”
He focused on the footage. He didn’t want to lose any detail.
“Bingo!” he was right: definitely something was off. “Compare every frame.”
“The frames are exactly the same, sir.”
Tony smirked and nodded.
“The bastards!”
They had fed the cameras with the same footage for the last 12 hours and given
the fact that the museum section had no traffic at all, nobody would have come
upon some clowns wandering there.
“Joker is in the museum section: give me footage from every available
satellite.”
 
Catwoman slithered in the dark corridors of the Museum section of the Arkham
Asylum. She along with Batman entered the building through the secret passage
which Bruce used to get out; they didn’t came from another part of the building
because they didn’t want cameras to capture them and the cameras in the Museum
Area was frozen to the same image.
She knew exactly where each clown-goon was guarding and where to hit for Joker
to hear.
Two goons with clown masks stood on the two sides of the corridor holding
firearms ready to open fire. She smirked and followed the direction that led
behind them; worry was biting her insides about Bruce’s condition and his risky
plan yet she would do what they agreed in order to end all of this and her
friend return to safety as soon as possible.
She approached more and heard the guys mumbling nonsense sure that nobody would
come there. So they were completely astonished when something fell on their
backs. Catwoman could have knocked them out at once yet the plan was for them
to create fuss so Joker would hear and come.
With the force she fell on their backs the goons collapsed on the floor and in
normal conditions Selina would have neutralized them before they could blink an
eye yet now she waited for them to stand. Of course, rolling her eyes for their
clumsy movements…
Her leg rose to kick the one’s nose making him scream while her hand jerked
slapping the second goon in the face sending him to the wall.
“We got an intruder!!!” the second yelled as Catwoman elbowed the first one
knocking him out.
 
“Mr. J, I think you should detach from Bruce Wayne: your fixation with him is
clear that holds you back from healing.”
Joker rolled his eyes and smirked, hearing about healing: why healing? He was
perfect.
“What? You don’t listen to me, right?” the psychiatrist asked frowning. “I want
the best for you and this man only damages you. You should trust me: after all
I’m risking everything for you…”
Joker scanned the room: a large space with cases and shelves carrying old
fashioned bottles, needles, books and other equipment. Harlequin’s rant was
actually amusing even though it last for almost half an hour.
“You risked every—thing, daaarling, ‘cause you wanted tooooo. ‘Cause you
knoooow that I can giiiiive you experiences that no---body else can. Soooooo
don’t bitch ‘bout that…” he lolled his head on the side.
“You shouldn’t have kicked me out when Wayne got the amytal – I could have
helped! I could have helped you! But you care only for that stupid brat!”
Calling Bruce ‘stupid’ was unacceptable. Joker raised his hand and slapped her
in the face.
“You don’t get to speak like this for him!” he yelled.
Harleen still dressed in her white robe held her cheek shocked but with the
same shiver like that time Joker hit her during his escape.
Joker lolled his head interested.
“Don’t tell me you didn’t liiiiike thaaaaat?”
She made to retort something but something about an intruder was heard and then
a shot. Joker rushed to the door.
 
The goon who yelled pointed his firearm at Catwoman shooting but she jumped and
fell on him taking the weapon off his hand and hitting him in the head with the
stock.
She heard footsteps running there and grinned: the decoy worked. Five goons
were coming at her and she jumped to avoid their bullets; with two back flips
she landed behind them rushing immediately on them kicking the butts of the two
closer to her and sending them to crush on the others.
“Whooooo fired?! You idiots!”
 
“Sir, gunshots are coming from the corridor A1 in the Museum Section.”
“I know, Jarvis” Ironman was feet from the building and his systems kept them
constantly updated.
He could see that a figure was engaged in battle with the goons; enabling image
with the satellites’ help he saw Catwoman beating Joker’s goons.
His eyes shone determined.
“I’m coming, honey…” he said and smashed a window to enter the building.
 
Selina turned to see what they had hoped: Joker hearing the unwanted fuss left
Quinzel and ran to see what was going on. She dodged a second before the blade
found her forehead: the corridor was only half lit yet her lenses gave enough
visibility.
“Ooooooh! Myyyyy favorite Kitty! What now? Dooooo you have a loony boyfriend
an’ you’re afraid for his safety?”
Catwoman smiled.
“No; but Gotham deserves better humor than yours” she winked and stormed at him
wanting more than anything to graze his neck to death but having to stick to
the plan.
“Soooory, love…I’m Gotham’s best enter---tainer…Get her…” he pushed two of the
goons who were following him and made frantic gestures to the rest coming to
charge at her.
He watched eagerly as his goons attacked Catwoman but she effortlessly avoided
them answering with punches and back kicks. A goon that after a kick had landed
flat on the floor grabbed his shotgun that lay near him and pointed at her
ready to fire. Joker sent a blade finding his palm and the clown looked at his
boss.
“No, bullets, you dooork! We dooon’t want police here!” he conjured a blade and
launched it at Catwoman’s back who was engaged in punching two thugs at once.
“Not that fast, asshole!” the blade was instantly turned into dust as a yellow
beam struck it.
Joker smirked; he knew that voice.
“Starky, m’ booooooy!” he stretched his arms in a welcoming gesture. “At last!”
Selina stood regarding Ironman ready to fire at Joker: that would ruin Bruce’s
plans but certainly it could be a solution.
Joker looked at the loaded cannon on Ironman’s wrist and lolled his head in the
side.
“Noooooow…that’s not toooooo polite, isn’t it?”
“Where’s Bruce?” he asked but then snorted. “Never mind I’ll find him myself…”
Joker knew that the canon was ready to fire yet his Cheshire smile was bigger
than ever. Selina wanted to stop Tony but speaking would suspect Joker on
Bruce’s plan and she wasn’t sure that didn’t prefer Tony’s solution.
Suddenly, Ironman was shaken by what felt like hundred thunders at once
starting from his waist; he slumped on one knee.
“The high electricity voltage caused a disruption on your systems, sir” Jarvis
gave the immediate evaluation.
“Thanks, Jarvis…” Tony spat disgruntled and turned his head back.
Quinzel dressed still in her white robe was holding one of the guards’ Taser
guns. She was smirking and pressed the button charging the weapon to hit again.
“Thaaaat for my destroyed baby blade!” Joker yelled. “Giv’ him one more,
Harlequin!”
“Gladly, Mr. J!” the doctor answered with a gleeful shine in her eyes and
stormed at the fallen hero.
Only to be tumbled by Catwoman who kicked the Taser off her hand and dragged
her to the floor slapping her face.
Joker giggled.
“Wooo--hoooo! Laaaadies fight! You should thank me, Starky: I know you looooove
these shows…But now I’ve got to gooooooo!”
He began running turning the curve of the corridor; Tony even though his armor
hadn’t regained its full operational capacity jumped onto his feet and followed
him.
But upon turning the curve the jester was nowhere to be seen and Tony growled
but immediately set his scanners to locate him.
“Systems can’t locate him, sir.”
“You’re always so informative, Jarvis” he remarked snidely.
Tony shook his head: it seemed that Crane had informed his ally about the
secret passages and those led to parts of the building that were built with
such materials that blocked his systems. Thankfully, Tony had Bruce’s map with
the passages so it wasn’t difficult to find the one that Joker used to
disappear. It was pitch black but Ironman’s lenses permitted him to see around.
He set his systems to track Joker since now he was inside the passages so the
materials shouldn’t block the signals. However there was no trace of the
jester.
“Damn!” he spat and continued walking.
Joker giggled as he came out from the big, built-in cabinet: Harlequin had said
to him that that antique cabinet was made from materials that blocked most
systems. He had listened carefully before emerging to be sure that Stark was
gone. The jester hopped at the corridor of the Museum Area heading to the old
hospital room where he had Bruce.
“Heheheheheeee… If thaaaaat Starky believed that he could catch me… he is
mooooore stupid than I thought.” He regarded thoughtful the old cabinet “I
aaaaalways loved hide an’ seeeeeek! Now let’s give them sooooomething other to
play while I make my leave…”
He delved into the inside pocket of his jacket and pulled out a thing like a
remote control.
“That thingy is toooooo much fun: let us freeeeeee the loooooonies to
plaaaaayyyyy…Toooo bad I won’t be here to play…”
He pressed the key that Quinzel had said that unlocked the high security
section with the most dangerous criminals. He raised his index finger and
pressed graciously half closing his eyes waiting to hear the sound of yells and
riot.
 
“Commissioner!” Rene Montoya said to Jim Gordon who was talking with one police
officer reporting on the developments of their research.
They were in the Narrows ready to move to another part of the city as soon as
Gordon got informed by his people. The Commissioner turned to his Detective.
“Gunshots are heard from Arkham!”
“Again?” Jim exclaimed and hurried to his patrol car with Montoya. “All the
available units there!” he spat simultaneously to the police officers there and
to the cars’ radio.
 
Joker’s delighted expression became a deep frown as nothing was heard.
“Eeeeek! The saaaaame disgusting silence…” he shook the gadget and tried
pressing the buttons again but still nothing.
Joker and Quinzel didn’t know about the extra security measures that
automatically locked the high security section and the area with the doctors’
offices in case of an attack. Batman had taken care of activating it the moment
he returned in the building.
Joker pressed once again the button and in the end waved that off pissed
tossing the gadget over his shoulder.
“Neeeeeever mind…I have my own fun…”
“Not so fast.”
Joker rolled his eyes exasperated.
“Another oneeeee?” he giggled. “Ooooooh…it geeets annoyingly fuuuuuny!”
Thor walked towards him with Mjolnir clenched in his hand emanating blue
sparkles as much as his eyes.
“Maybe you were too hasty to get rid of divine protection?” the blond spat, his
face distorted in rage.
Joker crooked his mouth and lolled his head.
“You meeeeeean your black haired ass-hole brother? He was boooooring after a
while an’ trying to mesh with me an’ my baby…Me an’ Brucie are sooooo much
better after that Lo-locki was off…”
Thor frowned.
“Lead me to Bruce and pray he is alright!”
Joker leaned his head.
“Pray toooooo whom? ‘Cause lately sooooo many gods have joined us that I’m con-
-fused…Heheheheheheeeeee!”
Thor clenched his jaw, his teeth gritting; he was in so much agony about Bruce
and that man was fooling him.
“Shut up and do what I say!”
Joker rolled his eyes.
“That’s why I don’t like gods…” he mumbled matter-of-factly and crooked his
mouth “an’ neither my friend…”
Thor felt a spray on his face coming from back and immediately it dawned to
him: the gas depriving of special powers. Suddenly, Mjolnir felt too heavy for
his hand and slipped to the floor; Thor’s eyes widened as a lean, short guy
with a sack over his head came in front of him joining Joker who giggled.
“I always wanted to study panic reaction to gods” the guy with the sack hissed
and Joker giggled worse.
“I looooooove your fixation, Crowy! An’ I aaaaalways wanted to take that hammer
an’ explore its potential…”
“No!” Thor yelled and made a step forwards though his legs felt too heavy; he
wouldn’t let that madman take his weapon.
But as Joker reached Mjolnir a current hit him tossing him backwards.
“Heheheheeee! It cooooomes with security system, huh? Maybe if his master is in
panic that thingy will change attitude?”
Thor understood as the guy with the sack approached him raising his hand,
protruding his wrist where he had a leather bracelet where a spray can was
attached.
“I don’t think so, buddy” a bass baritone cracked the silence and Crane was
tossed away by a blue wave.
Joker turned there.
“Uuuuuuuuu! C-G-I! I loooooove it!” he made to grab the hammer but Thor made a
dive, caught Joker’s legs and dragged the jester away.
The powerless god punched the jester who giggled.
“You suuuuuurely are path--etic without your god powers, huh?” he kicked Thor
off of him and stormed at the hammer only to hit on a green barrier.
“I hate magic!” he spat nasally glaring at Stephen Strange who turned his hands
at him ready to hit him.
But then Scarecrow fell on him spraying him with the gas he had on his wrist.
“No!” the doctor screamed feeling the earth moving away and the ground coming
at him rapidly. He was again in his Lamborgini as the car fell from the steep
cliff; death was coming rapidly at him along with pain. Excruciating pain…
Joker giggled but didn’t try to get the hammer because the shield was still
holding.
“Bye, children” he said and ran to the corridor towards Bruce’s room.
He was only some feet away when a figure blocked the corridor. A man dressed in
dark green with a hood covering his face and two blazing eyes burning his
opponent. His bow was in his hands and the string was stretched ready to send a
thick arrow to Joker.
“I should have killed you that day…” Arrow said ice cold.
Joker shook his head and cocked his eyebrows.
“Yeah…but I’m too cuuuuute, huh? By the way” he narrowed his eyes “this place
suddenly became tooooo crammed, don’t you think, Robin of Loxley? Huhuhu! We’re
the doooope – est costume party in toooown! Yuuuuuuupyyyyyyy! Sigh! Only Batsy
isn’t in the party but he couldn’t join us, huh?”
Suddenly, he threw something at the Arrow and the corridor was cast in thick
smoke; the arrow from the bow launched to hit the place where Joker was.
But the jester was already on the door to Bruce’s room; the archer turned to
stop Joker but before he even registered the motion he felt a sharp sting in
his upper arm and instantly his legs bent and he fell on the floor, his eyes
shutting rapidly.
Joker bent his elbow in a gesture of triumph.
“Nooooobody gets between me and Batsy, heheheheee! I’m cooooooming, hon!” he
stormed at the handle to open, his eyes looking through the door’s window; a
smile cracked his white face. “Here’s Batsy, sleepin’ like a real baby –
uuuuuuu…” he opened the door ready to burst inside. “Time to leeeeeaaave” he
said in a singsong voice.
 
Lois’ eyes widened as police sirens filled suddenly the area. Vicky laughed.
“We were right then!”
A convoy of police cars stormed in the Asylum’s yard and officers raid the
building.
Lois began taking photos and Vicky dragged her closer.
“Let’s go!” she said to the reporter from Metropolis and both ran to the Asylum
taking advantage of the turbulence to slip inside.
 
Zucco’s house was at the outskirts of Gotham not far from the Narrows. It was a
sole house, small with a cared little garden.
“It’s not Wayne Manor” he had said patting Dick’s shoulder when they arrived.
“It’s great” Dick had replied.
But since then the boy sat on the gray sofa of the living room in front of the
large TV watching, keeping his tablet all the time on his lap.
Rebecca brought a dish with cupcakes and placed it on the coffee table in front
of the boy.
“I hope it’s how you like them” she said with a sweet smile and Dick looked at
her almost surprised.
“Thanks…” he said absentminded “they look really yummy…”
The woman met Zucco’s gaze; the man was sitting on an armchair at the right of
the couch staring at his nephew and finally stood gesturing to his wife with
the eyes to leave him alone.
He sat beside Dick and wrapped his arm around the boy’s shoulders.
“Are you alright, champ?” he asked worried. “If you preferred staying in the
Manor I’d understand.”
Dick shook his head regretting his stance.
“No, not at all…I’m glad I’m here. Yet…I” he felt the urge to tell his uncle
about Wayne’s kidnapping but stopped “I just wait for something…”
Suddenly, an ad played on TV. It was for the polymorphic tablet made by Wayne
Enterprises: the Cosmos. Dick’s eyes were fixed there and then at his own
tablet.
Zucco smirked understanding the boy’s realization.
“Wayne tried to buy your sympathy” he said. “To present himself as kind and
caring. But you’re not from the naïve children who are bought with fancy toys.”
Dick nodded.
“No, I’m not.”
“That’s my boy!” the adult patted the boy’s back. “Well, we have only two and a
half days so what would you say if we spend them in the best possible way and
not shut in here?”
Rebecca walked to them.
“I’m not staying inside at Friday night…”
Dick looked indecisive and his uncle smiled.
“You’ll have your tablet all the time with you to see what you’re waiting
for…What do you say, champ? Do you want us to have our first outing as a true
family?”
Dick smiled forgetting for the first time the grim emotions of the last 24
hours; only Hero’s sad eyes when he was leaving still haunted him. The boy
nodded and Zucco stood taking him along.
“I have big plans for the night, champ!”
“Definitely he has…” Rebecca added.
 
Tony stepped out from the passage in front of him. He had located a room in the
far end of the corridor with one lone figure lying on the bed; he knew it was
Bruce and hurried his steps.
“Sir, that presence in the room gives odd signs.”
Tony pressed his lips and continued with agony biting his insides.
“I know, Jarvis; who knows what Joker did to him…”
As he took the curve to the corridor to Bruce’s room he noticed that not far
from him, three people were just before the room. One unconscious and two
others.
“What now?” he spat and activated the boost for more speed.
 
“Not so fast, Joker…”
The jester’s eyes widened in shock: he knew that growl; it was the perfect
growl coming from the other end of the corridor and not from the room where he
was seeing Bruce. He lolled his head on the side.
“That it can’t be…” he turned slowly and snapped his fingers around his head to
check his hearing. “Nooooooope, my ears are fine…”
Batman walked slowly towards him imposing as ever; his lips in a tight line.
“It can’t beeeee…it can’t beeee…” Joker shook his index finger to Batman.
“Hallucinations are nooooot part of my CV.”
And then the jester frowned with a shine in his acid eyes.
“I knoooowwww…You’re another hologram, huh? Like thoooooose fooling the bad
guys.”
Batman didn’t reply just jolted upwards and in a flash fell on the jester
punching him in the mouth. Joker pouted thoughtful.
“Naaaah…I guess you’re noooot, huh? Sooooooo Bruuuuucie isn’t…?”
“What?” Batman growled punching him in the guts.
Joker giggled.
“Doooon’t get maaaad but I thought he was youuuuu…buuuuut he is paralyzed an’
you’re here an’ he is there…an’ I’m ooout of order…” he giggled hysterically.
Batman had had enough; he gave him a flat hit in the neck, in the spot of the
instant knock out.
Joker felt slipping rapidly into unconsciousness and fixed his eyes on Batman’s
cowl.
“I can have myyyyy threesomeeeeeee…” he mumbled and feigned.
“Batman?” Tony’s eyes behind the lenses were bulged not believing the sight in
front of him: Batman had knocked out Joker and at the same time Bruce was lying
inside that room…
It was obvious to the billionaire that his friend was using some of his unique
skills - he wondered how many things he ignored about Bruce - and of course
Lucius brought him the armor.
Batman turned and looked at Ironman. He stood and locked artificial stares with
his friend.
The Arrow stirred and stood stumbling; Bruce frowning at the speed of his
recovery from the sedative Joker obviously used to neutralize him. The archer
looked at Batman and the shadow of his hood hid his surprise.
“Batman…” his voice didn’t indicate any astonishment and Bruce who knew that
the Arrow was aware of his secret identity smirked for his skill. “Is Bruce
Wayne alright?”
“Sleeping…” Batman answered with his own poker face; maybe tonight he had
managed to disperse the suspicions of both Joker and Queen. “Ironman can take
his friend to his home” he said looking pointedly at Ironman who nodded. “I
think you should let him with his friend” he turned to Arrow who nodded.
“My job here is done” the archer answered and turned to the direction leading
away.
Sirens were heard from outside and Batman looked at Ironman.
“Inform the police that you’re leaving with Bruce…nobody must see you…” he
said.
“I…” Tony mumbled uncomfortable but Batman nodded and left dragging Joker
behind him by the collar.
 
The Ancient One was stabbed…She was badly injured…The blood was spurting from
her body…they had to hurry…
The nightmarish, horrible, enormous creature was barking threats at him and
then pain…More pain that he had ever felt…
Kaecilius was winning; he had to stop him but he was losing; he frantically
conjured every source he could to fight him back but he was sniggering…
Catwoman had arrived just on time to help Thor who struggled to stop Crane who
attacked him ready to gas him with the fear toxin; Scarecrow laid on the floor
unconscious but now the blond god held her down stopping her from trying to
tackling Dr. Strange who was erect sending multicolored beams around blowing
parts of the walls.
 Batman heard the commotion and hurried dragging Joker along; he frowned
registering the sight before him: a man in a burgundy cape was launching beams
that had been demolishing parts of the walls and the ceiling.
The man was standing but writhing in agony, his face contorted in what Batman
knew was terror and pain.
Seeing Scarecrow unconscious Batman understood that the caped man had been
sprayed with his fear toxin. His eyes behind the lenses widened seeing Catwoman
and Thor slumped on the floor, at the niche of the wall. The god didn’t hold
his hammer only tried to stop Catwoman from attacking the man. It was obvious
that Crane had applied to Thor his weakening gas.
First, he had to neutralize the panicked man before he hit someone or himself.
Nobody had seen him yet so he sent a sedative Batarang at the writhing man
knocking him out instantly; then he left the shadows approaching slowly and
leaving the unconscious jester on the floor.
 
Lois and Vicky were running to the corridors of the Asylum not knowing where
they were going but following the police officers. At some point, they lost the
officers and just followed the sounds of battle.
Suddenly, both women stood awestruck seeing Batman coming out of the shadows
proud and strong.
“Is this…?” Lois whispered awed.
“Batman!” Vicky completed for her and set her smart phone into videotaping
shooting the legendary hero.
 
Catwoman’s eyes widened in relief but Thor’s were filled with surprise, awe and
worry.
The police officers were coming running with Gordon on the head. The
Commissioner gestured to them to lower their guns seeing that Batman had
cleared the area and sent them to handcuff Crane and Joker.
Batman approached Catwoman and Thor and without a word he pulled out of a
compartment in his utility zone a tiny needle.
“Antidote” he said in his husky voice to Thor’s astonished eyes.
Bruce after the attack at the Avengers’ Tower had packed his utility belt with
antidotes to the gases the attackers had used. He had always with him the
antidote to the gas weakening super powered beings because he was afraid that
Superman could be attacked again. It came handy with Thor.
The god offered his bulging upper arm with trust and Batman administered the
antidote. He turned to the unconscious unknown man as Thor began to regain his
powers. The first thing the god did was to grab Mjolnir and feel its energy
vibrating inside him.
Catwoman followed Batman as he kneeled above the man.
“Who is he?” he asked.
“I don’t know but from the fireworks he made probably a wizard…”
“He is Dr. Strange” Thor replied having come to them. “He is with me.”
Jim approached too as his officers handcuffed Joker.
“Crane’s fear toxin” the Commissioner spat.
Batman nodded and pulled another cased mini syringe and stabbed it to the man’s
thigh. He stood and turned to Thor.
“When the sedative’s effect is over he’ll wake up without any side effect from
the toxin.”
Thor nodded, his eyes looking fascinating at the vigilant.
“I’ll take care of him.”
Batman didn’t answer just turned towards the shadows from where he came and
vanished; Catwoman gave an impressive backwards flip that made the officers
goggle at her and landed several feet away behind them; she turned her head
graciously to them smiling.
“You’ll find a certain Dr. Quinzel unconscious in the corridor to the right:
she was helping Joker. Bye, boys and girls!”
She turned her head and crossed the way to the main building walking sensually.
 
Alfred’s eyes widened in relief and happiness seeing Batman rushing into the
cave on the bike he had borrowed from Catwoman. However it was Hero that first
ran to his human, climbing on him to leak his exposed chin as soon as the bike
stopped next to the Tumbler.
Batman caressed the kitten and walked to his butler who was already coming to
him pushing his wheelchair along.
“Master Bruce…”
Batman let Hero perched on his chest and removed his cowl.
“Alfred. How did you know I was coming?” he patted the man’s shoulder smiling.
“Master Anthony called me. Leslie is coming, sir” he told to him looking with
dread at the young man’s legs that supported his body.
Bruce pressed his lips understanding the older man’s fear.
“I had to do it, Alfred: there was no other way.”
The butler closed his eyes and shook his head.
“I know, sir; but now please sit…”
Bruce looked at the chair hesitating and in the end though he didn’t want
Batman sitting there, he did it placing Hero on his lap and still holding his
cowl.
“Dick and Jason were in the Arkham during the attack – Joker didn’t get them
but are the boys alright?”
“They are just fine, sir; actually two hours ago Mr. Zucco took Dick for the
weekend.”
Bruce jolted to his legs and looked at his butler.
“What?” he grabbed Hero to not fall from his sudden movement.
Alfred’s eyes filled with worry seeing his young master’s distress.
“He had Judge Moot’s approval, sir. Mr. Collins told me that he had the right
to spend some time with his nephew…”
Bruce closed his eyes for a fraction of the second and then gave Hero to Alfred
taking his cowl.
“Zucco is up to something” he said and turned towards the Tumbler.
Alfred touched Batman’s upper arm and Bruce stopped before wearing again his
cowl. His eyes filled with warmth seeing Alfred’s worry.
“Master Bruce, if I may, you shouldn’t go out right now” he licked his lips.
“You are exhausted, sir; you are…”
Bruce looked him determined and patted his upper arm.
“Fine” he completed for him “I’m perfectly fine, Alfred.”
He smiled to his butler and wore his cowl. Alfred hugged the kitten close to
his chest seeing his young master leaving.
“Be careful, Master Bruce” he whispered.
***** Chapter 71 *****
Dick was slumped on the back seat of Zucco’s gray BMW; he had his tablet on his
lap and scrolled endlessly news sites perusing with blank eyes.
Zucco was driving but simultaneously was casting sideways glances at the
driver’s mirror to see what his nephew was doing. He was frowned and at some
point his eyes met with Rebecca’s who was sitting next to him, exchanging
silently impressions; the woman crooked her mouth and Zucco twitched his
eyebrows.
The ring of an incoming call made Dick jerk although he was anxiously waiting
for that; Zucco glanced pointedly at Rebecca and she rolled her eyes.
“Alfred?”
“Master Richard, I’m happy to inform you that everything is alright. Master
Bruce is safely back.”
The boy nodded.
“Thanks, Alfred.”
“I hope that this will help you enjoy your weekend, sir.”
“It will, Alfred. Good night.”
“Have a lovely night, Master Richard.”
Dick ended the call with a relieved expression over his face.
“Goods news, dear?” Rebecca asked.
“Yeah…” he inhaled deeply and turned his gaze outside the window where the
peaceful setting of Gotham’s outskirts was stretched under the evening’s colors
and the public lights.
Zucco smiled broadly.
“Great, champ! Now we can enjoy our weekend!”
Dick didn’t know that Mall; it wasn’t in Downtown but it was big with a lot of
people going inside or leaving carrying bags with brands’ names.
Zucco parked the car at the underground parking of the Mall and they embarked
the lift upwards.
Dick was looking around: it was definitely less big and impressive than the
Comet Mall they had gone with Wayne but he liked it; especially, since he was
with Tony. His sentiments towards Wayne might have changed a bit yet Dick still
wanted to be around his uncle – he was his connection with his late father.
“Well, it’s not as glamorous as the places Wayne gets you…” Tony mumbled light
hearted as if he had read Dick’s mind.
Dick shook his head affronted.
“No, it’s cool! I’ll call Jay to come too…”
Zucco grinned.
“Mmm…how about spending the night as a family and tomorrow inviting Jay home?”
The boy shrugged.
“Fine.”
Rebecca took them to a vast store with clothes and insisted on buying Dick some
expensive jeans despite the boy’s objections.
“Let your aunt do what she wanted so long” Zucco patted him. “She was ranting
about meeting you.”
Rebecca smiled to him.
“Unless you don’t like it” she pointed to a model of jeans trousers “so we can
buy something else.”
Dick shook his head and his eyes sparkled.
“Not at all! I wanted these trousers the moment I saw them but…it’s too
expensive.”
Rebecca kissed him in the cheek.
“Don’t think about it, Dick; it’s my first gift to my nephew after all.”
“Okay…” Dick grinned.
Rebecca seemed very pleased when she gave her card to the cashier.
“Hey, champ” Zucco said as they walked to the corridors among the various shops
and the bubbling people. “Are you any good at bowling?” he gestured with his
head to a great bowling hall. “Or I’m going to teach you a lesson?”
Dick laughed.
“A lesson? I don’t think so…I’m awesome-ly good.”
“We’ll see about that” Zucco made an inviting gesture towards the hall. “I warn
you: I’m a champion.”
Dick cackled.
“Which century?” he cocked an eyebrow and ran inside.
 
The Tumbler was moving in stealth mode through Gotham’s dark streets; Batman
had set it in auto pilot because he was perusing data on the car’s control
panel.
He had already made his research on Zucco before Joker kidnapped him so his
house’s address was known. However he didn’t head there because the signal from
Dick’s tablet wasn’t in that area; instead his current location was in the
district’s Mall so for the time being the boy was safe. But that wasn’t
reassuring: Zucco was up to something so Bruce knew he had to keep his eyes
open.
But it was difficult even if he didn’t want to admit it. His body felt really
exhausted and sleep seemed so tempting. Joker kept him sedated for some hours
but that sleep seemed to have tired him instead of giving him some rest.
He clenched his jaw; it wasn’t the first time he had fatigue to face so he just
buried that in a deep corner of his mind and forget it as he always did. Dick
was in danger and that was the only thing that mattered.
 
“I won’t ever forget the way you were laughing, Beccy” Zucco shook his index
finger mock warningly to his wife and she laughed again.
After a game of bowling that didn’t last long they ended up in the Mall’s
McDonald’s. Dick was eating his McBurger chuckling.
“You must have been champion many decades ago…” the boy crooked his mouth
amused and Rebecca smirked.
Dick had defeated rather easily his uncle.
“It’s just that I haven’t practiced for long…” Zucco commented waving that off.
“Next time I won’t spare you…”
The boy took a big sip from his soda and twitched his eyebrows.
“I can teach you some tricks…” he mumbled teasingly.
Rebecca patted the boy’s back.
“Yeah, you do that; it will save him from new humiliation…” she chuckled again.
Zucco leaned towards Dick and locked eyes with him.
“For that we’ll need more time together.”
Dick nodded.
Zucco’s expression changed into dead seriousness.
“Unless, you’ve changed your mind about me becoming your guardian.”
The boy frowned almost offended; he shook his head.
“Of course not, Tony! What are you talking about?”
The man smiled innocently and glanced at his wife.
“Lately I detect that your feelings for Wayne have changed” he pressed his
lips. “I feel that you have become fond of him.”
Dick closed his eyes.
“Now that is…” Zucco prompted him with the eyes. “I…I just feel bad for the
things that happen to him lately…but I still want to live with you instead of
him. You are my uncle, my dad’s best friend: definitely want you for my
guardian.”
Zucco smiled satisfied and Rebecca did the same.
“Thank you, champ” he said touched. “This means a lot to me.”
Dick shrugged.
“Is simply how I feel, Tony.”
After they finished their meal they walked back to the parking to return home.
Dick was happy both for the jeans he got and the good time he had with his
uncle and aunt and because Wayne was safe from Joker.
“Do you want radio?” Zucco asked on their way back to the house and Dick shook
his head in the negative.
Suddenly, the car stopped and Dick looked outside.
“We’re going somewhere else?” he asked.
His uncle smiled.
“It’s something I got to do, Dick. Come with me” Rebecca nodded.
 
The signal from Dick’s tablet stopped and Bruce touched the screen on the
Tumbler’s control panel to get a detailed map of the area. He pressed his lips:
of course…
A 24h branch of Gotham’s General Bank was located where the signal was. Bruce
knew what Zucco wanted.
 
Dick shrugged and jumped out of the back seat to his waiting uncle. They walked
to the opposite sidewalk and Dick read the illuminated sign over the store: it
was a bank branch.
Zucco squatted before him and held his shoulders.
“You trust me, champ?” he asked locking eyes with the boy.
Dick smiled.
“You gotta ask?”
Zucco’s eyes flashed.
“Just don’t say anything in there, okay?”
Dick didn’t understand but he nodded. He thought that Tony wanted to withdraw
some money for the weekend although he didn’t understand why he wanted him
along.
Zucco pressed the special button for the door of the branch to open and walked
straight to one of the clerks who shook hands with him and showed them the
chairs before his desk to sit.
“How can I help you?” the man asked smiling.
“My name is Tony Zucco and I’m the legal guardian of Richard Grayson.”
Dick was startled from that but didn’t speak; he trusted his uncle.
“There is an account on my ward’s name and I need to withdraw all the money.”
Dick almost choked in his own saliva but he managed to keep his eyes from
bulging.
“May I have the number of the account?”
Zucco grinned.
“Certainly” he put his hand in the inside pocket of his black leather jacket
and gave a paper to the clerk.
Dick frowned but kept an indifferent face to not create a problem to his uncle.
But inside his head a storm was raging: where had his uncle taken all this
information? And why he did care so much about his account?
The clerk began typing and then stopped thoughtful; Zucco frowned.
“Is anything wrong?”
“No…it’s just that this is a special account; first of all, the amount is too
big.”
Zucco pressed his lips.
“We can’t withdraw them all?”
Dick’s insides clenched more as the time passed: all this fuss about the money
and his uncle’s lie didn’t stand right to him.
“You can…However this account has two owners” he gestured to the boy smiling.
“Richard Grayson and his guardian.”
Zucco nodded.
“And I am his guardian” he pulled out of the same pocket a formal looking paper
and handed it to the clerk.
Dick’s eyes widened a bit catching a glimpse of the signature on the bottom of
the paper: it was the same with the signature he had seen on the paper with the
permission given to Tony to take him for the weekend – Jugde Moot’s signature
and next to this a stamp. The boy was sure that both of them weren’t real.
Cold sweat began flooding the boy’s body: Tony had forged the Judge’s signature
and the stamp to take the money… He felt dizzy but didn’t speak; Tony’s face
was completely calm as if nothing was wrong. As if he had done such things
again so it wasn’t a novelty for him.
The clerk after a thorough reading of the paper nodded. He stood and walked to
another desk, spoke to a woman and see unlocked the small safe on the file
cabinet to her right. The first clerk returned with POS like gadget the woman
had given to him.
Dick saw with the corner of his eyes Tony’s slight frown; obviously, he
expected something else.
The clerk sat and placed the gadget on the desk.
“This account as I told you is a special type of account; you can make any
withdraw you want but Mr. Grayson’s and his guardian’s thump print and iris are
necessary. Mr. Grayson, if you please…” the man said politely to the boy and
Dick leaned there.
He placed his thump on the gadget and then his eye on the special place. Inside
he was trembling but he managed to keep his cool. A green light beeped and the
word ‘MATCH’ appeared on the small rectangular screen. Zucco smiled.
But when the adult followed the same procedure the light was red and ‘NO MATCH’
flashed on the screen.
“I don’t understand” Zucco said. “I’m Richard’s legal guardian and the handler
of his money.”
The man pressed his lips.
“I’m sorry but I told you that this is a special account.”
Zucco’s tranquil mask cracked and he shook his head huffing.
“I presented you all the paperwork.”
The clerk pressed his lips.
“I’m sorry but we are obliged to stick with the terms set for the account.”
Zucco ruffled his hair.
“And whose fingertip and iris are accepted?”
The clerk typed some orders on his keyboard.
“Ms. Melanie F. Turner.”
Zucco’s fist clenched but the clerk didn’t see it. He jerked his hands upwards
chuckling exasperated.
“But Ms. Turner has disappeared nearly three months ago and I have now
Richard’s guardianship.”
The clerk shook his head.
“I’m sorry but nothing has changed in the terms of the account; without Ms.
Turner’s approval no money can be withdrawn.”
Zucco frowned. It was clear to Dick that he was cursing inside.
“What if she is dead?” Dick’s eyes widened hearing that so coldly from his
uncle: he didn’t have many hopes about his granny but hearing it so blatantly
made him shiver. “Richard won’t be able to have access to his money?”
The man knitted his fingers on the desk.
“There must be an official declaration of her being deceased and then the
nature of the account will be changed but till then Richard must rely on his
guardian’s money. Of course, till he turns eighteen.”
Zucco nodded.
“I see…” he inhaled deeply and looked at his nephew whose eyes were blank
having heard so many times about his granny being dead. “Well, thank you very
much” he stood and the clerk did the same.
The two adults shook hands.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t help you” he said but Zucco waved that off although Dick
could say that he was pissed beyond words.
“It doesn’t matter; what matters is Dick’s happiness, right, champ?” he patted
the boy in the back giving him the signal to stand. “Good night.”
As they returned to the car Zucco had his arm wrapped around Dick’s shoulders.
However his expression was grim.
“Why you had to do that?” Dick whispered.
“For you, Dick: we must leave Gotham and this money belongs to you and will
secure your future.”
“But…”
Zucco looked around.
“Get in the car, Dick; we’ll discuss it back in the house.”
Dick looked forward to get back to tell Tony his mind about what happened but
at the same time hoped against hope that his uncle’s explanations would change
that hollow, dreadful feeling in him.
Rebecca looked at Zucco just as he entered and the look he gave her it was
enough for her to understand. So the road back was in complete, icy silence.
 
As soon as the signal began moving Batman followed them. He knew the outcome of
Zucco’s visit to the bank. The bank branch had maximum security even soundproof
building yet it wasn’t a match for Tumbler’s systems.
Batman had a smirk on his face during Zucco’s exchange with the bank clerk:
definitely, Zucco didn’t expect that and Bruce could imagine how pissed he must
be, struggling to contain his wrath. Yet that was dangerous for Dick so he had
his senses in high alert.
His insides were clenched: as he could imagine Zucco’s wrath, he could also
feel the boy’s disappointment; puzzlement; upset…And he felt so sad…
 
Zucco parked his BMW outside the house’s small yard, in front of the pavement.
It was obvious that the man hadn’t any mood to drive further to the houses’
garage.
Dick grabbed his backpack feeling his tablet at the front case; he was tempted
to call Alfred to drive him back. He hopped out of the car: no, he wasn’t going
to give up on his uncle till he heard his explanation.
As soon as they got in the living room Dick couldn’t hold anymore himself. He
couldn’t even sit down so he stood holding absent minded his backpack.
“You forged Judge Moot’s signature and the stamp! This is illegal.”
Zucco clenched his waist with both hands and looked at his nephew; Rebecca
slumped in an armchair.
“No, kidding!” he retorted cocking his eyebrows but then realized the hurt
expression of his nephew and changed his attitude. “I had to do this, Dick.”
“Why?”
“Because I really want you as my ward. And the money is yours and must be used
to make you happy.”
Dick lolled his head.
“But you can win the guardianship in the court – I don’t get it.”
Zucco squatted and held the boy’s upper arm.
“Wayne has bought the judge to win the guardianship.”
Dick shook his head.
“No, I don’t believe that.”
Rebecca snorted and Zucco laughed.
“So I was right” the adult man remarked snidely “he bought you.”
Dick jerked in his hands.
“No, he didn’t! I just know that he wouldn’t have done it. After all, if he had
done that the judge wouldn’t have forced him to see a shrink…”
Zucco crooked his mouth.
“But, Tony, you made an offense; they’ll catch you and we’ll never be a
family.”
Zucco let him and ruffled his hair.
“No, they won’t; it’s why I wanted the money: to get you and Rebecca away. And
still we will leave Gotham.”
Dick pressed his lips; he was in agony because what his uncle just did would
result in him in jail and them apart forever.
“You can’t hide: they will find us. And…I don’t wanna leave Gotham – what if
granny returns and doesn’t find me?”
Zucco sniggered.
“We both know that she won’t ever return, Dick” he saw the boy’s face falling.
“There is nothing to keep you here, champ. I wait one phone call and we are
gone!”
Dick pouted: he wanted to be with Tony…well, after what happened he was
confused; something cracked inside him yet he still had faith in him. But he
wasn’t ready to leave the city: he had Jason…his training…he had his family’s
graves… He licked his dry lips. He made to say something but Zucco’s smart
phone rang and the man raised his index finger indicating to the boy to hush.
Rebecca stood from the armchair eager to hear.
“Tell me, Stan” Zucco said to the one who called.
He was nodding and gradually the nods gave their place to a nasty frown.
“Okay, thanks, man” he said in the end finishing the call.
Zucco threw his smart phone to the table, slapped his face and drag his hands
slowly to ruffle his hair half huffing and half growling. Rebecca walked to him
with narrowed eyes.
Dick’s clenched guts began twisting watching the two adults.
“What happened?” Rebecca demanded.
Zucco bit his lips.
“Everything was ready for the apartment to be sold but the purchase was
blocked” Rebecca narrowed her eyes and Zucco nodded nervously. “Turner’s
signature is necessary here too no matter who’s the guardian.”
Dick till now thought that Tony was selling some apartment of his but hearing
his granny’s name and about the guardian he realized that his uncle tried to
sell his granny’s apartment. He turned his puzzled eyes on Zucco.
“You were selling granny’s apartment?!”
Zucco ruffled more his hair; his eyes were different than Dick had ever seen
them: almost evil, mocking and pissed. The man was clearly bored of having to
answer his quextions.
Rebecca turned to Dick with a jeering expression.
“That apartment isn’t your granny’s” Zucco spat “it’s in your name like the
money. I wanted to sell it to…” he inhaled and rolled his eyes not even trying
to make believable what he was to say “make your life better now we were going
to leave Gotham” he said dryly as if citing something rehearsed many times.
Rebecca rolled her eyes.
“But obviously Wayne had everything prepared…” she hissed.
“I don’t get what he has to do with all this” Dick said. “The money is my
father’s and the apartment…” Zucco snorted chuckling causing Dick’s frown.
“And…” he suddenly remembered the day Wayne bought him Christmas’ presents
“that thing with the account…that it needs my granny’s fingerprint to open it’s
not true. Wayne had taken money from there to buy me things.”
Now Zucco burst out in laughter: cold, dry, evil laughter. Dick gaped at him
gulping uncomfortable.
“Tony, why are you laughing like this? I don’t like it” his voice was half
annoyed and half hurt.
Rebecca crossed her arms over the chest and cocked an eyebrow. She lolled her
head on the side to look at Zucco.
“He doesn’t like it!” she mocked Dick’s voice.
Zucco stopped laughing and walked to Dick; he met the boy’s eyes.
“Are you really that dump, kid?” he asked in a voice so different than what
Dick was used to.
“I…”
Zucco yanked his head backwards and exchanged looks with his wife.
“That apartment and the money in that bank account is Wayne’s! You moron!”
Dick’s eyes widened and Zucco sniggered amused.
“Oh, kid! You’re so stupid, like your father!”
Dick gritted his teeth and clenched more the handle of his backpack.
“Don’t speak like that about my father!”
“But it’s true, kiddo! Really you believed that the money was John’s?” he
laughed. “He died completely broke…”
Dick’s heart gave a jolt; the room immediately became dark.
“But…”
Zucco leaned to him with a mocking expression.
“Buuuuuut…” he mocked the boy’s voice. “After your family’s murders Wayne
bought that apartment in your name and created a fund of 500,000 dollars for
you. Either from pity or real concern, who knows? But he didn’t let Turner tell
you…This is the reason your granny gave him your guardianship. Hearing about
the apartment and the money I immediately suspected that the rich brat had
endowed you – you see, John died penniless – and then I saw the tablet: a never
before seen gadget, clearly expensive, and I was sure: Wayne took you under his
wings without you suspecting even though you loathed him.”
Dick tried to digest what he was hearing. So what his granny and Jay were
telling to him about Zucco was true? His uncle never cared about him and wanted
only Wayne’s money?
“You returned for the money?” he asked in a sunk voice.
Zucco stretched his arms to the air.
“What else, kiddo? You were so stupid to believe that I really cared for you?
After 13 years of indifference?” he shook his head exasperated.
“So you claimed my guardianship only because you wanted the money?”
Zucco rolled his eyes exasperated.
“Of course! But that sneaky bastard Wayne had settled thing so that I couldn’t
take the money – I underestimated that brat!”
Dick suddenly remembered his backpack that stayed in his hands neglected; in
his puzzlement he remembered his Cosmos tablet in the front case that was
touched to his belly hiding his hand: the gadget had a recording app; he
sneaked his hand unnoticed and touched the spot to activate it.
“And you used in the court what I told you about Wayne’s breakdown for that…”
Rebecca rolled her eyes snorting.
“Your nephew is really stupid” she said to Zucco.
And he sniggered.
“He is like his father; of course I used that precious info to defeat that
bastard. I didn’t tell you because you, like your father, wouldn’t have done
what was necessary. Like you’d have never let me use the Judge’s forged
signature: it was easy to forge his signature and stamp from the paper allowing
me to get you for the weekend.”
Dick shook his head; the discussion he had with his granny came to his mind –
it seemed like ages ago. She had hinted that Zucco had slipped secretly drugs
in his father’s water to enhance his performance – his father loathed drugs so
Zucco did it without John knowing; but he must have suspected his cousin
because he asked from Mr. Breizic to be again his trainer. Till now Dick didn’t
even think the possibility of Tony having done something bad to his father but
now…it seemed possible.
“Like the drugs in my father’s drinks?” he demanded.
Zucco shook his head smiling almost like deranged. He cast a sideways glance at
his wife who was smirking.
“He has some brain after all…” he said. “The idiot was getting old and his
performance was becoming lousy” he smiled. “But…he liked to put the blame on me
so I slipped something in his isotonic drinks to make him satisfied. I didn’t
tell him because he wasn’t going to accept it. In the end, the Federation
caught him and…once again it was my fault: he didn’t say it clearly but I could
see it in his eyes…and he brought back that other asshole, Breizic. Don’t tell
me that that dirty old scumbag didn’t tell you: I’m sure Wayne hired him
exactly for that – to turn you against me.”
Dick lowered his head; everything inside him was a bitter, prickling void: the
man he trusted so much, for whom he had quarreled with his granny and Jayson;
this man he believed that connected him with his late father. Tony was a big
lie; he only wanted Wayne’s money…
“Don’t speak for my father like this!” he said again glaring at Zucco. “You’re
not worthy to speak his name!” Zucco laughed. “I want to return to the Manor”
Dick said determined “enough.”
Zucco leaned over him.
“That’s for me to decide, kid!” he gritted his teeth. “And no, you’re not
returning to the Manor” Dick frowned feeling his spine freezing. “After all,
you hate that place, remember?” Zucco lolled his head on the side. “And
especially Wayne. He is the reason for all your misfortunes, remember?” he
cocked an eyebrow. “It’s your own words… Oh! How many times you brought me to
the verge of giggles when you spoke about him. But I have to admit that that
old cow Turner got me” he shook his head. “I didn’t expect her to have
persuaded Wayne to take your guardianship.”
Dick remembered his granny; his sweet granny and her fear about the same man he
was defending causing her so much sadness. Suddenly, missing his granny became
more torturous than before.
“You’re planning to ‘disappear’ me like you did with my granny?” he asked
trying to keep his calm though he was really scared. “You have done something
bad to her, huh?”
Zucco locked eyes with the boy and shook his head.
“Nah…Unfortunately, someone got me to that too but let’s hope that the one who
did it did a good job!”
“You sonovabitch!” Dick forgot his fear of the man who now revealed himself to
be a complete stranger and stormed at him letting his backpack drop on the
floor: he had enough of him speaking bad about his father not his granny too.
Zucco was startled from the boy’s kick in his shin but managed to grab the
boy’s hands and heave him so that their faces were close.
“Enough! I had enough of you, littl’ shit! Behave or I’m gonna break your
face!”
 
Batman had turned on the high range microphones from the moment Zucco, Dick,
and Rebecca got inside. He was hearing carefully recruiting all his training in
tranquility to keep his agony at bay; his eyes fixed on the house’s diagram on
his control panel.
His jaw clenched listening to their exchange and when Zucco and his wife began
leering at the boy Batman had to struggle with himself to rush inside and beat
Zucco to a pulp: he had used the boy; he had done so much damage to him and now
he mocked the boy as well.
It would be so easy to get inside and finish this yet he knew he had to wait;
however he got out of the Tumbler and through the shadows he slipped closer.
His eyes widened…
 
Rebecca smirked.
“He need some of that…he is a spoiled brat!”
“Take yar filthy hands off ‘im, ya asshole!”
The low window behind them smashed and someone jumped in. Both Zucco and
Rebecca turned startled to see, but Dick knew already who was.
Zucco rolled his eyes seeing the sight.
“You have to be kidding me! The Todd brat!” he laughed.
But then Jason smirked and brought his hand in front of him pointing the
handgun he was holding at Zucco.
“Jay!” Dick’s face was radiant. “How did you find me?”
“Ya forgot ya sent me a SMS to come tomorrow morning here? Ya gave me the
address, remember? Well, I didn’t trust that asshole so I came to keep an
eye…Let Dick go, NOW! Ya motherfucker!”
Zucco smirked.
“You believe that you are a tough guy, huh, littl’ seed and you like guns,
huh?” he lifted Dick more and grabbed his hair yanking his head to the side.
Dick moaned and Jason’s eyes widened, his finger twitching in the trigger but
afraid he might hit his friend.
 
Batman saw Jason breaking the window and entering the house; he knew that the
boy was ready to do something foolish because his night vision enabled him to
see the handgun Jason was holding.
Now he had to act fast and cautious…
 
Zucco and Rebecca laughed with the boy’s hesitation.
“What now, big guy?” Rebecca mocked him with cocked eyebrows. “You lost your
balls?”
“Exactly, you dumbass!” Zucco said. “If you shoot you’re gonna kill yar buddy!
Now, toss your gun to Rebecca or I’m breaking his neck!” he yanked more Dick’s
head.
“No, Jay” Dick said but his voice was caught by a shriek as his neck was
stretched crudely.
“Okay, okay!” Jason shouted. “Ya asshole!” he obeyed but he tossed the gun in
such a way that hit Rebecca in the face.
Zucco gritted his teeth.
“You littl’ punk!”
“Ya said to toss it…” the boy shrugged smirking. “Ya didna say how…”
Rebecca turned to Zucco; her nose was bleeding.
“I’m fine, Tony” she took the gun and pointed it at Jason. “Can I shoot now the
littl’ shit?”
Jason crooked his lips.
“Says the big turd!” he spat at her face.
Dick cast a sideways glance at his backpack on the floor hoping that Wayne had
the insight to have some surveillance in the tablet to locate them but then he
got hopeless: Wayne must be sleeping in his soft bed after everything with
Joker and…he wasn’t Batman anyway.
“No, darling” Zucco answered. “It’s better if it is again an accident…”
“Again?” Dick asked frowned, new clouds covering the room and his soul.
Zucco laughed and pulled more on the boy’s hair.
“Yeah… Graysons usually die by accident…” he cackled.
Suddenly, it dawned to Dick and the realization was as if a thunder had hit
him.
“You…my father’s death wasn’t an accident?!” he felt his brain being on fire
and his breath stopping more than from Zucco’s grip.
Zucco had had enough of all of this and now that he couldn’t take the money he
had no reason to insult the boy and lie. After all, he was going to get rid of
the brats and he’d enjoy so much the littl’ bastard’s expression.
“Your father lost all his savings investing in a company” he said clearly
satisfied for the chance to say it to the boy. “A company I suggested to
him…but dear John was a lousy loser: he was all the time whining envious that I
hadn’t lost anything from the same investment- and how I was to lose? The
company was mine!”
Rebecca chuckled.
“The doping scandal made him even worse to bear and he hired back Breizic
undermining me…Now that wasn’t good…rumors were already spread making
speculations about the reason of Grayson’s disgruntlement; and to add to this I
discovered that your daddy had gathered others who lost their money and was
investigating the case. Well, that was too much…”
Dick was listening without breathing and Jason was frowned.
“And you killed him” Jayson spat what Dick couldn’t.
“The gym’s renovation was the best chance I had. A newly established company”
he cocked his eyebrows bragging “well, I have a knack with businesses… my
company made the best offer and took the job… from there it was easy for
Rebecca, a professional engineer, to set in the Horizontal Bar the tampered
bolt. I knew your father’s program perfectly so I damaged the bolt so that with
the most difficult exercises the bar would be moved slightly but enough for him
to not manage to grab again the bar after the grand jump. You can’t imagine my
joy seeing him crashing down – the cushions weren’t the best after the
renovation…It was Falcone’s era so police had better things to do than the
death of a gymnast even if he was an Olympic Champion – after all, shit does
happen. So the case closed as an accident; no charges was pressed against the
company – but even if were nobody could connect me with the company. I was free
to enjoy my money away from that shithole…yet the money at some point gets
fewer and then I heard about the murders of my cousin’s ex wife and her family.
Wayne’s name was mentioned along so I sniffed fat money and decided to have a
look.”
“You murderer!” Dick shouted and began thrashing in Zucco’s hands who made his
grip harder till the boy was forced to stop.
Zucco looked at Rebecca.
“We leave now! Enough with this city” his wife nodded. “And we’ll clean our
business with the brats…”
He let Dick stand on his feet but grabbed his upper arm and made a sharp move
with his head for Rebecca to walk; she put the hand that held the weapon inside
her pocket in case someone curious was looking but kept it pointed to Jason
indicating to him to move.
“Move!” Zucco ordered the boys who looked at each other shaken: they knew what
was waiting them following Zucco.
The room became dark. Zucco looked around him frantically.
“Tony?” Rebecca asked.
“Damnit!” he cursed and tightened his grip on the boy.
Dick knew what that meant and his heart gave for the first time tonight a happy
jolt. So when Rebecca shrieked and Zucco jerked surprised he kicked Zucco’s leg
with all his might and anger and ran forward where he remembered that Jason
was.
A thud was heard where Rebecca stood and Zucco staggered in the darkness there;
he realized that she was unconscious and as his hand was feeling her neck he
was cut by a sharp edge: something like a bat… Zucco’s eyes bulged and jerked
upwards a second before another Batarang managed to hit him.
The sound was defeaning; debris fell all over covering the darkness with dusty
mist.
Zucco realizing that Batman was there took the gun his wife had in her pocket
and turned it towards the place where the sound had come. But before he pulled
the trigger a black ghost fell on him punching the gun away and him in the
face.
Dick and Jason crawled to the broken window but a moment before jumping outside
Dick stopped.
“We can’t leave him alone” he whispered to his friend.
“It’s pitch black, ya dick! Only the Bat can see...”
Dick pressed a button of his wrist watch and light as if from a strong flash
light filled their corner. Jason rolled his eyes.
“Another geek gift from Wayne?”
“Let’s go! Zucco is sneaky…”
Batman’s kick had sent Zucco to the wall; he was slumped down, yet as light
broke the darkness he saw his jacket thrown on the back of the armchair. Batman
rushed on him stopping his effort and hit him in the neck to knock him down yet
the cunning man managed to escape only by millimeters and used the tree-like
hat stand to hit Batman in the back.
Zucco was pleasantly surprised hearing the vigilante’s grunt and taking
advantage of his momentary weakness he slipped away grabbing his gun from his
jacket’s pocket.
Bruce heard the sound of loading and having isolated the pain turned around
ready to storm at Zucco.
But then the light came closer and Dick with Jason stormed at Zucco.
“Dick, Jason, No!” Batman yelled as Zucco turned the gun to the boys instead.
Batman clenched his jaw and jumped feeling his back protesting but ignoring
that. The only thing he could hear was the bullet leaving the gun and the boys’
halted breaths.
The only thing Dick could think as the bang fell like thunder was that he drove
Jason to his death; at least, if someone was to die, let it be himself.
But then a force fell on both of them dragging them to the floor under a
considerable weight.
Bruce felt the heavy impact as if a sledgehammer had hit his waist and the pain
on his back got worse so much so that his breath stopped for a second as he
felt his legs paralyzing. At least, the boys were alright.
In front of Dick’s eyes a moment from months ago passed, when Batman once again
tossed him away to not be crashed under the collapsing roof. Batman was trapped
under the debris instead.
“Leave…” Batman growled to them and turned to launch a cable from his wrist to
Zucco’s wrist sending the gun away.
Jason dragged Dick away.
“Let’s call the cops” the younger boy said out of breath to his friend who was
looking with blank eyes at the fallen Batman.
Zucco might have lost the gun but jolted to his legs encouraged by Batman’s
fall and ran casting a fleeting glance at Rebecca.
“Sorry, babe…You’ll stall me.”
 
However he didn’t manage to make a couple of feet when Batman launched a
Batarang to stab Zucco’s leg. Bruce couldn’t gather yet the mind power to erase
the pain and the paralysis to stand so he used other ways.
 Zucco grabbed the chair over him and tossed it to Batman. He grabbed the
Batarang and pulled it off his leg. He was happy that at least it wasn’t with
sedative and he crawled outside to avoid new attacks.
Once outside he stood.
 
Tony still in Ironman’s armor was speaking with Jim in the waiting room outside
his office at MCU. He had to tell the police that he took Bruce in the Manor
and his friend was sleeping as Tony hoped was the truth.
“Finally, Mr. Wayne will get some rest” the Commissioner mumbled and Tony
nodded.
Also, Tony wanted to be sure that every security measure was taken so that
Joker and his allies were properly detained so he was listening eagerly to Jim
giving orders to his officers.
Which was no easy thing since there was too much fuss in the space as the
evidence from the operation at Arkham was reported and the phones were
constantly ringing from calls wanting details for various news outlets.
Tony saw Bullock running to Gordon.
“Gunshots at Jenner and Bell street; on the South Channel Island.”
Gordon frowned and Tony knew the reason.
“Near Tony Zucco’s house” he said and Commissioner nodded.
“Inform Montoya.”
Tony felt a twitch in his guts and was glad that Bruce and even that brat
Grayson were back in the Manor probably not knowing anything.
 
Batman felt the presence before hearing anything. The almost inaudible sound
and the warm and beloved body kneeled next to him. Their eyes locked
immediately.
 “No!” Catwoman mumbled and touched his jaw.
After the Arkham, she had gone to the Manor to make sure that Bruce was
alright. But upon arriving in the cave still in Catwoman’s suit she saw that
the Tumbler was gone and realized that Batman was out again. She ran to take
the lift to ask Alfred but the butler was already getting there with the lift.
The cave’s security system had alerted him. She learnt from Alfred what
happened and she knew that her friend would be at Zucco’s house.
She had just arrived when he heard the gunshot so she climbed on the roof and
seeing the hole there slipped her heart beating fast in the sight of Batman on
the floor.
Dick heard the woman’s cry and turned his eyes there. The same woman over the
same man; the same situation; suddenly everything dawned to him: why that day
in the Arkham Catwoman as soon as she heard that Joker was going to attack the
Manor and Bruce Wayne stormed there. Why Batman had come to him after his
family’s murders, in the balcony of their old apartment. Why Joker had asked
for both Batman and Bruce Wayne to come at the factory. Why Joker had
threatened to kill him if Batman didn’t take off his mask. Why Bruce was
paralyzed exactly after that night the roof trapped Batman; why his body was so
perfectly trained; the scars…
On the other hand, Batman was fighting while Bruce was in a wheelchair. Dick
grinned: the armor must have a mechanism helping him move somewhat.
“Are ya thinkin’ what I’m thinkin’?” Jason asked him with his eyes narrowed.
Dick didn’t answer; he rushed where Batman and Catwoman were and Jason
followed.
“I’m fine…” Batman said to Catwoman and placed his hands on the floor for
support.
She wrapped her arm around his waist and helped him stand; the boys who just
arrived offered their shoulders to assist her. Catwoman left Batman to the boys
and walked to Rebecca.
“She is unconscious” Batman said. “But Zucco got out; we must get him.”
 
Zucco dragged his injured leg and huffing and puffing reached his car. He made
it; he was a moment before leaving that cursed city. Zucco clenched his jaw and
grabbed the door’s handle…
But all of a sudden, the neighborhood echoed from police sirens coming from
every direction. Tires screeched as the speeding cars halted abruptly.
Rene Montoya burst out of her car pointing her gun at Zucco.
“Tony Zucco you’re under arrest for fraud and John Grayson’s murder!”
 
Batman felt the boys’ awed and puzzled eyes: both boys’ faces were flashed,
sweaty and their hair disheveled; he looked at them, calm now that he heard the
police cars blocking Zucco’s escape.
“I’m fine, boys” he made to stand alone but his knees bent and the boys hurried
to support him.
Catwoman came to help them.
“You need a doctor” Dick said shyly and Batman met his shaken eyes, only for
the boy to lower his gaze.
“No, it’s nothing; are you two hurt?”
Jason shook his head.
“No, man; ya came right on time.”
Dick was looking at his feet.
“Hero will be mad at me if you get hurt again… because of me…” the boy said.
“I don’t understand” Batman said keeping his expression undeterred.
“Yar secret is safe with us, dude” Jason intervened and the two adults looked
each other.
Batman looked from the broken window not wanting to answer.
“I taped everything that Zucco said in my tablet” Dick said his voice still a
bit shaken. “I’ll give it to the cops…He also forged Judge’s signature and
pretended to be my guardian to take the money from my account” he hesitated.
“I know” Batman retorted.
“You were right” Dick said.
Jason cleared his throat.
“I was also right, ya dork!” he gave a small pat to the back of his friend’s
neck and Dick lowered his head.
Catwoman rolled her eyes.
“Sorry to interrupt, boys, but we must leave.”
“We can’t leave the boys” Batman answered and Catwoman crooked her mouth.
Dick still not looking Batman in the eyes shook his head.
“Police is here; we are safe…”
“As safe anyone can be with cops…” Jason remarked snidely cocking his eyebrows
and Catwoman chuckled.
“I need to tell them everything about Zucco” Dick’s teeth rattled and his eyes
flashed. “He…he killed my father…” Batman brushed the boy’s back and Dick
lowered more his head. “But you knew that too…”
“I did…” Bruce admitted in his normal voice.
Jason looked outside.
“Cops are comin’…”
“Go!” Dick said. “Alfred will be sick of worry…”
Batman nodded and used his grapple gun to launch a cable that drew him to the
roof and Catwoman slapped her whip to hook herself up too.
Batman looked once more at the boys who nodded to him. But he didn’t left: he
stayed hidden in the shadows along with Selina till Rene Montoya came to the
boys: police wasn’t corrupt as in Falcone’s era yet Bruce wanted to be sure.
Catwoman supported him in their way to the Tumbler and Batman looked at her.
“I can make it: I don’t want you to carry my weight.”
The woman smiled and let him.
“You could have denied it, you know…”
Batman pressed his lips.
“Your identity” Catwoman clarified.
Batman looked back at the house that was surrounded from police cars with their
sirens on; Zucco had been tossed to the back seat of one of them and curious
neighbors had began gathering.
“No. The boy has been told too many lies; being fooled so much…so for once he
deserved some honesty to regain some of his trust to people.”
Catwoman smiled.
“You love that littl’ dick, don’t you?”
 
***** Chapter 72 *****
The silver Rolls was strolling calmly the bright, crowded streets and its lazy
movement made everything seem peaceful even in a city like Gotham.
“No offense, Alfie” Jason leaned forward “the car is nice an’ ol’ that but I’d
prefer a ride with the Bat car – remind the big guy that he owes me one, will
ya?”
Alfred chuckled and cast a sideways glance at the boy; Bruce had told him that
the boys knew the secret.
“I certainly will do that, Master Jason, although I think that the big guy
doesn’t forget his debts.”
Dick tried to let the tranquility feel him by gazing outside through the one-
way window of the back seat. But the storm inside him was raging so soon he
abandoned any effort and turned to the back of Alfred’s head knowing that the
butler would see him through the driver’s mirror.
“How is he?” he asked in the end. “He needs a doctor.”
Alfred gazed at the mirror and smiled to the boy: this change of Dick’s
attitude was most welcome for him.
“Do not have a worry, Master Richard. Master Bruce is fine.”
Dick ruffled his hair and huffed. Both boys’ clothes were wrinkled – well, that
wasn’t a novelty for Jason – and their faces bore the events of the last hour,
being a bit dirty and pale.
“Yes, but Zucco shot him in the back!”
Jason’s good mood evaporated; that was true.
“Dr. Thompkins was already at the Manor when Master Bruce returned. Thankfully,
the suit absorbed most of the impact; however, Dr. Thompkins would never let
things just like that and she examined him.”
“An’?” Jason asked.
“She didn’t find anything urgent but tomorrow Master Bruce will be at her
clinic for further exams: he stayed with Joker too long and we must be sure
that everything is alright.”
Dick crossed his arms and nodded gazing back at the street.
“Hey, Alfie” Jason ruffled his hair. “How ‘bout takin’ me to the Manor instead
of my home?”
Alfred looked firmly at the boy and shook his head.
“I must absolutely decline that, sir. Your mother is already too worried: you
left the house without a notice.”
Jason crooked his mouth but didn’t insist.
“Tomorrow, however, you and your mother are most welcome to come to the Manor:
I think it is the best occasion to celebrate Master Bruce’s birthday since the
latest developments didn’t allow us to do it on time.”
Jason chuckled.
“Bat shaped cake?”
“Maybe next year” the butler answered grinning.
Alfred stopped the car in front of the apartment building where Jason lived and
the boy hopped out using the shadows the trees formed to remain discreet.
“Are ya sure that my bike is safe?” he asked Alfred.
The butler grinned and gestured with his head to the pavement in front of the
building’s entrance where Jason’s bike was parked. The boy’s eyes widened.
“He took your bike from Zucco’s house and brought it here before returning
home.”
“So my bike had the ride I didn’t? Shit!”
Alfred grinned.
“Good night, Master Jason.”
The boy lolled his head.
“Not that I don’t like the Master thing but it’d better ya don’t say it her’,
‘cause I’ll lose my image… I’ve got a status inda neighborhood to keep.”
Alfred chuckled.
“Oh! I do understand…I’ll remember that.”
“See ya!” the boy said and ran to his bike to make sure that everything was
alright.
Alfred remained there till the boy entered the building.
As the car crossed the Chelsea Tunnel to the Palisades Alfred cast fleeting
glances at Dick’s grim face.
“If I may, sir; I know that this night was full with painful revelations but at
least now your father will find justice.”
Dick nodded.
“I know but…”
“But?”
“Alfred…”
The butler looked to the mirror.
“Yes, Master Richard?”
“I’m sorry…”
“May I ask the reason?”
“For everything I told about Bruce…about my behavior. It must have been
terrible for you having to listen to someone speak like that about someone you
love so much…someone you almost lost.”
Alfred’s eyes became blank and nodded.
“It was, sir. But I always knew that someday you would realize the truth about
Master Bruce and that you’d take back everything.”
Dick shook his head.
“I don’t know if that will be enough, Alfred… Especially, the things I’ve done
to Bruce…”
Alfred grinned.
“In this life, Master Grayson, there are few things that are irredeemable and
what you did isn’t one of them.”
Dick gulped and gazed outside to the peaceful dark scenery of the Palisades. He
wished what Alfred had told him could ease the storm he had inside him.
The high gates to the Wayne grounds opened on the car’s approach and Alfred was
happy that for once there were no reporters gathered outside; thankfully, the
fact that Bruce was Joker’s hostage remained a secret and the events in Zucco’s
house weren’t broadly known yet.
Alfred noticed from the mirror that Dick although till now was eager to get
back once the imposing building came nearer looked sadder. So when the Rolls
stopped before the Manor the boy seemed hesitated to get outside. Alfred opened
the door for him and Dick pressed his lips, grabbed his backpack that was empty
of his tablet since police kept it to take the record of Zucco’s confession,
and hopped out.
Alfred patted the boy’s back and both climbed the stairs. As soon as Alfred
pressed the doorbell, Leslie who had seen them approaching opened for them.
“Are you alright?” she asked the boy and Dick nodded.
“Can I see Bruce?” the boy asked her immediately.
Leslie shook her head.
“He is sleeping: I gave him some painkillers and sedatives. He was exhausted.”
Dick lowered his head.
“I wanted to talk to him.”
Alfred grinned.
“You’ll have plenty of time to do that, Master Richard. Now I suggest you have
a shower and rest.”
Dick ruffled his hair and looked at Leslie.
“Is he really fine? I mean…”
Leslie nodded.
“From a first exam he doesn’t have any major trauma but tomorrow we’ll do all
the necessary exams to be sure.”
They moved inside and Alfred turned to Dick.
“I shall prepare you some milk and a light supper, Master Richard; it will help
you relax and sleep.”
The boy nodded but then he looked again at Leslie.
“Is it possible to see him?”
The doctor huffed.
“He is sleeping, Richard…” but then touched from the boy’s agony, she nodded.
“I suppose you can see him.”
Dick raised his eyes that flashed.
“I won’t stay long! I promise!”
Leslie nodded and the boy stormed at the main stairs. She turned to Alfred
raising her eyebrows.
“All of a sudden he cares…” she said coldly.
Alfred pressed his lips.
“He is a good kid but he was misguided; and then Zucco took advantage of his
vulnerability. We should give him a chance.”
Leslie huffed and shook her head.
Dick’s rush was halted abruptly when the Master bedroom’s door was in front of
him. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath before opening slowly the door.
The heavy curtains were drawn to prevent any nuisance from outside so the only
light in the dark room came from the lit fireplace. Exactly, as the dominant
sound in the room was the screeching of the burning logs joined with another
low sound.
Dick walked in the tips of his toes and approached the bed. As he got close to
the bed realized that the other sound accompanying those from the fireplace was
Hero’s purring. The kitten was curled over Bruce’s chest sleeping along with
his human.
Suddenly, a glimmering yellow eye stabbed him and a low growl replaced the soft
purring. The animal wasn’t sleeping, Dick realized: Hero was guarding his human
still pissed because someone snatched him under his nose.
Dick brought his index finger to his lips and hushed the animal.
“Hero, it’s me” he whispered “I won’t disturb him.”
The kitten watched him a bit more with narrowed eyes and then having decided
that he was indeed a friend calmed and curled again on Bruce’s chest but still
watching Dick with the corner of his eye.
The boy looked at Bruce’s face: the man was pale and his features bore the hue
of fatigue. He was spent and his breath came out shallow.
Dick had seen while in MCU the video with Batman in Arkham; how he helped Thor
and the other man. Bruce must have escaped all by himself and captured Joker on
his own; then instead of having his rest he followed Zucco to save him.
Despite the gadgets the armor had to allow him to walk, certainly all this must
have demanded major effort and energy – not to mention pain…And Bruce used all
these, without thinking of himself to save him from his uncle…as he did in that
factory.
He gulped realizing what till now lurked at the edges of his mind: Bruce was
paralyzed because of him and if Superman hadn’t intervened then, Bruce would
have died. That night Bruce was already injured from what the League of Shadows
did to him but in spite that he again used all his energy to come for him and
save him from Joker…
 Dick’s eyes bulged and he bit his lips. And all this time he was constantly
making the man’s life a Hell.
His eyes fell on Bruce’s empty wheelchair; his own enraged words came to his
mind, like a thunder ripping the sky:
“I hope you rot in that chair!”
He bit again his lip and looked at Bruce’s calm face. All this time he suffered
all his insults without ever defending himself, without punishing him: the only
time Bruce punished him was to make him realize how dreadful and dangerous for
him was wandering in Gotham late having consumed alcohol.
The boy moved shyly his hand and touched Bruce’s hand that was gently laid on
the mattress. He remembered the night he was having nightmares due to the storm
and Bruce came to his room to comfort him; he had closed the window making the
room completely soundproof. And then he remembered the night he heard Bruce
begging and crying in his sleep: the night after that horrendous video was
broadcast – definitely, someone who hated Bruce did that knowing that it will
hurt him the most in the hearing about his guardianship.
Bruce accepted to be psychologically evaluated to not lose his guardianship not
for any other reason but for Dick to not end up with Zucco because Bruce knew
who Zucco really was.
“I’m sorry for everything” he whispered and his index finger made a slight
caressing move on Bruce’s hand.
He didn’t say anything else just retreated tiptoeing.
 
A man in a burgundy cape was grunting clearly in a state of confusion and
panic; he was waving his hands in the air creating multicolored sparks and
shapes; in the opposite corner, Thor was slumped on the floor and a woman
dressed in skin tight black leather was with him – both of them was trying to
take cover from the beams the distressed man conjured.
Suddenly, something flashed cutting the darkness and the man in the cape jerked
slightly before collapsing.
And then from the shadows an imposing, proud dark figure came forward tossing
the mass he was dragging – an unconscious Joker – to the floor. Batman walked
to the corner Thor and Catwoman were and Thor stretched his arm looking him in
the face with deep trust.
Something shone in Batman’s hand and a tiny needle was stabbed to Thor’s upper
arm…
The video lasted longer but Superman sat on the bed of Diana’s bedroom snapped
it shut. Then he closed entirely the Daily Planet’ssite from his Smart Phone.
He tossed the phone on his nightstand and listened to the shower. Diana had
just returned from a global patrol and she needed a shower before lying by his
side to enjoy the night. He waited for her having his back on the headboard,
completely naked with the white sheet covering his lower body.
Enjoy the night…
Superman clenched his jaw. Lois definitely made the best use of her visit in
Gotham…She found a partner, Vicky Vale: the video and the entire coverage of
the Arkham incident was made by those two. And they got a rare video of Batman
in action.
“Despite the rumors of the past months, Batman is very much alive and kicking”
the reporter from Gotham had commented on the video.
So Bruce insisted on putting on that armor and doing his show, Superman crooked
his mouth. Of course, Thor was in danger and Batman rushed to save the god.
“Crane used on Thor the same compound gas that was used some months ago during
the attack at the Avengers’ Tower resulting in the weakening of the God of
Thunders. Also, the paranoid former head of the Arkham Asylum used his fear
toxin on the unknown man with the burgundy cape – the footage is very dark to
identify the man but rumor has it that he is a new member of the Avengers or an
ally. Back to Crane, the infamous criminal was working with Joker who with the
covering of Dr. Harleen Quinzel was hiding in the famous Asylum” Lois had
described briefly the situation.
Superman’s fist fell with force on the mattress and in the last second he
controlled his power to not smash the bed. The weakness he had traced in
Bruce’s vitals wasn’t weakness; it was his agony for his blond lover.
He growled.
“Is anything the matter, Kal?” Diana asked in her proud voice; she was frowned.
Superman raised his eyes to her: she was coming out of the attached bathroom
completely naked with the water still slithering sensually over her curves,
over her bulged breasts and her pelvis’ V. Her body’s irresistible perfume
filled his nostrils and his mind instantly paralyzed pleasantly; the perfume
erasing everything that bothered him.
He stood letting the sheet fall from his body and in a fraction of the second
he was glued in her hot body; in her safety and happiness. His strong arms
wrapped her muscle bounded back and she caressed his hair smiling.
“Which ungrateful worm caused you bitterness?”
Superman smiled.
“I’m with you, Diana…Nobody can hurt me when I’m with you” he captured her lips
and she deepened the kiss tangling their tongues. 
 
“Coooooome oooooon, Brucie…” the nasal voice made a crude attempt on
compassion. “Dooon’t cry…just tell me what’s wrong.”
Bruce realized that everything he experienced till now was a lie: his escape
from Joker, the jester’s arrest, saving Dick from Zucco, his return home. He
wasn’t sleeping in his king size bed with Hero on his chest; he was still in
the examination room in Arkham’s Museum and his mind was obscured under the
Amytal’s effect.
Bruce knew that what he was experiencing was creation of the drug yet he
couldn’t fight off the pain, the agony, the despair, the terror. It was dark
and cold as it was always in his cell and he was in pain…and shame. He was
crying and the tunnel behind the stalactite was so tempting: slithering and
staying in the caves forever. Alone.
“Who hurt you, Brucie? You know that I can punish him and save you…”
“Master did it…” he whispered.
The jester cleared his throat.
“I punished him for the pain he caused to you, sweetie…You know you can trust
me…I want the best for youuuuuuu…Tell me, Brucie: what you know
about…mmm…Baaaats?”
“I…I’m scared…they are all around me…in my cell and…and…they…they sniff my
blood and come close… will drink my blood.”
“Sooooo Bats are baaaaad…what about Batman?”
“Who?”
He felt wet lips on his ear.
“He diiiiiiiid help you, right?”
Bruce nodded and heard Joker lick his lips.
“It must have been a great fun kicking Falcone’s fat ass…”
“Yes…but I couldn’t…I…He was too strong…and I…I was too weak; I was scared of
him…I couldn’t…He’d…punish me…”
“Buuuuut your poor parents deserved justice; they deserved to have their killer
punished.”
Bruce gulped a sob and sighed.
“They…they do…but I’m so weak and scared.”
“But Batman isn’t…He kicked Falcone’s ass and sent him to the joint.”
Bruce nodded and sniffed.
“He…he did. I saw him.”
“Brucie, I know you are Batman…it’s okay…I feel you…I understand you…I punished
Falcone…I saved you; c’mon, admit you’re Batman.”
“But I’m not…”
Two wet lips sucked his cheek.
“It’s nothing wrong with being Batman, Brucie…”
Bruce felt so weak, so desperate being in his cell beaten and used; a waste of
space; a disgrace for his parents.
“I know…” he sobbed. “I want so much to be him…If I was him nobody would dare
to touch me” he was aware that he shouldn’t tell the truth; although he was
young and in Falcone’s cell somewhere in his mind he knew that someone was
trying to get answers for him – to make him divulge his secrets. “But I’m not…”
Suddenly, the wet disgusting feeling on his cheek was gone as music filled his
mind; a melody he knew so well; a melody that always made his heart melt with
love and joy.
“Moon river … wider than a mile” a soft voice sang to his ear and goose bumps
flooded his back. “I’m crossing you in style…someday…” that beloved voice. “Old
dream maker, you heartbreaker…”
He felt hands touching his shoulders and massaging gently with the perfect
pressure taking the pain off his tired, throbbing back; making numb the healthy
part of his body. A smile caressed Bruce’s face and he moaned in pleasure from
all the pleasant senses at once: the voice, the song, the touch, the bodily
perfume, the body over him.
“You seem to need a good massage…naughty boy…” the voice breathed in his ear.
“And nobody knows your body as I do…And you’re cold…You need more warmth,
Star…” the body he knew perfectly touched carefully his transmitting his
unearthy warmth, extinguishing every pain, or stiffness…
Bruce felt the urge to open his eyes and devour on this face; but he didn’t do
it, afraid that it might be only a dream that will evaporate as soon as he
opened his eyes.
Lips touched softly his cheek next to the corner of his lips; a kiss that he
knew perfectly.
“I missed you, Star…so much it hurts…”
Bruce pressed his eyelids over his eyes to not indulge the temptation and open
his eyes: his heart was beating fast. He was thirsty to hear those words…all
these months.
“I miss you too, Clark…” he breathed but his voice was choked “but I know
you’re only a dream…” he felt his heart breaking again on the realization.
Suddenly, he was on his wheelchair at the round balcony of the Avangers’ Tower;
snowflakes had started to fall… He was gazing at New York’s skyline deep in
thought when the melody of the song Clark was singing to him reached his ears.
Unconsciously, he turned his wheelchair towards the ballroom; his jaw clenched.
Superman was dancing with Diana, clearly mesmerized, absorbed in her eyes…
And then Diana dressed in her suit stood in midair. The Man of Steel saw her
and his face gloated with love; he flew to her and she did the same; their
collision almost emitted sparkles and Superman hugged her attaching her body to
his, capturing her lips in a deep, breathtaking kiss.
“She is my Star!” Superman said with his voice vibrating with happiness.
Bruce gulped and opened his eyes.
“You were always a dream…” he whispered.
“That’s right, Bruce” a deep, suave voice cracked the sudden silence of the
room. “He was never the one for you.”
Bruce supported his torso on his elbows and rose a bit to see the one who
already knew that was in the room. Queen walked gently towards the bed; his
smugness had left his face letting only what seemed like love. The man’s eyes
were two fires as when under the Arrow’s hood. Bruce felt those eyes piercing
him to the core.
“He was always a lie…and deep inside you knew it” the man knelt by the bed and
brought his face close to Bruce’s. “I am the one for you, Bruce…”
Bruce thrashed on his bed and heard through a tunnel a familiar meow. His mind
and body were in a deep mist from the sedatives yet he stubbornly opened his
eyes though in him lurked the fear of seeing Queen over him.
Instead, a wrinkled hand he had connected with pure love caressed his face and
Bruce saw Alfred.
“Please calm down, Master Bruce; it was just a dream.”
The Englishman swept the sweat from Bruce’s face with a cotton white rug and
Bruce saw Leslie coming. Her face was worried and she held a syringe.
“The pain and the tension were too much for the sedatives.”
“I’m not in pain” Bruce mumbled trying to ease their worry though he felt the
stiffness and the throbbing returning fast.
Leslie nodded.
 “We’ll see that tomorrow. Now, I’ll give you something stronger – you need the
rest, Bruce.”
Yes, he needed that…so he didn’t protest but let Leslie inject him and welcomed
the instant deep sleep.
 
Tony had just come out of the bathroom with his hair still wet from the quick
shower he had. He was dressed in his Garfield pajamas and paced barefoot in the
dark living room of his penthouse contemplating the events of the last hours.
Suddenly, he realized that he was in front of the whole wall window, Gotham’s
breathtaking nightly skyline regarding him grimly as if blaming him for what he
has done to her protector.
He pressed his wet hair to his head and huffed; he stormed at the right wall
where the built-in bar was placed. Upon approaching the wall opened and the
glass bar slithered towards him presenting its tempting, large variety of
booze; on both edges of the glass shelf two columns contained an assortment of
crystal glasses for each different beverage. Tony stretched his hand to grab a
short, round bottle of expensive scotch yet at the last second he stopped. He
closed his eyes: alcohol wasn’t the solution.
He clapped and the glass bar slithered back inside leaving the wall at its
former state. He slumped on the leather corner sofa and glanced at his
StarkStell tablet on the glass titanium coffee table.
“Jarvis, how’s Dr. Strange?” he opted to ask his AI instead.
“The vitals of Dr. Strange is normal now, sir; the remnants of the toxin has
been entirely removed from his organism and his brain waves indicate that he is
sleeping in normal sleeping rhythms.”
“Thanks, Jarv” he replied out of mood.
They decided with Thor to keep Dr. Strange here, at his penthouse instead of
putting him through the trip back to New York. There Tony would be able to
monitor him and the man would have the time to properly recover from Crane’s
poison. Of course, Bruce had acted on time to stop the toxin before damaging
permanently Strange and repel any consequences.
“Bruce…” he sighed and his heart beat fast from desire to learn about his
friend.
His hand hovered over the tablet to call the Manor’s number but he closed his
fingers. No, he had no right: because of him Bruce found himself Joker’s
captive and was forced to exert himself to escape. Nothing would have happened
if he hadn’t hit him with his stunning beam. He couldn’t forget Bruce’s eyes
just before fainting; they were filled with surprise and the bitterness of
betrayal.
His closed fingers became a fist and he downed it to the table which didn’t
shatter only thanks to its special materials.
“Sir, there are news on the gunshots that occurred in Tony Zucco’s house.”
After he heard about that, Tony had left the MCU believing that both Bruce and
Dick were safe at the Manor. However he asked Jarvis to keep watching for any
development since Bruce would definitely be interested for anything concerning
that man.
Tony gathered his members and sat properly; he grabbed his tablet and with a
few scrolls got access to MCU’s database. He perused the reports about Zucco
and slapped his face.
“Damn!”
Dick had been in Zucco’s house; the scum had asked from the judge to take the
boy for the weekend and used Judge Moot’s forged signature and stamp to prove
that he was Dick’s guardian to take the money from his account and leave the
town. Of course, Bruce was one step in front of the scum and took care that the
account would be opened only with Ms. Turner’s credentials.
After that it seems that the bastard realizing that he had nothing to gain from
the boy decided to get rid of him. Tony cocked an eyebrow: Batarangs were found
in the house and on Zucco’s wife – Bruce upon returning to the Manor learnt
that Zucco took the boy and followed them which was life saving for the boy but
also exhausting for his already spent friend.
At least, the police was already coming to Zucco’s house to arrest him based on
the evidence Bruce had gathered. And the little rascal had the brains to record
on his tablet Zucco admitting his father’s murder.
His  rush to fly right now to the Manor to check Bruce became torturing but he
inhaled deeply and stopped. He couldn’t see Bruce in the eyes after what he had
done and his concern would seem hypocritic…
However, he had to learn…His hand moved on its own and touched the tablet’s
screen calling the Manor.
“Wayne Manor, how may I help you?”
Oh, how he missed Alfred’s calm voice.
“Alfred, it’s Tony. It’s late even for you…”
“Master Anthony! I was informed by Master Bruce that you are alright but I was
expecting you to come at the Manor.”
Tony rubbed the bridge of his nose.
“Alfred, how’s Bruce? I checked with the clinic’s database and he wasn’t
admitted there.”
“Leslie deemed it better for him to stay here tonight: she examined him and
scanned him with the portable MRI and there was nothing urgent” Tony sighed
with relief. “Nonetheless, he sustained some major blows that thankfully were
mostly absorbed by the armor so Leslie will take him to the clinic tomorrow for
further exams. He is exhausted and runs a slight fever but Leslie administered
him painkillers and sedatives; he is sleeping now and Leslie is with him.”
“Thank you, Alfred…I’ll call you tomorrow to tell me about the exams’ results.”
A long pause from the other end.
“Master Anthony, if I may; it couldn’t be better if you came yourself to the
Manor?” Alfred’s voice was cautious; he knew how tricky things were after what
Tony did.
“No, Alfred” Tony shook his head. “I have no place there and I’m sure Bruce
will be better off without me.”
“Forgive my indiscretion, sir, but I reckon that you are too hasty in your
assessment of the situation and Master Bruce’s emotions. Tomorrow evening a
small gathering for Master Bruce’s birthday will take place in the Manor and my
humble opinion is that you should be with us.”
Tony ruffled his hair with both hands.
“This time I fucked things, Alfred…” he pressed his lips: he wanted to go there
and be close to his friend as well but he wasn’t that selfish to press his
presence to his friend. “Good night, Alfred.”
“Good night, Master Anthony” Alfred’s voice was hued with a discreet
melancholy.
 
Dick had woken up quite some time now – not that his sleep was ideal…More a
foggy state between being wake and asleep with thousands thoughts tangled;
images replaying what happened just a few hours ago; memories of how Zucco had
tricked them fuelling his hatred for Bruce and making him hurt his granny. How
he missed his granny!
He gladly left his bed with the first pale light of the morning. He bathed,
wore fresh clothes but he stayed in his room pacing nervously till eight
because he was sure that Bruce wouldn’t wake up earlier. As a matter of fact,
his guardian should sleep till late to have the rest he needed.
He ran to the kitchen, only to stop abruptly seeing only Alfred serving tea to
his white-blue porcelain cup and Leslie sitting to the island. He had hoped to
see Bruce there as almost every morning but now he was thinking about it, that
wasn’t too possible.
“Good morning, Master Richard” Alfred said and Leslie mumbled the same.
“Mmm…Good morning” the boy replied. “Bruce didn’t come down for breakfast? Then
he is ill…”
Leslie looked up at Alfred and sipped from her coffee.
“I just recommended that he stays in bed today” she said “we’ll make the exams
to have a proper image about his condition.”
Dick licked his lips.
“If he must stay in bed all day how is he going to go to your clinic?”
Leslie shrugged a shoulder.
“On a gurney of course; I’ve arranged for an ambulance.”
Dick nodded and ruffled his messy hair. Alfred grinned with sympathy.
“Master Bruce is taking his breakfast in his room accompanied by Miss Kyle. I
think that you should have your breakfast too, Master Richard.”
Dick turned his head towards the upper floor.
“I’m not hungry” he replied. “Can I…?” he asked shyly both the adults.
Leslie crooked her mouth.
“Yeah, you can.”
“Thank you!” Dick exclaimed and stormed at the corridor, his running footsteps
echoing behind him.
Leslie shook her head and Alfred grinned.
Dick once again stopped abruptly before the door to the Master bedroom and
inhaled deeply trying to control his breath and his heartbeat. He raised his
hand to knock and then lowered it before he raised it again. He gulped and
knocked.
“Come in”
It was Selina’s voice. Catwoman’s, Dick realized. He opened the door and made a
hesitant step forwards. Bruce was lying on the bed resting his back on pillows;
he was absorbed in reading something on his Cosmos’ screen but he raised his
eyes right away to regard Dick. He smiled clearly in a good mood though his
face was pale and his eyes bloodshot.
 Beside the bed Selina was sitting on a ottoman eating from the breakfast on
the silver lay at the bed table over Bruce’s legs. Hero was curled next to
Bruce and eating the chunks his human fed him.
“Good morning, Richard” Bruce greeted him causing Selina’s glance.
Dick licked his lips; he still couldn’t look him straight in the eyes.
“Mm…yeah…good morning” he scratched his neck and cursed inside realizing that
he was doing one of Jay’s reactions. “Can I speak to you?”
“Of course” Bruce replied and Selina stood.
“I leave you two alone” she said and pecked Bruce on the cheek.
She walked to the door and looked at Dick as she passed by him.
“Don’t let him work on his tablet anymore…” she mumbled and the boy nodded.
Selina closed the door behind her but Dick still hesitated; Bruce raised his
eyebrows.
“Have a seat” he prompted the boy gesturing to the ottoman and Dick did as he
was said. “You had breakfast?”
Dick still without looking him in the eyes shook his head.
“Alfred told me to but I wasn’t hungry…”
Bruce smiled and showed the tray.
“Help yourself…Alfred always has the tendency to overfeed me…”
Dick looked at those delicious smelling cinnamon biscuits and grabbed one.
“Mm…thanks. Those cinnamon biscuits are my favorite” he said chewing the
delicacy.
“Mine too” Bruce commented and Dick looked at him with the rest of his biscuit
hovering near his mouth. “Richard, I wanted to tell you that what you’ve learnt
about me last night …I mean…it’s not a reason for you to change the way you
feel about me.”
Dick closed his eyes and lolled his head on the side.
“I knew you’d say that…” he shook his head. “How are you? I mean, last night,
that bullet…”
“The armor absorbed most of the impact; I’m fine.”
“You’re pale thought…”
“That’s my standard” Bruce said.
“About what you said…’bout Batman and my feelings for you…You were all this
time like this: tolerating me being an ass and never asking anything. But your
kindness can’t change the fact that I was…wrong; I treated you…I was unfair,
mean: whether you are…him or not. But the fact you’re Batman makes my behavior
even worse.”
Bruce pressed his lips; he hoped that things would get their way without all
this.
“Last night you saved my life risking yours and risking your condition…”
Bruce didn’t want to hear more; he wanted the boy to be just happy not to be
eaten by guilt.
“Richard…”
The boy looked at him.
“Please, call me Dick. I was saying that last night wasn’t the first time you
saved me. That night in the factory with Joker, you again didn’t think the risk
for my sake. And you almost died that night…and…and you’re in a wheelchair
because of me.”
“Not because of you: nothing of this was your fault. Joker started that.”
Dick looked at the wheelchair.
“I was ungrateful; I made your life a Hell; I made people speak ill of you; and
all this time your suffering was for my sake. I blamed you for my family’s
murders though it wasn’t your fault.”
Bruce raised his eyebrows.
“I understand you…You were filled with pain, with anger, with despair: it was
reasonable some of these feelings to be turned against the one whose name was
written to the wall over your loved ones’ bodies.”
“I even cursed you to rot in that chair…” he said and his voice fainted as his
phrase reached the end; he lowered his head.
Bruce caressed the boy’s hair.
“I knew that you didn’t mean it…”
“But I did! I’m that bad!”
“No, you didn’t; even if then you believed that you wanted it you are such a
good boy that deep inside you didn’t want it.”
Dick raised his eyes to meet Bruce’s and Bruce smiled.
“I’m sorry, Bruce; for everything.”
Bruce nodded.
“I know, Dick…I want you to forget everything that happened and move forward.
We all do mistakes but what matters is to learn from them and continue.”
Dick caressed Hero that came to rub at him.
“I believed Zucco; I let him poison me against my granny, against you… All this
time you wanted to warn me, to save me from him; you cared about me and I was
following blindly Zucco…my father’s murderer…I feel awful…How fool I was?”
Bruce shook his head.
“You were desperate, angry and he took advantage of you.”
“Yeah…but still…I was doing everything he was telling me without seeing how
wrong it was. I can’t forgive myself…”
Bruce pressed his lips. Since Dick knew the truth about him the boy could learn
more.
“When I was 14, still Falcone’s slave, a man popped up a night at the cabaret
and cured my cripple arm. He fed me, he washed me, he dressed me, he even made
Falcone torture me less; he promised that he’d save me and bring justice for my
parents.”
Dick watched frowned.
“For the first time after 6 years of endless pain and despair, I began hoping…”
he chuckled. “He trained me to be a killing machine…He took advantage of me, he
used me in every possible way and I” he huffed “I believed that I owed him
whatever he wished from me – that what he was taking from me was very little in
comparison with what he was offering me. I thought he cared for me…that he
would free me…I was obeying him…I was ready to do whatever he wanted me…” he
raised his eyebrows “I wasdoing everything he wished…” Bruce felt embarrassed
because he was sure that Dick understood what he meant. “And then one day, he
revealed chuckling that he wasn’t going to let me go; he’d use me to eradicate
Gotham and after would take me with him…his slave: serving him forever.”
Dick noticed Bruce’s blank eyes and figured that he was lost in his past –
maybe re-living those things; but he was eager to learn about Batman…about
Bruce.
“And?”
Bruce looked at the boy as if waking from a dream.
“I couldn’t do what he wanted; I wasn’t a murderer; I knew then that he was
evil… I tried to escape but he caught me; he punished me; he threatened to kill
my loved ones if I ever tried to escape again. He…He tortured Tony” Dick’s eyes
widened remembering Tony Stark’s story: his abduction by terrorists in Middle
East, that he almost died; Bruce nodded. “He was going to kill Tony to break me
once and for all but Tony managed to free himself. Yet Tony since then is
forced to have that arc reactor to live…” he chuckled bitterly. “Because of
me…Because I believed the wrong man…”
Dick caressed the back of Bruce’s hand and he looked the boy puzzled.
“It wasn’t your fault. You were scared and defenseless and that man offered you
hope.”
Bruce smiled.
“You see?” he twitched his eyebrows pointedly. “It’s the same thing with you
and Zucco…”
Dick pressed his lips not totally convinced but he smiled a bit more relieved.
“I wish granny was here…I have so many things to tell her…To apologize to her…”
“Maybe you’ll have the chance.”
Dick shook his head.
“She is gone…She left sad from my behavior; scared about what would happen to
me. And she was right: you care about me more than anyone else. I wish I had
the chance to tell her that she was right and I was wrong - stupid.”
“Don’t lose your hope…”
Dick shook his head and decided to change the subject to tell what was burning
his mind from last night.
“Till now I respected Batman but now that I know the truth…I admire Bruce
Wayne. You’re the strongest, the bravest, the kindest man I even known.”
Bruce chuckled.
“You’re 13 years old: you haven’t met many people yet…”
“I’ll never meet anyone like you – ever…I have the best guardian in the world –
a guardian angel.”
Bruce smiled.
“And I don’t deserve you…” the boy added and Bruce’s expression became dead
serious.
“Hush…That’s not true and I don’t want you to ever tell that again. You’ve been
through a lot of things that even a grown up wouldn’t be able to cope with and
you’ve made it: you remained the great boy your family raised – your
grandmother is proud of you and I’m honored she trusted me with your
guardianship.”
Knocks on the door.
“Come in” Bruce called.
It was Alfred and Leslie.
“Master Bruce, the ambulance is here.”
Bruce nodded. Dick met his eyes.
“Can I come with you?”
Bruce raised his eyebrows.
“It’s a boring procedure.”
Leslie snorted and took the bed table off his legs.
“Next time we’ll redecorate the clinic to resemble a theme park, Mr. Wayne.”
Bruce grinned and turned again to Dick.
“And you have your training – I know you and Jeff are practicing some new
exercises Mr. Breizic made for you; and after I think you’ll have a better time
with Jason playing bowling.”
Dick pouted downhearted.
“Okay…”
Bruce patted his upper arm.
“Dick, everything is alright now: just let go and have fun for a change. I
promise that everything will be fine from now on.”
The boy smiled and nodded.
“If you promise then it will be.”
 
And definitely Bruce would have preferred to be with Dick and Jason than in the
clinic coming out of one examination room to get inside a scanning room. Not to
mention all those needles taking blood or tissue samples: after all those
experiences with Crane, Quinzel and Joker he felt nausea in the sight of those
pointy tools…
Yet in the end he managed to convince Alfred and Leslie to let him go somewhere
promising that it wouldn’t be for long and that after he’d stay in bed and
rest. Of course Bruce counted on the fact that the two of them wanted some
secrecy to prepare his birthday gathering and his short absence would suit
them. Supposedly, it was a surprise but Bruce had caught some strange sideway
glances between them and he remembered Alfred mentioning his birthday before
all Hell broke loose.
Alfred insisted on driving him but Bruce asked him to take care of the boys:
Dick’s emotional state troubled him – he wanted the boy to feel relieved and
not burdened by all those things.
He drove his car in the underground parking of the building and slipped in his
wheelchair to head to the elevator. But then someone’s footsteps approached him
from the back. He stopped the wheelchair and grinned.
“Thor…”
The blond god walked to come in front of Bruce. He was dressed in his civilian
attire: blue jeans, leather jacket, a hockey cap and a long blond ponytail. He
smiled at Bruce.
“I’m always pleased when you recognize me without seeing me.”
“You are my friend, Thor.”
Thor nodded.
“I wanted to meet and thank you but it is almost impossible to sneak out from
Alfred and Leslie. I hardly persuaded them to let me come here.”
Thor grinned.
“I feel for them; they must be distraught after last night. I heard that after
Arkham Batman had another adventure.”
Bruce lolled his head on the sight.
“I heard the same.”
The blond chuckled and lowered his eyes.
“I followed your car just in case – I hope you don’t mind” but then he
remembered what Bruce had said. “Thank me? I’m the one who should thank you:
you saved me administering the antidote.”
Bruce waved that off.
“That was nothing.”
Thor lolled his head on the side and arched an eyebrow crossing his arms over
the chest.
“Really? I don’t agree: being able to hold again Mjolnir is everything to me”
he pressed his lips. “And why you wanted to thank me?”
“For your help in everything that happened the last days: I read about Loki’s
attack in New York” his face was a bit shadowed and Thor was sure that the
reason was Superman’s absence: Bruce must be very disappointed and sad. “Your
help was crucial there and in capturing Loki.”
“How you know that?” Thor frowned: he couldn’t have read that anywhere because
S.H.I.E.L.D. kept it close to the chest.
Bruce pursed his lips.
“Joker gave him a compound dose of the weakening substance in front of me and
you and Tony were looking for me at Gotham which means that you found Loki and
he told you that Joker returned here” Thor smiled.
“Always the detective. You should teach me that: I’d like to be the first god-
detective!” he chuckled and Bruce did the same.
“And Dr. Strange?”
“Actually he was the one who found Loki’s palace and captured him.”
Bruce met his clear blue eyes.
“You asked him to help.”
“How do you know?”
Bruce grinned and his eyes sparkled.
“He isn’t a member of the Avengers and he is not Tony’s friend otherwise he
would have mentioned him. And when I found you he was conjuring things with his
hands, which means that he has special skills not known to many people.”
Thor nodded.
“My failure to locate Loki all this time proved that my brother couldn’t be
found either by a god or a mere mortal. So I went to Dr. Strange; he is a
member of an order that protects Earth from dark powers and he had the skills
needed.”
“So you do deserve my gratitude.”
Thor almost blushed and Bruce grinned.
“And Dr. Strange, of course” the human added.
Thor kneeled before him.
“I’m so relieved you’re alright, Bruce; back to us. Did that man hurt you in
any way?” his agony was evident even now.
Bruce met the god’s clear eyes.
“Nothing serious…” he reassured him. “Alfred is preparing a small gathering
this evening for my birthday: it’d be my pleasure to join us.”
Thor pressed his lips and his eyes filled with disappointment.
“It would be mine too…but unfortunately I have to transfer Loki to Asgard. Odin
is furious and has called that Asgardian Assembly.”
Bruce nodded.
“I understand.”
Thor stood and shook Bruce’s hand.
“Happy birthday, Bruce!”
“Thank you, Thor.”     
 
A single rucksack was dropped somewhere on the floor and a briefcase lay
closed, thrown careless on the sofa next to a long coat. The vast room was
dimly lit only by the gray natural light of the afternoon.
Tony wasn’t a tidy person and he didn’t care to be so his departure
preparations were hasty and messy – especially, since his mood was grimmer than
the gray sky of Gotham that stared at him almost mocking from the whole wall
window. It was afternoon and he had set the jet for departure in an hour.
He sat on the sofa engrossed in his tablet, reading carefully what he had
hacked from Leslie’s clinic. What else? The results from Bruce’s exams. He had
already called Alfred for information and the blessed man told him without any
objection yet Tony wanted every detail – he wanted to have his own opinion over
the doctors.
It was difficult to break the firewalls to get the data he wanted – after all,
Bruce had shielded the clinic’s electronic database – yet in the end he managed
to break through. His heart was beating almost as fast as when one year ago, in
this very room, he was to see Falcone’s toy to ascertain if he was indeed
Bruce.
There was some inflammation in Bruce’s back where contusions and lesions were
manifested: Tony gulped and covered his mouth with his palm seeing the images
from MRI. Bruce definitely was hit in the back with force and the other nastier
lesion was from a bullet. Yet the armor as Alfred had said absorbed most of the
impact. The energy casts did their job again – bless that alien tech!...but not
that UFO scumbag!
Tony closed his eyes considering his own deeds…No, he was a scumbag too but not
as bad as the alien.
Bruce’s blood exams indicated the presence of high doses of chloroform and
Amytal and Tony cursed. That Quinzel and Crane tried to force Bruce to admit
what Joker wanted: something bit his insides hard. Did Joker find out? Damn! He
could have asked Bruce, if only…
Bruce had a low fever which was not good but it could be only due to the
hardship. A bit dehydrated with some minerals low – easy solved with some
supplements. Also, the fact that he missed some dosages of his medication
manifested in his vitals – thankfully, not so much to cause damage. Overall
nothing that couldn’t be restored.
Tony pressed his hair on his head and sighed in relief: his blunder didn’t have
detrimental consequences.
Suddenly, the low, almost inaudible humming of the lift broke his thoughts.
Only Pepper had free access to the lift, no other…except than…no, it couldn’t
be.
The lift stopped.
“Master Bruce, sir”.
It was preposterous how Jarvis’ indifferent voice shattered Tony’s superficial
tranquility and made him jump.
“Why you didn’t notify me, you traitorous, sneaky AI?” he yelled.
“But it is Master Bruce, sir…” the AI replied innocently but Tony rolled his
eyes because he sensed a bit of amusement there.
“Nice…AIs made fun of us, ol’ dude” he said to himself and thought to run away
but just slumped on the sofa hearing the lift doors opening and then the
discreet sound of Bruce’s wheelchair.
Damn! Alfred and Leslie shouldn’t have let him wander around: he needed rest.
However he noticed something else: Bruce was using the wheelchair Tony had
crafted for him…poor thing! After Superman’s betrayal and his own Bruce had run
out of options. He wanted to look at him but Tony knew that didn’t have the
right.
Bruce’s lips slightly cracked seeing Tony like this and then his eyes fell on
his friend’s baggage scattered around.
“So you’re ready to leave without a word?” he asked and Tony closed his eyes.
Tony shook his head.
“You should be home resting; it doesn’t worth the effort…”
Bruce licked his lips and moved his wheelchair closer causing a shudder in
Tony. The younger man huffed
“Let me decide what it is worthy…”
Tony nodded: everything started because he wanted to force his opinion to
Bruce.
Bruce arched an eyebrow looking at Tony’s tablet.
“Are they good enough?” he said amused and Tony frowned. “I mean the results.”
Tony made to turn his head towards him but stopped himself.
“You knew?”
“I knew that you’d want to learn every detail and that Alfred’s info wouldn’t
be enough so I put the results in the database with such hard firewall that
only you could break.”
Tony chuckled and shook his head.
“Why you did that?”
Bruce sighed.
“What kind of a friend…” he said raising his voice and Tony lowered his head
inhaling deeply: here we go, he thought.
Bruce had come here to confront him; he nodded and surrendered because whatever
Bruce would say was well deserved.
Bruce crooked his mouth taking in his friend’s reaction and imagining his
thoughts.
“What kind of a friend leaves and doesn’t attend his friend’s first birthday
after nineteen years?”
Tony felt as if a bucket with icy water splashed on him – with the bucket; he
didn’t believe in his ears and in his confusion turned to Bruce.
“What?”
Bruce cocked his eyebrows and took advantage of Tony’s turn of the head to lock
eyes with him.
“I’m sure that Alfred invited you to my birthday gathering, which by the way,
it’s supposed to be secret” Tony couldn’t fight but chuckle to this. “It’s the
only reason Alfred and Leslie let me out of the Manor after all… But I see that
you are ready to snub my birthday and leave…Is this what someone expects from
his best buddy?”
Tony’s lips trembled and he couldn’t restrain himself from rushing to his
friend and kneeling before him to give him a bear hug minding his hurt back. He
held Bruce’s upper arms and looked him in the eyes.
“You can’t be so forgiving, littl’ guy…” he mumbled. “What I did is
unforgivable: I gunned you even if it was a stunning beam because I was
stubborn and I wanted to force my choice to you. What kind of a friend does
that?”
Bruce lolled his head on the side pouting.
“You!”
Tony erupted in light hearted laugh.
“I know you did it out of despair; because you care that much, Tony. And I know
that you regret it…I don’t want to lose you again…” Bruce said dead serious.
Tony lowered his head; he was happy, beyond happy; relieved but all this was
overwhelming.
“You can’t be so forgiving” he repeated thought it suit him “you must thing
more of yourself, littl’ guy…”
Bruce smirked and his eyes sparkled wickedly.
“But I do…” Tony frowned “because from now on you wouldn’t be able to deny
anything to me” Tony gaped and raised his eyebrows. “It’s handy to have Tony
Stark’s genius and Ironman’s firepower at my disposal without objections.”
Now Tony began laughing real hard and his head fell on Bruce’s lap: the agony,
sadness and hopelessness of the last hours making him lose his grip and the
energy to keep his head erect.
Bruce caressed his friend’s disheveled raven hair as Tony’s head shook from
relieved laughter.
“Mm…sorry” a bass baritone invaded the vast living room from the corridor
leading to the guest bedroom “am I interrupting something?”
Bruce turned his gaze at the man and despite the fact he was now dressed in one
of Tony’s least favorite pajamas, he recognized the man with the cape from
Arkham. Dr. Strange. However Bruce didn’t show that he recognized him – Batman
had seen him not Bruce Wayne.
Tony raised his head rather reluctantly.
“It’s not what you think” he cocked an eyebrow to his guest with a mock guilty
expression as if caught cheating and Bruce rolled his eyes, happy inside for
his friend had found his cheery self. “Dr. Strange, this is my best buddy,
Bruce Wayne” he said standing and the man walked closer. “Bruce, Dr. Strange:
he found and captured Loki helping us find Joker and take you back.”
“Hardly” the doctor said shaking Bruce’s offered hand. “Pleased to meet you,
Mr. Wayne.”
“Me too, Dr. Strange.”
“I was saying that I don’t deserve the credit Mr. Stark gives me.”
“Tony” he said. “Mr. Stark makes me look 33 years old, that is, ten years older
than I am.”
Bruce raised his eyebrows and chuckled.
“No comments, please…” Tony mumbled.
Dr. Strange smiled.
 “I was saying that I found Loki but he was already weak; and in Arkham…” he
shuddered only from the memories. “I was useless…Tony told me that Batman saved
me – I must thank the guy.”
“Good luck finding him” Tony mumbled “well, boys, excuse me but I have to make
myself presentable.”
Stephen cocked an eyebrow.
“Plastic surgery?”
Bruce chuckled and Tony lolled his head to look at the doctor with narrowed
eyes.
“I think I’ll like this guy…” he commented.
“Then Dr. Strange can come to the Manor with us” Bruce commented.
The man looked startled.
“Well, why not?”
“Nice then” Tony clearly in exhilarated mood patted the doctor and walked to
his bedroom. “Fly me to the moon and let me play among the stars…”
Bruce’s face was radiating from a big smile when Dr. Strange looked at him.
“He is relieved…” the doctor said serious “he was desperate while you were
missing.”
Bruce nodded.
“He would have killed Loki if I hadn’t put a shield around him.”
“Thank you, Doctor. I wouldn’t want Tony to kill…”
Stephen sat on the edge of the corner sofa right next to Bruce.
“Well, as a former doctor I detest killings too.”
Bruce frowned.
“Former?”
“I had a car accident that robbed me from my skills…despite all the surgeries
I’ve been through” he chuckled “and spending almost all my fortune” he shook
his head. “Nothing” he looked at his hands.”
Bruce pressed his lips; he could feel for the doctor. His eyes fell fleetingly
on his own dead legs.
“Thor told me that you have skills that enabled you to locate Loki and you
mentioned creating a shield that stopped Tony from killing Loki.”
Dr. Strange smiled.
“Yes, in my quest to find a way to overcome my limits I met people that taught
me that I have some powers that I didn’t know…yet they can’t replace the skills
I need to be again a surgeon.”
Bruce shook his head and noticed how Dr. Strange gazed at his wheelchair.
“You’re an admirable man, Mr. Wayne…Inspiration.”
Bruce chuckled.
“Me?”
“In the hurricane of my personal adversities I came across your story in the
news…to tell you the truth I didn’t pay much attention then” he smirked “my
pain was the entire world. But then Thor came to ask my help to find you and
told me that you are a paraplegic, a multi-injury patient” Bruce didn’t say
anything. “As I was searching for Loki I connected everything I heard about
you: about the horrific abuse you suffered for eighteen years in the hands of
your parents’ murderer and now about your paraplegia; the kidnapping…And I
thought that you must be a very special human being since you managed through
your tragedies to gain the respect and deep love of unique beings like Thor or
Superman.”
“Thor is so kind and this kindness is that makes him so caring. As for
Superman, he cares for everybody, right?”
Stephen lolled his head to the side.
“Thor was also ready to rip apart Loki for what he did to you. And before I
reached his palace someone else had caught Loki.”
Bruce frowned: that was new information.
“Who?”
“I found Loki in the dungeon he held you but he wasn’t alone. An archer was
ready to hit him with a golden arrow; he was mad, his worry for you vibrating
from his entire existence.”
Bruce’s heart beat fast.
“An archer?”
“Dressed in dark green like Robin Hood.”
Bruce shook his head and rubbed the bridge of his nose, feeling the dizziness
of the last hours worsening. Dr. Strange watched him worried.
“It can’t be…Thor told me that he couldn’t locate Thor and that meant that no
mere god or mere mortal could find him.”
 “That’s true; even in Loki’s weakened state his palace was concealed by strong
magic…”
One thought cracked Bruce’s mind like a flash: Bruce, you’re an idiot…
 
When Alfred opened the Manor’s front door his eyes beamed seeing not only his
young master as he expected but also Master Anthony and another guest.
“I’m sure you missed me, Al” Tony said patting the older man’s back. “By the
way this gent who wears my suit is Dr. Strange; he helped us find Bruce etc,
etc.”
Alfred nodded kindly.
“I saw it on the news. It’s a real pleasure meeting you, sir.”
“The pleasure is all mine, mister…”
“Alfred; I’m Alfred.”
As soon as they reached the big arch of the grand salon the chorus began:
Happy Birthday to you…
Tony waved his hands like a maestro and Bruce acted the shocked to not ruin the
surprise.
In the middle of the room was a big round table with a huge cake on; the
candles were already lit.
Around the table stood Leslie, Lucius, Selina with Steve, Pepper, Jason with
his mother, Matt and his fiance and Dick.
“Make a wish, Bruce” Selina said after the song ended and kissed him on the
cheek.
Leslie had put the cake on a short trolley and brought it to Bruce for him to
blow out the candles and when he did everyone clapped to Bruce’s amusement and
uneasiness: it seemed like ages since he last celebrated his birthday.
Shattered images crossed his mind swiftly as if from a really old movie:
giggles of cheerful kids, his peers; happy children songs, pointy party hats in
small heads; multicolored balloons and decorations; his parents beaming
distributing presents to their little guests.
The huge cake – really huge for a short boy of eight – missing a part in his
index finger’s shape because Bruce couldn’t fight the temptation and dove his
finger in the cream. He had blown with all his strength because he wanted his
wish to come true and his mother hugged and kissed him. He didn’t remember what
that wish was…
His eyes became blank without realizing and he sensed Dick’s eyes on him filled
with understanding and smiled to his people.
“I see you brought your old dirt bag friend” Pepper said after she leaned to
kiss Bruce.
Tony wrapped his arms around her waist.
“I like girls dirt-talking!” he said and kissed her on the lips.
Ms. Todd was handing the plates with the cake.
Bruce accompanied by Dr. Strange guided his chair to Leslie and Lucius.
“Leslie, Lucius, let me introduce you Dr. Strange. Dr. Strange, Dr. Leslie
Thompkins and Mr. Lucius Fox, two of my closest friends.”
“But I know Dr. Strange” Leslie said. “We had met briefly in a conference. I
don’t know if he remembers me.”
Dr. Strange shook hands with her.
“Yes, I remember you: the fierce doctor from Gotham. And Mr. Fox” he shook
hands with him “I had followed eagerly your work in bionic body parts and I
have the feeling you’re ready to revolutionize science…”
Lucius smiled.
“I sure hope so, Dr. Strange, with Mr. Stark’s help. Your interest on our work
is very flattering.”
The door bell was barely heard over the chats, the laughs and the light music.
Alfred left to answer the door and Bruce followed him with his eyes.
When Alfred returned some random glances fell over there to stay.
Suddenly, a surprised, exhilarated voice hued with disbelief towered every
other sound in the room.
“Granny!”
Dick rushed there and hugged his grandmother who had leaned and opened her
arms; tears were sliding over his cheeks as he was crushed in the woman’s hug.
However the boy lifted slightly his head from his grandmother’s chest and cast
a sideways glance at Bruce who was looking at them smiling.
 
***** Chapter 73 *****
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
“First of all I want to apologize” Bruce said looking at Dick who was still in
his granny’s hug.
After Ms. Turner’s arrival the small party continued with more cheer since she
wasn’t the only one who entered the Manor. Harvey Dent, Rachel and Mr. Petrou
had come with her.
It was when Matt with his fiancé and Ms. Todd left, and Pepper drove Dr.
Strange to Tony’s private jet in order to fly for New York that Bruce was ready
to answer the questions that he knew Dick and his friends had. Jason had asked
from his mother to let him stay at the Manor for the rest of the weekend.
They had settled in the salon.
Dick frowned in disbelief hearing Bruce; he was still exhilarated by his
granny’s return: he was still uncertain if it was true or a dream.
“Apologize? You?” he asked.
Ms. Turner tilted her head to Bruce.
“Dick is right, son; we owe you so much.”
Bruce shook his head sensing his friends’ curious gazes: they didn’t know
anything and they were surprised as well.
“Because of me Dick went through a great distress and agony all these months”
he huffed “but I thought that it was the best solution.”
Ms. Turner nodded smiling.
“When Ms. Turner came here and told me about Zucco’s threats and her wish to
make me your guardian I just couldn’t let things in that man’s hands waiting.
Ms. Turner was sure that he had killed Dick’s father so what would have stopped
him from doing that again? So I persuaded Ms. Turner to let me stage her
disappearance until we managed to prove the truth about Zucco and send him to
prison. Dick would be safe here during that.”
Dick exchanged glances with Jason who gaped and the older boy turned
immediately back to Bruce who pressed his lips.
“So I arranged for Ms. Turner to go to Canada and live with Harvey and Rachel
till things would be safe for her.”
The old woman smiled to her grandson. Bruce huffed.
“It was very difficult for her to spend Christmas without you, Dick; and it was
really hard to calm her down and convince her to stay in Canada and not come
back when she learnt that Zucco was challenging in court my guardianship.”
Ms. Turner nodded and caressed Dick’s hair.
“That’s true…I panicked; I was scared that Zucco could manage to take you. I
wanted to take the plane to Gotham immediately.”
Rachel shook her head.
“It was impossible to reassure her; till Bruce called her and she was somewhat
calmer.”
Harvey chuckled.
“But still we had the door locked just in case…”
Ms. Turner laughed.
“I’m so weak…”
Bruce moved his wheelchair to her and took her hands.
“On the contrary, you’re a very brave lady, Ms. Turner, and I’m glad I helped.”
Harvey looked at Bruce.
“Now you have to explain everything to the police – I’m sure you didn’t tell
anything to them.”
Bruce blushed.
“No, because that would risk the plan; I hope Jim will understand.”
Tony smirked.
“If he doesn’t I’ll unleash my Stark charm: we’re buddies with Jim.”
Leslie snorted. She was watching from the armchair right of the fireplace.
“If your last resort is Anthony’s charm, you might end up in jail” she
chuckled.
Tony nodded several times.
“Thanks for the vote of confidence!” he cocked his eyebrows and placed his palm
over his heart “it means a lot, my lady!”
Dick was staring at Bruce with utter adoration.
“You gave me the greatest gift of all: my granny back.”
Bruce shook his head.
“I was the one who took her in the first place” he commented. “All your
troubles with Zucco was because he sniffed my money.”
Dick grinned.
“I’m sure he’d hurt my granny if you hadn’t taken her away on time: he told me
so last night…You’re so clever” the boy widened his eyes impressed “the way you
blocked Zucco’s any access to the money – a perfect trap” he was ready to say
more but he didn’t know if he should: the people who came with his granny might
not know about Batman.
Jason made a really bad gesture taking his hand from petting Hero's back.
“That asshole took what he deserved! I always hated the guts of Zucco…” he
elbowed his friend in the ribs. “They couldna tell ya anythin’ ‘cause ya’d say
everythin’ to him.”
“Ouch!” Dick exclaimed. “Ya coulda tell it without yar elbow” he mimicked
Jason’s way.
Ms. Turner caressed Bruce’s blushed face.
“You’re an angel – our good angel.”
Bruce didn’t say anything because he couldn’t believe that: their loved ones
were brutally murdered because of him.
“Of course you’re welcome to stay in the Manor as long as you want. And that
goes for you too” he turned to Harvey who sat next to Rachel on the sofa. “It
will be a pleasure for us.”
Rachel chuckled.
“Oh! I’m sure, you’re Bruce after all…”
Harvey patted Rachel’s back and looked at his father.
“We’re going to settle in Gotham now that Joker is back in custody and my
suspension is almost over, I think I can start working here again.”
“And I managed to find a position here as well” Rachel commented and Mr. Petrou
laughed.
“And I hope that Mr. Wayne will be so generous to give me a small work because
I don’t think that anyone else in Gotham will want a former thug as an
employee.”
Selina snorted.
“You’re better than many ‘dignified’ people I know…” she offered and Tony
raised his eyebrows.
“I hope you don’t mean me…”
Selina tilted her head to him.
“I said ‘dignified’ and even with quotation marks” she made them in the air
with her fingers “you don’t qualify.”
Tony yanked his head backwards.
“Thank goodness!”
Bruce shook his head amused.
“Mr. Petrou, your position waits for you – I’ve already spoken to Ms. Philips.”
“Thank you, Mr. Wayne.”
Bruce shook his head.
“Don’t mention it…”
Alfred was touched and proud of his young master but exchanging a look with
Leslie knew that it was time for Bruce to get some rest. He walked towards him.
“As Master Bruce has already perfectly said it, all of you are welcome to stay
with us… as for you, Master Bruce” Bruce closed his eyes in helplessness and
both boys chuckled “it is high time you got some rest.”
Bruce nodded. It was true that he felt really tired but also he wanted to have
some time alone to set his thoughts in a line.
Alfred took the handles of the wheelchair and Bruce looked at him.
“Alfred, you don’t have to come with me; you can stay.”
But Leslie stood from her armchair and walked to them.
“Yes, he has, young man; and I will come later to see you.”
Bruce nodded.
“Good night” he greeted the company and they did the same.
Alfred accompanied his young master to the master bedroom and helped him sit in
the reclined seat of the bath tub much to Bruce’s uneasiness.
“Alfred, you really don’t have to do this…Please…”
“Leslie strictly ordered for you to not make any challenging movements.
Especially, after the exhausting things you just did and the blows you took.”
Challenging, Bruce thought: supporting your body for a second and sliding it to
the seat… He didn’t say anything though.
“Have your shower, sir, and I’ll bring your dinner. You need to take your
medication” Bruce nodded. “I must insist that you wait for me and do not get
out on your own.”
Bruce sighed.
“I’m not hurt, Alfred; there’s no need for all these.”
“Please, sir.”
The young man pressed his lips and just nodded.
Alfred left the bathroom and Bruce took off his clothes. He didn’t have any
intention to take a shower yet he didn’t want to make Alfred and the others
suspect that something was troubling him. He didn’t want to discuss anything
with anyone yet; only with himself.
And for that he had to wait. Because Alfred returned surprisingly quickly and
kept talking to him outside the glass windows of the tub as if the Englishman
knew that he wanted to muse on things.
When Bruce finished, put on the bathrobe Alfred gave him and had to accept his
butler’s help to sit at his waiting wheelchair.
His light dinner was waiting for him on the bed table; Alfred had the ‘luxury’
to let the bed table on the floor since Hero had stayed with the boys.
Bruce wore the pajamas Alfred had set on the bed and again with his butler’s
help settled to the bed; of course Bruce spared Alfred from most of his weight.
The Englishman set the special supporting pillows behind to Bruce’s back and
the younger man began eating.
After he obediently took the handful of pills Alfred offered him Bruce was
eager to plunge himself in work; thankfully, his tablet was on the nightstand
tempting.
Alfred lifted the bed table and the corner of his eyes fell on the waiting
tablet. He didn’t say anything just transferred the empty dinnerware on the
silver tray. The Englishman turned to leave but he stopped and looked at his
young master.
“Master Bruce, it would be too bold of me to ask you not to work too much on
your tablet?” he asked in his stoic, composed way.
Bruce smiled for being caught.
“No; actually, it’d be ‘’too normal’ of you, Alfred” he licked his lips. “It
won’t be much: it’s just that if I don’t settle some things in my mind I won’t
be able to sleep anyway.”
Alfred nodded hiding his emotions.
“Good night, Master Bruce” he said and left the room.
As soon as the door closed behind Alfred, Bruce grabbed the tablet; this seemed
so childish to him – as if he was to watch a R movie that his parents forbade
him to; he chuckled.
He touched the option that connected him with the monster processor of the
cave. Dr. Strange’s description of the Arrow in Loki’s dudgeon rang some bells:
it brought something to his mind. The wizard had said that the palace was
concealed by strong magic that no common human or god could pass and then the
archer was ready to kill the god with a golden arrow.
Bruce was scrolling frantically the data from the cave’s processor on his
tablet screen looking for the image Dr. Strange’s description reminded him…
His finger stopped hovering over the screen; his eyes were shining but remained
blank. An old parchment from a secret library specializing on the occult; an
ancient painting covered an entire page. Bruce bit his lip: the answer lay
inside his database all this time…Mocking him: his heart beat fast.
The left hand archer who killed gods with his golden arrows. Bruce felt dizzy:
a gigantic figure with silver spikes for hair and two ivory small horns
protruding from both edges of his forehead: an ancient god-demon.
He pressed his lips: the most powerful demon, the one who could kill gods with
his golden arrows. Damn! He closed his eyes and pressed his hair on his head
with both hands. Bagdana. All this time…
How could he be so blind?
It was so shocking that he actually felt numb for a few seconds: everything
came back to him and finally had a perfect explanation.
Oliver Queen’s interest in him…yes, since Bagdana is the Arrow then he is Queen
too: that was the reason the people who know him were speaking about him being
different. It wasn’t coincidence that he first met Queen in the reception at
the Avengers’ Tower when Superman danced with Diana being totally charmed by
her. Queen would be the safe boat for the heartbroken Bruce…
Queen had returned from the dead supposedly saved by the Amazonian Princess but
Bruce knew that she wasn’t the legendary Princess. That meant that Bagdana was
working with her from the beginning…
Bruce remembered the way Queen spoke to him about eternal love that night in
Cobblepot’s restaurant. Bruce fell asleep all of a sudden, only for Queen to
take him to his suite: he was tired but certainly Bagdana did something to him.
That explains how Arrow knew his double identity so he guided Batman to the
rooftop he knew that Superman and Diana was having sex; he wanted to make him
break up with Superman knowing that this was going to be the final blow to
finish what was accumulating the past months. After Batman left he also
videotaped and published the scene not only to make things for Bruce more
painful but also because he couldn’t resist his craving to humiliate Superman.
 Now that Bagdana was revealed to be the Arrow was easy to understand how he
could be found in different cities… Bruce frowned recalling what had happened
in Chicago: he had heard about Arrow’s appearance there and his focus was there
– he had also asked Selina to make a research. Bagdana knew that Bruce would
have wanted to learn more about him so he was sure that his focus would be on
Chicago at the right time… At the right time, when the explosion – probably his
doing - would happen and Superman would run there to save people…exactly, for
Diana to appear and help him ending up to their passionate embrace and kiss.
“She is my star…” Superman had said.
And Bagdana knew that Bruce was watching and that he’d take another blow which
the demon hope that would make him forget the hero and find haven to the love
of someone who understood…Queen.
He shook his head; the back garden after the attack in the Palisades when Arrow
saved him…Queen had come in the Manor.
“Please…” Queen had said with his velvet voice omitting entirely his usual
smugness. “Your tears are the most precious gems on earth…like diamonds…only
purer.’’
Of course, the demon of the Earth and gems always loved speaking using gems. He
remembered in the dark basement of Ra’s Al Ghul he was childishly amazed in his
horror seeing the demon’s gigantic body taking the texture of every gemstone in
the world.
“Sapphire and emerald in your eyes…” he heard again the ironic voice of the
demon in that basement “Like the rarest star sapphire no human will ever see…”
He failed to make the connection then…
“You know they love you; you know they want to understand and you wish they
could…and then you wish they never understand you…because what they can’t
understand is for their own good…Right, Bruce? You long for someone from your
loved ones to understand but at the same time you dread the moment they will
see what you have inside…the darkness, the loneliness, your need to be free…”
Queen had said after the attack.
Of course, Bagdana knew everything about darkness and loneliness.
“…it is odd how evil is drawn to purity…” Arrow had said.
Bruce snorted: Bagdana knew everything about evil…
All this time, he believed that the fake Diana was the key but in the end, the
key was Oliver Queen…
It wasn’t only one impostor pretending the Amazonian but another one pretending
the businessman. That’s why the Arrow was left handed while Queen before the
shipwreck was right handed – he probably, didn’t expect Bruce to find out that
Arrow and Queen was the same person; that was why the head of his legal
department told Bruce that Oliver seemed to him like a different person. That’s
why Queen was so displeased when his old friend from college met them at the
restaurant. That explained why Queen was lousy in archery while the Arrow was a
perfect archer: that must have suited Bagdana perfectly into hiding that Arrow
and Queen was the same man.
He rubbed his chin: and he didn’t suspect Bagdana…But how he was to? Months ago
he had thought it for an instance and asked Thor to check Bagdana but the
Asgardian had gone to Bagdana’s prison and saw him there, chained, weak…Bruce
sighed: obviously, the cunning demon knew how to fool the god into believing
that he was still there.
So he had to face again Bagdana? Bagdana who once again was powerful…The
prospect was unpleasant and Bruce felt a stone crushing his chest. Bruce wasn’t
afraid of him, of confronting him again – he knew deep inside that the demon
wouldn’t kill him: Bagdana preferred to enslave him and that made Bruce’s spine
shudder. But still it wasn’t fear that stirred that feeling of fatigue…
However he would confront him…but he needed to figure out the whole scheme
first because someone really powerful freed the demon. Both Ubu and Thor said
that Bagdana couldn’t escape the prison if not with the help of someone with
great power.
And given what Bruce knew about Diana being Vivian she wasn’t the one who freed
him. On the contrary – Bruce cocked an eyebrow – Bagdana was the explanation of
how she managed to impersonate the Amazon Princess and have her powers: flying,
being extremely strong, using weapons that Jor El’s analysis showed that
weren’t made with anything human related.
Bruce huffed and fisted his hands: that’s why Clark was their target because
their break up could only be Bagdana’s wish. The one hiding behind the demon
would prefer to kill Superman to have him off his way but that wasn’t enough
for Bagdana. He wanted Superman beguiled to hurt Bruce; to make him vulnerable
to someone else’s love – someone who supposedly was a mere human and understood
him since he had similar experiences.
He frowned: what about the real Queen?
 
Dick followed his granny to the bedroom Alfred guided her. The Englishman after
showing her the room discreetly left them alone knowing that they had too many
things to discuss.
Ms. Turner opened her small suitcase to take a nightgown. She felt her
grandson’s eyes on her and turned to him smiling; she hugged the boy and kissed
his hair.
“I missed you so much, honey! It was so hard away from you; every moment I
wanted to take the airplane and return. I was so afraid; so devastated that I
had to leave you behind after everything you’ve been through.”
Dick raised his eyes to her face.
“I was sure that you had died…” he said and tightened his embrace around his
granny’s waist burying his face to her chest. “Oh, granny, I feel so bad for
the things I said to you…I hurt you for Zucco’s sake…I’m stupid, stupid.”
Ms. Turner caressed his hair.
“You believed in him…The scum knew how to gain that – he did that to your
father too…And now he used your father and your need to find someone to connect
you with him to take advantage of you. Believe me, I didn’t care for anything
other than your safety. I knew this man was dangerous – I was always suspecting
that he killed your father.”
“And I didn’t believe you…I can only imagine how much I made you hurt…”
“Come on, Dick…”
“I’m sorry; I’m so sorry and so happy that you are alive” the boy said in one
breath and continued that way. “When Zucco admitted everything and was ready
to…to kill me” a sharp inhale escaped Ms. Turner. “I was sure that he had
killed you too.”
Ms. Turner focused her eyes on the window opposite her.
“I was sure he was going to do that when I came to Bruce” Dick raised his eyes
and looked at her. “I wanted to secure you from Zucco’s clutches because if he
killed me he would have been your only relative – he had threatened me that
night of Thanksgiving in the gym.”
Dick remembered; he had seen his granny dead pale slumped in a chair that night
and Bruce with Selina had helped her.
“I asked from Bruce to be your guardian because I knew he cared about you. He
was reluctant because he didn’t want to force you to live with him but in the
end he accepted. However when I told him about Zucco’s threats and my
suspicions he suggested that we shouldn’t wait for Zucco to do again his move –
this time we should have the initiative; he helped me to ‘disappear’ from
Gotham and sent me to Harvey Dent and Rachel in Canada. He wanted me to be safe
until police found everything about Zucco.”
Dick nodded: police…yeah, sure. Granny obviously, didn’t know the truth about
Bruce and better not learn. But Dick who knew the truth was sure that Bruce had
researched the case of his father’s death and found the needed evidence to
convict Zucco. That explained Mr. Breizic’s return to Gotham. Bruce organized
the charity gala with the US national team of gymnastics to bring his father’s
trainer in touch with Dick and to learn more about Zucco’s relationship with
his father.
The boy blinked: the more he found about Bruce the more he admired him. He
wanted to learn everything about Bruce and Batman: about what he’d been
through; about how he managed to defeat both Falcone and that other man who
Bruce said that trained and had him under his control.
“Bruce did so much for us and I was an ass to him” he admitted “but you must
already know that.”
Ms. Turner narrowed her eyes and sat on the mattress patting the mattress next
to her for Dick to sit too.
“No.”
“I thought you were in contact with Bruce.”
“I was.”
Dick frowned.
“And he didn’t tell you what I’ve done to him?”
Ms. Turner’s expression became strict.
“No, he didn’t tell me anything but you, young man…You made his life difficult,
don’t you?”
Dick gulped.
“You know I hated him and I wanted to be with Zucco. I thought that your
disappearance was another proof of how bad he was for my life and being forced
to live with him seemed…it was awful; a nightmare. I know I was wrong; I
apologized to him…”
Ms. Turner smiled and caressed Dick’s cheeks.
“That’s my boy…I hope from now on you be nicer to him. I’m sure that Bruce is
very happy now; he was really sad for the pain you felt – he blamed everything
on himself.”
Dick now was sure for that and made his guts twist.
“And I made that worse…But I…I regret it and from now on…I hope…”
“You two will be friends.”
Dick nodded and gulped.
“You’re right to choose him as my guardian; he is the best.”
“I’m glad you see that now, Dick; I want you to find your peace now…”
Dick hugged tighter his granny grateful but also trying to prove to himself
that his granny was really there and not a wonderful dream from which he would
be abruptly awoken.
Ms. Turner caressed his hair.
“I’m here, sweetheart; I’m here now…”
 
Bruce didn’t believe that the real Queen was dead or still stranded to an
island or prisoner somewhere. There was no doubt that Bagdana found the man and
possessed him: Bruce’s many files about the demon said that he was doing that
throughout the ages.
And suited the demon to wear the human body since nobody could suspect that he
wasn’t the real Queen; even the medical tests he went through after his return
showed that he was the same person. Not to mention that that way Bagdana would
have access to Queen’s memories and personal information so that the
impersonation would be perfect.
He tapped his fingers on the mattress thinking…the Black Butterfly was able to
keep the demon away from him…but Queen, Bagdana, had no problem to be near
him…How? Unless…He huffed: Bagdana was ‘wearing’ a human’s body so he could
avoid the powerful talisman’s defense. Bruce yanked his head backwards closing
his eyes.
Bagdana all along…He wouldn’t lose the chance to use his given back powers to
control Clark through someone who was set to impress him. The legendary
Amazonian Princess was the best candidate: gorgeous, powerful, fighting for
justice, a goddess who could supposedly understood Superman.
And they started it in Thasos bringing the fake Diana to intervene during that
attack against him; she saved him from his attackers but at the same time blew
them into dust so that no traces would be left leading to the mastermind – the
one who freed Bagdana.
 The odd creatures were sent by him/her because Bruce didn’t believe that these
creatures were Bagdana’s minions…
And then the way the fake Diana appeared at the burglar of the LexLab in
Metropolis helping Superman…like she knew where the burglars were to hit. She
definitely knew because the one who ordered the burglar told her when to
intervene; she couldn’t have just heard the alarms because she wasn’t the real
Amazon therefore she didn’t have the enhanced hearing of Superman. Bagdana who
knew the plan told her to be there.
Bruce was sure that for finding out who was behind all these, who freed and
gave Bagdana his powers back, he should follow the only traces he had. And the
only one acting openly was Vivian. Her actions must be the key to unravel the
mystery.
She cast an irresistible influence on Superman but Bruce wasn’t sure if that
was one of her skills for which Bagdana chose her or another work of her
partners. Bagdana was known for enchanting mortals into copulating with them
and he had given Ra’s the ingredient to create the substance that would make
Superman addicted to Bruce. Yet if that was the case Jor El would have
recognized the pattern when examined Clark but he spoke about something
different.
Well, Bagdana knew that Bruce would have searched the reason behind Superman’s
changed attitude and certainly wouldn’t have risked so he chose a female
partner who would be able to do that maybe with a little enhancing by the
demon. Judging from his flashback with Vivian back in Dolcetto she wouldn’t
lose the chance to ‘defeat’ him in Superman’s affection: besides, her
diminishing remarks and her gleeful glares showed that clearly.
He noted mentally to start digging all the archived stories about news
connected with plants since from his memories and Tony’s description of her
apartment she definitely had something with plants. And one of the last times
Clark approached him sexually, he complained about his perfume asking for
something more flowery, clearly seeking Vivian’s perfume.
He frowned as he remembered the attack at Metropolis’ underground: it was a
crucial point for Diana’s influence on Superman. She came there to help Clark
and Tony to stop the supposed terrorists. Also, she took care to finish off
Morgan Edge that supposedly ordered the attack and was the leader of the
Intergang…
Intergang…Bruce bit his lip: can Bagdana and the fake Diana be connected with
Intergang? Because he was never persuaded that the Edge was indeed the leader;
also, the way the ‘terrorists’ and those who committed the raids to the LexLabs
were brainwashed could just be that they were mind controlled. Bruce never
believed in coincidence and the fake Diana’s presence each time an Intergang
crime occurred wasn’t one.
Vivian worked with Bagdana so the fact she knew the exact time and place the
Intergang would hit showed that Bagdana was the one who was informing her; so
Bagdana was an insider to the gang but he couldn’t be the leader because
Intergang was active before Diana appeared and thus before Bagdana was freed.
And why an ancient demon working with a gang of mortals if its leader wasn’t
the one who freed him…Wait…
The point where his reasoning brought him was shocking…
Freeing Bagdana was something that demanded too much power and definitely not
human power…But if this was the case then…well, Bruce was almost sure that
Mannheim was the leader of Intergang so Mannheim freed Bagdana which makes him…
Bruce narrowed his eyes feeling his head splitting in half; he rubbed his
forehead.
During his one meeting with Mannheim he felt something odd as if someone was
trying to breach his mind. That would suit the pattern of mind control of those
committing the crimes for Intergang. And the attack against him by the mind
controlled thugs came after he challenged Mannheim about the items he found in
LEXLABS.
The items…the strange items that Mannheim wanted desperately enough to raid
LexLabs and exact his power to free Luthor from jail. Nobody could tell who
moved the wheels to make powerful people forget the laws and order Luthor’s
release.
The strange machine that Luthor was building for Mannheim…the way Luthor acted
around the businessman/gangster totally matched the brain control pattern.
And he freed Bagdana: Ubu had told him that only a god would be able to free
the demon from his prison.
Bruce huffed exhausted and angry, feeling hammers hitting his head and his
heart heavy: honestly, he was tired of gods and god-like beings trying to hurm
humans! Except Thor…
He felt all the fatigue of the last days and months weighing on his bones and
muscles; his eyes ached yet his mind was a stormy sea and he was sure that he
wouldn’t be able to sleep. For the first time after long he wanted to sleep: he
needed some peace; some break from thinking…
Soft knocks on the door; he closed his eyes – probably, someone was going to
scold him for being still up.
“Come in” he didn’t want to pretend that he wasn’t working on his tablet but he
closed the files he had opened because for now he didn’t want anyone to know.
Both Tony and Selina entered; Bruce cocked an eyebrow.
“I’m going to be scolded by both of you?” he asked amused.
Selina moved graciously towards the bed shaking her index finger with a smile
on her face.
“I caught this fella ready to knock your door and I don’t trust him alone with
you.”
Tony crossing the room rolled his eyes.
“My cheek still hurts from her slap…” he mumbled and Bruce raised his eyebrows
impressed.
“You did that?” he asked Selina who sat on the mattress next to him.
“Of course! He hit you and left you unconscious for Joker…”
“She is going to bring that up to me for an eternity…” Tony huffed.
“And a day!” Selina snapped to him.
“Kids!” Bruce said chuckling. “Behave…It’s over now.”
“How are you?” Tony asked dragging a chair to sit next to the bed.
“Good enough” Bruce said.
“Leslie will drop by soon to check on you” Selina said.
“And imagine her reaction seeing you working instead of sleeping…” the
billionaire from Malibu mumbled widening his eyes.
Bruce tilted his head towards him and cast him a lopsided glance.
 “I finished my work” he said and closed his tablet placing it on the
nightstand. “And I want to sleep yet…”
“What?” Selina asked hugging his shoulders.
“I think I’ll need some sedative…” he said looking both of them.
Tony nodded.
“So many things happened… you must have too many tension gathered: we should
have asked Matt to stay and give a good massage.”
Bruce shook his head.
“At least, I hope you’re happy that the kid and his granny are back together”
Tony added.
Bruce grinned.
“I am…”
Selina smiled too.
“You just couldn’t stay with your arms crossed and watch as Zucco was ready to
hurt the granny…so you set things according to your plans, huh?” she pinched
playfully his cheek and Tony giggled. “So Batman -ish!”
Tony nodded and stood.
“I’m bringing Leslie.”
“Thanks, Tony” Bruce said and his friend just smiled.
Selina watched Tony closing the door behind him and then turned to Bruce
pursing her lips.
“You miss that alien bastard, huh?”
Bruce raised his eyes to her puzzled: leave it to Selina to read him like open
book.
“Huh?” he pretended indifference.
Selina cocked an eyebrow and crooked her mouth.
“Forget who I am? Your poker face doesn’t work with me, buster…” Bruce lowered
his eyes and she took gently his chin to lock their eyes.
“I know you’ll reveal the truth about that bitch and then the alien will crawl
back to you begging…But I want you then to be so hard to him…make him beg on
his knees” her voice was filled with rage and satisfaction on imaging that. “He
must pay for the pain he caused you…in your heart and your body. Don’t be
lenient to him!”
A faint smile appeared on Bruce’s face.
“It’s over, Sel…whatever might happen won’t change that: it’s over.”
Selina pressed her lips: she wanted Bruce to punish Superman but she knew that
Bruce’s happiness and love was to that alien’s hands… Her fingers combed hently
Bruce’s messy locks. Selina knew that Bruce’s heart had turned into a stone in
regards to love but a stone that was bleeding inside.
Bruce sensed that his friend was absorbed in her thoughts and grinned.
“What?”
Selina shook her head.
“I just wish you had fallen in love with someone else.”
 
It felt like returning home. Lois smiled as she walked inside the reporter’s
space in the Daily Planet’s building. Some of her colleagues waved to her upon
seeing her.
“Nice job, Lo” Torry said to her from the desk on Lois’ desk right “I knew that
if Kent could catch Batman you could too.”
Lois saw with the corner of her eyes Clark glancing at her and shrugged.
“I was lucky.”
The red haired woman cocked an eyebrow and grinned.
“Yeah…As if Lois Lane relies on luck…”
Lois had hardly settled in her chair and opened her PC when Perry came out of
his office and straight to her. He patted her back to Lois’ crooked smile.
“That’s what I call a reporter with instinct: your personal visit to Gotham
gave the Planeta hot exclusive. Well done, girl!”
Lois shook her head.
“I’ve got the right timing. Or I’m a jinx…”
Perry grinned.
“So you’ve gained a new partner?”
That made Clark jerk and focus his sensitive hearing there; he might have
problems with Lois lately but he didn’t want to lose her neither as a friend
nor as a partner. Actually, he missed their friendship when he wasn’t filled
with Diana’s presence.
Lois was sure that Clark was overhearing.
“Nah, unfortunately Vicky is an avid Gothamite and wants to stay in her city”
she rolled her eyes “of course nobody can understand this but…whatever…” she
shrugged. “Anyway, after the exclusive with Batman and something else she
prepares, Vale won’t have a problem finding a new better job. Of course, she is
willing to co-operate with me and the Planetin the future.”
Clark sighed in relief.
Perry shrugged.
“Okay; I can’t have all the stars in my roster… I’m satisfied with what I
already have. Besides collaboration is also nice.”
He made to leave but Lois cleared her throat.
“What about a raise for your ‘girl’?” she asked amused knowing already his
reaction.
Perry mimicked her clearing of throat.
“You better than anyone know about the financial crisis, Lois” she cocked her
eyebrows smirking.
The Planet’s chief patted once again Lois’ back causing her sideways glance and
returned to his office, stopping for a bit to another desk to give some orders.
Clark was sitting on fire: he felt the urge to go and speak to Lois, explain to
her why he didn’t go to New York during the attack. But hesitated; he was
rubbing the rim of his glasses for several minutes immerged in his
indecisiveness. Meanwhile, Lois was absorbed in working at her PC or at least
that was the impression.
Clark rolled his eyes irritated from his own hesitation: finally, he stood and
walked to his friend’s desk.
“Nice work, Lois” he said and Lois turned to him.
“Thanks, Clark.”
“I want to talk to you.”
Lois huffed.
“No need for that – I’m busy” she said and Clark understood that she was still
pissed that he didn’t help with the attack.
“Please, Lois” he said locking his eyes with hers.
Lois felt like the old times; as if the old, pre-Diana Clark was back. She
crooked her mouth and sighed.
“Let’s go” she stood and moved forward outside the crowded reporters’ space
because she knew that what they’d say shouldn’t be heard by others.
They ended up at the building’s rooftop with the Planet’s logo, the enormous
globe above them. It was for them both one of their beloved places. Clark gazed
the city’s skyline breathing the air and the familiar sounds.
Lois was looking at him impatiently: she wanted to believe that he might find
his senses but doubt it. She crossed her arms over the chest.
“Well?” she asked.
“Congratulations on the video! Is there a director’s cut with Batman kissing
Thor in the end?” he asked raising an eyebrow.
Lois frowned: her hopes being crashed.
“What nonsense is that?”
Clark crooked his mouth in irony and Lois rolled her eyes.
“Is this why you wanted to speak to me? Because if that so, I have work to do”
she turned to leave but Clark touched her shoulder.
She looked at him.
“Look, Lois, I know you’re mad that I didn’t help with the New York attack.”
Lois tilted her head on the side.
“Super intelligence…” she snidely remarked.
He gulped the irony.
“You must understand that going there would only serve the S.H.I.E.L.D.’s and
the Avengers’ purposes. Do you really trust those people? Only a couple of
months ago S.H.I.E.L.D. was revealed to be working on establishing its status
quo in the world.”
“That was the League of Shadows and S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Avengers fought along
with you to root out the League. You have an eidetic memory, did you forget
about that?”
Clark shook his head.
“They did. But look who’s in charge now…Tony Stark. Do you trust that air head?
And look at the Avengers: a god, a former assassin, an uncontrolled beast, a
soldier accustomed to obey orders” Lois pursed her lips. “Do you trust them
that they won’t go awry?”
Lois shrugged.
“How can I?” she said innocently. “Even Superman went awry…”
Clark jerked his head huffing.
“Lois! I’m still Clark…nothing has changed” Lois shook her head in disbelief.
“I can’t be connected with them; it’d be like giving them my blessing to do
whatever they want. If people see me with them then everyone will blindly
believe and follow them.”
Lois focused her sharp gaze in his eyes.
“Wake up, buddy! This is exactly what is happening now. Superman turned his
back on people when they needed him the most; the Avengers and Flash saved them
and people are grateful as they were all this time to you. The only one that is
losing his path is you, Clark.”
Clark lowered his eyes and inhaled deeply; Lois licked her lips: she loved the
alien fool and was sorry to see him like this.
“You truly believed what you just told me or it is just her spells that make
you take her words for yours?”
Clark raised his eyes and looked at her frowned.
“She wants the best for me! She is the only one who accepts me as I am without
preaching; without turning her back on me just because I don’t do what she
considers right; without trying to boss me around.”
Lois was pressing her foot down.
“But she is bossing you around, farmboy! Do you really believe that I – you
know me over a decade – and your mother have turned our backs on you just from
selfishness? Get a grip! You were whining because Bruce didn’t want to trust
your love; you fought to make the man trust you and open his heart and then
after he did that enormous leap of faith, because of this woman you snubbed his
love in the worst possible way: cheating him!”
Clark closed his eyes and pressed his hair on his head.
“I was wrong with Bruce – I thought I loved him but it wasn’t love…When I met
Diana, I realized that and, believe me, I tried to resist to not hurt Bruce but
I couldn’t. If I had stayed with Bruce I would be fooling him and he doesn’t
deserve that.”
Lois snorted.
“It was he that kicked you out – you told me. You wouldn’t have a problem lying
to him and have them both; and that alone tells me that you’ve changed.”
“Lois, why you don’t accept my choice?”
Lois stabbed him with her eyes.
“Because from the moment you met her you’re not yourself, Clark! Especially,
since you broke up with Bruce and live with her all the time, things get worse
and worse.”
Clark shook his head.
“It’s not like this!”
Lois was beyond pissed; she clenched her jaw.
“Bruce was kidnapped by Joker with Loki’s help!” she spat in his face and Clark
frowned. “You didn’t want to join Avengers during the attack in order
to…whatever nonsense you said but why you didn’t help Bruce?”
Clark felt as if one of Thor’s thunders spiced with Kryptonite had hit him.
“I didn’t hear anything.”
Lois shook her head.
“Jim Gordon and Bruce’s friends decided to keep it secret – perhaps they reveal
it now that things got calm. But this is no excuse for Superman. He might have
broken up with Bruce but he still could hear the man’s despair – he was
monitoring his vitals for months; he might have broken up with him but the hero
I knew wouldn’t ignore it when he’d be in danger.”
Clark remembered the moment that for an instant he caught Bruce’s vitals; his
fatigue, his agony…He believed that it was for Thor but actually Bruce was a
captive, subject to Joker’s sick intentions. Something clenched inside him.
“What happened?” he asked quietly.
Lois licked her lips.
“Joker was working with Quinzel…”
“The…”
“Yes, the head of the Arkham Asylum so he was holding Bruce there: I can’t– and
I don’t want to - imagine what a madman like Joker did to Bruce with the help
of two deranged psychiatrists.”
Clark felt a painful pinch in his heart hearing that.
“Thor along with a man in a burgundy cape, Stark, Catwoman and Batman rushed
there to free Bruce. Stark took Bruce back to the Manor and Batman caught Joker
and helped Thor and the other man to overcome the effect from Crane’s toxins”
she cocked her eyebrows with irony. “It seems that Batman who brought the
Avengers into the case of the League of Shadows still trusts them.”
“How do you know about Batman and the League?”
Lois shook her head impatient.
“The League was working for years in Gotham and Batman was the one who led FBI
to eliminate the League from Gotham; well, only someone with insider knowledge
could have had that knowledge  not only to manage that but also orchestrate
such a precise operation in world scale to eliminate the danger once and for
all...”
Clark was astounded not because Lois figured out Batman’s role but for what he
learnt that took place in Arkham; of course he knew better than Lois so he knew
that Bruce saved himself and caught Joker. He looked at Lois who was regarding
him with crooked mouth.
“Is he alright?” he asked her “I mean, he is still recovering and must be under
medication so while in Joker’s hands he…”
Lois closed her eyes and ruffled her hair.
“For fuck’s sake, Clark: You can find out yourself” she said.
And for an instance Clark thought about doing it but immediately crossed out
the option to go to him.
“I won’t go to him – Diana doesn’t deserve that.”
Lois growled.
“But Bruce deserved to see you and her fucking on a rooftop?!” she jerked her
head. “I didn’t mean to go there; but you can monitor his vitals, don’t you?”
“No…”
“Okay! He is fine! More so since that Zucco guy who wanted to take Grayson from
him was arrested: police found evidence that he staged the accident that killed
Richard’s father.”
Clark shook his head in disbelief: police, yeah, sure…That sounded more like
something Bruce did: he investigated the case and revealed the truth.
Lois turned to leave but Clark touched her forearm.
“What?” she snapped.
Clark pressed his lips.
“I want us to be friends, Lois.”
“I never stopped being a friend…of the real Clark. It’s you I care about, you
asshole: get a grip before it’s too late!”
She rushed opposite him towards the door to the interior and Clark didn’t try
to stop her. He turned to the morning city and took a deep inhale of breath: he
felt divided – one part of him feeling guilty and the other, the stronger was
saying to him that he did nothing wrong.
He couldn’t always run behind Bruce; besides Bruce himself didn’t want him to.
Clark was with Diana and he was happy: Lois and his Ma didn’t believe that and
were worried about him. Also, both women were too fond of Bruce to accept that
Clark chose someone else.
Lois and his Ma were doing the same mistake with him: confusing love with
sympathy. Both women were sympathetic to Bruce and believed that this was love
and wanted Clark to continue be with him.
He was sure that if they knew Diana as he did then they would understand him.
On the other hand, that was impossible to happen: Diana didn’t know that he was
raised by humans neither that he was working 9-5. So maybe she didn’t accept
him as he was?
 He shook his head in the negative: no, Diana was perfect for him; she accepted
him as he was; she loved him.
And Diana didn’t have to endure their assessment. She loved him and Clark loved
her and his people would have to accept that.
 
Darkseid in his real form stood in the middle of the vast throne hall under the
Mannheim Mansion; his enormous bluish body towered Granny Goodness in his right
and Bagdana at his left.
In front of them the air had transformed in a frameless screen where the battle
at the Avengers’ Tower was replayed.
Darkseid laughed.
“If they had a hard time winning this then they are really pathetic! This
circus was a playground compared to what I have for them,”
Goodness laughed like a maniac with her eyes shining gleefully.
“I can’t wait for the time this horrible planet and its pathetic forms of life
are at my disposal!” she hissed.
Darkseid turned his head to her.
“I’m sure, my dear, that you will make the perfect use for them.”
Bagdana however was watching thoughtful without commenting and Goodness walked
to him, her eyes watching him ready to spit poison.
“He obviously has a soft spot for them – Master, you can’t trust him.”
Bagdana sniffed at her with a gaze that didn’t bother even to be hostile; he
chuckled and looked at Darkseid.
“Making judgements is not the reason you hired her, right?” he looked at her
again sensing Darkseid’s eyes on him. “My dear, in case you forget that: I’m a
demon: I torture and kill humans for millions of years; I hate them more than
you and your Master can imagine. So, go do your job and don’t waste my time.”
Goodness growled and Bagdana smirked just snorting at her before turning to
Darkseid.
“Do what you want with all these losers but don’t harm Batman and Bruce Wayne:
remember that they belong to me.”
Darkseid clenched his jaw.
“Nothing belongs to you! Everything is mine and I decide how to reward my
servants.”
Bagdana shrugged indifferent.
“Call it as it serves better your ego but do what you promised me.”
Darkseid yanked his head and walked around the ongoing battle.
“That Batman guy doesn’t seem to worth my attention” he said and Bagdana
crooked his mouth. “He didn’t bother to join the battle probably too scared for
that, and I haven’t seen him doing anything anyway” he turned to his demon.
“Maybe he doesn’t even exist?”
Bagdana crossed his arms over his chest that was dressed in black leather vest.
“Believe me: it is better to not meet him…”
Granny Goodness snorted.
“You talk as if he is a god and can stand before the greatness of Darkseid.
That’s blasphemy!”
Bagdana shrugged.
“Have it your way…”
Darkseid narrowed his eyes and looked at Bagdana obviously thinking hard.
“You only demand things as if you have any right to them, Bagdana; what’s your
contribution? Even a slave like Luthor offers me better services than you.”
Bagdana’s grin was wide.
“Luthor won’t give you Superman; you knew from the start that only I could give
you him and that was the reason you freed me.”
Darkseid’s irony vanished from his face and he rushed to the demon, locking
their eyes.
“I doubt you can do that. I will face and vanquish the Kryptonian because he is
not a match for me” he sniggered. “You can’t give me the Kryptonian because he
is stronger than you more so because now he has the Amazon helping him.”
Bagdana cocked his thick eyebrows.
“Really now?” he patted Darkseid’s shoulder and the god glared at him. “Trust
me: you’ll soon realize that I indeed worth my reward.”
Chapter End Notes
     When I was ready to write the chapter about Bruce getting Dick's
     guardianship I faced a struggle: I was indecisive between 'killing'
     Dick's granny or keeping her alive staging her disappearance. In the
     end, I favored the first option because I just couldn't accept that
     Bruce would have known about Zucco's threats and just let things
     happen. I think it suit better Batman's personality to direct things
     rather than just reacting to them. I hope you liked it.
***** Chapter 74 *****
“Good morning, Martha.”
The woman gasped surprised hearing the familiar voice from her receiver. It was
a beautiful but cold Sunday morning and she didn’t expect any phone call; the
truth was that Clark used to call her at Sundays but not so early and after
what they told in their last communication she doubted it. And definitely she
didn’t expect her friends to call this time of the day.
Lately Martha was in a very bad mood, almost depressed. She hadn’t felt so bad
since Jonathan’s death. Of course she didn’t stop her social life with her
friends in Smallville yet anyone who knew her well enough could tell she wasn’t
her usual self.
“Bruce! My dear!” from all the people Martha didn’t expect Bruceto be on the
other end of the line but on the other hand, now she thought about it, she
should have expected that.
“How are you, Martha?”
The woman chuckled.
“I should have asked that first…”
“I’m fine and you?”
Martha rubbed her forehead.
“What can I say? You called because obviously you know and” she smiled “you’re
concerned about me, right, sweetheart? Thank you.”
Bruce shook his head. He was in the Master bedroom still in his pajamas; he
should have been still sleeping especially since Leslie gave him a sedative
last night but his concern about the kind lady wake him up earlier. Before
calling Martha he put the filter that would stop anyone from overhearing their
discussion.
“There’s no need to thank me, Martha. I…I saw what happened in New York and my
thoughts are with you.”
Martha laughed bitterly.
“My dear, dear boy! You know me really good…yet my condition is nothing
compared with those who lost their loved ones there while he wasn’t there to
help.”
Bruce sighed.
“You’re so sad – your voice made that clear. Martha, I called to reassure you
that he remains the man we know. I understand your worry yet things are not as
they look.”
Martha smiled and shook her head.
“You always defend him, dear…But you can’t deny that he has changed; he has
lost his path. I’m afraid… My only agony about him was that he might turn evil
one day and now I see…”
Bruce just couldn’t bear to hear Ms. Kent’s strong but touched voice; his
insides twisted hearing the word ‘evil’ uttered for Clark.
“No, Martha! That’s not true… Do not believe that. He is not evil” he huffed
“please, do not give up on him. Don’t despair…”
Ms. Kent sighed.
“I can’t give up on him, can I? He is my baby…but that doesn’t mean that I’m
not seeing what’s happening: people needed him and he turned his back on them;
he ignored their need.”
Bruce closed his eyes.
“Martha, you must believe me: it was just a bad moment – he hasn’t changed. He
is not evil in any way.”
“That woman influences him in a bad way but he should be able to distinguish
wrong from right” she said sternly. “Jonathan and I should have managed that
all these years.”
Bruce rubbed the bridge of his nose; it was because of him that Clark got in
troubles. Bagdana did this to Clark to take the Man of Steel away from him; the
demon wanted to hurt Bruce but in the way he hurt other people too – innocent
people like Ms. Kent.
“And you managed that perfectly, Martha: you raised a great person. Please,
trust me, Martha, when all this ends you’ll realize that it wasn’t his fault at
all” he couldn’t say more to her because he was afraid that her love might urge
her to hasty moves and revelations that would trigger Clark’s most hostile
reactions.
Martha smiled; in other case she would be happy for that but now what she
sensed in Bruce’s voice only made her melancholic.
“You love him so much, son, I wish he had appreciated that as much as he should
and given you a fraction of the love you’re giving him.”
Bruce pressed his lips; he didn’t want people speak about that.
“I just know that he remains the man we knew…”
Martha hesitated but in the end decided to go forward.
“But he hurt you: both your heart and your body.”
Bruce jerked and frowned: she couldn’t know that. Clark wouldn’t admit that to
his mother.
“No, he didn’t. Martha, he would never hurt me…”
Martha sighed and looked the morning view of the fields from the living room’s
small window at her side. She closed her eyes.
“I hope he didn’t, honey; but if he can do the things he does now, I’m afraid
that he wouldn’t hesitate to be violent to you.”
Bruce gulped and felt sweat drops on his forehead. He saw again Clark’s enraged
eyes over him that night in his bed, before he slapped him in the face.
“I owed that to you, Bruce!” he had sneered.
“He didn’t, Martha…He was always perfect to me till the end” it was a lie and
he hated that he was lying to her yet Bruce couldn’t hurt the kind lady anymore
– it would break her if she heard the her son reached the point of abuse.
Besides, it wasn’t completely a lie: Clark would have never done that without
that mind control.
“Thank you, sweetheart” the woman said really grateful. “For trying to offer me
comfort.”
“It’s not just that, Martha…” he hesitated indecisive if he should tell her the
truth or not. “Martha, just trust me: there’s something else…Things aren’t as
they look.”
Martha frowned. She always had the impression that Bruce was much more than
everyone saw to him. If he said something then it must be like that.
“Bruce, what’s going on?”
“Just, trust me, Martha. I promised you once that I’ll always take care of him
and I promise you that again.”
Martha sighed.
“He told me that you saved his life once…so it goes without saying that I trust
that you’ll protect him again…though it should have been the opposite” she
chuckled. “But, honey, I must know the truth about him.”
Bruce rubbed his forehead. Of course…
“Believe me, Martha, I feel your agony but it is better if we don’t say anymore
right now. You have my word that when the time comes I’ll tell you everything.
Just…just, trust me.”
“I do, Bruce. And even if I sound panicked” she chuckled “the fact that you’re
there for him it’s a great relief for me. But…you must take care of yourself
too, son.”
“Do not worry about me, Martha…”
Martha stayed silent for a few seconds.
“If only he knew how much you love him… then he’d have realized how wrong he
was.”
Bruce shook his head.
“That doesn’t matter, Martha. Just have faith in him as…”
“As you do?” she completed for him in a sympathetic voice; and since Bruce
didn’t comment. “I have faith in you, son.”
“Thank you, Martha.”
As he ended the call he felt the urge to apologize to her because her son was
in danger because of him. But he didn’t do it because he should have to explain
everything – about the demon that haunted his life and he didn’t want to
trouble that kind lady with this crap.
Thankfully, Alfred didn’t come to help him to shower; maybe because it was
still not even 9 and he believed him asleep.
Now that he had calmed her somewhat he guided his wheelchair to the bathroom
with the intention to work at his tablet after the shower and before going down
for breakfast.
Yet he had hardly put his clothes on after the shower when the ‘omnipresent’
Alfred knocked his door and informed him that the breakfast was ready as if
saying “don’t even think about skipping that for working.”
Well, Bruce forgot his frustration for not getting the time to work as soon as
he got inside the kitchen. He actually smiled: it was the first time
after…nineteen years that the kitchen’s island was filled with people and good
people, chatting and laughing, and…happiness in that house. Dick with Jason
were talking avidly and fighting like careless children too; Rachel, Harvey,
Mr. Petrou, Tony, Selina, Steve, Pepper, Ms. Turner and Leslie were discussing
seriously like adults do but in a light mood. His parents would have been so
happy…
Everyone greeted him and he did the same – even Hero who was delved into his
bawl of cat food turned and looked at him licking his mouth causing Bruce’s
smile.
He chose a spot and he felt so happy when Dick and Jason took their stools and
sat next to him.
Bruce was really exhilarated by this ‘family life’ scene but there was
something that nudged him: he had work waiting for him to the point of feeling
agony.
The good thing was that Alfred would drive Ms. Turner to the city, Leslie would
return to her clinic, Tony, Pepper, Selina and Steve had some things to do in
the city, which was the case for his other guests and the boys had their
homework…yeah, well, he hoped that Dick would influence Jason into doing that
as well.
All in all, he would have the chance to go down to the cave and work like the
old days.
Now that he knew who Oliver Queen really was, Bruce had finally the time to
delve into all the results his processor gave on cases concerning plants. He
always wanted to know his enemies perfectly.
There were loads of articles since he wanted to cover a broader timeline;
Vivian might have been active before her time in Dolcetto.
He began scrolling and scanning the articles and at some point he added the
term ‘influence’ and ‘mind control’. As he had expected nothing was found –
reasonably so since not only Gotham’s police was under Falcone’s rule then but
also who would believe that anything could be caused from ‘mind control’? It
certainly would demand much research for someone to find out something like
this and at that time Gotham wasn’t in the mood for much.
So he changed his course focusing on articles about research on plants: there
were not as many articles because the subject was quite unpopular. What caught
his eye was the work of a botanist called Marc LeGrande: the article said that
his experiments with plants were called by him breakthrough but nobody knew
their exact nature. Which was odd enough because every scientist at some point
presents his work in conferences or publishes it in scientific journals. But
not this scientist. And that smelled of shady things…
As a matter of fact Bruce didn’t meet his name on the articles again, till some
years later an article mentioned that he was killed when his lab exploded and
was burnt to the ground. The article said that he was working with another
scientist, a botanologist, Dr. Pamela Lilian Isley, but the woman wasn’t found
even though the guards of the facilities testified that she was inside at the
time. Since during the fire the temperature was too high and the toxins that
were emitted were too eroding the experts closed the case saying that the woman
was killed and her remains were literally evaporated.
Bruce never trusted cases that were closed like this and furthermore he wanted
to learn more about their experiments and since Dr. LeGrande’s work was
secretive maybe he could find something from the second scientist.
Dr. Isley was a stellar student in the Department of Botanology and Chemistry
at Gotham’s University; however what made Bruce a great impression was her care
– almost pathological - about plants and ecology. Her name was in every protest
made for pollution and in every activity aiming to preserve the natural
environment. She was arrested several times because of her dynamic presence in
those activities and some deeds that exceeded the limits of dynamic protest.
She like her partner didn’t have many published works and especially at the
timeline Bruce was interested in yet her previous works had to do with the
secret qualities of plants. Dr. Isley’s claims that plants can be more powerful
than humans caused her colleagues’ sneer and her isolation from the scientific
society – some of them even called her ‘insane’ or ‘Dr. Mengele of the plants’.
Bruce believed in his instinct and something was nudging him to search more on
this. Dr. Isley’s conviction about the power of plants and her love for
anything with chlorophyll definitely was in tune with Vivian’s countless pots
and her characteristic, unique perfume. Yet Dr. Isley was a scientist devoted
to her science while Vivian was a whore – moreover her photographs from
newspapers and the university’s archives showed a bespectacled woman with blond
hair tied in a strict bun and blue eyes, definitely not the honey haired, brown
eyed, seductive Vivian.
Bruce clenched his fist and perused aimlessly the other articles of the same
era. He frowned.
At the time the two scientists worked on their super secret project Gotham
faced a wave of robberies – well, not a surprise for Gotham and especially
during Falcone’s rule yet some of the robberies were on banks and stores that
Bruce knew that belonged to Falcone. And those days nobody dared to touch
anything that belonged to the Gray Wolf.
Also, those robberies where happening without any fuss, without any violence or
gunshots as if the security hadn’t noticed anything and without any resistance.
The guards testified that suddenly they were filled with exhilaration and
feelings of carelessness and indifference so much so that in all such cases
they were found either with their families or in some bar or club. What was
common in their testimonies was that beautiful perfume.
Bruce raised his eyebrows: that kind of robberies stopped abruptly after the
accident in Dr. LeGrande and Dr. Isley lab. Now that couldn’t be a coincidence,
could be? Who gave the money to the two scientists for their experiments? The
facilities they used were particularly expensive and Bruce doubted that any
sponsor would want to risk money for two scientists that everyone considered
‘insane’ – not to mention, there was no reference of anyone sponsoring their
project and in the facilities’ logs the two scientists were named as the
renters.
So they had found the way to self finance their work and those robberies fit
perfectly. But then either someone discovered what they were doing and killed
them blowing their lab which was a bit impossible because if someone found out
what they were doing then he probably would have used whatever they used for
his/her own purposes. Or the explosion was an accident because the two of them
resisted – yet there weren’t other bodies – or if you crossed out the
possibility of a third person’s involvement the two scientists had a quarrel
and their conflict caused the accident.
Yes, but where was Isley’s body? Bruce smiled as his eyes scanned the central
screen of his processor: among the flood of news articles he noticed that
several months after the accident some articles mentioned ‘odd deaths’. Bruce
had always a ‘soft spot’ for odd deaths. Well, most of the victims were men but
there were also women. They were found half or completely naked in sexual
angles but there was no profound reason of death except than traces of urushiol
on their lips; this substance was a common one found in Poison Ivy, oak and
sumac but in those cases the substance was special because botanologists stated
that was a nonexistent combination of Poison ivy, oak, and sumac together.
However the victims weren’t allergic to that substance and even if that was the
case the substance would have only caused a rush that disappears in two or
three weeks. Some scientists tried to analyze the substance and discover its
special attitudes since in this form it wasn’t met in nature but they didn’t
managed much because after a few hours the substance was dissolved. So much so
that in some victims was found only faint traces of that substance.
The interesting thing was that the victims were all associated with businesses
and projects that was in one way or another considered hostile for the
environment.
The other striking thing was the victims had something in common: a small rush
on their torso shaped like a poison ivy branch. The press came to call the
mysterious killer ‘Poison Ivy’.
Bruce was really intrigued and kept reading.
There was one homeless man who testified that a few hours before one of these
murders he saw the victim, the woman CEO of a company legendary for its
environmental fallacies, coming out of her limo accompanied by a stunning
woman: in the lights of the luxury apartment building where the two women went
the man saw that the other woman had long red ruby hair and green eyes.
Of course the woman wasn’t found as if she wasn’t real. The police published
her sketch but to no avail. The murders stopped; at least, the eye catching
ones because there were some cases with similar crimes involving people that
didn’t have any connection with environmental issues and of course they were so
‘ordinary’ that never made it to front page or big articles.
Bruce rubbed his chin: could Poison Ivy, Pamela Isley, Vivian and Diana be the
same woman? He shrugged: there was only one way to answer that. The human eye
could be fooled yet his face recognition software not – he had done that again
with Joker and Jack Napier.
His fingers flew over the keyboard entering photographs of Pamela Isley and
Diana and the Poison Ivy’s sketch for comparison. He had no photo of course
from Vivian yet he could create one using the program he had for sketching
faces. Bruce pressed his memory for every detail he could recall.
But at the same time he wondered if Poison Ivy could really be Vivian. If the
two women were actually the same then why she didn’t kill Falcone as well? He
pressed his lips: he didn’t like killings but that could have spared him some
years of torture…he snorted. Probably not: Chill certainly would have taken
over and he would have kept Bruce as his slave.
She could have approached Falcone with no purpose to kill him. She was clever
and she had her plants to seduce and make him do what she wanted. Bruce
remembered vaguely that the time he was infatuated with Vivian Gotham’s Emperor
had signed for projects helping the environment – now that for Falcone was
inexplicable…
Bruce remembered what he saw in his flashback: how mean was Vivian to him. She
was mad because Falcone seemed to be still infatuated with him and her ego
didn’t bear that. And then all of a sudden she was lost from Dolcettoand
Gotham: maybe she had obtained her goals and fed up of Falcone left and
something else might have caught her attention.
He looked at the result of his description in the screen: yes, it was exactly
as he remembered Vivian – stunning round face, honey colored long hair and
almond shaped eyes of the same color, heart shaped, rich ruby red lips. Now he
had to find out if this Vivian was indeed the Vivian in Dolcetto or what he saw
was affected by his feelings for Diana as Clark had said – and for being sure
he had to take the opinion of someone else, someone who also knew Vivian.
He looked the progress of the face recognition program; it needed some time. So
Bruce guided his chair to the lift taking the print of the sketch of Vivian he
just did.
He made sure that nobody was around and came out of the passage. Alfred met him
in the corridor with an arched eyebrow of disapproval.
“Hm… I see that you took advantage of our absence to work down there. I suppose
it is too much for you to get some rest?”
Bruce who was satisfied from what his investigation had revealed was taken
aback.
“Mm…I suppose. Alfred, do you know where Mr. Petrou is?”
Alfred sighed.
“He is at the back garden with Mr. Dent and Rachel. They just return from the
city.”
Bruce smiled.
“Thank you, Alfred.”
He turned to leave but Alfred’s breath indicated that he was ready to say
something so he stopped.
“Sir, if I may…it is too early to run yourself thin - again.”
“But I don’t feel tired, Alfred.”
He found Mr. Petrou and his family sitting around the big rectangular marble
table of the back garden. Upon seeing him Rachel stood and gave him a peck
which brought a smile on Bruce’s face because she wasn’t the type for these
things.
“Thank you” he said.
“You’re welcome” she answered with a smart smile and walked at his side to the
table.
“How are you, Bruce?” Harvey asked.
“Fine, Harvey. Mm, Mr. Petrou I would like you to see a sketch.”
“Of course, Mr. Wayne.”
Bruce tilted his head to the side.
“Please, call me Bruce.”
The man smiled and nodded.
Bruce put the sketch on the table and Harvey with Rachel looked as well.
“So Vivian has been finally located?” Mr. Petrou said. “She hasn’t changed at
all.”
Bruce felt his heart beating faster: so he remembered right.
Harvey was looking interested.
“This sketch is familiar” he said and Bruce looked at him intrigued. “It was a
murder case and a witness had given a description of a woman almost exactly
like the one here” he tapped his index finger on the paper. “We never found her
and the case closed. Was she in Gotham? So she is a real person, after all?” he
seemed fascinated and then he frowned. “Why are you interested in her, Bruce?”
Bruce licked his lips.
“I had a session with Dr. Hugo Strange and he told me to make sketches with the
people who cause me distress during my flashbacks – he claims that it is
therapeutic. However I wasn’t sure if that woman was a real person or it was a
false memory Crane’s experimentation caused so I had to ask Mr. Petrou.”
Mr. Petrou looked Bruce with sympathy.
“It’s her, Bruce.”
“Thank you, Mr. Petrou; now I feel better for my memory” he grinned “and my
sanity.”
“Your memory and sanity are perfect, Bruce. I’m glad I helped.”
He found an excuse to go back inside; his smart phone notified him that the
face recognition process had ended. He was eager to see the result and touched
the screen to be connected with the central processor: well, the program
interchanged the hair and eye color from every different photo and showed that
the faces matched.
Now he entered the sketch of Vivian to the program asking not only to find if
they match but also to give him Diana’s face with every combination of hair and
eyes.
He just couldn’t wait to go to the cave again; the doors’ lift came in front of
him without even realizing but…suddenly he was tied lying on that old hospital
bed in a dimly lit room – Arkham Asylum: Joker was in the room and he wasn’t
alone. Before Joker two men shook from fear…they begged for their lives and
suddenly everything filled with hot blood and the bodies fell on the floor
still twitching…
Bruce’s breath was caught in his lungs…and his head throbbed; he felt exactly
like then, like he was going to faint: the smell of fresh blood made his
stomach sick and his vision blurry.
Suddenly, two soft hands cupped his face and the smell vanished.
 
“Man, ya must be out of yar mind from joy…” Jason said to Dick.
“Don’t try to distract me to win – I’m not buying…”
The two boys were sitting at the living room of the second floor on the small,
cozy black sofa playing video-games in the built-in the wall huge flat TV. Dick
like his friend was leaned forward with the console clenched in his hands and
his eyes fixed on the screen.
Hero bored from the boys’ lack of playfulness was stretching his flexible body
licking his pristine white fur, glancing every now and then disapprovingly to
his human friends.
“I can squash ya with closed eyes, dude” Jason cackled. “Where’s yar granny?”
“She went to the city with Alfred; she wanted to see in what state the
apartment is. She told me that would stay for some hours and take a cab to come
back.”
Jason pouted.
“So ya’re gonna leave the Manor?”
Dick pressed fervently the left button of his console and shrugged.
“Eventually…Now that granny is back there’s no need to stay here…”
“Mm…” Jason murmured making a sharp maneuver. “It’s what ya wanted all these
months.”
Dick crooked his mouth without answering.
“Yet ya’re not that happy…”
“I’m happy granny is alive and back to me” Dick turned to Jason and then
slapped his thigh because he lost. “Fuck!”
Jason sniggered.
“Yet now ya got what ya wanted, betcha ya don’t wanna leave…” he said calm.
“It’s like hittin’ a fuckin’ jackpot livin’ with Bat guy.”
Dick pursed his lips.
“I feel like an ass, Jay.”
The boy cocked an eyebrow.
“Then ya feel alright…”
Dick tilted his head on the side.
“Bruce all this time was doing everything for me and I was cursing him and
making his life a Hell…” he purged his lips. “I was so blinded…”
“I told ya so…” the younger boy winked but then sad about his friend became
serious.
“C’mon, dude…Ya apologized an’ Bruce told ya that’s ok..”
“What else would he tell?” Dick rolled his eyes. “He is so kind and forgiving.”
Jason laughed.
“Who would expect that from freakin’ Batman, huh? An’ who would think that
Bruce is…”
Dick hushed him hastily.
“There are people in the Manor who might not know his secret. Jay, he trusted
us with his secret and we must not fail him again” the younger boy had sobered
and nodded. “I mean myself. He is so humble, self-sacrificing and brave that
I’m ashamed for myself…”
Jason patted him in the back.
“Ya couldna have known, Dick though I gotta say ya were a total dick…yet ya can
make up for that from now on…Sometimes mom cries in the nights an’ when I ask
her she says that she was an awful mother an’ then I say to her – hey, mom, ya
were never awful yet…there’s always space for improvement; can I eat the rest
of the ice cream now? It’d be a nice start!”
Dick erupted in laughter and Jason shook his head.
“She really did some not nice things in the past but she was sick…but now she
has changed an’ that’s what counts, man…”
“It was Bruce again that gave a hand to your mother to change her life…”
Dick’s eyes watered and he hugged his younger friend who nodded. Hero seeing
that his friends weren’t absorbed in the bizarre thing they were doing till now
ran to them and hoped to the sofa rubbing to them.
“I love you, Jay…” Dick said.
Jason looked at him suspicious.
“Cut it! I’m not a gay…” both boys cackled carelessly.
 
 
 
 “Bruce, what’s wrong?”
His eyes cleared and he saw Selina and Tony squatted around him, worry carved
in their faces.
“You’re ashen, Bruce” Tony said frowned when Selina stood and rushed towards
the kitchen. “Do you want me to call Leslie?”
Bruce shook his head and rubbed his forehead.
“I just saw again Joker slaughtering Isaac and Wizze…I hate flashbacks!” he
took the glass of water Selina brought to him and drank.
“So he really killed them in front of you…” Tony said.
“And they weren’t the really responsible for the video; the mastermind and the
one who caused their death is still free. And I have to find him because these
people deserve it.”
Tony nodded and looked his friend in the eyes.
“I’m happy for your change of heart on the matter, but for now you have to
rest.”
“I have things to do” he said to both of them and looked at the lift.
“Not so fast, buddy…” Selina’s teasing voice stopped him; it was obvious what
he was thinking to do.
“Where do you want to go?” Tony asked and Bruce closed his eyes.
“I have work – important work.”
 “It’s always important…” Selina said.
“Bruce, we need to talk” Tony said and Bruce knew that he couldn’t deny them.
So they entered the lift and instead of the cave Bruce ended up in the study.
“I’m all ears” Bruce said casting glances to his smart phone waiting eagerly
the results.
Tony sat to the sofa next to Bruce’s wheelchair.
“I was at the Wayne Tower.”
“But it is Sunday, Tony.”
Tony tilted his head on the side.
“I know I work too hard – can you tell that to Peps?” he said leaning to his
friend.
Selina walked to him and sat to the sofa.
“To the gist” she looked at the billionaire.
“Yeah…she has a really strong hand so better do what she says” Tony looked
Bruce pointedly crooking his mouth and Bruce smiled. “All in all, I spoke with
Lucius and…we are ready.”
Bruce frowned.
“Ready?”
“For your operation.”
Now this news should have made Bruce extremely happy; he had imagined the
moment so many times. But now…that was…the time was so inappropriate that he
felt numb.
Selina felt that something was wrong and leaned to him.
“Aren’t you happy, sweetie?”
Bruce could see the same question all over Tony’s frowned face.
“I…of course I am but…”
Tony scratched his head and nodded.
“The ‘but’ thing…”
“What troubles you, Bruce?” Selina asked. “Tony, Lucius and Leslie are refining
every detail.”
“I know…And I have no doubt or hesitation to do the operation. I’m not afraid.”
Tony pressed his lips: he wished he could share Bruce’s fearlessness but even
though he knew that everything was perfect he also dreaded the moment Bruce
would enter the operation room especially since that room wouldn’t be the safe
environment of Superman’s haven – damn, that alien!
“Then?” Tony asked to escape from his own fears.
“There are things I have to do” Bruce said knowing already his friends’
reactions. “The operation needs time and…and I don’t have that luxury.”
Tony yanked his head and pressed his hair to his scalp with both hands.
“I don’t believe it!”
Selina looked Bruce in the eyes.
“Nothing is more important than your health, Bruce.”
“You don’t want to walk again?” Tony asked.
Bruce licked his lips.
“Of course I want to walk again but the operation would demand much time both
prior and after…I don’t have that much time” in his mind another reason twirled
that he wouldn’t share with his friends but it was a possibility: what if he
never woke up from the surgery? Who would help Clark?
Selina tilted her head.
“What you didn’t understand from the ‘nothing is more important than your
health’ part?”
Bruce didn’t say anything just showed them his smart phone turning it with one
touch to a tablet so that the screen would contain better what he wanted them
to see.
The photos showed Dr. Pamela Isley turned to Poison Ivy then to Vivian and
finally to Diana. He watched his friends looking astonished.
“So the Amazon is really an impostor? You finally managed to find her” Tony
said. “Who is she?”
Bruce began with the picture of Vivian.
“This woman was named Vivian and she was Falcone’s favorite woman from Dolcetto
for a time; then she disappeared all of a sudden.”
“And she appeared again saying that he is a legendary Amazon?” Selina asked
rolling her eyes. “She must be a nutcase.”
“Harvey says that she was implicated in some murder case but she was never
found.”
Tony widened his eyes impressed.
“She must tell me her secret because she masters anti-aging perfectly – she
hasn’t changed much all these years.”
“I think that this has to do with her connection with plants; you see, my
memories of her match your description of her apartment – she always were
surrounded from plants of every kind and I think that her extreme powers of
seduction come from them” and he explained to them briefly what he had found
about Dr. Isley. “You see, now why I don’t have time.”
Selina crossed her arms huffing and Tony cocked an eyebrow.
“No, I don’t…”
“I believe she works for Mannheim and they prepare something big since they put
Superman under her influence.”
Tony slapped his thighs.
“It is all about him again, huh?” he huffed. “Oh, Bruce…”
Bruce sighed.
“It’s not about him, Tony: think about it. Mannheim builds a mysterious
machine, he managed to make Luthor his puppet and put someone to pretend the
Amazon only to render Superman useless. He plans something really bad.”
Selina nodded.
“Yes, but why you need so much time?”
“We can bust the bitch right now” Tony agreed.
But Bruce shook his head.
“Do you want a civil war among people’s most trusted heroes? Superman would
protect her with everything he has and some will follow him – not to mention
that she has considerable powers on her own. We’ll be implicated in a needless
conflict serving perfectly their plans and pushing people to doubt and
despair.”
Tony rubbed his chin.
“If she is not the legendary Amazon where her powers derive from?”
“Yeah…” Selina agreed.
Bruce didn’t want to reveal just now the truth about Bagdana to his friends.
“From Mannheim: I’m positive he is really that powerful.”
Tony pursed.
“Then we must get prepared; thankfully, we have Luthor and the machine under
constant watch.”
“We need Superman fighting with us” Bruce said keeping his composed expression
though he truly longed for that.
Selina shook her head.
“Why don’t you show him the proofs?”
Bruce inhaled.
“He won’t believe me – he’d consider it as another scheme to…take him back and
he’ll probably get more isolated and hostile towards everyone he till now
trusted.”
Tony crooked his mouth with disgust.
“Yeah, it’s a well known fact he is an asshole…”
“Then?” Selina asked.
“I’ll find the real Princess” he said casually.
A laugh left Tony’s mouth and then he choked.
“She isn’t a lost pocket, you know…”
Selina snorted.
“Believe me, Californian boy, you can never find a lost pocket in Gotham…”
“Anyway…What you want to do is finding a mythical island that it might not even
exist?” he frowned and scratched his head “inhabited only by half naked women
who wait for centuries someone to teach him the art of sex?” he shook his head
with conviction. “It’s impossible but count me in!”
Selina gave him a slap in the shoulder while Bruce chuckled.
“And how you can be sure that you’ll find it? It could take years.”
“I hope not.”
Tony leaned to him serious.
“Bruce, you cannot do such madness in your current state: the legends say that
they are very aggressive with men” he cocked his eyebrows “which is fine with
me by the way – I have a thing for bondage…But you could be hurt much – I think
it would be better if you do what you plan after your operation.”
Selina stood.
“Not to mention that this island could not even exist but if it really exist
she is not sure that will want to help. And even if everything goes as you
want, nothing assures us that Superman would believe that she is the real Diana
and not an impostor.”
“Because the alien is obviously that clever…” Tony remarked snidely.
“Not to mention that he with his super senses can’t see what you noticed: the
dyed hair, the fake eyes…”
Bruce pursed his lips.
“Tony mentioned that when he confronted Superman in her apartment he noticed
some clarity and change to his attitude as soon as Ironman used Kryptonite…”
Tony’s eyes shone wickedly.
“So let’s use Kryptonite on him!”
“Yes, and when we take the Kryptonite away his hostility will be greater…No,
Kryptonite might help if things get too nasty yet I think that still if she
really exists we need the real Princess not only to bring Superman out of his
illusion but also to have her as an ally to what lies ahead.”
Tony pressed his lips.
“I insist that the operation must come first.”
“I don’t have the time, Tony.”
“The machine is still in embryonic phase; if that machine was so precious for
Mannheim to make all these burglaries and use his power to release Luthor from
jail then he‘ll wait till is ready before he acts so we have time…”
Bruce huffed.
The noble knocks on the door broke the silence and Bruce was really glad for
the interruption.
“I do apologize for the interruption” Alfred said. “Mister Queen is here,
Master Bruce and asks if he can see you.”
“I’ll see him, Alfred; thank you.”
“Don’t think that you slipped so easily, littl’ guy” Tony said as Bruce left
the room and then he turned to Selina. “How can you be so cool seeing him
risking so much? After what you witnessed?”
Selina understood that he meant the times she watched Bruce being abused. But
also she suddenly he had a suspicion that could explain why Tony reached the
point of hitting Bruce with a stunning beam to protect him.
“You watched that awful video they broadcasted…”
Tony nodded.
“I wanted to understand what he went through but now… I feel that every time
he’ll be again hurt: how you can take that agony, Sel?”
“I saw Bruce being raped, tortured; I watched him crying; in fear; in despair.
But also I saw him gritting his teeth and never give up. I saw him becoming the
strong man he is; I saw him methodically organizing the defeat of his enemies.
So even though I know he is wounded; even though often I see the skinny
battered boy in him still I know that he also knows how strong he is and how he
knows to fight – he is clever and he always calculate his movements to not find
himself again in weakness” she cocked an eyebrow. “And I have always my eyes on
him…just in case.”
 
Bruce was curious to know what brought Queen here – well, that was obvious: the
demon wanted to be in constant touch with him; but what excuse he would use
this time?
When he opened the door to the drawing room and slithered his wheelchair in
closing the door behind him, Queen was upright. The man seemed agitated almost
in agony and he held a glass with whiskey. He was turned to the rectangular
window overlooking the Wayne grounds but hearing the door opening snapped
around.
“It’s kind of early for alcohol” Bruce commented keeping his smirk inside; he
knew he had to not show anything about knowing the truth.
Queen smiled and looked at the fine, crystal glass.
“Sometimes it is needed regardless the time of the day” he walked to Bruce, put
his glass on the waist table and offered his hand for a handshake.
Bruce took his hand though the realization that was shaking hands with the
demon that haunted his life was very intense; however there wasn’t the
slightest difference from every other time he shook hands with Queen.
“And this is one of these times?” he asked.
Queen looked at him serious.
“Gotham’s Police announced early in the morning that Joker had kidnapped you
and was holding you hostage in the Arkham Asylum.”
Bruce nodded thoughtful but completely calm.
“Well, that’s true.”
Queen shook his head.
“I was in Boston for some business and as soon as I heard it I got in the plane
to come back.”
Bruce narrowed his eyes.
“There was no reason for such rush” especially since the demon with the form of
Arrow was there when he got Joker – but of course Bagdana wanted to play his
game.
Queen slumped in the armchair next to Bruce’s wheelchair and fixed his eyes on
Bruce’s.
“Of course there was! I was worried! Why in Hell he has to attack you all the
time? Why they didn’t give you a break?”
Bruce smiled: indeed.
“Sometimes I wonder too. But still I think a phone call would be enough.”
Queen closed his eyes.
“Bruce, I told you several times that I care about you” Bruce felt a clench in
his guts seeing again the gigantic form of the demon with his mind’s eye;
however he sustained his calm face. “The thought of this scum holding you
prisoner while you need your medication and you are defenseless…Oh! It’s
outrageous! Cowardice!”
Bruce wanted to arch an eyebrow because Queen knew that he was perfectly able
to defend himself even now yet the demon played the ignorant. So Bruce did the
same.
“I can’t understand why they let that bastard alive!” the older man continued.
Bruce fixed his eyes on him.
“You think that anyone has the right to decide who must die?”
Queen closed his eyes and huffed.
“You’re too lenient, Bruce…” he pressed his lips and it was clear that
something was in his mind but he hesitated to utter it. “He touched you?” he
asked finally in a whisper.
Bruce jerked.
“That’s too…It’s none of your business!” he snapped with his eyes sparkling and
Queen raised his palms calming.
“I’m sorry…I’m sorry…I…it was too indiscreet but this man is infatuated with
you: so I fear that he could…It would be awful for you to go through such an
experience again.”
Bruce smirked inside: Bagdana new better since he gave him some of these
experiences.
“Mr. Queen, I think we told what was there to be told. Thank you for your
interest.”
Queen leaned to him.
“Bruce, you try so hard to push me away. I want the best for you; I want to
offer you the love you deserve. I’m the only one who loves you truly.”
Bruce crooked his mouth and Queen nodded.
“I understand your disbelief, Bruce, but believe me: I won’t ever betray you; I
just want to be here for you whenever you need me; offer you my love…help you
heal the wounds.”
Bruce closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose.
“I told you several times, Mr. Queen, that these things are not for me. I can’t
be what you want and it is better for you to turn your affection somewhere
else.”
Queen took Bruce’s hands in his causing a deep frown to the younger man and a
instinctive defensive jolt of his back. Bruce noticed that there was nothing
betraying that Queen wasn’t really a human and the real Queen’s body had
nothing unnatural.
“If only you could give me a chance to prove to you what I said…”
Bruce took his hands away calmly.
“Mr. Queen, you say that you understand me then you should have understood how
I’m feeling: I honor your friendship but I can’t give you more than that.”
Queen lowered his eyes and looked at his hands which he had glued together.
“He isn’t going to come back, Bruce” he said in a dead serious voice
sympathetic but with a hue of frustration; his eyes were ablaze. “Ever!”
Bruce jerked and narrowed his eyes confused.
“What?”
Queen looked at him and smiled.
“It’s obvious that you wait for him to realize his mistake and come back to
you.”
“Who?”
Queen shook his head and chuckled amused from Bruce’s act.
“Superman.”
Bruce clenched his jaw: of course Bagdana knew that he had a relationship with
Clark: he schemed everything to separate them. But now  Bruce had to do with
Oliver Queen. He jerked his head.
“That’s preposterous…”
But Queen cut him.
“Come on, Bruce: everyone saw him bring you to the hospital; last year he was
continually moving around you like a fly to honey until he took what he wanted
and when he saw something new left you without a second thought.”
“I had nothing with Superman. And actually he saved more times Lois Lane so why
don’t you assume the same for her?”
Queen was adamant.
“He is happy with Diana” he grinned continuing. “He doesn’t think of you
anymore not only as a lover but also as a human being. He could have sensed
your distress, your need – he was doing that all the time last year, didn’t
he?” he cocked his eyebrows in sarcasm. “But now nothing…”
It was easy for Bruce to understand that Queen tried to hurt him and make him
forget or even hate Superman in order to find comfort in him.
Queen took his silence for sadness; for a small victory.
“He is an idiot for betraying your love; for causing you such pain…He wasn’t
worthy of you, Bruce” he licked his lips. “I can ease your pain, just let me…”
he leaned towards Bruce’s face, his last words being whispered almost to
Bruce’s ear.
Bruce felt a shiver and a trace of the old terror he had experienced in Ra’s’
basement and in Dolcetto. However he controlled his emotions and looked at the
man’s almost pleading eyes.
“Mr. Queen, please” he said quietly and moved slightly his head. “I don’t know
why are you so sure that I had something with Superman – not that it is your
business – but whatever you think has nothing to do with me. Thank you for your
concern and for coming here but…” he shook his head “I just can’t give you what
you want and I suggest you stop torment yourself with that. There are people
out there who are better than me and ready to love and be loved by a special
man like you.”
Queen’s smile was broad but his eyes were shadowed; Bruce was watching his
face. The older man stood.
“But” he shook his head “I don’t want you to give me anything: your mere
existence is the greater, most precious present life can give me…one of your
smiles can be my salvation…” he smiled. “I don’t want you to give anything,
Bruce; for once in my life, I just want to give…Give to you everything I have…”
he lowered his eyes clearly overwhelmed and Bruce sensed that this wasn’t an
act. “I don’t want to make bad use of your precious time.”
Bruce looked at him.
“It’s not that.”
Queen nodded.
“Yes, but I’m sure you need some rest after everything you’ve been through. I
want the best for you, Bruce, and I’m sure that in the end you’ll realize that
I mean what I’m saying…”
He offered Bruce his hand and the younger man shook it.
“It was a pleasure seeing you, Bruce.”
Bruce grinned.
“Mr. Queen, it was nice to see you too.”
Queen pressed his lips.
“If only you could call me Oliver…”
Bruce cocked his eyebrows.
“If I knew that you wouldn’t mistake that for something else, I would have made
it, Mr. Queen…”
The older man grinned smugly, regaining his usual self confidence.
“I won’t ever stop hoping if that is what you mean. Have a lovely rest of the
day, Bruce.”
 
The room was dark; only the lights coming from the blinds of the window
interrupted the darkness and let the shapes inside take form.
But he didn’t need light to see around and for once in his life he didn’t want
any of it: he was bored of light. It was a Sunday evening; his favorite time of
the week yet today he felt numb. He held a cup of hot coffee and paced
aimlessly in the small living room of his apartment. He had chosen to stay in
his apartment for a change and think.
Clark recalled his discussion with Lois…He sighed: why for once he couldn’t be
left to feel happy?
He slumped to his small worn couch and grabbed his lap top that was tossed on
the couch at some point. He opened it to the Planet’s site: the same political
fuss he had come to hate but among the latest headlines something caught his
eyes.
“Bruce Wayne was Joker’s hostage at Arkham Asylum, Police states.”
In a brief statement GCPD’s spoke woman revealed that the notorious criminal
had kidnapped the Wayne heir, 27, the day the attack in New York occurred. Ms.
Harper didn’t comment whether the kidnapping was connected with the attack. She
only continued to conclude that Mr. Wayne was found in Arkham Asylum where
Joker and his associates, Jonathan Crane and Harleen Quinzel, both former heads
of the same Institute, were arrested. Mr. Wayne didn’t sustain any serious
injury.
Yeah, sure…Clark thought. In Joker’s hands? Of course Bruce could always
protect himself but…Only the thought of the criminal laying hands on Bruce made
him cringe and be mad.
He shook his head: and he took Bruce’s distress as agony for Thor…
He opened his e-mails without even realizing: among the read messages his eyes
focused on one: Congratulations on your award.
Bruce had sent that after their break up when Clark won the Pulitzer. His eyes
travelled to the wall where the prize hang neglected – it certainly didn’t give
him the joy it should.
He frowned: maybe he should write something to Bruce? Asking about his health?
Like an old friend…
He ruffled his hair indecisive; Bruce wasn’t an old friend…Bruce tried to…He
rubbed his upper arm where he still had the scar from Bruce’s dagger. However
that didn’t stop Bruce from coming to the party for his awarding and definitely
didn’t stop Clark from cornering him in that rooftop and try to kiss him…only
to be repelled by the stubborn human. It seems that Bruce wanted to play with
him…
And he would be very happy to see that he still had power over him, that he
could make him think of him over Diana.
Clark closed his eyes and inhaled deeply: Diana’s gracious, gorgeous figure
came in front of his eyes; her eyes filled with respect, adoration but also
strength and resolution – a proud warrior in love with him – adoring him…and
then her perfume of all the flower on the planet.
He was grateful for his eidetic memory because her perfume was always in his
nostrils reminding him who was the one who truly loved and supported him in
everything. Who made him happy more than any other time in his life.
Clark just couldn’t betray her unconditional love by showing interest even
typical for his former lover. Of course Lois and his Ma could not understand
this because they hoped to make him ditch her for Bruce.
Suddenly, he heard shootings and screams of terror: his emotional state wasn’t
perfect but Superman would prove that he never stopped being people’s
protector.
He changed in a flick, opened the window and flew outside focusing on the
direction of the screams: Russia, Moscow…As he was heading there it was clear
that the shootings came from the Bolsoi Theatre – terrorists. He hurried.
But as he was almost there the screams and the panicked vitals from thousands
of people stopped giving their place to relief, exhilaration and joy. Superman
could even hear cheering and claps.
He stopped midair and focused his eyes there: on the stage were piled the
corpses of hoodied people with their machine guns still clenched in their
hands. Among the thousands of spectators there were several wounded but no
dead. But what made Superman goggle was the woman floating above the stage like
a guardian angel, unscathed, perfect, having stopped the terrorists without a
drop of sweat.
The woman he loved. People cheered for Wonder Woman: his Diana. He wasn’t
needed there and he was really proud of her and happy that finally the world
was seeing the truth he knew: the truth about her.
He turned to leave but soon heard the familiar almost inaudible sound of her
approaching; her heartbeat, the seductive sound of the air playing with her
shining raven hair, her dazzling perfume. He stopped and turned towards her
only to be attacked by her.
Diana wrapped her arms around his back and locked their lips together in a kiss
that took his breath away and stopped his brain activity. Her eyes were raging
fires reflecting the hotness of her pulsing with passion body.
“Humans are so weak…It’s a relief for me that a being like you resides in
Earth” she breathed without stopping the kiss and ruffling viciously his hair.
“Thank God, Wonder Woman was here; Superman doesn’t seem to care anymore…”
Superman’s hearing caught some people saying in Russian; they were using
different words but the meaning was always the same.
Diana looked at him with narrowed eyes, concerned.
“Are you alright?”
“They say that Superman doesn’t care for them…” he said with his eyes shadowed.
She smiled and hugged him tighter.
“They are humans! They always whine about something…they judge beings far
superior from them according to their petty vices. I wouldn’t pay attention to
them” she snorted. “They’re good only to be saved…”
Superman turned his head towards the theater: people were still cheering for
Wonder Woman. He didn’t care that they cheered for her; on the contrary that
gave him a joy that was flooding his entire body yet there was a small, tiny
part of him cringing not because they cheered for Diana but because they were
disappointed from him.
Diana tilted her head on the side frowning; she grabbed his hand.
“Forget them! We know what is really important, Kal El” she kissed gently his
forehead and Superman felt a pleasant numbness expanding to his entire boy:
nothing seemed worthy of his attention anymore – Diana was with him and loved
him.
She moved forward taking his hand; she turned her head and locked eyes with him
both determined and loving.
“My apartment is our world and my body and heart is your world: the only world
worthy of your greatness, Kal El.”
The shine of her eyes and the warmth of her hand were everything he needed. He
followed her.
 
***** Chapter 75 *****
“That is a really unexpected pleasure, Bruce…”
Bruce inclined his head in front of Jor El’s image on his central screen. He
knew that although his voice was almost flat the alien really meant what he
said.
“Relieved to hear that, Jor El” he answered to the hologram’s deep, respectful
voice. “Did you have any news from Kal El?”
Jor El arched a white eyebrow.
“I am afraid that Kal El gets more and more isolated from his loved ones.”
Bruce rubbed his chin thoughtful.
“About that…” Jor El’s serious eyes twitched because he sensed that the human
didn’t call him without a reason. “I have done some research and I think that I
know the true identity of the woman that influences Kal El.”
Jor El raised his eyebrows.
“Well?”
“Before that” he began keying in “I send you a chemical compound and I’d like
you to tell me if you have ever met it…”
“Of course.”
Bruce wanted Jor El to tell him if the substance that was found in Poison Ivy’s
victims was in Clark’s body the last time he underwent exams in the Fortress.
Yet he didn’t want Jor El to be biased knowing that this compound was connected
with the woman who had his son mind controlled. Not that a biased hologram was
the most possible thing,  yet this hologram was of Kryptonian technology and
from Bruce’s experience wasn’t a common reflective hologram.
Bruce wanted Jor El’s confirmation because even if he was almost certain about
Diana being Poison Ivy he always wanted to double check. More so since Jor El
when contacted the exams found a strange influence on Superman but he didn’t
speak about that special kind of urushiol and Bruce knew that the Fortress had
a broad, detailed database about Earth’s plants which Superman was collecting
for his father’s scientific research.
“I haven’t seen urushiol of such composition in nature yet there were traces of
that in Kal El’s system” Jor El said after a few seconds.
Of course, Bruce thought. Traces as in Ivy’s victims only in this case she
needed the substance to linger on her victim in order for the influence to
linger too.
“However” Jor El continued “there was something else that almost covered the
compound and made it seem as something different.”
Bruce shook his head.
“That’s reasonable: they needed something that would make a Kryptonian
susceptible to that substance that till now was effective only to humans” he
remembered again Bagdana’s role in this and crooked his mouth – the demon knew
everything about Superman and already once he had created something that
affected Superman vastly.
Yet this time Bagdana certainly didn’t use the same substance Ra’s had applied
to Bruce’s body for years turning him to a human Kryptonite and a irresistible
magnet for him; besides, Superman’s powers all this time were unscathed and
Bagdana knew that Bruce had found everything out: the demon knew that they had
isolated the substance so they would recognize it immediately if it affected
again Superman. Also, the cunning demon certainly figured out that Superman was
by now immunized to that substance – not to mention that that substance was
created with Bruce’s blood as basis.
“The woman that presents herself as the Princess of the Amazons is actually a
ghost-murderer who used to seduce her victims and under her irresistible
attraction lured and killed them with a kiss that pumped urushiol to the
victim’s organism” he informed him.
Jor El shook his head.
“But this couldn’t kill Kal El since he is a Kryptonian.”
Bruce nodded.
“If they knew how to adjust her pheromones to affect a Kryptonian into not
being able to resist her and how to make the urushiol of her body influence
Superman then they could also kill him – but this wasn’t what they wanted.”
“So what do they really want?”
“To humiliate him; to isolate him and then use him” and hurt Bruce into falling
to the arms of Oliver Queen.
Jor El arched an eyebrow.
“I think that the most important reason was to separate you two” Bruce jerked
inside but retained his cool expression. “The one who conceived that plan
probably knows things about you and considered that the best way to defeat
Superman was taking him as far away as possible from you. But if she is a human
then from where she takes her powers and her weapons? Because her weapons are
not of human origin or creation.”
Bruce didn’t want to divulge Bagdana’s role because he wished to test another
hypothesis that was nudging his mind. A hypothesis about the third person
behind the scheme.
“Jor El, I wonder if you remember the attack on me at Thasos.”
Jor El inclined slightly his head.
“I do…”
“The attackers were beings that definitely were not from Earth; also, the fake
Diana arrived on the scene supposedly to save me but eventually she blew them
off, obviously in order to cover any traces. Yet I managed to save some
evidence which were tested by Lucius Fox who concluded that these creatures
were made of matter and elements unknown to us.”
“Extra terrestrial?”
Bruce nodded.
“At first, we had our doubts assuming that the creatures might be result of
some illegal experimentation…”
Jor El arched an eyebrow.
“But?” he asked in his wise voice.
Bruce pressed his lips and began pressing keys.
“Can you tell me anything about these?” he sent him pictures of the items that
were hidden in LexLabs and Mannheim did everything to take back – he made sure
to include shots where the odd symbols were visible.
Though Jor El was a hologram Bruce thought that the always calm reflection of
Superman’s biological father became pale.
“Apokolips…” Jor El mumbled and Bruce frowned.
“What is this?”
“A planet. It is ruled by a powerful New God: Darkseid.”
Bruce huffed and rolled his eyes: not another God!
“He musters teleport and telekinesis; he can move as fast as nanoseconds; he
can travel through time and send his enemies in dimensions where he traps them;
he possesses the ability of mind controlling – in several cases, he mind
controlled entire population into getting what he wanted.”
That explained the confusion of the thugs who were arrested either for the
raids in LexLabs or the Metropolis’ Station attack. Such a being definitely
didn’t have trouble to mind control Luthor into turning him to a servile being
and people in high ranks to order Luthor’s release. Also, Bruce remembered when
Mannheim came to his office to demand the items: he had sensed something trying
to breach his mind, obviously to make him obey to Darkseid’s will. But his
efforts failed…Bruce’s hand touched unconsciously the Black Butterfly that rest
on his chest – then he had sensed the gem vibrating: perhaps, the gem’s power
enhanced his ability to resist.
“But the greatest of his powers are the Omega Beams he launches from his eyes
and hands” Jor El continued unaware of Bruce’s thoughts. “He can kill anyone
with these Beams but he can also resurrect those who died from them if that is
what he wants.”
Bruce tilted his head – the possibilities of having such a being on Earth were
more than grim yet he couldn’t help but also snort.
“Don’t tell me…He wants to conquer Earth?” he asked in heavy irony cocking an
eyebrow.
Jor El shook his head.
“Darkseid doesn’t simply conquer planets: he destroys them; he turns them to
energy dust. He uses the energy from the destroyed planets to force his own
order of things – a universe exactly as he wants it. Kryptonians knew about his
activities but never took action against him – ignored him and the destruction
he was causing reassured from the fact that they were powerful enough for
making Darkseid hesitant to attack them” his eyes became reminiscent. “I
remember the council of the Elders where I tried to convince them to do
something – to no avail: nobody wanted to risk Krypton for the sake of other
planets.”
Bruce tapped his index finger on his lower lip.
“Darkseid must know your – the Kryptonians - powers and how Earth’s yellow sun
has enhanced those powers in Kal El so he wants to neutralize him first to make
the Earth succumb to him.”
Jor El nodded.
“Can you describe your attackers at the island?”
Bruce typed something and the sketch his software had made from the description
of the beings which attacked him popped up on the screen. He pressed a key and
it was sent to Jor El.
“Parademons; Darkseid’s troops. Why you didn’t show me these earlier?”
“Because I believed that if it was something known to Kryptonians Superman
would have recognized the description.”
Jor El nodded.
“Kal El’s Kryptonian education includes so many topics and fields that
unfortunately Apokolips isn’t covered yet” he lowered a bit his eyes. “What
about the objects: Where were those objects found?”
“In LexLabs: hidden to look like petty things with no value. However someone
was eager – to say the least – to get them back.”
Jor El nodded.
“And this is where you join the picture, right? You gained the LexLabs’
ownership  and these items as well so if I am assuming right the owner or some
of his representatives came to find you” he smiled. “Without knowing that he
has to do with someone of the most intelligent people on Earth.”
Bruce didn’t comment on that.
“I think that he came himself” he said casually though Jor El’s expression
became something between admiration and terror “he has a human form and an
established human identity. What about this machine he builds?”
Jor El smirked.
“The Anti Life Equation. Back in Krypton we had intelligence that Darkseid
believed he could suck the energy from all the beings’ emotions and thoughts
and make that infinite energy his, using it to build his own reality.
Kryptonian scientists never believed that this was even a possibility but it
seems that Darkseid has the belief that human beings could ‘help’ his cause…
Maybe that’s the reason he follows a rather mild way instead of just destroying
the planet.”
“I have to say that the Kryptonian scientists were wrong because Darkseid made
everything to take back the items and his human ally, namely Lex Luthor to
assemble them.”
Jor El raised his eyebrows.
“Because the machine learns anything from its creator and that is necessary for
the machine to be able to absorb the energy from humans: Darkseid chose Lex
Luthor to build his Anti Life machine so that the machine would learn the
characteristics to absorb from his targets. He must be stopped, Bruce, before
he uses the machine: this will make his already immense power greater.”
Bruce shook his head.
“He took the parts but we have everything under surveillance” Jor El’s face
loosened a bit as Bruce remembered how Mannheim and the woman with him were not
visible during their discussion with Luthor in the lab. “We have the control,
Jor El yet I think it’s better to let them continue believing that we don’t
know anything – we need to have Superman on our side when the time comes and
I’m afraid that if we make hasty movements Superman can be turned against us
under Poison Ivy’s control.”
Jor El pressed his lips.
“I can attest to that. What do you want me to do, Bruce?”
“For the time being, nothing. And definitely do not say anything to Superman.”
“Of course. He wouldn’t believe it after all.”
Ending the connection Bruce’s mind was shadowed from the realized now menace.
One thing was sure: he didn’t have the time to give to his surgery. It had to
wait. After all, what was the meaning of being able to walk again if the whole
planet was destroyed?
He thought about Mannheim’s presence at his office; the man’s…well, not exactly
a man…his rage; Darkseid certainly could try to fry him with his beams. Of
course he sent Gotham’s thugs to scare him but Bruce was sure that if he
wanted, the danger he faced would be even worse. And then he remembered the
Arrow’s interference. He nodded: Bagdana did want him alive and probably that
held Darkseid’s hand. For Bruce it was plain clear that he was Bagdana’s
reward…
He looked at the smaller screen on the right: he had programmed his processor
to scan world news for any appearance of Wonder Woman or Superman. A good half
an hour now the RT was raving about Wonder Woman’s intervention at the Bolsoi
Theater where she stopped a sure bloodshed by terrorists – the viewers eye
witnesses were describing what had happened and praised Wonder Woman who saved
them while once again Superman was absent.
Bruce pursed his lips: he could see their goal. They wanted to degrade Superman
in the eyes of people so that in the final hour they wouldn’t hope anything
from the hero; also, when they decided to make their movement against Superman
nobody would be surprised from his absence or search for him.
On the other hand, they wanted ‘Wonder Woman’ to become a symbol of hope in
which people would invest so that when Darkseid made his attack the despair of
humans would be devastating seeing their favorite heroine alongside the enemy,
determined to exterminate them. Such despair would definitely be precious for
Darkseid’s Anti Life Equation.
Bagdana was a precious advisor to the alien: after all, the ancient demon knew
perfectly the human nature and Superman. Bruce could sniff Bagdana’s wit behind
all these.
He just hoped that he could make it on time and upturn their perfectly set
chessboard.
 
It was already an hour since Tony sat in the stool before the working bench in
Lucius Fox’s lab and the older man was perplexed from the man’s quietness.
After Joker’s arrest and Bruce’s return to the Manor, Tony was able to resume
entirely his work on his friend’s operation; yet this day the billionaire from
Malibu was absorbed in reading something in his tablet.
Lucius every now and then looked above his glasses to the younger man but he
continued without breaking his concentration. Lucius knew that Tony had many
things in his mind and his best friend’s operation was something that troubled
him all the time.
“Lucius, I want to show you something.”
Lucius was eagerly waiting for that in order to be able to help if there was a
way.
“Of course, Mr. Stark” he said and left his work on the hologram to sit at the
stool next to Tony.
“Read these…” Tony showed with his index finger at the screen.
The younger man was watching avidly Lucius as he was perusing the rather broad
data.
“Well?” Tony asked after several minutes when Lucius raised his eyes and took
off his glasses.
Lucius raised his eyebrows.
“It’s rather impressive” he admitted and Tony smiled making his eyes shine.
“Exactly. The success’ quotient is remarkable!” he showed again the screen.
“Lucius, you see that we do have hope?”
Lucius however seemed thoughtful.
“You are referring to Mr. Wayne’s surgery…”
Tony rolled his eyes and crossed his arms.
“Lucius, drop the naïve look: it’s not persuasive at all…Of course I refer to
Bruce’s surgery: what else? Someone who has such great record in complex
surgeries certainly is the most appropriate for a surgery like Bruce’s. Lucius”
he locked eyes with him. “We need the best for Bruce to eliminate as much as
possible the possibility of…failure.”
Lucius pressed his lips.
“I understand, Mr. Stark, but we set as a precondition the need of
confidentiality for this. You know how Mr. Wayne feels about that.”
Tony nodded.
“His life is more precious. And as you can see part of this work was made with
Superman’s contribution thus the presence of alien technology wouldn’t be
something new. Not to mention that we can’t be absolutely sure for anyone: even
our own team can at some point leak some info.”
Lucius closed his eyes and rubbed the bridge of his nose.
“The benefits are greater than the risks, Lucius.”
Lucius cocked his eyebrows.
“This isn’t a decision you or I will make, Mr. Stark. Dr. Thompkins should know
too and most of all Mr. Wayne. You know that the final decision is his.”
Well, Tony knew that but also knew Bruce’s stance over this. However he relied
on the support from Lucius and Leslie: the three of them could manage to
persuade Bruce in the end.
“I made an appointment with Leslie at the free clinic in 30 minutes to talk
about this. But your support on this would be crucial when I show her all
these.”
The older man frowned slightly.
“You want to tell me that Dr. Elliot sent his impressive body of work to you
but not to Dr. Thompkins with whom he is working?”
Tony pursed his lips.
“Maybe he was afraid that she would dismiss him because of her favorite
patient’s dislike for him – because of Bruce’s bias.”
Lucius cocked his eyebrows and looked at Tony.
“Bias, Mr. Stark?”
Tony realized that it was a bit hard of a word.
“Okay, okay; but we can’t deny that Bruce doesn’t like the man based on their
childhood relationships.”
Lucius smiled.
“Your friendship is based on that too…”
Tony closed his eyes.
“You’re right…” he huffed. “But I can’t close my eyes and forget such
impressive results when my best friend is faced with such a dangerous surgery”
he looked Lucius in the eyes. “Will you come with me at the clinic? And support
my case?”
Lucius inhaled deeply.
“Mr. Stark, you know that I want the best for Mr. Wayne…Of course, I’ll come
with you” Tony’s eyes shone “yet I can’t promise you that I’ll support Dr.
Elliot’s involvement – I will speak only on what we see there: nothing more -
nothing less.”
Tony would want more support yet this was fair enough; after all, Lucius was
always extra cautious and Tony appreciated that. He patted the older man’s
upper arm.
“I would not ask you more…”
 
Leslie frowned on seeing the material Tony had for her.
“Thomas sent you all these? Why?”
Tony rolled his eyes; he was sitting on a stool right next to Leslie’s chair
behind her desk inside her office. He crossed his arms.
“Because he knows Bruce’s dislike and despite that he wants to help so he chose
to show these to me instead to give me an idea.”
Something wasn’t right for Leslie and she raised her eyes to meet Lucius’
serious eyes. The scientist was sitting in the chair in front of her desk
watching and estimating without interfering.
Leslie leaned on her chair’s back.
“So all in all he knows Bruce’s dislike and mistrust however he also knows
about your agony for Bruce’s life and takes advantage of that to gain through
you access to Bruce.”
Tony yanked his head and huffed.
“Leslie, Leslie, Leslie! I know he is using my agony but maybe he truly wants
to redeem himself for the way he treated Bruce then. And yes I figured out from
the beginning that he was using me but these data” he gestured with his palm at
the screen “show something incredible and is the best thing we could hope for
Bruce’s surgery.”
Leslie shook her head: he couldn’t blame Tony for his agony – heck! She felt
the same agony, as well. Nor she could blame him for wanting Elliot to do the
surgery seeing his record of successful operations in extremely difficult
cases. Yet she could also understand Bruce’s dislike for this man: even if she
couldn’t say that she disliked Thomas Elliot, she also wasn’t very fond of him,
moreover to trust him with anything concerning Bruce.
“I admit that Thomas is a great surgeon with an impressive record yet this is
something not for us to decide” she said.
Lucius nodded.
“This is exactly what I told him.”
Tony pursed his lips and Leslie locked eyes with him.
“Frankly, Anthony, I’m happy I don’t have to take that decision myself because
I’m not sure what to believe about Thomas Elliot.”
Tony closed his eyes impatient.
“I don’t give a damn if he’s a total asshole or not: the only thing that
matters for me is to do the surgery that will allow Bruce to walk again.”
Leslie tilted her head and looked at him.
“It’s exactly what all of us want.”
Tony stood.
“Then you’re with me.”
Leslie sighed.
“Don’t do that, Anthony…We want the best for Bruce but pressing him to accept
something he doesn’t want will only make matters worse: do you really want him
to see us as plotting?”
Tony palmed his face: he remembered the Hell he went through after he stunned
Bruce to force his opinion on him.
“Of course I don’t want that…” he huffed. “Hell, for me is worse than for you
two because I’ve got already a ‘felony’…But you see that Elliot is the best
chance we have right now.”
Lucius Fox also stood.
“I think that this can be solved only in one way: we will discuss this with Mr.
Wayne and he will decide. The sooner, the better.”
Leslie nodded.
“Exactly.”
Both of them looked at Tony.
“What? Did you think that I’d do something that Bruce wouldn’t agree to?” he
cocked his eyebrows and shook his head. “How such thing crossed your mind?” he
asked mocking insult because obviously they were right to suspect him. “To the
Manor then?”
“Yes, but we can’t leave all together” Leslie said. “It’ll draw too much
attention.”
Tony smirked.
“Not to mention it will be a bit ridiculous…”
Lucius laughed.
“Then I go first.”
As Tony crossed the clinic’s foyer Thomas Elliot was returning from his visit
to the patients’ rooms; he wore his white robe and he was followed by Kelly.
Seeing Stark there rang a bell in Elliot; he hurried his steps to meet him.
“Tony!” he exclaimed. “Long time no see…” he gave him his hand. “I didn’t
expect to see you here” he frowned. “Is anything wrong with Bruce? I was seeing
my patients so I don’t know if something happened in the meantime.”
Tony shook Elliot’s hand giving one of his trademark grins.
“Nah! Bruce is fine – I just visited Leslie.”
Elliot smiled in his odd way.
“Of course! I remember how much Leslie loved both of you…” he frowned and
sighed. “But poor Bruce! I’d expect Leslie to get some days off to take care of
him after everything he suffered lately. That horrible video! And then
Joker...” he shook his head disgusted watching all the time Tony’s cool
expression. “You say he is fine? Oh! This is a major relief!”
“Really?” Tony asked.
“Yeah, Mr. Stark” Kelly intervened and a shadow of annoyance crossed Thomas’
eyes “all these days Tommy was very worried about Mr. Wayne. Especially, when
police announced that Joker was holding him hostage…”
“I wanted to call or visit” Thomas cut her “but I know Bruce’s sentiments about
me so…” he chuckled. “I chose not to disturb him anymore.”
Tony shook his head.
“He is resting.”
Thomas licked his lips giving his eyes warmth and solemnity.
“Everything I learn about Bruce makes me admire him even more…He is so brave
and strong! I don’t know what I’d have done if I was in his place.”
Tony grinned.
“Die?” he cocked his eyebrows. “That’s probably how I would have ended up.”
Thomas smiled and Kelly reflected that.
“Tony, did you get those data I sent you?”
Tony acted the surprised as if he wasn’t just talking with Lucius and Leslie
about that very subject.
“Mmm…Yes, I actually, try to find the time to read them” he arched an eyebrow.
“You understand how it is with all this stuff going on…” he didn’t want to
divulge everything to him; he might want to have Elliot for the surgery yet
that didn’t mean that he trusted him with everything.
“Of course I do, Tony. I hope you find the time to read them and get in touch
for any clarification.”
Tony nodded.
“I have to leave now…” he said. “It’s great to be me but lately it has become a
bit tiresome…” he winked to Kelly and she chuckled.
Thomas nodded.
“When you see Bruce, give him my best wishes.”
Tony gave a tight lips grin.
“I will” and he will be soooo happy, I’m sure.“I’m sure he’ll appreciate it.
See you…”
Elliot crossed his arms and watched him leaving the foyer: he pursed his lips.
He was sure that once Stark saw his work then he’d definitely try to get him
for the surgery no matter what and then he’d have a twofold success: a breach
that would bring him inside Brucie’s inner circle and maybe a conflict between
Brucie and Stark.
 
Jim Gordon raised his eyes to gaze from his office’s rectangular window the
city’s skyline under the grim colors of the cloudy afternoon. He inhaled and
returned to the papers on his desk. Reports about the latest developments.
But he had to stop again when someone knocked his door.
“Yes.”
It was his secretary-officer.
“Commissioner, someone wants to see you.”
“Who?”
“Bruce Wayne.”
Jim stood abruptly and walked fast to the door. He came out to the waiting room
and saw Bruce.
“Good morning, Commissioner. How are you?” the young man greeted him.
“Fine, Mr. Wayne. Please, come in.”
He made an inviting gesture and Bruce smiled and guided his wheelchair inside.
Jim closed the door.
“How may I help you, Mr. Wayne?” he said standing in front of his desk.
“I want to talk to you about Ms. Turner’s disappearance” Bruce said determined
but a bit shyly.
Jim cleared his throat and his eyes took a stern hue.
“Hm…I was informed that she reappeared suddenly accompanied by Harvey Dent and
his family.”
Bruce nodded.
“Yes.”
Jim cocked his eyebrows.
“It doesn’t seem like a true disappearance after all, huh?”
Bruce tilted slightly his head.
“Commissioner, I want you to understand that we couldn’t have done anything
else. Zucco had threatened Ms. Turner and she was panicked – she was sure that
he would kill her.”
Jim sighed.
“You could have informed the police about his threats.”
Bruce shook his head.
“We couldn’t, Commissioner. First, we didn’t have any proof and second, he
would have left Gotham only to return secretly to realize his threats: as you
know, the man had no inhibitions.”
“So you decided to stage a disappearance in order to ensure that Ms. Turner
will be safe till police found the truth about Zucco.”
Bruce didn’t lower his eyes and Jim found that he couldn’t be angry at the
young man; he liked the determination in those eyes.
“He’d have killed Ms. Turner: he also killed Dick’s father.”
Jim shook his head.
“You still played with the police, Mr. Wayne; you caused an unnecessary
procedure.”
Bruce nodded.
“I’m the responsible for this and I’m ready to face the consequences.”
Jim yanked his head.
“Why you didn’t tell the truth to the police?”
“Because if things didn’t happen according to the standard police procedure and
Zucco wasn’t persuaded then he could have disappeared before you could catch
him.”
Jim took off his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose.
“I’ll happily face the consequences, Commissioner” Bruce repeated with
conviction.
Jim looked him.
“You could have at least informed me.”
“You have so many things who demand your attention…” he hesitated before
continuing. “And I was afraid that you wouldn’t have agreed.”
Now Jim closed his eyes and then chuckled. That young man certainly had guts!
Not to mention stubbornness...
“Well?” Bruce said. “Please, do not press any charges to Ms. Turner or Harvey.”
Jim leaned to him.
“That Dent…Plotting with you behind my back!” he saw Bruce’s face turn a bit
pale and smiled to calm him. “Let’s say, that your” he sighed “I must admit
that – your clever plan saved two lives and helped find the truth about an old
crime.”
“I didn’t do all that: I just panicked and helped Ms. Turner hide, trusting
that you will find the truth.”
Jim nodded with a look that said: yeah, sure… Bruce raised his eyebrows.
“I can go in jail if that’s the law.”
Jim chuckled.
“You? No, definitely not” Bruce took a breath of relief. “Just next time,
please, do inform me before implementing your plans” Jim had enough secrecy
from his caped ally.
Bruce nodded.
“I will, Commissioner; thank you for your leniency.”
Jim shook his head.
“I should thank you for your concern about Gotham’s people.”
Bruce lowered slightly his eyes.
“I’m just doing what my parents would want me to.”
“They would be very proud of you, Mr. Wayne.”
Jim accompanied Bruce till the lift and as he was watching the young heir
getting hidden by the lift doors, a thought crossed his mind: despite the fact
he had ‘deceived’ police with Ms. Turner’s disappearance, his sharp mind
definitely would be useful to GCPD. If only they could persuade him to leave
Wayne Enterprises for the police…He chuckled and his officers looked him
curious.
 
Alfred hid perfectly his surprise when he opened the Manor’s door: surprise not
for the people he saw but for the fact they had come all together.
“Good afternoon, Leslie, Lucius, Master Anthony” he said with an inviting
gesture.
The company greeted him back and Alfred led them inside.
“Alfred, is Bruce here?” Leslie asked and Alfred raised his eyebrows.
“So your simultaneous coming wasn’t a coincidence…”
Tony chuckled.
“No, it wasn’t, Alfred” Lucius answered. “Can we speak with Mr. Wayne?”
“He went to the city but of course you are welcome to wait for him to return”
he gestured to the salon for them to sit.
They didn’t have to wait much before the sound of Bruce’s car announced his
arrival.
“Master Anthony, Mr. Fox and Leslie are expecting you, Master Bruce” Alfred
informed him helping him take off his long coat just before a storming Hero who
was following Alfred climbed on his young friend.
“I’m here” Bruce said coming from the corridor with Hero on his lap. “How nice
to see all of you here!”
Alfred turned to their guests.
“It’s the perfect time for a tea” the butler said and retreated to the kitchen.
Bruce guided his wheelchair near his friends and let Hero on the floor.
“Well?” he asked. “It must be something really important for you to come all
together.”
Leslie sat on the armchair close to Bruce and leaned to him.
“It’s about your surgery, Bruce.”
Bruce turned his eyes first to Lucius and then to Tony.
“Okay…”
“You know, Mr. Wayne, that we are reviewing doctors to equip the team that will
perform your surgery.”
Bruce frowned.
“But we have already brilliant scientists, Lucius.”
Tony made a few steps near his friend.
“We do, Bruce, but your case is a unique one…”
“As every case” Bruce commented and Tony licked his lips.
“I mean, very complicated, very difficult and very risky. Given your current
health condition we need really the best people in our team in order to
eliminate the risk factor.”
Bruce nodded.
“Which is almost impossible since every surgery, even the most simple, has its
risk factors.”
Leslie raised an eyebrow.
“I can’t disagree on that.”
“Well?” Bruce asked Tony.
Tony hesitated but in the end he decided that he had to tell what he had to.
“We think that we have the best candidate for the leader of our surgery team.”
Bruce shook his head.
“Interesting…And who that person might be?”
Tony ruffled his hair.
“First of all, I want you to be your usual calm, cool headed self.”
Bruce looked at Leslie and Lucius, and shrugged.
“Go ahead.”
Tony licked his lips and shared a glance with the other two ‘conspirators’.
“According to his previous work – his impressive previous work in people with
complex and difficult spine injuries – the best doctor for your surgery is Dr.
Thomas Elliot” he uttered in one breath to get over with it.
As much as he retained his calm exterior, Bruce couldn’t help but feel a
stabbing feeling of betrayal.
“Says who?” he asked calm but grim.
Tony took from the sofa his StarkStel where he had ready the data from Elliot’s
work. He gave the tablet to Bruce.
“He is a genius in his field, Bruce and he has worked with Superman so he is
accustomed to alien technology.”
Bruce was fully aware of that: Clark had told him that night in the greenhouse
when he healed his spine’s injury with his precise laser vision. The memory
just brought more daggers piercing his guts…
However Tony and the others took his thoughtfulness as a sign of agreement.
“He has an incredible record of near 100% of successful operations” Tony
continued fervently encouraged by his friend’s silence; he held Bruce’s upper
arms. “Bruce, we don’t have the safe environment of the Fortress to rely on: we
need the perfect doctor for this.”
Leslie was watching Bruce’s reactions carefully. Lucius moved closer and sat on
the armchair on Bruce’s left.
“He indeed has pretty impressive credentials, Mr. Wayne. I think we should at
least consider the possibility.”
Bruce raised his eyes from the screen and looked at his friends.
“Do you want me to trust this man with my surgery…my life…my chance to walk
again…my secrets.”
Tony tilted his head on the side and huffed.
“Bruce, even if his well demeanor towards you is only an act, he won’t dare to
do something that will endanger your life. First, because his act then will be
totally uncovered; second, because he’d want the surgery to be successful for
his status and to gain your trust. And third and foremost, because he knows
that if something happens to you, I’ll kill him.”
Leslie cleared her throat.
“I do not want to say that I don’t share your mistrust for Thomas, Bruce, but
he won’t be alone in that surgery room: I’ll be there too. Also, even if he
indeed is two faced and the scum you think, he is a doctor, Bruce. He has given
an oath.”
Bruce pressed his lips.
“Crane and Quinzel were also doctors…” he spat dryly. “He will also understand
how my injuries were caused; he’ll find out that we lied and since he’s so
cunning to gain the trust of all of you” Tony pinched the bridge of his nose
“he’ll put two and two together and figure out that I’m Batman. Do you really
want such a secret in the knowledge of Thomas Elliot?”
Tony shook his head.
“First of all, he hasn’t gained our trust; we just see the facts here. Even if
he figures out, Bruce, which is not certain, he is bound by confidentiality” he
glanced at the other two for support.
But Bruce snorted and rolled his eyes.
“Really, Tony? Confidentiality? After the experiences from Crane and Quinzel?”
he shook his head chuckling.
“Mr. Wayne” Lucius said calmly “we are not forcing anything here: we just
putting the idea for consideration. It is your decision.”
Leslie inhaled deeply.
“And the exposing issue can apply to anyone involved.”
“But nobody is as wicked as Elliot to think of that possibility!”
Bruce gave the StarkStel back to Tony with his expression filled with
conviction. Tony slapped his thighs.
“Littl’ guy, please, give it a thought! I know that you would have wanted your
father to operate you and believe me all of us would have been happier if he
was here…but Thomas Wayne is dead, buddy…and we have to settle with what is the
second best.”
Bruce turned his wheelchair so that he had his back on his friends; his heart
was beating fast. Yes, having his father there would have been perfect…His
father would have taken care of everything…Everything would have been safe with
him; Bruce wouldn’t be afraid to close his eyes and lose all control for ten
and more hours. But his father wasn’t there; he was dead, eighteen years now;
dead because of him.
Bruce’s friends were looking at him sure that he was really considering their
proposition.
And then Bruce turned slowly his head to look at them.
“I won’t do the surgery” he said calm but adamant making all of them cringe and
widen their eyes.
Leslie stood.
“Bruce, that’s just…”
But Bruce cut her.
“I won’t close my eyes knowing that after that Elliot will enter the operation
room and have my body at his will.”
Tony didn’t have the strength to stand: this was the last thing he wanted.
Bruce had already once suffered because of him and now his reasonable fear
about Tony doing again the same thing would stop him from walking again.
“No, littl’ guy, please” he said. “Don’t take that decision: your dream is to
walk again – don’t give up on that.”
Bruce locked eyes with him.
“Batman can walk and fight – that’s the only thing I need. Bruce Wayne can stay
a paraplegic for the rest of his life.”
“Mr. Wayne” Lucius said appeasing.
But Bruce raised his palm and stopped him.
“There was a little girl in the Children’s Hospital; her name is Lucy Adams and
she is paralyzed. Focus your effort on her instead.”
He turned his wheelchair and retreated fast from the salon, Hero catching up
with him and climbing on his lap.
Alfred carrying the trailer with the tea came on time to see Bruce entering the
lift. He looked at their guests and his heart fell: Leslie was clenching her
waist with both hands and pacing nervously; Lucius’ always playful eyes were
grim; and Master Anthony had hidden his face in his palms.
“What’s going on?” he asked frowned.
 
Dick was crossing the corridor when he heard Hero’s distinctive purring.
Usually, no sound came from the rooms but the door to the study was slightly
ajar. Hero was alone? He decided to take the kitten so that the animal would
have company.
Upon opening the door he froze on his heels. Bruce was with Hero; he was facing
the window, gazing at the grounds and petting his kitten. He looked so absorbed
as if in another world, just his; Dick could tell that he was sad and that he
was intruding.
He turned ready to leave the room.
“Is everything alright, Dick?” Bruce turned his face to him and he looked so
tired.
The boy looked at him and walked inside.
“No…I just was pacing and I heard Hero and I thought that he was alone. Mmm…I’m
sorry for…intruding. I’m leaving now.”
But Bruce shook his head.
“You’re not intruding. Your grandmother told me that she has your home almost
ready.”
Dick ruffled his hair uncomfortable.
“Mm…Yeah.”
“You don’t have to be so hasty…you can stay here as long as you want.”
“Thanks.”
“Of course I understand that you’re looking forward to return to your home.”
Dick really didn’t know what to say: if he had heard that a week ago he would
have answered ‘yes!’ but now he had mixed feelings.
“No…not really…I mean I’m glad that granny is back but I’m not in a hurry to
leave.”
Bruce smiled.
“I’m glad to hear that because this Manor is your home too and will be forever.
You and your grandmother and Jason are always welcome here. And I…I’ll be
always here for whatever you might need…so do not hesitate. Ever.”
Dick gulped.
“My parents would have been very happy to know that someone like you care about
me and granny…And Brian…Brian would have loved you so much” his voice broke a
bit. “You do look alike…”
Bruce pressed his lips: probably, that was the reason Joker chose to kill the
poor boy. Dick noticed Bruce’s blank eyes and wanted to fix his mood along with
Hero who played with Bruce’s fingers.
“Thanks for the visit rights” he chuckled. “You’d have me here all the time! I
want to learn more about you and…Oh! Jason wants his ride with the vehicle.”
Bruce smiled.
“I must remember that…” he chuckled but it was obvious that something was off.
“Bruce, are you feeling alright? Do you want me to call Alfred?” Dick asked
worried.
“No, Dick…I’m fine.”
“You’re sad: I…I learnt to figure that instantly because…it used to…make me
happy” he lowered his eyes. “But now I don’t want you to be sad.”
“Thank you…that alone can make me happy.”
Dick smiled and hesitantly stretched his hand to touch Bruce’s.
“All of us love you, Bruce…well, me lately…I’m a late bloomer…” he snorted.
“But you must remember that whatever happens…even if someone of us says
something wrong…we…we just…I mean, we don’t understand sometimes but that
doesn’t mean we don’t love you.”
“Thanks, Dick” he patted with his other hand Dick’s and on his.
The boy walked out of the room and Bruce took his smart phone from the small
table under the window and sent the email he had prepared.
 
The woman with the skinny jean and black leather jacket had her forest green
eyes on the lonely road of the Palisades. She raised her hand hitch-hiking the
car she saw approaching.
The red Lancia Y stopped a few meters ahead of her and she rushed graciously
there as the door opened and a head popped towards her.
“Hey, Sel. Hitch-hiking can be dangerous, you know.”
Selina smiled and jumped to the passenger’s seat giving a kiss to the driver’s
cheek.
“Yeah, for the driver…” she chuckled. “Smart girls know how to choose cars…so
can I come along?”
Bruce grinned.
“Sure…” and he started the engine resuming his course.
Selina was watching her friend; his face was absolutely calm yet Selina had
been informed by Alfred about what happened.
“Night stroll?” she asked gazing at the first colors of the night falling over
Palisades; dark highways under the public lights which were running on both
sides always gave her a feeling of freedom.
“Something like that…”
Selina could speak with Bruce more openly than anyone else.
“They upset you again” she said crossing her arms. “Why they don’t understand?”
she rolled her eyes.
Bruce pursed his lips.
“Alfred called you, huh? You shouldn’t have left your bike in the middle of the
countryside to hitchhike” he widened his eyes for emphasis “Gotham has many
thieves, you know.”
“Don’t worry: I left the bike in the safest place” she cocked her eyebrows and
looked him in the eyes. “Your cave.”
Bruce chuckled.
“Bruce, Alfred told me everything…He told me that you said that you won’t do
the surgery” she said completely serious. “Sweetie, that is…I mean, it is your
decision and I will support you through and through but do you want to tell me
what made you change your mind?”
Bruce glanced at her.
“They want Thomas Elliot to do the operation.”
Selina huffed and shook her head.
“Are they nuts? They know that you loath the guy, how do they expect you to
trust him with your life?”
“They believe that he is the best there is and that only he can eliminate the
perils of the operation.”
Selina shook her head and snorted.
“If you don’t trust the one that is going to cut you open then the perils will
only increase. They should have asked a woman about her gynecologist...”
Bruce nodded.
“And there is also my secret: I’m sure Elliot approached Tony only to get
access to me and find anything he can about me. Imagine his thoughts when he
gets inside knowledge about my injuries and my organism’s condition.”
Selina thought about it – it was cringe worthy: she didn’t like Elliot.
“Do you think that Tony and Leslie gave him any info?”
“No; they wanted to have my consent first. Yet I rather stay paralyzed forever
than let him handle my body.”
Selina understood Bruce’s feelings.
“But walking again is your dream, Bruce, and you deserve that – you shouldn’t
give up on that whatever they say or do” she pursed her lips. “And I know you
always have a back up…”
He turned to her grinning confidently and smartly which made Selina’s hopes
flare.
“Oh! You know me so well…” he said and his eyes sparkled.
 
The first rays of sun burst inside the spacious, modern-decorated living room.
Stephen took the cup with his lukewarm coffee without looking at it, not
wanting to stop reading the contents on his lap top screen. It was fascinating
and brought him the old feeling of excitement, the same fire that led his life
before the accident upturned everything.
He was in his gray pajamas and his had placed his pendant beside his laptop.
His cape stood afloat, rigid in the middle of the living room because she
didn’t like the coat rack.
His Smart phone rang and thankfully he had finished because he would have been
rather pissed from the interruption.
“Strange” he said but then his mood changed from bored to interested. “Mr.
Wayne? Okay, Bruce. Yeah, I’ve just finished reading the files you sent me and
I must say…”
The doorbell cut him and this time he rolled his eyes.
“Bruce, hold on a second; someone is at the door” he walked towards the door.
He didn’t want the risk of anyone overhearing the sensitive information Bruce
had sent him.
He kept the phone stuck between ear and shoulder and opened the door ready to
send away his annoying visitor. But as he opened the door he gaped.
Before him with his own Smart phone in hand, was Bruce Wayne on his wheelchair.
“Bruce?” he asked perplexed.
Bruce smiled.
“Good morning. I hope I’m not interrupting.”
Stephen laughed.
“Actually, you interrupted your own phone call” he opened his door for him to
get inside and ended the dial.
“Your house is very elegant” Bruce said.
Stephen grinned.
“Kudos to the decorator because I had never the time or the interest to do it
myself. Would you like some juice?” he said walking to the wooden bar opposite
the whole wall window.
“Thank you, Dr. Strange.”
“From your medication I get that you are not drinking any coffee” he filled a
glass with juice and returned to Bruce, gave him the glass and sat at the white
leather sofa. “I won’t deny that your visit was a big surprise.”
Bruce sipped the juice and grinned.
“Maybe I should have called first…I’m sorry for the inconvenience.”
Dr. Strange shook his head.
“Inconvenience? Not at all” he glanced at his pajamas and laughed. “Although if
you had called, I’d have been in a more appropriate attire. Anyway, when you
sent me your medical file I thought that you just wanted my opinion through a
phone call or mail. If I knew you wanted a more personal discussion, I would
have come to Gotham and spared you from the tiresome experience of the flight
here.”
“Actually, I drove here” Stephen’s eyes bulged. “Thank you for your concern but
I needed some escape.”
Dr. Strange cocked his eyebrows.
“So many hours of driving though…And all night driving. You must be exhausted
without the proper sleep.”
Bruce grinned.
“I have a good friend along: she drove some hours for me to sleep in the back
seat.”
The older man cocked an eyebrow.
“Good girl!”
Bruce shook his head.
“I owe her my life and my soul; I don’t deserve her…” he cleared his throat to
change the subject “Well, what’s your opinion on my case?”
Dr. Strange huffed.
“Oh, Bruce…I had heard some descriptions of what you suffered all these years
but those scans and X-rays were really shocking” Bruce’s eyes became a bit
blank. “I mean, what these people did to you for eighteen years was there like
seeing a movie.”
“A really bad movie” Bruce said dryly but Stephen leaned to him and found his
eyes.
“A movie of incredible bravery and strength – a hymn to human will.”
Bruce shook his head.
“And about my spine injury?” he asked wanting to change the subject
immediately.
Dr. Strange understood.
“It’s not an injury” he said in his bass a bit know-it-all voice and Bruce
frowned inside. “Is a sum of injuries – the worst I ever seen: I wonder, Bruce,
what kind of torture can cause such damage” he cocked an eyebrow “even though
as a doctor I have seen many grotesque injuries, tortures always appalled me.
What they did to you? It seems like you were crushed…”
Bruce pressed his lips.
“Let’s say that there weren’t only tortures.”
“Also, your spleen has been removed due to heavy internal bleeding” Bruce
nodded “your right lung has signs of collapse and you suffered a great number
of fractures in your ribs, arms and shoulder blades; not to mention, your legs
and hip. Those energy casts that hold your bones together did a spectacular
job: your bones have recovered to an impressive level. And…” he remembered
something that made him fascinated  “you are a rare case of Chimera: two
distinct DNAs in the same body!”
Bruce chuckled.
“I‘m glad you remember perfectly the details of my condition.”
“It’s a fascinating case, Bruce” he cleared his throat “I mean, by scientific
interest. And it’s a long time since I last worked on something medical
related. By the way, it was an honor for me that you asked for my opinion.”
Bruce lolled his head on the side.
“You are one of the greatest neurosurgeons in the world.”
Stephen laughed.
“I was…This is history, Bruce.”
Bruce looked at him and Stephen couldn’t see through that eyes.
“So what is your opinion about a potential surgery.”
Stephen pursed his lips.
“I have read about Mr. Fox’s job on bionic body parts and I’m sure that Stark
had perfected that to the level of a miracle in order to enable you to walk
again.”
“But?”
“It will certainly be a most demanding operation – I don’t know if ten or
twelve hours of surgery will be enough; I’m almost certain that it’d take more”
Bruce nodded solemnly. “Your heart is a bit arrhythmic and that’s dangerous;
also, your right lung has already recovered from one collapsing and your other
lung has also sustained considerable damage which although healed make the lung
sensitive.”
Bruce prompted him with the eyes to continue.
“However you had shown a great resiliency and stamina: not only for eighteen
years but also more recently when you came out of those lethal injuries even
with some alien help…” he said pointedly but Bruce didn’t seem worried. “Even
if I’m not still a doctor, I’m loyal to doctor-patient confidentiality” he
hurried to reassure his guest. “All in all, Bruce: it’s a surgery with a great
risk but I’m positive that your more than capable friends had made everything
to decrease the percentage of danger; the decision is only yours, Bruce, but if
you choose the most skilled medical team in the world – and I think that every
doctor would have ‘killed’ to be your surgeon – the chances of success will be
increased.”
Bruce nodded.
“About that…the most skilled doctor in the world” Dr. Strange looked at Bruce
“I want you to perform my surgery.”
Stephen choked on his saliva and grabbed his coffee mug to drink some. He was
staring at Bruce with bulged eyes but his guest’s eyes were perfectly calm and
serious with a power that made a great impression to him.
“You’re not kidding, right?” Bruce shook his head and Stephen brought his palms
on his face. “Some time ago I’d be thrilled to hear that, Bruce; my ego would
have urged me to accept at once. But now…I’m not a doctor anymore, Bruce: that
ended once and for all. If you want I can suggest some brilliant colleagues.”
Yet Bruce’s eyes were still; adamant.
“Your brilliant skills, your talent in neurosurgeon, your genius weren’t lost
in that accident” Dr. Strange shook his head.
“Bruce, you’re a great man; a symbol of willpower and survival but we can’t
have back some things as much as we want them. Even if I can perform some
trivial operations, the surgery you need to undergo will be the most difficult
in medical history. You certainly don’t want to trust your life to a doctor
that has left all these behind and he isn’t in his prime. I would not want to
be the one who will condemn someone like you…” he cocked his eyebrows. “Not to
mention that if anything happens to you, no dimension will be able to save me
from Tony-fucking-Stark. I’m sorry, Bruce, but Dr. Strange is an empty title…”
“But you want to be that man again” Bruce commented and Stephen pressed his
hair. “You learnt that you have extraordinary skills; skills that enable you to
control matter and time. You sound to me like the best man for the job.”
Stephen fixed his eyes on his legs: well, that young man had a point but still
it was…Although his guts felt pleasantly upset, almost aroused on the prospect
of something so challenging he couldn’t risk a human life to satisfy his ego.
“I admit that my wizard skills can be quite useful in such a surgery…”
Bruce shook his head.
“It can be very handy” Stephen continued.
“No, Dr. Strange; I wasn’t thinking the wizard; I want just the brilliant
doctor.”
Stephen goggled at him frowned.
“Yes, but if…” certainly if something went awry a wizard who can turn back the
time to correct things would be really a safety line.
Bruce yanked his head.
“If things don’t go as we want them” he said adamant “I don’t want you to use
magic to save my life.”
Now Stephen gasped: he couldn’t believe his ears.
“I don’t want to live fooling the laws of the nature…”
Stephen frowned.
“That’s what a friend of mine says” he raised his eyebrows “Now…you really want
me to operate you without my wizard skills?”
Bruce smiled.
“I think that your self-knowledge skills and your quality as a doctor will be
enough without your magical abilities. After all, if I have chosen another
doctor he wouldn’t be a powerful wizard, right?”
Stephen laughed.
“As far as I know…though we can’t bet on that, do we? But I’ll need time to
prepare myself and you; also, I’ll need to be informed about everything your
friends have developed. And I want to examine you thoroughly.”
Bruce nodded.
“Certainly. If you want we can return together to Gotham.”
“The sooner I start the better.”
“Thank you, Dr. Strange” he gave him his hand for a handshake.
“Call me, Stephen” he narrowed his eyes and smiled. “You have the ability to
motivate people to the best…”
Bruce pursed his lips and shrugged one shoulder.
“Nah…I just ask things…”
 
Tony paced in the Manor’s salon with Alfred watching him in his usual
tranquility. Leslie and Lucius had arrived after him.
“Almost 24 hours, Alfred! Why you didn’t tell me sooner? I’d have…” he raised
his palm “wait.” He pressed a button at his wrist watch “Jarvis, find Bruce’s
car trace.”
Alfred cleared his throat.
“Master Anthony, I must remind you that you cannot locate Master Bruce’s car
even though it’s your creation. However, even if you could, Master Bruce took
the red Lancia, obviously for more discretion.”
Tony watched Alfred in disbelief. In the end, he grunted.
“When I took the message to come here – as Leslie and Lucius – I thought that
he was here…Why you didn’t tell me sooner, Alfred? So many things may have
happened…Shit! Fuck! It’s my fault! Ugh! Why I always do wrong with Bruce?”
Alfred was watching calm but clearly amused.
“I apologize for interrupting your self-degrading, quite interesting monologue
yet I must inform you that Master Bruce was in the most capable hands so there
was no reason to cause you such a distress.”
Tony frowned.
“Which hands?”
Alfred cocked an eyebrow.
“Miss Kyle’s of course.”
Tony took a deep inhale of relief but still wasn’t calm.
“I made him to give up! I killed his dream! Now he won’t do the surgery.”
“Master Anthony, I’m sure that Master Bruce will think it better: he was upset
when he said that. And I didn’t raise the alarm about his escapee exactly to
let him breathe.”
Leslie stood.
“Alfred is right.”
Tony clenched his waist with both hands.
“I don’t know, Alfred…I’m worried…why he left?”
“To find the best doctor for my surgery.”
Everyone turned surprised to see a smiling Bruce who had just entered
accompanied by Selina and Dr. Strange. Tony rushed to him and hugged him; he
finally released him still holding his upper arms.
“Thank you, litl’ guy…thank you for not giving up. The best doctor?”
Bruce gestured to Stephen on his right.
“Dr. Stephen Strange.”
 
***** Chapter 76 *****
“What do you think?”
Tony, a glass of pina collada in his hand, sat at the oval sun chair next to
the one Dr. Strange was sitting. On the small rectangular table between them
Alfred had brought the doctor a glass of orange juice and some sandwiches; Dr.
Strange had sat by the inside pool wanting to watch his new patient’s session
with his physiotherapist.
He had followed Bruce’s session with Matt from the beginning wishing to assess
fully his condition. Dr. Strange was in the gym while Bruce was exercising in
weightlifting, sit ups and walking with exoskeletons. All this time he was
keeping notes typing them to his notepad.
Now he was looking at the pool where Bruce swam along with Dick and Jason; the
two boys competing with him in spread swimming but soon giving up for playing
splashing water to each other and to Hero who was running on the edge of the
pool following their course. Laughter was echoing throughout the space.
“Boys! Boys!” Matt said from the brim of the pool clapping. “You’re supposed to
accompany Bruce to his exercises…not playing” but then he smiled because
hearing all these laughs was great, especially since his patient was laughing
along: it was the first time after too long that Matt was seeing Bruce a bit
careless. “Never mind…Keep up the good work!” he said and Jason treated him
with some water.
“He is amazing” Dr. Strange answered. “He swims like an athlete and that’s
pretty impressive considering that he had managed this level only in a few
months.”
Tony nodded.
“And he makes it seem effortless; as if swimming with your legs paralyzed is
easy…”
Dr. Strange turned to look at him.
“He was freed from Falcone only a year ago and he already managed to help
hundreds of people in this city; he was struck again losing his mobility in the
worst way yet he fights that and at the same time he is the guardian of a boy
that is clear that adores him; as that other boy with them.”
Tony crooked his mouth at the adore thing remembering how Dick was towards
Bruce only a few days ago.
“Dick and his friend Jason – Bruce loves them both much.”
Stephen grinned.
“I can see why people love him so much: he is so inspiring.”
Tony raised his eyebrows.
“Don’t let him hear you saying that…He doesn’t like to be praised.”
Stephen shook his head.
“His body is perfectly shaped; muscular like an athlete’s.”
Tony lay on the chair.
“Falcone wanted him like that…he made him work out to get a perfect body.”
Stephen pressed his lips.
“Bruce has some scars that are older than the date of the incident that
rendered him paraplegic. Scars from knife wounds.”
Tony sipped from his drink.
“Falcone always abused Bruce” he replied dryly.
“It is odd that he gave scars to the one he wanted perfect for his pleasure.”
Tony licked his lips.
“Falcone’s hatred sometimes overcame his longing; he was short tempered and
when Bruce wasn’t able to satisfy every sick desire he had, Falcone was losing
control…”
Stephen nodded.
“The traces of all these years’ abuse are evident even in his bones. It’s
incredible how a man with such experiences is so dynamic and confident.”
Tony shook his head.
“Bruce buries his experiences deep inside and never lets the pain interfere to
his life – he never talks about these things even if we ask him to; yet
sometimes his nightmares and flashbacks become too disturbing.”
 “I can only imagine.”
Tony frowned.
“Do you think that the surgery has odds to be successful?”
Dr. Strange raised his eyebrows.
“Every surgery has risks and this one is an especially difficult. You know that
better than me.”
Tony pursed his lips.
“But I’m sure that you with Fox had created something revolutionary to
eliminate the risk to the minimum” Strange added.
Tony put his hands behind his neck and looked at the pool.
“You have total access to our project…However, I’m asking your personal,
professional opinion about Bruce: his organism is too battered, his internal
organs too exhausted and the surgery is very demanding. I dread that he won’t
last…”
“There’s no doubt that what you mention is true yet I believe that he can make
it. You don’t?”
“I believe in Bruce and I’d never want him to lose the chance to walk again.
But for the first time in my life I want another opinion than mine.”
Stephen nodded.
“I understand how much you love him and I promise you that I’ll do everything
in my power for this surgery to succeed. For someone like Bruce I’ll do
everything.”
Tony shook his head looking at Bruce who was playing with the boys inside the
pool.
“You better…”
 
Bruce fixed hastily the towel over his pelvis; he was on his stomach at the
examination table attached to the gym. After Matt’s massage, Stephen asked to
examine him and settled the screen around the examination table for Bruce to
strip and cover himself before calling him for the procedure.
Dr. Strange was putting on his gloves when he caught with the corner of his
eyes Bruce’s rushed movement to cover himself as better as he could; however,
he didn’t want to make his patient feel uncomfortable so looked at his
examination gloves.
Bruce grinned.
“I’m sorry… even though my recent life is filled with doctors and examinations
I still can’t overcome that reaction.”
Stephen nodded.
“I understand; you don’t have to be sorry. Just relax.”
Bruce let his face touch the mattress and Dr. Strange began feeling his back
gently, insisting on the spots were the biggest damage had occurred. He was
breathing calmly although a foreign touch was always a shock for his body
especially when his neurologist tested his pelvis and legs muscles.
The fact that he could only hear and see the outline of Dr. Strange carefully
making his legs move lessened the sense of uneasiness: feeling his
ministrations even if completely professional would have elevated Bruce’s
distress: he knew that it was stupid of him yet as much as he had learnt to
control it he just couldn’t stop the sour emotion from emerging.
“Can you turn on your back, Bruce?” Stephen asked and turned around so to give
the younger man the discretion to settle himself.
“I’m ready” Bruce said after he meticulously covered his pelvis; he appreciated
Dr. Strange’s discretion.
Stephen continued his examination, feeling Bruce’s torso with his fingers and
then using stethoscope. When he ended with the stethoscope the worst moment
came for Bruce. Being on his back he could clearly see the doctor’s
ministrations first on his pelvis to estimate the damage and the neurons’
state: very careful movements since Dr. Strange knew Bruce’s back story.
And then the doctor began gently making moves with Bruce’s legs testing the
muscles and the reflexes. It was awkward seeing your members like this,
resembling the parts of a plastic doll – of course, it wasn’t the first time in
all these months yet after the days of he being active as Batman what he was
experiencing right now seemed like a bad reality crushing to him.
And Bruce was seeing what Dr. Strange saw: the distinct marks of piercing and
burning in all these spots where the metallic rods had stabbed his legs: the
same excruciating pain pierced Bruce’s brain although the neurons of his legs
weren’t feeling anything.
Dr. Strange met his patient’s eyes as he was examining one of these marks.
“Torture…” Bruce said casually and Stephen pressed his lips.
When his doctor put his attention to the lower part of his legs Bruce could
succumb to the senses that was besieging him; senses of that night. The
unbearable pain; the feeling of his heart collapsing among crazy beats; his
lung being pierced; his body withdrawing; the lack of oxygen; the awareness of
the imminent death; the agony from his loved ones’ memories; his torturing need
to see them one last time.
“We’re done; you can dress” Stephen’s bass baritone brought him back to reality
just when sweat drops began appearing to his forehead; he met the doctor’s eyes
that were watching him.
The doctor settled the screen around the table and stayed out to let Bruce put
his clothes.
“You can come, Dr. Strange.”
The doctor gathered the screen in a corner and brought Bruce’s wheelchair for
his patient to sit.
“Well?” Bruce asked.
“Like the scans showed your bones are progressing impressively; as Matt told me
you haven’t lost much muscle mass – almost not at all – which is perfectly
reasonable since you are training constantly.”
Bruce grinned.
“Tony talked to Matt about me from the first moment I woke up from coma and
Matt worked very hard and patiently with me since I first regained my ability
to do exercises.”
Stephen smiled.
“They definitely helped but I think that you did most of the hard work: in a
few months time you gained the skills of a Special Olympics athlete.”
“Not that much.”
Stephen tilted his head.
“You could have easily competed in a few months yet we’ll make the surgery and
you’ll walk again.”
Bruce pressed his lips.
“If that surgery succeeds then many paraplegics would be able to walk again.”
Stephen nodded and cocked an eyebrow.
“Absolutely. I believe that there cannot be an injury more severe than yours”
Bruce looked at him a bit frowned and Stephen smiled. “Superman saved you from
certain death and his alien technology supported your valiant struggle to stay
alive.”
Bruce knew that he couldn’t deny that yet the real circumstances under which he
got injured weren’t that obvious to the doctor. He licked his lips.
“He did save me and his technology helped me not die and recover; weren’t for
his energy casts I would have been still in a hospital bed completely immobile
and wrapped in casts. Not to mention that I’d be dead from the injuries I
suffered.”
Stephen pursed his lips.
“The same environment where Superman treated you then it would make the surgery
much safer” Bruce shook his head in denial but Stephen insisted. “I caught the
news: I know that Superman is now preoccupied with other…things.”
“I didn’t have anything with him” Bruce cut him and Dr. Strange nodded.
“Okay, fine; what I wanted to say is that if I asked him to I don’t think that
he would object in using his premises for such a surgery.”
Bruce locked eyes with his doctor and Stephen was impressed with the conviction
and intensity in those eyes.
“Superman will stay away from all these. I want this surgery to take place
under conditions that apply to every other patient: no special help. Lucius and
Tony have made a tremendous job and their job will be accessible to everyone;
so my surgery will take place with what those two brilliant scientists have
created and its success will be the certificate for the beginning of more
surgeries for every individual who needs it. Doing the surgery in Superman’s
extraordinary conditions and succeeding won’t have any importance because even
if I succeed and walk again that won’t apply to everyone else since you
understand that Superman won’t accept his place to become a hospital.”
Stephen was deep in thought: Bruce was right in his reasoning. But on the other
hand that was extraordinarily selfless: risking his life so that every person
would have the chance to regain its mobility whereas he could just do the
surgery in the safety of Superman’s headquarters.
“This is incredibly admirable, Bruce” he said serious. “Putting other people’s
wellbeing over yours.”
Bruce chuckled.
“I still have you and my friends – I’m not on my own.”
Stephen grinned.
“I’ll need time, Bruce. To assemble my team and study thoroughly Lucius’ and
Tony’s work. Also, I need to discuss things with Dr. Thompkins.”
Bruce nodded.
“That suits me too. I have things to settle before the surgery. So you have all
the time you need.”
 
His entire world had shrunk into what his eyes were seeing: which was crazy
small considering his sight’s range that was literally vast. However the only
thing his eyes could see was the gray tombstone in front of him; every other
thing obliterated as the letters formed two words: Bruce Wayne.
After everything – and he didn’t know what that ‘everything’ was exactly but he
knew that it was something containing much, cruel fight – Bruce had died…so
simple. Because for Bruce the simplest thing was shedding his blood,
sacrificing his life for others.
He cocked a tired eyebrow: that was what Bruce always did, right? He had almost
died some months ago to save some children but Superman made it on time then
and saved him…What he failed to do this time.
He stared at his fists and only then realized that around him was dark: the
dusk had given its place to night – pitch black with a deep silence that made
his spine froze. He was in Clark Kent’s clothes.
Clark didn’t know if Bruce had had the chance to fight at all his injuries to
stay alive yet something inside him told Clark that the human wouldn’t have
wanted to fight. After all, this world wasn’t worthy of the effort and Bruce
was way too tired and disappointed.
From him more than anything…
Suddenly, the darkness of the night became suffocating as if it had swallowed
everything, as if there wouldn’t be any light ever again; no warmth, no hope,
no laughter…No star in the sky. He looked up and the sky was a stranger without
any star without the moon: a void…He remembered the dream he had seen where the
star had led him away from the void, from the cold, the hopelessness. But now
that star had vanished.
His eyes returned on the name and stayed there fixed until the letters
evaporated and two eyes replaced them: two eyes like sapphire seas with emerald
stars for irises.
Clark couldn’t stand the way those eyes looked at him, penetrating him to the
core; the realization came as an unbearable stone on his insides: he wasn’t
going to see those eyes again…his heart screamed as it was pinched by invisible
Kryptonite fingers.
“Kal? What’s wrong?”
Superman opened his eyes realizing that the scream wasn’t of his heart but his
own and now Diana was leaned upon him with her dazzling eyes filled with
puzzlement, concern and a hue of…scorn? Sure thing, he must have looked too
weak in her eyes.
“It’s nothing, darling” he smiled appreciating the pleasant feeling of her
silken hair touching his naked chest. “Just a nightmare.”
She cocked an eyebrow.
“I wouldn’t believe that someone like you sees nightmares…” she defeated her
contempt and smiled kindly. “So what you saw that made you scream like this?”
Superman raised himself in a sitting position and ran his hand through his
hair. He had to share with her; she believed in him and he didn’t want to hide
things from her.
“I saw that Bruce had died.”
Diana widened her eyes and snorted.
“That’s normal for him, Kal El: unlike us, he is only a human destined to die”
she said indifferently caressing sensually the raven hair on his chest.
Superman nodded.
“I know…”
“But you still got distressed…Why? Is he still that important to you that his
death would cause you such reaction?” she asked casually with only a slight
irony revealing her annoyance.
Superman understood that she didn’t want to show her jealousy for his intense
reaction about Bruce. He wrapped her shoulders with his arm and kissed her
lips.
“He is not important, Diana: you are the most important being on the planet for
me. Yet I don’t want anyone to die and… frankly I can’t understand why the
content of that dream caused such reaction” he shook his head and chuckled.
Diana kissed gently his chest rising with soft kisses to his neck to his mouth
till she stabbed her eyes to his.
“Maybe you just want to have his body again…” she said casually and seeing his
jerk. “I understand your body’s needs, Kal El: if you long for the human I
don’t have any problem with you taking him. You deserve to have whatever you
want, Kal El.”
Superman laughed and closed her naked torso in his strong hands capturing her
lips in a strong kiss.
“I don’t want Bruce; I long only for you…”
“I’m glad for that because you deserve only the best, Kal El and humans
especially this one is so inferior that isn’t worthy even to wash your feet.”
Superman smiled though his heart was again pressed hard in the same way as in
his dream; he hated that feeling so he did the best thing he knew that could
heal him from everything: dive in Diana’s body and let her perfume clean every
unpleasant feeling or thought.
 
Oliver Queen stood before the whole wall window that revealed Gotham City’s
morning skyline. His eyes were blank turned inside thinking his last encounter
with Bruce: the human’s blatant refusal of his love. He clenched his fist in
the air.
“Why?” he whispered. “Why are you so stubborn and refuse to see the truth?”
Footsteps behind him notified him for a new presence; he didn’t need to turn to
see because he knew already. The footsteps stopped right next to him.
“Are you thinking about him?” a female voice thick with irony broke the
silence.
He looked at her feeling anger about her cocked eyebrow that almost reached her
tiara.
“What are you doing here?” he snapped at her.
She lolled her head to the side.
“Princess Diana is Queen’s friend so she can visit him, right?”
“Your place is next to Superman.”
She looked at the view.
“He gets lost every morning to return at the afternoon as if he works in a
humble human office” she answered. “So I can take some fresh air. After all,
you certainly have your measures around your place so he can’t overhear us.”
Queen raised his eyebrows.
“That’s true.”
The fake Diana crooked her mouth.
“An easy job for a powerful demon like you.”
Queen didn’t answer and she snorted.
“Don’t tell me you have doubts about the success of your ingenious plan?
Superman is completely enslaved to me and thus to you: it will only take your
word for me to surrender him to you.”
Queen focused his eyes towards the Palisades that wasn’t visible from there.
“It won’t be long…”
Ivy smiled and touched gently his cheek, taking in the melancholy in his eyes.
“You defeated Superman but you didn’t win what you wanted and that is enough to
bend someone as powerful as you” she shook her head. “I don’t get what you guys
find in Bruce Wayne…I remember Falcone’s infatuation about that skinny, filthy
boy…”
Queen’s eyes took the red, flaming color of Bagdana’s cat like eyes. The menace
of his wrath washing Diana’s spine with ice.
“Don’t you ever compare me with that bastard!”
She raised her eyebrows.
“Really? He looked to me like the perfect servant for a demon: a mob boss
greedy enough to rob, kill, enslave people and most of all capture a small kid,
torture and rape him mercilessly maiming his body and soul. I thought you would
be satisfied with Falcone’s performance! Oh! He did great things with that
boy’s little body and actually that brat’s body’s only use is to be a sex toy.”
Bagdana’s eyes in Oliver Queen’s face became completely still the red emanating
thunders. Diana smirked but the demon grabbed her chin clenching.
“You touched Bruce?” he growled.
“You know that I stayed for a while in Dolcetto…”
“You touched him?!” he insisted.
She rolled her eyes annoyed.
“I did! I was pissed with Falcone’s fixation on him that sometimes surpassed my
charm! I was curious about what that skinny thing had to cause such passion: it
seemed ridiculous and still seems” she snorted. “I have to admit that he had a
great body scent – extraordinary - and his lips on my breasts” Queen’s eyes
narrowed to thin flames of wrath “felt like velvet but the major thing is that
indeed his ass had an impressive capacity – which must have been of help for
Brucie with Superman’s enormous dick…”
Bagdana’s eyes widened like the strike of a lightning but he didn’t hit her.
“Did he remember you?” he hissed frowning since the ramifications of that were
more important.
She laughed.
“Of course not! I’m a master of changing faces: Pamela Isley, Poison Ivy,
Vivian, Diana…The stupid brat couldn’t remember me. Besides if he did he’d have
said to Superman and that idiot would have revealed that to me: the Man of
Steel tells me everything.”
Bagdana wasn’t totally convinced yet he counted on the fact that Bruce’s memory
of events during his captivity wasn’t perfect: he wasn’t remembering anything
about the demon for quite a long time. And indeed if he did remember Vivian and
had connected her with Diana he’d have done something to prevent Superman from
going to her.
She shook her head.
“I’m deeply sad seeing someone as great as you being like this for the little
bitch’s sake; because he was always a bitch, a whore and he still is” she
sniggered. “It seems that you’re the only one he doesn’t open his legs for…Have
you ever taken even a taste?”
Bagdana clenched his jaw and for a moment everything went dark.
“Don’t provoke me! Remember that your strength comes from me: I can deprive you
from it whenever I want and squash you like every other plant.”
Ivy narrowed her eyes.
“Not all my powers come from you…” she said slyly. “The powers you gave me
wouldn’t be enough to take Superman away from your little human.”
Bagdana yanked his head.
“That’s why I chose you.”
“Exactly: a goddess of seduction… Though the stupid Kryptonian still  relapses
into his pathetic infatuation…”
Queen frowned.
“What happened?”
“He had a nightmare; he saw that Wayne died and that caused him a great
distress.”
He shook his head.
“I’m not surprised…” it wasn’t easy to forget Bruce; something inside him
jerked violently thinking what Superman saw. “Bruce won’t die.”
Diana crossed her arms on her chest.
“He is a human: his destiny is to die.”
Bagdana turned his back on her and gazed at the skyline.
“Not when he becomes mine.”
Diana smirked.
“Are you so sure that he’ll become yours? If Superman’s betrayal and Queen’s
love weren’t enough to make him fall for another human being – because your
melancholy shows that you failed – then how do you expect that he’ll do that
for a demon? By the way, I can’t blame that bitch for not forgetting Superman:
he is really great in sex – I bet that he gave some super time to him. Maybe
when all this ends and you get the brat I can keep Superman: you think your
boss would object?”
Queen shrugged.
“Tell him yourself.”
The fake Diana felt the change in the air behind her as a form shaped
instantly; she turned to see an enormous bluish figure with square features.
She pursed her lips but Darkseid’s surprise was greater seeing the Amazon
there.
Bagdana took his real form and moved in front of her just in case the New God
attacked her. There was no danger of anyone seeing or hearing them because not
only the windows were blocking the view from outside but also his power
concealed them from everyone.
“I told you that you didn’t have to worry about the Amazon…” he said coldly to
his ally locking eyes with him.
Darkseid cackled.
“She was your ally from the beginning?”
The fake Diana moved from behind Bagdana.
“He didn’t tell you? He is a secretive little demon.”
Darkseid grinned.
“How you managed to persuade the Amazon to join our cause?”
Bagdana jerked his head backwards.
“She is not the Amazon Princess” Darkseid frowned and the woman beamed
stretching her arms.
“Poison Ivy.”
“She has powers that we needed and I gave her everything necessary to persuade
that she is the real Amazon.”
Darkseid nodded.
“And you did a tremendous job, Bagdana, and you too, Ivy.”
She cocked her eyebrows.
“Since you’re here and you acknowledge how precious my work is, our deal with
Bagdana was that after the extinction of human filth from this planet I will
get the remains so my plants and I could live and thrive: for millions of years
humans were destroying and taking brutal advantage of nature. Now, it’s our
turn.”
“You can do whatever you want with this pathetic planet after I finish”
Darkseid said indifferent.
“I’ll be the beloved queen of nature” she said and her blue eyes shone; Bagdana
couldn’t hide his amusement on that. “And I’d like to ask something about
Superman…”
“What?”
She narrowed her eyes and waved that off with disgust.
“Never mind! Screw Superman!”
Bagdana met Darkseid’s eyes.
“Superman is enslaved to her and she can bring him to us whenever we want:
nobody will give a damn about his disappearance after his indifference during
the recent attacks against humans – their greatest heroine now is Wonder Woman
and when the time of your attack comes their despair will be devastating seeing
her siding with you.”
Ivy smiled wickedly.
“That would be perfect” Darkseid said thinking about the Anti Life Equation:
the amount of terror and despair from almost 7 billion humans would give him a
tremendous power.
Bagdana stood before him.
“Well? Have I won my reward?” he cocked one of his thick eyebrows.
Darkseid narrowed his eyes and laughed.
“I underestimated your wits, Bagdana: you are a worthy servant of Darkseid.”
Ivy rolled her eyes hearing that yet Bagdana bowed slightly his head keeping
his eyes locked with Darkseid which satisfied the New God. The ancient demon
knew how to control his wrath and let others insult him as long as he needed
them…His price was more than worthy of listening to that stupid God’s bullshit:
actually, Darkseid’s arrogance was really hilarious for someone who had watched
countless of powerful beings getting squashed into oblivion: they also believed
that they were invincible.
“Though” Darkseid said raising an eyebrow “Superman seems to defy a bit your
control…”
 
Clark Kent was walking on the streets of Metropolis, blended with the crowd;
his coat’s lapels were raised supposedly to keep away the cold – spring had
come yet winter seemed reluctant to depart - but also because he felt the need
for being unnoticed. Not that he wasn’t unnoticed in his humble Clark Kent
appearance; but he wanted more.
He had his hands deep in his oversized coat’s pockets thinking. He told Perry
that today he wouldn’t stay in the office and head for field work. Clark didn’t
tell anything to Lois who was glancing at him cold as always. He couldn’t press
his presence on her and actually he wanted to be alone without someone who
constantly criticized him about his choices.
It was afternoon and he already missed Diana: her warm, strong body; the
dazzling feeling of her touch, of her kiss; her intoxicating perfume that
filled him with pure happiness… Ugh! His body cried and wanted to drag him back
to her…
Yet there he was, walking aimlessly trying to catch anything dangerous so to
prevent any potentially dangerous development for people; or finding anything
about Intergang which he had neglected lately. And actually he wanted to keep
neglecting that and everything else for Diana’s sake yet he felt…guilty. After
the nightmare with Bruce he felt guilty for not doing what he had promised his
parents and himself.
Bruce’s ‘death’ reminded him the people who died during the attack in New York
while he was watching from afar. Bruce might not be in danger and actually
Bruce did have other people to save him if there was the need yet other people
did rely on him.
Suddenly, he caught yells, grunts of pain and shootings coming from the other
end of the city. The sound of shattered glasses was flooding and the cries of
children heartbreaking.
He hurried to a dark, deserted allay and in a second Superman had replaced
Clark Kent: he raised his fist in the air and launched to the sky feeling the
dark cloud being lifted from his heart with the thought of how proud Diana
would be of him…
As he was flying there Superman could see some police cars heading to the same
place but the Man of Steel knew that in hostage situations the sooner the
calamity ended the better. And it was a hostage situation: his hearing was
focused there so he could discern clearly the threatening voices of men and the
scared heartbeats of people. There were injured but thankfully no dead.
His sight was fixed to the spot where the incident was taking place so he saw
the place before reaching there; a common restaurant opposite a building filled
with offices so during this time of the day it was packed with men and women
who were dining before returning to their work. However there were also kids as
some families had come for lunch as well.
As for the assailants, they definitely weren’t bank robbers: if some robbery
had taken place Superman would have heard. Probably some terrorists encouraged
by the fact that Superman seemed absent lately decided to spread pain and
death.
Well, they’ve made a serious mistake.
As he was almost there, Superman decided to wait before entering. He knew that
if he surged inside in their panic or to cause as many casualties as they could
the terrorists would fire frantically.
So Superman chose to act differently and turned his eyes into laser vision. It
took only a few seconds to melt their weapons with them realizing only when the
firearms were useless.
Then he launched himself in shattering the window display and like a twister he
tackled the terrorists knocking them out one by one in a matter of seconds.
People were staring with puzzled eyes; everything was happening too fast for
them to discern. But suddenly as the last assailant dropped unconscious and the
hurricane stopped revealing Superman, a massive cheer erupted along with
laughter.
Superman’s smile was huge as he looked at the people whose lives were saved:
well, the room was a mess with pieces of cutlery everywhere; upturned tables
and chairs; the smell of gunfire was intense and some people were lying down
bleeding. Yet the nightmare had ended.
 He noticed that some kids were taking video with their Smart Phones as the
customers reluctantly at first but thrilled  eventually surrounded Superman to
thank him.
Police officers surged inside pointing their guns only to lower them seeing
every terrorist on the floor and Superman among a cheering crowd.
“It’s safe, lieutenant” the Man of Steel said to the head of the officers I’m
here.”
 
 
Darkseid stared in the air in front of him and both Bagdana and Ivy saw
Superman fighting with ease several thugs inside a restaurant.
Darkseid crossed his arms and looked at Bagdana who immediately remembered what
Ivy had told him about Superman’s nightmare with Bruce. His immediate thought
was that Bruce’s presence even in his dream had a strong effect on the
Kryptonian: even he had underestimated Bruce’s power. He took in Darkseid’s
slightly ironic look.
“That would be a start for regaining his popularity…” the New God commented
dryly.
“Then we just obliterate him sooner…” Bagdana answered casually and his eyes
filled with pure hatred focused on the Man of Steel in the footage Darkseid
conjured.
The New God’s grin was broad.
“That was the best thing my advisor ever said…”
 
“Oh! I love those war councils in the cave! They are so atmospheric!” Tony
exclaimed stretching his arms in the air and inhaled deeply only to cough.
“Though the air down here is a bit fusty…” he looked at the bats hanging from
the ceiling. “No offence…”
But then Hero who was lurking in a stool before the bench made a spectacular
jump and landed with a black flying rodent in his mouth; Tony whistled but
Bruce who was near took gently his kitten and released the flying rodent that
wasn’t injured and flew away from certain death. Selina who was leaning on the
working bench laughed.
“An ongoing vicious war!” she said dramatic and exchanged amused glances with
Tony.
“Bats are not enemies” Bruce said to Hero who was looking at him displeased.
“And this isn’t a war council” he looked at Tony “I just wanted to update you
to the data Jor El sent me and the cave processor is the best option.”
Tony made a small circle movement with his head.
“I think it’s high time you focused on your surgery instead as I do…and you’re
still keep in touch with the alien’s – how to call it? – surrogate hologram
father?”
Bruce let Hero on the floor raising his index finger.
“Behave…or you’ll be banned from the cave” he said warningly but then smiled
because he just couldn’t stay angry with his kitten. “Yes, I contact Jor El
still because things are serious.”
Tony crooked his mouth, slumping on the stool.
“And your surgery?” Selina asked.
“It can wait” Bruce said bringing his wheelchair to the computer bench. “Dr.
Strange needs time to be prepared and if we let things unfold without doing
anything the surgery and being able to walk again won’t have any importance.”
Tony frowned.
“Are things so bad?”
Bruce nodded and pressed a key in the keyboard bringing on the central screen
the feeding from the building where Luthor was working on the machine that now
was three feet high, shaped like an ellipse with the half of its walls ready
but still the other half just started; inside a dark blue polygonal rock was
pulsing like an inanimate heart. Tony stood and frowned.
“A really mysterious machine…An energy producing module? A new kind of energy.”
Bruce looked at his friend.
“Anti Life Equation.”
Tony pursed his lips.
“The supposed mathematic formula that gives to the one who possess it the power
to control every sentient being?” he licked his lips. “Bruce, this is a
scientific myth that was never proved.”
Selina shook her head.
“Thankfully…”
Bruce however typed some orders to his keyboard and the strange symbols the
items had were shown on the screen.
“You want to tell us that those symbols actually have to do with the Equation?”
Tony narrowed his eyes.
“According to Jor El they do. He recognized immediately the symbols as
originating from a planet called Apokolips” Tony cocked his eyebrows. “Their
leader – dictator – is called Darkseid and he is constantly trying to find that
formula to force his order of things to the entire universe.”
“Very original…” Selina slurred rolling her eyes.
Bruce grinned.
“He and his troops have already devastated hundreds of planets seeking for the
raw materials for the formula: the materials that will set the puzzles of the
Equation to the correct position.”
Tony scratched his head.
“I’d like to hear what ecologists would have to say to that…So this Dark –
something has turned his attention to Earth?”
“Jor El believes that this being thinks that humans are the material he was
looking for – and that’s the reason he made everything to get back the items
from me and to release Luthor from prison: he obviously is years on Earth
studying his material. He had brought the items here and trusted them to Luthor
so when I got the control of LexLabs he was infuriated.”
Selina who had crossed her arms over the chest raised her palm.
“Wait…So Mannheim works for an alien? Because we know that he was trying to
take back those things.”
Bruce met her eyes.
“I believe that Mannheim is just a shirt to cover Darkseid’s true identity – I
felt something of his power when he came to my office and it explains the
mystery around him and the servitude of Luthor in front of him.”
Tony nodded.
“So they are among us indeed, huh? Alien movies were never my favorite… And if
Mannheim is that new UFO on the block then Intergang is run by aliens and the
attack on you back in the island was also his doing.”
Selina who was present during the attack nodded.
“Those creatures definitely looked like aliens.”
“Parademons” Bruce added. “Darkseid’s troops.”
Tony nodded.
“That makes perfect sense since you had the items in your possession and he was
anxious to get them back.”
“It wasn’t that: he was already launching raids to the LexLabs to get them back
– plus, the attack on me wouldn’t have helped his cause the slightest. He
attacked me to get to Superman.”
Selina tapped her fingers on the bench.
“Of course” she said “sending the fake Diana to save you so that she starts
seducing Superman. He wants Superman under his control when he launches his
attack on Earth.”
Bruce nodded.
“He feared and hated Superman more than anything else on the planet.”
Tony snorted.
“I feel so discriminated…” he said with irony.
Selina sniggered.
“We’ll give you an Oscar next year to fix this…”
Tony winked to her playfully and then he hit his palms determined.
“So we know who he is, where he lives and what he plans – let’s get the alien
freak” he stood.
But Bruce looked at him calm but definite and Tony pursed his lips.
“Guess not, huh?” he sat again at the stool.
“If we bust him right now, first he will get free easily: one of his powers is
to mind control people – he did that with thugs and with highest rank officials
to get Luthor released…I felt his manipulative power when he came to my
0office; he tried to invade my mind to get the items.”
Selina frowned.
“But the asshole failed – he doesn’t know with whom he has to do.”
Bruce rubbed his chin.
“I think that the Black Butterfly worked like a shield.”
“Can we reproduce the gem?” Tony asked. “It could be very useful when facing
that monster.”
“I don’t know if reproducing the gem will maintain its unique qualities.
Anyway, what I was saying is that he would be free again and knowing that we
are aware of his identity and plans he’ll make his attack sooner.”
“You said that he wants his machine ready first.”
“Yes but if he sees that his plans are in danger he can easily conquer Earth
first and then finish his machine. The more he remains blind to our knowledge
the better for us. We gain more time to organize and recruit our allies.”
Tony nodded with some irony in his eyes.
“Superman.”
Bruce tilted his head on the side.
“I know you don’t like him…”
Selina pouted.
“Tony? Not liking Superman? Oh, Bruce, don’t say that preposterous thing
again…” she said snidely and Tony chuckled.
Bruce crooked his mouth.
“If we attack Darkseid now Superman will be manipulated by Ivy to fight
alongside them or simply he will be neutralized – it won’t be difficult as he
blindly trusts her: both options don’t help our cause. We need Superman with
us. Darkseid belongs to a race called New Gods and he is really powerful: Jor
El said that he can be incredibly fast; he equals Superman’s power and also
have another power nobody else has: Omega Beams which he launches from his eyes
to kill his enemies.”
“Great…” Selina commented and cocked an eyebrow. “And till now sounded too
dull…”
Tony yanked his head backwards keeping his arms crossed over his chest.
“Still we have so many people with extraordinary skills on our side – Superman
is not that necessary.”
Bruce pressed his lips.
“You and Lucius took every precaution to make the risk factors of my surgery
minimum yet you still wanted the best doctor to perform that surgery in order
to eliminate the risk even more” Selina looked at Tony and he rubbed his
goatee. “We are talking about the survival of Earth and 7 billion people: would
you want to let any risk factors unchecked?”
Tony sighed.
“No, I don’t! The lucky bastard…”
Bruce grinned.
“We need every hour we can get: your mention of reproducing the Black Butterfly
is valid but we must find a way to somehow emanate its shielding quality to our
allies. And for waking up Superman we’ll need…”
“Kryptonite” Selina completed.
“Perhaps but most of all we’ll need the true Amazon Princess not only to show
Superman that his Diana is a fake but also to have a precious ally to our
fight.”
Tony licked his lips.
“Supposing that the legendary tribe and their Princess really exists; and if
they do exist how are you sure that we can find them?”
Selina met Bruce’s eyes.
“Well, I can’t be sure that I’ll find her but I’ll do my best: I have already
gathered references about their locations from ancient authors like Homer,
Herodotus, Apollonius Rhodius, Strabo etc. Amazons’ homeland seems to be
relocated at times but if we combine the information we have maybe will get
close.”
Selina rolled her eyes.
“I hated history in school…”
“History blended with mythology actually…” Tony commented.
“And I’ll ask information from Cassandra and her mother: perhaps they know
something more.”
“And when you find the location what would you do?” Tony asked.
Bruce shrugged.
“Batman will talk to her.”
Tony chuckled.
“These women according to the legends are lethal and very hostile to men; you
will probably need to fight.”
“I know.”
Tony leaned to him.
“Leave that mission to me, littl’ guy, not only because we can’t risk you get
injured again but also because…” he inhaled and twitched his eyebrows
suggestively “my charm is notorious…”
Selina sniggered.
“Gossip shows say other things…”
Tony widened his eyes scornful.
“Slandering of the gutter press…”
Bruce shook his head.
“No, Tony: I’ll go myself – you need to stay here and organize our allies.
You’re S.H.I.E.L.D.’s director and you can do things without causing panic or
drawing attention; also, we need you to perfect our means of neutralizing
Darkseid’s machine.”
“Yeah, it is most fortunate that we have the items monitored and our sensors
there: I can turn those sensors to means for neutralizing the machine. I’ll
also try to find a way to deflect the Black Butterfly’s protection to our
allies. But, Bruce, you can’t go there alone: what if she doesn’t believe you
and instead imprison or kill you?”
Selina stretched her beautiful body.
“He won’t be alone.”
Tony looked up at her.
“You agree with that?” he glanced at Bruce. “Aren’t you afraid that she may
stick there?”
Bruce smiled and Selina snorted.
“Nah…You, boys (except Bruce) might be pretentious, stupid, ungracious,
graceless” Tony mouthed ‘thanks’ “but I do prefer a bit of testosterone in my
world…”
“What about Oliver Queen? What’s his part in this?” Tony asked frowned.
Bruce pressed his lips; he was fighting with himself whether he should tell his
friends the truth or leave it for later.
“Bagdana is working for Darkseid” he said in the end casually though he had
caused his friend’s eyes widening.
“But you had defeated him; you sent him to the Tartarus weak” Selina said.
“Yes, but a god could still free him.”
Tony nodded and crooked his mouth.
“Now all the pieces are in place: Darkseid freed the ancient demon to assist
him and the cunning bastard orchestrated all this – the Amazon beguiling
Superman enslaving him to their will and at the same time breaking your heart.”
Selina looked at Bruce.
“And Oliver Queen? They mind controlled him as well to be their puppet?”
“I’m convinced that Bagdana has possessed Queen’s body to be able to walk among
us.”
Tony brought his palms on his face.
“Of course! The fake Amazon came with him; and he is infatuated with you.”
Bruce decided to tell them everything.
“And we can’t rely on the Arrow because Oliver Queen is the Arrow: he had lured
Batman to see Ivy with Superman making love that night because he knew that
Batman and Bruce Wayne is the same person. That’s why he managed to find Loki’s
palace: remember what Thor had said? No mere god or mere mortal could locate
it.”
Selina lolled her head.
“And certainly we can’t bust him for the same reason we can’t attack Mannheim.”
“Exactly. We need to move in stealth mode until we’re ready.”
Suddenly the screen on the left turned to live footage from Metropolis and
Bruce looked there: he had programmed his processor to scan for any news
concerning Superman or Wonder Woman.
The footage showed Superman beaming among exhilarated, clearly relieved people
at a pavement outside a restaurant that clearly had been under attack; police
cars and ambulances were scattered around and paramedics were transferring
injured. The reporter was relaying that Superman’s intervention had saved many
people from a terroristic attack.
Bruce frowned.
“You said that they planned to make people lose their faith in Superman but he
seems to have ruined their plans” Selina said.
Bruce nodded; his eyes fixed on Superman’s beaming face that made his heart
fly.
“That’s bad…” he mumbled in the end.
Selina narrowed her eyes.
“But we want him on our side.”
“They won’t risk their plan’s failure; this will make them act sooner
concerning Superman; after all, better taking him away now before he makes more
helping people showing that he still cares” he said pressing numbers in his
keyboard. “We need to keep Superman away from Ivy till we return with the real
Princess – yet if Jor El calls him in the Fortress and tries to keep him there,
Superman will suspect and return to her. We need something that will keep him
away without raising his suspicions.”
“And what’s that?” Tony asked.
The sound of dialing echoed through the cave and after three times a female
voice answered.
“Hello?”
“Hi, Martha” Bruce said.
 
 
 
***** Chapter 77 *****
“Bruce, dear!”
The honest joy in that somewhat tired voice made Tony raise his eyebrows
surprised.
“Bruce has a good mother-in-law…” Selina whispered to the billionaire.
“If only her son was the same…” Tony snorted.
Bruce brought his index finger to his lips hushing his friends.
“Martha, how are you?”
“I guess fine, sweetheart; and you?”
“Fine. Mmm, Martha, it’s something I want to ask you” he decided to go straight
ahead.
“Anything, Bruce.”
Bruce rubbed his chin.
“It has to do with Superman: the Avengers have some indications that he might
be in danger from Diana.”
“What?” the woman sounded astounded. “I mean, I Know she is bad yet that she
can harm Clark is incredible…”
Bruce looked at his friends.
“They believe that she is not the Amazon Princess and actually is allied with
someone who wants to hurt Superman; it seems that she has put him under some
kind of mind control.”
A small sigh both from worry and relief came out of Martha’s mouth.
“I knew that my boy wasn’t himself…” she mumbled and Bruce pressed his lips.
“I know you did, Martha.”
“You knew it too, Bruce…you never stopped believing in him.”
Bruce avoided his friends’ eyes feeling uncomfortable.
“Well, Martha, Tony asked me” Tony pouted showing with his thumbs his chest
mouthing ‘me?’ “to tell you to call Superman to stay with you for a time; they
believe that this woman and her associates might try to hurt him so it is
urgent that we make him go away from her.”
A sharp intake of air from the other end of the line.
“Of course…he blindly trusts her so it would be too easy for her to trap him.
Do these people know his true identity? Because if they do then they’ll find
him easily here…So maybe he will be safer in the Fortress?”
Bruce shook his head: she was right in her reasoning.
“Clark hasn’t brought her to you, right?” Martha confirmed that. “Then he
hasn’t revealed to her his true identity. On the other hand, Clark has showed
suspicious behavior towards Jor El so if he calls him to the Fortress and
attempt to keep him there, Superman will immediately figure out his intention
and return to the fake Diana. Instead you can call him to stay with you without
raising suspicions; also, Tony told me that he will contact Jor El so that the
Fortress’ technology would conceal Superman’s presence to your house.”
“I’m not afraid for myself, dear” she said calmly.
“I know, Martha; you’re one of the bravest people I know. However we’ll take
every necessary precaution.”
“I see you keep the promise you gave me” a small smile hued her voice “you
still love my stupid son.”
Bruce pressed his lips feeling his friends’ stares.
“I know that he is safe as long as you are here…What else do your friend want
me to do? Speak to Clark about the truth?”
“No, Martha; do not tell him anything – if you attempt to tell him the truth
about Diana and her associates he’ll react badly; probably he’ll leave and
cease to trust you. Tony wants you to just keep him there with you until the
Avengers find proofs to show him that she isn’t the real Princess.”
“Fine, Bruce: I’ll do that. Do you want me to do it right now?”
“The sooner the better, Martha: he just saved some people in Metropolis and
Tony is certain that the fake Diana and her allies won’t like that and perhaps
they’ll try to neutralize him immediately.”
Martha’s voice was determined without indicating any fear though her heart was
beating fast.
“I’ll call him right now: I just hope that her influence isn’t so strong to
affect his love for his mother.”
“I’m sure that nothing can affect his love for you, Martha.”
“Oh, dear…”
“As soon as the Avengers find what they want they’ll come to reveal everything
and help Superman see the truth.”
“Fine. Thank you, Bruce.”
“I’m not doing anything, Martha; I just relay a message.”
“In that case, can you thank Mr. Stark for his concern about Clark?”
Tony’s eyes bulged and he pressed his palm over his mouth so the chuckles
wouldn’t be heard.
“I’ll do that, Martha.”
“I hope after all these end we’ll see each other again, sweetheart.”
“I’ll be very happy to do that, Martha.”
When the dial ended Bruce remained thoughtful and Tony walked closer.
“Ibeing so concerned about Superman?” he snorted. “You lied to the poor woman…”
he shook his index finger with disapproval grinning wickedly.
Bruce shook his head.
“Bruce can’t be investigating things, right? More so taking action…”
Tony scratched his head.
“I’m teasing you, littl’ guy…”
Bruce smiled.
“I know and believe me I would have liked to tell Martha the truth but it’s
better if she doesn’t know.”
Selina crossed her arms over the chest.
“The fewer the better” she agreed.
Tony brushed his goatee.
“I’ll make sure that the Kent farm will be a blind spot for every human means
of monitoring.”
Bruce nodded.
“And I’ll contact Jor El to cast additional concealing methods in order to
block our extraordinary enemies: Superman must stay away from Ivy until we
return.”
“In the meantime, I think it will be prudent to ask Dr. Strange’s help with the
mind control think” Tony remarked.
Bruce turned his eyes on Tony.
“Not mention anything about me…”
Tony grinned and nodded.
“Don’t worry…But…I’m thinking about the Amazon’s location” he licked his lips.
“In a world where hundreds of satellites scan the planet every second and also
radars are used from almost every military and common ship how their homeland
remained hidden? I mean, maybe they are just a legend? A part of mythology?”
Bruce pursed his lips.
“Even ancient historians spoke about them and Ra’s taught me that ancient Greek
historians are the fathers of the modern history science; also, there’s no
mythology without a speck of truth. Now if they still exist remains to be find…
However – about the fact nobody has found the Amazons – Greece has many still
unexplained electromagnetic fields that intrigue the scientists so maybe
Themiscyra, if really exists, exploits such a field to remain hidden: you know
better than anyone about blind spots for satellites.”
“Something like the Bermuda Triangle?” Selina said.
“Exactly.”
Tony tapped his fingers on the computer bench.
“You’ll still need a jet to take you to Greece and a yacht since you two will
explore the Aegean and that means that there must be someone trustworthy to do
the driving. You take my jet and Happy will take you there – he can also drive
a yacht: a rental one.”
Bruce nodded.
“Lucius will be our driver – Happy may be trustworthy but I don’t want him
putting one and one together. Also, Lucius can give us insight about the
electromagnetic fields – he has developed software that can bypass such fields
into revealing what they hide” Tony whistled impressed. “And if Dr. Strange
needs some detailed info about the project both of you developed you can
provide them.”
Tony crooked his mouth.
“I feel left out of the party and you should know that for Tony – party animal
– Stark this is dreadful.”
Selina smirked and Bruce closed his eyes.
“I’m sorry, Tony, but you’re precious here.”
Tony cocked his eyebrows and nodded.
“Yadda, yadda, yadda…Just promise that when this Darkasshole eats dust you’ll
remember the coordinates of that island” he crossed his palms behind his neck
and sighed closing his eyes. “I’ll need some vacations!”
Bruce and Selina exchanged amused glances.
 
Clark’s eyes were focused at the PC screen on his desk where the Planet’ssite
had on the top of the page his story about Superman’s intervention at the
“Dory’s” Restaurant an hour ago. Perry had patted him in the back – his way of
congratulating his employees – and now the chief was inside his office enjoying
the number of hits their site was getting.
Yet Clark needed to see the coverage from other, neutral sources so he searched
the news outlets: he had to fight a huge grin from his face as journalists’
comments were welcoming Superman back. The readers’ comments were between
bitterness due to his latest indifference, relief and joy for his return. Clark
silently promised to them that he wouldn’t ever close his eyes to their need;
that he would be always there from now on.
He had heard the familiar steps before the familiar figure stood above him; he
was happy for that but he didn’t look up till Lois was there for sure.
“Good job…” she said a bit indifferent meaning both Clark and Superman and
before he managed to answer she walked away towards the door leading outside
the reporters’ space.
Clark followed her and Lois stopped in the niche of the closet with the
janitorial equipment.
“Don’t expect us to be like before” she said crooking her mouth having guessed
her friend’s intentions and thoughts.
Clark closed his eyes and ruffled his hair.
“The fact I broke up with him doesn’t change who I am, Lois, not our
friendship; why are you so hard on me?”
She gritted her teeth.
“Because what you did was cruel and my friend would never do such cruelty.”
Clark huffed.
“Please, Lois; you have also broke up with people – that’s life: at some point
just you can’t go on as much as you don’t want to hurt the other. He understood
that; and you have to know that he was far from perfect in our relationship.”
Lois frowned and narrowed her eyes.
“Do you really want to blame this on him? The world saw you fucking with that
bitch on that rooftop” he whispered in case someone overhead them.
He nodded.
“Okay, okay…just don’t call her that: she is not a bitch!” Lois rolled her eyes
and looked away ready to leave which Clark noticed. “Let’s put that behind us
already! Maybe my behavior was wrong but nobody is perfect, Lois…why can’t you
forgive me for once?”
Lois growled and crossed her arms over her chest. Clark smiled.
“Holding a grudge against me won’t change what happened neither would send me
back to him…”
Lois cocked an eyebrow in irony.
“I doubt that he’d have taken you back even if you begged.”
Clark chuckled and shook his head.
“Why I would ever want to do that? And beg for that? But I have everything I
want and I’m happy at last” he frowned. “I’d never return to that!”
Lois nodded.
“It is official: You’re an asshole and…”
She didn’t end her phrase when Clark’s phone rang; he frowned recognizing his
Ma’s tone.
“It’s Ma…” he said to Lois. “Hi, Ma! How are you?” for the first time after
months he felt actually good speaking to his Ma – till now his guts were
clenched every time he had to speak with her. “Yeah, I’m fine.”
“Give her my love” Lois said.
“You have Lois’ love – and you too” he said to Lois and frowned; he nodded.
“Alright…Yeah, don’t worry, I’ll fix it.”
He ended the dial and looked at Lois’ puzzled look.
“She wants to spend some time with me.”
“Is she ill?” Lois asked deeply concerned.
Clark narrowed his eyes.
“No, if she was, I’d have felt it. She says that she missed me and feels too
lonely” he pouted “actually many things have happened lately that created some
distance between us.”
His friend smirked.
“That seems to be the case for every person you love…” she raised her eyebrows.
“At least, that in the past you said you loved.”
Clark crooked his mouth.
“I never lied about my love, Lois.”
“Tell that to Bruce.”
He didn’t answer; he was tired and fed off by explaining all the time. He
sighed because what mattered now was his Ma.
 “As a matter of fact I missed Ma too.”
Lois cocked an eyebrow.
“And the Princess? She won’t object? Or you’ll take her to meet her mother-in-
law?” she remarked snidely to Clark’s uneasiness.
“He doesn’t know that I have a human mother” he admitted and felt bad even
before seeing Lois’ affronted look.
Lois chuckled.
“Of course, the arrogant bitch would have lost her respect for Superman if she
knew that he is so much connected with humans! That two common humans saved his
life as a baby and raised him like their son – two poor farmers of all people”
he shook her head disgusted for the Princess’ contempt and Clark’s compliance
with her attitude. “How can you be like that, Clark?”
He didn’t answer.
“You don’t understand, Lois…”
“I understand better than you do!” her inflamed eyes stabbed his. “At least
look to make it and visit your mother – you owe her that. After your exclusive
with Superman, Perry won’t have an objection.”
 
Thomas crossed the front door to the clinic’s foyer; it was late afternoon and
he had come there immediately after his lecture in the university. To be frank
Thomas loathed the place and was bored of his shifts there – especially since
they were volunteer job which meant no money. Yet it was something he had to do
in order to achieve his goal. And he was certain that he was close to that.
He had no doubt that Stark would press his friends to see how beneficial his
hiring would be. And then all the major players would press Bruce into
accepting: the brat couldn’t refuse to them even if he didn’t want Thomas to
perform the surgery. In the end, Brucie would have to yield in order to not
displease his loved ones.
And once every detail about Bruce was at his disposal then his secrets would be
an open book to him.
As he entered the always busy foyer he caught with the corner of his eye Leslie
heading to her office. He hurried his steps till he caught up with her.
Leslie was absorbed in her thoughts so Thomas’ presence was a surprise for her.
The young man beamed to her.
“Hi, Leslie! Wow! It seems like ages since the last time I saw you…”
She regarded him quietly.
“Well, with us doctors this happens often” she answered and continued her way
with Thomas at her side.
“Yeah, I guess you must be extra busy with Bruce’s latest adventure with Joker
and the new developments.”
Leslie wasn’t a fool and Thomas knew that so he smiled innocently when she
looked at him puzzled.
“New developments?”
Thomas shook his head.
“I guess all of you must be in frantic work now that Bruce’s surgery is so
near.”
Leslie frowned.
“How did you come up with such an assumption?”
Thomas grinned and shrugged one shoulder.
“Someone like Tony Stark will make everything so that his friend walks again as
soon as possible. And Lucius Fox certainly is a great asset. So are we almost
there?” he asked with his eyes sparkling like the enthusiasm in his voice.
Dr. Thompkins remained neutral; she could see how interested – obsessed –
Thomas was with Bruce’s surgery and frankly she couldn’t blame Bruce for not
liking that.
“There is no haste for Bruce’s surgery” she said casually and began walking.
Thomas didn’t believe that but still…
“Have you given up? Is there a bad development in Bruce’s condition that
forbids the surgery?” he gave his voice honest concern. “Perhaps Joker did
something to him? Oh! That is awful and so unfair! After all this man
suffered…” he shook his head.
Leslie set her jaw and locked eyes with him.
“No, Bruce’s condition hasn’t any change. But you know that these things demand
time and patience. We won’t risk Bruce’s life in order to hurry things up.”
“Of course! It is my tactic as well. Especially, with my project on complicated
spine injuries” he smiled. “I don’t want to brag but with Superman’s precious
contribution surgeries that prior wouldn’t even be risked, took place smoothly
and 95% percent of the injuries were almost completely restored.”
Don’t want to brag…Leslie thought fighting a smirk. But you do, dear Tommy…
Dr. Elliot decided that he had said enough for the time being.
“Well, I must go to my patients now” he said to her and took his most serious
and concerned expression. “I have said it to Tony” he decided that it was
better to pick the honesty option “and I’m going to repeat it to you as well:
if you need any aid; any assist to Bruce’s surgery…I’ll be more than happy to
contribute with my knowledge and experience.”
Leslie smiled.
“I know, Thomas; I’ll remember that, thank you” she continued her way.
Thomas crooked his mouth watching her and then pursed his lips: they really
didn’t have another choice so he only had to wait.
 
“Poems by Emily Dickinson”
It was the first thing that caught Clark’s eyes as soon as he entered his
parents’ house still holding his Ma in a one arm hug. It shouldn’t have and
frankly Clark felt awkward and uncomfortable because he immediately noticed the
book on the antique small round oak coffee table next to her Ma’s favorite
light blue armchair.
He had arrived flying, as soon as his working hours ended. Perry – thankfully –
didn’t object to his request for a few days’ leave, especially when he heard
that it was about his mother: Ms. Kent was often sending homemade delicacies to
their editor.
Clark wanted to reach his Ma the soonest: the last couple of months their
relationship faced some crisis so he was thrilled when his Ma spoke to him with
her old warmth and asked him to come to Smallville and spend some time with
her. Perhaps after his latest intervention that saved people’s lives she
realized that he was unchanged and maybe he’d manage in these days to make her
like Diana.
Clark chose to fly there not only to save time but also to not draw much
attention with his arrival: everyone in the town knew him and honestly he
didn’t have the mood to speak with anyone.
As soon as he landed inside the yard Martha wearing her wool knitted gray
cardigan came out and rushed to him and Superman who on landing changed his
clothes into Clark Kent caught her half way and hugged her.
“I missed you, sweetie” Martha told him kissing his cheek and Clark’s heart
felt like being put in its right place after long.
“You still have that book?” he asked casually.
Martha followed his eyes to the object that caught her son’s eye.
“It bothers you?” it was Bruce’s gift on their first meeting.
Clark shook his head.
“I thought that after everything that happened…” well, he didn’t know how to
finish his phrase; after all, he was at fault for their break up or at least
that was what his Ma believed.
Martha pressed her lips.
“It is a gift given with love and I appreciate it. I don’t see a reason to get
rid of it because you two are not still together.”
Clark knew that he couldn’t ask that; he was aware of his mother’s affection
towards Bruce.
“You’re still in touch with him?”
Martha understood that it was a question that could lead to nasty things if
Clark got suspicious about Bruce’s involvement in her request to see him.
“I don’t think that it’s bad to call once in a while to learn about his health:
the poor thing is constantly met with misfortunes.”
Clark nodded thoughtful.
“No…I guess it’s not bad…”
Martha smiled relieved and detached from her son’s hug.
“Sit down and I’ll fetch your favorite apple pie: I just took it out of the
oven.”
Clark’s smile was broad.
“The smell was torturing as soon as I crossed the state’s borders! I thought
you’d never say it! Do you want me to help?”
“No, honey. I’ll bring everything.”
Clark sat on the light blue couch unconsciously choosing a safe distance from
the book as if it was contaminated. However it took only a few seconds to
realize that the book still carried Bruce’s special, rare perfume.
He closed his eyes pissed: he didn’t want to be haunted by that human! He
thought of Diana…he missed her already yet his Ma was really important and she
deserved some attention too: after all, with Diana he was sharing every day and
even if he didn’t like to think about that: at some point his Ma would be gone
while Diana would at his side forever.
He stubbornly ignored the book and looked elsewhere, his gaze wandering to the
home of his carefree childhood. So many fond memories; he grinned but it was a
sad smile: moments that wouldn’t come back…Despite the bitter taste in his
mouth Clark was happy for being there after all these months: he felt that he
needed some change in scenery and his parents’ house and the farm was perfect.
Martha returned carrying a tray with two mugs with hot coffee and two plates
with tantalizing apple pie that made Clark’s mouth water. She placed the tray
on the table and sat next to her son. She caressed his raven hair and he
smiled.
“I thought you were pissed with me?” Clark asked.
Martha pressed her lips.
“How can a mother be pissed with her only son?” she replied. “I was worried,
Clark.”
He looked her in the eyes.
“I told you that nothing had changed in me.”
She nodded although things had changed in her son but thankfully they were
results of external influence so they could be stopped and reversed.
“You can’t blame a Ma for worrying…”
Clark kissed her palm.
“No, I can’t, can I?”
“You’re my good boy – of course you can’t…I thought you were eager to test my
pie?”
Clark cocked his eyebrows.
“I do!”
He grabbed the plate and began devouring the delicacy under his Ma’s warm
stare.
“I’m glad you’re here, honey…I’m glad I can take care of you like the old
times…”
Clark smiled.
“I’m glad I returned, Ma.”
 
“Master Bruce is not here at the moment, Mr. Queen” the butler’s thick accented
voice echoed through the dark, humid cave.
Bagdana stood in front of the round shaped underground lake staring at the
contents of his memory reflected on the waters: his last meeting with Bruce.
“Do you happen to know when he is going to be back?” he asked with Queen’s
voice speaking to the air sending his voice to the phone back to his penthouse.
“I am afraid that I do not have an answer to that, sir. Master Bruce is out of
Gotham for business. Would you like me to ask him to call you when he returns?”
“I’d be grateful, Alfred. Thank you.”
“You are most welcome, sir.”
He ended the call and grunted displeased.
“To what do I owe your new visit so soon after our last one?” Bagdana asked
without turning his back to acknowledge the presence in his cave.
Ivy walked towards him and only then the demon wearing his real form turned to
her.
“You’re looking for your naughty pet?” she asked with irony clearly having
overheard; she cocked an eyebrow. “When all this ends and you have him in
chains he won’t be able to wander around even with his stupid chair.”
Bagdana narrowed his eyes.
“Mind your own business” he hissed quietly but the effect was rather chilling.
“Which brings us back to what you’re doing here.”
She gave him the piece of paper she was holding.
“What’s this?” he asked frowned.
Ivy smirked.
“Our plans must be delayed…When I returned to my apartment Superman wasn’t
there for the first time after he ditched Brucie. Instead I found this on the
table.”
Bagdana perused the words scribbled on it and looked at his ally.
“So he has something to do and he will be away for some days?” he cocked an
eyebrow and pursed his thick lips.
Ivy narrowed her eyes.
“Do you think it is suspicious?”
The demon rubbed his chin.
“Perhaps he indeed has things to do…. But as you said it is the first time he
does that and I don’t like it coming after he saved those humans.”
Ivy cocked her eyebrows.
“He bothered with them only because I wasn’t there to dissuade him…”
Bagdana smiled.
“But he also left for a couple of days clearly defying your charm and his
addiction to you…”
She fumed annoyed and yanked her head.
“That’s not true!” she clenched her fist. “He left but that doesn’t mean that
he will last much without taking his dose of me” she narrowed her eyes. “Soon
he’ll come back desperate for my perfume and my body.”
The demon shook his head and turned to the underground lake before him.
“Hours have passed that he is away…” he said thoughtful.
“There’s just no way he overcame my charm!” she hissed insulted and twitched
the golden lasso in the air whipping the rocks.
Bagdana smirked on this reaction and nodded.
“I’m sure, my dear…”
Ivy somewhat calmer walked closer to the natural pool and gazed inside; Bagdana
had already obliterated Bruce’s reflection from there so Ivy saw nothing.
“Can you locate him?”
The demon crooked his mouth.
“No” he saw Ivy frowning. “But that’s not saying much: the Kryptonian has ways
to conceal his whereabouts even if he doesn’t do this consciously.”
Ivy snorted.
“Darkseid won’t be happy about this development. He reminds me of a mutated
giant Smurf that crushed into a truck…”
Bagdana chuckled.
“Why don’t you say that to him?”
She pouted.
“I never insulted people for their appearance…even if I killed them. What will
happen if Darkseid finds out about Superman’s departure? He’ll believe that we
failed and won’t grant us our rewards.”
Bagdana waved that off.
“We don’t have to spoil his good mood…nothing happened and Superman will come
to us now or later.”
Ivy hit her foot on the stony ground.
“I’d prefer to end this sooner than later: I have some millions of oppressed
organic souls to liberate.”
Bagdana raised his palm in a waiting gesture.
“Patience is a valuable virtue, my dear: after all, plants survive for ages
just with being patient and resilient. If we make a hasty movement Superman
could suspect something.”
She chuckled.
“He is an idiot, totally dependent on what I say to him.”
“I won’t risk it: this business is too important for me.”
Ivy cocked an eyebrow.
“Because of Wayne” she snorted.
“Exactly” he replied casually. “We’ll wait and make him come to you.”
 
Bruce gazed at the sapphire blue waters that covered the horizon in every
direction. The light sea breeze caressed his face cooling his skin pleasantly
since it was spring but still the weather was a bit cold even in Greece. He had
climbed the ramp Lucius had installed to connect the cabins with the deck and
now he was standing near the edge.
It was Wednesday. Tony’s jet landed on Athens Monday morning and they
immediately headed to Marathon to visit Cassandra and her family.
Cassandra translated Bruce’s request: to learn anything they knew about the
location of the Amazons’ legendary island.
Bruce was looking at Cassandra’s mother without hiding his eagerness and the
woman smiled faintly before speaking. Cassandra after her mother finished
turned to Bruce.
“She says that her knowledge about the island is too limited: she had heard the
old ones discussing that this island was almost invisible, hidden by energy.”
“Electromagnetic fields” Bruce remarked and Cassandra nodded.
“Right. Nobody was certain about the exact location but they assumed that it
must have been somewhere between Evia and Skyros (the Amazons used to take
their horses from that island); there the electromagnetic fields collide.
However nobody ever tried to find them because really there was no reason for
that.”
Lucius who was watching the discussion intervened.
“I know about the electromagnetic fields of the area but they cover a really
large span so if you have anything more specific I’d be grateful.”
Yet Cassandra’s mother looked sad when her daughter translated. Cassandra was
shaking her head hearing what her mother was saying.
“I’m sorry but she doesn’t know anything more.”
Bruce pressed his lips and lowered his gaze which didn’t evade Cassandra’s
mother who took his hands in hers. Bruce raised his eyes and met the woman’s
gaze.
Cassandra’s mother touched the spot where the Black Butterfly was under his
blouse and said something.
“She says that you must trust your instinct: you’re the bearer of the goddess’
sacred gem; you’re her chosen so if someone can find their island…that’s you.”
Well, that wasn’t very comforting for him because although he trusted his
instinct in every case, in this one he’d prefer something more concrete. At
least, they had an area to search.
Cassandra’s mother sensing his distress suggested that he should visit the
ancient temple.
“Let the energy of the temple fill you and guide your steps…”
And he did so. He spent a couple of hours in the ruins along with Cassandra. He
didn’t plan to stay so long but the place had such tranquility, piece and
energy that Bruce realized how much he needed and stayed there literally
soaking in them reluctant to leave that state of mind after the storm he had
faced all those months.
Lucius and Selina had stayed out of the temple, near the car.
When they returned to the house Cassandra and her mother insisted that they
stayed there for the night Cassandra pointing out with a smile that it’d be
very handy since they certainly wanted to pass unnoticed from the local media.
They did stay and Lucius used the time to make the arrangements so that the
yacht they rented waited for them at the bay of Marathon; to the side that
wasn’t visible from the land. They’d use a rental boat to reach it.
The next morning they thanked the two women for their hospitality and Bruce
stayed behind as Lucius and Selina went to the car. He thanked once again
Cassandra and her mother for everything and the older woman touched his hand
and smiled.
“You will make it, son; the goddess’ blessing is with you. I know you’d do
everything for the world’s best and that makes me sure that everything will end
as you want them” Cassandra translated.
As he watched the sparkling Aegean waters Bruce wished he had the same
confidence with Cassandra’s mother. But several hours later onboard and they
hadn’t found anything; Lucius was constantly scanning the area they crossed
with his software that bypassed the electromagnetic fields. Yet its range
wasn’t too broad so they needed to be in the island’s broader area to manage to
see it which was like seeking a needle in a haystack. And his instinct wasn’t
very talkative: how it could be?
He always had some facts on which his instinct relied. Now there weren’t any
facts…
Bruce inhaled deeply the salted air and closed his eyes: so many things
depended on their success. Darkseid’s defeat, the world’s survival, Clark’s
life…
He opened his eyes and gazed at the clear blue horizon: unwillingly, he
remembered the days he was doing the same thing sat in the round balcony of
Tony’s villa in Thasos. He was gazing at the sky expecting to see Superman’s
figure approaching…He remembered the joy every time he saw the beloved dot
getting bigger and bigger…
He averted his eyes: that was over.
He rubbed his forehead feeling a headache developing rapidly. Maybe there were
no Amazons after all…Maybe Bagdana just used a charming legend to seduce
Superman.
Even if that was the case they would still fight: they had their weapons and
the most important they knew what was lurking in the shadows; also, they did
have the machine’s control.
However he needed the Princess Amazon to be real and help them because first
she would be a valuable ally and second because she would show Superman the
truth about Vivian and bring him to their side where he belonged.
To their side, not to him…Bruce pressed his lips: there was no way back to what
they had with Clark even though these crystal waters reminded him all these
beautiful moments in their island…He shook his head: this had no importance.
He felt two soft hands putting a jacket over his back and he turned to see
Selina.
“Alfred told me to look after you” she said and sat down. “It’s beautiful,
huh?”
Bruce smiled.
“Yes…It feels like home - oddly.”
Selina hugged her knees.
“They say that the perfect place for vacations is where you feel like your
second home – and our stay in Thasos was perfect so the place became like a
second home to you. Plus, one of your DNAs comes from here…”
“Right” he said and looked ahead.
Selina pursed her lips.
“You know, I feel for Tony…”
“For missing the Amazons” Bruce chuckled.
“No for feeling bad about you not focusing on resting and exercising. You
should have been back home doing your exercises and gathering energy and
strength for that fucking operation.”
Bruce met her eyes.
“If Darkseid wins it won’t matter much if I become a paraplegic or a walking
slave to Bagdana.”
Selina gulped uncomfortable.
“Don’t say that not even for a joke…” she said fighting the freezing feeling in
her spine. “And I know that you would never become a slave.”
Bruce inhaled.
“I won’t…” he said quietly but adamant. “But you understand why what I’m doing
now is more important than my surgery.”
Selina shook her head.
“And it’s him in the middle” she said.
Bruce closed his eyes.
“It is important that he is freed from her influence.”
Selina smiled fondly and raised her hand to hold Bruce’s.
“He is important to you.”
Bruce met her dazzling eyes.
“Please don’t go there…It is over – I told you before; but Superman is great
and the people need him…” he sighed. “If only we had something about the
Amazons’ island…”
“The lady said that you must trust your instinct and the Black Butterfly.”
Bruce crooked his mouth.
“I prefer more concrete things; I trust my instinct but to have a hunch I need
something tangible…” he huffed.
Selina pouted.
“I’m sure you’ll find the way…”
Bruce looked at her.
“What did you say to Steve?”
“What we agreed: that you had some business out of Gotham and I would go with
you.”
Bruce tilted his head on the side.
“I feel bad for disturbing your life every time…”
Selina frowned and showed with her hand around.
“Being on a 45 ft brand new yacht in the middle of gorgeous scenery and sailing
for a fascinating adventure it’s hardly a disturbance; more of the grand gift
in a lottery” she rose. “Shall we?” she asked looking  at the cabins and Bruce
nodded.
In the study, they found Lucius leaned above a detailed map of the area which
he had crossed with his own map which showed the electromagnetic fields; the
map was a perfect reproduction of an ancient map of the area. The scientist was
drawing lines with the compass and the protractor. Next to the map was placed
the laptop where image from Lucius’ software was shown; the image was the
result of filtering the area from the fields. Till now the image on the screen
was the same with what they saw with their bare eyes.
He turned to acknowledge the two youths smiling.
“Did you enjoy the view?”
The yacht was stationed. Lucius knew how to drive it and when he needed to do
something else, he was putting the yacht in the auto pilot with a system he had
developed; it was easy to attach the system to any yacht since it came like a
USB stick.
“We would have enjoyed it more if we had seen a shore filled with anciently
dressed women” Selina said casually sinking in the white leather sofa and Bruce
nodded.
Lucius laughed.
“Yes but then we’d have to fight them…”
Bruce grinned.
“That’s a possibility but I hope we manage to avoid that.”
“I’m not afraid” Selina said cocking an eyebrow.
“Of course, Miss Kyle…” Lucius replied. “I brought some food from the kitchen;
I thought that you’d be hungry and Mr. Wayne needs to take his medication.”
Bruce chuckled.
“Don’t tell me…Alfred cornered you as well?”
Lucius laughed.
“Cornered is an understatement, Mr. Wayne…”
“Thanks, Lucius” Selina said grabbing a bowl with pasta from the shining wooden
table.
As Bruce was eating he remembered what Clark had told him about the Black
Butterfly’s reaction to the energy field in the Fortress. Indeed, he had read
that gems had their own energy flow and the Black Butterfly wasn’t a common gem
so it had more energy than the others.
He let his plate on the small table and Selina looked at him worried.
“What is it, Bruce?”
Lucius straightened his body from studying the map and looked at Bruce.
“I know I’m not the best cook yet I hope it didn’t make you ill?”
“I’m fine and the food is great” Bruce said and moved the chair to the big desk
where the map was laid. “While being on the deck the Black Butterfly was
exposed to the area’s magnetic field that means that the gem was  - let’s say –
charged. Also, Black Butterfly has its own energetic qualities. I’m curious to
see the results.”
He pulled the pouch from under his blouse and took out the beautiful gem.
“If only…” he whispered and brought the gem over the map closing his eyes and
thinking hard their quest.
He touched the gem on the map keeping his eyes closed in deep focus. He emptied
his mind from everything except the island and sensed the vibrations of the
gem. He wasn’t hearing anything apart from the sea hitting gently the yacht.
And then he heard his friends’ sharp intakes of air.
“I don’t believe it” Selina whispered.
“Of course!” Lucius said. “The gem works like a compass!”
Bruce opened his eyes and saw the point of the triangle shaped diamond pointing
to a spot in the map. Lucius hurried to take a pencil and mark it.
Bruce looked at both his friends.
“Let’s try it!”
Lucius drove the yacht towards the location and Bruce with Selina were watching
avidly the laptop screen where the software fed the image of the area without
the electromagnetic fields’ interference. Few hours had passed and Bruce was
fighting his disappointment setting his jaw determined.
“We’re almost there…” Lucius said returning to the study.
The Afro-American didn’t receive an answer and he saw both youths staring the
screen amazed. He ran there: the filtered image showed a land covered with
green while the common image showed only water. The scientist smiled: how
convenient! It was a spot of the Aegean Sea where boats almost never
approached.
 
Clark was leaning on his father’s old wooden working bench behind the barn
where his tools were still waiting for him. His heart beat painfully as his
eidetic memory brought back the figure of his father repairing or creating
things in this very bench to fix the farm’s premises.
He was just an annoying toddler running around him watching with curiosity what
his father was doing and pestering Jonathanto let him help. Jonathan used to
smile and promise him that he’d help some other time and that now he really
needed a glass of cool water and that was enough for little Clark to run back
to the house and bring water. Jonathan knew that his boy was extraordinary
strong but he didn’t want to risk him getting injured by one of the tools.
Clark smiled bitterly and looked the horizon at the direction of the town’s
cemetery: his long distant vision permitted him to see Jonathan’s plain grave
and the wild flowers he brought him this morning when he visited with his Ma.
It was his third day here and he was satisfied. His eyes caressed the sunset
colors in the sky that had only a big fluffy pink-velvet cloud; the sun had set
and the first dark blue had blended with the pink. He inhaled deeply.
But suddenly he frowned: memories flooded again his mind; memories that he
didn’t want but also he didn’t feel like pushing away.
His arms felt lovely; they had a weight that made his heart blow with warmth.
He saw again himself months ago carrying Bruce bridal style out of the house.
They had just visited his Ma and promised her that they’d return for Christmas.
His Ma brought a blanket to wrap Bruce meticulously so he doesn’t get cold
during the flight back to Gotham. The human had thanked his Ma smiling but he
didn’t let Superman hold him too close to his chest; Bruce was still angry with
him and slowly detaching…
But during the journey back to the Manor Bruce had fallen asleep and he was so
beautiful that Superman was watching him speechless…though even in sleep the
human still kept his head away from Clark’s chest. For the first time after
months Clark felt nostalgia that only Diana could cure because Diana was his
real love.
 
Bagdana materialized suddenly in the middle of Diana’s living room; she was
surprised but contained it with a cocked eyebrow. She was watering her plants
kissing the leaves.
“Welcome” she said. “You should have called – I might have had someone who
shouldn’t have seen you.”
Bagdana shook his head.
“You’d have informed me if he had returned.”
She nodded pouting and caressed elegantly the leaves of a dwarf rose.
Bagdana walked to her.
“Two days have passed. I won’t wait anymore: Superman must get out of the
picture.”
Ivy smiled.
“It was ‘bout time! Do you know where he is?”
Bagdana pressed his lips.
“No, he is concealed” he smirked. “But that is no problem: he’s been exposed to
you for months so it should take only a flight around the States for you to
lure him out of his hole.”
Ivy smirked.
“I like it when you’re so determined!”
 
Clark felt his body revolting: there was his beloved perfume in the air but it
was coming from far away. His heart beat faster: nostalgia and need became
torturing – Diana was somewhere: not close but he could feel her; her body
called him and he wanted to be with her. Clark could sense her longing for him:
he had abandoned her – his one true love and she was looking for him crazy from
the same craving that burnt his insides.
He had still the image of that day in his mind’s eye: Bruce sleeping like an
angel in his arms but keeping his head away. No, Clark realized now, Bruce
wasn’t sad for Clark’s behavior: he just longed for another man – Thor – and
Superman’s hold disgusted him.
He span and Clark Kent dressed in his red plaid shirt and weathered denim gave
his place to Superman; his legs had left the soil on their own volition.
“Clark, where are you going?”
Martha had seen him from the kitchen’s window and his sudden change made her
pale. She rushed outside to stop him before he flew away.
Superman turned to her smiling but his eyes were already elsewhere determined-
possessed.
“I must leave, Ma.”
“No, Clark! For your own good, don’t leave!”
Superman bit his lip impatient but kept his smile.
“Don’t worry, Ma: it something I must do and then I’ll be right back to you” he
said and sped away not giving his mother the chance to say something.
Martha’s breath became constricted; her heart sank as her son’s figure was fast
vanishing in the darkening sky.
“No, honey…” she hoped against hope that it was some emergency that called her
son away but cold fingers had grabbed her heart fortelling something really bad
for Clark.
 
***** Chapter 78 *****
Lucius didn’t want but as a reasonable man accepted his young employer’s logic.
Bruce asked him to take the chris-craft and return to Athens; the yacht would
remain anchored where it stood right now: in a safe distance where the Amazons
couldn’t see it; waiting their return.
“If the Princess accepts to come with us I wouldn’t want her to see you and
connect Batman with Lucius Fox because it will be obvious then that Batman is
also connected with Bruce Wayne” Bruce had explained shortly.
If everything went according to their hopes Batman and Catwoman would accompany
the Princess to the yacht where Tony would wait for them – after Bruce’s
notification that the Princess accepted to help – and Bruce Wayne with Selina
would return to Athens where along with Lucius they would take the jet with
Happy as pilot to return to Gotham. Tony had developed a prototype small jet
that could land to the sea as smoothly as on the ground.
Lucius shook Selina’s hand and then Bruce’s.
“Good luck and be careful.”
Selina smiled.
“We always are…”
“Of course, Miss Kyle!” Lucius mimicked her grin and turned to Bruce. “For
whatever you need contact me immediately.”
“Thank you, Lucius.”
“You’re always welcome, Mr. Wayne” he answered and descended the ladder leading
to the small white chris - craft boat that was attached to the yacht.
Lucius set the craft’s course and turned his head to see the two youths on the
deck – Selina standing and Bruce on his wheelchair - watching him moving away;
he always felt some fear when he departed from Bruce. It was a residual from
the nights the young man sneaked out from Falcone to meet him to plan their
action; the time was limited and filled with anxiety and every time Bruce left
Lucius wasn’t sure that Thomas’ son would stay alive to meet him
again…Falcone’s brutality after all was evident on the youth’s face.
“Time to dress up?” Selina turned to Bruce as soon as the only thing they could
see was the froth Lucius’ chris - craft was leaving behind.
“I think it’d be better to wait till the night falls” the sun was already
setting sprinkling abundance of red and gold to the glimmering waters; Bruce
looked up to two seagulls who cried. “To our good luck it is a night with a new
moon so darkness will be our ally. Do you like night swimming?” he grinned.
Selina shrugged thoughtful. She didn’t have any seconds thoughts about Bruce’s
involvement since her friend’s ability in swimming even as paraplegic was
impressive even without the enhancement the armor offered.
“As long as the sea is clear of sharks…”
Bruce cocked an eyebrow and chuckled.
“A cat is afraid of fish?”
Selina snorted.
“Well, a cat doesn’t like the tables turned.”
Bruce smiled.
“Then it is a good thing that Aegean doesn’t have sharks…”
They returned to the study cabin and settled around the lap top that showed
many different shots of the island.
“They have guards patrolling” Selina said pointing with her index finger at the
red heat dots around the perimeter of the beach.
“They patrol on horses” the bleeping red spots showed two different presences,
one on another. “The indications show that their armory is obsolete but I have
no doubt that it’s still very lethal.”
Selina raised her eyebrows.
“Have you ever been scratched by a woman? Even a woman’s nails can be lethal –
I know from the yells of those I scratched.”
Bruce shook his head.
“We don’t go there to fight.”
Selina looked at the thermal dots.
“Yeah, but that doesn’t mean we won’t have to…We will be stealth but that can’t
last much since you want to talk to the Princess.”
Bruce nodded thoughtful clenching his chairs’ armrests wishing he was in
perfect condition just in case. Selina brushed his upper arm.
“Before we leave you should take your medicine.”
He smiled.
“Of course” he consented.     
 
“Do you see him coming?”
Bagdana’s voice echoed in Ivy’s ears as she floated aimlessly on the American
sky. She was far from Metropolis because her favorite place wasn’t in that city
and Ivy wanted everything to be done there. And of course the demon didn’t
object.
“A demon is an agent of free will…” he had hissed slyly when she told him her
intentions.
His voice reached her from his cave.
“Not yet but I’m sure he is on his way. Nature is my ally and I have every
bush, weed, flower or grass emanating my perfume so wherever he might have been
my calling reached him. And he simply can’t resist my calling.”
“You are the goddess of Nature, my dear!” Bagdana remarked with his slight
irony.
 Yet Ivy didn’t give him any attention: she was sure that the demon believed
that otherwise he wouldn’t have chosen her. Ivy was aware of the demon’s
preference for Gotham – besides, his obsession with Wayne was an indication. So
now she could explain how Bagdana approached her while she lurked in Gotham’s
wings. He studied the city and her residents so he knew the power hidden in
Poison Ivy’s body.
Her confidence was justified: she might not have had Superman’s super sight yet
she made out a dot in the horizon approaching fast. Well, it didn’t look like
an airplane and as the popular quote went:
“It’s a plane!
It’s a bird!
No, it’s Superman!”
She smirked and took off flying equally fast supposedly searching frantically
for him; Ivy gave to her features a hue of agony never forgetting her resolute,
full of power expression, worthy of an Amazon.
Superman’s heart that was already beating quickly with longing from the moment
he smelled Diana’s perfume now beat even faster because all of his senses were
put on fire taking in her signals that first were distant but now were
approaching rapidly.
 Not that he had any doubt that he’d find her: he could sense her breath, her
heartbeat, the heat of her needing, powerful body… And now as he was
approaching, Superman saw her flying to him. He sped.
They collided in the middle of the morning sky and Superman saw fireworks as
Diana grabbed his face with both hands and captured his lips almost violently
pumping her taste in his thirsty body. Superman never needed oxygen but in this
case he felt the air being drawn out of his lungs.
He followed the rhythm of her lips and the grinding of her lustful, strong body
on his; her half naked pelvis and her thighs was so heated that he could feel
it under his uniform. Her body was vibrating from longing. But his also.
“I missed you” she said in her strong, adamant voice as if she uttered an
order. “You left a note and just vanished and that pissed me off!” she grabbed
his testicles so violently that he ached but also felt his entire body
paralyzing pleasantly as she immediately caressed his sensitive parts with her
unique way. “You can’t treat like this the leader of the Amazons.”
Superman cupped her face with both hands.
“I had to, Diana; but I’m sorry for upsetting you…” he attacked her lips and
she bit him. “I missed you too…I want you…”
Truly, his body wanted hers right now, right there; in midair, among the midday
sky’s clouds; careless of anything. She clenched his hair and yanked his head
sucking brutally his neck.
“I have the perfect place, Kal…” she whispered in his ear wrapping her leg
around his hips and rubbing their groins together. “There I’ll show you how
much I missed you…” she licked his earlobe fully aware that this melted the Man
of Steel.
Superman yanked his head backwards and sighed: returning to Metropolis seemed
so time consuming and his body just couldn’t bear the delay. Besides he was
thinking to have some time with Diana and then returning to his Ma after
explaining to the Amazon that there was some emergency.
“To your apartment?” he almost complained.
Her blue sparkling eyes were filled with irony when met his.
“I doubt you’d last so much, Kal…No” she shook her head. “Somewhere better.”
“Why not right here, right now?” he wrapped his arm around her waist and glued
their hips together.
The Amazon’s face became authoritative, strict.
“Because I say it and you know that whatever I’m saying is for your best, Kal,
Lord of the Krypton. Unless,” she cocked an eyebrow and her eyes filled with
irony “you don’t trust me.”
Superman locked eyes with her.
“I trust you with my own life.”
Diana smiled.
“You’re right to…”
She slipped from his arms and began flying Superman following until he reached
her and stayed by her side. They were exchanging glances every now and then
filled with love and heating passion.
“Well done, my dear!” Bagdana whispered to Ivy’s ear.
 
Two eye shaped slits watched through the thick foliage of the forest. The night
was extremely dark since not only the moon was at its circle’s start but also
there were clouds covering the stars. Another pair of eyes watched too next to
the first pair.
Batman had adjusted the light of his lenses to be discreet to not draw
attention and Catwoman wore her night vision goggles.
The island’s mainland wasn’t dark at all; the main soil streets leading to the
city and the temples situated at hills all over the island were illuminated by
7 feet tall stony pillars that had on top oval shaped vessels with oil that
burnt fire since dusk fell. The city was also filled with lights either from
the same kind of pillars or from lanterns that hang from every building. Even
the beach was abundantly illuminated by torches scattered on the sand.
However for Batman and Catwoman who for all their lives were used to pass
unnoticed even in the electric lights of the modern cities it wasn’t difficult
to blend in the shadows and take cover in the woods; the already fallen night
was a big help.
The patrols around the beach perimeter of the island were constant yet they
chose the moments the horsewomen turned their backs on the spot to slip from
the sea to the forest. Their equipment permitted them to remain underwater
waiting for the right moment. Of course, the horses would neigh if they sensed
any presence but both Batman’s and Catwoman’s armor had the means to conceal
any traces of human presence.
The clever women had predicted that someone might have managed to lay his feet
on the beach and had dag big holes throughout the sand covering them with sea
weeds so if someone passed unnoticed from the patrols to end up in the bottom.
Yet they didn’t know Batman’s scanning technology that even while underwater
had already showed them in a detailed blueprint the dangerous traps.
The trees after the beach were scarce – cut on purpose to not offer coverage;
not as dense as in the mainland yet for them even those were enough: both
Batman and Catwoman climbed to the first tree and then jumped from branch to
branch like cats till they reached the thickest part of the forest.
As Batman had landed on the wood’s soil right next to Catwoman, he looked at
her puzzled: she took off the flat shoes and wore her long, high heeled boots
that she carried with her in a small sack where she now put the flat shoes.
“I don’t believe it…” he whispered flabbergasted and Catwoman turned to him
shrugging.
“I can’t function without the proper equipment…” she winked.
Batman grinned and gave his hand to Catwoman to help her stand.
“And I was curious about what you were carrying…”
“Curiosity killed the…bat…” she chuckled.
Looking for the legendary Princess they followed the massive lights that
indicated the city of the Amazons without ever leaving the coverage of the
virgin forest.
It was still early in the night and some Amazons were returning to the city
carrying tools of farming: they had seen some fields in their way that were
prepared for the seeding. Also, other Amazons on horses were returning to the
city having ended their shift in patrolling the beach. The city was surrounded
by enormous stone bulwark with turrets where Amazons were situated like in the
open gates.
“Their armor isn’t exactly how westerns had imagined it, huh?” Selina
whispered.
Batman nodded.
The Amazons who were returning from farming works wore plain creme colored
tunics that ended to the knees and left the arms uncovered. It was clear that
farming was something that the Amazons were doing also in shifts because the
farmers were equally muscle bound as the guardians; under the abundant lighting
of the pillars their bulging muscles shone from the thin layer of sweat and
dust.
Those who were guarding the gates and the turrets wore white tunics knee length
covered with thick layers of brown leather shreds; it was a light armor with a
thin, leather thorax protecting their chest and a nest-like metallic fabric
dressed their tracheas to the clavicle bone; the wide leather belts wrapping
their waists had the head of goddess Hera in the center. Their arms were naked
except than long brass bracelets that began from the wrists and went through
the entire forearm. Helmets covered their heads leaving their eyes and chins
out while a blue with white forelock waved to the night breeze. They wore flat
sandals and their calves were protected by metallic solid greaves that reached
the knees.
They were holding long spears and from their belts hang long, straight sword in
their cases.
“You think we should enter the city?”
Batman looked at the city and then Catwoman.
“No; I don’t want them to feel attacked. We should wait to locate the Princess
and speak with her.”
They both narrowed their eyes seeing some armored Amazons leading back to the
city a pack of little girls no more than eight years old. Clearly they were out
for training.
“They have children without men?” Selina asked. “In vitro fertilization? They
are so developed?”
“Ancient writers say that Amazons made wars with neighboring tribes and used
the captives for breeding.”
Selina chuckled but stopped abruptly seeing Bruce’s set jaw; she remembered
that Talia Al Ghul had treated Bruce like this when she captured him.
“Others say that they had a kind of agreement with a neighboring tribe, the
Gargareans and once a year the Amazons went there for… reproduction.”
“Nothing of that can apply nowadays…” she said.
Batman nodded.
“Do you feel excited for discovering their secluded world?” Selina asked. “I
mean, it is unbelievable that we are here and seeing these things – I feel as
if I have travelled in time.”
He shook his head.
“It is interesting but I’ll feel satisfied only if the Princess agrees to help
us.”
They stayed there for another two hours. Switching to long distance vision they
could watch the city.
Batman was used to wait patiently for his mark so when a tall, sturdy woman
crossed the gates heading outside and the guardians saluted her hitting their
fists on the chest and bowing slightly their heads, his senses tensed and he
could tell that the same was true for Selina.
The young woman was the same height as her soldiers but unlike them she had her
black hair in a tight bun behind her head. She was dressed in a long plain
sleeveless tunic that reached her feet which were dressed in flat leather
sandals. Between her hair something shone in the dancing lights the flames on
the pillars cast and Batman shook his head showing Catwoman the golden tiara.
In the middle of the triangle front, a ruby emanated sparkles: it was like a
star with sixteen rays.
“It is different than the star the fake had…” Selina whispered.
Batman nodded.
“Exactly. The Latin historians spoke about the star and the modern interpreters
thought that it was the common star Western civilizations use but the Princess
is a Greek so the star on her tiara would be the Greek Helios or Star which has
eight or eighteen thin rays: the four rays in the center longer than the rest.”
“How you know all these?” she asked impressed.
Bruce pressed his lips.
“Ra’s Al Ghul loved ancient civilizations…”
Selina pursed her lips understanding how painful the memories must be for
Bruce.
“The guardians don’t call her Diana.”
Batman nodded.
“Diana is the Latin translation of Artemis; the Princess of the Amazons is
named Artemis yet the ancient Latin historians quoted the name translated so
most people knew her name as Diana.”
“Bagdana didn’t know that?”
“He did but humans didn’t so he followed the popular beliefs.”
“He didn’t imagine that Al Ghul educated you that good or that you’d suspect
his trick and made your research.”
Bruce gave a nod and focused on the Princess.
Her dressing was civilian yet her waist was bound with a thin brown leather
belt from where a long, straight sword hanged over her right thigh.
Selina pointed to the Princess’ left thigh where a glowing gold rope hanged
rolled.
“The real thing…” she whispered and Bruce nodded.
The Princess with slow pacing walked away from the soldiers and the city. Bruce
and Selina followed through the forests’ shadows.
As they moved the Princess’ destination became visible: a medium sized temple
made of Doric tall pillars. She climbed the twenty wide marble steps that led
to the entrance of the temple and moved inside. Bruce remembered another
similar temple ‘he’ had walked in…it was in his dream, where he became one with
the high priest of Nemesis.
They both could see inside with the long distance vision their armors provided
so they saw her crossing the tiled isle leading to the altar at the far end;
the temple was illuminated by oval shaped golden vessels where fires were
burning. Under the pale light and the shadows an enormous ceiling tall statue
made of brass marble stood: it depicted a sturdy man with a perfectly shaped
body and the armor of a Greek warrior; he held a large, round shield with the
Greek Helios in the center and a sword. His head was in a helmet from where two
bright eyes stabbed his guests; he looked around 40 years old.
“A male god in the island of the Amazons?” Selina asked Bruce.
“He is Ares, the Greek god of war: he is considered the father of the Amazons…”
“Right…” Selina chuckled. “Our little excursion became an educational trip…”
Bruce grinned.
The Princess took from the floor a 3 feet, lean golden leathern oil flask and
began spilling slowly red ruby wine to the altar under the Ares’ feet,
whispering some words in a tone like a hymn.
“We can approach her now” Selina said.
But Bruce shook his head.
“It is a very personal, worshiping moment: I don’t want to intrude.”
Selina sighed.
When the Amazon came out of the temple and began descending the steps Bruce
turned to Selina.
“It’s time…” he said.
Selina touched his upper arm.
“Perhaps I should do this?” she said as Bruce locked eyes with her. “You know,
girl to girl.”
“If we do that, when later I’ll enter the game she will think that I used you
to trick them and she’ll become hostile.”
Selina tilted her head.
“I get it – a man using a woman: feminist crap..! Boring…Anyway, I’ll jump if
she dares lay a finger on you.”
Batman grinned.
“Don’t you think I can handle it?”
Selina crooked her mouth.
“Women are tough subject, sweetie…”
Batman nodded and moved slowly, stealthily towards the path the Princess
followed back to her city. Selina waited a few moments and followed too.
In a turn of the roads, the trees shaded the path and the light from the
pillars’ vessels became dim. Bruce looked at the woman who walked under the
tree he was on and graciously slipped down, landing on his feet behind her. He
stretched his posture seeing the woman halting and tensing.
She turned slowly to him, a small grin on her beautiful face. Her dark blue
eyes flashed determined in the dim light.
“Επιτέλους…’’ she said.
 
Thor in his divine garments stayed behind as the rest of the Avengers left the
meeting room in the Avengers’ Towers. Nick Fury was the last to walk out. Tony
had informed them about a new menace but couldn’t give more details right now;
he just asked for vigilance and set the entire global S.H.I.E.L.D. organism in
alarm.
The director remained in his seat on the head of the board table absorbed in
his tablet’s contents. Thor approached and looked: it was an awkward oval
shaped machine covered with strange symbols. He frowned seeing Luthor in a
white robe working on it.
“It has to do with that, right?” he inquired quietly. “The menace.”
Tony raised his eyes on him.
“Yes” he answered casually. “An extra terrestrial extra powerful being wants to
destroy the Earth and use that machine to absorb dark energy from humans” he
crooked his mouth. “I know…I hate movies with aliens too…”
Thor frowned.
“Why you didn’t tell us?”
Tony arched an eyebrow.
“Because Bruce uncovered their scheme and he believes that we must wait.”
Thor was trusting Bruce yet he didn’t want any threat against humans staying
active for much.
“We could attack right now and destroy that thing” he showed the machine in the
screen.
“Bruce wants every available power the Earth has assembled before we tackle
this.”
“Every available power? All the beings with powers are here and we have
Superman and Wonder Woman.”
Tony pressed his lips and stood.
“You see, that’s our problem: we don’t have Superman and the Amazon.”
Thor narrowed his eyes.
“She is not the real Amazon” Tony met the god’s eyes “and she holds Superman
under her control – she is the enemy’s agent. That’s why Bruce wanted us to
wait.”
Thor shook his head. He knew that this woman had something bad.
“Wait for what?”
“For him and Selina to bring the real Amazon and show Superman the truth. He
went to find Themiscyra.”
Thor fisted his hand: Bruce was a paraplegic and the quest was dangerous: the
Amazons were really hostile.
“Why didn’t he wait for me to go along?” Thor asked exasperated. “Maybe they
would have listened to me.”
Tony pouted insulted.
“He didn’t take me along! Why would he take you? He didn’t want to make the
Amazons feel threatened.”
Thor closed his eyes and sighed.
“They shouldn’t have gone alone…”
Tony arched his eyebrows and patted him in the back.
“That’s Bruce…”
Tony’s StarkStel rang and he eagerly accepted the call, Thor watching.
“It was Lucius Fox. They have found the island” the billionaire said with a
smirk.
 
 
Superman saw the building and sensed Diana’s joy; she was slowing down heading
there. It was a building made from transparent plexiglass filled with pots and
plants. He frowned filling an annoying clench in his guts.
Yet Diana turned to him smiling waving to him to follow as she landed
graciously. He landed by her side though the view of the building made him
uncomfortable.
Diana grabbed his hand and Superman’s hesitation vanished; she smiled again to
him and walked inside, Superman with her.
As soon as they were inside, Diana looked around and her eyes filled with joy
as if she was seeing beloved friends. Superman gazed around the hundreds of
different plants that had flooded the space without any order leaving only a
narrow strip at the center: bushes reaching the ceiling, roses spreading right
and left intertwining their branches with weeds and other plants; stems
everywhere with thick leaves hiding the sun’s light.
 He felt a bit dizzy but before he addressed that his mind travelled fast: he
found himself inside another greenhouse, abandoned from long ago but still
tidier than this. He saw again the working bench with an oil lamp shedding dim
light to the dark room.
 
Bruce had the Wayne Enterprises’ translator software attached to his cowl so he
understood that she had said ‘at last’.
“Δεν είμαι εχθρός’’ he growled quietly the translator having given him the
words he should use to express in Greek what he wanted.
“Speak in your language” she retorted in English. “From your accent I can say
you’re an American.”
“How do you know?”                      
She tilted her head on the side.
“From time to time we visit the world of Men; many foreigners come to Greece –
it’s not difficult for me to speak your language. As for not being an enemy,
I’ll be the one to judge that” she pressed her lips and her eyes flashed. “I
felt a presence haunting my steps – a demon like creature…” she registered his
appearance and took out her sword pointing it to him. “Maybe when I slit your
throat I’ll see what lies under those clothes because I believe you’re nothing
else than a man dressed up in a ridiculous costume.”
Bruce expected to be seen like a threat and be sneered but remained calm.
“I’m not here to fight with you.”
She frowned.
“Of course! You’re just a coward crawling in the shadows waiting to hit when
your opponent has her back turned.”
With two rapid movements she tore her tunic in both legs’ sides to not be
thwarted in her movements from the fabric and with an impressive jump surged
against Batman.
Bruce rolled his eyes internally as he avoided her blade with a swift movement
to the side: nice! both fake and real Diana shared the same feelings about him.
“If I wanted to attack you I’d have done it immediately, don’t you think?” he
asked her retaining his tranquility.
But she without stopping brandished her sword aiming his head and Bruce dodged.
“How did you find our island?” she gritted her teeth.
“It’s a long story but what matters is the reason…”
The woman made a twirl around her axis that a professional dancer would have
envied and this time made to hit him with her forearm where her golden
bracelets shone; Bruce knew that those were lethal. He jolted his hand and his
gloved forearms stopped hers hardly containing her force for a second but
feeling great pain; she growled and pushed more Bruce feeling as if facing
Superman. He used his legs to push her feet of the ground but she losing her
balance made a jump in the air and landed some inches away ready to launch a
new attack her head leaned towards him and her jaw set like a lioness before
her pray.
Bruce feeling the burning pain her bracelets let to his forearms stabbed his
lenses to her. His jaw was set, emanating equal determination.
“Instead of fighting you can listen to me for a moment.”
“Who are you?” she asked with her eyes blazing.
“I’m Batman.”
“That’s ridiculous! You don’t bear such names in the world of men. You hide
your identity because you’re a foul man!”
She stormed again at him with her sword descending rapidly to his neck; he
trapped it between the edges of his glove but she moved the blade horizontally
and released it cutting several of the gloves’ edges.
“I won’t let anyone hurt my sisters” she hissed moving again the sword to his
head.
It was inches before hitting him and Bruce didn’t know if the cowl could
contain the hit so he used his secret weapon. He clenched his jaw and stopped
the blade just a breath before it sliced his head: a loud clang and a lightning
like flash cracked the silence as two blades collided. He saw the Princess’
eyes widen in surprise and awe seeing what had stopped her blade.
“Where did you steal that?” she asked watching the shine of the diamond blade.
“The Dagger of Justice came to me, Princess Artemis.”
The Princess gritted her teeth.
“Liar: you can’t be worthy of that Blade! You stole it!”
She detached and stood looking at him; Bruce straightened his body and put the
legendary dagger back in its case that instantly returned to its place, back to
sink in his right thigh’s armor piece.
“I didn’t steal the Dagger: you know that nobody can yield its will if the
Blade doesn’t accept them. We need to talk, Princess. I’m sorry for being so
stealthy but there was no other way to speak to you.”
Suddenly, she crashed her bracelets together and a blast hit Batman sending him
feet away; thankfully, he took in her intention and prepared himself propelling
with the force of the blast and landing smoothly on one knee. He could attack
her before landing but he didn’t want to answer to her hostility with
attacking.
He raised his eyes slowly stabbing his lenses to her determined but also
impressed dark blue eyes.
“I won’t fight with you, Princess.”
He saw the flaming string dancing in the air and immediately his torso was
wrapped in a glowing lasso that made his body feel with burning heat.
The Amazon approached him straightening her impressive body proudly; he
regarded him strictly.
“Now you’ll stop lying. What’s your name?”
Bruce felt something warm flooding his mind yet his thinking wasn’t altered.
“I’m Batman.”
The Princess frowned surprised.
“That can’t be! Nobody can resist the Lasso of Truth; even Zeus himself…” she
blinked. “Unless…” her eyes flashed “you’re a warrior of Nemesis – only her
followers are immune to the Lasso’s power.”
Bruce remembered Darseid’s failure to penetrate his mind and thanked silently
the Black Butterfly safely stashed over his chest, under the armor.
“Now you know that I’m allied with a goddess, can we speak?” he inquired
stabbing his lenses to her.
She withdrew the Lasso and put it back in her waist. But she still held her
sword as if considering if the new development could establish trust with the
newcomer.
Suddenly, the Princess herd a whipping sound and felt something coiling around
her sword pulling it away before she could focus on keeping it. She turned
around to see her new opponent only to see a lean body in black somersaulting
in the air heading on her.
The Princess avoided the legs that aimed at her and her opponent landed
smoothly on the terrain. The Amazon squinted on the woman before her.
Batman walked forward standing on the Amazon’s side.
“It’s alright, Cat” he said to his friend who yanked her head proudly and
focused her blazing green eyes on the Amazon.
“She hit you with a blast and was ready to slash you with her sword…” Selina
gritted her teeth.
“We reached an understanding” Batman said.
The Princess looked at Catwoman’s stiletto heels but didn’t linger there
unwilling to express her puzzlement.
“Cat? I see the reason for the name. You work for him?” she asked with
disapproval and Selina rolled her eyes.
“Ugh! I hate old fashioned feminism… The fact I’m on a man’s side doesn’t I
work for him. He is my friend: we work together.”
Batman raised his palm in appeasement.
“Catwoman is aware of the situation and she joined the mission.”
The Amazon looked at him.
“Speak! What situation are you raving about?”
However Batman had caught the dozens of feet that were approaching their
location running; in a couple of seconds they were surrounded by Amazons both
in warrior apparel and in tunics. All of them held swords or spears pointing at
them but their eyes were more lethal than their shining weapons. The blast from
their Princess bracelets had brought them there.
 
Yes, it was night and the storm was raging outside, the wind howling on the
walls of the greenhouse. There was a metallic closet at the far end and an old
rectangular stove where flames danced behind its rectangular smoked glass. He
had lit the fire because…No, Superman didn’t feel the cold neither was afraid
of his soaked suit. Yet someone else was cold and drenched and that someone was
vulnerable to illness.
His red cape was missing from his shoulder…He looked; till then he didn’t
turned his eyes there because he sensed that someone’s uneasiness.
Superman straggled to keep his eyes from bulging. Bruce wrapped in red, his red
cape, was an incredible sight. The red flattered the youth – not that he needed
it…- creating a gorgeous contrast with his brunette hair and his pale porcelain
flesh which in the scarce spots not covered from the fabric was brushed from
the soft light of the lamp and the heater revealing his Star’s aura. And his
body’s intoxicating perfume undeterred from the clothes, mingled with the
rain’s scent almost fogged Clark’s reasoning.
He wished his cape wasn’t so big that Bruce couldn’t cover almost his entire
body except from his feet and neck; also he detected a pouch hanging to Bruce’s
chest. But seeing Bruce’s suspicious eyes and the way he clutched the cape more
to his body Clark gulped and smiled kindly, running his hand to his wet locks.
“We must dry your hair…” he mumbled shyly. “Do you mind?” he inquired and when
Bruce just nodded, he began blowing tenderly warm air till Bruce’s locks dry
shone like silk.
“Well, now we need to find you a place to sleep…” he stuttered proud for his
work and under Bruce’s testing eyes he opened the metallic cabinet and
retrieved two blankets in fairly good condition.
Clark turned to Bruce cocking an eyebrow.
“You and your mom were sleeping here too?”
Bruce looked at the cloudy angry sky from the greenhouse’s transparent roof.
“Sometimes at the noon or when we heard that there would be shooting stars…Here
the sky is more clear…not tonight of course…”
Superman spread the blanket and gestured to Bruce who lay down hesitantly
minding the cape and hastily tightening the fabric when feeling it slipped from
his naked body. Clark bit his lips for this reaction of a person being many
times forcibly naked in front of hostile stares; and for the pain he could
detect in Bruce’s perfectly unfazed features. He tucked in the younger man with
the blanket and Bruce looked him in wonder.
“I can leave if you want… you know… to feel more relaxed and sleep.”
“Never mind…I can’t sleep either way; Alfred gave me sedatives but they didn’t
help…”
And then Clark had an idea: he began re-playing with a tender whistle the
melody of Bruce’s favorite lullaby as he had memorized it from that night in
Stark’s house. Bruce’s eyes widened.
“It’s…”
“Hush, Star… let sleep come.’’ Lean on me and rest…Let me carry the pain…
It was a matter of minutes before Bruce succumbed to exhaustion settling in
fetal position; he was still shivering and his temperature hadn’t risen to
normal. So Clark hesitantly and carefully spooned him feathery wrapping him in
his hot body to transfer his warmth to him.
He sighed and fought the temptation to kiss that velvety cheek that glowed
softness, the silken eyelashes brushing smoothly his cheekbone. Clark’s lips
were pulled to that flesh but he clenched his jaw and stopped himself, feeling
sweat drops in his forehead. He yanked his stare to the gloom sky that was
devoid of any star. It didn’t matter: he had the most beautiful star in his
arms.
“You need to stay away from me, Clark; at least, till you fight off the
addiction” Bruce had said determined.
Clark’s eyes shone.
“There’s no addiction! What I feel for you is true!”
 “Let me melt the ice, Star and illuminate your haunted heart…”
He knew he was almost begging but Clark didn’t feel ashamed; he had his eyes
closed and sensed his Star trembling as if ready to cry. No, please, don’t cry,
Star; let me try… His head leaned over Bruce’s face and his Star’s breath
excited his needy lips.
Bruce saw Clark’s lips approaching his but didn’t jerk to avoid them; he felt
numb and just didn’t want to fight that safe paralysis.
Clark touched his lips to those velvet soft lips and moaned from being finally
allowed to do that without his Star resisting and fighting him. He began
massaging gently exploring, feeling Bruce’s open eyes on his which remained
closed to suck the dream-like sense.
Bruce panicked and averted slightly his lips but upon realizing that the
pleasant paralyzing wave began leaving his body as Clark sighed and began
reluctantly taking off his lips, he returned his lips to Clark’s.
Clark’s eyes watered and his heart gave multiple joyful jolts feeling Bruce’s
lips finding again his. Shyly, testing, so incredibly soft that Clark’s body
felt goose bumps and followed the younger man’s initiative reminding himself to
be extra cautious to not panic him again.
But his hands on their own accord cupped the back of Bruce’s head relishing the
silken locks caressing greedily while his other hand touched gently the human’s
jaw to deepen slowly, carefully the kiss.
Clark’s tongue wanted to explore Bruce’s mouth - not invade like the last time
- yet Clark restrained himself in case the human felt threatened; instead he
trailed soft – he used his entire skill to be as soft as the breeze – kisses
along Bruce’s velvet cheek to his cheekbone opening his eyes exactly when he
kissed the chiseled bone. Bruce’s eyes sparkled, the emerald star inside
dazzling Clark; the sapphire orbs were puzzled but definitely not frozen in
terrible memories and to his excitement the pupils were dilated – his Star was
shyly enjoying his ministrations.
His heart beat joyfully yet he noticed that Bruce was still clenching tightly
his cape and if he did even a small wrong move he would fly away.
“I can show you how it is to be loved…” Clark whispered purposely looking all
the time to Bruce’s eyes giving him the ability to check his honesty. “If you
want...If you allow me…”
…The last thing Clark had expected and hoped happened. Bruce hesitantly and
slightly trembling touched his lips to Clark’s stunning him. Clark despite his
surprise and mind numbing enthusiasm noticed that Bruce had his eyes closed
softly controlling his breaths: his Star was struggling with his demons… He
felt awed and awfully weak to help as always when concerned Bruce.
Bruce huffed and pulled his lips causing Clark’s heart sink. Clark felt the
whim to lock his lips with Bruce’s showing him that it was okay. Yet he knew
better than doing that; he closed his eyes, breathing forcibly calmly though
his body and heart was in agony and waited.
Bruce took a deep breath, caressed Clark’s cheek, holding more relaxed the
cape, and brought again his lips to Clark’s with renewed determination. Clark’s
heart returned to its place but he still didn’t make a move, his hands
trembling at his side enjoying Bruce’s exploration and soft, extremely sensual
touch both of lips and hand.
And then as Bruce’s lips became braver and bolder, Clark began moaning and
wrapped gently his hand around the younger man’s shoulders. The Man of Steel
opened his eyes which glimmered from happiness and found Bruce’s sparkling
‘Kryptonites’ staring at him inquiringly.
“You make me happy, Star...I love you…”
 Bruce’s moans through the kiss it was enough for Clark to take him in his arms
and lay him on the blanket. Bruce’s eyes with their irresistible defiance
pierced Clark’s eyes and Clark was ready to be kicked away.
“You said you could show me how it is to be loved” Bruce had said determined.
Clark grinned broadly and let his body touch Bruce’s without letting his weight
fell on the human. He trailed kisses to Bruce’s jaw line and nibbled his neck
that to his delight arched to allow him better access and…oh, God! Bruce moaned
when Clark’s mouth sucked his collarbone; yet his hand was still holding the
cape and the Man of Steel was rasping, his heart beating frantically eager for
what he desired so many months and finally was so near…
Bruce read Clark’s eyes and Clark realized.
“Let me worship your body…” Clark’s voice was cracked from passion and arousal
and Bruce just released the fabric which slid a little but didn’t reveal flesh.
Damn that cape! Clark thought and Bruce chuckled giving him the unsaid
permission to do what he wanted so much. However, Clark grateful for Bruce’s
trust took gently the younger man’s hands and led them to his suit’s unseen
spots that allowed the fabric to roll off his body. Bruce’s eyes widened
surprised and a bit overwhelmed but Clark brought that palms to his lips and
kissed them softly; then he guided them in lowering the upper half of his suit
till the hips.
Clark smiled fondly seeing Bruce’s awed stare; it was so cute seeing that
child-like expression.
Bruce rose and caressed with shaking hands Clark’s breasts sending shivers in
Superman’s spine and causing his blood to boil from that explorative, shy and
bold at the same time hot touch. The Man of Steel was watching without
breathing Bruce feeling his body which welcomed him and asked for more. When
his Star touched his incredibly soft lips to his pectorals, kissing it was too
much…
The Man of Steel hugged Bruce’s body and laid him gently on his back ‘trapping’
him between his naked arms; he bent his powerful body like a snake without
falling on Bruce and brought his face above Bruce’s.
“Tonight, I’ll worship you…”
He began unwrapping gently, respectfully his cape that stubbornly clung to
Bruce’s body - not that he blamed his cape...but he still envied that piece of
Fabric that maintained more contact with Bruce than him. It felt like
unwrapping his gift from Santa Claus, slowly revealing the younger man’s body.
Clark wanted to taste every bit of Bruce; to have him in his body, in his
cells. He watched mesmerized as the human’s glistening torso stretched in a
majestic arch, his neck bent throwing his head back his brunette sweaty locks
glued in his face. His Star made a sound between moan and sob and hot, sweet
liquid filled Clark’s mouth and mind.
Bruce’s head remained slightly suspended; the young man awed from the feelings,
the elation and the disbelief that this really happened. Clark cupped the back
of Bruce’s head and brought their bodies to glue, savoring the seductive way
his Star’s body trembled in the orgasm’s aftermath making the human’s aroma
richer and the feeling of his red hot sweaty flesh paralyzing. His lips
massaged his Star’s jaw and mouth, meeting his sparkling eyes.
“I told you you weren’t crippled…” Clark let his voice manifest his feeling of
triumph.
But Bruce felt Superman’s trapped demanding erection.
“You need to…” he whispered blushing.
Clark shook his head.
“There’s no need… I won’t penetrate you...I can manage...I won’t hurt you.”
“You would never hurt me” he answered stilling his eyes in Clark’s fueling his
passion.
He had to prepare his Star if he was to show him that making love is something
beautiful, worth of repeating and not cause him to withdraw. Oh! Bruce’s thighs
were so tight and so armonical shaped with lean, strong muscles that radiated
warmth from the sweat that glistened. He didn’t want to grab those thighs and
just hastily spread Bruce so he massaged the taut flesh from the knees to the
hips and Bruce grunted only to moan, groan and breathe shallow when Clark began
nibbling the inside of his thighs that began trembling uncontrollably.
Only then Clark opened gently his legs revealing his opening. Rao! He wanted to
surge inside and claim Bruce forever but the youth’s sharp intake of air, as if
he read his thoughts stopped him; he rubbed soothing and arousing circles to
Bruce’s underbelly and penis causing him to close his eyes and sigh.
Clark applied much aloe to his ready to explode member, applied with massaging
motions aloe to Bruce’s insides and then held gently his buttocks to spread him
a bit more. Those buttocks were hell, more than he had dreamt, taut and soft
making his hands shudder and his spine jolt violently into thrusting his penis
inside Bruce; he hardly stopped his length from pushing too deep and too harsh
hearing Bruce’s heartbeat flaring.
Bruce closed his eyes and tried to breathe calmly though Clark’s length filling
him was his entire world. As Clark began thrusting incredibly gently but
stimulating at the same time, electric currents ran his spine making him
convulse; his body was waking, enjoying what for years was meant to cause him
shame and excruciating pain. He wrapped his legs around Clark’s firm glutial
muscles doing shyly the rubbing dance that excited so much Tony. It was
exciting to know that this powerful being was nestled between his legs holding
back his own satisfaction to not hurt him and he wanted to show his gratitude
for that.
Clark moaned surprised but surely grateful for that gift that made his penis go
frantic; he began grunting and established a stable pace careful to not hit the
newly fixed part of Bruce’s spine, stopping his body from succumbing to the
need of using its full energy.
Bruce clenched his jaw and focused on the reassurance that Clark’s crystal
clear blue eyes offered as every thrust brought the hero’s hot body to rub with
his.
“You can’t imagine how gorgeous you are, Star…” Superman rasped.
He nibbled Bruce’s jaw line and breasts as the younger man’s head lolled
backwards overwhelmed by the hotness in his anus that spurt to his groin to
burn his spine with violent jerks that Superman’s body absorbed. And then Clark
felt the sweat on Bruce’s body freezing and his breath halting; the sapphire-
emerald orbs were drenched in dread. Clark knew that his Star returned to his
horrific past to one of these sessions of brutal rapes.
Clark cupped Bruce’s face as their bodies were united and kissed him.
“Look at me, Star; it’s me, only me, I won’t let anyone harm you. You’re safe…”
he whispered in the tormented man’s ear and Bruce shook violently on his body
till his eyes refocused on Clark’s.
Bruce began breathing again clinging desperately on Clark’s shoulders, his head
resting on the crook of his neck like a child, his soft exhales causing goose
bumps to the Man of Steel who continued thrusting rubbing Bruce’s pelvis and
back to make him relax his muscle that clenched now ached from the friction.
Bruce felt again his crippled penis growing hard and jolting, a hot wave
rushing to explode; he tightened his grip on Clark’s shoulders because this
still scared him as much as it filled him with elation. And then he heard a
scream of outrage from the guts of earth mixed with a deafening thunder and he
knew it was his demon. He hid more his head in Clark’s body: Bagdana couldn’t
touch him there.
Clark came when Bruce did gaping at the most beautiful view of the world:
Bruce’s orgasm. He stayed inside his beloved body savoring Bruce’s writhing
after the orgasm and his rasps and groans and then purrs; he kissed his Star’s
drenched locks. How could he thank him enough for that present?
They stayed like this for much time till Clark felt Bruce’s breath feathery
light and his heartbeat peaceful in sleep. He pulled himself begrudgingly from
Bruce’s body holding the younger man. Then he leaned him gently back on the
blanket but Bruce half asllep raised his silken eyelids a bit.
He watched hypnotized as sleep brushed his Star’s face softening more his
features. And then he began cleaning Bruce’s body with his tongue gently,
tenderly, careful to not disturb his much needed rest. Bruce’s magical taste
and then his own seed flavored by this unique man’s sweat were incredible. He
slithered his tongue in every corner, every inch not leaving one drop trying to
sooth his hunger and thurst, to take Bruce inside his body, as the dry soil
absorbed the cool rain… He finished the job drying Bruce’s body blowing gently
warm air.
“I love you, Star…” he murmured over Bruce’s eyelids and a faint smile brushed
his Star’s face.
He was enjoying Bruce’s naked body when the younger man turned on his side,
covering with his thigh his genitals and hugging his chest unconsciously –
Clark was sure that little Bruce slept that way trying to warm up in his frozen
cell.
And then Superman’s eyes widened awed as silver light caressed Bruce’s naked
body; he yanked his head to the glass roof to see the moon shining having
escaped the clouds. Clark’s fingers ran Bruce’s body line from his shoulder to
the hips, to his thighs to the toes, the void of the chopped big toe hurting
him…
He wrapped his hands around Bruce’s chest and closed his eyes letting the
thrill, the happiness, the relief, the sense of completion fill his body that
the more he was close to Bruce the more felt like charging, his powers greater
than ever.
“I won’t let anyone harm you again…” he breathed in Bruce’s ear.
Clark shook his head as the night became morning and the dimly lit greenhouse
turned into the chaotic greenhouse. Diana was looking at him confused.
He realized that he had no job there; his entire body vibrated from the need to
leave and return where he belonged; to the one he belonged to: the one he had
hurt. He had to explain to Bruce but first he needed to be again near him. His
body felt drained from energy as if his long absence had secretly stripped him
from vitality.
 Superman turned his senses on finding Bruce’s vitals; he was desperate and his
despair culminated as he failed to find those beloved sound…It couldn’t be:
Bruce’s vitals were nowhere in the planet! Either he wore his Batman armor –
which was impossible since it was daylight – or Bruce was… No! He couldn’t even
think about that…
He saw what he had seen in his dream: the warm, bright star leading him out of
that terrifying nothingness…Bruce in the middle of the light. And then he saw
again the gravestone he had dreamt; Bruce’s name on the gray stone piercing his
heart…
Superman turned on his heels storming at the door ready to leave for Gotham.
“Where are you going, Kal?” Diana asked with her strict and caring voice.
“Where I should be, Diana; I’m sorry…”
He turned to see her; he had to explain but then…
He frowned: suddenly, he could see something odd in her shining raven blue
hair…there were traces of hair dye. He remembered that Bruce had warned him.
She was really an impostor!
Ivy saw the realization in his eyes and smiled.
“What’s wrong, Kal?” she asked slyly.
“I’m out of here!” he ground his teeth and stormed towards the door.
Only to realize that he couldn’t speed as he used to; he narrowed his eyes his
heart beating heavy and fast; his power was fast slipping away from his
body…However he pushed his legs to leave from there feeling sweat spurting all
over his face enhancing the feeling of illness. He huffed, understanding:
Kryptonite.
He pressed his legs to move and he remembered Bruce’s paraplegia: he never till
now had realized how titanic Bruce’s effort was…
Suddenly, he felt his legs even heavier, thwarted in their effort. But there
was something else holding him. He looked his body: his legs and arms were
wrapped from several plant stems that dragged him down, joined by other rope
like stems coiling around his torso. He clenched his jaw and fists trying to
fight but the strength of the weeds along with his weakness made him fail. He
was dragged down, on the weed covered terrain.
Superman saw Diana smirking; she had her arms crossed over her chest looking at
him with content and a gleeful shine that made Superman grit his teeth angrily.
But he was crashed to the floor covered from weeds that pinched his body with
an invincible strength; the spots where the stems touched him felt like burning
and he realized that the plants had Kryptonite: that wasn’t normal.
Diana walked arrogantly towards him and stood right in front of him towering
him with her muscle bound body that now made Superman sick.
“You see now what you and every other ignorant human are blind to: nature’s
power!” she cocked an eyebrow; her eyes were caressing the green waterfall with
an abnormal affection.
“Who are you?” Superman asked trying to struggle but realizing that his
struggle made the clenching stronger.
She cackled.
“Oh! I’m just another existence that goes unnoticed like all these beautiful
souls…” he saw Superman’s puzzlement and snorted. “Okay, then…All this time, I
figured you’re not so bright after all…”
In front of his eyes the Amazon Princess was transformed into a modest woman in
white robe; she had her blond hair in a tight bun and glasses hiding her light
blue eyes. She cocked an eyebrow.
“I was humble Dr. Pamela Lilian Isley whom everyone jeered because she gave
plants the respect they deserved…And then I believed in a man who said that
believed the same with me… only to abuse what he told me that he loved: he used
me and the plants’ strength for his own stupid ambitions and when I confronted
him, his stupidity made the lab to explode. It wasn’t the first time humanity
disappointed me…But nature never did. My life was saved by the dying plants
that gave me their powers and qualities.”
Superman was sure that those qualities were in fact due to the chemicals that
were freed during the explosion.
“When I realized that my friends, the plants, had saved me, I decided to be
their champion; their protector against the humanity’s cruelty. I changed many
names and forms as the nature does…”
The glasses vanished and her eyes became honey colored as her hair that fell
free in curls on her back; she was dressed like a woman of cabarets and
Superman gulped remembering Bruce’s flashback: the woman from Dolcetto.
Ivy shook her head.
“I was born and raised in Gotham so I started from there: killing those
bastards who tortured and killed my friends – trees, bushes, flowers: innocent
victims to people’s greed… It was easy: seducing them with the feromones my
friends had endowed me with and killing them with the plants power: natural
poison… The press finally recognized me with my real name: my destiny. And then
I became Vivian to infatuate Gotham’s king into helping nature: take the Lilian
and change the ‘l’ with the ‘v’ from Ivy: my real name” her eyes flashed
angrily. “Because, Superman, the woman who defeated you is Poison Ivy!”
The clenching from the hundreds of different stems became harder and Superman
goggled seeing the view in front of him.
The prostitute transformed. Her honey colored hair became a flaming red and her
long locks like a waterfall covered her naked back. Her entire breathtaking,
curvy, porcelain body was almost naked: small leaves assembled covered the
lower part of her groin’s V only to expand with lean, thread like stems that
hugged her pelvis’s bones to wrap sensually her thin waist; other green stems
no thicker than strands began from her belt to end up to her round, rich
breasts covering only the nipples with diamond shaped green silver leaves. Her
long, shapely legs were bear apart from large leaves that covered her calves.
She stretched to the air her long naked arms that were adorned with thin stems
with small leaves that wrapped like snakes around the skin.
“Do you like the real thing, Kal El?” she asked jeering stabbing her forest
green eyes to his; her heart shaped green lips revealing her pearl white teeth
in a triumphant smile.
“Why you did that?”
She tilted her head on the side and clenched her waist with one hand.
“To give nature what she deserves after ages of oppression…”
Superman shook his head remembering how many times he saved the environment
from pollution: he glared at the plants – how ungrateful!
“I know that nature suffers from some humans’ behavior but killing me won’t
help you in anything” he was puzzled; okay, she had some strengths connected
with plants but how did she manage to imitate the legendary powers of Diana.
She smirked.
“You don’t but he will…”
Superman’s eyes widened seeing the air floating to materialize a new presence:
he knew him and now everything was cast into the light of truth.
Bagdana’s enormous body stood in front of him in his granite color, dressed in
black leather pants and a black leather vest. His silver spikes instead of hair
shone but his eyes gleeful shine was more intense as his smirk that carved his
face.
“Bagdana…” Clark whispered. “You did everything to take your revenge on me
because Bruce chose me instead of you. But you could have caught me without
this circus – it would only take some Kryptonite.”
Bagdana laughed.
“Sure but you would have strong help, right? And you would have escaped and I
would be again defeated. To win a war you need cunningness…patience…strategy.
And I’m a master of these. You see” he walked slowly towards his fallen enemy
“I was the breeze that whispered in Julius Cesar’s ear: divide and conquer…”he
whispered with glee leaning above his captured enemy. “I’m a master of deceive
so I implemented that: I knew that if I wanted to win definitely I should take
you away from your allies.”
Superman understood from his words that he hadn’t told Ivy about Bruce being
the Batman.
“And I did that” Bagdana continued “bringing to the fore a breathtaking
legendary creature that certainly would infatuate you and make you detach from
Bruce and therefore your allies. And leaving me the space to console the broken
heart.”
Superman gritted his teeth seeing Oliver Queen replacing the demon.
Superman shook his head: really cunning. But Bruce had suspected that: he
couldn’t have succumbed to Queen’s advances and maybe was on their tracks. But
the demon seemed completely ignorant of Bruce’s suspicions so it was better if
he didn’t reveal anything to them.
“And at the same time you hurt Bruce…” he said and Bagdana cocked an eyebrow.
“Actually, you did that.”
Superman licked his lips, the pain becoming worse as the feeling of sickness.
The demon was right: magic and feromones apart he was the one who hurt Bruce.
“You were defeated” Clark said to him. “You were imprisoned in Tartarus, you
couldn’t escape…”
Bagdana crooked his mouth and Oliver Queen became again the dark creature.
“There was someone who could free me…” he chuckled “for his own interests of
course…”
Superman frowned: this wasn’t good. His entire face was contorted in disbelief
watching a third presence materializing. His body screamed from the Kryptonite
inflicted pain and both demon and Ivy smirked.
 
 
A warrior in full gear detached from the others and raised her sword.
“A man has invaded our island. Kill him!”
The Princess looked surprised as her warriors launched their attack against the
newcomers yelling their combat screams. She knitted her eyebrows and just
stepped aside leaving space to the clearance they had reached fighting.
“A man. Has invaded” Selina rolled her eyes avoiding a spear thrown at her.
“From a society of women you’d expect to not ignore a woman…”
Batman found this amusing yet he hadn’t time to chuckle. He dodged the spears
that came at him jolting his body to the air.
The Amazons had swarmed the place and their blades shone as the clouds had
dispersed revealing the stars. Batman didn’t want to hit them; he didn’t want
to show aggressiveness but as he landed there was no choice but to kick
stretching his legs on both directions throwing away the first ones to attack
him; their bodies pushing away those behind them.
Catwoman slashed her whip hitting a charging Amazon and sending her to crash on
the ground. She didn’t have any problem to hit a woman especially when she was
lowering her sword on her head. Selina dodged and kicked the woman in the belly
sending her to crash on her comrades.
Batman saw the woman who ordered the attack charging at him with her sword
ready; the blade was coming to his neck so quickly that resembled a lightning.
The last moment he caught the blade between his palms causing the woman’s
infuriated, shocked scream; she tried to overcome his resistance to free her
sword. Her strength was great yet Batman managed to hold and the Amazon
realizing kicked him in the belly hoping that his surprise would yield his
resistance.
However Batman twisted his hands taking advantage of her effort to kick him to
throw her sword away. Her hatred was obvious in her eyes when she jerked both
hands to punch him only to be stopped by Batman’s consecutive blocks with his
forearms.
Several Amazons surrounded him attacking simultaneously as he fought her
leader. Batman continued to block his opponent’s hits with his palms using his
legs to kick the warriors who attacked from the back. He thanked his friends
for the armor that enabled his legs to move because other than that he couldn’t
feel anything there even though the Amazons hit him.
He jerked his head backwards to smack the head of one behind him who had
attempted to headlock him and clenching his jaw boosted himself to the air
twirling using his movement to propel the warriors who were on him.
His movement had thrown the commander of the Amazons away and she landed on her
feet; she was ready to attack again but she looked amazed at the creature
fighting them: his wings was spread and in the night he looked like a giant Bat
or a winged creature of justice.
Yet Amazons weren’t afraid of anything: she clenched her fists and jumped to
attack the creature that fought her sisters.
Selina elbowed the woman behind her and punched the one in front of her right
in the nose kicking at the same time another one coming from her right. She
wanted to run to Bruce and help: he shouldn’t get hurt and these lamias were
real bitches.
Batman was descending rapidly back to the ground; he gathered his wings to
envelop several Amazons and threw them aside. But as soon as they were out
others went on him; he needed to stop this.
He took a smoke bomb from his belt and threw it between his feet obscuring
their view and surprising them just for the second the time he needed to jump
to another spot.
Batman stood some feet away ready to speak but the woman he had confronted
surged again at him brandishing her sword giving a war cry that really made the
blood run cold.
“Αντιόπη, μη! Σταματήστε την επίθεση!’’
Both Selina and Bruce could hear the words translated so they knew that the
Princess at last ordered her comrades to stop.
The Amazons obeyed puzzled and looked at their Princess; Selina found the
chance to walk casually among them to come to her friend.
“She didn’t want her sisters eat more dust…” she said dryly lolling her head to
Batman.
Diana walked in the middle of the battle scenery and addressed her people.
«Αυτός ανήκει στην υπηρεσία της Νέμεσης.»
Selina rolled her eyes meeting Batman’s lenses.
“At Nemesis’ service?” she asked exasperated. “Oh, boy!”
“It’s better than all this fighting” he replied. “There are more important
things right now than exchanging punches…”
The Princess touched the shoulders of the woman she had called Antiope.
“They are not enemies…” Bruce and Selina understood what the Princess said
locking eyes with her lieutenant. “They didn’t want to attack us.”
Suddenly, the circle of the still suspicious women broke to reveal a woman with
black hair streaked with thin gray, dressed in a deep red long tunic with
golden streaks at the sides. She wore a plain, unadorned gold tiara and her
blue eyes were filled with wisdom as she regarded the scene.
Diana detached from Antiope and met her.
“Queen Hippolyta” she said with respect.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
***** Chapter 79 *****
Ms. Turner’s small blue Ford stopped in front of the Wayne Manor and both Dick
and Jayson jumped out carrying their school backpacks. While Ms. Turner drove
the car to the parking they climbed the stairs and Dick made to ring the bell
however Alfred caught with him and opened the door.
“Good afternoon, Master Dick, Master Jayson; how was your school day?”
Jayson crooked his mouth.
“It was a SCHOOL DAY: so there can’t be much originality ther’” he spat. “All
in all, twas shit.”
Dick chuckled and Alfred took his mock strict expression.
“I must kindly request of you to mind your language, Master Jason.”
Jason tilted his head on the side.
“As if ya never felt like shit in school…” Alfred couldn’t fight a grin and
Dick elbowed his friend who looked him surprised. “Wha’? Ya think that he has
forgotten ‘cause it’s been ages since?” he asked as they moved inside.
Now Alfred didn’t manage to hold a chuckle.
“No, Master Jayson; although indeed too many years have passed I do remember
some bad school days.”
Jayson cocked his eyebrows.
“Some?”
Alfred didn’t reply.
“The lunch is ready, young masters; so if you please, you can wash your hands
and come to the kitchen.”
He made to leave for the kitchen but Dick cleared his throat and the butler
stopped.
“Is anything the matter, Master Richard?”
“You had any news from Bruce? Days have passed since he left…”
Jayson crooked his mouth.
“He feels guilty an’ fears that his past ill thoughts an’ wishes will have an
effect on Bruce…”
Alfred eyed the boy with understanding.
“Is that so, Master Richard? Then I must tell you that nothing of what you said
or thought can harm Master Bruce: your heart is pure, Master Jayson, so your
thoughts can’t make any harm” he cocked his eyebrows. “Besides you have
regretted those now.”
Dick wasn’t relieved.
“Did he call? How is he?” he insisted.
“I didn’t speak with him because he is very busy but I did speak with Mr.
Lucius Fox who is with him and he told me that Master Bruce is alright.”
Dick shook his head.
“Is a Batman related mission?” Jason whispered in conspirator mode.
Alfred narrowed his eyes.
“You understand that I can’t answer that” he replied in the same tone and
winked.
Dick shook his head: he really missed Bruce – he wanted to talk so many things
with him.
“You think it will be long before he returns?”
“I cannot give an answer to that, Master Richard.”
The boy sighed.
“At least, granny accepted to stay here a few days more – I wouldn’t like to
leave without seeing and speaking to him…”
Alfred smiled; Harvey and his family had moved to the city and he was glad that
Ms. Turner and Master Richard would be staying a bit more: his young master’s
absence would have reminded him a lot of those dreadful years of Falcone’s rule
when Alfred there was indeed the keeper of a mausoleum.
But what made him happier was that the boy had grown such affection for his
young Master. And Master Bruce needed that after everything that happened the
last months.
“I assure you, Master Richard, that he will be also happy. However even when
you and your grandmother move back to your own apartment you can still come
whenever you want to the Manor; and of course you can talk with Master Bruce as
much as you want. Which is also true for you, Master Jayson.”
Jayson scratched his head.
“I hope when he returns he will be so happy to remember that littl’ ride…”
Dick laughed but then looked Alfred in the eyes.
“It must be so hard for you to wait for him here…”
Alfred smiled kindly to the boy.
“It definitely is, Master Richard.”
 
A gigantic blue figure stood before Superman, towering, shedding him under his
shadow that made his spine froze in its menacing aura. Superman rarely felt
fear and always was about his loved ones’ wellbeing – he was invulnerable after
all. Now however was different: the Kryptonite had drained him of his super
powers and the weeds and plants were suffocating him keeping him completely
immobile, more effective than titanium shackles.
Even in this position his major fear was still about his loved ones, about the
people who were in danger by this being. He clenched his jaw and his trapped
fists making a desperate and hopeless effort to escape and face the new threat.
However he was weak and ill from the Kryptonite and the vicious plants crushed
him more, digging their stems and thorns into his vulnerable now flesh.
The big square face of the newcomer was carved by a smirk and Superman glared
at him, simultaneously estimating the stranger. He was taller and broader than
Bagdana and his sturdy, square bluish body almost reached the ceiling. His legs
and arms were like pillars bound in bulging stony muscles. His eyebrows were
hairless as his head and his eyes glistened in a flaming red.
“Kal El of Krypton…Superman of Earth” the newcomer rattled between his teeth.
Superman felt relieved because this being didn’t know his human identity –
otherwise he’d have bragged about that: Bagdana hadn’t revealed that and that
meant that his Ma and friends were safe from this man’s revenge. Suddenly, he
froze: but he knew about Bruce…
“You’re really pathetic” the bluish giant said smugly and Ivy chuckled while
Bagdana was completely indifferent – even impatient as if he was in a hurry to
do something more important.
Superman’s chest was contrived because he knew that Bagdana’s only interest was
getting Bruce.
“Trapped from…plants!” the giant laughed. “Falling so easily to the trick… I
always knew that Kryptonians were all talking and bragging but deep down they
were useless worms. I intended to prove how worthless they were destroying
their planet but your sun caught me in that – saving Kryptonians from the shame
of their defeat and robbing me from my triumph. But now I have that will
change: I will show how inferior are Kryptonians by destroying the people the
last Kryptonian bragged that he protects and then I shall destroy him too
eradicating that breed from my new world.”
Superman clenched his jaw and shook his head trying to ease his neck from the
choking of all those thick and thinner stems that were wrapped around like a
green noose.
“Who are you?”
The blue giant cackled and stepped even closer, bringing his enormous foot over
Superman’s chest, stepping and pressing him to the weed covered ground almost
squashing him. Clark bereft of his extraordinary strength and invulnerability
felt his muscles and bones protesting from the pain and inadvertently his mind
went to that night an entire roof crashed over Bruce; his Star must have been
in crucifying pain. He grunted causing the blue giant’s smirk.
“I am Darkseid, the ruler of Apokolips and the master of the Universe.”
Ivy leaned to Bagdana.
“This was an animation show of ‘80s…I preferred Thundercats though…” she
snorted and the demon chuckled.
However Darkseid had his eyes locked with Superman’s. The latter’s face was
drenched in sweat from the pain both the Kryptonite and Darkseid’s weight
caused.
“I can kill you right now, pathetic Kryptonian; a blink of my eyes is more than
enough to turn you into dust…Ending that stinking Kryptonian breed from my
world.”
Superman’s defiance shone in his eyes.
“Do it then!” he spat in his enemy’s face.
Darkseid stabbed him with his eyes and the pain in every one of Superman’s
billions of cells became unbearable to the point of screaming; a scream that
Clark barely managed to turn into growl. The New God clenched his enormous fist
next to the hero’s head clenching his square jaw.
“No; it is too easy for you” Superman slightly frowned but at the same time
made his stare defiant; Darkseid smirked. “You will first see this planet
enslaved, succumbing defeated under my feet…” Darkseid had promised to give
this planet to Ivy so he on purpose avoided using ‘destoyed’.
Superman set his jaw with determination.
“You can’t win! You might have caught me but there are many great people out
there who will kick your sorry ass!”
He had barely ended his phrase when Darkseid’s heavy foot kicked him in the
face and weren’t for his weed bindings he’d have crushed to the opposite wall.
His cheek however was sliced and he felt the first known sense of warm blood
slithering his skin.
 
Both Batman and Catwoman regarded casually but estimating the newcomers: behind
the circle of the gathered Amazons, new presences cast their shadows over the
clearance. They had come along with Queen Hippolyta: they were Amazons on
horses, dressed in plain long sleeveless tunics in dark blue color. These women
were much older than the rest, their beautiful faces were wrinkled not much but
enough to indicate that they were elder. However, their battling abilities
weren’t compromised: they held their unadorned wooden bows with the stings
stretched ready to launch the metallic pointed arrows to the uninvited guests;
under the light the torches some of the Amazons on foot were holding, their
blazing, glaring eyes were already shedding daggers to their targets waiting
for the order.
Selina leaned slightly to Bruce.
“You can smash their arrows with your Batarangs in a few seconds and I can do
the same with my whip…”
Batman kept his eyes on the Princess who was talking with her mother.
“Yes but I want to believe that we won’t have to…” he whispered.
Queen Hippolyta walked graciously towards the two strangers with Diana on her
side. The older woman looked at them.
“A really unusual pair of warriors…” she said.
Selina cocked an eyebrow.
“I can’t see the reason we are unusual: a giant Bat and a Cat kicking asses…”
she pouted.
“They didn’t attack us” Diana said. “They claim that they just want to talk to
me.”
The Queen nodded.
Selina crossed her arms on her chest; Bruce considered it a good sign that the
two women spoke English to be understood by their ‘guests’. However he didn’t
move forward since this might be interpreted as lack of respect.
“Queen Hippolyta, I’m Batman” he said calmly. “I’m sorry we disturbed your
peace but it was necessary.”
The woman named Antiope rushed there with her eyes angry.
“Man, kneel before Queen Hippolyta!”
Bruce rolled his eyes inside because this phrase always caused him more
laughter than anger yet Selina’s reaction wasn’t so mild; she frowned and moved
furious against the woman, causing the nervous movements of the archer Amazons.
“What’s your mouth, sister!” she purred unfazed by the arrows ready to pierce
them. “He won’t kneel before anyone!” Selina knew how many times her friend had
been forced to do that and other things connected with that.
“I didn’t demand it from you” Antiope retorted “but he is a man: not kneeling
before the Queen shows his lack of respect.”
Selina was ready to answer but Batman looked at her calm communicating with
her. Batman focused his lenses on the Queen and the Princess.
“I deeply respect both of you but I won’t kneel because kneeling is an
indication of servility not respect” he saw Hippolyta’s eyes flashing but not
with hostility. “I never kneel before anyone.”
“He is arrogant” Antiope said detaching from the glaring battle with Selina.
Batman turned slowly to regard the General and then back to the two leaders.
“I’m not arrogant; just dignified. And the people who deserve respect don’t
feel the need of seeing people on their feet.”
Diana grinned satisfied while Hippolyta’s face was unreadable. In the few
seconds that followed the clearance fell in complete silence which was
disturbed by the sounds of the forests’ animals and the wind’s blow between the
leaves. Batman and Catwoman felt the stabbing eyes of the Amazons on them.
Hippolyta turned to the archers on the horses and with a stare they lowered
their bows and put them back to their shoulders.
“I would never expect to see kneeled him who is the bearer of the Dagger of
Justice” her eyes locked with Batman’s lenses.
Then as if she had seen what she wanted the Queen exchanged a meaningful gaze
with her daughter and then regarded their guests.
“Our city’s gates will open to admit you.”
“As prisoners?” Selina asked aggressively. “No way!”
 
“Losers: all of them” Darkseid said with contempt and smiled. “You expect the
Avengers to stop me?” he cackled stretching his posture keeping his foot on
Superman’s chest. “How pathetic! Relying on others to do your job” he cocked an
eyebrow “especially a bunch of amateurs…They were almost beaten by that
pathetic so-called god, Loki; his petty army was a joke in front of my troopers
and weapons and his powers are only a drop in the ocean that are mine! Who is
going to pose a worthy resistance?” he snorted. “The Amazon?” Ivy laughed. “The
world will freeze seeing its protector siding with me…Flash? I’m faster than
this bug…”
Superman thought of someone who was a threat for every evil being whatever its
powers: a creature lurking in the shadows waiting to open its wings and bring
justice on them.
Darkseid cocked his eyebrows.
“Oh…So is this your greatest hope? A little Bat? This Batman seems to have
everyone’s high respect” he turned to look at Bagdana and Superman realized
that Darkseid had seen inside his brain since he immediately spoke about
Batman: fortunately, he hadn’t thought about Bruce at the same time. “He is the
most pathetic of the lot…absent all the time doing nothing…I doubt that he’d
even dare to leave his nest trying to hide from Darkseid’s power when your
lousy world falls apart… Because except than my troops I have a second army
ready to unleash terror when my attack starts: the lowlife of Metropolis…” his
smirk became wider. “Using humans’ own deficits to squash them.”
Superman’s eyes widened; he suddenly remembered the mobsters he was watching
all these months: their chats about their powerful leader who wasn’t afraid of
Superman; of their cleaning attacks against every rival gang; the mysterious
releases of gangsters from jail; the attack at Metropolis’ subway station where
the fake Diana appeared suddenly and kissed him…Finally, it made sense!
Darkseid nodded smugly.
“Exactly! Intergang” he read Superman’s mind. “I’m the leader but you were too
preoccupied all this time to search for me and putting that lousy gangster to
lead the attack at the station persuaded everyone and you that he was the
leader. My dear fake Amazon took care to close his mouth forever”.
He turned to look at Ivy and Superman found the chance to think how right Bruce
was to doubt that Edge, whom Ivy killed there, was indeed the leader.
“They would have never followed you!”
Darkseid turned to him cocking an eyebrow.
“Why because I am an alien or because of my blue color?” he asked in irony. “I
doubt that…Humans are greedy: will make everything for the right price ignoring
their fate in the end…Yet I didn’t consider the scum of this planet worthy of
seeing Darkseid in all his glory – so I became a human, not that they ever saw
me yet I needed to blend with humans to learn about them: suck their dark
elements” he took the form of Mannheim.
Superman squinted: he had seen that man is a few photos but nothing more.
“Brunno Mannheim?!”
“Bravo! As humans say…An ordinary business man. There are so many odd humans
out there that my mystery didn’t make an impression…and I have my time to make
my study and conclude that this lousy species is perfect for the job.”
Superman didn’t like that. He shook his head feeling awkward as the blood from
the gash in his cheek slithered to join that from his lips.
“What job? A planet must be perfect to be…’honored’ with your conquest?” he
asked in deep irony.
Darkseid lolled his head to the side.
“Conquering planets it is nothing for Darkseid: I could have turned this planet
into dust whenever I wanted; yet what interests me is to get the energy that
lies inside humans’ subconscious: the dark energy that will make me the master
of Anti Life Equation and will enable me to create a new universe. My machine
is almost ready” he said sucking Superman’s angst “Luthor is working day and
night serving his master.”
“You released Luthor from prison. Of course! Luthor was bound to be in this!”
“He is just a pawn: he is a human – he needn’t to know much: he’ll do his job
and then he’ll be exterminated like the rest of his breed. When Luthor finishes
my machine then I’ll unleash my power over Earth” Superman felt his sweaty body
going frozen just from the power that vibrated that voice; Darkseid clenched
his fist in the air. “I want you to watch as your fellow heroes get killed one
by one and then as I’ll drain humans from the valuable energy that lies in them
leaving them empty carcasses…I want you to watch all these; I want the last son
of Krypton watch as another people gets eliminated because he was worthless as
his ancestors who couldn’t avert Krypton’s destruction and their own
extinction.”
Clark remembered what he have heard months ago in a bar from two of Mannheim’s
thugs: their intention to torture Bruce in front of his eyes to make him
suffer; he remembered the recent attack against Bruce in the Palisades from
thugs; they had manifested signs of brainwashing too. So Darkseid had his eyes
on Bruce whether Bagdana wanted the human for himself or not.
“You ordered the attack against Bruce Wayne at Palisades…”
Darkseid nodded.
“Yes. That human is too arrogant: he had the parts of my machine since he got
LexLabs and he was refusing to give them back. He needed some punishment but in
the end I took what I wanted whether he wanted or not.”
Darkseid turned his back on Clark to look at Bagdana and Clark found the chance
to take a deep breath because knowing Bruce and his thoughts about the
Intergang, maybe he had suspected something about the parts and had kept some
control?
“My valuable demon wants your human too much” Darkseid said. “Waye is a strange
human being indeed…”
Bagdana looked him frowned: he never liked Darkseid’s interest in Bruce. And
neither Superman liked it.
“Leave Bruce alone!” Superman yelled to both of them. “Bruce won’t become your
reward” his eyes found Bagdana’s cold yellow irises. “Bruce will never accept
to be your slave!”
Bagdana covered the space that parted them with two strides and his granite
colored body became the shining green of Kryptonite that immediately made
Superman’s pain more than ever. The hero screamed till his lungs were empty
from air.
The demon leaned to him and grasped his neck choking him bringing their eyes to
lock.
“Bruce is mine!”
“He doesn’t belong to anyone!” he screamed as the pain became even stronger.
Darkseid laughed and shook his head with contempt for the sight.
“All these for a human – a cripple human, that is…” he uttered with disgust and
Superman managed to think how wrong Darkseid was to underestimate Bruce.
“You’ll be transferred to my base” Darkseid said keeping his enormous back
turned to Superman and Bagdana. “I shall provide you a most convenient stay
there until everything is done and you meet the rest of your worthless breed’s
fate.”
Superman knew very well how ‘convenient’ that stay would be…
 
Hippolyta smiled.
“You are not our prisoners but our guests.”
Selina looked at Bruce with her eyes narrowed: it could be a trap and she could
tell without seeing her friends’ eyes that he was thinking the same. Yet Batman
yanked his head.
“I’ll be honored to be your guest, Queen Hippolyta, Princess Artemis” he turned
to Selina waiting her response to the invitation.
Selina crooked her mouth.
“Alright. I just hope you don’t have any ill intention.”
The Princess smiled friendly and made an inviting gesture as the Amazons moved
to open the closed circle around them.
Batman and Catwoman began walking since their hosts waited for them to go
first; Hippolyta with the Princess followed them and then the rest of the
Amazons. The women on horses were the last to follow.
The marching was silent disturbed only from the hissing sound of the air moving
the thick foliage of the forest, the screeching sounds of the forests’ animals
and the howls of wolves on the mountains that stood guards on the perimeter of
the island.
Selina leaned to her friend.
“I feel like the mouse being invited to dinner by the cat…”
Batman grinned.
“It must be an awkward feeling…for a Cat” he replied and Selina felt rather
than saw an eyebrow being raised.
She pursed her lips.
“I hope we are not the meal…” she snorted. “For their sake!”
Batman pressed his lips.
The gates opened to welcome them and they followed the central street that led
to the palace that was situated in the heart of the city.
The sideways streets were narrow and surrounded by houses that were the same
square buildings without any distinction of wealth or social status. Batman
located near the center of the city two enormous rectangular buildings with
guards in their entrances: his guess was that these were some kind of storages
– the one for food and the other for armory.
The waving light from the fires on the stony pillars that were situated densely
to the two sides of the street made the oval small stones that covered the
ground shine.
Over the city’s citadel a temple towered the city; it was made from white
marble that glistened like pearl among the fires that burnt in its perimeter of
round shaped pillars.
“The temple of Hera” the Princess told seeing Batman looking there; she had
moved so to be at their side.
The palace wasn’t an impressive building to show off the ruler’s status and
power; it was slightly bigger than the other residential buildings and its
entrance was made of two Doric marble gateposts that surrounded a heavy oaken
door.
The two warriors who guarded the entrance holding spears saluted their leaders
by hitting their fists on their chests. A motion that always made Selina roll
her eyes.
“A bit pretentious, don’t you think?” she whispered to Batman’s pointy ear.
“It’s just their code of demeanor…”
The floor shone under the abundant light of the torches that was positioned all
over the two walls that surrounded the wide corridor. It was a marble floor in
golden color adorned with scenes of battle. The walls were bare of any
depictions.
They followed the main corridor that led to the throne hall but Batman
estimated the sideways smaller corridors that led to the other rooms; at the
end of the corridor stood a stair with wide steps that led to the upper level.
He wanted to have an image of the building just in case they needed to escape
which he didn’t want to happen but he knew he had to be prepared for
everything.
The throne hall was vast; the walls were covered with weathered weapons that
either were relics or loot from great battles. In the far end, opposite the
entrance that was guarded by two Amazons, stood the throne made of wood adorned
with golden designs; on its right stood another throne that certainly was of
the Princess. In front of the two thrones on the shining floor was an enormous
mosaic depicting the same star on Diana’s tiara. On the right of the thrones
was a long, rectangular table with rectangular stools.
In the perimeter of the hall, in equal distance between them, were place human-
sized statues of the twelve ancient Greek Gods and Goddesses. The beauty and
reality of the statues were impressive.
The Princess upon entering the hall whispered something to some Amazons who had
rushed there as soon as their leaders arrived. The women left immediately and
Hippolyta turned to her guests.
“You must be really tired from your journey here: it will be an honor to share
our humble food and wine with two warriors like you.”
Batman bowed slightly his head.
“Thank you, Queen Hippolyta, but the reason of our trip comes before food and
rest.”
The Queen eyed her daughter and Diana nodded courtly.
“Princess Artemis told me that you are Goddess Nemesis’ warrior which is
apparent from your armor” she smiled and gestured with her palm to one statue
that was positioned at the far left corner, behind the other gods’ statues,
cast in the shadow: it was a winged goddess that brandished her sword ready to
punish the wrong doers; her eyes and facial expression was calm but determined.
Bruce remembered the statue he had seen in the temple of his dream.
“Everyone wise enough respects goddess Nemesis and lets her guide from the
shadows her demeanor through life” the older woman said regarding the statue.
“The coming of someone affiliated to her means that something grave is
happening. She guided your steps here.”
She walked graciously and sat to her throne. In the mean time, Antiope still in
her armor minus the helmet entered the hall and behind her the elder Amazons
take their places surrounding the hall. Under the rich light of the torches the
beauty of the women was striking as her well trained, hard bodies.
Bruce could play the card of Nemesis’ representative which would help his cause
yet he didn’t want to lie. He realized that both Hippolyta and Diana regarded
him.
“Queen Hippolyta, I must admit that I don’t know if the goddess has guided our
steps here neither if she wanted us here. I like to take the full
responsibility of my actions so it was our decision that brought us here to
alert you and specifically Princess Artemis about the developments in our
world.”
Diana’s beautiful eyes focused on him.
“Nothing that happens out there can have anything to do with us: for your world
we are just a legend; people completely ignore our existence.”
Batman shook his head.
“Not anymore. Not since the Princess of the Amazons appeared to our world.”
A shocked murmur crossed the hall and Diana frowned.
“What?”
Batman bent his forearm and brushed a spot: instantly, images appeared in the
air from the micro projector that was adjusted to his armor. Another surprised
hiss ran the space.
They saw a woman stopping a train stopping it before crashing in a cliff; they
saw her even using her bracelets to repel thugs.
Queen Hippolyta’s eyes widened while Diana’s hands clenched into fists seeing
the black-blue long hair of the woman, the blue eyes, the tiara and the lasso
curled in her belt.
“Obviously your visits to our world are not so often” Selina said raising an
eyebrow.
Diana shook her head absorbed in the images of the fake.
“No; we come to your world once in four years.”
Selina snorted.
“Don’t tell me: for the Olympics?”
“No, for reproduction” the Princess answered and looked at Bruce with her face
distorted in disgust. “That impostor claims that she is me? She is dressed like
a whore!” she cast a glare to the swimming suit-like costume the fake Diana
wore which led her entire legs naked and hardly dressed half of her big
breasts.
Selina sniggered.
“I won’t argue with that…Minus the ‘like’: she IS a whore.”
Batman pressed his lips.
“That’s right, Princess: she pretends to be the Diana of Themiscyra.”
“What about her powers?” Hippolyta asked. “How can she have the powers Artemis
has?”
The Princess looked at Batman frowned.
“She is allied with powerful beings that plan to conquer the planet; her allies
instructed her into acting like the Amazon Princess and gave her powers along
that completed her own.”
“And why using my name?” the Princess gritted her teeth and Batman knew that
this was the sentiment of everyone in the hall; the Amazons were affronted that
someone impersonated their Princess.
Batman brushed his forearm and the next video played in front of the Amazons’
shocked eyes; this video was painful for him too. On the night skyline of
Chicago, among the skyscrapers Diana and Superman hovered embraced with their
bodies glued, in a passionate kiss that made the crowd underneath them cheer.
Selina huffed exasperated.
“She copulates with Superman?!” Diana exclaimed.
The word she used made Selina snort.
“More like she fucks Superman!”
Batman cast a sideways glance at his friend who shrugged; he then turned to
Diana.
“I see you know Superman.”
Antiope stepped forward.
“We know about Superman but nothing about you” she gritted her teeth while her
black eyes sent daggers to him.
Selina crossed her arms over her chest, lolled her head towards the general and
rolled her eyes.
“He doesn’t like the limelight…”
 “My work has nothing to do with cheering and cameras” he said flatly and
Hippolyta nodded.
“I wouldn’t expect anything less than the warrior of Nemesis” she remarked.
Diana however was impatient.
“What Superman has to do with the involvement of my name in this?”
Batman looked at her.
“The conspirators believed that Superman is the main obstacle in conquering
Earth so they brought to the fore a legendary Amazon, a gorgeous heroine who
fights the evil like Superman intending to enslave him to her will and in the
end capturing him so he couldn’t help the Earth when the time comes. One of her
own powers is to seduce her victims and enslave them under her will; of course
in Superman’s case her own mind controlling strength was amplified by her
allies.”
Diana’s lips were pressed in anger.
“Darkseid. This is the alien being that wants to destroy Earth” Batman added.
“And when he launches his attack the Princess of the Amazon” he scowled “the
impostor, will join him in smashing the planet’s defense, discouraging the
humans who will see their heroine, the one they now call Wonder Woman, killing
them alongside the so-called New God.”
“She disgraces the name of the Amazons and of our Princess” one of the elder
women said.
But Diana was calm.
“How did you figure that she was an impostor?”
Batman shook his head.
“Noticing some things: the star her tiara has is not the Greek star; also, her
hair had something that betrays that the color is artificial. Her entire
demeanor…”
Diana shared a look with her mother.
“And why did you come here?” Diana asked.
Batman set his jaw.
“To inform you about what happens in your name and hoping to have your alliance
and help in the war that it is coming.”
“That is a war that has to do with the world of men, not ours” Antiope replied.
“We can defend our island if that so-called New God tries to attack us.”
Batman looked at her.
“He is not a common warlord: he belongs to a race called New Gods and he
possesses great powers. When he hits it will be to everyone’s best interest if
our strength is united. If what you call ‘the world of men’ falls then the fall
of your world will be easier since Darkseid would focus all his strength
against you.”
“You are part of this world” Selina spat “the fate of this world will affect
your island too.”
“He might not even find Themiscyra” one of the elders commented and Batman’s
dark stare was cast on her.
“You don’t understand: Darkseid doesn’t care about conquering the planet and
being its ruler – he will eliminate this planet entirely. It is what he does:
he destroys worlds.”
Antiope looked at her Princess who was deep in thought.
“Amazons are not afraid to fight” Hippolyta said.
“But are you willing to fight alongside men?” Antiope asked her Princess.
Diana yanked her head.
“One of this men” she looked at Batman “was chosen by Nemesis” she said. “If
the goddess can trust a man why I cannot?”
Selina made a step forward.
“What you call the world of men is hardly that: there are also strong,
independent women who fight equally to the men” she cocked an eyebrow showing
herself with the eyes “obviously.”
Batman stared at the Princess.
“Will you join our cause?”
“This woman challenges me” Diana said glaring at Ivy in the video. “She dared
to impersonate me and defame the name of the Amazons.”
Batman slightly yanked his head feeling encouraged but the Princess narrowed
her eyes that shone smartly.
“What if I deny helping you?”
He set his jaw.
“I’ll return and fight with all my friends and allies to protect our world and
yours.”
New murmurs scattered to the room and Hippolyta yanked her head raising her
palm silencing immediately her sisters.
“You’ll have your answer tomorrow” Diana said locking her gaze with Batman’s
lenses.
Selina huffed frustrated but Batman nodded.
“Now I think that our guests should eat and rest” Hippolyta said and stood.
During their discussion the table on the left was prepared for dinner: large
brass plates with roasted meat along with loafs of bread and vessels with wine
were placed there waiting.
Selina looked at her friend.
“You don’t have an appetite, right?”
Batman pressed his lips.
“No…” he whispered “but we will insult our hosts if we skip that.”
Selina shrugged.
“Then try to enjoy the meal” her eyes were warm. “You need to eat.”
“You too.”
At the table the Princess looked again at Selina’s heels.
“I’ve seen many women wear those in bars and other establishments of recreation
but fighting with them?”
Selina took a mouthful of fine roasted wild sheep that was hunted on the
mountains of Themyscirra and shrugged.
“Haven’t you seen dancers or acrobats doing their stuff on heels? Plus, those
heels are a really lethal weapon if you know how to handle it’’ she tilted her
head towards an Amazon she had confronted previously and cocked her eyebrows
pointedly; the woman’s face had some nasty scars from Selina’s razor sharp
heels.
Diana grinned.
“I might consider that…”
Catwoman pouted.
“Just stick to your guns, gal!”
The music from the harps and flutes was beautifully relaxing yet Batman was
tense every now and then taking a bite and sipping from his bronze mug. His
mind was already working his back up and how he could persuade Clark that the
Diana he knew was an impostor.
Hippolyta looked at him.
“Your mind is troubled.”
He looked at her.
“The world is faced with a great danger.”
Hippolyta nodded.
“You are a truly great warrior: your world is fortunate to have you defending
it.”
 
After the dinner, Diana herself guided them to the guest rooms but Selina
insisted on staying with Batman.
“You are a couple?” she asked.
Selina rolled her eyes.
“No, we are friends; more than friends: siblings” she spat.
Diana smiled and turned to Batman.
“I wish I could give you the answer you want right now but there are matters I
must consider.”
Batman nodded.
“I understand.”
The room was spacious with too few furniture: a plain wooden bed with unadorned
posts, a small rectangular table and two chairs; a sofa consisted of leather
fabrics and a lit fireplace completed the room’s appliances.
When they were left alone Selina turned anxious to Batman.
“Now we are alone: Are you alright? They were vicious out there. Are you in
pain?”
He smiled.
“Half of my body can’t be in body if I wanted to… As for the rest, it’s fine.”
“Yes but still you might be hurt. They hit yours legs: take off the armor
plates to have a look.”
Bruce looked at his legs which weren’t feeling anything. His armor indeed bore
marks of blades; he might have some bruises but he honestly right now didn’t
care.
“No; I don’t want to take off any part of the armor.”
Selina frowned.
“You think they are watching us?”
“No but still I think it’s better to stay like this. But you need some rest.”
She snorted.
“Really? You need that more” she leaned to his ear “sweetie” she whispered.
Batman gave a crooked smile.
“I’m not sleepy; I’m perfect sitting here.”
Selina huffed and slumped beside him on the leather cushions that made the
sofa.
“The night will be long…”
“I wish we had the answer right now and we were on our way back: the time works
against us.”
She patted his back.
“You worry about him…”
Batman huffed.
“At this point I’m worried for everything.”
Selina leaned to him touching her upper arm to his; she smiled.
“Imagine those cold Amazons making a pass to the bystanders in a bar…I wish I
was on a corner hearing their come-on…” she chuckled trying to fix Bruce’s dark
mood.
He smiled and patted her hand.
“The Amazons are so beautiful that most men wouldn’t mind anything else.”
Selina shook her head and huffed.
“If I judge from Gotham’s males…”
 
Lois was at the bistro café near the Planet’s building; after the work she used
to go there with some of her colleagues. Her phone’s ringing cut  something she
was saying and looked at her phone rolling her eyes frustrated. But seeing the
caller’s ID she frowned and excused herself going out to speak.
“Martha?” she greeted without hiding her puzzlement.
“Hi, dear” the older woman said “how are you?”
“Mmm…fine and you?”
“Fine…” there was some urgency to her voice “Lois, is Clark with you?”
“No, he is supposed to be with you?” Lois’ eyes were frowned: what had that
stupid farm boy done this time?
“He was but he left saying that it was an emergency but hours have passed and
there’s nothing in the news so I thought that he might have come to you.”
Lois bit her lip angry with her friend.
“No, Martha; he hasn’t come to me…but I have a hunch about his whereabouts and
the person he is with”  she cocked her eyebrows “I came to know Clark’s
emergencies the past months…”
“Wonder Woman.”
“I’m afraid so, Martha…”
“And you’re right to, Lois; if that is true…”the older woman mumbled.
“What?”
“Nothing, dear, nothing” she wasn’t sure if it was prudent to bring Lois to
this yet. “Enjoy the rest of the day.”
Lois frowned sensing that there was something more.
 
Antiope approached her Princess. Diana was standing on the balcony on the back
side of the palace, gazing at Hera’s temple. The night was moving towards the
dawn.
“You’re really thinking of their proposal?”
Diana nodded and Antiope closed her eyes.
“We don’t have anything to do with their world: we have survived through the
centuries with you and Hippolyta as our leaders. We’ll make it this time as
well.”
“You saw that woman who impersonates me: they gave her my powers to fool people
and defame my name and us. She became Superman’s whore in order to lead him to
the death so that her ally destroys the world.”
Antiope stretched her arms.
“What do you care? We know who you are and our people are the only thing that
matters.”
Diana looked her in the eyes.
“What do you propose then?” she asked locking their eyes.
“Hold them here. The Cat is definitely one of our own that lost her path. And
the Batman…keep him here: he is a great warrior and the fact he bears the
Dagger and defies the Lasso manifests that he has special qualities. You can
copulate with him and breed invincible new Amazons.”
Diana pressed her lips.
“He is Nemesis’ warrior: even if I try, I doubt I can hold him against his
will. And the same goes for the Cat.”
Antiope yanked her head.
“Then let them go and focus on preparing ourselves for the war that’s coming.”
Diana held Antiope’s shoulders and looked deep in her eyes.
“This is not a war we can win alone, Antiope.”
“That is right” Hippolyta walked quietly to them from the interior. “We have
our responsibilities in that world, Artemis.”
 
When the first colors of the dawn entered the guest room Bruce stood from the
sofa he had spent the night sleepless.
The singing of the birds outside was really mesmerizing since the nature was
blooming as the spring had made her first steps yet Bruce’s mind was too
shadowed to fully appreciate that.
Selina who also didn’t sleep stood too stretching her body.
They had decided that they would leave in the morning whatever the Princess’
decision might be.
Coming out of their room they met a patrolling Amazon. Bruce already knew that
Hippolyta had let their room unguarded since he didn’t sense the presence of
guards outside.
“Can we see Queen Hippolyta?” Bruce asked in Greek.
The Amazon gave a sharp nod.
“The Queen is at the Hall. Follow me.”
They found the Queen gazing her island from the arch shaped window on her
throne’s right. She was thoughtful but as soon as she heard footsteps entering
the hall, turned.
Bruce and Selina greeted her and she replied accordingly.
“I see you wake up early” she told them leaving the window to come towards
them.
“We need to leave immediately” Batman said. “But first I’d like to thank you
for your hospitality.”
The woman grinned raising her eyebrows.
“Even though our welcome was hostile? You two are great warriors and I feel
privileged for meeting you…whichever Artemis’ choice is.”
There was some melancholy in the woman’s wise and rough brown eyes.
“We really hate it that we might become the reason your daughter leaves” Selina
said understanding but Hippolyta waved that off, shaking her head.
“Artemis is a great warrior and a protector of her sisters but now the time
might have come to meet her destiny; to become something more…And for a mother
that is the most important thing: seeing her daughter becoming what she was
born to be.”
Batman set his jaw.
“You always spoke with great wisdom, Queen Hipolyta. The world would definitely
benefit from you and Princess Artemis.”
Hippolyta looked him in the eyes.
“I don’t know what my daughter will choose but you have my best wishes for your
fight.”
Selina raised her eyebrows.
“And your alliance?” she asked hopeful.
“That is not only for me to decide.”
Bruce heard the determined steps behind him.
“You have my alliance” the Princess’ determined voice echoed through the hall
and both Bruce and Selina turned to her.
The Princess regarded them with eyes shining with resolution.
“I’ll come with you.”
She was dressed in her war armor: a red tunic reaching her knees covered with
shreds of brown leather; her torso was tightly wrapped in leather and her wide
leather belt had in the place of her navel the head of Goddess Athena. Her arms
were uncovered apart from her bracelets and her long shapely calves above the
flat brown leather sandals were dressed in gold greaves engraved with the head
of Medusa. Her sword hanged to her right and her Lasso on the left.
Her hair was free on her back and two braids created a wreath on her forehead
in the middle of which stuck out the point of her golden tiara with the red-
ruby star shining in the light of the dawn.
Selina pursed her lips and shrugged.
“I approve the attire…it sure does an effect…yet we’ll need something
more…casual.”
 
The three of them were crossing on foot the island’s road leading to the beach.
The departure of the Princess had caused the stares of the Amazons in the city
and those they met on their way. Yet nobody spoke though Bruce could feel the
emotional tension.
The Princess had spent some time with her mother before leaving yet the
departure happened with a typical grabbing of the forearms. As soon as Diana
accepted to come with them Bruce alerted Tony.
Selina regarded the Amazon between them.
“Nice touch” she said.
“Thank you” Diana replied.
The Gothamite cocked an impressed eyebrow: the Princess wore a skinny jean that
highlighted her perfect lines and a white turtleneck, long sleeve sweater with
black sneakers completing the image. Her hair was tied in a loose ponytail.
“I told you we are visiting your world so we know how to dress to pass
unnoticed.”
Batman looked at her.
“It must be difficult to leave your homeland.”
Indeed, under the sun’s light Themiscyra showed off its entire beauty: trees
and fields everywhere covered with the first multicolor flowers leading to
steep mountains still white from the snow that glimmered under the clear blue
sky.
Heading to the beach, they crossed the forest from a different side from that
Bruce and Selina had taken when they came. At some point, they heard the sound
of great amount of water falling and the Princess showed them the big waterfall
in the middle of the great forest; a waterfall fell from a hill more than 100
feet high into a crystal lake that was created from a sparkling river that came
down from the mountain.
Diana gazed around.
“It will be always with me in my heart…but some things are more important.”
Batman nodded.
“You are always deep in thought” the Princess told him.
“He is” Selina agreed.
“There are many things to consider in this battle” Batman answered.
“But first” the Amazon said “our transportation.”
Batman nodded.
“There is a yacht waiting for us at a distance: the Cat and I will swim there;
you can fly, right?”
She smirked.
“I can but there’s no reason for you to swim…”
In the beach, a small boat with sail was waiting for them.
“My sisters will take it later.”
“Tony Stark knows everything about the threat and you” Batman said after they
sailed and the Princess regarded him a bit displeased . “He is the head of the
Avengers, a team of special people protecting the planet. He will wait us there
with his hydroplane. It is okay with you if you travel with him to the States?”
Selina rolled her eyes thinking of Stark with this gorgeous woman and almost
chuckled.
The Amazon shrugged.
“No problem…And you two?”
“We must settle some things on our way back but we will meet again.”
“I sure hope so” she answered. “People in your world know me as Diana so from
now on I must answer to that name” she cocked an eyebrow.
Batman worried that she might ask his real name as a token of mutual trust but
thankfully she didn’t.
Approaching the yacht Bruce saw Tony’s hydroplane.
When they ascended the ladder to the deck two men waited them with eagerness
etched to their features: Tony and Thor. Bruce frowned surprised seeing the God
there.
Thor immediately focused his eyes on Bruce trying to see any indication of
injury or weakness but he didn’t show any worry just nodded courteously
welcoming them.
He stood before the Princess and hit his fist on the place of his heart.
“Princess Diana, I am Thor from Asgard. Honored to meet you.”
The Amazon answered with the same greeting.
“The fame of the Thunders’ God had reached the Amazons.”
Tony raised an impressed eyebrow regarding the Amazon’s clothing and of course
her beauty but a glare from Batman’s lenses made him clear his throat and take
his most serious expression – the one he had for appeasing Pepper.
“Tony Stark” he introduced himself “and Ironman” he shook his head “I guess
my…fame hasn’t reached Amazons, huh?” Selina chuckled and Tony cleared his
throat “very delighted to meet you” he said politely stretching his hand which
the Amazon grasped making Tony inhale sharply from the strength.
“The pleasure is mine, Mr. Stark” she replied.
I hope she means that… Tony thought cocking a mental eyebrow.
Tony looked at Batman: the billionaire had already scanned his friend’s body
and thankfully there was no indication of a serious injury.
“Cat, Batman” he addressed them coldly mimicking Fury’s way the first days of
the Avengers.
Selina smirked and Batman didn’t react and turned to Diana.
“I wish we could be along your journey to the States, Princess.”
But she waved that off.
“I’m sure you two have something very important to do…” her beautiful almond
shaped eyes met Batman’s lenses. “I hope we meet again soon.”
“Indeed we do have something important to do” Selina said when the hydroplane
with Thor, Tony and Diana took off “put you to sleep.”
They went downstairs and changed their armors, showered and wore clothes; Bruce
immediately slipped to his wheelchair which made Selina frown because usually
he delayed that. She caressed her friend’s still drenched hair.
“You can speak to me, Bruce.”
He raised his eyes to her and grinned.
“It’s nothing, Sel…I’m just tired…”
Selina however knew that for Bruce to admit that ‘tired’ was just an
understatement.
“Very well, sweetie. We’ll eat and then we can sleep for the rest of the
journey: Lucius auto pilot will take us back.”
“There’s no need for auto-pilot” a cheery voice came behind them and they
turned surprised to see Lucius.
The scientist widened his eyes and pouted.
“You really didn’t expect your loyal employee to leave his boss like this…”
 
Alfred opened the door for his young master and Selina to enter. He was beyond
words delighted and relieved to see them back; the butler was anxious to begin
taking care of his exhausted young Master. Because although Bruce was hiding
that perfectly Alfred could see the hue of fatigue in his eyes.
“Master Bruce, Miss Kyle, I am so delighted to see you; did you have a nice
time?” he wasn’t going to ask in the open about the Amazons.
Bruce grinned and his grin became a huge smile when he saw Hero running the
corridor, his right leg slipping on the shining surface, to climb rapidly to
his human's lap and chest licking his cheek.
“Very nice” he answered half laughing from Hero's ministrations.
“He is exhausted” Selina said to Alfred pointedly.
The butler was ready to say something but the phone rang and he went to answer.
“Master Bruce, Ms. Kent would like to speak with you.”
Bruce frowned; the hollow feeling that haunted him through their journey back
had rapidly changed into pinchers crushing his insides.
“Hello, Martha.”
“How are you, dear?”
Bruce could tell that the woman tried to sound casual but there was a hue of
deep sadness in her voice.
“Martha, are you alright?” he asked without delay wanting an answer to that
torturing premonition.
“He left, Bruce; and he hasn’t returned.”
 
***** Chapter 80 *****
“I’m sure they haven’t killed him; we’ll find him…whatever it takes. I promise
you, Martha.”
With these words he had reassured Martha before they ended their dial; she
sounded somewhat comforted…But he?
Bruce had driven his wheelchair immediately in the cave despite Alfred’s and
Selina’s stares of disapproval that they didn’t outer. He had already touched
Hero on the floor and thankfully, Selina’s phone rang conveniently before she
followed him because at this point Bruce wanted to be alone; and Alfred – well,
Alfred always wanted to be discreet and wisely was granting him the space he
needed.
He brought his wheelchair in front of the erect, human size case with his
second armor; the one he had with him in Themyscirra was still packed. He
stared with pressed lips: he had messed things up because he wasn’t himself
anymore – he might have been wearing the armor every now and then, patrolling
at times but still he wasn’t what he should be.
Bruce inhaled deeply; suddenly, the accumulated fatigue from the last months
and the journey to Themyscirra and back crushed painfully on the healthy part
of his back. Healthy because Superman took him to his Fortress and saved his
life…
He ran his hands through his hair and his eyes fell on his unfeeling legs. He
rubbed with both his hands but there was no sense from there; even though he
might have done movements and fighting with his legs thanks to the armor or his
mind’s control still the feeling was absent even when he was hitting his
opponents: after the conflict with the Amazons he noticed some nasty bruises
which he hadn’t felt during the fight or afterwards. So even if he moved
normally this came every time to remind him that he was still cripple.
And this impairment was the obstacle that all this time didn’t allow him to do
what he should. He clenched his hands into fists and punched both his thighs
hard in hopes of feeling something. Again growling in frustration and despair.
To no avail…He repeated again and again gritting his teeth. Nothing.
He growled a second time and some bats thrashed in their sleep on the ceiling
since it was still afternoon. Bruce bit his lip and let his heart beat fast
from frustration.
He promised Martha that her son would be back to her…but could Bruce guarantee
that? In this condition? He closed his eyes and huffed.
“To serve the greater good you have to make compromises every now and then,
Bruce…” a sly, warm, filled with sarcastic fondness voice whispered in his
mind.
He felt a frozen snake slithering the length of his healthy spine.
“You know deep inside that I’m right…” a lion like face became visible with a
cocked eyebrow highlighting the man’s confidence. “You have great weapons at
your disposal, Bruce – weapons that not only will save Superman but also can
guarantee the victory over Darkseid: you will save humankind, Bruce. You know
of which weapons I speak…” he chuckled. “The Dagger of Justice chose and
answers only to you…the Black Butterfly is happy to reside on your chest and”
he smirked wickedly “I cannot blame her…As for your strongest weapon…” now
Bruce could see Ra’s’ eyes stabbing him like when he was just a weak boy
worshipping him; Ra’s shook his head. “Oh…you know that weapon too but you deny
use it…stubbornly…stupidly: hiding behind naïve moral inhibitions to cover your
own fear. Because I know you, Bruce: the only thing that you truly fear is of
becoming a monster: you know your strength and what heights this strength can
reach…and you are scared…terrified that you’d fail to control that power; you’d
fail to control yourself…”
His cackle hurt Bruce’s mind. Ra’s’ eyes became dead serious now, bereft of
their usual sarcasm.
“This is stupid, Bruce; and my student – my best student – isn’t stupid. You
know that you can control the power…you know deep inside that by using the
weapon, the knowledge you rendered useless, you will do only good: you’ll make
a better world; you’ll eliminate the evil…You’ll save people’s lives; lives
that if you continue to be stupid you’ll fail to save…His life…” he hissed and
his eyes shone gleefully. “You know that if you selfishly deny using the power
that was given to you, he’ll die…Can you stand this? Can you live with this?”
Bruce’s eyes were completely still focused in front of him, in the void but
seeing inside him; Ra’s nodded smiling.
“You’ll insist on being so selfish to let your fears kill the one you love? The
people you brag that you want to help? Because you know that it’d be your
failure if this happens: if Darkseid prevails; if humans die; if Superman
dies…No, Bruce” his eyes sank into Bruce’s with that seriousness that always
made him shudder. “Use the Water of Immortality, child: heal your wounds,
defeat your weakness…become what is your destiny!...Save him…”
Bruce inhaled deeply with determination and yanked his head; he gazed at his
dead legs: he didn’t have the luxury to wait for the surgery. His special armor
and his mind power weren’t enough anymore.
He guided quickly the wheelchair towards the niche the rock wall made at the
right arch before the cavity opposite the computer bench; his arm moved on its
own accord to slip inside the small hole that led to a safe-sized cavity where
he held his treasures. He grabbed something and took it out. He hugged the
object with both hands; he almost felt it vibrating though he knew that it was
his imagination: his heart was beating fast blurring everything else in his
head.
Bruce looked at the object: a small common vial one of those that were used for
eye drops. On purpose, so that if anyone reached it to not realize how special
its content was…
His breath quickened. He was scared of this liquid; Ra’s was right: his fear
could condemn Clark and the world. He could use it once to regain his
functionality and help Clark and in the battle.
Damn! He was sick of this wheelchair! Of being dependent on his armor’s
applications.
He could fight the temptations the power of the elixir would raise; he could
conquer them as he had done till now…
The Water of Immortality in its purest form lay peaceful in its unadorned vial
waiting to be used; such power can’t stay unused.
He opened the vial and breathed calm…it was just a decision, a motion and he
would be ready for everything.
But suddenly he saw again Ra’s; his face was his entire world as his master was
pinning him to the wall with his fervent, passionate desire to get everything
his student’s body had…His cruel laughter.
“You thought that you would be restored to your throne? I’ll keep you forever.
Gotham and its people will be destroyed and then I’ll take you with me…”
He saw again the TV set showing Tony tied up in a chair covered in blood with
the marks of torture on his face.
“Please, Master; it was my fault: punish me, not him…”
“But I will punish you, child: by killing him. This is the worst punishment for
you! You won’t ever dare to try escape because you’d know that another one of
your loved ones will follow Stark…”
He saw Ra’s walking towards the cushions where Bruce was putting on his
training tunic on his just used body; his master’s smell had sank in his cells;
his body still burnt where he had touched: yet Bruce dressed himself
indifferent as if he was just waking up to go to school, having buried the
pain, the disgust.
“You gave me once again pleasure, child, but this doesn’t prove your obedience;
you know that after your sin, I’ll never trust you again.”
“Please, master, forgive me...”
“You know I can’t do that, child” he smiled benevolently but Bruce knew better
“Go find Bane.”
“As you wish, master.’’
Al Ghul ruffled Bruce’s sweaty hair.
“I want to reward him for his loyalty to me. You will grant him your body...”
Bruce’s eyes widened in horror, his entire body froze “and I’ll watch.”
“But, master, he hates me...”
The older man laughed, his eyes shining satisfied.
“Then, you’ll have to... persuade him” he fisted Bruce’s locks fiercely
“because your master wants to see you getting fucked by someone else...”
Bruce closed his eyes and shook his head to stop his mind from continuing…to
not see Bane fucking him because Al Ghul wanted. Yet his mind excavated
something else: he saw the yellow eyes of the demon.
He was tied spread eagled in the basement’s floor; he had been blindfolded but
the demon freed his eyes. He remembered the pain of being torn apart, of dying
in the demon’s paroxysm… He remembered when he grabbed the sword from the
training room’s wall and slashed his jugular because Ra’s had given him to a
demon…Ra’s had used then on him the Water again to heal his wound before he
bled to death…
He remembered the child in his dreams; his master violated him again stealing
from his body to create a child as he wanted it. Ra’s had used the Water many
times to become immortal and establish his corrupt idea of justice to the
world. His justice that included abusing a weak child, torturing him,
threatening him, taking everything from him; sacrificing him to a demon for
more power. Because the constant use of the Water made Ra’s believe that he had
become a god, that he had every right to impose his way of things; the
‘immortality’ the Water had been granting to him made him arrogant.
Bruce pressed his lips: he remembered the countless times when after his
training Ra’s took him to the bath tub and washed him with an awkward
concoction saying to him that this would heal his wounds…Without his knowledge
or will Bruce had already consumed the Water many times – not in its purest,
strongest form but still…if the chronic use of the Water played a role into
Ra’s’ corruption then… Bruce corked again the vial putting it back to the
cavity. He closed his eyes: he wouldn’t become like Ra’s.
The grinding sound of the lift echoed in the cave and Bruce guided his chair
away from his safe.
Selina came out of the lift.
“Sorry for being late but after hanging out with so many women I needed a great
dose of Steve…”
A frown formed in her face seeing Bruce’s paleness.
“Are you alright, Bruce?”
Bruce gave her a tight-lips smile and moved his chair to the computer bench.
Yet Selina wasn’t persuaded; she followed and sat at the stool beside him.
“No, you’re not…You should be resting surrendered in Alfred’s care: that trip
was big, not to mention the adventures it contained.”
Bruce shook his head without looking.
“Enough of this resting thing! I lost too much time with this shit.”
Selina narrowed her eyes and grabbed his upper arms to make him look at her.
“Your health is what matters, Bruce.”
Bruce lolled his head on the side and closed his eyes.
“I’m healthy enough; there’s no need to lose more time. It’s my fault things
came to this: I’m too slow and I’ve messed things up! I’ve got to act.”
“Messed up?!” she widened her wyes. “Thanks to you we are aware of the menace;
we know what they are planning; his machine is under monitoring and the real
Amazon Princess is on our side. Without you we would be in total ignorance and
unprepared for Darkseid’s attack.”
“Clark is in their hands or…worse and this is my fault! I shouldn’t have let
him leave: I surrendered him to Ivy’s intentions.”
Selina licked her lips.
“I understand your worry about him but this wasn’t your fault: he chose it!”
she saw Bruce shaking his head in disbelief. “If you had tried to keep him then
you know that he would have done something awful” Bruce lowered his gaze – he
knew that and it was the reason he broke up with him: if Clark continued to be
in a relationship that he didn’t want then the emotional conflict would have
exploded. “He could have killed you” Bruce jerked on that but Selina continued
before he could protest “he did injure you.”
Bruce shook his head.
“No, he…”
Selina stabbed him with her eyes.
“You might have hidden it from everyone to not spoil Superman’s reputation but
I am Selina: I know when you’re injured without seeing the wounds.”
Bruce didn’t argue; he just opted to change the subject.
“We need to move quickly” he pressed some keys on his keyboard and images of
fire and explosions filled the screen.
The scenery definitely wasn’t from Earth albeit very dark and already deformed
from the war that was taking place. A scene taken out from Hell and nightmares.
“What’s this?”
“Jor El sent me footage from Darkseid’s wars: Jor El was collecting information
about Darkseid in Krypton believing that at some point he’d attack Krypton as
well but the other lords didn’t want to risk a war against him.”
Selina tapped her bottom lip with her index finger.
“Tough job, huh?”
Bruce nodded but he didn’t say anything because the sound of the lift signaled
someone’s coming.
Alfred holding a silver tray waited for Tony to come out first and then
followed. The billionaire dressed in jeans and an orange sweater strode fast to
them.
“Finally, I can speak to you two free!”
He squatted and hugged Bruce.
“How are you, buddy?”
“Fine” he answered smiling.
Tony exchanged a glance with Selina and Alfred.
“You should be resting though…” he said.
“And eating” Alfred intervened placing the tray on the bench. “I brought you
some sandwiches but you should eat a proper meal, Master Bruce.”
Bruce shook his head and then rubbed his forehead.
“Let’s forget about all these and focus on the important things.”
Tony who had stood crossed his arms over his chest and crooked his mouth.
“Superman is no longer at his mother’s house” Bruce said for Tony who wasn’t
there when Martha called. “He left and didn’t return so probably he is taken”
he added coldly.
Tony rolled his eyes.
“He couldn’t control his dick even for so little?”
Selina cocked an eyebrow.
“He reminds you of someone close to you?”
“Nah…” Tony replied ruffling his hair after some seconds of deep thinking.
Bruce was happy that his friends had still the mood for jokes but he didn’t
have time.
“The thing is that now they have Superman it is very possible to unleash their
attack soon.”
Tony nodded in full serious mode.
“Luthor seems to have made a lot of progress with that machine.”
Bruce pressed his lips.
“Exactly. We need to gather our forces and plan our action.”
“It would have helped a lot if we had a token of what we are dealing with. I
mean Darkseid’s troops.”
Bruce pressed a key and in the central screen images of Darkseid’s parademons
came to the fore.
“They’re called Parademons – thankfully, Jor El has a lot of material for
Darkseid. And we have also samples of his soldiers’ DNA” Bruce said. “When they
attacked me, Ivy took good care to vanish any trace yet during their assault
they had grabbed me so I had some of their DNA on me and also when she blew
them up some of their remains were scattered to the clearing. I gathered them
and gave them to Lucius.”
A wicked smile carved Tony’s features.
“Then those Parademons would not know what hit them…I can make our weapons able
to kill them easily.”
Bruce rubbed his chin and it was clear that an idea had popped in his mind.
Tony narrowed his eyes understanding.
“What are you thinking?”
“I’ll tell you but not now; at the time being you must inform the Avengers with
every detail.”
Tony shrugged.
“At last…Would be a guest appearance of Batman this time?”
Bruce pressed his lips.
“I don’t want them associate Batman with Tony Stark and connect Bruce Wayne
with Batman.”
Alfred stared at the screen.
“Shouldn’t the global governments be informed as well? I think that that kind
of threat would need the planet’s united forces.”
The others looked at him and Bruce nodded.
“Certainly but first we must make sure that Darkseid won’t be able to read the
minds of leaders because not only he will realize that we are aware and strike
at us before we are ready but also he will control their minds into not helping
us or even stab our backs in the battle.”
Tony raised an eyebrow.
“And that’s where Dr. Strange and his team enter the stage, huh?”
“Right” Bruce said.
Selina turned to Bruce.
“Do you want the Avengers to learn about the real Princess?”
“Yes but they must not move against Ivy yet” he looked at Tony who rubbed his
chin and nodded. “Where’s the Princess?”
Selina chuckled.
“Don’t tell me you managed to piss her so much that she ran for it?” she said
to Tony who rolled his eyes.
Alfred cackled a bit but got a hold of himself fast.
“C’mon! I was my finest gentleman self…”
“Bloody Hell!” Alfred exclaimed and Tony cast him a glare.
“As soon as we landed in New York she asked me to take her to a bank which as a
perfect gentleman I did. Can you imagine what she did?”
Selina tilted her head and raised an eyebrow.
“Don’t tell me she robbed the bank?”
Tony laughed and slapped his hand with Selina’s.
“Good one, girl! But no…” he mumbled a bit disappointed. “You remember that big
rucksack she had with her?” and when they nodded “she had gold and gems which
she sold in the bank in exchange with money” he cocked his eyebrows. “With the
crisis they don’t ask a lot when it’s about gold and gems… She took the money
and stashed them to the same rucksack.”
Bruce pursed his lips.
“I do imagine the reaction of those who would try to rob her…”
Tony nodded.
“Anyway, she thanked me for my contribution and took a cab and left me like a
loser.”
“Like?” Selina chuckled and Tony glared at her. “And? You followed her?” she
continued unfazed.
Tony shook his head.
“She managed to disappear.”
“Then it’s a good thing I have the means to contact her” Bruce said. “We made
arrangements on our way to the yacht.”
“She gave you her number?” the billionaire asked exasperated.
“Mmm…Something like that: I gave her a beeper gadget and she took it.”
Tony pouted and nodded.
“So an Amazon Princess gave her phone number to the Batman and not Ironman:
what’s wrong with girls these days? Maybe I should paint the armor black?”
Selina winked to him.
“Black is classic, honey…”
Tony looked at the orange sweater he wore disgruntled but then raised his head
and spread his arms.
“Yeah…But orange is the new black, right?”
Selina shook her head amused.
“What about, Mr. Kent?” Alfred asked reading Bruce’s sad eyes.
Bruce inhaled.
“I’ll take care of that.”
Tony didn’t like that because he didn’t want his friend being anymore exposed
to action that might injure him more…or worse. However he chose to not comment
for the time being.
“Meanwhile we must be very careful” Bruce said “we must not let the boys or Ms.
Turner suspect anything: we don’t want to spread panic.”
 
“Yeah, I’m…what? Six years younger? When I’ll be eighty and you are exactly as
now, I’ll look like your grandfather.”
Clark almost choked before his smile lit his face and he tightened his two arms
hold on Bruce’s back, kissing Bruce’s hand that softly touched his shoulder.
“So you’re telling me that you intend on us being together for sixty years?!
That’s great! That’s…”
Yet Bruce sobered and his eyes darkened; some sweat drops appeared on his
forehead.
“I didn’t mean it that way…” he turned his head on the side to avoid Clark’s
elated eyes and his hands dropped from Superman’s shoulders. “It’s too
difficult to say something like this…”
Clark narrowed his eyes: of course, it was too difficult for Bruce to make such
long plans concerning love and he didn’t want to scare him. So he cupped his
face and smoothly brought it to meet his.
“You’re right, so we go one day at a time, huh?”
Bruce pressed his lips and nodded.
“With what I said I didn’t mean that I wouldn’t want that…but…”
Clark nibbled Bruce’s lips.
“Ssssss…I know; don’t worry about anything…” he kissed him again. “Now let’s
have that shower because I don’t want you catching a cold standing here naked.”
Clark watched the water soaking Bruce’s locks and plastering them to his
forehead and cheeks; streams were already running the younger man’s chest and
Clark despite the fact he was also under the water felt getting hot. He took
gently the bath cream and the sponge from Bruce’s hands, his Star eyeing him
inquiringly but also playfully.
“Let me do that…” Clark breathed in a deep voice “please…”
Bruce just nodded and Clark tossed the sponge on the floor; he filled his palms
with the cream that every time its smell dazzled him: the same cream Martha
Wayne bathed her little Prince.
He applied the cream with gentle, round movements first at Bruce’s breasts, his
eyes constantly on the younger man’s eyes  sucking the slight changes that
indicated his pleasure. He brought his body closer to Bruce’s and lowered his
palms slowly, smoothly to spread the cream to Bruce’s abdomens.
Then he kneeled and gingerly spread the cream over Bruce’s pelvis willing
himself not get carried away and touch his thirsty lips on the younger man’s
groin; however he had to constantly lick his dry lips. He sighed only
internally casting a longing last glance before proceeding with Bruce’s hips,
thighs, knees, calves and feet always extremely slow for Clark’s standards
wishing to drag those moments.
Upon finishing his work, he stood sticking his body to Bruce’s and locking his
eyes with his; he could hear the younger man’s heartbeat speeding. He nibbled
Bruce’s lower lip, his hands resuming their round rubbing movements on the
human’s breasts teasing the pink nipples.
Bruce closed his eyes sighing and then stabbed Clark with his eyes.
“If you continue like this you won’t clean me…”
Clark closed his eyes and grabbed Bruce’s waist sucking desperately his collar
bone.
“Maybe I like the taste of salt on your flesh…”
And then with a sudden but careful movement turned Bruce around to his back,
swallowing his ear.
“I have to clean you up, huh?” he whispered letting his rasps wet Bruce’s ear.
He poured some more cream to Bruce’s back and smoothly with massaging movements
applied it first at his shoulders descending the length of his arms and then
his shoulder blades and lower…He could hear Bruce’s slightly uneven breath but
when his hands reached the younger man’s glutians he could hear only his own
rasps: applying cream to Bruce’s wet buttocks that had regained their enticing
shape after the incident was…torture…and Clark was sweaty without the water
spraying him being of any help since immediately the water turned into steam.
Bruce chuckled obviously feeling Clark’s torment even though he couldn’t sense
his twitching groin over his buttocks; Superman bit softly the crook of his
neck causing a moan which made the Man of Steel smile satisfied. Kneeling
before Bruce’s back side was demanding and Clark’s running sweat was more than
the shower’s water – not to mention how hot was in there… But Clark was
responsible and would finish his job whatever the cost.
He had a triumphant smile on his face as he stood and turned Bruce to be again
face to face. His Star was blushed too, his long eyelashes half covering his
orbs longingly.
The younger man locked his lips with Clark’s claiming the super human soft
warmth of his body. But the Man of Steel detached to Bruce’s almost hurt frown
and Clark hastened to caress his lips with his thumb.
“Your hair have salt…Is how Alfred busted me.”
Bruce kissed Clark’s thumb and snorted.
“It’s an amateur’s error…” he sniffed at Clark.
Clark tightened his grip on Bruce’s waist bringing him closer; his eyes shining
fervently locked with Bruce’s.
“I had you naked in front of me…salt was connected with other things than
covering my tracks…”
Bruce brushed with both hands Clark’s broad shoulder blades and pressed his
lips.
“You’ve got me naked right now…What are you thinking?”
Clark felt that Bruce was trying to seduce him but…Rao! ... Bruce didn’t need
to seduce HIM. He was struggling every second to restrain himself and Bruce’s
desire that he had to deny made this nightmarish. He gulped: Bruce’s health was
above anything else.
“To wash your hair!”
Bruce’s eyelids almost covered his sparkling eyes and Clark’s heart clenched.
Yet he knew that it was for the best. He poured shampoo on Bruce’s locks and
began massaging smoothly staring all the time at his Star’s closed eyes and
feeling the younger man shaking a bit.
“We’re ready” he huffed.
Bruce’s eyes opened with a dark shine.
“No, we’re not” he growled and shook his head “your turn…”
Clark raised his hands almost panicked, shaking his head in denial.
“Oh, no, no, no…” he had retreated.
Bruce was looking him with the stare of a hunting wildcat and that stare
was…just…irresistible. Clark’s eyes widened seeing Bruce’s hands approaching
him.
“Please, Bruce…If…if your hands touch me I won’t be able to hold back…It’d be
too much…”
Bruce smirked, his stare always predatory, the wet locks stuck on his temples
framing his beautiful eyes.
“And I’ll shatter…”
Clark licked his lips and run his hand through his soaked hair which was a
mistake because Bruce used the handles of the special railing to push himself
on Clark’s chest. The surprise and his overall condition were such that Clark
lost his balance and terrorized realized that he was falling. Terrorized not
for himself – porcelain couldn’t hurt him – but Bruce was falling too. He
grabbed the younger man’s upper arms to make sure that he’d have Clark’s body
as a cushion.
The landing wasn’t too bad and Clark was happy because the oval shaped tube was
spacious enough to contain him and the porcelain hadn’t cracked. He turned to
look at Bruce, his body clang to Clark’s chest.
“What do you think you’re doing?!” he cried exasperated. “Are you OK?”
And then he noticed two things: Bruce’s amused, smug look and that the water
had stopped. Now Clark was pissed! He did it on purpose!
“You tripped me on purpose to fall!”
Bruce rolled his eyes and caressed the wet hair in Superman’s chest causing
goose bumps to Clark’s spine more so when he focused on the feeling of Bruce’s
pelvis on his groin.
“Of course” he answered nonchalant “I think you forget that I’m Batman.”
Clark stretched his neck and sighed.
“I’m under a human so this human can only be Batman but…”
“No more buts” he retorted sharply and Clark felt with dread the thing he was
most afraid of: Bruce’s body slithering on his, driving each of his cells
crazy; his bodily perfume enhanced by the fresh aroma of shampoo and cream
mesmerizing Clark’s brain into ordering full surrender.
And what was that? Bruce’s fingertips touching feathery and moving on his ribs
slowly finding his abdomens and brushing skillfully each layer which pushed his
hips to move upwards; motion that became a violent writhing when Bruce’s hot,
velvet lips touched his navel and then nibbled and sucked his rippled flesh. He
gasped and raised his torso though his head was heavy with flooding
stimulation.
“Wh…what you doing?!” he gasped almost panicked as much as his lungs.
 “You’re afraid that you will shatter my paralyzed lower body…however my upper
body functions perfectly…” he said slyly and Clark was reminded of Selina:
those two could easily have been real siblings, he thought fleetingly.
“I doubt it!” he snapped. “Especially your brain!”
Bruce narrowed his eyes and – damn! - that look was a turn on…
“You’ve been suppressing your needs too long…and mine…” for the first time
Bruce’s sharp cheekbones were colored pink.
“You don’t have to do this…” he almost pleaded. “I know how horrid this was…”
Bruce’s eyes flashed angrily as he realized what Clark wanted to say: his past.
“Exactly: I don’t have to do it – I want to do it. So: shut up…” he pressed his
palms on Clark’s oversensitive breasts and pushed him down brushing his nipples
that traitorously had erected; the most powerful being on Earth unable to stay
up. “Let control to me!”
Immediately his eyes protruded feeling feathery fingers trailing slowly and
gently his pelvis’ V downwards to open slightly his thighs. Bruce’s fingers
caressed the soft flesh at his inner thighs ascending to his hipbones sending
electric currents to his spine.
A surprised moan burst out of Clark’s mouth before he could think about it and
then his torso arched: his own body rebelled against him… He grunted and his
heart gave a thud… Oh, my God! The softest sensation he ever had: lips made of
velvet, hot lips were planting small kisses following the V of his pelvis
making his groin twitch in hungry anticipation as the tender kisses approached
his length only to continue with his pelvis’ other side.
 “B…Bruce…” Clark really didn’t know what he wanted to say and those lips that
now kissed sucking tenderly his flesh cast his mind in a fog of pleasure and
his length in derangement throbbing more madly every time Bruce let a puff of
hot air from his lungs caress Clark’s hot flesh, denying the contact.
His loud whine wasn’t flattering for the Man of Steel but Bruce’s magic fingers
– as if his lips working his pelvis weren’t enough – brushed not very softly,
not very hard his testicles and then nibbling causing Clark’s eyes roll inwards
and his fists clench. He was already huffing and puffing without Bruce having
touched his impatient length; his slightly open legs trembled uncontrollably –
causing vibrations to the tub - and he was afraid of hitting the younger man.
“Oh…Bruce…Please…” his voice was too husky, too weak and he meant to ask Bruce
to stop so to not get hurt by his unchecked boiling body. But those rosy, soft
lips began trailing with pecks his throbbing length and new waves of hot sweat
ran his face, body and especially the inner of his thighs. “Ppplease, Star,
MORE!”
Clark huffed and puffed supported in his forearms, his torso semi raised: how
much more Bruce was going to torture his hurting member by just making small
sucks and strolls through his throbbing length; he felt the big vein there
ready to explode when Bruce’s slightly rough tongue licked the entire length.
“Star…you’re killing me…” he whimpered; the fact that Bruce’s breaths were calm
as they burned his hot flesh pissed him.
Clark felt a smile on the soft flesh that tortured him and then his already
hard member was welcomed in Bruce’s hot mouth and the Man of Steel just slumped
on the hot porcelain, surrendering to his tormentor. His head lolled backwards
and his eyes were closed, he sighed satisfied.
But then he jerked upwards, his back making an arch as Bruce’s lips were
massaging in a steady rhythm strongly and then softly his sensitive member, the
beating vein there bombed like his heart and lungs. Bruce’s tongue took action
only rarely just to enhance the effect of his lips’ massaging moves; slowly
upwards causing new streaks of sweat in every pore of Clark’s body – his face
was stressed and his neck arched with its veins bulged giving loud rasps and
sobs that became cries when Bruce’s nails brushed a bit rough his swollen
testicles. Fire was breaking his bones…
Clark’s hips were jerking upwards, thrusting in his mouth. Clark couldn’t stop
his hands from cupping Bruce’s hair but thankfully he managed to restrain them
from dragging Bruce’s mouth.
Bruce continued pumping with his lips the flaming flesh that boosted from the
powerful hips thrust faster and more frantically almost desperate. His
experience told him that soon his lover would reach his climax and braced
himself. But then Clark’s gentle hands caressed his locks and cupped his face
drawing him upwards to nestle in his safe chest just before Clark’s torso
arched more and the Man of Steel cried his explosion.
Clark’s chest was heaving following his frantic respiration and heartbeat and
he cuddled the younger man. Bruce clung to him and kissed lightly Superman’s
broad chest, letting his cheek touch the bulged breast.
The first thing Clark saw as soon as he managed to persuade his eyes to connect
with the world leaving their pleasant mist was Bruce’s soaked messy locks. He
kissed the top of his head and tightened his one arm hold but Bruce didn’t lift
his eyes. Clark caressed Bruce’s sweaty, cold cheek tenderly and sparkling eyes
locked with his.
A faint smile was carved over Clark’s lips, his joy written in his closed
eyelids which then began trembling.
“Her hair give out a shine that it’s not normal – looks artificial like in dyed
hair” Bruce’s serious voice came to his ears from a tunnel.
And then he saw himself snorting and rolling his eyes. Really, Bruce?
“Because you know everything about female hair, huh? Why on earth a goddess
would dye her hair?”
Bruce nodded, licking his lip.
“Exactly! That’s what raised my suspicions! Unless, she isn’t who she says and
wants to impersonate the legendary Amazon Princess.”
But he wasn’t convinced.
 “If her hair was dyed I’d have detected that, Bruce; and I didn’t.”
“Maybe you can’t…I mean when she is around you’re changed…you admitted that
yourself. And those four days she wasn’t around you, you were perfect but as
soon as she appeared at the Tower…” he huffed. “You changed.”
“Perfect means glued to you?” Clark spat and even he realized that this was a
stab to Bruce’s heart.
The younger man lowered a bit his eyes.
“No…It was you that considered that kind of your behavior abnormal…Also, her
eyes are odd…”
 “I repeat that if her eyes were not real I’d have found out first: I’m the one
with the 100 different kinds of vision.”
Clark cupped Bruce’s face with both hands and placed him gently on his back; he
nuzzled his cheek.
“You need some sleep to clear your head from this night’s shit and Stark’s
poison because I’m sure that your brilliant logic mind can’t believe such
nonsense” Bruce narrowed his eyes angry. “You were a hero tonight, Bruce; don’t
tarnish it now.”
 “If someone needs to clear his head, this is you, Clark!” Clark had retreated
a bit but still kept his arms on both sides of Bruce’s torso as if trying to
trap him – a deep frown formed in his brow from the human’s reaction. “This is
why I asked you to stay away from her! You too believe that you’re not yourself
lately” he huffed slowing down. “Everything started when she appeared.”
“But I’m alright – Lucius confirmed it. It was just a difficult period, nothing
more” Bruce was staring him in the eyes. “If you calm down and don’t let others
influence you, things will be normal again.”
“You’re the one who gets influenced – that woman has a bad effect on you and
you need to stay away from her till we figure out what’s going on. Jor El told
you that he needed time and daily tests to be sure. But until then I think it
is safer if you stop interacting with her.”
“Safer for whom? Your beaten up sense of security? The fact you’re fixed in
that chair has made you insecure” he saw Bruce’s eyes widen more shocked than
angry. “If your self-esteem wasn’t so battered you wouldn’t see Diana as a
threat.”
The shine of Bruce’s eyes sent shivers to Clark’s back.
“Safer for you…” Bruce didn’t want to retort to what Clark said about him
because he felt so dried from his words that it seemed totally unworthy of even
replying. “I don’t feel threatened by her” for the first time his eyes moved
softened. “I feel that you’re the threatened here…”
 “If you want to persuade me to stay away from my friend you must give me a
solid reason and not mumbo-jumbo bullshit: you’re just embarrassing yourself,
Bruce – you’re a detective and yet you make horrible points out of your grudge
for Diana because we danced a couple of songs.What?” Clark asked narrowing his
eyes puzzled from Bruce’s blank eyes.
“Nothing…” Bruce pressed his lips .
Clark nodded taking Bruce’s silence as a sign of embarrassment for his
attitude.
“You realize that you’re pushing me away?” Bruce said to him with a steady
voice.
Bruce was right, Clark thought.
The bangs from the thunders were creepy.
“Your smell was strong under the bridge, lingering there: a smell indicating
great sexual satisfaction…” his voice was creepier than the thunders but Bruce
was calm.
 “I didn’t even see the rainbow bridge you mention…and…Clark, get a grip: you
accuse me for something that you say that has happened two days ago but you
imagined it today! That’s crazy!”
Superman growled frustrated and cupped Bruce’s face panting angrily into his
eyes.
“Crazier than you accusing Diana of being an impostor just because you think
her hair is dyed? Crazier than you claiming that she was one of Falcone’s
whores based on a nightmare – if that was a nightmare and not another fairytale
you made up to frame her!” the wind howled wilder than before and made the
downpour whip the window.
Bruce supported himself to his elbows and rose a bit before Clark forced him
back down pressing his weight on the human’s torso.
“I didn’t lie! Mr. Petrou…”
But Clark had had enough and didn’t let him continue.
“You slander her – a noble, brave warrior – of being a whore while you are the
whore!” the thunder’s bang was scary yet Clark’s words hurt more Bruce’s ears.
Superman screamed as the pain of what he was re-experiencing intensified the
excruciating pain from every cell in his body that felt as if burnt one-by-one.
He opened his eyes hoping against hope that he’d see Bruce’s sad eyes again and
apologize to him – admit that he was right: this woman was an impostor and she
had put him under mind control - he loved only him; make his Star shine again
with happiness.
But instead of those mesmerizing eyes vibrating red light blinded him and made
every inch of his bones feel like shuttering and melting. That bright red light
was his entire world inside that rectangular transparent column they had put
him in; Superman knew that this light was draining him from his powers as if
the Kryptonite chains that bound his wrists and ankles weren’t enough. But this
red light was even worse: burning him like a sun exactly like the yellow sun of
the Earth was doing but instead of filling him with life, energy and joy, this
sun was destroying him slowly and painfully. Every moment he felt millions tiny
rods piercing every minuscule part of his body…
His face felt heavy with sweat as his entire body that suffered under his suit
that it didn’t defer from a costume made from melt, hot iron. His locks had
stuck everywhere and contributed an awful itch.
His breath was pressed with the air being always short – or that was his
impression. His chest felt crushed under an invisible huge weight that caused
his heart beat faster than ever exhausting him more…
And to add to all this nausea was really torturing making his head hurt as if
it was going to blow.
He knew he had to get out of there in order not only to save himself but also
the world… and Bruce: he was scared that Darkseid would capture Bruce and
torture him to cause pain to Superman.
“I wouldn’t have a problem making Superman’s bitch squeal and beg as I rip his
asshole…”
He frowned as his fogged mind brought back this rough voice from a bar in
Metropolis; Superman remembered that it was one of Intergang’s members Clark
Kent had followed there.
His companion had cackled.
“He is a cripple – won’t feel anything below the waist!”
“But he’ll feel everything above the neck!” Stitches winked wickedly and
laughed which his friend mimicked. “Maybe the boss plans to do that in the end,
after he…”
“Ssssss!” Alistair hushed him hastily.
“It’d be the perfect punishment for Supes… watching his slut gangbanged to the
death by his partying enemies” his sly eyes found again Bruce on the screen and
Clark’s heartbeat became so strong that he thought that everyone in the room
heard.
Alistair was thoughtful.
“It’s not so easy: that whelp has more protection than S guy himself. Iron man
is his best buddy and he drags along the entire Avengers’ circus. And Gotham
has Batman guarding her property.”
 “Boss seems confident” he shook his head “I bet he doesn’t chicken to attack
that bitch and after his scheme unfolds nothing would save this bitch…”
Clark’s heart screamed from agony and beat even faster: it was clear that
Darkseid had this in his plans and that just couldn’t happen: Bruce had
suffered too much in his life to be tortured like this because Superman loved
him…He coughed…Loved him…he pressed his lips: it was love what he did to Bruce?
He growled…He knew that he had made Bruce feel pain and now he couldn’t help
him; he couldn’t run and inform them for the danger.
He inhaled trying to find the air his lungs needed but it wasn’t enough and his
lungs cried; his head hurt as if Thor’s hammer had crushed there. Clark closed
his eyes attempting to smooth the nausea that hit his body like a tsunami, to
control some of the pain…
Perhaps Bruce knew already about the threat because he had suspected that Diana
was an impostor. And Bruce never ignored his hunches…unless he was so
disappointed from him that he stopped bothering with the issue. No, no…please,
Bruce must have continued searching; he must have found out everything…
Bruce should not be captured by Darkseid and his minions…Clark couldn’t breathe
properly; his terror and panic making his weakness worse…
He heard the heavy footsteps only when they were to him: his sensitive hearing
wasn’t working and his sight was worse than the human sight – reasonable since
he was chained with Kryptonite under that strange red light. Clark was
surprised from the sudden footsteps because his column – cell was situated in a
wide, empty corridor with no guards near or any other presence.
He tiredly raised just his eyes because he couldn’t move his head at all. The
horrible bluish giant was towering him although Superman was suspended inside
the column above the floor.
Clark made his weak stare determined, angry about the smug grin plastered in
Darskeid’s square face and the contempt in his red eyes.
“Pathetic Kryptonian! Here, crying for your fate and the end that awaits your
friends…”
 
“Is everything alright?” Dick asked shyly popping his head from the door
looking at Bruce who was in front of the fireplace in the leaving room of the
second floor.
Bruce smiled and Hero jumped from his lap to run to Dick.
“Of course.”
Jason moved inside the room first.
“Course everythin’ ‘s alright, dummy…He is a tough nut!”
Bruce cocked an eyebrow.
“Yeah…I suppose” he chuckled and moved the chair towards the sofa where the
boys settled. “Thank you for staying here a bit more, Dick” he said and looked
at Jason “and you, Jason, that didn’t forget us.”
Jason shrugged.
“Ya’re unforgettable, man” he said and lowered his tone “a giant bat isn’t
somethin’ common, right?” he winked and Bruce grinned.
“You don’t have to thank me or my granny, Bruce, for anything. I wanted to stay
more…I lost so many time being mean to you – I just want to…”
Bruce pressed his lips and shook his head.
“I want you to forget all about this, okay?”
Jason crooked his mouth.
“He was a total dick an’ now he feels guilty; he’d learn to listen to Jay next
time…”
“Sure” Dick said. “Any news on your surgery?” he asked Bruce who licked his
lips. “I bet you can’t wait to walk again…you deserve to walk again.”
Bruce smiled and petted Hero’s belly the kitten being curled on the blue sofa.
“Actually that will have to wait.”
“Why?” Jason asked.
“Is there some worsening?” Dick asked with his breath halted.
“No, I just have some things to take care first.”
“Batman always is busy” Jason whispered.
Dick pressed his lips.
“You’re always thinking the others more than yourself…you should take care of
yourself, Bruce.”
Bruce cast a fleeting glance at the horizon from the rectangular window of the
opposite wall.
“I am but some things come first because they are more urgent.”
Jason scratched his head with a mischievous glint in his eyes.
“Mmm…’bout that” he pursed his lips and exchanged a corspiratory glance with
Dick “we were thinkin’…”
Bruce frowned suspicious and both boys licked their lips.
“…that we could help…I mean with Batman’s job…not that ya need any help but
when ya’re too busy we coulda…”
Bruce huffed and his face became strict.
“No way!”
Dick gulped.
“We won’t be a pain in the ass!”
Bruce shook his head: that was the last thing he needed.
“You’re too young to be in this shit!”
Jason crooked his mouth.
“I know much ‘bout this shit, man…”
But Bruce cast him a glare that was worse than Batman’s lenses and Jason
swallowed hard.
“Don’t remind me that!” he snapped widening his eyes. “I know what you’re doing
out in the Narrows after midnight!”
“Ooops…” Jason said and Dick elbowed him mouthing ‘I told you so’.
“You can’t do Batman’s job and emptying stores…” Bruce stabbed him with his
eyes.
Jason took a matter-of-fact serious expression.
“It’s the financial depression that leads youngsters to the crime” he recited
some bullshit he had heard on TV and Dick chuckled. “If Bat guy hires me I’ll
give up my previous job.”
Bruce massaged his forehead that throbbed from a mild migraine.
“You will give up that because you deserve better…” Jason smiled believing that
he meant being Batman’s assistant “but neither you nor Dick will meddle with
these things.”
Dick closed his eyes.
“But we have done it already sometimes…”
“And we saw where that led…” he meant the time when Batman intervened to save
them.
Jason raised his eyebrows.
“Even Supes has his bad days…Ouch!” Dick kicked his ankle to stop him.
Bruce froze hearing about Superman.
“You can train us” Dick intervened. “I know that martial arts are better to be
taught from a young age.”
Bruce remembered his own training.
“Forget it” he said calmly. “Focus on your school and you, Dick, have
gymnastics. You are an aspiring athlete, you have a brilliant career before
you” he turned his wheelchair towards the door. “You, boys, deserve a better
life” he looked at them and both boys suddenly remembered that he was fixed on
a wheelchair for months; probably, he’d have died that night if Superman hadn’t
made it on time.
Bruce as if he had read the boys’ thoughts nodded and left the room, Dick and
Jason realizing that Bruce would never bring them in something that could claim
their life.
 
It was true but Superman thought that he wasn’t going to give the freak the
satisfaction.
“You won’t achieve anything! You will be defeated!” he spat in his face through
the transparent wall before him.
Darkseid cackled and cocked one of his hairless eyebrows.
“You invest much to your lame allies to cover your insufficiency…But you are
fooling yourself…”
The sky was a dirty gray without sun or clouds…This was Washington and
wasn’t…He could see the White House but its dome was shuttered leaving the
pillars supporting half of the dome; flames had engulfed the dirty building.
The skyscrapers everywhere in the big city were in ruins, smoke and dust
hovering over them; fires burnt everywhere and explosions every now and then
cracked the desperate screams of people; screams indicating excruciating pain
as the smell of burning flesh and blood proved.
The streets were flooded…but what ran the streets wasn’t water; was blood, dark
red blood mixed with body members or entire corpses…
Army aircrafts were burning on the streets baring the mars of crushing…
Green creatures with arms and wings beginning from their shoulder blades flew
over the city everywhere destroying with their guns everything that still was
standing; at some spots new screams erupted and between clouds of dust and
smoke Clark could see Darkseid’s creatures jumping on humans digging their
thousand razor sharp teeth tearing them apart.
A kid no more than 5 was crying as fire had engulfed him and nobody was helping
– around him were only bodies…Bodies of civilians and police officers or
soldiers who have tried to help: deformed, burnt bodies and faces distorted in
absolute pain and horror as their eyes were ripped from their sockets.
Clark clenched his bound fists: where was all the heroes?
He saw Ironman barely hovering over the Hell; his red and gold armor was
emitting smoke; it carried marks of burning; sooty; from the way he was
hovering it was obvious that he had no strength left from the struggle. Yet
suddenly he sped determined.
Clark saw Darkseid sending beams with his eyes to a skyscraper turning it with
a horrible explosion into stones and metal; the gloating giant saw Ironman
approaching and sniggered deflecting with his arms lazily every missile and
laser beam Ironman launched against him. And then as the hero reached him and
the canons in her armor were heard loading Darkseid stretched his enormous arm
and grabbed him from the neck bringing him to face him.
The New God blew on Ironman’s face and his face plate evaporated leaving Tony
Stark’s face exposed; the billionaire was exhausted, his eyes hollow without
any trace of his old playfulness;  his expression was determined. He spat on
Darkseid’s face and the giant clenched more the human’s neck choking him slowly
making the human’s eyes pop out.
Clark’s chest was clenched: he never liked Stark but he didn’t want him to die.
“Tony!” Captain America’s voice cracked the white noise of screams and
explosions.
Steve was fighting in the midst of at least fifty green creatures; his suit was
torn and burnt; his mask ruined revealing the wounds on his face. Yet seeing
his friend dying he clenched his teeth and launched his shield against the New
God.
But Darkseid laughed; with a creepy crack he snapped Stark’s neck with one hand
and caught the shield with the other. He threw Ironman’s lifeless body in a
pile of broken human bodies and squeezed Steve’s shield staring at him.
Steve growled and jumped on a pile of crushed cars to launch himself against
the New God kicking some flying aliens in his way. But as he was ready to hit
the giant Darkseid moved his arm and slapped him away like a fly crushing him
to a standing building.
“No!” Thor roared and clenching his jaw launched his hammer to Darkseid’s head
but the New God grinned and looked at the thunder the hammer looked like in its
momentus.
Thor’s eyes widened seeing his hammer exploding in chunks as white beams met
it; he moved his hands and thunders hit Darkseid’s body. The Asgardian charged
at him.
But as the blond god was on him Darkseid’s body sucked the energy of the
thunders his bulky form increasing in size and radiating blue sparks; with a
rapid movement the bluish giant grabbed Thor’s face with one hand and launched
beams from his eyes blowing the god’s head.
Clark’s eyes widened and despair crushed his suffering existence; he heard
Darkseid’s roaring laughter in his head: the New God could penetrate his mind
and show him what he wanted. Darkseid wanted to break his spirit; make him
desperate, hopeless.
No way!
All these weren’t true, Superman filled his mind with this thought; it was just
Darkseid’s hopes, his wishes…but in vain. Darkseid couldn’t win! The bluish
freak was fooling himself believing that he’d manage to defeat so easily all
these great heroes. However Clark stopped his brain from thinking that Bruce
was probably privy to Darkseid’s plans and preparing his defeat.
Darkseid grunted frustrated because his captive didn’t sink in this hell;
Superman hadn’t believed him and resisted.
“You won’t be able to touch them!” Superman sniggered. “You just hope and wish
and dream but deep inside you know that you will be defeated! You can’t make me
despair – as much as you want – I know humans, I know the heroes; you can’t
kill my faith!”
Darkseid pressed his lips and a gleeful grin was plastered over his face.
“Is that so?” he asked sarcastic raising his eyebrows.
All of a sudden, it was all dark with only one form discernible. Clark
squinted: it was a chair and his heart began beating fast because he knew… He
knew that perfume. The chair came nearer and then the one who sat on turned
slowly his head. Bruce was so beautiful even in the darkness…Bruce was a star
himself…so beautiful that Clark hurt.
“He is too beautiful” Darkseid’s rough, bass voice said. “Even for the great
Darkseid!”
Superman’s eyes stabbed his captor.
“Leave Bruce out of this!”
Darkseid smirked and tilted his head.
“Too late for that…”
Superman was inside his column-cell, bound spread eagled in his Kryptonite
chains, erect, washed from that weakening red light. But his cell wasn’t in a
corridor, a building.
 He didn’t have any mood to move his heavy head or open his eyes: the pain was
intolerable and even the small intakes of air that sustained his life
deteriorated it.
However, Superman knew that he was somewhere outside near the sea because he
could hear the waves hitting the shore. What stroke him was that there wasn’t
the characteristic salty smell of sea or the sound of seagulls or the pleasant
breeze…Only the stench of sulfur and the hair rising howls of Darkseid’s
creatures.
But he didn’t care to open his eyes and see…
Ruckus…Footsteps of many people and loud curses and jeers…and under the noise,
a scared human heart. Superman opened his eyes.
It was a vast area that once must have been an idyllic beach. But now it was
cast under a pitch black sky that was disrupted by dark purple shreds and fires
suffocating the last oxygen intensifying the hotness of the atmosphere and the
smell of sulfur. There was no sun, no stars…The sea was dark red and smelled of
stall blood.
His cell was positioned in the edge of the clearing with his back to a granite,
dark green steep cliff exactly the same with the opposing cliff that hugged the
clearing.
But what mattered was in front of him: a battered human bearing the marks of
blows on his face was dragged by thugs Superman knew in front of Darkseid’s
dark blue granite throne that suddenly emerged before the line of the blood
sea.
“No…” he mumbled.
Screams…screams that made his blood stop flowing.
Bruce was suspended in the air from his wrists that were bound together with
something that was…flames… his torso was naked and the bottom half of his body
was still dressed in blood stained rugs that must have been expensive trousers.
His arms were stretched to their limits like his entire torso that manifested
its beauty. His head was bent over his chest and Superman could hear his tired
breath being interrupted by sobs and moans of pain.
But then a creepy sound made Bruce jerk his head backwards howling with all his
might…his body convulsed as if hit by electricity. Superman’s entire existence
bled with this heart wrenching scream; an awful woman who in human years would
have been at her 50s hovered behind Bruce. She had curly gray hair that danced
around her head and she was dressed in blue attire.
She was cracking up in hysterics as the thing she was holding crushed on
Bruce’s back again making the human scream and cry; his torso convulsed more
intense from the pain as blood and pecks of flesh flew around from his back.
But there was also the smell of burning flesh because the thing that woman used
was made of fire and thick metal…
No, it was another creation of Darkseid to break his spirit. Bruce would never…
“What? Haven’t you heard him scream like this?” Darkseid jeered. “Is that why
you doubt that this pest screams like this? You haven’t seen the video?”
The video…
Falcone and Chill in a room…Falcone’s office. A skinny boy no more than eleven
dressed in rugs was kneeled before the mobster; his lips were swollen and bled…
Falcone grabbed the boy from the upper arm and shoved it to his desk; the boy
pleaded with him but the mobster lowered the boy’s pants and underwear. The boy
screamed as the older man pushed his erection inside him with a abrupt motion
that made the skinny body tremble.
And then the boy was sprawled on the table, tied spread eagled; he was crying
because he knew what was going to happen. He screamed; he screamed desperately
as Chill penetrated him with a huge dildo defeating the resistance from the
narrow opening, tearing the flesh. The boy screamed more and his screams
shuttered Clark’s chest because he knew that Chill continued pushing the object
inside the boy’s tender insides…
“Did you see the video?” he heard Lois asking him.
“No; I’m happy, Lois and I don’t want anything to ruin that for me.”
Clark bit his lip hard; his eyes watering from the boy’s torture and from shame
for his indifference.
“The human is made to be tortured…” Darkseid hissed.
“No…” Superman shook his head though that hurt. “You won’t get him – EVER!”
The New God chuckled.
Bruce was on the black sand, untied but it was obvious that his legs were
useless; his back was a huge wound that bled to the floor; patches of ripped
flesh hanged revealing the white of bones; deep burnings marred the few patches
of flesh that had stayed on the body.
His head was touching the hot sand because he didn’t have the strength to hold
it upright; Clark could hear his rugged breath, his heart beating tired, his
sobs.
Suddenly, steps echoed through the space and Bruce’s body tensed. His head
jerked upwards and Clark saw his beautiful eyes being swollen, watering; his
face was pale shining from sweat; his drenched locks were framing his features
making him even more gorgeous.
But the sapphire seas of his eyes were desperate, filled with panic as the
steps materialized in people that surrounded him like hungry wolves. Superman
recognized among the crowd of thugs those he had heard in that bar.
No…
Burce’s scared eyes found Darkseid who was sitting to his throne watching with
a satisfied smirk.
“Please…” Bruce begged as he did in the video and Clark knew that this time it
was real not Darkseid’s imagination.
“You won’t harm Bruce” Superman spat at Darseid managing to escape from the
images he had planted in his mind. “Bagdana wants Bruce as his reward – you
won’t damage you ally’s prize…” you can’t torture him… he almost pleaded in the
depths of his existence.
But his captor grinned smugly.
“The demon is just another servant and this human is not his; is mine to handle
as I wish” Superman’s chest clenched more painfully than anything the
Kryptonite could have done to him. “I’ll grant my servant the human when I
consider it proper, that is to say: after I’m satisfied enough with his
suffering and your humiliation…”
“No!”
Darkseid from his throne made a small nod and one of the thugs grabbed both of
Bruce’s arms stretching them behind his back and raising him up. Superman from
his cell could see Bruce’s terror in his eyes.
The thug held Bruce and another came before him smirking.
“Superman’s whore… Let’s see what he found in you…”
He began bitch slapping Bruce to the face till his head stayed on his shoulder;
he stepped aside for the next who punched him in the guts til blood spurted
from his mouth.
At least twenty thugs beat him and when they were bored they threw him  to a
rock in the middle of the beach to storm at him tearing his already rugged
pants. Bruce although half conscious screamed from the roughness of their
ministrations but more from the realization of what was to follow.
Superman saw Bruce’s beautiful buttocks naked.
“I knew his ass must be gorgeous” one jeered.
“Let’s see his asshole now!”
“Please, no; I didn’t know who you were…” Bruce’s eyes focused on Darkseid who
was grinning, pleading with him and now Clark couldn’t remind himself that this
was a lie.
Darkseid’s eyebrows rose.
“That doesn’t change your behavior, does it?” Bruce gulped and Darkseid
smirked. “Feast on him!” he growled to his servants.
“No!” Superman cried from his cell as the thug who had grabbed Bruce first,
clenched his thighs and spread him.
He lowered his zip and thrust in Bruce at once causing a scream that was
silenced when another thug pushed his length inside Bruce’s mouth.
Superman’s face was distorted in pain and hatred watching weak as the two scum
thrush hard and fast simultaneously at Bruce’s anus and mouth making the human
convulse like a dying fish.
The minutes of torture seemed like hours before the thugs finished one after
the other. More than twenty bastards took their turn on the weak human…
But then they threw Bruce on the sand and made him fall to all four laughing at
his bleeding anus and mouth before starting all over. Bruce made to resist but
the one behind him clenched his hair and yanked his head backwards giving space
for two others to punch him relentlessly to his belly and face.
Bruce was half unconscious when the thug let him fall on the ground; they
forced him on his knees and hands again; the thug behind him opened his thighs
wide and penetrated him so cruelly that Bruce screamed; another one grabbed his
hair and raised his head to push his erection inside his mouth.
Superman wished he had died…Seeing all these thugs two at a time violating
Bruce so cruelly, so violently that the bleeding now had begun like downpour.
His thighs were filled from streaks of blood that ended to the black sand. And
blood was spurting from his mouth since those thrusting in his mouth were
vicious.
It was hours of these…and then Bruce’s eyes closed and Clark knew that it was
over…Bruce’s heart had stopped.
“You see” Darkseid said “I can give the pest to my servant whenever I want; it
doesn’t matter if he dies because for Darkseid death is nothing.”
Darkseid stepped down from his throne and walked arrogantly to the lifeless
body of the human. He looked with contempt at Superman and with his foot raised
a bit Bruce’s chin; he exhaled to the human’s face and Bruce’s eyelids trembled
before opening; but there was no happiness for being alive only dread.
Darkseid’s eyes stabbed the human under his feet.
“You’ll have to beg for this present to be awarded to you, pest…” He turned to
the smirking thugs. “The party is not over.”
“No…” Bruce whispered as Darkseid walked out of the way for their servants to
grab again his captive. “Please, no!”
Darkseid grinned to Bruce’s increasing panic as he was pushed on the rock
spread beyond his limits to take inside him what the cackling thugs were
holding.
“You’re used to that, huh, bitch? The bigger the better, right?” it was a pole
– like rod pushing Bruce’s bleeding opening tearing it more, gashing his flesh.
 But the human’s eyes had locked with Superman’s since the thugs dragging had
brought him in front of the hero’s cell.
“If you want that to end” Darkseid hissed to Bruce “your lover must beg me.”
Superman closed his eyes: he didn’t care for humiliating himself if that would
save Bruce.
“I beg you” Superman said “spare him from that…Please…Have mercy…”
Darkseid yanked his head backwards and cackled.
“As you wish, Kryptonian…” with a wave of his hands the thugs were thrown to
the granite cliffs surrounding the beach.
For some minutes only Bruce’s rugged breath was heard hued by choked sobs; his
body had spasms. Darkseid walked to him and grabbed him from the back of his
neck raising him to the air so their faces were close.
Superman remembered how Darkseid had blown Thor’s head and his heart stopped;
no, he couldn’t kill Bruce…
“But you begged for his suffering to end.”
Darkseid blew and Bruce cried but it wasn’t one final cry before death; Bruce
screamed more and Superman could see strange symbols being engraved over
Bruce’s forehead with melt, hot gold – the smell of burning flesh was torturing
and the sound of the skin churning worsened it; something like a word was
carved in the human flesh but Superman didn’t know what it was; he cared for
the blood that slithered from the symbols to Bruce’s distorted in pain
features.
“Look at me” Darkseid hissed to Bruce’s closed eyes and he obeyed.
Superman was sure that the New God was going to unleash another torment to
Bruce.
Suddenly the New God captured Bruce’s lips and sucked passionately as if
drinking something he was thirsty for.
“Now you belong to Darkseid…I’ll unravel your mystery…”
“No!” Superman yelled and fainted with his fists clenched desperately in his
unbreakable green bindings.
 
Bruce thrashed on his bed; even in his sleep, in the deep darkness of the
master bedroom he knew what that ominous thing that haunted him was. But what
made him writhe on his mattress was worse: was pain not physical but deep in
his soul; it was agony that constricted his breath and heart. It was the
suffering of someone he loved more than his own life.
He jerked upright as the suffering he was feeling reached a peak; his eyes
opened with a gasp leaving his mouth. For some seconds his eyes stayed
completely still focused inside. He realized he was drenched in sweat.
Hero curled on his lap worried and Bruce caressed his head.
“Hold on, Clark; I’ll come for you.”
***** Chapter 81 *****
“I don’t want to let Bruce pray to all the men who drool on him and if he finds
out about us, he’ll break up with me.”
His own voice echoed awkward as if it belonged to a stranger in the depths of
his mind and that night’s downpour that washed Gotham’s rooftop and him wasn’t
the reason.
“Break up with YOU?! C’mon, Kal El…As if you’re a human loser and Wayne has the
right to dump you. You know my opinion about Wayne and that he is unworthy of
you but since you want to keep him he can’t do otherwise! You deserve whatever
you want, Kal El: you’re the Lord of Krypton. And a pleasure slave is a luxury
you definitely can demand.”
Diana’s voice – or the voice of the woman he knew as Diana – tortured his ears.
Her arrogance, malice and poison dripped from every syllable she uttered and
Clark wondered how he hadn’t realized then.
The cave was the same as he remembered it yet the feeling was different…Batman
was standing before him, cold, distant; it was the first time he was seeing
Batman standing after the disaster in that factory – after months. The new
armor enabled him to stand and walk.
“You were right for the tests I didn’t do in the Fortress” Superman said to him
casually.
Clark knew that there was something treacherous and devious in his mind that
made him now, after so long feel embarrassed, ashamed.
Batman raised his head pursing his lips.
“I should have done them – I was stupid. But it’s not too late. We can do them
now” Superman continued.
Bruce’s eyebrows arched.
“We?”
Superman nodded smiling.
“Yes…that’s the reason I took a leave. We’ll go together to the Fortress to
have my tests done”
Now Bruce frowned.
“Why am I needed for that? You’re a big man” he asked coldly.
“I want you to see with your own eyes that I’m not fooling you again.”
Bruce twisted his eyebrows and shook his head.
“If you say that you’ll do it I don’t need to come and see.”
“I also hoped to have some days just for the two of us” Bruce opened his mouth
in realization and nodded “Like the good old days…to escape from all these.
Your bedroom there waits you…Remember?” his voice became touched and sensual.
Hearing himself again Clark felt the nausea more torturous than ever.
Now that he re-watched these moments he could see that Bruce remembered the
days in the Fortress and these memories were salt in the human’s aching heart
yet he isolated this weak member of his body.
A smirk carved half of Bruce’s face.
“And” he pierced Superman with his eyes “you’ll lock me there and threw the
key, right?”
Superman pressed his lips and his eyebrows formed an ugly frown: Bruce was so
clever. Damn!
Bruce nodded.
“So that’s the plan, Kal El? Imprison your human slave not allowing him to
pester you constantly about the supposed Diana?”
Superman regained his calm expression and stared at Bruce innocently but Hero’s
constant growling was very talkative.
“You’re not my slave, Bruce; you’re my lover” he said sensually and made to fly
to him but Bruce’s cold glare stopped him.
“Not anymore, Superman” his voice was icy and fierce.
……………………………………………………………………………………
 “… you stalked me last night! You should have stayed on your bed since” he
cocked his eyebrows “I supposedly hurt you but you wore that suit and followed
me to watch my every move!”
Bruce grinned and shook his head.
“Don’t be more ridiculous than you already are!” Superman clenched his fists
ready to attack but he restrained himself gritting his teeth. “But when you
choose the City Hall’s rooftop to get laid then it is like you’re begging for
Batman to see you.”
…………………………………………………………………………………………
 “After that you realize that you have no place in the Manor or the cave again:
as a matter of fact, after you leave, you’d find that both places are from now
on inaccessible to you. You made your choice and I respect that, Clark; now
it’s my turn.”
He turned to the computer bench, his back a clear sign of dismissal. However,
Superman was determined to not retreat so easily: he couldn’t stand the thought
of Bruce being obtainable for all these men surrounding him. The images of Thor
fucking him under the bridge, although he knew that weren’t true, haunted his
mind.
“Don’t you dare blame this to me!” Superman roared and several bats startled
flew from their positions yet Hero didn’t even glance at them gritting his
teeth and growling at the alien, his eyes sending daggers. “You never believed
in this relationship! Though you knew that the devious plan of Al Ghul threw me
to your feet, not only you didn’t thwart me from slipping in a relationship
with you, but also enjoyed having me burning from desire and not satisfying
me!”
Bruce’s eyes were wide, emotionless, still, looking at the days of the past…at
the Fortress, at the island…
“You never invested in this! You always expected me to do everything – to offer
you my love. And now with the first difficulty you put an end to what we have!
You wear this armor to confront me because you’re afraid to do it as Bruce
Wayne because Bruce Wayne is a scared brat who in the first ordeal whines and
sniffs and runs away!”
……………………………………………………………………………………..
 “I saved your life, you ungrateful bastard!”Superman roared.
Bruce didn’t turn to see him just yanked his head.
“I know and I’ll be always grateful to you, Superman. But that doesn’t mean
that I have to tolerate you telling me lies, accusing me for being so filthy to
cheat my loved one and fucking me worse than you’d do with a plastic doll” he
finally turned to look him in the face calmly but resolute as granite.
Superman was shocked then at how stony that face was; how determined those eyes
were and at the same time bereft of any emotion. And now even more…regret
stabbing his chest.
“Stay away from me and Gotham” Batman growled in his raspy, cold voice.
Superman shook his head and smirked.
“You can’t keep me away from Gotham” he chuckled. “I know the true condition of
Batman and he isn’t as formidable as he was” he licked his lips. “You think
that you can intimidate Superman?” he cackled. “Please, Bruce: your armor might
be able to make you stand and walk but your legs are useless! You’re a
cripple!”
Bruce’s hand like a flash threw something so fast that Superman saw just a blur
and realized that it was a knife only when the blade cut his upper arm ripping
his suit, grazing his skin and spurting blood drops. It hurt like Hell.
Clark remembered the ancient dagger: the Knife of Justice…Indeed, it served him
justice for his behavior.
Even now the scar on his upper arm burnt stronger than the overall pain over
his entire body.
In the same blur, the knife hit on the rock wall behind Superman and scratched
again Superman’s upper arm before ending up to its master’s hand. Bruce
caressed the blade and placed it in his belt. He stabbed with his eyes Superman
who was squeezing the wound to stop the blood: It was so obvious that the Man
of Steel was completely unused to these things. And the skin wasn’t healing
itself like it should because this wasn’t a usual blade.
“I warned you about the Knife…And you’re right: my legs are useless but my
hands are still quite skilled with knives.”
Clark could feel the rage that consumed him that moment, a stupid rage; he had
felt insulted because Bruce had figured his intentions and didn’t fall for his
scheme; because the human kicked him out. However now as he re-lived all these,
there was no trace of anger only sadness, despair for what he had done – what
he had lost. But most of all, he was sad because now he could feel what he had
denied to feel that day: Bruce’s hurt…
He gritted his teeth determined to overcome the pain and the weakness in order
to escape his prison and go back to warn about the danger…to kneel before Bruce
and ask for forgiveness.
He clenched his tied wrists yet the pain intensified and his body felt
electrocuted by a thousand volt before going completely numb; his head rolled
to his chest as he was short of breath…He couldn’t escape…
The padlock made a clack and the lid moved slightly so Clark lifted it. He
squatted and began pulling out the items: his clothes that he had taken to the
Manor when he was with Bruce: well, that was to be expected.
Under the clothes, folded in its minimum size of a medium cube was the
wheelchair he had created for Bruce. He pressed his lips and for some seconds
his mind dag and brought to the fore memories from the Fortress; however he
crossed them out determined before they formed. Now Clark got why Bruce used
the retina recognition system for the box’s security: he couldn’t risk someone
opening it and seeing the alien object. Bruce still protected him and his
secrets.
He took out the cube and placed it in the floor. Then there was a small, plain
square box made of wood.
Clark narrowed his eyes. Bruce sent him Kryptonite? He shook his head snorting:
no, not Bruce; besides he’d have felt it immediately since the box was wooden
and the content wasn’t Kryptonite.
He took the box and opened the lid; he sighed: it was a metallic frame – round
shaped and plain, black platinum from an unknown yet vein in Siberia.
He collapsed to the floor and squeezed the jewel in his palm closing his eyes.
He saw again Bruce’s naked chest; broad, soft, toned with a shining charm
touching his skin: a big black diamond sparkling inside its black, sleek nest
of the platinum frame.
“Damn, Bruce! You should have kept it! It was a gift…” he sighed and then
licked his lips and saw inside the box.
The last thing was a folded white, silken handkerchief. Curious he unfolded the
fabric and his heart hurt as if a punch was delivered right to the pulsing
muscle.
At this moment the punch was even harder…
A pressed flower like those that people collect putting them in books.
Clark recognized that flower: it was the rose Clark had brought to Bruce from
Japan that morning after he had spoken badly to him. Clark wanted to make
amends with him and reassured Bruce that he still loved him; that nothing had
changed because of Diana.
Clark couldn’t send anything back to Bruce because Bruce had given him the most
precious thing, the one thing that couldn’t be returned: Bruce had given him
his vulnerable heart, his pure love and he had torn both into pieces…
He sighed and moaned: if he could just turn time back to stop himself from
acting like this…if only he had fought stronger against Poison Ivy’s control…
Suddenly, Clark knew he wasn’t alone despite the fact he hadn’t looked up or
heard anything due to the fact he was absorbed in his thoughts. Yet he had no
mood addressing his visitor: for certain, more taunting…
“You don’t have the curiosity to see who visits you?”
Superman pressed his eyelids on the eyes: it was the only thing he could do to
let his anger out. He hated that smug voice…But he couldn’t give him the
satisfaction that he didn’t dare to look him in the eyes – even in this
condition.
He raised his head loading his eyes with pride and contempt.
Bagdana smirked narrowing his eyes.
“I see you stupidly spend your few drops of strength to play the hero…” he
shrugged. “Whatever: I know better. You’re scared, Kryptonian; scared beyond
words. What? Pain is too hard for someone who till now was invulnerable? I
guess it was too easy to play the hero when there was no real danger to you,
huh?”
Superman narrowed his eyes.
“I never played the hero, demon: I wouldn’t expect from someone like you to be
able to discern that…As for pain and invulnerability, you’re no different:
playing with humans’ vulnerability when you know that you can’t be hurt” he
knitted his eyebrows “or can you? Maybe there is a Kryptonite for you too?”
The demon laughed although inside Superman’s words had stung – he knew about
pain but this wasn’t the Kryptonian’s business.
“Nice…Play with words if that comforts you at the moment but as the time goes
by and you digest what is happening, you won’t have any mood for provoking.”
Superman gulped: the demon had one thing right – there was no time for word
games.
“It’s you who doesn’t realize what’s happening, Bagdana!”
The demon frowned and Superman inhaled deeply to gather some strength and some
air to continue.
“You’re helping a powerful, vicious being to destroy humans.”
Bagdana crossed his arms and smirked.
“So what? Through the ages humans have proved that they are worthless – I admit
that they gave me fun at times but that doesn’t mean that they should continue
to exist” his face became darker and his eyes flashed. “They should have ceased
to litter this planet ages ago…they killed Lilith…” he wouldn’t admit the pain
they had caused him. “And it was someone similar to you that seduced her and
led her to death…”
Superman saw and heard the pain in the demon’s eyes and voice; a spark of hope
lit in his heart.
“And this time you are the one who leads the one you say that you care about to
death – worse than death.”
Bagdana clenched his jaw: he knew that he was talking about Bruce.
“Nonsense!”
Superman shook his sweaty head and felt dizziness pushing him to fainting.
“No, please, Bagdana! Listen to me: You can’t trust Darkseid with Bruce! You
didn’t reveal to him my human identity which would have endanger my mother and
my friends.”
The demon cocked an eyebrow and laughed.
“You’re trying to turn my own weapons against me? Make me turn against my ally?
I didn’t reveal to them your human identity because that would have made
Darkseid snub at you and lose his interest saving you from his wrath; as for
your human loved ones…” he snorted “they will die one way or another. Besides
it was very entertaining knowing how much you hurt them with your attitude and
that you ditched them for Ivy’s sake!”
Superman closed his eyes desperate.
“He won’t give you Bruce! He is intrigued! He wants to find everything about
Bruce; he wants to have him for himself!” he saw with hope Bagdana’s cat-like
eyes filling with something like knowledge, suspicion. “Yes, he showed me!
He’ll torture Bruce to make me suffer…Please, Bagdana: you can’t let him put
his hands on Bruce; you can’t let him torture Bruce: he has suffered too much
already!”
Bagdana snorted and lolled his head on the side casting him a sideways glance
filled with sarcasm.
“Do you care?”
Now Clark beyond weakness and illness and pain felt rage: did that awful demon
doubt his love for Bruce?
“Of course I am…I love him.”
Bagdana yanked his head back and his gigantic body shook from his cackle.
“Love?” he shook his head “people like you use that word all the time without
knowing the meaning.”
“And a demon like you knows the meaning?” Superman chuckled and his eyes
narrowed to slits.
The demon smirked.
“Oh! I see you have wiped from your memory the things that don’t suit you,
huh?”
Clark became even paler: it was true – all these hours, days, months (?) he was
there, he always stopped his memory from slipping far down in the darkest
depths of his mind, where he knew that his worst recollection lay hidden.
“What are you talking about?” he mumbled.
“But you know even if you deny it…” Bagdana abandoned his ironic, jeering
expression and became dead serious – his eyes completely still. “I felt his
pain, his despair that night; his bleeding heart; I heard the cracks when his
heart broke…Haven’t you?”
Superman’s short breath stopped; his memory made to show him what the demon was
talking about but he again blocked the images.
“You made me do it! You and that woman; you used magic and I don’t know what
other shit to make me hurt Bruce.”
Bagdana sniggered.
“Cheap excuses! I know all about this…” he cocked his eyebrows and waved that
off with contempt “I make humans throw their responsibilities to others all the
time. But I see that Kryptonians have the same traits…” he cocked an eyebrow.
“If your love was real no magic, no feromone could have broken that.”
Superman tried to breathe normally.
“You were influencing me to behave like this: Ivy had manipulated me to
imprison Bruce…You weren’t afraid that if I had imprisoned Bruce you’d have
lost him?”
Bagdana smirked.
“Because you are an idiot that doesn’t make me one too…We both know who Bruce
really is: his willpower, his intelligence, his defiance, his strength of
character. I knew he wouldn’t fall to your stupid trap and to whatever tricks
you’d use. Besides Bruce knew already about your fucking session with Ivy on
that rooftop.”
Superman frowned: indeed, Batman had seen them but how Bagdana knew that he had
seen?
“How you know that?”
Bagdana’s eyes shone gleefully and before his eyes Superman saw Bagdana taking
the form of an archer dressed in dark green, with a hood casting in shadow his
face. He had heard descriptions of the Arrow.
“You are the Arrow?!” he knew that Bagdana was Oliver Queen but that he was
also the Arrow was something new – of course now made sense that the night of
Joker’s attack at the Avengers’ Tower the Arrow had come to protect Bruce.
“Obviously… Well, that night the Arrow met by chance Batman and led him to the
rooftop to see you in full action with Princess Diana.”
Superman’s dizziness became overwhelming, his head screaming from pain: that
was diabolic! That plan was so tightly woven that nobody could have figured it
out.
“Then what was the point of making me try luring Bruce in the Fortress and
imprison him?”
Arrow pushed back his hood and Superman saw Queen’s blazing forest green eyes
rolling.
“Bruce wouldn’t have fallen to your trap but the rupture between you two would
become abysmal: indeed. He ousted you from his life once and for all.”
Superman closed his eyes feeling the sweat that was covering his body becoming
thicker. He had been caught like a fly in the spider’s web. However what
mattered now was Bruce and Bagdana was the only one who could save him from the
fate Darkseid planned for him.
“Still you can’t trust Darkseid with Bruce.”
Bagdana returned to his real form and looked Superman deep in the eyes.
“A demon never trusts anyone…Darkseid might be strong but in the millions of
years of my existence I have seen countless beings more powerful and more
special than him being defeated and exterminated by their own arrogance.”
Hope ignited in Clark’s chest.
“Then you are against him?”
Bagdana’s mouth formed a nasty, gleeful smirk and his eyebrows twitched.
“You wish…You hope that by being afraid for Bruce’s fate I’d turn against
Darkseid and permit you to try gain Bruce back…How stupid of you! Bruce’s
destiny is tied with mine: he belongs to me and I belong to him. No Superman,
no Darkseid can change that…”
The demon turned to leave choosing to walk the long corridor instead of just
vanishing.
“Just” Superman shouted and Bagdana stopped “just don’t let them get Bruce…” he
breathed with his quivering voice and fainted as Bagdana’s eyes became the
flaming red of his wrath.
“Not this time…” he hissed clenching his fists without looking at their
prisoner.
 
Thomas Eliot was at his office in Leslie’s free clinic; he was reading on his
computer an article on a scientific journal before his visit to his patients.
He was bored beyond words from his presence at the free clinic yet he was
patient especially now that he was so close to succeed his plans: he was sure
that one of these days Leslie or Stark would announce him that they want him
for Brucie’s surgery.
The knock on the door made him raise his eyes a bit annoyed; he called them in.
It was Kelly and he immediately got up to go to her. He had to keep her happy
while he needed her.
“I’m sorry if I’m bothering you, Tommy…”
He hugged her waist though she definitely was bothering him yet Thomas wasn’t a
fool to say that to his minion.
“Don’t be ridiculous, dear…I told you that you don’t have to knock the door…”
he nibbled her earlobe and the girl giggled.
“I thought you’d want to know that Dr. Thompkins has a visitor…” she mumbled
closing her eyes enjoying Dr. Elliot’s ministrations to her ear and waist.
Thomas frowned.
“Visitor?” if it was someone they knew the nurse would have told the name.
“I think I have seen him somewhere but I don’t remember…”
Thomas cocked an eyebrow: he didn’t expect anything better from that dumb chic…
“It’s okay, babe…” he withdrew his hands from her waist. “I’m afraid we have to
stop for now…” he said feigning sadness to Kelly’s miserable expression. “I
have to visit patients but I promise to make up to you in the night…” he winked
smiling and the girl seemed happy again.
She mimicked his smile, fixed her hair and cleared her throat.
“Right…I must be to the ward…oh! I can’t wait for the night!” she gave him a
peck in the lips and left.
Thomas rolled his eyes and waited till the sound of her footsteps vanished and
got outside. He was curious to find out who the visitor was but he couldn’t
burst inside Leslie’s office because Thompkins wasn’t a fool and would
immediately realize that he was watching her.
So he walked towards the corridor of her office and waited hidden behind the
turn of the wall. In order to not cause suspicions, he made small walks and
returned.
When after a good hour Leslie’s door opened, Thomas halted his breath. Which
exploded when he saw the man who came out. His eyes widened and then narrowed:
Stephen Strange? Here?
He back stepped so that he could bump into them at another moment ‘entirely on
chance’.
Strange and Leslie was deep in conversation but in a whispering mode so that
nobody could hear. Thomas having distanced a good deal began walking towards
them.
“Fancy that!” he exclaimed when he ‘came across’ them in his stroll; they
hadn’t noticed him till then and looked at him a bit surprised. Thomas noticed
a slight smug grin on Dr. Strange’s face upon recognizing him: they weren’t the
best of colleagues… “Dr. Strange in Gotham of all places!”
Leslie regarded Elliot over her rectangular glasses calm but a bit annoyed.
“I see you know each other” she commented.
Dr. Strange stretched his hand and Thomas shook it smiling.
“Of course” Strange said gazing at Thomas with an eyebrow slightly arched. “I
had the honor to meet Dr. Elliot in many conferences and I have to admit we had
some intriguing arguments in the past…”
“Which were very fascinating and I missed them so much now that Stephen is not
a part of the neurosurgery society anymore” he said feigning sadness although
he felt a cruel satisfaction for rubbing that in the face of the arrogant
bastard.
Stephen grinned and his still eyes stabbed Elliot’s.
“I’m sure you do, dear Tom…But, please, do not be so sad: it’s bad for your
health” he said sardonically.
Thomas narrowed his eyes but kept his ‘sincerely’ sad face.
“I was very sorry to hear about your tragic accident and your impairment that
bereft us of your unique talents.”
Dr. Strange raised his eyebrows and cast Leslie a fleeting glance which she
met.
“I guess that’s life, huh?” Strange smiled.
Thomas nodded cocking his eyebrows.
“Is someone close to you treated in the clinic and you came to visit? I’ll
happy to attend personally to him or her now that you can’t.”
Dr. Strange grinned because he understood Elliot’s intention to taunt him for
his inability to be a doctor anymore.
Leslie yanked her head; she had understood Elliot’s intentions too and she was
really pissed.
“Dr. Strange is not here as a visitor.”
Thomas looked at her puzzled and smiled uncomfortable under Strange’s mocking
stare.
“I don’t understand…”
Leslie gave a tight lips smile and Dr. Strange cocked an eyebrow.
“He is the leading surgeon of Bruce Wayne” Leslie said casually since Bruce had
told her that he had no problem for the information to be disclosed.
And the result was definitely worth it, Leslie thought. Elliot was great in
hiding his real emotions and feigning others yet this time the information came
entirely suddenly and he was outright dumbstruck. It was obvious in his gaping
mouth and goggling eyes. Even his face’s usual rosy color had been replaced
from paleness.
“I…” he smiled trying to hide his rage for all his plans being upturned.
“Are you alright, Thomas?” Dr. Strange’s usual baritone was deeper than ever.
“Do you need my medical assistance?”
But Elliot didn’t answer, totally engrossed in his shock and outrage.
 “I don’t understand: Dr. Strange is…I mean after his accident he is incapable
of operating, much more performing a highly demanding operation like the one
that Bruce needs…” he looked at Leslie. “Bruce’s condition demands a top notch
surgeon  and Dr. Strange – I’m sorry, Stephen – he has months to operate, not
to mention his impairment. Leslie, I can’t believe you made that choice!”
Leslie narrowed her eyes.
“First of all, I wasn’t the one who made that choice and second, are you even
suggesting that YOU care for Bruce more than I do?”
Thomas smiled realizing that he was carried away and had gone too far.
“Of course not, Leslie…Everyone knows how much you love Bruce” he calmed
himself. “Whose choice was then?”
Leslie looked at Stephen urging him to speak.
“Bruce Wayne” Dr. Strange answered with his bass voice hued with amusement.
Now Elliot felt like boiling with anger: that brat! That stupid brat found a
way to humiliate him! He slapped his thighs and shook his head.
“Oh, Leslie…Really? You believe that Bruce could take such a crucial decision?”
Leslie crossed her arms over the chest; her jaw was set.
“You know perfectly well, Thomas that in such difficult cases what matters is
the patient’s wishes. And I think that Dr. Strange is indeed a rather brilliant
choice.”
Thomas felt his blood reaching his ears filling his head with hotness.
“Certainly! But if it was made a year ago not now. Stephen, how could you
accept knowing that you’re not in your top condition? Bruce can die during that
surgery…it takes only a tiny slip.”
Leslie pressed her lips annoyed but Dr. Strange was calm and even amused from
his colleagues’ displeasure.
“I think you are not in a position to know my condition right now, Thomas” he
twitched his eyebrow sarcastic “I never chose you as my doctor, after all. I’m
sure that Mr. Wayne really would appreciate your concern but…” he narrowed his
eyes. “Are you a relative?”
“No.”
“Then it’s none of your business!” he spat widening his eyes and glancing at
Leslie who was furious. “Shall we go, Leslie?”
She nodded.
“Sorry for leaving your pleasant company, Thomas, but we have somewhere to go
with Stephen.”
He grinned.
“I understand…”
Stephen smiled to him.
“We’ll have the chance to meet again now that I’ll frequent in Gotham…Happy to
see you again!” he said sarcastic.
“The pleasure was all mine” Thomas replied swallowing his anger and watched
them heading to the exit.
Thomas ran both his hands in his hair; his plans were totally screwed! How on
Earth that brat came with Strange. His heart beat fast with the realization of
how amused Brucie would be from his humiliation.
 
When Alfred answered the door he knew already that it was Leslie and that made
his upset worse although he kept his collected demeanor. However for someone
who knew him as perfect as Leslie it was easy to discern that something was
off.
“Good afternoon, Dr. Thompkins, Dr. Strange” Alfred didn’t know that Dr.
Strange was in the second car that entered the grounds.
“You know me?” Stephen asked perplexed.
Alfred grinned.
“Both Master Anthony and Master Bruce speak very fondly about you, sir; I’m
honored to meet you at last.”
Stephen smiled.
“Well, I’m pleased to meet you too, sir…”
“It’s Alfred. Please, do come in” he opened the door wide to let them in and
guided them to the great salon their feet echoing on the glistening floor.
Leslie met her friend’s eyes asking discreetly what was wrong.
“Have a seat, please” Alfred said typically. “May I offer you some tea?”
Dr. Strange glanced at Leslie.
“Alfred, we are here to see Bruce; I know we didn’t call first but I supposed
that after his trip he’d have stayed at home to get some rest.”
Alfred didn’t answer for a few seconds and Leslie frowned.
“I’m afraid that your assumption was wrong, Dr. Thompkins. Master Bruce had to
leave again from Gotham…some urgent matter concerning Wayne Enterprises.”
Stephen raised his eyebrows.
“We should have called after all… Mr. Wayne is a very busy man.”
However Leslie who knew everything about Bruce didn’t take it so lightly and
worry began slithering in her mind yet she couldn’t ask in Dr. Strange’s
presence. Alfred headed to the kitchen to bring the tea.
“Is everything alright, Leslie?” Dr. Strange asked with a slight frown.
She grinned.
“Nothing, Stephen, nothing.”
The ring of a cell phone broke the silence and Stephen took his phone out of
the inside pocket of his blazer.
“Dr. Strange speaking” he narrowed his eyes. “Yes, Tony…yes…hm…I suppose I can
be there.”
Alfred placed the big, oval silver tray with the tea on the classic coffee
table sharing a glance with Leslie.
Dr. Strange ended the dial and looked at them.
“Thank you for the tea, Alfred: everything looks delicious but unfortunately I
have to go. Tony Stark wants me in New York, at the Avengers’ Tower.”
 “At least, have a cup of tea before leaving.”
“Next time, Alfred.”
“As you wish, sir.”
He led Stephen to the door and then returned to face Leslie who had stood and
was looking at him.
“What happened? Where’s Bruce?”
Alfred pressed his lips.
“The morning I went to wake him up because he hadn’t come for breakfast: I
supposed that he was so tired that he slept in. When I entered master bedroom I
found Hero sleeping on the bed with that note in his front legs.”
Leslie took the paper Alfred pulled from his vest’s pocket.
“Alfred, I had to leave. Sorry for not saying anything…Do not worry.”
“That boy is crazy!” Leslie gritted her teeth. “What has in mind?”
Alfred looked at her calm though his blue eyes were bad.
“There was some bad news as soon as Miss Kyle and he arrived.”
“What this time?” Leslie huffed exasperated.
“Mr. Kent has disappeared and Master Wayne is very worried. The Tumbler isn’t
at the cave along with the armor.”
Leslie rubbed her forehead.
“Then it is obvious what he is up to…” her sigh of frustration came like a
growl. “Batman is eating alive our boy, Alfred” Alfred just pursed his lips
without speaking. “He should be more concerned about his health!”
 “There is a major threat, Leslie. It seems that something really dangerous is
coming.”
Leslie snorted and shook her head exasperated.
“When it doesn’t?!” she spat. “So many fucking super heroes out there with
stupid super powers why should our injured boy run to do their job?”
Alfred huffed and shook his head.
“Because none of them is Master Bruce” he replied calmly meeting Leslie’s eyes.
“Because Master Bruce was the only one who suspected the scheme and the one who
discovered everything.”
Leslie yanked her head back and closed her eyes: Alfred had a point though she
understood that the Englishman shared the same feelings with her about that.
“Perhaps Selina knows where he is?”
Alfred shook his head.
“I have the belief that this time Miss Kyle isn’t with him.”
“You think we should inform Anthony? Just in case?”
Alfred inhaled.
“That would be against Master Bruce’s wishes and I believe that it wouldn’t be
of any help.”
Leslie rolled her eyes.
“Don’t tell me…Of course he didn’t take his medication with him…” she huffed.
Alfred shook his head.
“He did take them with him, Leslie.”
“Then thank God for small miracles! But next I see him I’m gonna chain him to
his bed!”
Alfred cocked his eyebrows and pursed his lips.
“I doubt that this would be enough, Leslie…”
 
 
The meeting in the top floor of the Avengers’ Tower began late after midnight
because they had to wait for every member of the team to arrive - plus Dr.
Strange. For the first time, the whole wall windows were covered with the
special invisible material that offered additional protection from potential
monitoring.
That alone was enough for everyone to feel that things were serious.
The same grim expression was in every face around the table as Tony presented
in a hologram the information they had on Darkseid and his plans. He even
presented the footage from the Darkseid’s wars in other planets courtesy of Jor
El’s archives: Bruce had asked him to show the material. Even the blue gigantic
figure alone was enough to cause uneasiness, especially when just the beams
from his eyes had such destructive power.
“Where did you find that footage?” Nick Fury asked rubbing his goatee.
“I don’t think that my sources have any importance right now” Tony answered
glancing at Peppers.
Natasha stretched on her chair’s back.
“I think they do: you’re talking about an extra terrestrial menace and these
images can’t have been taken by a human; so if another alien gave them to you
how can we trust them?”
Tony met her shiny eyes.
“Because that alien is Superman’s father.”
Silence fell to the table and glances were exchanged.
“Superman didn’t help us when Loki attacked” Steve commented.
Tony nodded.
“Superman is compromised but not his father.”
“How do you know he is compromised?” Dr. Banner who usually didn’t speak
intervened.
Tony wished he could share with everyone Bruce’s contribution to all these.
“The Amazon Princess who became his ally…”
“And not only that…” Natasha commented and Tony crooked his mouth eyeing her.
“…cast him under mind control into isolating from his true allies and luring
him to Darkseid’s trap.”
There was disbelief in the people around the table but Thor stood.
“That woman is not the real Amazon Princess.”
The others looked at him now.
“And” Tony continued tapping his fingers on the table “we know that they have
already captured Superman.”
Steve got up and looked at Thor.
“How you’re so sure that the Amazon is not real?” he turned his gaze at Tony
who crooked his mouth.
“Themyscira and the real Amazons were found; and the real Princess as well”
Tony said through pursed lips.
“Found by whom?” Fury inclined a bit his hand looking sideways at Tony.
Tony looked at Fury’s wicked eye reading the man’s suspicions.
“That doesn’t matter” Steve said “since we are positive about that: so we
arrest that woman and attack Darkseid to kick him out of the planet and save
Superman.”
Thor inhaled deeply. After everything Superman had done to Bruce, he didn’t
feel very warm about that…
“We have to wait” Tony said. “Darkseid is not an enemy you fight easily – we
need preparation.”
“Maybe we don’t have the time!” Steve said.
“We do” Tony retorted. “His ignorance is our greatest weapon and asset right
now: he thinks that nobody knows about his plans and that his attack will find
us unprepared so he moves slowly waiting for his machine to be ready.”
The hologram showed Darkseid’s machine and Dr. Banner got up and approached
intrigued studying carefully the oval shaped black vibrating construction that
now was six feet height.
“Anti Life Equation machine” Tony remarked. “Darkseid more than conquering
Earth cares about sucking from humans the energy he believes they have in their
subconscious which would allow him to unlock the Anti Life Equation into
establishing his order of things to the universe.”
Natasha whistled.
“It gets better and better!”
“We have time till his machine is finished.”
“You are really saying to wait for his ultimate weapon to be ready to evaporate
us?” Steve asked.
“The machine is under my monitoring” Tony replied confident. “If we attempted
to destroy the machine now we would be probably defeated” Dr. Strange gave a
court nod. “Darkseid has the power to manipulate people by penetrating their
minds: our attack would be met not only by his troops but also by friendly
shots as the alien would manipulate the world leaders into fighting us with
their countries’ army.”
“Then what do you propose?” Steve asked crossing his arms over the chest.
“In the time we have I count on Dr. Strange on applying a protective wall over
the minds of leaders so that Darkseid will be unable to read their minds and
control them.”
Dr. Strange pursed his lips.
“I’ll do my best but this can’t be easy.”
Tony pursed his lips.
“Then we’re lucky we have you…and your friends.”
Dr. Strange laughed.
Tony turned to the others.
“Also, I’m adjusting our weaponry into being effective against the alien’s
troops.”
Dr. Banner stared at him.
“That will need material from those troops.”
“Which I have” Tony answered not wanting to hold back his smugness even though
he thanked Bruce for that.
“How?” the scientist asked.
“Some months back Darkseid in order to introduce Diana to Superman he staged an
attack against Bruce” Tony noticed the astonished looks of his teammates – it
was the first time this fact was revealed. “You know how the boyscout used to
run when someone was attacked – the fake Diana was there before me or Superman
and she ‘saved’ Bruce blowing up the odd creatures that had attacked him; to
cover the traces that would lead to Darkseid. Then I thought that these
creatures were the result of some illegal experiment and gathered samples from
the area were their remains were scattered; also, Bruce’s clothes had some
material too since the creatures had grabbed him.”
Tony for the first time in his life felt embarrassed because he was taking
credit for someone else’s work. The confident smirk over Fury’s face made that
worse since Tony could hear his thoughts about Bruce being mentioned AGAIN.
“When Jor El analyzed those samples recognized that they were parademons –
Darkseid’s troops” he cast Pepper a sideways glance seeking support and she
gave him a small grin. “I’m using that material to adjust our weapons against
them.”
“I’ll help you” Dr. Banner said and Tony nodded to him appreciatively more
because he wasn’t doing questions.
Steve walked to him.
“What about the real Princess? Is she willing to fight with us?”
Tony patted Captain’s shoulders.
“She left her island to come to our world: Diana of Themyscira is really pissed
that a villain impersonated and defamed her.”
 “So we wait” Steve said pressing his lips.
“As soon as Dr. Strange finds a way to protect the world leaders from external
manipulation we’ll alarm them about the danger so that they will secretly ready
their armies and set protection measures for civilians. Of course our weapons
will be finished by then.”
“What about Superman?” Thor intervened grimly.
Tony who shared the god’s feelings about the being that caused such pain to
Bruce raised an eyebrow.
“We can’t rely on his help: we’ll have to save him.”
Thor nodded.
“Asgard’s help will be with Earth.”
“The more the better” Natasha remarked. “Especially, since Superman is out of
the game and I have no trust that the Amazon will help us in the end.”
Tony frowned.
“Think positive for once, dear.”
Natasha smiled.
“I wasn’t born with a silver spoon in my mouth…so I’m realist.”
Tony rolled his eyes.
“So we prepare ourselves for war” Steve turned resolute to his comrades.
“Darkseid is fooling himself if he thinks that this will be an easy war.”
Fury approached Tony with a suspicious look in his face; he leaned to his ear.
“Very inspiring, Mr. Stark…yet I can detect someone else’s influence in all
these…” he winked with his unique eye and left to organize his agents.
Tony crooked his mouth.
“You still underestimate me, Nick?”
Fury chuckled.
“No, Tony: you are an ingenious scientist and inventor; one of the most
intelligent people of the planet” he pursed his lips. “But you’re not a
detective… And this case has many gaps…” he nodded. “Congratulate him on my
behalf next time you’ll see him.”
Tony twitched his eyebrows.
“There is no need for that: I’m present” he pointed at his chest. “Thanks
anyway…”
Fury chuckled.
“Nice, Tony” he patted his upper arm and walked outside to organize his agents
all over the planet.
 
An outraged, jealous Superman was the most terrifying thing to face but Matt
wouldn’t flinch; he strengthened his body in front of Bruce.
“Superman, stop!”
Bruce on his wheelchair was between him and Superman, not a flinch of fear in
his voice facing the most powerful being on the planet that was angry as Hell.
“Matt, you can go” Bruce said to him calmly without breaking eye contact with
Superman whose face was still contorted.
“I’ll call…”
“You won’t call anyone” Bruce ordered. “Everything is alright – I’ll see you
tomorrow.”
…………………………………………………………………………………………..
 “What do you think you’re doing?” Bruce asked after Matt closed the door and
the sound of his steps vanished.
Superman squinted and his face muscles’ spasms made him almost ugly.
“That’s my question!”
In a flash he grabbed Bruce’s upper arms and lifted him from the wheelchair
covering the distance to the master bedroom in less than thirty seconds and
settled the human in a sitting position on the bed. Bruce’s stare didn’t flinch
even though Clark could see that this time he could feel the bruising grasp on
his upper arms that Superman didn’t let go.
“Can you calm down and release my arms?” Bruce asked completely unfazed by
Superman’s panting breath that burnt his face as his enraged eyes locked with
his calm ones.
But Superman didn’t seem to have listened at all.
“Is that why you made all these fuss about me and Diana? Is this why you made
me feel ill? To run around doing tests letting you free to fuck with your
physiotherapist?!”
Bruce’s eyes widened.
“You still smell Falcone on me; if what you say was true you’d have smelt that
as well” he controlled the feel of insult that boiled inside him.
Superman laughed really snidely.
“You’re cunning! You definitely found a way to cover the smell of fucking with
him!’’
“Clark, it’s happening again – you’re out of your mind.”
He shook his head and tightened his hold.
“You’re out of arguments already, babe? Matt, you won’t tell anything to Tony
or anyone else” he mimicked Bruce’s voice. “Bruce, there is nothing to be
ashamed of in that – you didn’t do anything wrong” he did the same with the
physiotherapist’s voice. “I think it’s pretty obvious – I’m not that dumb, you
know…He is fucking you months now and he wanted to tell Tony and the others but
you didn’t want because Stark would brag and mock me and you didn’t want me to
know! You want the blond hunk who is a human like you but you don’t want to
lose Superman either” Bruce was staring at him with eyes unreadable like
shining walls.
“You consider me a slut, then…” he said so calm that Clark even in his enraged
condition was baffled.
Superman shook him.
“I heard you, Bruce! Damn it! I saw you!”
“What you saw?”
“Your pants unbuttoned and he fondling your thighs! Fire him right now!”
Bruce yanked his head in defiance.
“He only does his job.”
“Oh, yeah?” Superman snorted. “And what’s his job? Giving you blow jobs, as
right before I came in? You might not feel anything but I’m sure he definitely
had a helluva party!” he hissed.
It stung because it was unprecedented; the pain wasn’t much but the shock was
greater; he didn’t see it coming but Bruce had just slapped him in the face. He
looked at the human who ground his teeth, his hand left on the mattress
carelessly.
 “Scan my groin, you fool! Is there any signs of saliva?”
“Then what he was talking about? Why he was fondling you?” his voice was still
raspy.
“He wasn’t fondling me: he was massaging the cramps in my thighs’ muscles. The
muscles three days now are contracted…badly.”
The shock of Bruce’s slap was nothing in comparison with that: Clark quickly
scanned Bruce’s almost naked thighs and ruffled his sweaty hair. Indeed, the
muscles in Bruce’s thighs were like stones from cramps that remained unrelieved
for three days …
Thirst was torturous and hunger was piercing his guts…Superman wasn’t dependent
on food and water but now under the effect of Kryptonite and the red sun-like
light these first known feelings became additional tortures.
His eyes were closed, his head touched his chest as he didn’t have the strength
to held it upright. But the worst torture was his eidetic memory: he snorted…it
was ironic that the only super skill he was left was his memory only to remind
him of his dreadful sins and torment him more…
“Clark…” but Clark continued probably believing that this was a moan. “Clark,
I’m not in the mood…”
Now that hurt…But Clark understood Bruce’s hesitation: he just had a nightmare
and he was still upset. He lifted his sweaty face, his messy hair framing his
fevered eyes and regarded Bruce’s so beautiful, so irresistible face…
“…beautiful beings like Wayne are made only for being used for pleasure and
nothing more.” Diana’s voice fell like thunder in his horny mind and Clark in
his cell felt embarrassed.
 “I’m here for that, babe…” Clark panted because his groin was really
impatient, throbbing viciously. “I’ll change that mood…” he cocked his eyebrows
“this is a job for Superman…’’
His hands grabbed on their own accord Bruce’s waistband and lowered at once
both pants and underwear and…oh! His groin relished the contact with that soft
pelvis! So much that he inhaled deeply and his mouth was suddenly sucking
Bruce’s abdominals panting because his length was already erect and he wanted
to get more from that shivering, so pleasantly cold body.
“I need you, Bruce…” he whispered huskily. “I need to be inside you again…Your
body is sacred: a temple of Sun – I need that energy you give me…And besides
you don’t feel anything below the waist…I’ll do everything…”
 “Not tonight, Clark…” Bruce said not too loud because Clark even in this state
could hear everything.
Clark heard but his body’s screams were ferocious and his length throbbed
hungry and painful…
“That was his best trick! Persuading the others that he is a wild mountain to
conquer!” Diana’s solemn, scientific voice told him again.
Clark hated himself for even hearing that woman.
Bruce’s eyes widened when instead of Clark detaching himself, he saw Superman’s
head covering his genitals and heard the so familiar sound of powerful fingers
clenching his thighs and his anus being spread.
Clark held Bruce’s thighs bringing them to touch his hips: he needed to feel
real contact as when his body rubbed with Diana’s hot, strong, delicious, round
shaped hips. But Bruce wasn’t able to do it himself so Clark would do it for
the weak human: he began rubbing the unresponsive thighs to his stretching the
anus he wanted to conquer.
Bruce clenched his teeth and grabbed Clark’s wet locks using them as support to
heave his torso.
The smell from Bruce’s entrance was so intoxicating, alluring him to cross that
mystic entrance that avoided for four torturous months…His fingers clenched
stronger the dead thighs as his frantic heartbeat buzzed in his ears…His length
was drawn there like the metal to a magnet, like a fly to the fire…Bruce was
pulling his hair; Clark smiled: of course, once again he managed to help Bruce
overcome his past and moan for more, even though he wouldn’t feel his
ministrations in his rectus.
Clark wanted to cry to Superman to stop that madness because he was hurting
Bruce.
But then the pulling became stronger and Clark sensed anger; he raised his
glimmering eyes, his hands were holding Bruce’s legs up…Bruce’s grim, flashing,
angry eyes sent a stone to his chest.
“Not tonight, Clark!” the voice wasn’t too loud but strength and resolution
made it pure steel; and the emerald stars in Bruce’s orbs was like molten gems
ready to explode. Not only anger was there but also bitterness.
 
Among the ruckus of chats, laughter and music of the hotel room Clark’s eye
caught something that made him feel excitement. He left his Pulitzer on a table
and hurried to catch him as he was guiding his wheelchair to the lift.
“Bruce” but Bruce didn’t turn and continued his course to the lift.
Clark easily caught up and stood before him. Their eyes met.
“I didn’t expect to see you here…”
Bruce lolled his head.
“It is a hotel and I had to stay somewhere to attend the LexCorp’s annual board
meeting.”
Clark nodded: as a journalist he knew all about that.
“I saw you watching when I received the prize…”
 “I heard the fuss and approached…”
Clark smiled and Bruce’s heartbeat elevated before he ordered it to calm in
order for Clark not noticing.
“So…you want to tell me that it was random?” he asked smugly.
“Of course not” Bruce wasn’t going to lie.
 “I saw your smile before…You need to smile more, Bruce…”
“Mind your own business” he spat.
But Clark was hearing again Bruce’s voice from better days:
“I’ll stand by you throughout this, unless you decide otherwise…”
 
Superman saw Batman gazing at the sparkling city of Metropolis from the rooftop
of LexCorp’s building. On the street the annual party for bidding farewell to
the year was taking place.
He knew that Batman would hear the movement of the air and Batman didn’t need
more to understand; the Gothamite made to leave but a force gently but
unyielding carried and pinned him to the wall.
Batman’s lenses locked with Superman’s blue eyes.
“You banned Superman from Gotham but you act in Metropolis – my city. Double
standards?”
Batman yanked his head.
“It’s Gotham’s business” he growled.
Superman knew that Bruce felt the urge to push to escape remembering that night
that Superman used him in the most brutal way…
“You know that you shouldn’t wander like this…” Superman whispered to Batman’s
artificial ears “it is too dangerous – you may get injured again.”
“Mind your own business” Batman retorted through gritted teeth.
Superman however leaned closer to his face and his lips almost touched Batman’s
exposed skin.
“I hate that this armor doesn’t let your body’s perfume off…” his lips came
even closer and Batman almost closed his eyes because his body shivered
remembering the times Superman had kissed him. “I missed you…and I know you
missed me too…otherwise you wouldn’t have come to the ceremony…”
Superman almost captured Batman’s lips which craved to be kissed yet Bruce
defeated himself and the Man of Steel twitched a bit looking perplexed into the
emotionless lenses and then at his left rib. He smiled: the Blade of Justice
was touching his skin ready to cut. He looked again at Batman’s clenched jaw.
“I still have the mark on my upper arm…” he smirked but then turned to Bruce’s
face. “We still can be together…Diana won’t object.”
“But I will! Back off!” Batman growled determined and Superman feeling the peak
of the dagger pricking his rib relented a bit. “Look elsewhere for a mistress!”
No, Bruce couldn’t forgive him for all these. He was sure that Bruce had given
up on him long ago.
There was no hope for Earth…
 
It was way past midnight and the big city vibrated with sounds, multicolored
lights and motion – as every other great city that never slept.
The grandiose building of Central City’s National Bank was peaceful, empty of
customers and employees waiting for the morning to regain its liveliness.
However in the dim night lights that illuminated the vast main hall five
figures dressed in black and wearing ski masks slipped heading to the basement
where the vaults were situated.
At the corner in a pile the three security guards lay unconscious bound and
gagged.
The five shadows ran the stairs to the basement and began their work on the
central vault which was their main target. Their movements manifested skill and
knowledge so it was a matter of seconds before the rectangular titanium door
opened with a clack causing satisfied and greeding grins to the robbers.
The one who seemed to be their leader opened the door and looked inside with a
greedy shine in his dark eyes. He turned to the others and waved them to go
inside.
They were ready to walk to the interior but a whoosh sound swept through the
long corridor and before the thugs could register what was happening the two of
them were launched to the walls knocked out.
 The leader turned immediately his gun at the red blur which was now hammering
the other two thugs. However as the two thugs flew through the air to crash in
the walls by the blur’s tornado movements, the leader felt a hard kick on his
wrist that pushed the gun away.
Before he even uttered his curse the same red leg that had kicked his wrist
kicked also his head and then his torso to finally sent him to the vault door
opposite the open one.
The blur stopped moving to see the result of his work: a man of average height,
slim but muscle bound was revealed. Dressed in a skin tight red uniform with a
yellow big lightning across his chest; his head was covered with a red hoodie
leaving only his eyes visible. A satisfied grin carved his face seeing the
thugs knocked out but then police sirens came from outside and he sped crossing
the building in barely a second and passing the police vehicles that were now
halting before the bank.
The red blur stopped inside a dark alley. Without a sign of fatigue he just
stretched his body. But instantly he frowned, feeling rather than hearing a
second presence; that was impossible since nobody was able to follow or even
catch him with his eyes. He could run and avoid the presence in the alley but
he was curious: only Superman could catch up with him and he was sure this
wasn’t he, so he had to see with who he had to do – besides he could lose him
at any time.
He turned slowly and his eyes widened.
The presence made a step out of the shadow that covered him and the man in red
pursed his lips impressed and flabbergasted.
“Batman in Central City?”
“Flash” the dark creature greeted him in his raspy voice.
“Well, that’s an honor…” Flash said “yet…catch me if you can!”
He sped up vanishing in a second and Batman shook his head.
A big grin was plastered over Flash’s face when he stopped his running on a
rooftop overlooking Central City’s main avenue. He definitely wanted to speak
with Batman but first he wanted to test and challenge him. Of course he was
sure that the guy from Gotham would be unable to find him yet he was going to
locate Batman himself – after all, he could cross the entire city in a minute.
“It’s not the time for games.”
A growl made him literally jump from surprise.
Flash turned on his heels and goggled at Batman.
“How?”
“Rooftops are my element” he answered casually and walked towards the ledge.
Flash shook his head and licked his lips.
“No, I mean…How did you find me? Nobody can catch my speed except Superman.”
Batman wasn’t going to reveal him his secrets neither that he was able to
follow him around since his body while running reached a temperature unique not
only for humans but also for anything: artificial or not. And once he could
trace the Flash’s route it wasn’t that difficult to speed the Tumbler
accordingly.
“Things are bad…”
Flash looked at him.
“I suppose…for Batman to leave Gotham and come to find me. Superman does that
usually. By the way, Superman told me that it was you that picked me for the
operation against the League of Shadows. I was flattered; really…I was
following your activity in Gotham and – wow! – not even Superman wanted to mess
with that shithole and you managed to clear the city from Falcone and then the
world from the League…”
Batman hadn’t time for this.
“It’s about Superman” he cut him abruptly.
Flash understood that he had been bubbling and blinked.
“Yeah…Right…I suppose since he isn’t the one to come. Mmm…he is busy, huh?”
“No, he is captive” his lenses stabbed the young man’s eyes which bulged.
“But how? He is the most powerful being on Earth and he has Diana with him.”
Batman gave a court nod.
“Exactly. She is an impostor; her mission was to seduce Superman into rendering
him unable to fight back when taken to her ally.”
Now Flash gaped.
“This is…unbelievable! I fought with them: she…she was saving humans; she…loves
Supes.”
Batman straightened his head.
“During the attack at New York neither of them showed up – she dissuaded
Superman from coming to aid.”
Flash shook his head: he never liked that.
“Tell me more…Who’s doing this?”
“An alien from the planet Apokolips – he’s called Darkseid and belongs to the
race of New Gods. He destroys planets trying to find the necessary energy to
activate the Anti Life Equation exterminating life and establishing his order
of things. Earth is his newest target and he wanted Superman out of his way to
attack.”
Flash frowned.
“Is Superman still alive?”
Batman nodded.
“Yes.”
“How do you know?”
“I know!” he spat confidently and Flash didn’t feel like arguing.
“Let’s take them then!” Flash made to go but Batman seized his upper arm.
“We need to be careful. This requires careful organizing and patience.”
Flash rolled his eyes.
“I’m not that good in waiting…”
“You’ll have to…Be ready and vigilant for the right moment.”
Flash pressed his lips and nodded.
“Diana however…maybe she is not an impostor – I mean, I saw her; her powers are
real –how do you know she is an impostor? Perhaps she is the Princess of the
Amazons and we are screwed.”
Batman’s lenses seemed to shine more.
“She is an impostor” he repeated. “Poison Ivy it’s how she  calls herself.”
Flash licked his lips.
“I don’t want to sound…whatever…but how are you so sure?”
Bruce rolled his eyes underneath the cowl.
“Because I found the real Diana!”
“Yes!” Flash made a gesture taken from sports. “Now we’re talking!”
“Be ready for my signal” Batman said calm.
“Look, I want to thank you for trusting me and…I never believed that freaking
Batman will speak to me” he looked at the starry sky upturning his palms “ you
know, up close and  personal: you are a legend after all – something distant
and intangible” he lolled his head “so you coming to Central City to find me it
is…”
He turned where Batman stood till then only to be met with air as the Gothamite
had disappeared…Flash sighed.
“I said too much…again” he scratched his head. “Wait…What signal?”
 
***** Chapter 82 *****
He downed the handful of pills in one swift motion and drank a big gulp of
water from the bottle that till now lay on the seat next to his. He reclined to
the back of the driver’s seat and let his head rest on the leather.
The cowl was made to not give much weight yet right now he still felt it like a
real burden to his aching head. He could have pulled the cowl off since the
Tumbler was in complete stealth mode that made it invisible to any tracing
gadgets and he had parked it in an abandoned industrial area outside Central
City making sure that nobody was around. Yet he didn’t do it; he just couldn’t
afford to let Bruce and his pain come to the fore.
He knew that if he succumbed then it would be difficult to continue; he was so
tired and his back ached. Thankfully, he had taken his medication when he left
the Manor and the painkillers were really a blessing right now.
Batman took a deep breath, let the air fill his exhausted torso and exhaled
slowly. Several times till he mastered control over the pain and fatigue.
Then he opened his eyes; he hadn’t time for rest though the idea of his waiting
king sized bed back in the Manor was more than tempting. However there were
more important things than his pleasure.
He sat properly and touched the Tumbler’s control panel where all the
indications was illuminated with a light blue color; in the big rectangular
screen in the center he could see the news from the biggest news’ outlets.
His lips crooked a bit reading the headlights about Wonder Woman’s latest
spectacular rescue: a big high res picture of the stunning Ivy posing in the
suit of the Amazon Princess was in the midst of the article. Her lips were in a
tight determined line yet Batman could see the shine of satisfaction in her
eyes as the crowed in the ground was cheering the flying goddess…
Of course…she continued to play the savior of the human kind not only to make
people forget about Superman and his absence but also to make her fans fell in
despair seeing her joining Darkseid’s army. Neither she nor her allies knew
that the real Diana was privy to their fraud and was watching.
Batman was very satisfied that the Princess didn’t hasten to confront and
expose the impostor. The truth was that Batman from the first hours he spent
with her felt that he could trust that the Amazon would do the right thing even
without him explaining the situation or having to make his point across. She
was clever and she knew the virtue of patience.
On the other hand Batman noticed a tiny news mention about a woman that was
saved when a gang attacked her in Metropolis; the victim and the police didn’t
know who stopped the assailants since the woman was in shock during the attack
and the culprits were still unconscious.
Batman grinned: Diana might have stayed on the background without attracting
much attention yet that didn’t mean that she would have let her joints get
rusty… The mention was in so small letters that nobody else would notice.
Then he touched some points in the screen and a flood of data came over: it was
from Gotham’s MCU and they concerned Isaac, the hacker that had broadcast the
video with Falcone’s abusing Bruce Wayne. Batman had promised that he would
find who implicated Isaac and Wizze to this because the culprit was responsible
for their deaths at Joker’s hands.
He believed that the best way to reach that person was by following the strings
from the known people of the case and there were three: Isaac, Wizze and Ewan
Ferguson the late attorney of Roth Pielser: the man for whom Falcone had shot
that video… Pielser had told that the auction and the sale were done through
his lawyer since he was in prison.
What the three of them had in common? They were dead. So there was no chance to
interrogate them into getting some insight. However their history and activity
was still there and he had to rely on that to find how the mastermind
approached them and therefore his identity. He didn’t think that the president
of GTV had something that would lead to the mastermind: his channel was just
picked to be hacked. The same went for Pielser: it would be stupid of the
mastermind to go to the prison to meet the pedophile and impractical.
Take Isaac first. The mastermind must have had some knowledge about Isaac’s
skills in hacking which was intriguing and potentially useful since the youth
had no prior arrests for his activity. The culprit must have had some kind of
interaction with the man which led him to find out his special skills.
The envelope that contained the CD with the video didn’t have any DNA traces
according to the police’s report and the address was typed so there was no
handwriting for analysis. So the only way to identify the culprit was to search
Isaac’s acquaintances or contacts.
Batman touched the screen and a new window opened with photos of students of
Gotham’s university who had some relationship with Isaac; superficial, nothing
so close that could be classified as friendship or romantic affair. The youth
was a loner filling the time between his classes and lab hours – he was a
brilliant student according to his marks and his professor’s testimonies – with
working on his computer. After the revelation that he was the one who broadcast
the video the Cyber crime unit managed to identify his traces in several cases
of hacking that till then had remained unsolved.
So the one who had the CD had discovered his skills before the police did.
Perhaps some of his hacking victims who possessed the know-how to trace the
hacker…He scanned through the long list of the individuals and companies or
banks Isaac had hacked and immediately something stood out: LexLabs.
Batman frowned: Luthor hated Bruce Wayne more than enough to do this and he had
connection with Falcone so that he could have found about the existence of that
video. Also, Luthor had the know-how to locate the hacker and expose him which
he didn’t…
It could be Luthor but Batman wasn’t convinced. Luthor was in jail the time the
auction took place: he couldn’t know. Not to mention that he had other things
more urgent to engage his mind – one of them the pressing and demanding
Mannheim. And there was the mind control from Darkseid who certainly wouldn’t
let anything distract Luthor from building his machine.
He rubbed his chin and opened the window about Ferguson touching the link on
the screen. He died in a car accident one month before the broadcasting. He had
many shady clients so his ‘accident’ could have been the work of anyone. The
lawyer’s shady partnerships made him an expert with dark net where after
Pielser’s request he organized an auction to sell to the highest bidder
Falcone’s video.
The announcement was also in police’s file of the case:
“Watch Bruce Wayne lose his virginity…”
A hot iron spear pierced his skull and nausea slapped his stomach; he closed
that window and continued with the lawyer’s background.
Ferguson lived alone; he was married once but his wife suffered a severe stroke
that left her quadriplegic and her traces were lost from then. They weren’t
divorced but there was no mention of the couple being somehow together either.
Batman was sure that there was something that must connect those Isaac and
Ferguson; a person who could know both even though the two were so far
physically and in matters of interests and lives. If he had the time he would
have gone to investigate both Ferguson and Isaac’s residences; the first lived
in his own house and the second’s apartment was held by the police so that no
new renter would stay.
He pressed his lips…If that storm passed and Darkseid’s threat was neutralized
then he would do that but till then he had to limit his research to information
stored in archives and logs of any form.
The beep for an incoming call didn’t startle him; he had requested this dial
and was waiting for it.
“Jor El” he greeted when the AI’s hologram face appeared on the screen.
“Batman, you requested to talk to me.”
Batman nodded.
“I want to ask you to implement the Fortress’ power in the battle against
Darkseid” he said flatly, Bruce’s usual shyness left out. “Also, I wonder if
you have a way to create something that would give the impression of Kal El’s
DNA.”
Jor El’s calm face was carved from a subtle smile registering the transmission
from firm but shy Bruce to the blunter Batman.
“The Fortress’ existence is tied with Superman’s wellbeing and his wellbeing is
inseparable from the planet’s survival. So it goes without saying that you can
count on the Fortress’ resources to help you to your fight. Also, I can create
that hologram you ask.”
Batman set his jaw.
“Thank you, Jor El” he said respectful.
“You don’t need to thank me. You were the one who first suspected Kal El’s
condition and thanks to you I had the opportunity to confirm that.”
Batman shook his head pressing his lips.
“In the message I left you I informed you that Kal El was taken so I didn’t
manage anything – I failed to protect him.”
Jor El smiled with a confident way that puzzled Bruce.
“But your concern for him was that gave us the knowledge about the scheme that
was developing around him and thanks to you we know what happened to him and
who is responsible so he has the chance to be saved. Otherwise Kal El would
have been doomed as the entire planet.”
Batman couldn’t share Jor El’s feelings.
“My son is blessed he has you protecting him: I’m certain that you will find
and save him, Batman” he grinned. “I’m honored to be on your side at the time
of battle…I wish I could do this not only from afar but also in presence.”
Batman pressed his lips in a tight line.
“I’ll feel your presence on my side all the time, Jor El.”
The Kryptonian inclined his head and their dial ended.
Batman estimated that it was almost the time if what he was told was true. A
red light lit in the control panel indicating a presence approaching from the
sky; a presence that obviously didn’t intend to hide from him. Then it was
true.
“You have just to think my name and I’ll come.”
 
His body felt like burning; sweat was running abundantly under his sticky suit.
It was like he was inside an oven with the red light barbequing him slowly…
making the nausea a flood that soared his insides from his stomach to his head.
His head was so heavy that if he had the power he would have caught it from his
neck. He hardly breathed the mimic of air that left him desperately wanting the
real thing…
Water…It was the first time he wished so much for that life giving liquid that
till now wasn’t too important for him. He understood humans’ need and his now
was even more torturing.
He didn’t have the strength to raise his head from his chest or open his
eyes…or clench his fists to try to fight the pain. He could only grunt when the
constant piercing pain sometimes reached unbelievable peaks making the
unbearable even worse…
“I wish some day you feel the same pain you inflicted to that honorable soul!”
Superman frowned hearing that voice coming from the depths of his mind and it
didn’t take a second before he saw the face that went with the voice. A sturdy,
tall man with golden long hair and blue eyes; his face was distorted in anger.
Thor was floating in front of him with Mjolnir still emanating sparkles
mirroring the god’s feelings.
A shudder ran Superman’s spine realizing the meaning.
“How could you, Superman?”
“I…” Clark tried to answer to that accusing voice that although came from
Thor’s lips seemed like coming from his own consciousness.
But he realized that Thor couldn’t hear his regretting voice; instead he saw a
powerful Man of Steel rolling his eyes and smirking.
“An Asgardian god must have better things to engage himself than my sexual
life” he cocked an eyebrow. “Unless my sexual life affects you…” he hissed.
“Not only you were giving Hell to Bruce but also you cheated him in that gross
way” Thor spat and then chuckled. “It is ridiculous that you made a scene
accusing Bruce of having an affair with me when you were the one who was doing
that: very evil…” he shook his head in disappointment. “You’re falling from
your moral pedestal, Superman.”
Superman fisted his hand.
“Because I ended my relationship with Bruce? Because I found my true love? Your
sucking up to Bruce makes you lose your grip, Thor” he hissed “you better stay
at Asgard and…” he narrowed his eyes “why not taking Bruce there to devour
him?” he grinned. “I know you want it.”
Thor’s lips trembled in anger and disgust.
“Is this what you were planning to do with Bruce?” Superman’s stare fell and
Thor nodded. “You didn’t end your relationship as a true man would do realizing
that he had feelings for a third person; instead you treated Bruce cruelly. A
man in recovery, vulnerable due to his impairment; you made his life a Hell
accusing him of adultery while you were preparing to cheat him…”
“I wasn’t preparing…”
But Thor didn’t let him continue.
“I doubt you’d have told Bruce about your affair with Wonder Woman if he hadn’t
seen you…and you’d have continued fooling him. He is a great man; he didn’t
deserve to be treated like this, Superman. You broke his heart, a heart that
was already wounded – that’s a deed of a lesser man.”
Clark gulped the drops of hot dry saliva that had remained in his paper like
mouth: a lesser man, indeed.
The Man of Steel snorted.
“We both know who he really is…and he isn’t exactly the Little Red Riding Hood
who needs your protection.”
Thor’s eyes sparkled.
“Exactly because we know who he is and you know better than me what he’s been
through, you should have been more careful with the heart he gave you and not
rip it in pieces.”
Superman shook his head and rolled his eyes chuckling.
“You should thank me instead of berating me because what happened suits you
perfectly…” Thor frowned puzzled. “I know you desire him: you fell for him
since that day in Mt. Marcy, when Bagdana stripped him and you saw his body
naked– I bet the way the demon handled his naked body fascinated you and fired
your interest in the mortal” Thor was staring at him disgusted. “Well” Superman
made a wide gesture “I cleared the path for you: poor Bruce would need your
powerful shoulder to cry on and when his head leans on you it won’t be
difficult to you to get access to other more tantalizing parts of his body.”
 “You don’t realize in the least what have you done, don’t you? You shattered
Bruce’s heart and now to save the last remnants of his tender heart he built an
impenetrable wall not allowing himself to love again.”
His chest was pressed from an insufferable weight and then his heart was
stabbed with a Kryptonite knife. He had done that…
 
The door at the driver’s side rose for Batman to step outside. The armor led
his feet to touch the ground as his mind ordered and then he stood to meet Thor
who just landed.
Suddenly, his vision became blurred and the dusty ground seemed to come at him;
he wasn’t taking any info from his legs but he knew he was falling and there
was nothing he could do to prevent that.
The ground returned to its right place and he was upright again; through the
buzz of his ears he had heard the rushing movement towards him and now he felt
two strong hands clenching his forearms supporting him.
He raised his lenses to meet Thor’s blue eyes that were filled with worry.
Batman straightened his body and politely but resolutely took his arms away.
“Thank you” he said.
“Are you alright?” Thor asked keeping his hands close to Batman’s ready to
catch him.
“Fine. I tripped.”
Thor realizing Bruce’s uneasiness withdrew his hands. He frowned.
“I don’t think you’re fine. You may not be wounded but you’re exhausted. You
should be resting” he said with a warm voice but Batman’s expression was
determined. “I can take you back home.”
“I wouldn’t call an Asgardian god for something that the Tumbler can do – I
know that you have more important things that demand your attention.”
Thor tried to read the emotionless lenses and the set jaw he could see.
“Nothing is more important than you. I think that you should get back and have
your rest.”
Batman crooked his mouth.
“We, humans, are more resilient than gods give us credit.”
Thor pressed his lips.
“Yes, but you have limits…and I don’t want you to break those limits.”
Batman pressed his lips.
“The planet is threatened; I can’t stay afar and watch.”
Thor shook his head.
“You unveiled their plan and notified us for the danger; you gave us inside to
their power granting us the chance to build our defense. You found Themyscirra
and the real Diana persuading her to be on our side. Now you can protect
yourself and let us do the work for a change.”
Batman smirked.
“That’s the diplomatic way to say that you, gods and super powered heroes don’t
need me?”
Thor’s face became stony and his eyes perfectly still. He inhaled.
“We need you more than you can imagine…” he said in a dead serious voice that
made Bruce cringe with what hinted; Thor licked his dry lips and gulped
realizing how his words had upset his friend.
“I must go to Asgard” Batman continued without replying anything to what Thor
said.
Thor’s eyes widened; that was something he never expected to hear.
“What? I mean you know that I guarantee that Asgard will help Earth.”
Batman nodded.
“I know and I appreciate that. But I need you to take me there.”
Thor nodded.
“May I ask the reason?”
“You’re entitled to this. I want to speak with Loki.”
Now Thor’s eyes bulged and then narrowed under his knitted eyebrows.
“Loki? Why? This is…”
But Batman didn’t have the luxury and the time to argue that.
“I need him on our side.”
Thor laughed and shook his head.
“You forgot what he did to…Bruce Wayne? Because of him Joker ran loose; he
killed several people and then Loki helped him kidnap and torment Bruce. How
can you rely on his help?” he sighed. “I always defended him; I always wanted
to believe in him but after what he did to…Bruce Wayne” he shook his head. “No
more” he huffed. “I…I loathe him.”
Batman set his jaw. He knew that nobody was watching or listening to them so he
could speak freely.
“He did the things you say but thanks to his involvement I found out that
Bagdana was the Arrow.”
Thor even though he was the god of thunders felt as if he was hit by one.
“Bagdana? No way… I saw him incarcerated in Tartarus…”
Batman crooked his mouth.
“He knew that I’d ask you to look for him and he tricked us. Remember that
Loki’s palace couldn’t be found by a mere god or by a mere mortal? When Dr.
Strange found his palace the Arrow was always there ready to kill Loki with a
golden arrow…”
Thor gaped as he remembered the legends he had heard in Asgard for the archer
who killed gods with his golden arrows: the god, the demon called Bagdana.
“The left handed archer” Batman nodded. “This information led me to realize the
whole scheme because the Arrow is Oliver Queen the one who was saved by
Princess Diana: she supposedly came to our world to accompany and protect
Oliver Queen. I was already suspecting that she was a fake yet this revelation
made everything clear. How she could manifest the legendary powers; how her
feromones along with Bagdana’s enchantments put Superman under control.”
Thor was impressed yet Batman continued.
“Loki tried to take me away from Joker but the jester caught up with him and
rendered him weak: Joker almost killed him.”
Thor crossed his arm on the chest and shook his head. He didn’t know all these
however:
“That makes you believe he will help? How can you trust that he wouldn’t stab
us in the back and join Darkseid? I know you like to give a second chance to
people but…”
Batman raised his palm.
“Can you take me to him?” he inquired abruptly.
Thor huffed with the man’s tenacity.
“You need Odin’s approval; the jail is under his control.”
“Fine” Batman replied unfazed and locked eyes with the god. “Take me to him.”
Thor smiled with his friend’s resolution in the prospect of having to face the
most powerful god of Asgard. There was no point in trying to dissuade him. He
stretched his hand and Batman looked at him.
“I need to hold you in order for you to be transferred along with me.”
Bruce was reminded of the Harry Potter movies he had watched in Tony’s house in
Malibu: it was so odd that their reality had blended with what they considered
just imagination.
Batman grabbed Thor’s forearm.
 
“This isn’t you, Clark; you know that I’m not enjoying this…”
Bruce’s voice was pressed: he had managed to maintain his tranquility though
his face was pressed to the mattress and…
“No!” Clark yelled and shut his memory before showing him the rest of that
night.
However he couldn’t stop a flash cracking his mind: two sapphire – emerald eyes
filled with sadness behind the strength and determination.
“May I call you Star? Your eyes are like star sapphires” Superman’s voice said
shyly but it echoed from so far that it hardly was heard.
The same eyes that were cast fearful on the frozen, snow covered ground rose
slowly to look at Superman shyly; a faint smile caressed Bruce’s bruised face.
“I’ve been called worse…”
Superman’s heart relished relieved on the sparkle of happiness in those
melancholic eyes; remembering the relief he had felt that day. The bliss of
being at last able to approach the youth who had won his heart.
“She is my Star!”
Clark’s miserable existence cried hearing his own voice this time filled with
confidence and stupid happiness addressing the woman he was holding in his arms
wanting everyone to know how he felt…
He shook his head mouthing ‘no’ – he couldn’t have been so stupid…so cruel…
Because he was sure that Bruce had seen…now, after so many months Superman
realized that it was obvious in Bruce’s eyes that day in that Metropolis’
hotel.
“So you’re not carrying a Kryptonite dagger like Stark to stab me?”
Catwoman shook her head and then stabbed him with something green that wasn’t
Kryptonite but was more acid: her emerald eyes.
“I could…and it’d be a small punishment for you” her eyes were lost for a
moment and then she gritted her teeth. “But you don’t worth it…” she said
curling her lips in disgust.
Superman frowned; his eidetic memory played before his mind’s eyes that night
in Gotham that Selina shot Chill killing him.
“Chill was worthy and I’m not?” he demanded chuckling but he felt insulted
being considered lower than that monster.
Catwoman yanked her head rolling her eyes.
“You wonder? Are you THAT stupid? You’re worse than Chill, Superman! He was
torturing Bruce for all his life but unlike you he didn’t make him open his
heart only to butcher that precious heart!” she narrowed her wild eyes. “You’re
more brutal than Chill because he never gave Bruce happiness only to push him
to the abyss afterwards!”
Superman’s face became pale and his eyebrows knitted together.
“How is he?” he asked in a throaty voice.
Catwoman snorted.
“You ask if the wounds you inflicted on him after he trusted you with his body
have healed?”
He didn’t believe that Bruce would have told to anyone, even to someone like
Selina who was more than a sister to him.
She regarded him appalled and pursed her lips.
“No, he didn’t tell me anything – yeah, it’s that easy to figure what you’re
thinking; he’s still protecting you…But I know when Bruce is in pain: I can
read his eyes, his face, even though he knows how to pretend. You should be
ashamed of yourself!” she lolled her head on the side and pointed her hand to
him cocking an eyebrow. “Look whom people consider their protector!” she let
her arm fall and slapped her thigh “I don’t want to waste even my saliva to
spit your face!”
Selina was so right: he wasn’t worthy even to be spat.
“I wish some day you feel the same pain you inflicted to that honorable soul!”
Thor’s enraged, disgusted voice filled his cell.
“You’re worse than Chill, Superman!”
Selina’s saliva that never came made the red light burn him and the Kryptonite
chains melt his flesh…
He was… He was worse than that monster and what Darkseid was doing to him was
only a small punishment: he couldn’t tolerate himself.
 
Odin’s unique eye twitched impressed for a second before taking its usual
strictness seeing Batman imposingly crossing the long, wide marble isle to his
throne. There were men and women – all of them esteemed Asgardians - situated
in the room who gazed at the stranger with animosity and shock that was turned
into outrage when they registered Thor coming behind him; it was obvious that
the god of thunders had brought him here.
“Leave us!” the elder god order in his rough voice.
His eye passed the mortal to stab his son.
“Why did you bring him here?”
 “Great Odin it was an urgent matter” Thor replied bringing his fist to his
heart.
“I asked him to” Batman replied. “Earth is in great danger and I needed to see
you.”
Odin frowned.
“My son is enough guaranty of my help to your planet.”
Batman understood Odin’s anger but frankly he didn’t have the time to consider
that.
“I know and I’m grateful for your generosity and your patience to tolerate my
presence here but there is something else.”
Odin snorted.
“Tolerate?” I don’t have any tolerance!”
Thor cast a sideways glance at the mortal to see his reaction to Odin’s really
intimidating anger yet Batman yanked his head setting his jaw.
“Then you’d want to get rid of me as soon as possible.”
Thor was amused by the man’s unfazed stance but hold his chuckle.
Odin touched his back on his high, engraved throne and regarded the Batman in
front of him.
“I can get rid of you by exterminating your insulting existence” he said
quietly but more threatening than before.
Batman nodded.
“You can but you didn’t because you know that I wouldn’t ‘insult’ you with my
presence if it wasn’t really important. And you want to know what this is.”
Odin stayed silent for a few seconds caressing his white beard.
“What do you want?”
“To speak to Loki.”
Now Odin met his son’s eyes and stood determined.
“No way, mortal. You were permitted to my palace but it stops here: Asgard’s
business is not your concern. You can go back now.”
Yet Batman yanked his face backwards and stabbed Odin with his blazing eyes
that suddenly weren’t hidden from the lenses that Batman had just deactivated;
Odin frowned from the power and determination that gaze hold.
“I won’t go anywhere! You have my respect and appreciation for your willingness
to help earth and for bearing with me to your palace but I won’t leave till I
see Loki.”
“That’s preposterous!” the elder god yelled and Thor felt like the entire place
shook.
Yet Batman remained unfazed.
“Your audacity is outrageous, Bat! You’re in no position to speak like this!”
“You can kill me if you want but I’m here for my fellow humans and I won’t stop
trying till I manage to save them or I’m not able to fight anymore…But I know
that you want Darkseid to be defeated as much as I do and you deep inside
understand that it isn’t audacity or disrespect that drive my behavior.”
Thor looked at his father; his expression saying that he was with the human.
Odin cast a glimpse at the blue and green planet outside his arch shaped
windows and sat at his throne.
“Do you expect from Loki to help your cause, Bruce Wayne” he used on purpose
his true name meeting the human’s clear, beautiful eyes that sparkled with
willpower. “You forget what he did to you?” he lolled his head on the side.
“You really believe that Loki will be of help to your cause? A being so villain
and petty that used his powers to attack to a disabled human and surrender him
to a foul creature who knew that was going to torture him?”
Batman didn’t seem influenced from the use of his real name.
“Loki did this but he also tried to help me when he realized what Joker was
doing to me… His deeds were monstrous yet they helped me find the truth about
Darkseid; I believe that if you give Loki his powers back this time he will
contribute to save Earth.”
Odin’s unique eye became blank in deep thought.
“I’m sure” Batman continued “that you want your son to redeem himself and prove
that deep insight never betrayed your trust. Give him the chance to do it.”
Thor made a step forward.
“When I was a misguided, arrogant man you were right to punish me but then you
gave me a second chance granting me my powers back, father. Loki deserves a
second chance too – especially, if he is going to help us bring down Darkseid.”
Thor’s eyes met Bruce’s and the human gave him a tight-lips smile.
Odin remained skeptical.
“Be it. If you believe that that being can help you, be my guest” he shook his
head. “I believed in him; I raised him like my own son and look what he did” he
pressed his lips. “He is rotten: he wouldn’t care about your cause – he won’t
even accept to help.”
“If he does, Odin, are you willing to give him his powers?” Batman asked. “Loki
and his unique skills are crucial to our battle.”
Odin snorted and cocked an eyebrow.
“Crucial?”
Batman nodded.
“Fine then. I you manage to make him align himself with your cause I’ll return
him his powers…but my eye will be always on him because he proved that he is a
sneaky creature.”
Batman gave him a court nod.
“I’m grateful, Odin” he brought his fist to his heart and turned retreated from
the hall.
Thor made to follow him but heard his father descending the steps to his throne
and stopped sensing that he wanted to talk to him. The younger god turned to
his father.
 “I can see why you are so…” he grinned “devoted to this mortal. This man has
inside him such fire that can blind even the god of thunders…”
“I deeply respect Bruce, father; I’m delighted you understand.”
Thor felt his cheeks reddening and just nodded, exchanging a last gaze with his
father before leaving the room.
 
“DONUTS?!”
The empty, emotionless eyes he had seen in the Pulitzer party in that hotel of
Metropolis were now filled with child-like enthusiasm, carelessness and bliss.
Clark couldn’t stop a smile grazing his hot face even though his heart was sank
in misery and guilt …
Clark couldn’t expect such enthusiasm for some humble donuts.  
“Well, there’s a bakery in Metropolis that makes the freshest and most
delicious donuts in the States: I bought them right when Ms. Rose took them out
of the oven.”
But Bruce had already grabbed one and began gulping greedily.
“Don’t tell me Ms. Rose sells donuts to Superman?” Bruce mumbled chewing.
“Imagine the huge advertisement for her!”
“I didn’t think of that…” Clark answered chuckling. “It would have given me
free donuts for life...But only poor Mr. Kent is her customer! There’s milk
too.”
Clark just goggled mesmerized.
“You really missed donuts, huh?”
Bruce halted his greed seeing that Clark wasn’t eating.
“You won’t eat?”
Clark smiled.
“I’m getting my fill…” he answered the meaning clear.
……………………………………………………….
Clark brushed Bruce’s hair.
“You trusted me” he said solemnly. “You let me touch you even though I had
attacked you. Even now I don’t feel worthy of your trust or your gift… Of your
body on mine…”
But Bruce interrupted him claiming passionately his lips, answering that way to
Clark’s guilt. And Clark melted letting Bruce do as he wanted with his lips, he
just savoring the sensations.
When Bruce freed his mouth Clark sighed.
“If you don’t start eating, there won’t be anything left for you…” Bruce warned
taking another donut filled with vanilla cream and covered with white
chocolate; he moaned from delight and Clark felt tears from glee.
………………………………………………………………….
 “Are you happy?” Clark’s eyes flickered between hope and fear.
Bruce lowered his eyes and Clark’s breath was caught in his chest.
“It’s difficult for me to say: what happiness is …” he chuckled. “After so many
years I forgot how it is...Yet I think that what I’m feeling now...is
happiness… I feel…free, like flying” he locked eyes with Clark who was
paralyzed and turned his head to let him breathe.
He took another donut and smiled to the Man of Steel.
“If you don’t start eating, you’re going to starve…”
But Clark grinned elated.
“Oh! I’m not going to be hungry ever again…” I’m filled with gorgeous images -
images of you…”
Indeed, even now he licked his dry, torn lips and his mouth filled with the
taste of donut mixed with the taste from Bruce’s lips…that was heaven…
Ms. Rose smiled relieved.
“Now, let’s get your order…” she opened the window display and the delicious
smell of the store became heavier, really mouth salivating. “Mmm…let’s see:
‘Prince’s donuts’ as usual?”
Ms. Rose had named that flavor ‘the Prince’s donuts’ out of a whim and she was
so right! But today there was no need for Prince’s donuts…
“No, Ms. Rose…Just my usual…”
No, please…he begged his memory. No more…
“Don’t stop smiling, Star… You lighten my world…”
Bruce’s eyes flashed.
“How can darkness bring light to the sun’s life?”
Superman closed his eyes and caressed Bruce’s cheekbone.
“You’re the meaning of my life; I love you from the first time I laid eyes on
you. I still jolt in my sleep having nightmares that you died that damn night…”
……………………………………………………..
 “We’re here for swimming…” he snapped releasing Bruce’s lips and the younger
man looked him exasperated.
“But I’m not wearing my swim trunks!”
Clark tilted his head on the side regarding wickedly Bruce’s body, his eyebrow
arched.
“Actually… I was counting on that…”
He pushed the cardigan off of Bruce’s shoulders and moved to strip him from the
rest of his clothes but Bruce twitched causing Clark’s squinting.
“Not in front of Hero…”
Clark chuckled even in his pitiful state remembering how he bribed the kitten
with a container with baked salmon.
 “Now” he had inhaled deeply “about that swimming…”
And in a second both Bruce and himself were bare naked: Clark took in Bruce’s
impressed stare on Superman’s broad chest with the bulked pectorals that were
covered with raven hair: Bruce had seen him naked again but every time was as
impressed as the first. Clark blushed and beamed because he was thrilled that
Bruce longed for him.
“You like what you see?” he smiled and caressed the pink shade over Bruce’s
cheekbones.
Bruce locked eyes with him and smiled shyly.
“You’re perfect…”
Clark cupped his cheeks and claimed Bruce’s lips sucking as if finding water
after days in the desert and caressing with his tongue the younger man’s
cavity. Without unlocking their lips he lifted gently Bruce in bridal style and
brought both of them in the water, he walked, his feet sinking in the soft sand
and reached the point where the waters deepened with their light emerald color
becoming sapphire blue. He tested first the water’s temperature because even if
he had scanned it beforehand he wanted to be sure before putting Bruce in. He
knew how sensitive he was.
Bruce held Clark’s upper arms and released them as the Man of Steel lowered him
slowly flat in the golden-orange hued waters that his upper body sensed that
were pleasantly warm. His hands immediately stretched over his head to swim but
Clark was holding gently his back with one hand while the other touched the
younger man’s chest.
Bruce looked at him.
“Just relax, Star” he used his hand to stretch Bruce’s legs and held his body
flat on the water’s surface.
“Easy for you to say…” Bruce snorted and moved his arms gently in the water to
stay afloat but Clark touched his face and slowly lowered it more for the water
to rinse his hair and reach his ears.
He then smiled reassuringly to Bruce who kept his stare on his crystal blue
eyes.
“You trust me, right? Close your eyes and focus on the sound of the sea…”
Bruce huffed.
“Do I have a choice?”
Clark chuckled.
“You’re Bruce Wayne, Batman: you always have a choice and the means to assert
it but…” he kissed softly the place where Bruce’s heart beat so pleasantly
strong “I think that you will consent…”
Clark’s lips on his flesh sent shivers in the healthy part of his spine and he
closed his eyes though Clark felt still the tension in his body. Bruce breathed
the way Clark knew that it was a relaxation technique.
Clark couldn’t stop himself with Bruce teasing him like this; playfully,
carefree. He wrapped his hands around his armpits, lifted him and kissed
roaming his abdominals as the salty sea water ran down. He had his eyes closed
devouring the sensation of the wet taut flesh and the sound of Bruce’s
heartbeat and giggles.
“So you can’t handle tickling, huh? Smart ass?” he growled unwilling to part
with Bruce’s flesh. He had almost lost the man and that had left a tight
feeling inside him that he fought all the time to ease.
…………………………………………..
“So much for your bribe” Bruce snorted “Hero wants to come to us…”
The black and white kitten stood right where the wave splashed the shore and
stared at them. Clark smirked.
“But cats hate water!”
Bruce cocked an eyebrow.
“However, this cat fights it…”
Hero ran backwards when the waves hit the shore but instantly as the waters
ebbed chased them moving his paw aggressively. Only to retreat hastily when the
wave came back at him to charge again as the wave withdrew.
Clark watched Bruce’s eyes fill with love and warmth as he laughed with his
kitten’s doings. Bruce realized and stopped abruptly stilling his eyes on
Clark’s solemn ones.
“Promise me that you won’t stop laughing like this…” Clark sighed.
Bruce tilted his head on the side and blinked.
“If I laugh like this all the time, I’d be facetious…”
“No, you’ll be happy…” he touched feathery the wet locks that had stuck on
Bruce’s eyes framing them; he leaned and captured the younger man’s lips almost
aggressively.
The bliss, the happiness, the fulfillment of that moment made his aching body
find relief and his heart felt light again.
“You doomed everyone who would truly love Bruce and you took from him the
chance to find the happiness life owes to him! How can you be so cruel?”
Clark stopped breathing and frankly that would have been the best for him:
fainting or dying not thinking anymore of the damage he did to Bruce. The
happiness evaporated like his body was slowly inside that cell…
“You’re preposterous! A scum! You’re a complete asshole! Few months ago you
were melting for Bruce’s love and whined about his refusal to open up to you;
you were complaining because he thought that your feelings weren’t true and
when he accepted your love you betrayed him with the first chance! Do you
realize what you have done to him? He isn’t going to open his heart to anyone
again! You like that, don’t you? You enjoy the hurt you caused, you miserable
scum! You like the idea of Bruce not finding the happiness with anyone else!
Selfish bastard!”
Lois’ enraged voice sounded exactly as his conscience.
“Bruce needs you!” she sounded really worried and angry.
Clark shook his head.
“He doesn’t: the Avengers are guarding him and Thor…” he smirked. “I bet Thor
tracks his vitals all the time.”
“Like you did?” she remarked snidely. “You can’t be sure, Clark: how can you
gamble his life?”
“Superman is not welcomed in Gotham: the city and Bruce have their protectors.
It’s over!” he murmured and smirked. “You want me to go there in hopes of
reconciling with him but that won’t happen, Lois. You have to accept it!”
Lois’ eyes flashed and her lips stretched in wrath.
“NO, I don’t want you there for reconciliation because you’re not worthy of
Bruce! Asshole!” she spat and returned furious inside.
………………………………………………….
“Are you crazy? Why you didn’t go to New York? People died, farm boy! People
who would have been with their families now if you had helped
Clark crooked his mouth and pinched the bridge of his nose.
“You don’t understand, Lois; after all, you always respect only your own view
of things.”
“What?” the woman was enraged. “MY VIEW OF THINGS?! And what should I have
understood other than you turning your fuckin’ ass to innocents screaming for
help?!”
“Avengers didn’t ask for my help, Lois! If they wanted me there; if they did
care about people they would have called me; but they believed arrogantly that
they could make it by themselves – so I’m alright with my decision: that will
teach them some humility. You really can see the devious politics of them?”
Lois huffed and rattled her teeth.
“Are you nuts?! Or are you high? You really expected an official invitation?”
she laughed but her wrath was such that the laughter was cut sharply. “I bet
Flash didn’t wait to be invited…This wasn’t a reception, farm boy: this was an
emergency!” she fumed. “Remember when Stark, the arrogant, air head tycoon came
to your aid at Metropolis’ attack? You had invited him?” »
…………………………………………………….
 “You’re not yourself, Clark: the man I knew would never have ignored calls for
help even to his own death…You’re ruining yourself, farm boy…”
And then another voice filled his mind bringing sweet warmth and more sadness.
The voice that filled his happy childhood- his innocence.
“Bollocks!” the old lady shouted and Clark was stunned because he had never
heard her like this before. “Your father’s and my greatest fear was that your
unique powers would eventually ruin our sweet, good hearted boy: during his
last moments, Jonathan asked me to always protect you from the wrong choices;
from being corrupted. And I failed!”
…………………………………………………………..
“While you were with Bruce you were helping everyone; you were shining like a
true sun…now…now you hide the light in you: the light that you permit being
little by little put out…I wish I was stronger and better to have managed to
protect you…to not lose my only son.”
His Ma loved so much Bruce and she was right.
“Even Superman went awry…”
“The only one that is losing his path is you, Clark.!
“I want us to be friends, Lois.”
“My friend is lost…”
He heard again New Yorkers speaking about his absence during their need;
expressing their sadness.
Superman gathered the few drops of courage he had and yanked his head only to
be attacked by an aggressive wave of excruciating pain.
He had betrayed everyone that loved him; he caused his loved ones pain; he let
innocent people die…
They were right: Clark had died, Superman had died…Nobody would ever care about
his fate and they were right to do so. He was alone because he chose that.
“I’ll stand to your side throughout this, unless you decide otherwise…”
 
Bruce wore under his armor a jean and a long sleeved T-shirt because he was
certain that Odin would let him speak to Loki – there was no other option. He
wasn’t going to speak to Loki as Batman.
They couldn’t bring his wheelchair along so the only way was Thor holding him
in his arms. Bruce always felt uncomfortable when someone was holding him like
that except if it was Tony or…But he could tell that Thor had no problem with
that.
“Thank you” he said to him.
“Don’t mention it” Thor answered.
Loki’s cell was in a tall, slim tower without any embellishments; just dark
blue steep granite. Thor crossed a dark, narrow corridor drenched in darkness
that only Mjolnir’s blue light illuminated. He stopped in front of a black door
without window or hinges.
Thor didn’t have to do anything before sounds like huge padlocks being unlocked
echoed through the corridor and the door opened; he walked inside.
Loki frowned hearing the invisible padlocks of his cell’s door unlocking and
his eyes widened seeing his visitors.
“The honey moon suite is in the next building!” he uttered chuckling. “So you
decided to make it formal? It was about time! I was shipping you ages ago!”
Thor stared at Bruce and then turned to his brother.
“Bruce wanted to see you.”
Loki looked at Bruce not changing his position; he was sitting cross legged on
the stony floor of his small, empty cell.
“Oh! The sun wanted to enlighten my humble new residence!”
“Can you leave us?” Bruce asked Thor and the blond placed him carefully on the
only thing in the cell: a square rock.
“If he attempts anything…”
“He won’t…” Bruce mumbled quietly.
Loki cackled and Thor left.
“Are you paying back my visits to your dungeon?” he asked when they were left
alone.
Bruce wanted to be fast.
“I’m here to ask you something, Loki.”
“Asking? From me? Look at me, babe: I’m in a dungeon, without my powers and
though I’m not chained” he lowered his voice to a whisper “big, bad Odin has
spells in the space not allowing me to do much. Actually, I think that chains
would be better… I have a soft spot for bondage…”
Bruce shook his head.
“You can be outside this dungeon and get your powers back.”
Loki tilted his head to the side and looked Bruce slyly behind his raven hair.
“Once I could take any form I wanted…mmm…I wonder…maybe someone is making fun
of me taking the form of little Bruce?”
Bruce huffed.
“No. I’m Bruce Wayne and I came here to ask your help. Earth is in great
danger, Loki.”
The mischievous god raised his palms in surrender.
“I didn’t do it this time.”
“Yes but this time you can help so this threat is defeated.”
Loki arched an eyebrow and regarded Bruce twitching his mouth in disbelief.
“Tony told me that an alien called Darkseid is ready to launch an attack on
Earth. He is really powerful, a New God and has captured Superman; Princess
Diana was a fake, an ally of his set to trap Superman. Darkseid will erase
Earth and slaughter humans.”
“Wow! And where I come in this?”
“You can help in this fight. You created that gas that weakens super powered
beings; you can take any form you want and you can mind control the others.”
Loki pouted.
“And not only these… Stark knows about you being here? Because last time I saw
him he almost killed me.”
Bruce pursed his lips.
“No, he doesn’t.”
Loki yanked his head and laughed.
“Then it is your initiative with my dear brother? And why you think I would
accept to help; I might not care about humans or Earth: have you thought of
that? Not to mention that this Darkshit you say might eat me for breakfast. ”
“You are more than Darkseid’s breakfast. You possess great power.”
Loki groomed his hair with his hands.
“Possessed.”
“If you’re willing to help Odin will set you free and give you back your
powers” Bruce said determined and Loki frowned.
“Oh, boy! You spoke to big ol’ Odin – wow! You’re more than it meets the eye,
huh, kid?”
Bruce gulped.
“No, I’m just scared…”
Loki stared at the human who was pale like that time he had found Joker ready
to rape him in the cell of his tower. Well, he had tried to help that human
then yet…
“And why do you think I’d care about Earth? I attacked the planet.”
“I think that you are capable of great things, Loki – good things. And I know
that deep inside you’re not that evil. When Darkseid’s green creatures attacked
me you protected me; when Joker tried to…use me, you stopped him and dressed me
ready to move me to a warm, safe place, remember? If you don’t remember I
do…You can prove to anyone that you’re more than they think.”
Loki noticed the detail about Darkseid ordering that attack against Bruce in
the island.
“So Darkshit has you on his target?”
Bruce didn’t expect to hear that and licked his lips.
“I…I don’t know. But the important thing is that he won’t stop in Earth: he
wants to bring the entire universe to its knees and establish his order of
things.”
Loki rolled his eyes.
“Like a James Bond villain: no originality” he tsked and narrowed his eyes.
“Why doing it to prove anything? I don’t care what the Asgardian losers think
about me!”
Bruce locked eyes with the raven haired god.
“Even better!” he said slyly. “Do it for the fun of humiliating an arrogant
giant blue God who thinks that he is superior to everyone!”
Loki smirked and his eyes shone.
“Now you’re talking!”and then he frowned “you said…blue?”
 
 
 
***** Chapter 83 *****
Kelly was sitting with her legs folded on the white L leather couch in Thomas
Elliot’s vast living room. The girl was staring confused her boyfriend who was
slumped in his leather chair behind his elegant desk. From the moment she
arrived he settled at his desk in the right corner of the living room and
didn’t move from there.
She didn’t know a lot but she was sure that this had to do with the man that
visited Leslie Thompkins two days ago. Since then Thomas was avoiding her; he
came to the free clinic for his shifts yet they didn’t talk and even worse he
cancelled their dates.
The young nurse decided that she had to find out what was wrong and even help
if she could because this sudden change of behavior wasn’t characteristic of
Thomas. She felt that something had upset and made him sad and perhaps she
could do something.
So she came here even if he didn’t answer her calls because she was worried. He
opened, greeted her but nothing more…For the last hour Thomas sat in that chair
silent.
His mood was definitely more than gloomy: he didn’t speak to her; he barely
glanced at her. He was clearly sad and angry. He had on his priceless, shining,
rose wood desk a bottle of whiskey and sipped once in a while from the square
crystal glass until it was empty. Then he was refilling it.
He wasn’t drunk but Kelly hadn’t seen him drinking so much till now. He was
staring with blank eyes on his desktop computer’s screen and gritted now and
then his teeth.
Kelly couldn’t bear seeing him like this; she had come here to offer her help,
to do something for her boyfriend and sitting and watching wasn’t an option.
She left her place on the couch and slipped to his desk carefully; not that he
would have acknowledged her anyway; he was too absorbed in his thoughts.
She approached him and wrapped her arms around his neck tenderly. He didn’t
seem startled but didn’t glance at her either. Kelly pressed her lips but
didn’t give up: she touched her lips to his ear inhaling his perfume that she
adored.
Only then Thomas looked at her; hard at first as if he was ready to attack her
– Kelly felt her blood running cold although she knew that he wasn’t capable of
such deeds. Thomas understood and smiled caressing her forearm on his neck.
When he heard his door bell and saw that stupid nurse Thomas was really pissed:
what that bimbo needed more than the cancellation of their dates to realize
that he didn’t want to see her anymore? But no, she was from that kind of women
that once with a man stick to him no matter what. And he was Dr. Thomas Elliot:
certainly the little slut wouldn’t let such a catch to slip from her net…
She had come to his apartment to play the worrying, the carrying while in
reality she just wanted to keep him in her loop…Ugh! Thomas wanted so much to
curse her and sent her to the Hell so that he would be alone with his plans and
thoughts…yet he knew that it was still too early for that.
Thomas knew to be patient in order to achieve his goals and in this case this
dumb broad might be still of use…so he swallowed his irritation and contained
himself only to give her the silent treatment and focus on what really
mattered.
“I’m sorry, babe” he said sweetly and met her lips with his. “I’m bad to you
tonight…” no mood to entertain you…
“Don’t say that, Tommy…It’s just I feel you’re sad for some reason and…you
don’t deserve that. And…and I want to help…If I can…”
Her eyes fell on the screen where photos of Bruce Wayne and articles recent and
past were all over. Thomas caught her gaze and smiled.
“Yeah…he is the reason I’m in no mood tonight” he chuckled. “And yesterday and
the day before yesterday…”
Kelly frowned: as far as she knew Thomas hadn’t met Bruce Wayne those last
days: how Bruce Wayne could have affected him so much?
“But you two didn’t meet lately” she uttered what she was thinking and Thomas
cackled.
“He doesn’t need to meet me to make me feel bad” he said holding Kelly’s hands
that were still around his neck.
Kelly shook her head.
“Tommy, I really don’t understand why he has such influence on you to…to cause
you such sadness even without interacting with you. Why is he so important to
you anyway?” she was thinking that this reached the verges of obsession but she
didn’t say it.
He chuckled and withdrew his hand from hers. It was obvious what she was
thinking.
“I’m not a pervert, honey” he said sarcastic with the boredom from her useless
presence peaking. “I just wanted to redeem myself for what I had done to him
during our childhood” his eyes found the young billionaire on the screen.
“Bruce was younger than me but he was a child with above average intelligence
so we were in the same class at the school for gifted children; I was a kid
from a troubled family faced with an alcoholic father…” he chuckled “not that
this is an excuse but witnessing all the love Bruce was getting from his
parents and everyone else – listening everyone speak about the Prince of Gotham
praising his beauty, his sweetness, his goodness, calling him an angel…you
understand?”
Kelly was staring at him with her brown eyes wide.
 “People were so stupid, so unfair: they kept adoring and praising a boy that
had everything! He was just a spoiled, pampered brat while I was struggling
hard for everything I achieved… but still I couldn’t get the attention, the
love he had… that made me hate the stupid prince of Gotham; I envied him
because he had everything I didn’t. He was happy; he was loved by everyone…”
He arched his eyebrows meeting Kelly’s eyes that now seemed sympathetic.
“I know, it was crazy but I was in great suffering and Bruce…he was so happy
pampered in so much love and adoration!” he shook his head “you probably don’t
understand and I don’t expect you to…”
Kelly shook her head in denial and caressed his shoulders.
“No, Tommy, don’t say that…I do feel for you…”
Thomas grinned with a shine in his eyes that Kelly didn’t understand that was
gleeful. Of course you do, honey…he thought rolling his eyes inside.
“So I had no choice but to…I tormented the poor boy…I was calling him names; I
was bullying him; I even torn his favorite toys knowing that this would hurt
his dumb heart; I made his life in school and everywhere else a hell…” he
laughed. “It was unfair but then seemed so right…I felt so good; like having my
revenge over society’s injustice. But then Bruce’s parents were murdered and he
disappeared only to be declared dead a few days later… I felt awful…I didn’t
realize the reason then but gradually I understood how unfair I was to him; how
bad I was…and his horrid end in the hands of those thugs” he inhaled deeply “I
was feeling as if I had caused it to the poor boy that in fact did nothing
wrong to me.”
He kept watching Kelly’s reactions and thankfully the dumb thing seemed touched
by his confession.
“Since then guilt burnt my insides and urged me to become something useful to
the society so that even in that way I could redeem myself…but it was never
enough…The boy with the wet eyes when I destroyed his favorite staffed toy kept
haunting me” giving such pleasure…
Kelly caressed his hair and Thomas gulped his snigger.
“And then one day after eighteen years I learnt that Bruce was alive and
Falcone had kept him as his slave all these years; the details of the abuse and
tortures my victim faced came like blows to me…I felt like a warm remembering
how I was envious of his happiness those days…My envy then could have jinxed
him…” he chuckled “I know how crazy that sounds… but since then I made my goal
to meet him again and ask him to forgive me and perhaps be his friend now…”
Well…not exactly friend.
“To help him fight the trauma” by getting him inside a good loony bin where he
always belonged.“And find that old happiness I marred then with my malignity.”
Kelly pouted and kissed him softly in the forehead.
“You’re so sweet, Tommy…”
“But I hesitated…I didn’t have the courage to move: Bruce would be right to not
want me near him. After all the trauma and pain he suffered from Falcone Bruce
would rightly want only his most beloved and trusted people around him – a
wounded puppy” that I’d happily kick.
Kelly shook her head and Thomas sighed.
“When a new tragedy found Bruce and he was seriously injured and fixed in a
chair I clenched my jaw and I decided to come back in Gotham and help him
overcome this new calamity: it was the only way for me to breathe easier; to
restore some of the bad I did. I tried…I tried to approach him; I offered him
my friendship, my services – I have a vast experience with complex spinal
injuries: I can give him back his mobility. I spoke to Leslie and Stark…But
still…Bruce spat my offer and chose Dr. Strange, someone who is clearly unable
to be a surgeon anymore…only to humiliate me because there can’t be another
reason for choosing someone incompetent like Dr. Strange.”
Kelly gulped and Thomas nodded.
“Bruce found his chance to take revenge for what I did to him in our childhood”
he arched his eyebrows and pressed his lips. “I don’t blame him: now it’s his
turn – now I regretted everything and I opened my heart to him he can pay back
my childish wrong deeds. After all, Bruce never had the chance to mature
emotionally and mentally – a traumatized youth can be so immature and vicious
against whoever he deems his enemy.”
“Tommy, I know it is hard for you…but it is his right to choose his surgeon –
and I’m not sure he wanted to take some kind of revenge.”
Thomas felt anger boiling in his blood: stupid bimbo! He ruffled his hair.
“I know, I know…perhaps you’re right – sometimes I think too that I’m
exaggerating but you haven’t seen his eyes when we are alone: so defensive, so
hostile…” he huffed and shook his head. “He had more than enough and I
understand his reactions yet it hurts because I really wanted to help; I
offered him my emotions and he stepped on them crushing everything. He
humiliated me.”
The young nurse pressed her lips.
“I know how you feel, Tommy…but there is nothing you can do about this; you are
a great doctor and you have helped so many people. Nobody is going to give a
damn about what you did when you were a child – a child in pain that is. So
just forget Wayne and the surgery; go on with your life, Tommy.”
He smiled and caressed the back of her hand and then brought it to his lips to
kiss the soft skin.
“I never give up, babe…” he said with a gleeful shine in his eyes and Kelly
smiled believing that that meant that he actually considered what she just
said.
 
“I intended to come to Gotham to meet you.”
The night had just fallen and although Metropolis was vibrant at night as in
daylight this part of the city, near the docks, was quiet and relatively dark:
like the forest that hides a monster ready to attack.
“I’m glad you didn’t” a low growl answered from the shadows. “Gotham is
watched.”
“So you came to Metropolis to meet me” Diana dressed in plain jeans and a long
sleeved white T-shirt walked towards Batman in the depth of the dark alley; her
long black hair fell freely to her straight back. “I guess the phone you gave
me sends a tracing signal, right?” she smirked.
The alley was littered with garbage and a cat hastily ran away. The light from
the public lights reached the space weak, incapable to do more than form more
shadows.
Batman stepped out of the shadows and his lenses met her eyes.
“Actually, the phone is untraceable; I couldn’t risk losing your trust by
monitoring your moves.”
She cocked an eyebrow.
“Then how did you know that you’ll find me in Metropolis?”
Batman walked closer to her: she was at his height.
“Ivy is in Metropolis and I knew you’d want to watch and know everything about
her; also, I read in the news about someone who saved a woman who was attacked:
someone so strong and fast that nobody could describe.”
Diana smiled and Batman tilted his head.
“And I do have your number so once I got here I contacted you.”
“I tried to be as stealthy as possible when I saved that woman – I hope that
this didn’t ruin your plan for secrecy.”
Batman shook his head.
“No” he said sharply “actually I wanted to thank you for not acting against the
impostor right away. I understand how difficult might be for you to watch her
posing as yourself and not confront her.”
Diana shrugged.
“I know that patience is the key of the victory. However you didn’t ask me to
not act though you wanted to stay inert.”
Batman crooked his mouth.
“I would never patronize you; I was sure that you would understand our need for
time before striking. I believe that we share the certainty that your sudden
appearance during the fight would be a fatal blow at them.”
Diana nodded.
“Keeping a secret ace in the sleeve…Attacking εξ απίνης…”
“The element of surprise…” Batman said the same thing in English.
The Princess of the Amazons arched her eyebrows.
“You know the ancient writers?”
“My teacher adored them” he answered “and he was right.”
Diana narrowed her eyes.
“Careful estimation and planning… Preparation time is crucial and our enemy
shouldn’t get a hint that we know his intentions before the time comes. On the
other hand, I have time to get precious information.”
Batman looked at her without commenting and she continued.
“You were the one who managed to free Gotham from the rule of Falcone, a
powerful mobster whom nobody else dared to face” she grinned “then you united
the super powered beings of the planet in order to vanquish the League of
Shadows. I’m impressed: truly, a warrior of Nemesis.”
Batman set his jaw.
“You give me more credit than I deserve.”
She inhaled.
“I doubt that but I admire your modesty” she inclined her head. “You know that
Superman has disappeared.”
The Gothamite nodded.
“They got him, right?”
“That was their intention from the beginning.”
Diana crossed her arms over the chest.
“Planting a fake Amazon to impress and eventually seduce him to take him away
from Bruce Wayne.”
Bruce frowned under the cowl; he didn’t want Diana give attention to Bruce
Wayne.
“There’s no proof that Superman had anything with Wayne. But yes, they sent Ivy
to impersonate you and by using feromones and spells they managed to control
him. Their goal was to isolate Superman from his allies and humans so that when
he was captured nobody would search for him. Darkseid had an old grudge for
Kryptonians and he considered him the biggest obstacle to his plans.”
“But we know the truth so we can save him.”
This was so appealing to Bruce: saving Clark from pain. But they had to be
careful.
“Not yet” he said nonchalant. “Any movement on our part will alarm Darkseid
about being aware of his menace and plans; so he’ll attack us sooner before we
are ready.”
Diana nodded and Batman yanked his head.
“I’ll take care of Superman.”
Diana cocked an eyebrow but didn’t comment.
“I was thinking…” she said. “As you said Superman’s love for Wayne wasn’t
proved yet it would suit Superman perfectly.”
Batman shrugged.
“Superman’s taste isn’t my concern.”
“I read everything I found about Wayne…A child that watched his parents getting
murdered; a child that was held slave by his parents’ murderer faced with
constant horrific abuse. A boy growing up alone fighting not only his loss but
also the cruelty of the people around him. How this boy survived? The pain, the
despair, the tortures, the malnutrition…” she frowned. “Even a fully grown up
warrior would have a hard time surviving more so a small boy…Bruce Wayne not
only survived but also he became a charismatic man who took over his parents’
enterprises and helps people around him…despite the evil that still threatens
him: this Joker who kidnapped him recently; that horrendous video that was
broadcasted showing him being abused. This man is really remarkable, a real
fighter even though he doesn’t use his fists or weapons…I’d like to meet him.”
Batman set his jaw.
“Once the truth is revealed everyone would want to meet the real Princess, so
perhaps you’d have your chance. Yet I’m not here to speak about Wayne.”
“Why not? You did save him” she said stabbing him with her beautiful, shining
eyes.
Bruce didn’t have time for that and he was really exhausted: he had taken more
painkillers after he returned from Asgard but their effect was ending. The pain
all over his back crawled slowly to the surface.
“Gotham is my interest.”
The Amazon cocked an eyebrow.
“You intervened to stop Falcone from escaping with him as hostage.”
“As you said my goal was to stop Falcone and prevent him from harming another
person. I don’t care about the identity of people in danger.”
Diana narrowed her eyes.
“Of course. How’s the Cat?”
“Fine” he opened one of his belt’s compartments and gave her a USB stick.
She took it.
“I guess you know how to use a laptop since you’ve efficiently searched for
information” the Amazon nodded. “In this stick you’ll find everything known
about a gang that acts in Metropolis, Intergang – they meticulously have
neutralized every other gang of the city and acquired weaponry and ammunition.”
“This gang is related with Darkseid.”
Batman nodded.
“The gang is his. He was in Earth years watching and organizing; he used his
mind control powers to make the authorities release thugs he needed in his
gang. He also manipulated others to join Intergang or acting according to his
wishes. Eventually the gang dominated Metropolis’ underworld.”
“Superman was mind controlled by Ivy so he didn’t care a lot, huh?”
Batman shook his head.
“Much of this info is from Superman’s initial research but then as Ivy’s
influense became stronger he didn’t have the chance to search more.”
Diana nodded.
“You want me to keep an eye on Intergang because our enemy will definitely use
the thugs to create casualties and diversion, right?”
Batman tilted his head.
“The Amazon Princess knows so many things about warfare that there is no need
for me to want or ask something from her” she grinned acknowledging Batman’s
diplomacy in addressing an Amazon leader. “After the government is informed
about the threat then police will handle that and we will focus on the Darkseid
and his minions. Before that our forces will assembly to organize our battle
moves. In the meantime, Tony Stark adjusts their guns to be effective on
Darkseid’s parademons; Dr. Strange forms a mind shield so that Darkseid can’t
see in the minds of the world’s leaders and control them – this will enable us
to set the governments’ security forces in action; Flash is already informed
and so are the Avengers and Asgard.”
The Princess nodded and locked her eyes with his lenses.
“Darkseid set his pawns on the chessboard and you are doing the same…” she saw
that Batman was ready to retort to that and yanked her head. “I know natural
born generals when I see them…and you are one” she inclined her head. “I’m
honored to fight along with you.”
Batman brought his fist over his heart.
“The honor is all mine, Princess. We are blessed we have you on our side.”
 
The unbearable heat had been replaced from bone crashing cold; he could hear
his own teeth rattling…
Hopelessness was eating his insides like erosion: he had the distant awareness
that it was something the Kryptonite and the red radiation do to him yet he
didn’t have the power to fight it off. He was so weak…and in pain. He had done
so much evil that was robbing him from every mood to try and overcome this
pathetic state: he deserved that torture and more – he deserved to rot there
slowly drowning in his own filthy existence. No, no…This was what his enemies
wanted: him stuck in depression and self pity not trying to fight his fate…
How could Bruce fight that for eighteen years and then fight and defeat all his
enemies?
He let his head roll to his shoulder. Not that he could do anything even if he
didn’t feel like that: the Kryptonite chains and the red radiation dispersed
all his strength.
Bruce… His past adoration, his past affection – his true feelings - returned
like waterfall to warm him from inside. Bruce was so strong; so adamantly
moral: a real star that he wasn’t worthy of looking at.
His mother was right: Bruce was a power that bettered him…that galvanized the
good inside him.
His Ma…He remembered her wrinkled sad face when he took off after he sensed
Diana; her agony when he promised her that it wouldn’t be long before he
returned.
His Ma knew about Diana; she never liked her but his Ma’s request for him to
come to the farm it could be because she learnt the whole truth…: it wasn’t
just mother’s instinct. It could be that Bruce asked her to call him to the
farm in order to protect him because Bruce suspected that Ivy was going to
surrender him to Darkseid?
 It could be that Bruce never stopped caring about him and was in the trail of
Darkseid and Bagdana? Bruce knew that Bagdana was behind all this and had his
eyes on him? Did Bruce know that Superman’s behavior was caused by Diana’s and
the demon’s powers?
No, he couldn’t hope. How could Bruce even suspect such conspiracy and
especially after his betrayal? No, it was Superman’s fault that Bruce couldn’t
be prepared for the danger.
So he couldn’t just wait to be saved…it was his fault: Superman didn’t have the
power or the will to resist to Ivy’s charm; he didn’t have even the prudence to
listen to Bruce’s warnings and make the tests.
His hatred for himself was such that his fists clenched without even realizing:
he should find a way to get out of his cell and go back to Bruce – to warn him
about Bagdana’s plans. To warn everyone.
Clark gritted his teeth and clenched more his fists to force some strength to
his trembling, suffering body. But the Kryptonite chains felt like burning his
skin more and the red radiation became so stronger that he could see the
nightmarish color even with closed lids.
Suddenly, his fever became a fire burning his mind and fueling the torturing
thirst.
Water…if only he had some water…
What was that? Something refreshingly cool and soft swept his hot forehead. And
then some drops of water fell on his parched lips; his mouth opened on its own
accord to suck the life giving liquid.
“Bruce…” he knew that Bruce would find him.
But a cruel snigger sank him in his previous despair: no, it wasn’t Bruce. This
laughter couldn’t be Bruce’s; it was a woman’s laughter and it was filled with
malice.
He knew who she was and had no mood to see her. He closed his mouth stubbornly
even though he craved for more water but he wouldn’t accept anything from her.
But then a new excruciating pain towered every other pain and he groaned: it
was from his groin. Iron pinches were crushing his genitals. He opened his eyes
to face Ivy’s green eyes and her poisonous smirk. Her hand was over his groin
and her fingers squeezed his genitals.
“Bruce…Really, Kal El?” she asked slyly. “You have the nerve to expect that the
little brat would ever come to you again? He doesn’t give a damn for you after
everything you did to him.”
Clark gulped; it was true. But he couldn’t bear listening to her uttering
Bruce’s name: she used devious means to make him hurt Bruce.
“Don’t even utter his name!”
His eyes shone with a red hue that Ivy wasn’t sure if it was a reflection of
the red radiation or his ire. However she smirked. She wasn’t in Wonder Woman’s
blue and red attire; her gorgeous body was in Poison Ivy’s form. Almost naked
with thread like stems wrapping longingly her juicy curves ending to green-
silver leaves that covered her most private parts. Although Superman all these
time couldn’t resist the body of this woman now seeing the same body scantily
dressed resulted to more nausea…
“Why? Is he so pure that I’m gonna defile him?” she laughed. “You really didn’t
realize that your little whore wasn’t a virgin when you put your big, hot prick
inside him?” she pumped painfully his length and Clark stopped breathing and
clenched his teeth to not give her the satisfaction of moaning in pain.
“Don’t touch me!” he growled finding a way to steam his pain.
She cocked an eyebrow and her green eyes sparkled.
“Really now…Don’t tell me you don’t like it…all this time you were burning in
my arms and begging for more. The brat was entirely obliterated every time I
kissed you.”
Clark found the strength to cackle and arched his eyebrows.
“Only due to Bagdana’s tricks…you really don’t fool yourself believing that I’d
ever choose you over Bruce…”
Ivy clenched her teeth and her grip on Superman’s genitals became fiercer but
his satisfaction for her irritation was such that he forgot the pain.
She grabbed his chin and brought her lips to his despite his resistance pushing
her green tongue inside his mouth like the old times.
“I could kiss you with my fatal kiss…” she said sensually licking her lips “in
your miserable state it would suffice to end your pathetic useless
existence…But I won’t do you the favor…Bagdana will certainly want to show you
what use he has for your bitch – the only use he is worthy of: being a whore.
And you will watch before you die knowing that your Bruce will be eternally the
demon’s whore!”
Superman knew that this was the plan and he had to do something to influence
even barely things.
“Oh! It seems that it’s time for a war council” Ivy said playfully winking at
Superman. “Darkseid is calling.”
Ivy touched the sensor on the side of Superman’s coffin-like cell to make the
door slither sealing the jail.
“Wait!” he said and she crooked her mouth. “You don’t believe that Darkseid
will keep his word and give to you what you want. He destroys planets and he
hates humans; he will exterminate every human being. And you, Ivy, are still a
human being.”
She rolled her eyes and tilted her head on the side.
“No, you’re wrong, Supes. I was once a human… and it was awful. Humans treated
me like rubbish, like they treat my defenseless green friends – like they abuse
nature. They made me an outcast because I loved nature and defended her
children from humans’ evil; they jeered me, they used me fooling me to assist
them in their stupid purposes – one of them almost killed me. But my friends
saved me and gave me their power and love. Now I’m not Pam Isley, the pure
idealist who believed that she could persuade those fools with reason – now I
know better: humans can’t be reasoned; they understand only pure, cruel force
like Darkseid’s and mine” she shrugged a shoulder. “They deserve to perish and
I will help Darkseid in this…It is time to bring my revenge to its fulfillment:
Poison Ivy won’t be anymore the haunted murder but will reveal her true self –
the powerful Goddess of Nature.”
Superman shook his head fighting the urge to roll his eyes.
“If you assist Darkseid in this you won’t be the Goddess of Nature: you will be
a monster!”
Ivy’s green eyes flashed angrily and her lips crooked in a nasty smirk as she
stabbed with her gaze their prisoner.
“You know everything about monsters, huh, Kal? You are the monster and this
gets reflected in everyone else…” she saw Superman frowning and she caressed
the lock that had stuck in the sweat of his forehead. “I was hard on him,
Diana” she said mimicking his voice. “We made love but I was violent.” She
cocked an eyebrow. “You raped him, Kal El” she breathed leaning close to his
face sucking his guilt. “You forced a disabled, defenseless human…You made him
bleed, don’t you, boyscout? Exactly like Falcone was doing to him every day…”
She cackled and Clark really ached from this laughter and the truth of her
words.
“Some boyscout really…” she snorted touching the sensor and watching the
transparent door closing. “It was nice making him squeal? Convulse like a dying
fish under you? Didn’t you hear his heart beating in panic? I did when I played
with him back in Dolcetto. Didn’t you sense his despair?” she smirked and
nodded. “No, you didn’t care about what you were causing; you didn’t give a
shit about his suffering…and after these, you have the nerve to call others
monsters? Where is your conscience, big hero? It’s not as super as the rest of
your parts, huh?”
She laughed and spat at the floor in front of his casket-like cell. Superman’s
eyes followed her as she crossed the corridor away to Darkseid’s war
council…but he wasn’t seeing anywhere…inside him the void washed off everything
leaving only disgust…for himself.
 
Gordon gazed at the night sky; the view from the MCU rooftop was always the
same patch of the gloomy Gotham sky but still Jim found it pleasant every time;
it always helped him to relax even in the midst of difficult times.
Not that now they were facing difficult times: the city’s mob was still hiding
in their holes after the last year’s cleansing when the League killed the three
crime lords; Joker with Harley Quinzel, his new lackey, was out of the streets
again.
Yet Jim couldn’t rest because there was all the time that nudging feeling
inside that kept him vigilant; maybe it was this city, his experiences over the
years, as his wife was saying ‘the Gotham effect’. For Jim however it wasn’t
just an abstract thing – it always took a shape sooner or later: this time it
was the case of the Wayne video.
The despicable deed of broadcasting the boy’s torture, clearly to cause pain
and distress to the young man now that he finally was free from his abusers.
The sadist bastard who broadcast the video wanted to remind Wayne his past and
plunge him again into nightmares – perhaps even to destabilize him mentally…
Jim looked at the full moon. The person who did that was hidden behind the dead
hacker, happy that they wouldn’t discover him/her. Yet Jim wouldn’t give up
until the responsible was brought to justice. Because the one who hated Wayne
so much would hit again especially since he didn’t manage to break the young
man. They had to make it even if the case was difficult and the research led
them to dead end.
He huffed and his breath didn’t form smoke: spring was in her midst and the
weather was mild. There was even a discreet spring smell in the air under the
heavy smells of the big city.
Jim hadn’t lit the Bat signal though he intended to ask help from Batman in the
case of the video: he didn’t want to rely on the vigilante for police work and
he knew that the man had many things to do. Yet he learnt to never deny any
help that could lead to solutions.
Tonight he didn’t have to light the signal for his ally to come because his
ally contacted him and asked to meet at the rooftop. Perhaps Jim’s odd feeling
of uneasiness had to do with Batman because Jim had the suspicion that
something was off with his ally: Batman might have arrested Joker and helped
Thor and Dr. Strange yet Jim wasn’t convinced that everything was fine with the
vigilante.
“Nice night…” a low growl broke the silence.
Jim closed his eyes swallowing his startle and turned behind.
“Yeah…spring reaches even Gotham” he shrugged. “Joker, Crane and Dr. Quinzel
are back in Arkham: we have enhanced the building’s security. Dr. Hugo Strange
is appointed as the new Head” he arched his eyebrows and huffed “let’s hope
that he’d have a better luck than his predecessors…”
Batman gave a sharp nod.
“I’m not here for Joker.”
Jim frowned.
“Then?”
“Something big is coming and you need to keep the city guarded.”
Now Jim’s gut feeling was proved right. He licked his lips.
“A new gang?”
“Worse. It isn’t Gotham centered. Someone powerful is going to launch a world
scale attack but he might have a special interest in Gotham so we have to be
ready for his attack.”
Jim’s eyebrows twitched but other than that he kept his nonchalant, stoic
expression.
“I must speak with the mayor and the state governor…”
“You won’t speak to anyone yet.”
Jim frowned.
“Falcone-like situation?”
Batman shook his head.
“No, but the enemy can penetrate the minds of leaders and control them – we
don’t want him to know that we are aware of his existence and plans.”
Jim raised his arms.
“We can’t do much without the assistance of the central government. We can’t
fight if the world leaders aren’t informed to contribute.”
“They will be informed as soon as our preventive measures are on so that the
enemy is blocked from their minds.”
Jim pursed his lips and shook his head.
“You said ‘we’?”
“Every benign power of this world is informed and our actions are already in
motion but there are things that must be done in every city because it’s
certain that during the fight thugs will try to take advantage; and our enemy
will manipulate them to create chaos behind our backs endangering the lives of
innocent. We can’t risk that so police must be ready.”
Gordon nodded.
“I’ll increase patrols and officers in the streets gradually till you inform
the authorities above me and it is escalated to red alarm; I’ll increase
security to the Blackgate and Arkham – they will probably attempt to let loose
the maniacs to force the heroes split their powers in order to help the cities.
You can count on Gotham’s police.”
Batman pressed his lips.
“If I didn’t I wouldn’t have come to you. We’ll be in contact.”
Gordon hesitated to say what he intended since the situation sounded so crucial
that Batman’s attention needed to be there.
“Say it” Batman said understanding.
“It’s about the case of that video…you know, with Wayne.”
Batman nodded.
“We are sure that there was someone else behind Isaac” the Commissionaire
continued. “We search Isaac’s connections to reach the one who sent him the CD
but we face a dead end.”
Batman knew what Jim wanted to say and there was no need for him to utter the
words.
“I’m working on it…” he said sharply and dived to the void.
Gordon shook his head and raised his eyebrows.
“Of course you do.”
 
He sensed the ancient ritual; the irresistible smell of human greed. It was
ages since the last time someone did that…after that last time it seems that
they had given up…A smirk carved his face and followed the summoning: he didn’t
hope anymore after hundreds of failed attempts but still butchering those who
were stupid and arrogant enough to dare play with him was always fun: a small
revenge for what humans took from him.
He emerged and solidified in a basement: a cold, empty, dark basement smelling
of the ancient perfume of summoning – the ancient brass vessel in the corner
emanated the smoke of the burning ingredients.
 Only a human presence – his sacrifice: he sensed that this time it was a child
– he smirked. Human corruption had reached new highs…Offering a child to a
demon. Till now every time was a woman or a man…but a child? They really
believed that a child would satisfy Bagdana? This was outrageous! And
entertaining.
He cast his eyes on the presence curious to see the child that they chose.
It was a boy tied on the floor; his arms stretched over his head with his
wrists tied together, the rope leading to an iron ring from the wall; his legs
bent in the knees waiting for him. They had blindfolded him knowing that he
shouldn’t see the demon…His skinny body was covered with black silk. The boy
was trembling in cold and fear…he was really skinny.
He snorted: Ra’s Al Ghul wanted to make fun of him…it wasn’t enough that his
ancestor killed Lilith? Now he mocked him offering him this pathetic lamp. At
least, this time the human who would taste his wrath after the failed
copulation would be Al Ghul…Oh! He couldn’t wait to rip him to pieces.
He approached the boy and took the fabric off of him revealing his entirely
naked body…the poor kid convulsed more from terror clearly sensing what was
ahead. His body was immature but nice looking showing signs of blooming beauty:
too bad the boy was to die tonight…
Time to get what they offered to him…He grabbed the boy’s thighs opening them
more for his enormous length – he cackled thinking of what it’d take for that
tiny entrance to accept him…
The boy screamed and sobbed. But he although should snigger at him he felt an
odd need…
Bagdana took off the blindfold off the boy’s eyes…and stared: he hadn’t seen
more beautiful, more special eyes than these. He was reminded of star sapphires
only the star was from clear emerald as the boy’s irises formed a shape like
star…
Suddenly, he realized that the boy’s eyes were in his, locked, persistent. The
boy was afraid and yet his gaze was unyielding even when regarding the yellow
cat-like eyes of a demon.
“Humans shouldn’t look demons in the eyes” the boy took away his gaze but it
was too late – the demon was intrigued.
It was the first time after ages that he really cared to be inside the body of
a human. And he did that pushing to get deeper; the boy was in pain but it
wasn’t the first time that the boy was used…Al Ghul didn’t even offered him a
pure child…a virgin child.
Yet although that body was already heavily used it was beautiful being inside
it…The boy was suffering…was tearing apart yet he felt beautiful…he felt like
being revived…like new power, new life slithered inside him lifting him again
to the forbidden sky. He ordered new arms to spring from his body in order to
get every sense he could from that body: groping his bony buttocks, fondling
his scratched from whips back, touching cruelly his breasts; his head
multiplied because he needed to taste everything…his tongues licking the boy’s
breasts, his abdomens, his genitals…sucking his unripe length.
He knew that boy, he suddenly realized; he had seen him again…an odd sight that
was…a small boy wandering in his rugs, on his trembling, skinny, bleeding
legs…in the maze of Gotham’s caves with bats keeping him company. They had met
before…
Yet what he was feeling now as he thrashed inside the boy had nothing to do
with caves and earth; he was flying again, he was in Lilith’s hot body
breathing freedom, tasting happiness, joy, elevation…It was fulfillment again
after millions of years. He moved faster and pushed deeper as every time with
Lilith; he could hear the moans, the hot breaths of Lilith urging him for more;
he could smell her intoxicating perfume…no, this intoxicating perfume was
different but still it had Lilith inside…
The boy was grunting, was screaming; sometimes crying and sometimes just
sobbing silently suffering as he was used but Bagdana could hear Lilith’s clear
giggle: a melody mesmerizing…
He could sense liquid wetting him; human blood as his teeth sank into the boy’s
flesh to feed his hunger for more Lilith. But the blood was too much and the
boy’s screams and grunts had silenced; his breaths and heart beat weakly but he
couldn’t care for anything else than the glory he was experiencing after an
eternity…
His insides roared with satisfaction as his fluids rushed inside the beloved
body; the body he missed so much…It was true…He saw a small, cute leaf on the
place where the boy’s left big toe should have been: the boy had there the
mark. The mark of Lilith!
It was true: that skinny, tortured boy was his Lilith reborn…
“Bagdana is daydreaming about the moment his human whore will be writhing
between his legs…” Darkseid’s rough, sarcastic voice cracked and dispersed the
basement.
Granny sniggered casting him a hostile glance and Ivy snorted. Bagdana looked
at the New God who sniffed at him from his tall granite throne.
Darkseid smirked and before them emerged an image: Bruce entirely naked on the
stony floor of this same hall; he was on his stomach and Bagdana held his
breath seeing his muscle bound back and his gorgeous, round shaped buttocks…
But then Bruce raised his head to look at him and his face was sweaty with
black locks framing untidy his sharp cheekbones. Two sapphire-blue eyes
glimmered in the light the fires in the vessels cast; there was terror and
despair in them and it was breathtaking beautiful yet Bagdana begged for the
defiance he was used to…
“I was expecting more from a demon” Darkseid sneered and the image was gone.
“For starts being concentrated in what I say: I have a powerful demon in my
army and I count on him.”
“For what reason?” the demon cocked one of his thick eyebrows. “I thought you
were powerful enough to clear this mess on your own…”
“Why doing the  worthless chores myself?” the God retorted and Granny nodded.
After all you proved that you are a precious minion; your cunningness makes you
a great asset.”
“Well, thanks for the praise” Bagdana crossed his arms over the chest.
“The machine is almost ready, Master” Granny said. “We can use it soon.”
“No. I will use the machine only when Earth’s heroes are defeated: I want them
to see the spectacle: it would be the pinnacle of my victory. My celebration!”
“Then what’s the plan?” Ivy in the form of Wonder Woman asked.
“My favorite demon is the master of earth” he stabbed Bagdana with his eyes
“he’ll cause earthquakes in every corner of this filthy planet – as you did to
get dear Ivy save humans in order to gain Superman’s affections. I want the
earth to crack and swallow humans; I want volcanoes explode burning with their
lava everything!”
Bagdana pursed his square lips.
“Well, that’s easy…”
Granny snorted but Darkseid stretched his arm towards the demon.
“It should be in order for you to get your share from the spoils” he said
threatening. “You must keep in your wicked mind that everything belongs to
Darkseid and so does Bruce Wayne: I will give him to you but you have to earn
him.”
Bagdana snorted angrily and fume emitted from his non-existing nostrils.
“I thought I earned that by rendering Superman useless and bringing him to
you.”
Darkseid smiled and leaned to the back of his throne.
“You showed admirable skills and cleverness, Bagdana; yet I wouldn’t like to
lose your abilities before the end.”
Granny cast a nasty look at the demon and turned to Darkseid.
“What do you want me to do, Master?”
“ Lead Parademons to hit simultaneously nuclear reactions, dims, energy plants,
oil rings and every plane that will be in the air… I want terror and despair
everywhere.”
The space before Darkseid’s throne was filled with images from nuclear reactors
in flames; dims breaking and water flooding cities; airplanes exploding in the
air above big cities and crushing on streets…People running everywhere
distraught, screaming for help, crying as parademons were launching at them
adding to the terror the fire and the cracked streets had already created.
“I want those fools who call themselves heroes running around without knowing
what to do… Alistair and Stitches will lead Intergang in Metropolis killing
everyone in their path; at the same time Gotham will be overrun by thugs”
Bagdana frowned to Darkseid’s satisfaction. “People will be screaming and
begging for help and then their newest heroine, Wonder Woman will appear
igniting their hopes. Only to sink them in more despair as she will begin
killing people instead either herself or…”
“My friends will have the chance after all these years to get their revenge”
Ivy said. “I’ll give them the power to throttle people ensnaring them from
their pots; slash them with their thorns from their jails in human parks; trees
will smash them under their roots!” her eyes flashed gleefully and Darkseid
nodded.
“And only then Darkseid will appear destroying the capital first sending the
message of this world’s end; showing to the humans how useless their heroes
are. When their terror, their despair, their anger against their failed heroes
will reach the zenith the machine will suck their dark energy..!”
 “Why Gotham?” Bagdana asked the only thing he cared about.
Darkseid closed his eyes annoyed for the interruption.
“You want Wayne: the thugs will bring him to us. You don’t expect me to waste
precious warriors for him.”
Bagdana remembered Superman’s warning; he never trusted Darkseid with Bruce.
“Keep your scum away from Bruce!” he growled stabbing the god with his blazing
eyes.
Darkseid arched his eyebrows in irony while Granny gritted her teeth.
“He can’t speak to you like that!” she spat and Bagdana turned his head to her
sending her with a sharp gaze to hit the wall.
Granny roared outraged and stood immediately ready to surge at the demon. But
Darkseid raised his palm and she stopped at her heels.
 “Leave Bruce to me” the demon hissed to Darkseid.
“Your place is at the battle field” he retorted.
“You’ll have me; but keep the scum away from Bruce” Bagdana said with his eyes
locked in a staring battle with Darkseid.
Darkseid smiled.
“Very well. But don’t forget: nothing is yours if I don’t grant it to you…”
 
Oliver Queen regarded Wayne Manor in front of him. The imposing beautiful
building was surrounded from mist as the day had hardly dawned but he didn’t
have the patience to wait for the hours to pass. Thankfully, the butler let him
cross the gates and he didn’t have to sneak inside raising suspicions.
He didn’t trust Darkseid with Bruce…The New God had vicious intentions that he
might have already realized. He had to see Bruce. All these days the butler was
always telling him that he was out of town but was that the truth? What if
Darkseid had already captured him and held him so he had leverage on Darkseid?
Or…He frowned with a thought crossing his mind as he stepped out of his red
Lexus. What if Bruce suspected the truth and was acting to prevent their plans?
Bruce was more than clever…
Alfred opened.
“Good morning, Mr. Queen. How may I help you?”
Queen rushed inside as soon as the Englishman showed him in. His eyes scanned
the vast, pristine premises.
“Good morning, Alfred. I must see Mr. Wayne.”
Alfred’s slight frown didn’t escape his attention and Bagdana felt that his
thought might be right.
“Sir, it is quite early and I am afraid that Mr. Wayne is still asleep.”
“You mean that he is here?” he asked in disbelief.
“Exactly, sir. But it is too early for visits.”
Bagdana didn’t believe him; Alfred was lying to him: Bruce wasn’t here.
Something had happened to him or he was out in some kind of mission to search
the truth – there was only one way to find out. He began running reaching the
main marble stair and climbing the steps two at a time; the old butler was
impossible to caught up with him.
As soon as he reached the door to the master bedroom – Bruce’s bedroom - he
halted abruptly. He closed his eyes and breathed: he was going to find out the
truth. If Bruce wasn’t inside then either Darkseid had taken him or the human
had suspected that something was wrong and was trying to ruin their plans. So
either he would have to confront Darkseid or warn the New God to act sooner.
He grabbed the knob ready to burst in.
“That’s utterly inappropriate for a gentleman!” Alfred said to him outraged
breathing quite calm for a man of his age.
“Sorry, Alfred, but I’m not a gentleman” Queen spat without looking at him.
He knocked the door once in a feeble mimicry of discretion and without waiting
for an answer because he was sure he wasn’t going to get one, opened the door.
 
***** Chapter 84 *****
The vast bedroom was in darkness since the heavy, mahogany curtains were down
blocking the pale light of the morning; only the dancing low flames of the
stone fireplace opposite the bed cast some light – the spring had come yet the
nights were still quite cold in Gotham and for someone in recovery more warmth
was necessary.
Queen’s breath stopped and the human heart he was carrying gave a loud jolt:
his sensitive hearing had caught the sweet sound first before his eyes met with
the sight. It was perfect! In the midst of the darkness, the pale light
caressed the human form on the bed…
Bagdana wished Alfred wasn’t there so he could sprout more pairs of eyes to
devour… As the weak, red -gold light caressed Bruce’s porcelain skin his
features’ beauty was revealed in its entirety since Bruce was fast asleep thus
unable to try and conceal his beauty.
His head lay gently on the white silk pillow letting his cheek on, framed by
some naughty locks that were fondling the cheekbone as the forehead. His
eyelids were covering his eyeballs so softly and silken eyelashes touched
feathery the skin. Two rosy lips moved slightly in the calm respiration’s
rhythm and Bagdana had to order his legs to not move as they were ready to
bring him there to capture those lips in an eternal kiss…
In the tranquility, the relaxation and the blessing of oblivion the deep sleep
offered there was no shadow of past and present suffering and torture trying to
cover the shine of this beauty…
Bruce was meticulously muffled in velvet blankets however Bagdana could discern
the lines of his body. It was so hard to be patient waiting the moment that
this body would be again naked in his arms that his whole existence trembled.
A wild, hostile hiss drove him out of his reverie and he acknowledged the white
and black fur ball that had rose from his nest on Bruce’s chest; the same
kitten that hissed him out of the bedroom when he invaded Bruce’s dreams months
ago was stabbing him now with his glowing narrowed eyes that sent the newcomer
the message of his animosity exactly like the rest of his aggressive posture.
Alfred cleared his throat as low as he could.
“Sir, I think it is time we left the room before we disturb Master Bruce’s
rest” he whispered however the demand was clear.
Queen licked his lips uncomfortable and looked at Alfred with regret. He was
ready to follow the butler back yet a quiet changing of breath audible in the
silence of the room stopped him.
“Alfred?” a low, hesitant voice asked clearly still muffled in sleep’s effect.
 
Batman landed smoothly on an alley not too far from the MCU building where he
had left Commissionaire Gordon only a few minutes ago. He had parked the
Tumbler there: he intended to patrol the city; he had missed Gotham. And then
he could return to the Manor and get some sleep.
He felt immediately the presence upon entering the alley however he didn’t take
a defensive stance.
“You left me behind…”
He raised his lenses eyeing Catwoman that sat on the Tumbler’s roof with
crossed legs. Batman tilted slightly his head on the side.
“You can’t come with me everywhere…”
She jumped down with her eyes flashing dead serious.
“Yes, I can! You left me behind twice last year and that was…” she spat her
breath coming out pressed but then calmed down. “You can’t be alone at this
point; you’re…”
Batman raised his palm and Catwoman stopped realizing that he didn’t want
something like this to be uttered in a public area.
“I’m fine.”
Catwoman came closer and her eyes met his lenses.
“I do hope so; I was sick with worry exactly like the others.”
“I left a note.”
Catwoman cocked her eyebrows and shook her head clenching her waist with both
hands.
“Yeah…quite the reassurance! What about Tony” she purposely didn’t use his
surname “how you were sure that he wouldn’t notice that you’re gone.”
Batman walked to the Tumbler.
“First, he is too occupied right now and second I was in constant contact with
him.”
Catwoman pursed her lips.
“I see…calling him first so he wouldn’t call and figure your run away” she
shook her head. “Oh! You’re so wicked!”
He grinned.
“Well, time to go back now” his friend added determined.
Bruce wanted to growl yet the pain he was feeling in his back and the
exhaustion made him nod.
“I’ll patrol a bit and I’ll go back.”
“No! We’ll go now! Do you realize that you’re away for two days?! Two days that
you definitely didn’t get enough food or rest…No delays, buster! We’re leaving
now!”
 
“Yes, Master Bruce. I most apologize for the disturbance” Alfred answered and
walked to his master’s bed.
Queen watched as Bruce used his elbow as support and raised a bit his torso to
look puzzled at the second presence in his bedroom. The kitten rubbed to his
master’s hand and Bruce caressed him with his other hand; the demon felt
jealous of the small animal.
“Mr. Queen?” Bruce asked confused bringing hastily the blanket to cover the
little of his chest that had been visible.
Bagdana sighed inside: that wasn’t really needed since the black silk pajama
shirt he wore let only a scarce patch of his collarbone chest part out. But
just that and the human’s neck were enough for the demon to feel fascinated and
aroused.
“Bruce, I’m sorry for my inappropriateness…” he mumbled defeating the wish to
immerge in Bruce’s beauty and stay forever there.
Alfred leaned over his young master.
“Mr. Queen insisted on seeing you but I think that now he realized that there
is nothing wrong with your health he wouldn’t refuse to honor us with his
presence later so to allow you to continue your rest.”
Queen nodded.
“Of course!”
But Bruce brought himself in sitting position and ruffled his messy hair; Hero
settled in his lap.
“No, it’s okay; I woke up now” he looked at Alfred who pressed his lips
disapprovingly. “Just give me a few minutes to dress and I’ll be with you.”
“Thank you, Bruce” Queen replied without leaving from his sight the human.
Yet Alfred walked to him and made an inviting gesture towards the open door.
“Follow me if you please, sir” he said politely though he really wanted to kick
him out of the Manor.
Bruce met Queen’s eyes and the older man hastened to take away his gaze and
turned to follow Alfred who closed the heavy door.
Bruce looked at Hero inhaling calmly.
“You sensed the truth about him from the beginning, right Hero?” he asked
remembering how the kitten had hissed at Queen that evening in the café.
So Bagdana wanted to check on him…this either was from sheer concern over his
health or the cunning demon suspected something from his long absence. Alfred
had told Bruce that Queen called several times during his absence yet Bruce
chose not to call him back because it’d be too suspicious if he spoke to him so
soon after their last not so pleasant exchange.
He had to be careful because Bagdana was really clever – he was an ancient
demon after all. However the way Queen burst into his bedroom showed that the
demon lost a bit his self restrain…
He took Hero from his lap and left him on the mattress in order to slip his
body into the wheelchair to get ready acknowledging the various pain spots
throughout his back; the pain was milder after the revitalizing sleep yet it
was still there.
 
Queen took the white-blue china that Alfred offered him and sipped the black
coffee. The Englishman had led him down to the great salon where the
businessman settled to a high backed armchair and waited.
He rubbed his chin uncomfortable.
“I’d like to apologize for my previous behavior, Alfred.”
The Englishman cocked his eyebrows.
“I do not think that it is necessary to apologize to a butler, sir,” he said
casting him a cold glance. “Pardon me, I must prepare Master Bruce’s
breakfast.”
Queen waved that off.
“I understand.”
The demon actually rejoiced with Alfred’s leaving since he would be free to
delve into the memory of seeing Bruce sleeping.
He hid his face with both hands and breathed: he wouldn’t let anyone to ruin
that, not Darkseid, nor god or mortal.
The low sound of the elevator made him jump on his feet his eyes towards the
long, wide corridor listening to the discreet sound of Bruce’s wheelchair
approaching.
He was dressed in jeans and a black long sleeved sweater with a quilt blanket
covering his paraplegic legs. The kitten was curled on his lap and Bruce let
the animal down as soon as he entered the salon.
Queen hurried to meet him and gave him his hand to shake which Bruce did
immediately and then showed him the armchair to sit.
“Well, to what do I owe your visit?”
Queen pursed his lips, his embarrassment radiating.
“First of all, I apologize for the way I burst into your bedroom. I didn’t want
to ruin your morning sleep. I’m unforgivable.”
Bruce tilted his head meeting the man’s green eyes.
“Then why you did that?”
He sighed and looked him in the eyes.
“Because I was really worried, Bruce” the younger man frowned. “After Joker’s
kidnapping you disappeared: no public appearance and every time I called Alfred
was telling me that you were out of town. At first, I thought that you simply
didn’t want to speak to me after our last meeting but then I began to worry. I
went to the Wayne Tower but I couldn’t find you there either.”
“Is something going on with our deal?”
Queen smiled and waved that off.
“Not at all. I just wanted to make sure that you were alright because I thought
that your people were hiding the truth of a possible relapse of your health”
well, that’s a good explanation Bagdana thought – and not a lie either.
Bruce nodded: If only this was the only reason…
“I did have some business obligations out of town that I couldn’t postpone;
unfortunately, my latest contact with Joker really had its toll to me and once
I finished with my obligations Dr. Thompkins recommended to stay in the Manor
and rest.”
Queen grinned.
“I see. I hope now you are better.”
Bruce raised his eyebrows.
“I am but my doctor insists that I should stay away from anything potentially
tiresome and focus on my health now that my operation is near.”
The older man seemed startled. Bagdana had forgotten about that; he licked his
lips. He didn’t like the idea of such a risky procedure inflicted on Bruce.
“I’m not a doctor but it must be a very dangerous operation.”
Bruce shrugged.
“Even the most common surgeries can be dangerous” he replied. “And this surgery
will probably enable me to walk again so the risk is more than worthy.”
Bagdana didn’t agree; actually his insides were clenched. They would put Bruce
on a table and butcher him trying to make his spine work normally again. But
Bruce had been through a lot and Bagdana couldn’t be sure that he could handle
this…He couldn’t afford losing Bruce now that he was so close…
“Maybe you shouldn’t risk so much…I mean I know how much you want to walk again
but this is your life and your life is so precious to gamble like this.”
Bruce averted his eyes annoyed and Queen pressed his lips. Of course,Bruce
thought,Bagdana doesn’t want to lose his reward.
“I know it’s not my business” Queen said leaning to him and Bruce turned a
sharp glance at him.
“No, it isn’t” he spat because that was what he wanted and also would reassure
Bagdana that nothing had changed in Bruce’s stance towards Queen – so his
possible suspicious were unfounded.
“But I’m your friend and I care about you.”
Bruce nodded.
“I remember our last discussion” he said and Queen shook his head. “Alfred
informed me about your calls but I didn’t feel like calling back. I mean that
if it was something about the companies you’d have discussed it with Lucius…so
your calls were…personal and I didn’t want another personal discussion: after
my adventure with Joker I did want some tranquility.”
Bagdana understood that; Bruce had suffered too much all these years and
lately. He wanted to avoid emotional turmoil especially with people courting
him.
“I see…the truth is that I…I know that I become too persistent sometimes but,
believe me, it is honest concern, Bruce.”
Bruce looked the one who was responsible for all his suffering of the last
months; the one who turned his dream of living with Clark into a nightmare; the
one who was willing to cause the demise of the humankind just to have him; the
one who right now was holding Clark and probably torturing him.
He wanted to attack and stab him again with the Knife of Justice forcing him to
reveal where Clark was yet he had to be patient: attacking him would reveal his
knowledge and Darkseid would make his move before they were ready.
“Mr. Queen, I had said it to you countless times: I don’t want you to hope
vainly. I just can’t face that kind of feelings…”
But Queen stopped him.
“Bruce, I’m your friend, okay? You made it clear that there can’t be anything
else between us and I accept that but…I can be your friend, right?”
Bruce found his eyes: how good Bagdana was in pretending! He grinned and
nodded.
Queen smiled and touched with his fingers Bruce’s hand that was on his
wheelchair’s arm. Bruce felt the same paralyzing feeling of that night he fell
asleep in the restaurant.
“As your friend I want you to be sure that I’ll always do my best for your
wellbeing.”
“Bruce, is everything alright?”
Bruce shook his head as if he had just woken up and turned his head at the
salon’s arch shaped entrance. Dick was standing there frowned, with narrowed
eyes regarding Queen’s hand on Bruce’s. He was dressed for school.
“Just fine, Dick. Mr. Queen here came to find out about my health” Queen smiled
to the boy however he didn’t let go of Bruce’s hands which made the boy squint
more in hostility.
“Alfred had served breakfast” the boy said and Bruce took his hand from Queen’s
grasp.
Dick leaned and took Hero who had run leaving his corner right in front of the
fireplace.
“You have to eat too, Bruce – actually, I came to tell you that granny and
Alfred are waiting for you.”
Bruce grinned understanding the boy’s intention to give him a reason to get rid
of Queen.
Indeed, Queen stood.
“I must leave now” he said.
“I’ll take you to the door” Bruce said and slithered his chair at Queen’s side
to the main entrance.
Upon arriving at the heavy front door, Queen stopped and looked at Bruce.
“The boy is very fond of you” the older man commented eyeing behind Bruce’s
back the boy who was following them at a distance holding Hero.
Bruce pressed his lips following Queen’s stare there.
“I guess I’m too lucky” he smiled fondly and Bagdana wished his human mate
could grant such a smile for him too.
Queen nodded.
“You are” he agreed and passed the opened door. “Can you promise me that we’ll
meet again soon?”
Bruce smiled but inside he smirked.
“You can count on that…” Bagdana.
Queen reflected his smile satisfied as the demon relished in the certainty that
Bruce wasn’t suspecting anything.
“Then I’m the lucky one…”
 
It was gradually more difficult to remain conscious; his body was collapsing,
his strength had already evaporated and the constant pain didn’t let him any
chance to struggle. Not that he would be able to do something with the
Kryptonite and that damn red radiation that felt like baking him slowly,
dehydrating him from any life – a real torture along with the stabbing hunger,
the thirst and that nausea.
But nothing was more torturous than the revelation of his own deeds the past
months. Revelation…not exactly. He knew what he was doing yet now without Ivy’s
influence he could see clearly and judge without that selfish prism which
justified everything.
Bruce hadn’t said anything to anybody…nothing about…no, he erased the thought
of those deeds before even form. He hadn’t said anything to his Ma otherwise
Ms. Kent would have rebuked him or worse…Bruce protected him. But Bruce
couldn’t protect Clark from his own blaming self that blew him mercilessly…
So it was really a blessing that most of the time he was unconscious, without
his own thoughts pricking him. Although he knew that he deserved that, still
that state of almost non-existence was irresistible…some mercy…
“Have you seen anything more beautiful?”
He heard suddenly Lois’ voice and he turned his eyes where she was staring.
His casket-like cell wasn’t there anymore and the low humming of the red
radiation was replaced by music played by an orchestra. Clark Kent with Lois at
his side was in the enormous salon of Wayne Manor that was filled with people
who had stopped their chattering to look at the newcomers who descended the
great marble stair.
Falcone was addressing the people but Clark like everyone in the space was
gaping at another direction.
A young man was following herded by Chill.
Clark estimated him around 26 years old, but his face looked younger. He was
approximately 6’ 1’’ tall with a body so harmonically sculpted, every muscle in
such perfect size and form that Clark thought of the ancient Greek statues.
However, once his gaze fell upon the boy’s face, he forgot the body – it was a
perfect blend of masculinity and softness, the cheekbones’ sharpness
underlining the warm almond shaped eyes that were shining like the
multicoloured gems of the room, but with such sweetness that magnetized the
eyes more than their inanimate antagonists in the room.
The young man was pressing his lips out of uneasiness but he couldn’t hide
their cute shape and light pink colour; Clark was certain he wanted to run his
hands through his soft dark locks that surrounded perfectly groomed his
gorgeous face – it was easy for Clark’s super hearing to catch the boy’s crazy
heartbeat.
However, his engagement with the frantic heartbeat brought his eye sight
zooming to the broad chest. With a rush of hot blood, he gazed at the soft skin
that was dressing the well defined chest and then the fine muscles that adorned
his belly. His tailored clothes cried to be ripped off so this magnificent body
could be exposed to everyone’s greedy eyes, thought Clark and angry with
himself averted – not effortlessly – his gaze before it went lower .
“He doesn’t look like a whore, does he?” he asked Lois hesitantly.
All the blinding lights and the music were gone leaving behind darkness,
silence and a bare space with only some boxes on the floor mounting the wall.
A surprised huff left Batman’s lips as Superman snatched his upper arms; he
stretched them swiftly upwards pinning him to the wall. Batman thrashed trying
frantically to resist, struggled to find an opening to free himself but the
alien was unrelenting; the alien’s beautiful strangely blue eyes smiling with
glee.
Superman was feeling the powerful body pressed on his own go rigid and writhing
like a giant serpent but this time the Man of Steel wouldn’t retreat; he
wouldn’t let the annoying man to escape him no matter how bruising his hold
needed to be.
“Why you didn’t tell me your plan? You don’t trust me, do you?” he demanded.
“I trust you” Batman was completely calm and unfazed by the fact he was trapped
“I didn’t tell you because I knew that you wouldn’t approve, you being so moral
and law abiding and that you would want to do it your way which would have been
disastrous.”
Superman motioned his head in negation, his eyes dead serious.
“No, you don’t trust me; you don’t trust anyone and you believe that you know
the best way for everything; that you are better than all of us, you arrogant
bastard!”
The artificial white eyes were focused on his and Clark could feel the true
eyes underneath being sad; the beautiful shaped lips half opened in confusion.
Suddenly, a strange urge took the better of Clark and he rushed his lips on
those proud lips, devouring, wrestling the defiance, the resistance, his tongue
defeating the Bat’s tongue that wanted to shove him out of his mouth. Finally,
relishing the incredibly soft lips and the hot mouth; the powerful muscles
under his steel grip relaxed, the entire body pliant... trembling from fear?
His heart jolted as he felt those rosy lips shyly massaging the invincible
mouth that was conquering them.
Clark’s hands of steel searched desperately for an opening in the man’s suit,
his need to feel that body was mysteriously unbeatable; he wanted to smell him,
to taste him... to see his face. His hands touched the cowl and pulled but
there was no give.
He withdrew his lips to let the man breathe, his eyes still closed.
“I need to see your face...” Clark’s heart beat crazily and he opened his eyes
to be met with the bricks of the unpainted wall; the Bat had slipped.
He turned afraid that the man had gone but he saw the black caped statue a few
feet away from him, his back on Clark; his shoulders hunched.
“You should teach me how you do that...” Clark attempted to relax the tense air
between them but he stopped abruptly seeing the gloved hands touching the base
of the cowl a green light glowing for an instance – Clark was sure that it was
a system of fingerprints’ recognition that allowed only the Bat to remove the
cowl. The Bat slowly, hesitantly was pulling the cowl off of his head,
revealing a thick sea of short black hair drenched in sweat,.
The Bat clutching the cowl turned his face to Superman and the man of steel was
goggling, being aware of his own stupid expression. His head moving slowly in
utter disbelief.
“No... It can’t be...” his crystal clear strong voice was hoarse and faint.
“You wanted to see my face but you weren’t ready to see the truth?” his voice
was sarcastic but had a little sadness in it.
The voice was smooth as always, not gruff and strict. His magnificent eyes
looking at him filled with pride and strength, their endless sorrow just a
shadow in their sparkling. His Star manifesting his entire shine.
“Who are you?” Clark had to ask because he felt the entire world slipping under
his feet: Falcone’s toy, his broken Star standing in front of him dignified,
imposing, emanating power and self-confidence, but beautiful and alluring as
ever.
“It is easier to say who I was” his voice was solemn and steady but Clark was
able to feel the bitterness.
…………………………………………………………………………
A black sleek car slithered graciously on the illuminated by strong floodlights
 down town street; it halted in front of the Intercontinental Hotel where
people were swarming fast as soon as the car appeared, intrigued to have a
better view of the car.
But once the driver’s door opened smoothly and Bruce Wayne graciously stepped
out nobody cared anymore for the car; The young man gazed for an instant at the
clear night sky as if he’d sensed something and was searching for it and then
returned his eyes to the approaching valet who was breathless.
The driver was a perfect match to the impressive car; his immaculate tailored
suit highlighting his body’s carefully chiseled muscles. His locks shone to the
abundant lighting of the hotel’s entrance.
Superman was watching from a rooftop opposite the hotel, unnoticed as he
thought but hurrying to hide behind the wall when Bruce raised his gaze as if
he had sensed his presence.
When Bruce emerged all grace and charm from the car, the light blue glow from
the interior lighting of the car still caressing his features, he just gaped as
the men and women inside and outside the hotel did.
It was as if the floodlights of the entrance had lost their light in the glow
that the young man emanated. He manifested confidence and an air of easiness
which was only one part of what he was feeling, because Superman could detect
his nervousness and how tense he was; truly, Bruce and Batman. His face was
brighter than the moon when he smiled warmly to the awed – only from the car
Superman hoped – valet, Bruce’s beautiful eyes sparkling.
And those clothes… Perfectly tailored as if the cottons and the silkworms from
the start had the intention to dress that body; the smooth fabric shining
discreetly but charmingly in every tiny movement he made, stressing the strong
and artistic painted muscles and that black blazer had exactly the length to
cover and not cover the enticing buttocks under the fitting smooth fabric, just
to arouse the watcher for more… Superman sighed and felt his face turning hot.
And then he felt a lava of envy for the tailor who surely measured that body
from too close and was so impressed by his Star’s body to create THAT suit that
was a cry to assault. If he had the power, he’d forbid Bruce to employ the same
tailor again, or, since forbidding Bruce to do something was perhaps
impossible, Clark would ask with his Superman charm the tailor to not work for
Bruce Wayne again: who was he kidding? Which tailor wouldn’t want to work with
a man like him?
As the young man made some steps to the entrance that was already packed with
people, some of them journalists who were here for the Mayor candidates, was
evident that those clothes were wicked, enchanted; they looked like obsessed
lovers never leaving the beloved body but staying glued on him…
The bright scene of the Hotel’s entrance darkened and the people vanished…
Clark dried his hair with a towel and wrapped another around his waist heading
to his dingy bedroom for a lonely night flooded with dreams.
He yawned more from boredom than sleepiness but his mouth stayed agape seeing
Batman standing before the small balcony door. Impossible; he had heard the
Tumbler heading to the Palisades…He rolled his eyes – auto-pilot, of course!
Batman had his lenses deactivated and Clark had the rare gift to see those
unique eyes sparkling through the dark cowl.
“How? I didn’t hear you…” Clark asked – foolishly – because that ninja could
evade even his super senses.
Batman placed his thumbs on the cowl’s fingertip receptors which answered with
a hiss before Bruce took the cowl off, revealing his face and his sweaty, stuck
on his head and forehead locks.
“Do you care about ‘how’ or ‘why’?” Bruce cocked an eyebrow and gave a crooked
smile.
Clark didn’t need another prompt; he used his super speed to reach his Star –
which was ridiculous since the room was really small – and closed him in his
naked, humid torso. He cupped the younger man’s face and kissed passionately
his lips, Bruce responding avidly while two gloved hands wrapped around Clark.
Bruce had come for him!
“You wouldn’t have come, huh?” Bruce asked him piercing Clark with his
sparkling eyes. “Is this how much your love lasts?” he asked mocked hurt with a
smug expression.
But immediately he chuckled as in a blur Clark had placed him on his small bed
starting unclasping his armor’s various parts using his X-Ray vision to find
the hidden joints. Clark’s yearning was such that he had just removed a big
armor plate from Bruce’s chest and his mouth glued on the younger man’s breast
sucking the hot, sweaty flesh while his hands continued their frantic job
pulling off that annoying armor and throwing the towel off his own body.
“You could have chosen a latex suit…” Clark sobbed as his hard penis was met
with Kevlar instead of soft, sweet flesh.
Bruce snorted.
“You know, bullets can pierce my body…” he huffed as Clark rooting around
managed finally to extract the hip part of the armor, his hard penis rubbing
Bruce’s dressed with underwear groin. “And I don’t like latex on meeeee…” a
long moan escaped his lolled backwards neck as Clark suddenly lowered his
underwear and began kissing his genitals.
“You know…” Clark mumbled between aroused flesh “I hate latex too…on you…” he
grunted “because everyone…would picture…what I see…”
Bruce grabbed Clark’s hair and yanked softly his head to lock their eyes;
Superman’s crystal blue eyes were feverish, almost crazy in desire.
“I thought you were mad at me” Bruce said seriously.
Clark’s eyes widened.
“Mad? At you?”
“I’m not the easiest person…”
But Clark stopped everything else by capturing his lips and massaging gently
and then stronger following the movement of Bruce’s lips, swimming in the
sparkling seas of his Star’s eyes, the emerald stars blinding him with their
dance.
Bruce moaned on Clark’s full, rich lips enjoying their strength and salty
taste, his hands which suddenly were ungloved – courtesy of Clark - ruffling a
bit shyly the wet locks of the Man of Steel.
“The only reason…” Clark couldn’t pull his lips from that sweet mouth “I
wouldn’t have come…mmmm!...is to let…you” his tongue was brushing Bruce’s mouth
and his Star’s tongue played along “rest…”
Bruce tightened his grip on Clark’s strong back and slithered his lips feathery
light on his neck causing Clark’s surprised groan that became a sob when
Bruce’s mouth brushed his ear letting hot air stimulate the hyper sensitive
organ. Bruce could hear the powerful heart kicking in Superman’s made-of-steel
ribs as Clark’s hands became once again greedy in their exploration.
Clark didn’t want to penetrate the tired body in his arms although Bruce urged
him to.
“Bruce, stop…” he whispered between rasps because his need was so demanding
that made him shake uncontrollably and Bruce’s wet mouth on his aching nipple
wasn’t helping. “I know you’re doing it…because…” he whimpered as the younger
man’s tight thighs wrapped around his and closed with his ankles crossed.
“Because I want it!” Bruce’s fierce eyes shone like lightings in the dark room
that was illuminated by the flashing of boards and cars passing outside.
What restraining power Clark had, evaporated when Bruce’s hips touched his
slithering up and down and in tantalizing, huge circles that numbed his mind
and made the throb of his length agonizingly crazy, his big vein swollen with
boiling blood. His penis on his own accord slipped towards the beloved flesh
and Clark barely made it – thanks to super speed - to take the lube from the
drawer and apply it.
As he was thrusting tenderly in Bruce he was sure that his Star offered that to
him to relieve him; Clark despite his drive to quench his yen feared that Bruce
didn’t really wanted to be touched but then thankfully felt the younger man’s
penis also erected. Having memorized Bruce’s bodily reactions from their first
time he knew that his Star was a bit slower in getting aroused; which was
perfectly reasonable given the struggle inside him every time…
“You’re the most gorgeous and bravest being in the world…” he mumbled mouthing
greedily Bruce’s stretched neck to end up savoring his lips and tightened his
embrace as his thrusts became faster brushing Bruce’s prostate.
Bruce held desperately Clark’s taut shoulder blades as his body convulsed
uncontrollably, electric currents flooding his spine and his mind; he was
moaning and grunting but Clark was sucking every sound kissing deeply his
mouth. And then suddenly Clark’s embrace became one handed, his other hand
caressing tenderly Bruce’s throbbing penis till with a violent jolt he came
exactly the moment a hot flood filled his insides.
“You know that you healed me?” Clark whispered in his ear still holding him
glued on his body, Bruce’s calves caressing his shivering buttocks.
Bruce locked his still dilated eyes on Clark’s.
“Actually, you did that. Remember?’’
Clark brushed Bruce’s wet locks that stack in his forehead and cheekbones
framing his sweaty face.
“Despite the huge improvement from the medicine, my powers didn’t felt as
before but after last night…” he sighed “I feel stronger than ever.”
Bruce chuckled.
“It’s only your psychology.”
………………………………………………………..
 “In the cave, I felt the urge to grab you and take you away from everything…”
Clark said honestly and locked his eyes with Bruce.
“Ten or fifteen years ago I’d have wanted you to do that; I’d have pleaded with
you for that… But now things are different, Clark.”
Clark nodded. Ten years ago…Ten, fifteen years ago he had begun his action –
even before. In fact, he had saved kids from abusive families, from
pedophiles…but he didn’t save Bruce…If he did, his Star’s body and soul
wouldn’t ache so much from bleeding scars; his Star could be able to sleep
without nightmares…
Bruce’s quite respiration on his shoulder brought him out of his thoughts; he
was sleeping like a baby inside Superman’s arms breathing softly hot air
causing goose bumps on his flesh.
He carefully pulled himself from Bruce’s body and the younger man protested in
his sleep. He placed him tenderly on the mattress and cleaned him gently with
his tongue as if licking the most delicious ice cream. Then lay beside him,
cuddled him to have his soft breath brushing his chest and Bruce unconsciously
nestled in his broad torso seeking the human warmth, the human affection. Clark
smiled; he wasn’t a human yet Bruce made him forget that. Actually, he felt
very small, weak and coward in comparison to that human…
“How can you be so brave and fearless with all the horrors you experienced?”
Bruce hid his face in Clark’s pectoral and unconsciously nuzzled Superman’s
chest making him moan.
“Tomorrow night we’ll sleep at the greenhouse…” his Star whispered without
opening his eyes and Clark knew that he was talking in his sleep. “It won’t
rain tomorrow and Clark will be able to see all stars…”
Superman leaned and kissed softly Bruce’s forehead.
“I need only the star in my arms…But will go there, Star; I promise.”
Clark’s heavy eyes jittered happy and a careless smile carved his sweaty, hot
in fever face.  Bruce…
But suddenly the cheap hotel bedroom blended with a cave; deep in the mountains
until the furniture was gone and only rocks, stalactites and stalagmites were
left; humidity and dim light. Clark’s elevated heart sank as he saw a golden
bumble with Bruce inside and the granite demon holding him tight.
Bagdana nuzzled Bruce’s face, his burning lips sucking the human’s bent neck.
“But you are: her blood runs in your veins, her flesh, her perfume…”
Bruce yanked his head.
“Don’t touch me!”
Bagdana jerked his hand and struck Bruce’s cheek; Bruce’s head lolled to the
side and Bruce wondered how it wasn’t detached from his body, his cheek in pain
as if it had burned.
The demon closed his eyes and breathed calmly; he brought his mouth above the
burnt human flesh and blew gently restoring the damage. He caressed tenderly
the healed cheek and cupped again Bruce’s face bringing the youth’s eyes to
lock with his.
“You’re going to remember! And feel!” he roared and his mouth captured Bruce’s
mouth his thick, rubber-like tongue thrusting inside, reaching his throat.
Bagdana was confidently grinning. Bruce was hovering held by the demon and
suddenly his clothes tore in shreds falling from his body leaving him
completely naked. His legs were grabbed and brought around Bagdana’s hips; the
demon’s monstrous length was fully erect and dripping, a third pair of hands
stretching him for the demon to penetrate him.
“Stop this…”
But Bagdana’s hard as stone length was already pressing to enter.
“Our third union will be in front of them to show them you’re mine! Let’s show
Superman to whom you belong!”
“No!” Superman cried with such volume that he couldn’t believe he had strength
for.
His heart beat fast. If Darkseid won this time nothing would stop Bagdana from
taking Bruce forever. He couldn’t let this happen; he couldn’t just stay there
surrendered to his confinement, defeated by Kryptonite and red light watching
while they plotted to destroy the planet and enslave Bruce.
He had to overcome the Kryptonite’s effect; he should defeat his weakness, the
pain. He clenched his jaw and gritted his teeth forcing his fingers to form
fists: he could get out of his prison – he could save Bruce.
He growled to pump energy from his anger to his limbs. He roared clenching his
fists and pulling at his chains forgetting the burning of the Kryptonite in his
wrists; ignoring the screaming of billions of cells all over his aching body.
He was Earth’s defender, the protector of humans: he couldn’t let Darkseid
slaughter them. He was Bruce’s love…he couldn’t let that demon capture him.
Bruce’s love would give him the strength he needed…
 
When Bruce closed the door behind Queen and turned, Alfred was there and Dick
had gone to the kitchen.
“I hope you rebuked that rude man, Master Bruce.”
Bruce smiled.
“It wouldn’t be of any use, Alfred; this rude man is actually Bagdana.”
Alfred’s eyes widened.
“Good Lord!”
Bruce chuckled and nodded.
“Exactly” he arched his eyebrows. “He is ‘wearing’ Oliver Queen’s body in order
to help Darkseid with his plans and…approach me. I didn’t scold him – I think
he regretted his rush act.”
He moved his wheelchair heading to the salon.
“I don’t understand, sir” Alfred said following. “The Black Butterfly is
supposed to keep him away from you?”
Bruce stopped the chair and looked at him.
“I think that this is another reason he possessed a human body: the human flesh
protects him from the gem’s energy.”
Alfred nodded.
“At least you are privy to their plans” Bruce nodded and Alfred set his jaw.
“Enough with Mr. Bagdana-Queen, your breakfast is getting cold.”
“I must see Leslie…”
“Speaking of the devil…” a third voice entered the space.
The fierce doctor walked to them from the kitchen’s direction.
“I think we had enough of the devil for today…” Bruce tilted his head amused.
Alfred grinned.
“I forgot to mention that Leslie was in the kitchen, sir.”
“It’s okay, Alfred.”
Leslie stopped in front of Bruce and leaned to him.
“Nothing is okay, young man. Where were you all these days?”
Bruce pressed his lips and inhaled.
“I think it’s not the right place to discuss this, Leslie” he said showing with
his gaze towards the kitchen at the far end of the corridor; it was a
considerable distance yet there were Ms. Turner And Dick who might come at any
moment. “Let’s have our breakfast and then we’ll continue.”
Leslie grinned.
“Right. You have days to eat properly and then there’s your medication you need
to take. We’ll talk later.”
Bruce exchanged a glance with Alfred. Her words certainly had a threatening
note…
Once they finished breakfast and Ms. Turner left with Dick in order to drive
him to school, Leslie and Bruce went to the study of the upper level alone
since Alfred had some chores to do.
“Bruce, you haven’t realized how crucial is the situation” Leslie said. “It is
supposed that you want to be operated and walk again but instead of following
your doctors’ orders you wander around exhausting yourself and weakening your
organism. How are you supposed to cope with that surgery, Bruce?”
Bruce shook his head.
“I think that it is you who don’t realize the criticality of things. A powerful
alien is on the verge of attacking earth and there’s little time to prepare our
defense. So” he inhaled “I don’t have the luxury of sitting and watching.”
Leslie held the arms of Bruce’s chair, ‘trapping’ his body between her arms and
his eyes in her strict gaze.
“You did your duty, young man. You unveiled them, you warned the Avengers and
gave them your ideas; you even found the real Diana and brought her here. Now
you can leave things to them: they are super powered, Bruce, and most of all,
not recovering from multi injures. I understand that you want to offer them as
much assistance as possible yet if you collapse, if…” she didn’t want even to
utter it. “What will be the gain?”
Bruce clutched his forehead.
“Leslie, the battle that is coming will need every power the Earth has – we
can’t hold back anything. I can’t stay behind” he met her eyes. “I just can’t;
there are things I must do. If Darkseid wins, what’s the point if I’m safe and
healthy hiding somewhere? He’ll find me” he didn’t want to elaborate on that.
Leslie stood sighing.
“If only you were not so stubborn!”
Bruce pressed his lips feeling for her but also having the conviction of his
beliefs.
“I need your help, Leslie.”
She shook her head and chuckled.
“You have that without asking but you’re turning your back on my help and
instead you’re running around ready to take part in a battle that can kill you”
she shuddered once the word left her mouth but Bruce’s face was calm.
“I have to be there, Leslie…But I need you to give me fortifiers: drugs that
will sustain my body till the end: I must last till the end.”
Leslie pressed her lips and closed her eyes.
“You must be really exhausted to ask that: you would have never asked something
like this knowing that I’d figure your extreme fatigue. My precious boy, I…How
can I offer you the means to commit suicide?”
Bruce took her hands in his and locked eyes with her.
“I am really tired, Leslie but I have no choice but to continue; it won’t be
suicide if you give me the drugs that will fortify my endurance” he smiled
“you’ll give me the means to survive. And then, after Darkseid is defeated I’ll
be able to rest and enjoy your care.”
Leslie smirked fuming and shook her head.
“I hate it that you have your father’s diplomacy and your mother’s sweetness.
I’ll do everything in my power to help you.”
She squatted before him and caressed his locks and Bruce held her hand and
kissed the palm.
 
“Where’s your conscience, boyscout?” a sarcastic female voice hissed to Clark’s
ears filling his veins with green poison.
He saw again Bruce stepping out of his car, beautiful, shadowing the lights of
the luxurious hotel. He saw him raising his head and focusing his eyes on the
spot were Superman was sneakily stalking him. His breath was cut again from the
shine, the beauty of those almond shaped eyes: star sapphires indeed.
Red…Red slithered over Bruce…it wasn’t the red radiation of his cell…it was
blood that soaked Bruce’s tailored suit, his perfectly groomed hair, his
porcelain face…his eyes.
 “For the last time, Clark: Thor came here only because Loki pestered me.”
“I didn’t see Loki but even if that it is true then I see” he smirked “that
Bane and Talia taught you the pleasures of threesome so what better than two
gods fucking you?” Bruce’s eyes bulged and his heart stopped beating. “Maybe if
I told you that Diana and I would both fuck you, there wouldn’t be a
problem…But since I didn’t, you took the first opportunity you found: Thor and
Loki: Who got your ass and who your mouth? Or they changed positions? You’re
doing the same with Rogers and Selina in the Tower? I imagine you prefer to
fuck your friend than…”
Bruce raised his hand and brought it with all his speed and force at Clark’s
face…But this time Superman was ready for that: he grabbed Bruce’s hand
stopping and pinning it on the mattress above Bruce’s head clenching bone
crashing the wrist. Simultaneously, with all his speed, he raised his hand and
bitch slapped the human who dared to raise hand on him.
Bruce’s head rolled on the side and blood sprung from his nostril and torn lip
slithering slowly to his cheek. A deafening thunder worsened the buzz in
Bruce’s ear but he looked through his narrowed eyes at Clark who was smirking
smugly.
Superman tightened his grip on Bruce’s wrist, feeling the familiar arousal from
the struggle of the body trapped under him. The human had his jaw clenched
though it must hurt much from his slap; he knew to control his power to not
permanently damage or kill him but also to pass the message across. His mocking
eyes lowered a second to see Bruce’s heaving chest: the human never liked being
defeated.
He brought his face over Bruce’s enjoying the smell of his blood, of his
defeat…His groin twitching from the defiance underneath him.
“I owed you that, Bruce, remember?” Bruce’s blazing eyes stared him unfazed;
certainly he remembered the day he slapped Clark because he accused him of
having an affair with Matt. “My memory is eidetic…” he breathed licking Bruce’s
blood though the younger man turned on the other side his head to avoid him. “I
know your every movement…”
But he frowned instantly, his shock great when something sharp burned his
jugular; the flesh protested as a drop of blood dripped slowly. Clark saw with
the corner of his eye the Knife of Justice firmly grasped in Bruce’s free fist;
its diamond blade flashed in the dim secret light of the headboard – a cracking
bolt enhancing the impression of the blade’s sharpness.
Their eyes collided in a battle of determination.
“You know just the 1/100 of my movements, Clark” Bruce said calm and decisive
but still with affection. “The Blade has defeated a mighty ancient demon: it
can harm you” it was an advice.
Clark snorted and felt the Blade’s menacing presence on his neck.
“Two demons” he corrected cocking his eyebrow. “Two demons who fell for your
body…Well, Bruce? What are you going to do with that? Kill me?”
Bruce clenched his jaw; Clark’s grip on his wrist had loosened under the
surprise of the Knife in his now vulnerable neck. Bruce’s hurt cheek throbbed.
“I just want to stop you before you do something you’ll be sorry for all your
life! Think, Clark!”
Clark’s face was sweaty: the sense of sharp metal grazing his skin was unusual
for him.
“Think what?! For once I uttered the truth and you are ready to kill me! All
the time I’m giving to you and you don’t give anything and the one time I spoke
to you about the satisfaction you deny from me, you show your real face!” he
snarled “What about my satisfaction, Bruce?! What did you offer me?!”
 “Then take your satisfaction but stop shouting! There’s a distressed boy in
the Manor and nothing of these is his fault!” he lowered the Knife keeping his
eyes locked with Clark’s.
Now Superman understood: using the Knife against him would manage only to
galvanize his beliefs of Bruce’s hostility and hatred but the human believed
that if he surrendered his body to him, then maybe he would realize that he was
true in his love and prove Vivian wrong.
Bruce placed reverently the Knife on the nightstand and Superman found his
chance: he grabbed Bruce’s free hand and pinned now both his hands on the
mattress over his head, stretching his body so beautifully that Superman felt
his groin demanding satisfaction. Bruce was always looking him in the eyes
calm, dignified and affectionate.
“You know that I didn’t give my body to anyone else” he said steady and jerked
his head upwards capturing Clark’s lips in a tender kiss, filled with love and
agony to help him see the truth.
Clark deepened the kiss, loosening the bruising grip on Bruce’s wrists.
“I can give you everything the others gave you and even better…” he whispered
sucking his lips passionately and then nuzzling his stretched neck and the
small part of chest that the three open buttons left uncovered. “You’re mine,
Bruce…”
Clark was still holding his hands on the mattress in a rather painful way yet
Bruce looked him proudly.
“I love you with all my existence but I’m not your possession…”
Superman closed his eyes frustrated and bit the cotton pajama shirt softly at
first but then in a burst of accumulated anger he tore with his teeth Bruce’s
clothes not minding that he was scratching also the tender skin; his hands
clutching the trapped wrists to not permit any other surprise and to keep that
body flexed.
 Clark rose a bit and watched appreciatively the nude body under him and now
after months he realized that Bruce that night for the first time after the
greenhouse felt uncomfortable being naked in front of him.
Superman brought Bruce’s arms down without releasing them and turned him on his
stomach; Bruce must have felt his healing arms almost ripped from their sockets
as Superman twisted them behind his back.
“I can give you everything the others gave you…” he leaned over Bruce’s hair
and the force of his breath burnt his neck.
And then in a swift, violent motion Clark settled one wrist upon another and
ordered the energy casts that enable Bruce’s body to operate bound hard his
wrists.
Superman realized the pain that Bruce had felt.
But that night he didn’t care for the human’s suffering; Superman turned him
around and smirked smugly to his face.
“The energy casts are Fortress’ property – that is to say mine; they obey my
wishes…You like that, Bruce, don’t you?” he travelled the younger man’s chest
with his palm to end at the ripped abdominals. “Losing control, being
helpless…”
Bruce controlled his heart that cringed remembering every time he had been tied
up.
“Clark, you know what I like…”
Clark shook his hand bringing his fingers lower, to Bruce’s groin.
“I thought I knew, Bruce, but I was wrong; but finally my eyes are opened. I
won’t let you give your body to anyone else ever again…I won’t permit you to
disgrace yourself and me by getting screwed in parks or participating in
threesomes.”
Bruce closed his eyes and yanked his head backwards.
“I never did that! You know it: you’d have caught their smells on me.”
Clark brought his head over Bruce’s groin and began sniffing, the younger man
fighting a devastating wave of nausea.
There was no foreign smell.
“You’re sly, Bruce” Superman raised his head to look at him. “You warned them
to cover their smell.”
Bruce gritted his teeth and raised his torso to bring his head close to
Clark’s.
“Even you don’t believe that! Till the incident at the Tower you didn’t give a
damn about who was talking to me or for Joker being free to get me. But then
when I asked you to stop seeing that woman she poisoned your mind with the idea
of my supposed infidelity and you found the best way to justify your attitude.”
“Enough!”
He grabbed Bruce’s shoulders and threw him on the mattress, settling his body
on him; he captured violently Bruce’s mouth with his and began sucking and
devouring, his teeth chewing cruelly the lips. He licked the drops of blood and
opened his eyes to stare at Bruce’s sparkling ones.
“So beautiful…so rot…a real powerful seductress, indeed” he whispered caressing
with both hands Bruce’s face to finally grab both cheeks and resume his cruel
kiss, this time thrusting his tongue deep in Bruce’s throat choking him.
His body that was rubbing demandingly felt sticky under the uniform and he
raised his body a second keeping Bruce’s body clenched between his knees,
permitting the human to take some air. Superman roared satisfied when his body
stayed bare without the burden of his clothes.
For the first time, Bruce’s eyes stared coldly at Superman’s naked body; the
man’s half erection making his guts clench.
Superman’s body demanded to feel the warm human flesh and he obliged, rubbing
his torso to Bruce’s so hard that it pained…like Superman’s unbearably hot
mouth that trailed Bruce’s neck kissing, biting and licking the little blood
his teeth evoked.
The more he conquered Bruce’s unresponsive body the more the fire in him
rose…An insatiable fire. He fisted Bruce’s hair and pulled his head down
forcing his neck to arch for his mouth to gain better access. He licked and
sucked, his other hand groping the younger man’s ribs.
“Moan for me, Bruce…” he growled. “As you did for Thor!”
Bruce closed his eyes.
“Nothing happened with him; Clark…”
“Shut up!” he cut him tightening more his clench on Bruce’s hair and brought
his face over Bruce’s devouring the fire of his eyes. “You cheated me, Bruce!
But I’ll keep you…” he kissed his cheekbones moaning. “I’ll give to you what
you crave for and you’ll drop your bullshit about Diana…”
“She is poisoning you, Clark…You need to take your distance from her and run
the tests Jor El told you…”
Superman’s gleeful eyes were Bruce’s entire world as he raised slightly his
head.
“You have no right to pose demands! You should be begging me to forgive you and
not trying to defame a great woman like Diana!”
Bruce’s eyes widened and for a second he stopped breathing…
“I did nothing wrong to ask your forgiveness and I’m not defaming her I’m just
stating the facts! Think, Clark!
But Clark indifferent grabbed his thighs and opened them. Bruce couldn’t feel
the pain but saw and heard the violence of Clark’s ministrations even though
the wind’s blowing was wilder than ever; the man he loved was rock hard and
Bruce wished he could be happy for their coming unification; staring at Clark’s
gleeful eyes that looked down at him triumphantly, Bruce wished that making
love to him could lead Clark to the truth…
Clark now in his own state of pain could read Bruce’s every emotion; every
distress and pain…It was a nightmare…it was Hell…it was himself causing all
that….
The Man of Steel thrust his entire, huge length in Bruce with one single swift
movement, without any preparation, without any softness or caution just choking
by force the resistance Bruce’s unprepared insides posed after five months of
inertia.
Bruce gasped…It hurt like Hell and his heartbeat peaked…No, that was
impossible: his body didn’t feel below the waist.
Clark cocked a sarcastic eyebrow regarding Bruce’s dumbstruck expression.
“You’re a helluva actor, babe! Pretending surprise…We both know that it is
Thor’s thunderous prick we have to thank for reviving your dead asshole…”
Bruce gritted his teeth: he couldn’t continue listening Clark speaking like a
creep…like all those who used him.
“Stop talking like that, Clark; this isn’t you…We both know that some neurons
survived the injury – it seems that some of them are in my rectum” he tried to
reason with him “but we never tried before…”
Superman smirked and settled his hands on Bruce’s hips beginning thrusting in
him, establishing immediately a fast and hard way that made Bruce’s sensitive
body cry in protest but he pressed his lips and swallowed the pain.
The thrusts became faster rocking Bruce’s body but Superman’s thirst wasn’t
satisfied; he leaned over the sweaty but simultaneously cold torso under him
and swallowed one nipple, sucking so fiercely that Bruce writhed uncomfortable
since this along with the pounding of his anus was overwhelming.
But Superman didn’t care; he knew that Bruce enjoyed that – he needed it like
this to be satisfied…and also Superman relished that too – inside him burnt an
irresistible fire, a desire to make Bruce pain; make him suffer. He bit the
tender nipple and sucked the liquid but more he sucked the violent heartbeat
under the human skin; Superman knew that Bruce stubbornly choked his moans and
grunts but he was stubborn as well.
He bit the other nipple and at the same time sent a low intensity heat beam to
hit the nipple he tortured before and stood erect from his ministrations.
Bruce’s torso jerked but Superman cackling moved his hips inwards smashing the
momentary resistance with a stampede of thrusts.Oh, how much he enjoyed Bruce’s
torture! He finally could understand Falcone’s need to make that beautiful
being writhe in pain and agony.
“You like that to your nipples, huh?” he said smugly to Bruce’s narrowed eyes
and inhaled the delicious smell of a trapped wild animal underneath him.
Bruce bit his bottom lip that was already torn in many places from Clark’s
bites: no, he didn’t like having his nipples tortured – Falcone did that when
he was really young…Clark knew it but that didn’t stop him casting heat to his
other nipple too. Bruce jerked his torso upwards using Superman’s length inside
him as support but the Man of Steel hugged vertically Bruce’s shoulders to glue
their bodies together, impaling him mercilessly, faster, deeper…Cracking the
soft insides, causing friction burnings, pain…
Superman was pressing the younger man chokingly on him knowing that the human
breathed difficult but Bruce clenched his teeth to hide his suffering and that
pissed him: his lover denied giving to him what he gave to others. He sank his
teeth to Bruce’s shoulder, blood springing along with a sharp intake of air
from the human. Superman cupped with both hands his head and stared at those
defiant, fervent eyes.
“Don’t hide your pain from me…I know it gives you pleasure and I can give you
more pleasure than anyone…” he breathed and captured the maimed lips kissing
passionately, his body pushing enthusiastic inside Bruce.
His clenching in Bruce’s shoulder became bone crushing and the Man of Steel
roared in his mouth as boiling liquid from the alien’s ejaculation burned
Bruce’s wounded insides. He didn’t moan or grunt though a new wave of pain
travelled his spine to stab his head but his weak body convulsed like in the
past when he was a child and adults used him.
Bruce appreciated the softness of the mattress when Superman lowered him
tenderly yet his lover’s length was still inside him, stretching his anus to
its limits and throbbing demanding more. He looked at Clark’s face that watched
him like a hungry vulture; Superman’s locks were wet from sweat and framed his
beautiful features.
He smirked to the human and placed his body over him kissing his breasts and
digging streaks with his nails on his back.
Superman’s eyes stopped to the Black Butterfly that dangled on Bruce’s chest:
he knew from a long time ago that this rare, precious diamond was like Bruce.
He touched his lips on the sparkling stone…and jerked away because it burned
his lips.
He saw Bruce staring at him as Superman touched his lips shocked: he felt that
the human was mocking him, his gem demonstrating that he could escape him…No…He
grabbed again Bruce’s thighs and began thrusting stronger than before making
the human writhe and sweat from pain and effort to control his restrained
breath – to not moan…
When Superman turned him to his stomach, he had already cum in him three times
and his hot liquid was filling his anus and the inside of his thighs; he knew
that it slithered lower. He was also aware that except from semen something
else streaked Bruce’s body – his own blood…But Clark didn’t give a shit. Bruce
deserved that – he liked that.
The sheet was drenched under his pelvis and the stain expanded fast as Clark
started for the fourth time his in-out movements; each time faster, deeper and
stronger than the last. Bruce bit the pillow to stop a scream: Superman’s stone
testicles whipped his stretched anus with every wet sound of flesh invading
flesh. His eyes were covered from thin but annoying mist.
Clark now could feel everything Bruce was feeling with an empathy that had left
him when Clark needed it the most; he felt wetness in his own eyes.
“I have more endurance than any of your lovers, Bruce” Superman said haughtily
setting Bruce’s knees on the mattress for him to get a new, better ankle;
clenching his thighs to crush the human body on him so to get deeper. The sound
of flesh slapping flesh a mesmerizing melody to his ears.
He released Bruce’s thighs and brushed his trembling back, relishing the fine,
strongly bound muscles.
“I should whip you, Bruce” he whispered massaging the covered in cold sweat
human flesh. “I know how much you enjoy that…But I couldn’t stand it…”
Bruce shook his head as much as he could.
“You can’t do that, Clark, because you’re not that kind of person and you know
that I don’t like it…Falcone used to whip me as a child and it was awful…” his
voice almost cracked.
A thunder howled near…
And Clark remembered the sight of Bruce’s brutally spanked buttocks after their
first meeting in Falcone’s party.
Clark’s hands massaged his trembling back softly now; even his thrusts became
slower and Bruce hoped that finally he had found himself. But suddenly a
powerful hand clenched his hair and forced his body upwards, his neck bent so
much that Bruce was almost choked, his back brushing Clark’s torso. Superman
touched his hot mouth on his stretched neck sucking.
“Beg me like you did with Bane…” he whispered sensually.
Bruce blinked to chase away the mist from his eyes. Clark had no problem
thrusting in him for hours but his body felt like broken – no, his body was
already broken since the factory incident but now it hurt all over.
“I begged him only once…when the lives of my loved ones depended on showing my
obedience to Ra’s – and he had asked me to have Bane use me for him to watch…”
he tried to catch his breath but Clark’s grip and his continuous pounding
wasn’t helping. “I never again begged him…”
Clark’s fingers tightened more uprooting his locks and arching his neck.
“He says to everyone that you begged him for more at the mountain…” he mouthed
Bruce’s earlobe.
Bruce found the strength to snort.
“Of course he does…You believe him?” he sensed Clark’s hesitation. “I won’t beg
you, Clark, because at my parents’ grave…some months ago…you told me that I
wouldn’t have to plead anyone again in my life…” he closed his eyes exhausted
“and I still believe in you…though you don’t believe in me…”
Superman stretched more his neck, biting the soft skin where jawbone met the
ear.
“Who’s the best of your lovers?’’ his wet, hissing breath attacked Bruce’s ear.
He closed his eyes to recruit some air from his stretched neck.
“You’re the only lover I ever had, Clark” he said in such a steady voice that
it was a surprise for him too.
That pissed Superman: he threw Bruce’s head to the mattress keeping his clench
on his hair and pressed his face down.
“You like powerful beings” he hissed through gritted teeth. “I’m Kal El, the
mighty Lord of Krypton, and you’re a cheap human…”
Bruce closed his eyes; his breath laboriously maintained through his pressed
nose and mouth yet he managed to take in some air to speak.
“This isn’t you, Clark; you know that I’m not enjoying this…”
But Superman buried more his face to the mattress and clenching his bare teeth
increased the already frantic pace of his thrusts, drilling the stubborn
human’s insides, enjoying the loud sound of his flesh slapping Bruce’s so
similar to the sound of rain whipping the earth.
No… Superman whispered: he couldn’t have done that…he couldn’t have tortured
Bruce like this…it was a lie! He gulped the bile that had gathered in his mouth
but didn’t want to pop out to give him some relief from nausea. His fingers
unclenched from the fists they had formed…
It wasn’t a lie: he did these things…He had raped Bruce.
 
It was the second meeting of the Avengers in the interim of ten days. Everyone
around the table was dead serious looking at Tony in the head of the meeting
table: the Black Widow, Captain America, Dr. Banner, Dr. Strange, Nick Fury and
Pepper. Only Thor hadn’t arrived yet. Outside the whole wall windows New York
was cast in the darkness of the night.
Despite Thor’s absence Tony had began presenting along with Dr. Banner the
adjustments to their weapons and outfits for protection against Parademons.
“These adjustments were also made to the army weaponry” Tony said.
Natasha frowned.
“But you said we had to keep it secret.”
Tony nodded.
“Dr. Strange” he showed the man in the burgundy cape at the right of the table
“and his team managed to establish a kind of protection against Darkseid’s mind
control. So I spoke with the President informing him about the danger; UN and
NATO are alarmed too and have informed the global governments; protective
measures are already being taken for the protection of civilian population and
of the greater energy facilities. In discretion of course.”
Fury rubbed his chin glancing at the door.
“Thor is here.”
But as soon as Thor entered the room the rest of the Avengers stood surprised,
their faces filled with confusion and aggressiveness. Tony rushed to the door
clenching his jaw and Steve followed him.
“What is he doing here?!” Tony roared and Thor raised his palm in a calming
gesture as the rest of the people in the room gathered there.
Loki shook his head smirking.
“I’m so touched from this cordial welcome, Tony old pal!”
Tony surged at him grabbing him from the lapels.
“You said that Asgardians had imprisoned him” he roared to Thor without letting
Loki out of his sight. “You can’t trust gods!”
Loki nodded snorting.
“I can concur on that…mmm…Tony, can you not sputter on me?”
“Shut up, you motherfucker!” Tony’s hand moved fast to hammer Loki’s sniggering
face but Steve grabbed it in middair.
Tony looked at him more angry than surprised.
“I’m angry as much as you, Tony but Thor was enraged as well so something must
have happened to change his attitude.”
Thor sighed inside: exactly…
“The voice of reason” Loki pursed his lips.
Only to get slapped by a female hand; he looked surprised at Pepper.
“Shut it!”
Loki shook his head and cocked his eyebrows to Tony.
“I love bossy women…lucky Stark!”
Tony bit his lip to not hit him.
“Why did you bring him here?” Steve asked Thor. “It’s top secret, remember?”
“Loki has a place in this meeting” Thor replied.
Tony jerked.
“Says who?!”
“I.”
***** Chapter 85 *****
Batman entered the meeting room with Catwoman and Flash at his sides; his
imposing, serious figure in vast contrast with Catwoman’s swaying and Flash’s
eased demeanor crossed confidently the shining floor to the spot where the
Avengers glared at Loki.
“Wow!” Flash looked around awed. “Nice Tower!”
Tony cast him a sideways glance without letting Loki out of his sight.
“Yeah, last time we didn’t have the time to offer you a tour” Tony said and
acknowledging his teammates’ puzzled looks. “Batman knows everything.”
Steve was looking at Catwoman who smiled to him slyly locking her eyes with
his.
“No kidding…” Fury mumbled grinning and his eyebrow arched almost at his head.
“We must be united in this” Batman spat in his raspy voice. “And the time is
short so…” he showed the table for them to move there.
“Thanks for making us feel at home…” Natasha snidely remarked tilting her head.
“You don’t expect us to fight along with Loki” Captain America said to Batman.
“Because of him several people were killed during his attack in New York and he
helped Joker kidnap Bruce Wayne…”
Loki stretched his posture to lean to his brother’s ear.
“It would be of help if I said them that Batman used Bruce Wayne to approach
me?”
“Hush!” Thor spat.
“How can you trust him?” Dr. Banner intervened and Tony crossed his arms over
his chest and looked smirking at Batman.
“Huh?” the billionaire added.
Batman walked to the table as if the Tower was indeed his.
“I need him” he said keeping his back turned to them. “We all need him. He is
precious for the battle.”
Loki pouted and nodded arching his eyebrows.
“I am precious…”
Batman turned sharply his head and cast him a deadly glare with his flashing
lenses.
“You’ll be also gagged if you say another word without being asked” he growled
and Loki pouted.
“You’re the boss…” he said lolling his head. “Too many nerves…” he shook his
head.
Catwoman and Flash moved to the table and the Avengers did the same without
pausing to cast sinister glances at Loki. The later along with Thor were the
last to take their seats around the table.
“What about the Arrow?” Captain America said. “He can be valuable in the battle
and he is with the good guys.”
Bruce huffed inside.
“You can’t count on the Arrow.”
Natasha frowned.
“Is he with the enemy?” her eyes flashed.
“I never liked the archer…” Loki said and Thor silenced him with a glare.
“He is affiliated with Darkseid.”
Dr. Strange nodded.
“Nice… And he must have some special qualities if he managed to find Loki’s
enchanted palace. Also, he has an interest in Bruce Wayne; we should take that
into serious consideration.”
Batman raised his palm.
“Stark will take care of his friend’s safety but what is the important thing
right now is that Darkseid’s machine is ready” Batman began.
“Exactly” Tony affirmed “I have the machine under monitoring and Luthor said it
to his boss.”
He touched the screen of his wrist watch and a hologram appeared in the air
beside him. Luthor was standing beside a sphere like black machine which
vibrated emanating golden light that made clear the engraved symbols all over
the machine. They could hear three people talking but only Luthor was visible.
“Who are the other two?” Steve asked.
“Darkeid and one of his lieutenants” Tony answered.
“Granny Goodness, according to Jor El” Batman added and Tony showed them the
images from Jor El’s archive.
“Why we can’t see them?” Fury asked.
“Because of their unique structure which intervenes with the monitoring devices
and ruins the signal they transmit” Dr. Banner explained.
“And these are his troops” the footage changed to show the green creatures
which attacked Bruce.
Winged, bonny creatures 7 feet tall with arms ending up to guns and blades;
their heads were long and narrow and their mouth was filled with hundreds of
long, thin teeth. Their eyes were white and completely blank. Their entire body
was sleek.
“They attacked Bruce months ago” Tony remarked. “They wanted to introduce the
fake Amazon Princess by saving Bruce.”
“We adjusted our weapons and armory to their power” Banner said.
Steve who was sitting opposite Catwoman managed to get his eyes off her and
gaze at Tony.
“If his troops are here and the machine is ready then his attack is imminent.”
“Actually, we won’t wait for him to make the first move” Tony said dead
serious.
“What?” Natasha asked. “That sounds really interesting.”
Tony arched his eyebrows.
“Someone with one eye who sits at my right” his eye showed Fury “told me that
I’m not a detective or a strategist so I ‘hired’ professional help” he gestured
to Batman cocking his eyebrows “it’s Earth we’re talking about after all.”
Batman cast him a glare at the ‘hired’ but didn’t comment.
“We can’t afford letting Darkseid act first: his powers might hit
simultaneously energy facilities, schools, hospitals and commercial flights
globally which will be catastrophic causing chaos and millions of casualties”
he added.
Steve looked at him.
“How can we prevent that?”
Batman met his eyes.
“By dictating the time of the attack.”
Fury grinned fascinated.
“You mean provoking the attack” the Colonel remarked.
Batman nodded.
“And how that will protect the targets you mentioned? We can’t stop the entire
world’s life…it will be suspicious and Darkseid will sniff something and hit
before we manage to protect all the targets.”
Batman gazed at Black Widow who had just spoken.
“The Training Day for the Great electromagnetic storm…” Batman rasped and the
people around the table goggled while Tony smiled. “It’s all over the news the
last 24 hours.”
Tony took it from there.
“Every time an electromagnetic storm hits the earth every system faces major
problems so the governments supposedly have decided to train for the
possibility of a major storm imitating the conditions and taking the proper
measures: so the fields that face the most problems, e.g. commercial flights
will be cancelled and the energy plants will be shut in order to avoid disaster
from the storm’s energy but in reality from Darkseid hitting there.”
Batman looked around the table.
“Nuclear reactors, electricity plants if hit will cause damage of nightmarish
dimensions. Thousands of people will also die when Darkseid’s Parademons hit
the commercial flights.”
“Yes, but there are also countless of hospitals, orphanages, schools etc all
around the world; what about them?” Catwoman asked.
Tony looked at her.
“The governments have taken measures; S.H.I.E.L.D.’s personnel will assist.
Meanwhile” Tony continued “armed forces will be all over the planet supposedly
following the emergency scenario for an electromagnetic storm but truly being
ready to fight Darkseid’s troops.”
“Stark has made the arrangements with the leaders who thanks to Dr. Strange are
not in danger of being manipulated by our enemy. Darkseid won’t suspect that
this Training Day has anything to do with him” Batman said.
“And how we are going to provoke him to make his move?” Natasha asked meeting
Batman’s lenses.
“By threatening what he cherishes most: his Anti-Life machine. When everything
is secured, Colonel Fury along with Agents Carter and Hill will present Brunno
Mannheim with summon to inquiry and a search warrant for his facilities in the
desert: where he keeps his machine. At the same time Metropolis Police would
launch raids at the hideouts of Intergang. Faced with such threats Darkseid
will attempt to manipulate authorities into slip away but then he’ll realize
that he can’t do that any longer so he’ll attack: first, because he wouldn’t
want to risk losing his machine again and second because his arrogance wouldn’t
bear such treatment from humans.”
“Wicked!” Flash said.
Batman cast him a dead serious stare and Flash arched his eyebrows
uncomfortable.
Fury rubbed his chin.
“Inquiry and search warrant based on what?”
Batman met his gaze.
“His involvement in the stealing of Wayne Enterprises’ property” and
acknowledging the stares of everyone on him. “Some months ago some items were
stolen from Wayne Enterprises.”
Tony grinned.
“The items that created that machine. Mannheim had visited Bruce and threatened
him to give him the items that were found in LexLabs. Bruce refused and a bit
later the items were stolen. Of course, Mannheim’s urgency made me suspect
something and set monitoring devices in the items in order to see what was
going on.”
“Well done, Stark!” Natasha said but Fury looked pointedly at Batman clearly
not believing that this was Tony’s idea.
“Thank you, my dear” the billionaire answered tilting his head.
Yet Batman moved on abruptly.
 “Darkseid is really powerful; according to Jor El’s info he is very fast” he
looked at Flash “Superman’s speed; he is very strong and he can kill with his
eyes even gods.”
Tony projected footage from Darkseid in battles on other planets courtesy of
Jor El.
“Oh! It gets funnier…” Loki chuckled. “We’ll have a blue and a green giant in
the field.”
Dr. Banner looked thoughtful: Darkseid indeed was at Hulk’s size.
Batman glared at Loki.
“Loki has a gas that weakens super powers” the others shook their heads
remembering the incident at this very Tower months ago. “Ironman will launch it
to the air yet we can’t be sure that it will have the same effect on the New
God. Your powers won’t be affected because you’ll get the antidote/inoculation
Tony manufactured.”
“That’s why you said that Loki would be useful in the battle?” Thor asked.
Batman  met his gaze with his jaw set.
“Not just that. But the rest is my business.”
Fury grinned.
“We are going to a suicide mission then” he said “me and my agents. “Once he
realizes the threat and won’t want to hide anymore he will kill the first
humans that pester him: me and my agents.”
Batman met his one-eyed gaze.
“You and your agents will be far: you will call his secretary to inform her
that her boss is obliged to come for an inquiry or he’ll be forced to come – at
the same time, you will be to his premises in the desert. They certainly won’t
let you search the place so you will leave with  the ‘threat’ to return with
reinforcements.”
Fury nodded and Batman turned to the others.
“His intention is to strike hard at Washington believing that if he destroys
the US capital the rest will follow; we have indications that he had gathered
the parademons in the area.” Tony said.
Dr. Strange pursed.
“That means casualties because he is so powerful that even with all of us
battling him and with all the protection we can afford, he still would
definitely blow skyscrapers and public buildings.”
Batman nodded.
“That’s why we drag him away by staging an attack in his premises at the
desert. The machine is his priority. Knowing that a search is due to take place
there he’ll turn his focus there; the heart of the battle will be in the desert
instead of the cities.”
“He’ll risk damaging his machine with a battle there?” Natasha asked.
“Of course not. But it still will take place in the desert because our forces
will be there heading to his machine.”
“However, Metropolis will still be at his target. Metropolis is Superman’s city
and he has Intergang there; after police tries to apprehend his gang, he’ll try
to wreck chaos and panic with his thugs so that the supposed Wonder Woman will
come to help humans only to assist in killing them increasing the overall
despair. Darkseid wants humans’ despair in order to become stronger. Gotham
will be his target too; police and national guard is informed” he turned to
Tony. “Have you taken Bruce Wayne to a safe place?”
“Bruce Wayne?” Steve and Dr. Strange asked simultaneously and the former looked
at Catwoman.
“We gather that they might have a special interest for him” she said.
Tony nodded.
“Bruce is safe.”
Fury grinned and cocked an eyebrow.
“Of course he is.”
Natasha tapped her fingers.
“Police and National Guard will take care of thugs but what about Wonder Woman?
She might be an impostor but one with super powers – police officers and
soldiers won’t do anything.”
The dome that covered the meeting room cracked in the center and slowly opened
to permit entrance to a small tornado. Everyone stared startled there except
from Batman and Tony.
The tornado slowly stopped spinning to reveal a stunningly beautiful woman at
1.83. She was dressed in a shining ancient warrior’s armor made from brown
leather. At her right thigh hanged a straight sword and at her left a glowing
curled lasso. Her long, black hair was free at her back and two plaids created
a wreath over her forehead; a golden tiara was stuck in her hair ending to a
red, 16 rays star in the triangle of the tiara. Her forearms were covered with
golden bracelets and her long calves with golden greaves which had the head of
Medusa engraved on the top.
“That’s more like it” Natasha said “she is an Amazon, unlike that overpowered
cheerleader!”
Catwoman looked at her and gave her the thumbs up.
“I’ll take care of her” Diana said.
Steve Rogers stood and came to her; he stretched his hand for a shake and she
took it.
“It’s our honor, Princess” he said inclining his head.
“The Amazons will be at your side in this battle” she said and Thor got up to
approach.
“Asgard’s powers will be with Earth too.”
“Darkshit wouldn’t know what hit him!” Flash said.
Batman turned his lenses at him.
“He has a powerful ancient demon with him” he spat and Flash pursed his lips.
“We can be sure that he will use his powers when the time comes.”
“Which are?” Dr. Strange asked.
“Earthquakes, volcanoes, even tsunamis” the people around the table gulped.
“Civilian casualties” Dr. Banner mumbled what everyone was thinking.
Dr. Strange stood.
“My team will do everything to stop that force. We have people in every corner
of the planet.”
Batman nodded.
“Good.” Tony said.
“What about Superman?” Fury asked.
Tony didn’t care to answer that but Captain America took the initiative.
“We defeat Darkseid and free Superman.”
Batman got up.
“Superman is my responsibility” and without another word he turned his back and
moved to the exit.
Fury watched as the Dark Knight left the room and suddenly was met with Tony’s
sarcastic stare.
“You can doubt my detective and strategic skills but not my superiority in
human resources…”
 
The road back to Gotham was smooth: Tumbler ran in auto drive and thanks to
Leslie’s fortifiers his feeling of fatigue was almost eliminated which made his
work easier.
 He had asked from Lucius to wait him in the cave and he knew that the loyal
scientist was already there. In the meantime, the road there was a nice chance
to look into the video case.
Selina was returning to Gotham on her bike because they didn’t want anyone to
think that Batman’s and Catwoman’s relationship was something more than
alliance – especially, Steve who already knew that Selina was the Catwoman.
He opened the archives of the late Matthew’s – Pielser’s lawyer - he had set
the cave’s processor to accumulate; they were about his financial activities:
there were some transactions repeated every month. It was a centre of care for
severe disabilities. Bruce looked through the names of the patients and he
stopped to the name of the lawyer’s wife.
The archives of the centre showed that the lawyer visited his wife often. But
as he perused through the patients’ names what struck Bruce was another name:
P. Elliot…Thomas Elliot’s mother. So Thomas Elliot could have some connection
with the lawyer. Maybe they met there?
He hacked the lawyer’s accounts and found that the date that probably the video
was bought there were some transactions; he crossed those transactions with
Elliot’s accounts but of course nothing matched. Then he searched the source of
the amount of money; it came from an off shore company…
He hacked the off shore’s logs and archives and everything led to Thomas
Elliot. Bruce always suspected him but still he couldn’t blame him before.
Elliot was a professor at Gotham’s University so he could have known about
Isaac’s skills and it wasn’t difficult for him to send him the disc.
Batman leaned back to his seat: he’d gather some more details and send
everything to Gordon. He couldn’t believe that Elliot would reach that
bottom…for a childish rivalry…
Flashes from the video’s content ran before his eyes and suddenly exhaustion
washed his bones.
It was few yards before entering the cave; he ordered vocally the Tumbler to
stop. He opened one of the compartments of his belts and took the small
syringe.
He glanced at it feeling like a junky yet he had to take the fortifiers Leslie
gave him if he wanted to make it through the end and be in top condition. Okay,
he could drag his legs even without the drugs yet this battle needed his
outmost.
He took off the forearm plate of his armor and opened the sterilized covering
of the syringe. Without a second thought he stabbed the needle to his vein and
closed his eyes: it wasn’t doping just his usual strengthening drugs but in
bigger dosage.
Lucius was sitting on a stool before the computer bench and watched focused the
central screen. Upon hearing Tumbler he stood and walked towards the vehicle.
Batman got out and nodded his greeting to Lucius.
“Good evening” Lucius said “is everything alright?”
Batman walked towards the bench taking off his cowl and Lucius eyed the
paleness of his boss’ face.
“Fine, Lucius; thank you for coming here so late” it was almost midnight.
“Not mention it, Mr. Wayne.”
Bruce sat on a stool and was happy to realize that the feeling of fatigue had
subsided.
“Did you search what we talked about?”
Lucius sat at the stool next to him and put on his glasses which were on the
chest pocket of his blazer. He pushed some keys on the keyboard and an animated
map filled the central screen.
“Your hunch was right, Mr. Wayne; there are indications of Kryptonite in
Mannheim’s Mansion” he smiled. “How did you know that he wouldn’t keep Superman
with the machine?”
“I didn’t know that’s why I asked you to look there too for Kryptonite but I
assumed that someone like Darkseid wouldn’t want to hold his ‘treasures’ in the
same place. And to hold Superman they need Kryptonite to weaken him.”
“Exactly and they don’t imagine that we suspect them to cover the mineral’s
radiation.”
Bruce nodded satisfied and Lucius showed with his pen the area.
 “The Mansion is situated in the center of a really vast estate and the
indications of Kryptonite are coming from the building’s interior.”
Bruce nodded.
“I bet it is heavily guarded.”
“Right” he took out of his blazer’s inner pocket a tablet with the
characteristics of a chip.
Bruce’s eyes fixed on this and Lucius gave it to him.
“The other thing you asked me and instructions about it’s installation” he gave
Bruce a USB stick.
“Thank you, Lucius.”
Lucius arched his eyebrows.
“There is no need for that, Mr. Wayne: I know what you are doing…I’m the one
who should thank you.”
Bruce grinned.
“We have much road to travel till then…” he said. “The data Jor El sent us?”
“I utilized them as you told me” he opened his briefcase that was laid on the
rock surface supported on the computer bench.
Bruce looked intrigued at the small vial Lucius placed on the bench.
“You deleted every trace of the data after?”
Lucius smiled reassuringly.
“That goes without saying, Mr. Wayne; I don’t want even to imagine what would
happen if they were found in the wrong hands.”
Bruce shook his head.
“Jor El trusted me with these and I wouldn’t want him to feel betrayed.”
Lucius’ eyes became dead serious.
“He won’t.”
Bruce nodded, his appreciation visible in his eyes. Lucius seemed a bit
hesitant to say what was on the tip of his tongue but eventually opened his
mouth.
“If I’m permitted to say something, Mr. Wayne…”
“I think there is no doubt that you are permitted to say anything” he grinned.
Lucius licked his lips.
“Maybe after everything you have done already you should stay away…”
Bruce pursed his lips and ruffled his sweaty hair; not that he hadn’t expected
this.
“Listen, Lucius: I understand and believe me I appreciate your concern; I know
that I’m far from being in my best condition yet I can’t just sit and watch.
There are things that must be done. And no: I can’t expect from the others to
do them; they have other missions as important as mine. After all, if the
outcome is negative everyone is doomed so what’s the difference if I’m safely
stashed somewhere?”
Lucius lowered a bit his eyes and Bruce patted his upper arms till the
scientist met his eyes.
“Everything will go as we want, Lucius.”
The older man smiled.
“It is supposed that elderly people should encourage youths not vice versa.”
Bruce frowned.
“I never thought that you considered yourself ‘elderly people’…”
Lucius laughed.
“Exactly. Lucius is younger than many youths I know!”
A third voice entered the cave after the ripping of the waterfall and the
whoosh sound. Ironman landed on the rocky surface and Tony deactivated his face
plate as he approached them.
 “We need to talk, Bruce” he said without further undo staring solemnly at his
friend. “Back in the Tower you said that Superman is your responsibility; I
disagree: You did too much; it’s time to let us do what we must. I know that
you have located Superman’s holding place: give me the coordinates and we’ll
save him.”
“No. This is something I must do: we need him in the battle.”
Tony cocked his eyebrows.
“I doubt he will be in shape to fight.”
A shadow of sadness and deep worry passed over Bruce’s eyes and Tony despite
his dislike for Superman felt bad.
“This is my problem” Bruce snapped. “And it is a crucial part of the plan.”
Tony closed his eyes and huffed glancing at Lucius for help to receive a
pressing of the lips as if to say that there was nothing he could do.
“You must think yourself a bit, for fuck’s sake!” Tony shouted and instantly
lowered his tone; he inhaled deeply. “I didn’t want to yell at you…”
Bruce shook his head.
“You didn’t.”
Tony dissolved his armor and squatted in front of Bruce to hold his upper arms.
“You already have overexerted yourself, little guy…What end you think this will
have?”
Bruce met his friend’s distraught eyes and his tranquility had a calming effect
to Tony.
“I’m hearing that all the time” he chuckled. “Leslie gave me medication, Tony
and I feel fine. I want this to end in this best possible way, that’s why I
want the plan to be executed perfectly: billions of lives are depended on this
so I can’t just stay behind.”
Tony huffed and licked his lips.
“What’s the point if the world is saved and I lose you?” he said in a raspy
voice from emotion.
Bruce caressed his friend’s hands on his upper arms.
“What’s the point if we lose the battle and I’m alive?” he cocked an eyebrow.
“You know what that will mean.”
Tony yanked his head and gritted his teeth. He knew that Bagdana’s reward if
Earth fell was Bruce.
 “I won’t let that happen.”
Bruce nodded.
“Exactly. I’ll do my job and you yours.” He grinned. “I assure you that the
plan doesn’t include my death.”
“I do hope so, sir.” Alfred had just arrived with the lift and as always he
brought treats for them on the silver engraved tray. “Pardon me for
overhearing.”
Tony stood and Bruce grinned to his butler.
“I know that a gentleman like you would never eavesdrop” he teased him.
Alfred placed the tray on the bench and cocked an eyebrow.
“Indeed…Though having to do with someone as strong-headed as you, sir, I’m
afraid that even I would eventually drop so low.”
The butler looked at them.
“Please help yourselves: I’m sure you need it – oh, I am preparing a nice
dinner for everyone though a bit late: I do hope you will honor me staying for
dinner.”
Lucius smiled.
“You can be sure of this, Alfred; I miss your cooking.”
“Count me in too, Al” Tony said chewing one of the delicious looking ham
muffins.
Alfred looked at his young master.
“As for you, sir, I think that you need a nice shower before dinner and then a
good night’s sleep. Can I hope to that?”
Bruce nodded.
“I’ll do that, Alfred, but before sleeping there’s something I need to do.
Something I owe.”
 
“I never expected you to be allied to anyone” Steve said holding Selina’s
shoulders and nibbling her neck.
He had come to Gotham from New York to spend the night with her and now they
were cuddling in Selina’s bed.
She crooked her mouth.
“You mean Batman…Don’t tell me you’re jealous…”
Steve kissed more passionately.
“Am I wrong to be? Mysterious men always attract women.”
She chuckled and sucked his lips.
“The only thing that connects me with Batman is that his actions helped Bruce
many times. It’s nice to have the proper connections, right?”
Steve nodded and let Selina to push him on his back on the mattress. She
straddled him.
“Don’t you like the pre-battle sex?” she said in her sliest and sexiest voice.
Steve stared appreciatively Selina taking off her black lace bra and grabbing
his T-shirt to push it hastily over his head.
“We don’t know if there will be tomorrow, right?” he said and huffed. “Like the
old days…before the great battles… If it is to die then better having the
greatest memory with you…”
Selina rolled her eyes, cocked an eyebrow and lowered his jeans freeing his
aroused groin.
“From my point, I’m sure that there will be tomorrow and so I chose the best
doping before the big game, huh?”
Steve laughed.
“I prefer your standpoint, Sel…”
He raised his torso to close her in his arms kissing fervently her lips.
 
Thomas looked through the railed window door the infamous criminal: he was very
different now without his makeup.
Suddenly, two acid green eyes met his but Thomas didn’t jump startled.
“Thought I was in isolation…” Joker tilted his head on the side. “And it isn’t
a bit late for visits?”
“I have strong friends” Thomas replied.
“And strooooong nerves; anyone else would have run away by now.”
Thomas snorted and then smirked.
“Yeah, sure…”
Joker frowned and pouted.
“Aaaand what sooomeon with strong friends wants here?”
Thomas grinned.
“To offer you the chance to be out of here and get Brucie.”
Joker giggled.
“Doooon’t tell me…another fan of Brucie? And what you will get?”
“The satisfaction of seeing Brucie getting what deserves. Well?”
“Youuuu’ll get me out now?” he licked his lips nervously clearly impatient to
get out.
Thomas smirked.
“No…when I consider it right.”
Joker pouted.
“Yoooou’re the boss…” he shrugged and Thomas cocked his eyebrows; he wasn’t
that stupid to believe that.
 
 
 
The street was empty apart from some stray cat that crossed it every now and
then; the stores were closed for hours now and the only light in the area came
from the street lamps or a car that hastily ran to its destination.
This neighborhood was in the Narrows and after Wayne’s return from the dead had
been under development exactly like the entire Narrows. Yet as it was mainly a
small stores neighborhood during the night there was hardly any movement.
Jason and Dick were in the alley opposite the largest of the stores in the
area.
“You’re not serious!” Dick exclaimed to his friend.
Jason hushed him hastily.
“There’s some security – careful, man! An’ ya’re not the best to speak ‘bout
seriousness…”
“You made me leave my bed to show me the store you plan to stole?”
Jason rolled his eyes.
“I didna ‘make’ ya…Ya wanted  to come along…”
Dick licked his lips and shook his head.
“You will seriously do that to Bruce? After everything?” Jason crooked his
mouth. “If you do this then there’s no chance he’ll train us.”
“Ya heard him; he won’t train us anyway…”
“So you want revenge?”
Jason tilted his head on the side and regarded his friend exasperated.
“No wonder Zucco fooled ya, man! Ya’re talkin’ bullshit! I love Bru…” he
noticed Dick’s arching eyebrows and immediately changed. “I like the dude
whether he trains us or not; an’ I won’t rob the store: I’ll took one or two
things – ya know for the kicks.”
“There are better things than stealing to get some adrenalin.”
Both boys jumped startled as the raspy voice came right behind them. They
turned and goggled at Batman.
“Batman, I…” Dick started.
But Jason frowned and took a nonchalant expression.
“What are ya doin’ here?”
Batman yanked his head.
“I was looking for you to give you what I owe you” he crooked his mouth. “But
I’m changing my mind now…”
“Eavesdroppin’ is baaaad, dude” Jason said pouting and Batman cast him a glare
and made to turn his back.
He touched an indicator in his forearm and the alley was lit from the
headlights of the Tumbler. Jason goggled. Batman had come to give him the ride
he had asked.
“No, no! Dude, don’t go! I…I was jokin’!”
Dick rolled his eyes.
“He isn’t stupid, Jay!”
“Okay, okay! Gimme a second chance, man…I didna do the offence; ya can’t punish
me just for thinkin’?”
Batman tilted slightly his head and looked the innocent expression over Jason’s
eyes: if he wasn’t Batman Bruce would have laughed with the cunning of the boy.
Jason was looking at him pouting, his agony increasing with each second.
A hissing sound echoed through the dirty alley and the Tumbler’s doors opened
upwards. Batman made a node with his head urging the boys to jump in.
“Thanks, man!” Jason said and rushed there.
Dick looked at Batman.
“I’m sorry for leaving the Manor…it must seem like betraying your trust but it
was Jay. Thank you for not being mad at him.”
“How can I?” he replied and gesture towards the car.
Jason was looking and touching everywhere in the car like a little child taking
a new toy – actually, Jason was just eleven years old so he wasn’t that far
from little child; Bruce was smiling inside. He closed the doors and started
the engine seeing how thrilled the two boys were.
“How ya managed to brin’ the car in the alley? We didna hear anythin’. Ya must
have slipped right under our noses, beside us an’ we didna notice. It has some
shrinkin’ mode that makes the car smaller?”
Batman looked at him.
“No. The alley has a back entrance.”
Dick burst out in laughter and Jason crooked his mouth.
“I knew that…” he said defensively to Dick.
But he forgot all when Bruce pressed the button for acceleration and made the
boys jerk backwards – of course he had them tie their seatbelts as soon as they
entered the car. The Tumbler crossed the road fast and smooth but Bruce lowered
the speed once the car entered the central highway where many cars passed.
“They don’t see us?” Dick asked.
“No. Tumbler is in stealth mode” Bruce replied.
“Mmm. That’d be handy” Jason said and Batman cast him a sideways glance.
“You said that you wanted to fight crime” he remarked.
The younger boy smirked and his eyes shone wickedly.
“Yup! But ya didna hire me…so…”
“There are equally if not more important things than fighting crime with your
fists.”
Dick shook his head.
“Sure but sometimes fists are the best option.”
Batman met the boy’s eyes.
“Not for boys with potential like both of you – actually, every kid should stay
out of this.”
Both boys huffed frustrated and the Tumbler developed speed again as they
crossed the Lincoln Bridge and then the country road in the Palisades. At some
point the vehicle jumped over a hill and landed several feet away causing a
thrilled shriek from the boys.
“Do it again, dude!” Jason yelled and Bruce just couldn’t deny him.
The Tumbler jumped over a small hill to land in front of the forest. The boys
looked at him disappointed.
“No more?” Dick asked.
“I want to talk to you” Bruce said dead serious and the boys nodded. “Soon a
major battle is going to start: a powerful alien with his allies is going to
strike us.”
The boys initially goggled but then exchange determined glances.
“We’re not afraid” Dick said.
“We can help kick out that UFO motherfucker” Jason added.
Batman grinned on the ‘UFO’ because he remembered Tony using the same word.
“I know that you are brave. So I want you to stay at the Manor and you, Jason,
will bring your mother there” the boys nodded. “The Manor is the safest place
in Gotham.”
“Yeah, I can bring mom to the Manor but I can do things” Jason protested.
“Me too” Dick added.
Batman met the boys’ stares.
“Your help is precious and that’s why I’m talking to you right now. I trust you
that you will protect and support Alfred and the others; they will need your
courage.”
The boys looked each other and pressed their lips nodding making their talking
with the eyes.
“And you?” Dick asked. “You will be in the battle?”
Batman nodded.
“And that’s why I need you in the Manor.”
Jason was thinking something and liced his lips uncomfortable. Dick noticed.
“What?” he asked his friend.
“Is just that…” he looked at Batman. “Is this why you took me for a ride? Ya’re
taking care of yar checklist in case ya…?” the boy’s voice was almost angry
because he didn’t want to sound sad.
Dick frowned.
“No” he said. “You can’t be in battle…You could…” he shook his head. “You’re
strong and brave and all that but you’re injured and vulnerable.”
Jason nodded.
“Dick can’t afford to lose another parent…” he said “even a foster.”
Dick looked at his friend.
“Neither Jason; he is been through enough shit…”
Batman was touched from the boys’ love yet he set his jaw.
“There is no reason for this discussion; I took you for a ride because I wanted
to talk to you confidentially…and I had delayed too much Jason’s ride which is
not right: he earned that. And that’s all! I didn’t have you for drama fans.”
The boys stayed silent: Bruce was right; they shouldn’t be talking like that.
Jason pursed his lips.
“Ya said I earned it… Even though I was thinking to burst into that store?”
Batman grinned.
“I know you are a good boy, Jason, and down there you know right from wrong.
Actually, you two are great friends to each other: the one helping, completing
and supporting the other: don’t you ever lose that.”
Jason gulped and pressed his lips.
“Ya’re doing it again, man!” he protested. “Talkin’ as if ya’re gonna…”
“Don’t say that, Jay!” Dick snapped.
“I’m saying what I’m thinking and that has nothing to do with the situation,
understood? Do you doubt my abilities?” Batman growled and his frown under the
cowl was audible; he wanted to make the boys forget their fears.
“’Course not, dude!” Jason said and Dick shook his head. “Ya’re gonna kick
their asses an’ we’ll do the same if anyone tries to hurt Alfie an’ the women!”
Batman nodded.
“That’s what I want to hear. Now we’re getting you, Jason, at home and then
return to the Manor.”
The vehicle roared reaching turbo speed in a few seconds and the boys exclaimed
thrilled.
 
He was dying. Clark knew he was… the few drops of stamina had evaporated yet he
didn’t care if that was the end; not because the pain, the hunger, the thirst,
the torture would end but because he didn’t deserve to live any longer after
what he did.
At least he wouldn’t see what was going to happen; the Earth’s destruction; the
slaughter of humanity; Bagdana taking Bruce…No, that…that wouldn’t happen: even
if he was to die Bagdana wouldn’t enslave Bruce. No, no, no! They would be
stopped even if he died forgotten here…
He just wished he wasn’t this weak and unable to escape. He wished he could
stop Darkseid and his gang and save Earth and Bruce. And then he wouldn’t care
if he died because Bruce would be safe…If only he could ask forgiveness from
his Star; the forgiveness he didn’t deserve but at least Bruce would know that
he realized his crimes and regretted them and he will be eternally tormented
for what he did.
He wouldn’t have the chance to kneel before Bruce and apologize…He was doomed
but at least let the world be saved by some miracle.
Suddenly, he felt a slight change; something like being moved. But he didn’t
have the strength or the mood to raise his heavy, throbbing head from his chest
and open his eyes to see; probably they had come to taunt him again. It was as
if his body was feeling better the burning red light subsiding and the
Kryptonite effect lessened but he didn’t believe it; tricks his mind played to
him to torture him more with hope.
“Moon River wider than a mile
I’m crossing you in style
Some day…”
His eidetic memory was his cruelest torturer and it was right to do so
tormenting him with the song he was singing to Bruce every night while he was
in coma back in the Fortress. Even the remembrance of that song stabbed him
brutally in the chest.
Bruce waking up from the coma.
Moon river, wider than a mile
I'm crossin' you in style some day
Old dream maker, you heartbreaker
Wherever you're goin', I'm goin' your way
“You know you should have been sleeping…”
Clark’s voice was stern but in his eyes it must have been obvious that he was
happy Bruce hadn’t slept.
“You spoiled me; I need you to cuddle me to fall asleep – so basically is your
fault.”
Superman crouched and lifted him from the chair easily as a baby.
“I’m so happy I finally spoiled you!” he exclaimed heaving him in bridal style
and flying again through the open balcony door of his bedroom in Tony’s villa
at Thasos.
“Where are you taking me?” Bruce chuckled and Clark leaned his head over his,
locking their eyes.
“To spoil you more…”
They floated over the black sea; the full moon was sending silver to sleep over
the black slithering silk of the sea. And then in the peaceful thrashing of the
small, lazy waves, Bruce heard some very familiar words that made his heart
beat faster.
“Moon river, wider than a mile…”
He stared at Clark who blushed and stopped singing.
“I know this song” Bruce said.
“No kidding…”
“I must have heard it in Tony’s house: Sinatra is his favorite singer…but this
song feels more important” Clark was looking up, pursing his lips. “What?” he
asked grinning.
Clark gulped and looked him in the eyes completely solemn.
“I used to sing to you that song…every night…at Fortress…when you were…” he
inhaled deeply “far away from me…when I wanted to persuade you to come back so
to see the world together…to not let me see such a vast world alone…”
Bruce felt his eyes watering and Clark smiled.
“It seems they’re right about people hearing us even when…” he caressed Bruce’s
cheek “they’re far…Don’t cry, Star…we’ll cross that river together” he captured
his lips.
“Sing it again…”
Clark began singing as before mimicking perfectly Sinatra’s voice but Bruce
touched his fingers to his lips and he stopped.
“In the Fortress…don’t tell me you sang using Sinatra’s voice?”
Clark blushed.
“No…”
Bruce closed his eyes.
“I want to hear it with your real voice…”
Clark coughed embarrassed and began singing with his own voice and it was the
loveliest voice Bruce had ever heard; he murmured appreciatively without
opening his eyes and felt Clark change his position hugging his waist and
holding him upright glued to his body. Moving slowly to the rhythm of the
song…Bruce nestled his head to Clark’s heart keeping his eyes closed to suck
the verses, Clark’s voice and his heartbeat.
“Old dream maker, you heartbreaker
Wherever you're goin', I'm goin' your way…”
***** Chapter 86 *****
“Two drifters, off to see the world
There's such a lot of world to see
We're after the same rainbow's end, waitin' 'round the bend
My huckleberry friend, Moon River, and me”
Something unbelievably soft and cool caressed Clark’s hot forehead: the truth
was that he was feeling much better; the fever must have had fallen
considerably and although nausea was still there in his empty stomach it was
just an echo of the hurricane of the previous…hm…days? Months? Also, the pain
was decreased to almost bearable levels yet he was too weak, unable to move.
But he could feel the soft and taut at the same time surface he was leaned on:
that was leather definitely. He wasn’t laid flat on his back but more in a
sitting position. Also, he could still open his eyes yet he knew that the red
radiation and the green glowing of his chains were gone; now around him was
tender, warm golden light much like sun’s radiation…
He was feeling better as if the song itself had some healing powers which
thought was stupid: songs could heal but a beloved song like this could
definitely fill you with courage.
He moaned as the cool fabric brushed his sweaty neck. And then his dry, torn
lips felt something touching them; his mouth opened on its own accord and some
drops of water dripped inside comforting his thirst but also making the demand
for more violent; however Clark knew that at this point he shouldn’t drink much
water at once because it would hurt him.
Which the stranger didn’t want as well because he withdrew the water.
Clark was happy that he felt better yet he was afraid that it was Ivy again
having fun by torturing him with the temporary stopping of his torture. On the
other hand…Ivy didn’t know that song and its significance.
His heart drummed and despite the weakness and the pain that insisted on
piercing his every cell he opened his eyes; he wanted to open them at once but
they couldn’t do that.
So Clark gradually, in the speed his weak eyes allowed him, managed to see
behind a wet veil that he was in a small space; in front of him was a hard
surface with bluish indication and a small screen; he could see the source of
the golden light above him on the low ceiling: a small generator of light that
imitated the sun. Which was necessary because from the window in front of him
he could see in the covered with forest horizon that the day hadn’t dawned yet
despite the fact the dark blue of the night had cracked to allow lighter color.
But what struck him was the presence of a steering wheel. He was in a car.
But his surroundings were the least he wanted to see; his heart was pounding
his tormented insides pressing his panting breath to a stampede. He wanted to
see his singing savior because now he was sure that this wasn’t a game of his
captors to torture him even more.
The wet veil covering his eyes stubbornly didn’t want to clear as much as he
blinked; however he managed to see the outline of a face…and frankly he didn’t
need to see more to recognize yet he needed to see because he couldn’t bear
anymore not seeing…
“Batman…” he whispered because his remaining power permitted him only that; his
lips cracked in a joyful smile even though he didn’t want because he was afraid
that Bruce might consider it a mocking gesture. His mind was a twirling
celebrating blur but at least he had the wisdom to call him Batman not sure if
there was someone else around.
Two gloved hands held tenderly his head.
“Calm down – you’re safe now.”
The veil that till now was covering his eyes rose and he saw Batman’s strict
cowled face over him. The lenses were looking at him and Clark was sad he
wasn’t seeing Bruce’s beautiful eyes. As if he sensed it Batman held his cowl
touching the fingertip receptors and Clark’s heart jolted joyfully hearing the
familiar and so exhilarating sound of unlocking.
Of course his heart stopped for a few seconds not because of pain or weakness
but because he was gazing at Bruce’s beautiful face again after months revealed
fast but for him tormenting slow – arousingly slow. Bruce’s eyes weren’t filled
with hostile determination as in their last meeting in the Metropolis’ hotel;
sure, they still glowed with the man’s characteristic determination but at the
same time Clark could see concern and affection if not…love. Love he didn’t
deserve.
Bruce saw Clark trying to raise himself and he hugged his back to settle him
back on the seat; he wished he could have transferred him somewhere more
comfortable yet this wasn’t an option right now. After all this time he felt
his heart convulsing for the man before him; there wasn’t even a trace of the
man that insulted, yelled and treated him bad…As if that Superman was just a
nightmare; only Bruce knew that he wasn’t a nightmare and just pushed his heart
to stop behaving so stupid.
He put his forearm under Clark’s head so that it was more comfortably for him.
Yet Clark tried to rise again; his agony written in his eyes.
“You shouldn’t have come, Bruce…” his breathing became a rasp and Bruce wiped
with the cloth the sweat from his forehead. “It’s too dangerous,
Bruce…Bagdana…Bagdana is…”
But Bruce locked his eyes with Clark’s and just nodded.
“I know” he said calmly.
But this didn’t comfort Clark who wanted to at least warn him about every
detail of the sinister plot that was weaved in the shadows. He shook his head.
“Diana is not the real…” he inhaled. “You were right” he said hastily. “She
isn’t the Amazon Princess; she is a fake; she is a murderer called Poison Ivy”
Bruce was completely tranquil worried only for Clar’s out of breath rant yet
Clark in his despair didn’t notice and continued pushing his weak lugs. “She
works for an alien that wants to conquer Earth…Darkseid…that’s his name… he set
Bagdana free and Bagdana planned everything…he and Ivy manipulated me into…”
his strength evaporated before uttering all the wrong he had done to Bruce all
these months.
But Bruce didn’t want to hear either; he was seeing Clark’s agony and that
wasn’t helping.
“Hush, Clark…”
Clark frowned and then smiled relieved.
“Of course…you know everything…otherwise you wouldn’t have found me. But still,
Bruce” he made to support himself to rise but Bruce didn’t let him. “Bagdana
made everything to get you! He might be somewhere close…you have to leave and
warn the others.”
Bruce grinned.
“I have done that already…They know about Darkseid.”
Clark let his head rest on Bruce’s forearm and his glimmering from fever eyes
regarded the human with awe; which stabbed him in the heart because he
instantly remembered the insults he had launched against that rare human being.
“You are injured, Bruce…” he said weakened “and vulnerable; we can’t afford the
risk of you getting hit…” he coughed. “Someone else should have come…” no, even
that was too much for a scum like him. “Or better you should have let me rot
here…” he bit his lips “it would be too soft punishment for what I did.”
Bruce wanted Clark to stop thinking what he did and focus on what he should do
now. He used the cloth to wipe the new drops of sweat from his face.
“You’d have preferred to see someone else?” he smiled and cocked an eyebrow
with his eyes glimmering mockingly.
Clark closed his eyes and Bruce pressed his lips because he had missed him so
much.
“No…but…” he moaned: a delicious smell tantalized his nose.
He knew what that was and for confirmation he felt the familiar sense on his
lips. He opened his eyes: Bruce had brought a donut to his mouth – the Prince’s
Donut. Clark felt his tired eyes watering.
“Bruce…you…”
Bruce nodded.
“You must eat” he said composed.
“My stomach…Nausea…” but the truth was that being away from the red light and
the Kryptonites had made the nausea subside more as the time passed and now
smelling the delicious dessert actually he felt a pang of hunger.
“You need the sugar” Bruce replied determined reading the change on Clark’s
eyes.
He supported his head and Clark ate a small testing chunk. He moaned from
appreciation after the starving of all these days. But his worry didn’t let him
enjoy the delicacy: in his mind, Bagdana’s threat was always looming.
“Bruce, they will notice my absence…they’ll know and chase us…You! They can’t
catch you…they shouldn’t.”
Bruce regarded him a bit strictly; Clark shouldn’t torture more himself with
that.
“Don’t worry about that…just eat” he spat.
And Clark obeyed.
“Don’t tell me that Batman bought them from Ms. Rose’s bakery?” he asked
copying the similar question Bruce had asked him the morning after their night
in the greenhouse.
“Don’t tell me that Superman is Ms. Rose’s client?”
Bruce felt a punch in his guts hearing that question which remembered so well.
Clark noticed and his guilt became salt in his wounds…the conscience wounds
because his body didn’t have any surface wound: the tortures they inflicted to
him were internal. Yet his conscience’s torture was worse than everything else
and didn’t subside even if Kryptonite and red radiation was away.
“No…Lois helped” Bruce decided to soothe him by answering his question.
Clark’s eyes shone in the reference of that name but then he stopped eating and
lowered his eyes remembering how he treated his best friend.
“How is she?” he asked.
Bruce found his eyes.
“She is fine; I told her everything about the mind control you were under” he
crooked his mouth “Tony of course had informed Bruce Wayne because Bruce
couldn’t have found this. She is always your friend – now. Eat!”
Lois was pressing the keys on her desk computer huffing and puffing; today the
all too familiar roaring of her colleagues’ typing was annoying. Martha Kent
had called Perry to tell him that Clark was ill so he’d have to stay in bed for
some days. But Lois wasn’t stupid: she remembered the phone call Ma Kent made
her and her question about Clark’s whereabouts.
If Clark was with her all this time then why she called her to ask about him?
Of course he could have returned to his Ma after the phone call but still…Clark
definitely couldn’t be sick so this was just an excuse to cover up his absence
from work. And Lois wondered: only from work?
She was writing in auto pilot while thinking hard; Martha’s sudden call to her
son to come visit her after Superman saved those people in the restaurant
attack. And now this… Lois frowned without even realizing. Maybe what Superman
did that day in the restaurant put him in some kind of danger and that was the
reason Martha called him to the farm? To protect him? But then Ma Kent called
looking for her son…so Clark left the farm; and now Martha calls to say that he
is ill…and Superman has disappeared…
The ring of her Smartphone startled her.
“Bruce? What a pleasant surprise! Yeah! Everything you want: do you want me to
come to Gotham?”
She smiled.
“You’re here?! Wait…I’m coming.”
Bruce saw her coming no more than five minutes later; he was at the park
opposite the Planet’s building, sat in his wheelchair, dressed in jeans, a
white crew neck sweater, a black leather jacket and a cap covering his head.
His legs were covered with a quilt blanket and he wore a pair of black
sunglasses.
He was waiting under a tree near the park’s center where there wasn’t any
person who could hear. Bruce saw Lois scanning the park with a frown.
“I forgot to ask him where he’d be…” she said frustrated.
Bruce chose the spot he was waiting exactly because allowed him to watch the
park’s entrance. So he saw her looking around to locate him and to help her
touched the screen of his Cosmo calling her.
As soon as she heard Bruce’s voice in her phone she spotted him. A young man in
a wheelchair…she shook her head: she should have located him instantly – she
felt really dump failing to do so till now who saw him with the Cosmos to his
ear.
She ran there and Bruce smiled giving her his hand for a handshake.
“I forgot to mention where I was…” he said.
Lois narrowed slightly his eyes noticing how easily the young billionaire could
pass unnoticed wearing casual clothes and a pair of sunglasses. She felt
Bruce’s gaze behind his glasses and smiled.
“You didn’t have to make the road here, Bruce; you could have called me and I’d
have come.”
Bruce took off his sunglasses and looked at her.
“I want a favor so it would have been rude to ask you to make the road; after
all, I needed a small trip” well, that wasn’t actually true: Leslie’s medicine
may have given him strength and stamina yet he could sense that every new
journey had its toll on him.
Lois sat at the wooden bench beside Bruce.
“You can ask whatever you want. It will be my pleasure.”
Bruce smiled.
“You’re too kind, Lois” she waved that off. “Some donuts…”
Lois’ goggled.
“What?”
Bruce shrugged.
“I would like you to buy some donuts for me.”
Lois laughed and then stared at Bruce perplexed.
“Sorry for asking…but all this road for some…donuts?”
“Specific donuts” Bruce arched his eyebrows and now Lois seemed to understand.
“I need Clark’s favorite donuts from Ms. Rose’s bakery. And you as his best
friend must know what are his favorite.”
Lois shook her head.
“Are you sure you don’t know? I mean you two were together for several
months...” he said and immediately bit her lip realizing that it’d pain him to
be reminded of that.
Yet Bruce didn’t show anything.
“He always ate the donuts that were my favorite…”
Lois nodded.
“The Prince’s Donuts” she smiled tenderly seeing Bruce blushing.
She got up.
“Wait here and I’ll bring them.”
It didn’t take her more than ten minutes to return with a paper bag filled with
the delicacies; she gave the bag to him. Bruce recognized instantly the smell.
It wrapped some of his most beautiful memories.
“But they are the Prince’s Donuts.”
Lois grinned smartly.
“Right. This is his favorite taste…”
Bruce’s eyes became blank and Lois was touched and sad for the young man’s
pain.
“Do you know where he is?” she asked to change the subject as she sat again at
the bench.
“It’s confidential but I know you won’t say anything to anyone.”
“That goes without saying, Bruce.”
“Tony told me that he was under some influence all this time and that Diana was
actually an impostor” Lois nodded – she would have bet her salary on that. “She
works with a powerful alien who plans to attack the planet. Actually, Tony
believes that Superman is their captive right now and they prepare to attack
the planet.”
Lois frowned. She used to snort hearing about aliens but after she learnt the
truth about Clark she changed her attitude.
“That makes sense – Superman surely is one of the greatest protectors of Earth
. They know his human identity?”
“Tony told me that they ignore that.”
Lois huffed and crossed her arms over the chest.
“Will they manage to save him? Save the planet?” she asked determined but with
some agony in her voice.
Bruce nodded and then Lois touched her hands on his shoulders. Bruce raised his
eyes to meet her gaze.
“And with you two? Is there a hope for you and him?” she asked tenderly.
Bruce met her eyes.
“No.”
Lois closed her eyes sad but nodded understanding.
 
Thor stood in front of the arched shaped window in the throne hall of Odin’s
palace; he was in his full battle attire along with his horned Viking helmet.
His blue eyes were focused in front of him on the green and blue planet that
twirled slowly placed in the vastness of the universe. His brow was furrowed as
thoughts flooded his mind.
He clenched Mjolnir without realizing and twitched feeling a hand on his
shoulder.
“You’re so deep in thought that you didn’t hear me crossing the hall.”
Thorn turned to see his father dressed for battle as his son; he nodded.
“Are you worried about the battle’s outcome?” Odin asked.
His son shook his head.
“I’m sure we’ll win, father…Bruce’s plan is excellent.”
Odin arched an eyebrow.
“Bruce’s…” he commented arching his eyebrows but without saying more. “Then why
are you so worried?”
Thor looked at his father’s rugged face.
“Every battle has its dead…”
Odin crooked his mouth. Of course.
“We know that but it applies only to the mortals.”
Thor smiled.
“Not in this battle, you know that, father: Darkseid can kill gods.”
“However your worries are for your mortal friends…”
The younger god nodded and pressed his lips.
“Yes, Tony.”
Odin let a bitter short laugh.
“And Mr. Wayne.”
Thor stretched his body and yanked his head.
“He insists on being in the battle while he is paraplegic and tired from his
activity all this time.”
Odin pursed his lips.
“It is his life even if it’s a mortal life: he decides what he’ll do with the
years he has. He is an unyielding, proud being” he chuckled “I’d have been
surprised if he chose to stay away.”
Thor looked at Earth.
“He insisted on Loki fighting with us.”
“Your vote was in favor of Loki’s release.”
Thor shook his head.
“Yours too!”
“It seems that I was under Batman’s charm, as well…” Odin laughed yet Thor
gulped uncomfortable.
“I hoped to have my eye constantly on Loki but Bruce kept secret how he is
going to use him.”
Odin nodded.
“You must trust your clever friend” Thor shook his head.
“I trust Bruce but I don’t trust Loki… And even without the Loki factor still
it is dangerous.”
Odin patted his upper arms.
“We have an army of Valkyries and Asgardians ready to confront Darkseid” in
front of them Odin projected what he had just seen: in the marble surfaced vast
yard of the palace an army on chariots shone under Asgard’s sun.
Female warriors – the Valkyries - with wings and long curved swords and men of
Asgard in their glimmering silver armors. Thor felt very proud of his people.
 “Your friends will have all the help Asgard can give” Thor nodded and Odin’s
one eyed gaze became strict. “But you must not let your heart bond with him
more…You should never go beyond the limit of the friendship. For your own good,
son.”
Thor nodded.
“Bruce will never let me go…” he chuckled “…astray and bloom such feelings;” he
crooked his mouth. “But I’m not sure if it is ‘for my own good’…” he snorted
and Odin pressed more his son’s upper arms locking their eyes.
“He wants to protect you, Thor.”
He smiled.
“Of that I’m sure.”
 
“How’s Ma?” Clark asked and Bruce came out of his thoughts.
“She is alright but very worried… I reassured her that you’d return to her.”
Clark was eating slowly from Bruce’s hand realizing that the donuts were more
delicious when eaten from Bruce’s lips mingled with his perfume and the taste
of his flesh. Yet he knew that he couldn’t ask for that any longer.
“It was you that advised her to call me at the farm, right? To keep me
protected…”
Bruce wiped with his fingertip some cream that had stuck in Clark’s lips.
“I did. I knew that after you stopped the attack in the restaurant Ivy and
Darkseid would want to neutralize you so that you won’t become popular again…”
Clark pressed his lips.
“But I left…not listening to her despair…indifferent to her feelings” he sighed
and closed his eyes. “I’m an ungrateful son…I hurt her…”
Bruce caressed his sweaty hair.
“You’re not” he said and their eyes locked like the old times Clark realized
with a pang.
“I owe her an apology…and to you…”
Bruce tensed; he didn’t want to hear anything.
“The things I’ve done…” Clark insisted.
Bruce touched his gloved fingers to his mouth; his eyes flashed.
“Don’t say anything…we have a battle of life or death before us.”
But at this moment Clark cared only for the man he had before him; for the pain
and suffering he inflicted on his Star; his Star who despite his behavior never
stopped caring and protecting him.
“Right now” he was feeling better yet his strength was still quivering and so
was his voice “the only thing that matters is asking your forgiveness.”
Bruce licked his lips.
“There’s nothing to forgive. Now what matters is the battle: we have only a few
hours before it starts and we need you, Superman” he said abruptly.
Clark bit the inner of his mouth.
“I want to fight and beat them for what they did…but I’m too weak” he frowned.
“I’m still in pain” he huffed “I don’t care about the pain but I have no
strength; I can’t even move my arms and legs – my powers are nonexistent. Even
with abundance of sun light plus the artificial solar light of the Tumbler I’ll
need days to recover and still I won’t be in my top condition…”
He stabbed his eyes to Bruce’s.
“But I’ll fight and I’ll be happy to die to stop them.”
Bruce yanked his head.
“We don’t want you dead” Clark’s heart leapt happy. “Darkseid has his machine
in the frozen desert” Clark nodded because he knew the place. “The vast
circular basin the mountains form throughout the state’s borders. He has
facilities there where he keeps the Anti Life Machine. We will bring the battle
there to prevent Darkseid from hitting the cities. We can’t wait him to make
the first move.”
“Exactly: he intends to destroy Earth and exterminate humans. How you will make
him fight there?”
“Fury will go to his premises in the frozen desert with a search warrant; they
will refuse and Fury will leave with the threat that he’ll come with
reinforcement to force the search; Darkseid will try to mind control the
officials to cancel the order. When he’ll realize that he can’t stop that he
will do everything to protect his machine – especially, when he finds out that
his Intergang will be under Police’s attack too.”
“You corner the beast…” Clark mumbled awed. “But can you manage all that?
Darkseid’s mind powers are tremendous and Ivy has super powers that if used…”
“The real Diana is with us. And we have more allies at our side: Jor El will
cast the Fortress protection.”
Clark’s eyes widened impressed.
“And we need your entire strength and your skills as well” Bruce cocked his
eyebrows. “Now. The plan will be set in motion in about one hour and thirty
minutes.”
Clark was really enthused with the plan yet his weak, aching body was a big
letdown that choked his exhilaration.
“How?” he asked perplexed almost in despair.
He began trembling from cold; his fever had dropped but now his temperature
declined abruptly due to the days he spent under Kryptonite’s effect. His teeth
rattled.
Bruce’s insides clenched seeing him like this and he raised him from the seat
to hug him so to give him his warmth – the Tumbler’s heated seats weren’t
enough; even though he wore the armor still this was warmer than Clark’s body
right now. He felt Clark’s heart beating crazily with the proximity.
Clark closed his eyes: Bruce was holding him. Bruce still loved him so much
that he hugged him to warm him. He managed to persuade his arms to touch
Bruce’s back though the armor kept away that soft, taut skin he loved. His eyes
met with Bruce’s.
Bruce knew that it would come to this; he had come here determined to do it;
for that reason he didn’t let anyone else come. He had to give Superman his
strength back. And Clark was freezing, the warmth inside the Tumbler
insufficient; the thick forest near Mannheim’s Mansion was a perfect cover yet
it blocked much of the real sun’s warmth.
It was difficult; his embarrassment was tormenting yet he had to do it; he
clenched his jaw and swallowed his shyness. He began taking off the various
parts of his armor rather hasty.
Clark hadn’t overcome his dizziness yet he looked in disbelief Bruce taking off
his armor revealing part by part his dressed in underwear body. He couldn’t
understand what was happening: maybe it was a dream? His desire for forgiveness
and his thirst for Bruce was taking the form of a beautiful illusion?
Illusion or not he couldn’t let Bruce do this. He touched carefully his hand
and Bruce cast him a perplexed glance; Clark could see some sweat drops on his
face.
“I’m not worthy of this, Star…”
This is what Bruce needed: delays in what he had to do especially when that was
so difficult.
“Can you simply shut your mouth?” he snapped and Clark grinned.
Bruce let Clark lay on the seat’s back to have his hands free to take off his
undershirt. Clark’s misty eyes widened awed seeing Bruce’s naked torso
stretched as he pulled off his undershirt; he swallowed the saliva that filled
his mouth: he wanted so much to touch, to kiss but he didn’t have the strength
and more important: he didn’t have the right after what he had done.
Yet Bruce slithered in the same seat with him and straddled him making Clark’s
heart beat strong with excitement; Clark wondered how Bruce managed to feel so
light on his weakened body.
But his wonder took an abrupt end when Bruce did the most unexpected thing: he
found the spots where Superman’s weathered uniform clasped and pushed the
fabric off his torso.
Bruce stopped hastily his eyes from doing what they loved: admiring Clark’s
perfect shaped body. He wrapped his arms around Clark’s back and raised him to
touch his torso.
“You’re cold…” he whispered to Clark who was too dazzled at the moment to
reply.
He was numb feeling Bruce’s velvety, warm flesh on his again after every
monstrosity he had done; beyond every odd…This was a dream: the most beautiful
dream; his Star holding him glued to him wanting to warm him. He blinked to
control his numbness and his quick breath: Bruce was so pleasantly warm like
returning to your home after walking hours in the freezing cold and finding the
fireplace lit…
“You’re so warm…you’re my sun…” he mumbled letting his head touch Bruce’s
shoulder on the crook between neck and shoulder using his weakness as excuse to
feel more skin and suck more of Bruce’s bodily perfume.
Bruce felt his insides melt from affection but a cruel bite was always there
reminding him that things could never be the same again. He didn’t have any
feeling from his legs but he was sure that if his legs were healthy now would
have paralyzed by Clark’s breaths on his neck. He caressed Superman’s cold
hair. He had set on a system of sun light emission from the Tumbler’s ceiling
but the healing effect was too slow and Clark was so much cold and weak.
Their time was limited: he inhaled deeply because now was the time he dreaded.
He took off the armor’s part that covered his pelvis back and front; then with
one arm holding Clark tight on him he lowered with the other his boxer and did
the same with Clark’s bottom half of the uniform.
Clark was startled feeling something so hot and soft on his icy groin; his
eidetic memory that all this time was tormenting him now blessed him with the
affirmation that this was indeed Bruce’s groin. He raised his eyes and met
Bruce’s; it was obvious from the sweat drops on Bruce’s forehead that he was
shy and embarrassed.
Bruce licked his lips.
“You need the warmth” he snapped and moved his hand to touch Clark’s length.
Clark appreciated the sensation; he was grateful but he was ashamed as the
memories from what he did surged his mind. He managed to persuade his hands to
overcome their weakness and cup Bruce’s face. The younger man locked his eyes
with Clark’s without stopping his ministrations on Clark’s length that suddenly
began twitching.
“Bruce, no…You don’t have to do this…I’m a scum: I don’t deserve your
forgiveness.”
Bruce didn’t reply anything; he captured slowly Clark’s lips and began a
passionate kiss that gradually became strong as Clark followed sucking the
younger man’s taste as if his life was depended on this.
Clark moaned glued to Bruce’s lips as the human fondled his back with tender
movements while his other hand pumped his length; his blood began warming again
and when Bruce detached and lowered his head to touch his lips to Clark’s
awakened length his body was agitated from pleasant expectance.
Clark didn’t manage to speak before Bruce started…but he didn’t have the
strength to stop something so pleasant, so life giving. Bruce’s mouth
ministrations on his length coupled with those dexterous hands on his back
pushed Clark to a blissful oblivion; he rested his head on the back of the seat
because he still didn’t have the power to support it under such flooding
sensations. He was grunting and his dead till now body convulsed as his blood
began boiling…
Bruce felt Clark’s length hardening and despite his relief that Clark’s body
was recovering he felt a cold current running the healthy part of his spine.
However he closed his eyes and choked his hesitation.
When Clark’s erection was rock hard Bruce detached his mouth to Clark’s moan of
sadness.
The Man of Steel took gently Bruce’s chin and brought their eyes to meet. He
was aware that the younger man was now applying lube to Clark’s length.
“Bruce…”
But Bruce determined grabbed his own paralyzed thighs and made them open; then
he took Clark’s rock hard length.
“Bruce…I…” Clark mumbled astonished but before saying anything else he felt his
length brought to Bruce’s opening.
Clark could feel Bruce’s heart beating fast and he could tell that it wasn’t
only from joy as his own; he touched Bruce’s shoulder: he was ready to tell him
to stop because he knew that Bruce wasn’t ready – and he wouldn’t be ready for
long after what he had done.
Bruce sensed Clark’s hesitation: damn! He had failed to cover his own
apprehension. With a determined move he pushed Clark’s length inside him. He
was surprised to realize that his anus protested painfully still echoing the
experience of their last night.
But he ignored the pain and looked into Clark’s glimmering eyes; Bruce could
tell that Clark was enjoying their unification but also in his beautiful eyes
sadness and confusion were clear.
“Bruce…why?” he mumbled but even as he uttered the words his hips began
convulsing in thrusting movements, pushing his flesh more into Bruce as if
attracted by a powerful magnet; like the thirsty runs to the water…
Bruce’s eyes were blank; he felt Clark’s arms hugging his back to settle him on
his lap more comfortable.
The cave was empty from bats as they had gone for hunt; he had returned from
the meeting in the Avengers’ Tower almost at midnight. But even that late
Lucius didn’t deny him the favor and was waiting there to give him everything
he had asked; yet Bruce wanted something more: affirmation once again for his
assumption.
“Lucius, do you happen to remember…”
The scientist looked at him interested.
“What, Mr. Wayne?”
“When you inoculated Superman from the effect Ra’s Al Ghul had caused him
through my body, how his organism responded?”
Lucius frowned thinking for a bit.
“At first the recovery of his powers was slow but then all of a sudden, one
morning his powers had reached their previous level of strength; I remember
that it was after that big downpour; I remember that night because Mr. Stark
was looking for you.”
Bruce nodded. It was the night of their first time in the greenhouse. Clark had
mentioned briefly when the next night Bruce had gone to his hotel room.
“You know that you healed me?” Clark whispered in his ear still holding him
glued on his body, Bruce’s calves caressing his shivering buttocks.
Bruce locked his still dilated eyes on Clark’s.
“Actually, you did that. Remember?’’
Clark brushed Bruce’s wet locks that stack on his forehead and cheekbones
framing his sweaty face.
“Despite the huge improvement from the medicine, my powers didn’t feel as
before but after last night…” he sighed “I feel stronger than ever.”
Bruce chuckled.
“It’s your psychology.”
Clark tapped Bruce’s nose and then caressed his swollen lips, Bruce kissing his
fingertips.
“Lucius’ exams confirmed it…”
Clark was thrusting in him in a stable pace, strong but also gently; Clark’s
body was rejoicing their coupling after all these months yet he wasn’t stupid;
he knew that Bruce wasn’t perfectly into this but he was doing it for his sake,
to heal him. And yes, his body was beginning to feel a lot better as if he was
inside the very sun.
His thrusts became faster and Clark hugged Bruce tighter seeing in the human’s
eyes the realization. The Man of Steel kissed tenderly Bruce’s sweaty jaw line
caressing his cheeks; their eyes locked as Clark’s body thrust one last time
feeling Bruce’s insides.
Clark caressed Bruce’s back affectionately kissing his wet hair and Bruce
finally let his head rest on Clark’s shoulder. Clark’s body was hot now and his
naked muscles vibrated energy and life: Bruce closed his eyes – it worked.
Clark cupped Bruce’s face and brought his eyes to meet his own; he caressed his
cheek.
“There is no hope for the world, right?” he asked determined, no fear for the
ending that was near.
 
Mannheim was sat in the big leather armchair of his desk; his office at the top
floor of Mannheim Industries’ building was drenched in pure darkness – the big
rectangular window behind his back settled as to not let even the pale light of
the dawn come in.
His eyes was staring blank at the wall projecting there the plans he worked in
his mind. Fire, explosions, dust and debris everywhere in the great human’s
city; the White House demolished. Human corpses all over the streets mummified
as his machine had sucked everything they had inside them.
“It is almost time…” he dragged his words. “It’ll begin in Washington and the
rest of the world will sink in the panic and terror witnessing Darkseid’s
enormous power and greatness…”
 
Bruce smiled and for Clark that smile was hope; the sun he had be bereft of all
this time.
“There was never hope for this word but that never stopped us from working to
create hope.”
Clark smiled and brushed Bruce’s hair ending up caressing the back of his neck;
their eyes were locked like their bodies that breathed and beat in the same
pace like few months ago.
“You saved me; you gave me warmth, strength, energy; you gifted me with your
body: you gave me life…”
Superman felt his old strength vibrating inside his muscles, energy fuelling
his body; his senses reaching their full capacity which enabled him to absorb
every detail from Bruce’s body. He nuzzled the human’s cheek’s rejoicing the
velvety flesh even with his nose; he could sense that Bruce didn’t loath the
touch but neither relaxed into it like in the past.
“I’m sorry, Star…I’m sorry for all the insults, the pain, the suffering I…”
But Bruce touched his fingertips to his lips and Clark kissed them feathery.
“Thank you, Star.”
 
Tony stood in front of the whole wall control panel in the operation room of
the Tower watching avidly all over the global map the orange round lights of
medium vigilance slowly turning to red indicating the time of action.
Around him in the room agents on their desks or standing buzzed like bees
giving or receiving information.
Fury, Carter and Hill were on their way to the Mannheim facilities in the
frozen basin; the call summoning Mannheim to interrogation was also a matter of
time to be made and Tony pictured the one eyed veteran readying his old
fashioned cell phone; his eye shining in determination and his full lips curled
in a smirk.
Tony was agitated and he looked forward for the moment – it wasn’t long – when
he would activate Ironman’s armor and fly to the battle. He preferred the
battle to end all this waiting. He wished he had Bruce’s patience.
He felt two soft hands on his shoulders and his nostrils caught Pepper’s
intoxicating perfume; in the chaos of the ‘war room’ he hadn’t heard her heels.
He turned his eyes on her with a big smile over his face.
“That perfume…” he said.
Pepper crooked her mouth.
“Are you alright?”
Tony cocked his eyebrows.
“Yup! But I’d gulp an entire bottle of scotch if it wasn’t battle time” he
frowned. “Or maybe I should do that? In the past scotch had enhanced my
performance…”
Pepper crossed her arms over the chest.
“Not even think about it!” she spat strictly and Tony grinned.
He set his arm around her waist and led them out of the room. The operation
room was dark with artificial light and being out in the corridor that was made
of whole wall windows enlightened Tony’s spirit: the dawn was all over New
York’s skyline and the first golden rays of the morning sun exhilarated him in
new hope.
 “They are unaware of that day’s importance…” he said “peacefully ignorant of
the battle that it is to begin. They are even happy for the day off they have…”
Pepper looked him in the eyes and caressed his hair.
“You are afraid about the outcome of the battle?” she asked in a whisper so
that nobody hears.
Tony shook his head.
“No, I’m sure we will prevail. We have the weapons, we have the knowledge, we
have the preparation, we have Batman’s plan. Everyone is in place as Batman
wanted: Diana and Selina in Metropolis to help the police with Intergang and
the fake Diana – afterwards they will join the battle; Dr. Strange’s team
protecting each continent – Stephen is ready to reach the battlefield; Fury,
Carter and Hill heading to the basin; Captain America and Hulk ready to begin
towards the facilities and I will do the same in a few minutes; Thor is in
Asgard standby to lead his army here; Flash will assist National Guard and the
army in Washington in case Darkseid orders his troops to attack: Batman
believes that Darkseid will concentrate his forces in the desert to not let us
approach the machine yet he wants to be sure; battleships are ready to launch
fighters to stop Darkseid’s troops if they attack all over the globe.”
“Then?” Pepper asked.
“It will be a difficult battle…” he pressed his lips “I have inoculated our
friends and I’m going to launch Loki’s weakening toxin in the battlefield to
weaken Darkseid but still he’ll be mighty. People might get killed…”
Pepper nodded.
“Every war has its casualties in both camps. You are worried about Bruce?” she
guessed.
Tony inhaled.
“I would prefer it if he was safely settled in Superman’s Fortress; Jor El will
unleash the Fortress’ protective energy to prevent them from destroying the
planet with earthquakes, hurricanes and volcanoes. Certainly the Fortress would
be unassailable whatever the outcome. Bruce is still paralyzed; already
exhausted and that battle…”
She blinked.
“He is brave and smart; he knows how to protect himself – and you two will be
in the battle together” she shook her index finger warningly. “You better be
careful and not your usual playful self: these creatures are not for games.”
Tony closed his eyes and fumed.
“Believe me I have no mood for games with these motherfuckers.”
She leaned and kissed him in the ear lobe something that always made him feel
goose bumps.
“My hero…” she chuckled.
“You’re anything than a lady in distress, Peps.”
“Thanks for noticing” she cocked an eyebrow.
“I feel confident with you here overlooking and handling information;
coordinating along with Lucius from the Wayne Tower.”
She smirked.
“You have a knack in human resources, right?”
He patted her upper arm and kissed her lips slowly giving a passionate pace.
“When this shit ends…” he started but Pepper rolled her eyes.
“Men’s promises while kissing are like the pre election promises of the
politicians” she said and Tony cackled.
But then his wrist watch beeped and he met Pepper’s eyes determined.
 
“What?!” Mannheim roared to his shaking secretary.
“Agent Fury from the S.H.I.E.L.D. called and demanded that you present at
Metropolis’ attorney general for inquisition. If you refuse to attend the
hearing – he said – you will be arrested.”
Mannheim knitted his thick eyebrows.
“For what?” he rattled his teeth.
“For the robbery in Wayne Enterprises’ facilities, sir.”
Mannheim clenched his fist and punched his antique grandiose heavy desk.
“That bastard again! Leave!” he roared to the woman and she hastened to do so.
Mannheim rubbed his jaw: there was no way he’d go there obeying to stupid
humans! If they tried to arrest him, well, they were due for a nasty surprise.
However he didn’t like that they suspected him for the robbery not that it was
difficult to connect him: he had threatened Wayne before the robbery.
 
The sun disk was now clearly visible on the horizon from the Tumbler’s
windscreen. Yet Clark didn’t care about that: the only sun, the only life he
needed was right there inside the car; in his arms, settled on his body; Clark
was inside the sun itself and it felt so amazing…
Yet Bruce was aware of the time and the importance. He detached from Clark
which made the Man of Steel narrow his eyes in weak protest and slipped into
the driver’s seat. He began putting on his underclothes and then his armor.
Clark having finally regained much of his lost strength began putting on his
uniform too not without regret.
“It’s necessary such haste?” he asked hesitantly because after the gift Bruce
gave him it felt ungrateful to ask for more – he didn’t even deserved that.
Bruce holding his cowl ready to put it looked at him and Clark’s insides
clenched because soon he wouldn’t be able to see his magnificent eyes.
“We don’t have much time; the operation starts…”
Clark nodded and he was ready to say something when an alarming sound was heard
from the Tumbler. Bruce let the cowl aside and touched the screen zooming on
the approaching figures – they were ten Parademons. He pressed his lips and put
on the cowl. They shouldn’t see that Superman had escaped.
“We can beat them” Clark said seeing the creatures which he recognized from
Bruce’s description of his attackers and from the visions Darkseid had planted
in his mind.
Batman cast him a sharp glance.
“They must not know that you’ve escaped” the door hissed opening upwards and he
was ready to jump off.
But Clark grabbed his forearm.
“You can’t face them alone: we will leave this place, drive you somewhere safe
and I’ll fly to the frozen basin to fight with the others. Bruce, you’ve made
already far too much and you are injured; you’re tired I felt that.”
But Batman jumped outside shaking off his hand.
“The Tumbler is set on auto pilot to drive you to the location.”
“No!” Clark yelled.
“Don’t try to overcome the system, you can’t” the door closed and Clark
searched for something to open it. “You can’t open the door with force, Clark.
Just go there and fight like all of us…We’ll meet at the battlefield.”
The Tumbler began moving accelerating fast; Batman watched the vehicle
expressionless and that brought his eyes to meet with Clark’s who still looked
at him; the impenetrable windows of the Tumbler weren’t an issue for him since
his sight had much recovered.
Batman activated his glances and turned his back to meet the Parademons giving
Clark the time to get away.
 
Catwoman was covered by the shadows of the alley two warehouses away from the
one that housed the central Intergang hideout. She was at Metropolis’ docks and
the sun had already risen on the horizon. Catwoman would prefer the operation
to happen during the night yet he understood Bruce’s intention: who would
suspect an attack in daylight?
True: there weren’t additional security measures around the warehouse –clearly
to not raise suspicions that they prepared something big. The thugs had been
gathered to several hideouts of the gang clearly being ready for Darkseid’s
orders for action. Police would surge simultaneously at each of them in a few
minutes. And Catwoman and Diana who would stay hidden till Ivy appeared were
ready the first to help the Police and the second to confront Ivy who surely
would appear once her boss realized the danger to his plans.
Selina frowned suddenly; behind her was a presence that till now she hadn’t
sensed coming. Bruce had warned her about Darkseid’s minions.
“I don’t like stalkers” a squeaking, malign female voice addressed her back.
Catwoman turned cocking an eyebrow to see among the shadows the elderly female
creature that was Darkseid’s lieutenant: Granny Goodness. She smirked.
“Hadn’t anyone told you that you shouldn’t mess with cats? They have nails!”
She said and launched her whip hitting her in the face. She wasn’t concerned of
betraying the plan because certainly Granny didn’t know her alliances.
Granny growled pissed and stormed at her.
 
Batman saw in his forearms indicators that the Parademons were close. He pulled
his grapple gun and wrapped the cable around a thick branch launching himself
up: he needed to buy Superman time.
As soon as the green creatures were underneath he jumped at them.
They were startled and Batman used the element of surprise to knock out
instantly two of them upon landing kicking them hard in their vulnerable guts.
Some of the others stormed at him keeping him occupied while the others fired
at him with the weapons they had attached to their arms.
He was hitting the Parademons who attacked him dodging the fire that was
launched at him which killed some of the Parademons that fought with him. He
grabbed the hand of one that was ready to stab him with the blade he had in his
other hand and twitched his arm upwards breaking it; at the same time he
launched a cable from his wrist wrapping the firing arm of the Parademon that
aimed at him turning the weapon to shoot another Parademon who was ready to
fire.
Batman clenched his jaw and sent the Parademon whose arm had broken to crush on
his comrades. Instantly he turned around jumping at the remaining Parademons
who set their weapons against him.
Suddenly he felt a change in the air behind his back.
“Stop!” he heard and the Parademons halted.
Batman turned to see the one he already knew. Bagdana: in his demon 9’ granite
form dressed in black leather leggings and a black leather vest that let much
of his broad chest visible.
“You?” Batman feigned surprise and the demon smiled.
“You believed me rotting in Tartarus, right? I know you would come for him even
after everything he did to you – after all, it’s not difficult to find
Kryptonite’s radiation when you want to find where Superman is kept: his
disappearance certainly made you suspect that Diana lured him to a trap – you
never believed in her” he laughed. “But I caught up with you before saving him.
And now you’ll come with me.”
Batman set his jaw.
“I won’t come with you and you won’t come near me” he showed the Black
Butterfly to the demon.
Bagdana smirked and without doing a move Bruce saw in the air before him
Catwoman fighting with Granny Goodness; his friend was dodging the fire Granny
was sending at her and attacked back kicking Darkseid’s minion hard in the face
causing an enraged shriek from her.
“She is great but she has no chance against Granny…” Bagdana said cocking an
eyebrow.
Bruce frowned inside and saw Granny deflecting Selina’s bullets and sending
fire at her; Selina began somersaulting avoiding the lethal fire and took cover
behind a trash bin. His friend fired at Granny who laughed maniac when she
deflected every bullet.
“It’s a matter of time” Bagdana said slyly watching avidly Batman’s reactions.
“It’s fake” Batman growled clenching his fists.
Bagdana shrugged.
“It could be but you know deep inside that I didn’t create that:” he shook his
head amused. “I always keep watching that foul creature called Granny Goodness
for backstabbing me and look whom she is ready to kill: you brought your friend
with you and left her in Metropolis as a backup for your operation to save
Superman;” Bruce’s heart began beating again: at least the demon didn’t suspect
the real purpose of Selina being in Metropolis. “ She was to help you with
taking him away, huh?. Granny hates humans…” he said almost sighing. “She is
going to kill her…”
Bruce’s heart was pounding seeing Selina jumping away as Granny blew the trash
bin with a beam she sent with her hand. He had sent Selina to her death! And
Diana couldn’t help because she was away, instructed to show up in the precise
time…
“Give me the diamond and the Knife of Justice and I’ll save your friend.”
Bruce knew what that meant: surrender himself to the demon. Selina jolted her
whip and grabbed Granny’s firing hand deflecting the fire and crushing her to
the wall. Yet as she was falling Granny dragged the whip crushing Catwoman to
the cement of the alley; instantly Darkseid’s lieutenant stood and turned
smirking ready to fire at Selina who was down.
“Save her!” Batman demanded throwing at the demon’s feet the diamond and the
Knife he had took out of his belt.
Bagdana stretched his index figure to the image and Granny with a puff vanished
leaving Selina frowning looking surprised around her; at the same time Bruce
felt his legs weakening and realized that the demon had deactivated the his
armor’s system that enabled his legs to stand and move. He collapsed to the
forest bed like a chopped tree and simultaneously felt his arms paralyzed.
Bagdana looked at him and huffed satisfied.
“I like it when I ruin Granny’s fun…”
 
Granny found herself in Mannheim’s office; she was fuming realizing that
someone messed with her business but seeing her boss she was shocked. However
her anger was such that she didn’t notice her boss’ mood.
“Bagdana did it!” she shrieked between her flying gray hair.
“What?” Darkseid spat.
“I was ready to fry a stalker who probably wanted to break in the central
hideout and he just took me from there and brought me here! Why are you keeping
that lousy creature with you?”
Darkseid met her gaze calm.
“It’s almost time for our attack: humans dared to summon me for inquisition.
They threatened to arrest me if I don’t present myself in two days” he cackled.
“When they come to arrest me I’ll launch my attack – I want the world being in
a normal day – unlike today – so that they watch planes and civil buildings
filled with people being exploded. After we finish I’ll get rid of that useful
– he gave us Superman in a plate after all - but annoying demon.”
Granny smirked satisfied, her wrath having subsided.
“And his human pet?”
Mannheim raised an eyebrow and pouted.
“I need a pet too…”
Suddenly, his personal phone rang and he frowned seeing the number of Stitches,
the thug he had named leader of the Intergang: the filthy rat was instructed to
never call him.
“Police surrounded our hideouts…”
“Don’t worry” he said confident “they will leave.”
Granny looked him perplexed and Darkseid smirked smugly.
“It happened before; I’ll manipulate the authorities to call them back.”
He sat in his armchair behind the desk – he was sure of his success yet he
frowned realizing that he couldn’t access the minds of the police heads.
“What?” Granny asked in agony.
“Nothing” he said and concentrated harder.
Yet his concentration was ruined. His personal phone rang again; he clenched
his jaw seeing the number: the premises in the Frozen Basin.
His eyes widened on listening the leader of his security.
“You didn’t let them inside!”
“They were S.H.I.E.L.D. agents – I repelled them but they had a warrant and
they said that they’ll come back to search the facilities with force. They’ll
bring the Avengers! ”
The Machine! They must not find the Machine.
“They think!” he spat and while his employer was trying to ask instructions he
launched his phone to the opposite wall smashing it to pieces.
He’d stop them; their superiors would do it. There wasn’t any difficulty for
Darkseid to mind control those stupid men and women whom humans had the idiocy
to call leaders. They would stop the S.H.I.E.L.D.
But to his shock he was unable to reach their minds as if a wall was built
around. He tried again and again… Some sweat drops appeared over his brow. And
something he hadn’t experienced ever again crawled in his insides: agony? Fear?
That were for humans not him! But he couldn’t afford losing his Machine again
now that it was ready.
“Master what’s wrong?” Granny leaned on him touching the grandiose desk.
His breath came out as a panting smoke.
“Nothing…”
The stable phone on his desk rang since his cell was broken in pieces.
Stitches.
“They didn’t draw back! What to do?”
His punch this time broke the table. Someone understood that the minds of the
authorities were controlled and found a way to block him. Intergang was under
attack and they were ready to search the facilities with his machine: was there
any connection or just a coincidence? He had to protect his machine.
“Boss, what we’ll do? They have surrounded us and are in!”
Mannheim changed his form to Darkseid’s gigantic form. The God yanked his head
back.
“Fight back! Kill them! I send you backup!” he roared and Granny looked at him
eager almost drooling.
Darkseid punched the phone smashing it instead of just ending the call.
“Very well” he smirked. “If they want it that way…they don’t know what beast
they try to corner…the pests chose to die earlier.”
 
“Take him back to the Mansion” Bagdana ordered the Parademons who hurried to
get Batman up.
The demon conjured an ancient looking box and threw it to the others.
“Put inside the gem and the dagger.”
Batman knew that the demon didn’t dare touch the artifacts himself; not without
his human form that protected him from their power.
Bagdana met Batman’s glare.
“I know you would have easily escaped them so I had to take my
measures…immobilizing you.”
The human set his jaw and yanked his head defiantly and the demon grinned
satisfied.
“I’ll see you in a while. First, I have to make sure that you didn’t manage to
take your pathetic lover out of his cell” he shook his head. “I’m sure I caught
up with you before entering the Mansion but…” he smiled “a demon must be sure,
huh?”
Batman met his stare keeping his cool and the Parademons that held him
manhandled him towards the Mansion that lay magnificent and terrifying
underneath the forest covered hill.
***** Chapter 87 *****
Granny stared mesmerized at her master’s tense in determination and wrath face;
Darkseid’s ever frown became even deeper as his nostrils emitted fumes and
sparkles.
“Ivy will lead Intergang into massacring Metropolis while the Gotham filth will
do the same; the authorities are in deep sleep so it’d be ridiculously easy to
flood the streets with blood, panic and chaos – no mercy! I’ll take care of the
police those foolish agents are bringing to search my facilities. Parademons
will make their first appearance there and then as the world will be in wonder
I will strike myself with all force to the US capital showing to everyone that
they are doomed…One hundred thousand Parademons are there hungry for human
flesh.”
Granny grinned broadly but then rubbed her chin.
“What about the Avengers?”
“They won’t know anything till the squad going to my facilities is slaughtered;
they won’t know where to go – they’ll rush to Metropolis and Gotham to save the
cities from the criminals and I will be uninterrupted as I’ll smash Washington
with Parademons. Imagine their confusion and panic? They won’t know what to
do…Eventually, they are going to come to stop me only to meet their humiliating
defeat: but before I finish them off I want them to see the three big cities
drowned in blood knowing that the entire world will have the same fate after;
and then I’ll turn on my machine and the so-called protectors of this planet
will watch humans being drained alive, their energy accumulated giving me the
ultimate power to extinct the universe.”
She yanked her head thoughtful.
“Thor?”
Darkside shook his head.
“My sources say that he left the planet; until the news of my attack reach
Asgard and he comes here there would be nothing for him to do…except to die
himself” he said with blank eyes that visualized what he uttered.
Granny nodded.
“What about that scum demon? You won’t call him to fight?”
Darkseid tilted slightly his head; his eyes shone with confidence.
“I don’t need him now; I’ll slaughter the squad myself. He will be called when
the attack on Washington will start: not because I need him to win but because
I want him to devastate the world with earthquakes and volcanoes” he cocked his
eyebrows “not that I can’t do it myself however let him do something…”
His minion bowed her head with respect.
“Everything for your glory, master” her eyes flashed maliciously.
 
Batman watched nonchalant the Parademons poking at him with their blade-arms
cutting his armor but unable to reach his skin.
They soon realized that their blades couldn’t harm him so they began just
hitting him all over the body; the armor still absorbed most of the force but
Bruce felt the blows above the waist and acknowledge those below the waist. The
fact that he didn’t even cringe from their blows enraged his captors.
The Parademons had brought him to a big room at the back side of the L shaped
Mansion; it was empty, dark and dungeon-like with walls and floor covered with
cheap cement.
Even though Bagdana had rendered his legs and arms paralyzed the Parademons
chose to tie him erect to a stone rectangular pillar in the middle of the room.
His wrists were bound together behind his back with a chain- like thing that
glowed red; his ankles were bound side by side with a chain exactly like the
one that tied his arms.
Bruce’s mind was focused on other things: Bagdana had gone to Superman’s cell
to make sure that he indeed had caught him before freeing the Man of Steel.
Things were on a sharp razor’s edge… The plan could so easily get ruined.
But Batman wasn’t showing anything just gazing at the aliens that surrounded
him like hungry wolves having fun by punching him unaware that his armor spared
him from the biggest of the impact.
The taller and broader from them who seemed and acted like their leader raised
his blade arm and slapped him in the face. Batman took the blow without a grunt
and immediately raised his head regarding the alien creature with his cold
lenses. Weren’t for the cowl his entire cheek would be bleeding but now only
his jaw was slashed.
“The end of your useless race has come, human; you and your kindred soon will
die” he said in a hissing voice.
“So you are not mindless pawns…you know foreign languages” Batman growled.
The green creature showed his thousands of needle thin, shining teeth.
“It’s nothing to us to learn your primitive stupid language.”
“English is not the most difficult or perplexed language in the world” Batman
commented sarcastic “so it wasn’t a big deal…”
The creature tilted his head on the side; his elliptic, plain black eyes
puzzled.
“You’re not scared?”
Batman yanked his head scowling.
“Of you? You know the word ‘fear’ but you are a zero to my scale of fear”
Batman spat.
The creature rattled his teeth.
“I’ll show you that I’m what you should fear most!”
Batman snorted unimpressed and the creature raised his blade arm and began
downing it swiftly to Batman’s neck, the human not even flinching but watching
him with the same tranquility.
A breath before the blade grazed Batman’s neck the creature made an awkward,
squeaking sound and then it was turned into ashes that formed a small pile in
front of Batman’s feet.
The rest of the Parademons jumped backwards startled and shaken and turned
their heads to see what Batman was seeing: Bagdana materializing in the middle
of the room among green-blue smoke. The demon didn’t need to bother with the
automatic door.
Bagdana straightened his gigantic posture and walked arrogantly towards Batman;
a grin was plastered to his face and his yellow cat-like irises were fixed on
Batman’s lenses.
He stopped in front of the pole where Batman was tied and without breaking eye
contact with him made a sharp movement with his head and the Parademons clearly
scared from their leader’s fate scattered outside the room.
Bagdana shrank his posture to be slightly taller than Batman and regarded dead
serious his captive. He raised his hand and touched with his fingertip the
blood trail on Batman’s jaw the Parademon’s hit had left. Batman snapped his
head away but the wound had already vanished leaving the skin unscathed.
“I promised that I won’t let anyone to hurt you.”
“To whom?”
“To Lilith – I would never let her last child being hurt: you’ve been already
too much hurt” he paused. “And to myself.”
Batman didn’t reply just yanked his head backwards and Bagdana smirked.
“You’re pissed” he said cocking his thick eyebrows. “I ruined your plan” he
huffed. “I caught you before freeing the Kryptonian: he is still safely housed
to his cell.”
The visible part of Batman’s face remained expressionless and Bagdana nodded.
“You see I knew you were looking for him even though he betrayed you. His
disappearance and your suspicions about Diana’s malicious nature made you
search for him. Even though you are paraplegic you were leaving Gotham to find
him.”
Batman’s frown though covered from the cowl was clear.
“How do you know I was gone from Gotham? How do you know about me suspecting
Diana? What are you doing here? How do you manage to escape…” he had to play
the ignorant so that the cunning demon wouldn’t suspect that he knew
everything.
Bagdana’s gleeful smile was filled with satisfaction for Batman’s confusion.
“So many questions from a great detective like you…You are clueless, aren’t
you?” his irony subsided. “Of course…you were injured, disabled, your heart
broken by Superman. You were facing far too many things to figure out
everything.”
Bruce always liked to play the ignorant.
“What are you talking about?” he spat.
Bagdana grinned and circled slowly the pole where Bruce was tied.
“You asked from Thor to check on me yet I predicted that and I fooled the
little Asgardian…you can’t imagine how funny it was…” he chuckled and stopped
right in front of Bruce. “It wasn’t difficult: putting a reflection of me in
Tartarus baring my characteristics…You suspected that something was off with
the Amazon yet you didn’t have any proof so your suspicions were attributed to
jealousy, right?” Bruce didn’t reply and Bagdana nodded. “Since Thor assured
you that I was safely jailed in Tartarus you couldn’t imagine that Diana was
planted by me to seduce Superman and render him useless.”
“That’s impossible” Batman said.
Bagdana snorted.
“I’d prefer ‘ingenious’ or even better ‘diabolic’ – I’m a demon after all” he
twitched his eyebrows smugly. “I took a common” he tilted his head on the side
and pursed his lips “well, not that common criminal from Gotham” he nodded
grinning at Batman’s silence “yes, from your city, Batman; I took her and
turned her into the powerful, charming Amazon Princess. Poison Ivy – the
villain I…’hired’ – had her own special powers, one of them changing her form,
using pheromones to allure and enslave people to her will and I gave her the
powers and skills of the legendary Diana of Themyscira.”
Bruce would like to rub in his face that the fact he chose to introduce Ivy
with the popular version of the legend instead of the reality was his mistake.
However he pressed his lips feigning tranquility that struggles to conceal
surprise.
“Escaping from your jail in Tartarus requires great power and you were deprived
of your strength; how can you give power to someone when you don’t have for
yourself? How you got out?”
Bagdana leaned to him bringing his face close to Batman’s relishing the human’s
breath that was slightly faster from frustration for his failure.
“Only a god could free me from Tartarus and a god did it giving me back my
strength.”
Batman shook his head.
“Yes, Bruce…A mighty alien god who wants to conquer and destroy the earth; he
was clever enough discerning my usefulness for his plans so he freed me sealing
our alliance.”
Batman set his jaw.
“You mean servitude” he growled.
Bagdana smiled and his fingers crossed tenderly Bruce’s exposed chin causing
his captive’s jerk to avoid the caress.
“Everyone has a different word for the same thing” he pursed his lips.
“Alliance, servitude…ally, master, servant: I don’t give a shit how you or
Darkseid calls it – Darkseid is the god that freed me. The only thing that
matters is getting what I want.”
“Which is?”
Bagdana’s face became serious.
“You” his eyes were completely still.
Batman snorted.
“I’m your share from the spoils?” he asked sarcastic.
The demon shook his head.
“I do deserve the best thing this planet has” Batman glowered at him. “I gave
Darkseid Superman tied in a green Kryptonite weed bow and a heroine - protector
of the humans that will slaughter them when the time comes: imagine the despair
when humans look at Wonder Woman for salvation and she answers with killing
them? Darkseid needs humans’ despair; he is going to make the perfect use of
the darkest emotions of humankind: he’ll become even stronger. It’s the first
material for his Machine.”
“Machine?” Batman feigned puzzlement.
“The items you found in Luthors’ Labs; those that were stolen…”
Bruce pretended to halt his breath.
“Mannheim works for Darkseid?”
Bagdana laughed.
“So your mind began working… Yes, he came to your office to threat you to give
him the items – foolishly, that was a risky thing to do but the idiot god
didn’t ask me; and you of course refused” Bagdana frowned remembering how
Bruce’s attitude caused Darkseid’s interest. “But, no, Mannheim doesn’t work
for Darkseid: Mannheim is Darkseid” he said amused with Batman’s stunned
silence. “When I captured you, your friend, the Cat, without knowing was faced
with Granny Goodness, one of Darkseid’s lieutenants – so you were right to ask
me to save her.”
The demon waved his hand in the air.
“Mannheim was Darkseid’s human form for years while he was here watching and
learning about humans. And of course this explains why you located Superman in
his Mansion. I bet you thought that Mannheim was a new Luthor.”
Batman cocked an eyebrow inside: right…However he licked his lips pretending
that he was trying to overcome his surprise for what he heard.
“How did you know that I was suspecting Diana? And how did you know I was away
from Gotham?”
Bagdana rubbed his square chin.
“Oh, yes; we come to this…”
In front of Bruce’s eyes Bagdana was replaced by Oliver Queen in his smuggest
expression. Batman slightly gaped.
“Queen?”
“Exactly, Bruce” he answered in Queen’s low baritone. “You suspected Diana but
you thought that she just brainwashed poor Oliver Queen and that he just fell
to the same trap as everyone else. It was so obvious when you were trying to
get from me information for the island and the Princess; trying to make me
affirm your suspicions. Of course, since Thor had seen me in Tartarus, you
couldn’t suspect that Queen wasn’t Queen” he tilted his head. “Well, almost…”
he commented.
“And the real Oliver Queen?” Bruce asked something that really wanted to learn.
“I found him in a deserted island that even the maps don’t have; he was almost
dead and then I conceived my plan: how to introduce a charming, stunning
legendary Amazon to seduce Superman and a tycoon to watch over you and try to…”
“What?”
Queen shook his head.
“Try to gain your love…As a human to a human: a new start between you and me…”
he snorted. “But you are too stubborn to look away from that Kryptonian…I
tried; I tried hard: I took you where Superman was fucking Diana expecting that
you would loath and forget him once and for all…”
“You took me? But it was…”
Queen gave his place to Arrow, the demon taking his other human disguise.
“The mysterious Arrow…” he said thoughtful. “I like the name you gave me,
Bruce” he chuckled. “I even became a hero to approach you…” he shook his head
disappointed, sad. “But your heart is an unconquerable fortress…”
“And the real Queen?”
“I saved his life by possessing his body: it was a matter of minutes for his
death” Arrow’s flashing green eyes locked with Batman’s lenses. “I could have
let him die yet a human body was very useful to me.”
“Why? You could find another way to bring Ivy close to Superman.”
Arrow’s grin was visible among the shadow his hood shed over his face.
“With his body I could be near you: the human flesh would not let the diamond
affect me and hold me back. And as a human with common experiences with you I
might manage to approach you” he lowered his eyes. “I wanted to live a human
romance with you…” he whispered and Batman pressed his lips.
“What would Queen become?”
“I can do whatever I want. He is just a shirt for me: now he is of no use to
me.”
“When you leave his body he will die?”
Arrow tilted his head on the side.
“Don’t tell me you came to care for him after all?” his voice was filled with
irony yet his eyes were sparkling happily. “It’s my choice whether he lives or
dies when I’ll leave his body.”
“Then let him live” he almost ordered.
Arrow laughed amused.
“I managed to enter your heart with his form? I should be grateful to that
shirt – but demons can’t feel gratitude” he seemed thoughtful. “However I will
let him live; actually it doesn’t matter. In two days Darkseid will unleash his
attack and every human will die.”
“You cooperate in this, in something that will exterminate the world only to
get me?!” he growled angrily.
Arrow disappeared leaving Bagdana in his place; the demon grabbed his chin and
leaned to him.
“Why I should care about this horrible world?”
“You live millions of years here!” Batman gritted his teeth.
The demon cocked his eyebrows.
“So what? This world and humans caused me only suffering; they separated me
from my love; they took her away and killed her! I’ll be happy when humans get
massacred and you should be as well. All your life they humiliated, tortured,
raped you! This world it’s only pain for you, Bruce! And for me…We can make a
new start in a new world: a world only for us…” he whispered and brought his
lips to touch tenderly Bruce’s lips.
But he averted his face leaving the demon’s lips to kiss the air.
“Never!” he growled clenching his jaw.
Bagdana jerked upwards with his eyes blazing red from ire; he slashed the air
with his hand and immediately Batman’s armor peeled off of his body and his
underwear vanished leaving him completely naked; the cowl had followed the
other pieces of the armor so Bruce was facing the demon without anything
between them. Yet his eyes were wilder and fiercer than the lenses.
Bagdana brought his face close to Bruce’s and closed his eyes.
“I claimed your unripe, child body and it was the most beautiful thing in
ages…now seeing your mature body makes it impossible to be patient any longer…”
Bruce stabbed him with his sparkling eyes; his jaw was set in determination.
“Forget that, Bagdana!”
Bruce felt his shackles vanishing. His legs bent dragging him down but Bagdana
caught him in the air holding him tight. Bruce growled and convulsed in the
powerful being’s arms using his body since arms and legs were paralyzed yet
Bagdana made his gripping stronger. The demon didn’t want to hurt the
struggling human in his arms so he let him drag him a bit.
However this had to stop so he forced Bruce to face the grim wall setting an
invisible soft barrier so that the human wouldn’t be crushed on the concrete.
Bruce twitched trying to resist yet the demon was like granite exactly like the
color and the texture of his body and crushed him on the wall; he was prepared
for the pain of the impact with the concrete but instead he felt the soft layer
the demon had conjured. On that he snarled and fought more: he hated that
pretention of affection and care when the demon had only one purpose.
The demon’s cocooning body became like pinchers stilling his writhing body.
“I should have punished you” Bagdana whispered in Bruce’s ear panting from
frustration and his effort to contain the man without hurting him. “You
backstabbed me and sent me to the Tartarus to rot!”
Bruce clenched his jaw and jerked his head to avoid the close contact yet the
demon was unyielding.
“Then do it!” he spat defiantly. “You definitely won’t be the first one and it
won’t be your first time doing it!” his breath came like grunts as he tried
again to shake the demon off him.
Bagdana tightened his grip on the human’s upper arms pressing him more to the
wall to persuade him to stop fighting. However the close contact with Bruce was
a torment and the human’s perfume mesmerized him to the core. He sighed.
“Calm down, Bruce: you’re going to hurt yourself trying to fight me.”
But Bruce growled and jerked again his torso holding his breath to gain more
strength.
“I don’t care!” he spat through his teeth.
“But I do!” the demon was panting; however this fighting spirit, this defiance
made his body scream in desire.
When he finally managed to confine and immobilize Bruce, Bagdana touched his
head on the human’s naked shoulder closing his eyes in pleasure both from the
sense of the velvet flesh on his thousand years old skin and the rare perfume.
Bruce was trying to catch his breath and calm his heart that didn’t accept
defeat.
“Please, Bruce” the demon said gently “remember…Remember our life together…you
like fighting as you always did…remember the clangs of iron and copper in the
battlefield when we disguised ourselves to mingle with humans in order to
participate to their stupid wars?” he caressed Bruce’s arms listening to the
human’s quick breath; he felt like trying to hold a wild animal. “Remember when
we wear their ancient armors and carried their spears…the sense of the
primitive iron swords as we hit and killed people…Remember the screams; the war
cries of the warlords; the skin raising shriek of the horns; the smell of
blood; the smell of terror; the smell of the death that we were the only ones
who wouldn’t taste…Remember the fires…”
Bruce’s eyes were focused on the stone wall, blank seeing the images Bagdana
was speaking about: a vast battlefield on a valley with a small river at the
right.
The angry and terrified neighs of the horses were painful to the ears; a cloud
of dust covered the valley but everything was visible because he was standing
in the middle of the valley people with ancient armors and weapons surrounding
him. . Around them people were dueling; spears were ripping the air hissing to
splash into human flesh causing creepy cries of pain. The smell of blood stung
in his nostril but he loved the sensation.
He was waving his heavy, straight sword twirling, severing arms, legs and heads
in his motion; covering his body with his shield. He could see beside him
Bagdana no different than a sturdy, tall man slaughtering those who made the
mistake to attack him; he used his sword yet some times he did it with his bare
hand. He felt his fleeting gaze on him and the demon turned and smiled and
Bruce felt his heart elevated and his body aroused. Someone downed his axe on
his helmeted head shattering the iron –oh! It was priceless seeing the human’s
shocked expression when realized that his victim was alive and had stabbed his
dagger in his guts: the owe of being aware that he had encountered a god
glimmered in his terrified eyes till life abandoned him.
Bagdana ran to him laughing; his sword blade as his dagger dripping hot blood.
Indifferent to what was happening around, the demon wrapped his arm around his
waist and kissed him passionately. And he liked the feeling: for an hour he was
fighting enjoying himself but now his body was excited for the demon that had
glued his body on him. Bruce elevated himself in the sky taking Bagdana along –
the excitement of the battle made his body feel so alive, so lively! He took
off the fabric that kept his hair tamed; a flood of raven-blue silken hair fell
like wave all over his back.
Bruce’s heartbeat had calmed and he felt the demon’s lips trailing the back of
his neck.
“Humans were our favorite game and their wars our perfect foreplay…Remember our
coupling after the heat, the arousal of the battle; the passion…Your fire
burning the demon of the fire…” he breathed. “I love you, Bruce.”
Hearing that, Bruce overcame his momentary numbness of feeling the sensations
of another body. He jerked managing to push a bit the demon taking advantage of
his surprise; yet he was immobilized again.
“You don’t know what love is!” Bruce growled in frustration for the forced
intimacy he didn’t manage to shake off.
On that Bagdana felt his aroused body fueled from anger: he grabbed both
Bruce’s wrists and turned him to touch his back to the wall, stretching his
arms on the wall over his head. Bruce’s breath flamed his face hot from
frustration because he was unable to escape.
“Is that so? Who can stay loyal to his dead love for ages? Who can continue
searching for his love through thousands of years?”
He felt Bruce’s chest heaving from his panting and touching his; their eyes
were locked in a staring contest. Bagdana clenched his jaw and pressed Bruce
more on the wall rejoicing the contact.
“Certainly not your unworthy Kryptonian! He fell for the first person who hit
on him. He cheated and broke your heart!”
Bruce’s torso twitched again even though he knew that he couldn’t escape the
demon’s grip – his arms were still paralyzed even though Bagdana clenched his
wrists; yet his wrath was such that he didn’t care.
“You just admitted that you and that impostor put him under your spells!” he
snarled showing his teeth unfazed by the fact that a powerful demon held him
defenseless.
It was Bagdana’s turn to grunt in frustration; he shook Bruce.
“Wake up, Bruce! If his love was real no spell, no power in the world would
have made him fell for another person and cheat on you! His love didn’t last
because it was fake.”
“Bullshit!”
The demon’s eyes flashed red from anger and his nostrils emitted fume; his body
lost its granite texture and become red gold fire kept inside by a transparent
skin that reminded glass.
Bruce felt the demon’s grasp on his wrists tightening and his body falling.
 
Clark had stayed in the driver’s seat from the moment the Tumbler began
speeding away from Bruce – not that he could drive; the route was preprogrammed
and he couldn’t override it. He tried to open the doors or even break the car’s
wall even though he knew that it was in vein; then he tried to steer the wheel
or change the course with the control panel failing each time. So he stayed
seated surrendered to the notion that he was going to be ‘released’ only when
the car reached the destination.
He watched the road from the windshield and absentminded ate the rest of the
donuts in the paper bag and absorbed the solar artificial light from the
Tumbler’s ceiling along with the natural sun light that the solar panel
gathered sending it to him.
His initial thought on realizing that he wouldn’t be able to come out of the
car unless he reached destination was that when the door opened he would
immediately take off back to the Mansion to make sure that Bruce was alright.
Because despite Bruce’s reassurance that they would meet in the battle Clark
was afraid: he didn’t trust that cunning demon.
But then he realized that if he did that then he would disappoint Bruce once
again. Betray his faith in him. Bruce wanted him to fight for the planet, for
humans because the battle against Darkseid would be harsh. If he turned his
back again to humans’ need then Bruce’s sacrifice would be wasted; jeered…
Because Clark knew that what had happened in this same car just minutes ago was
a sacrifice. Bruce made that not only for ensuring that humans would have all
of their protectors in good shape for the battle but also to give Superman the
necessary strength to survive and win that battle.
He looked outside the window on his side. Deserted country road surrounded in
both edges by nothing else than low weed with their surfaces burnt from the
cold. He was approaching the Frozen Basin and he was seeing the proud mountains
shedding their frozen shadow to the land.
 Bruce had chosen the deserted road for Superman’s journey. Of course the
Tumbler didn’t have a problem overcoming the obstacles a deserted country road
presented every now and then.
Bruce…His Star. Clark cringed only on the recollection of himself saying that
to Bruce now, after everything…Certainly Bruce had felt disgust hearing the
same word that Superman had used publicly for Diana. That special word that
Superman had chosen to name the youth that stole his heart…
“She is my Star!”
Clark bit his lips. Disgust…Bruce knew how to gulp his disgust, his urge to
flee in order to achieve a kind purpose. And now this purpose was saving the
Earth. Bruce was a master of disguising his true feelings or body reactions.
Yet Clark thanks to his recovering senses had felt the younger man’s inner
struggle in his arms.
Each second Bruce was struggling as in the greenhouse during their first time.
Struggling with howling demons that still tortured his body, soul and mind…
Only this time the demon was he… The same man that had promised Bruce
happiness, love…
Clark gulped as the images of what he had done that night before cheating Bruce
with Diana came back. He was worse than Falcone; worse than Ra’s Al Ghul or
Chill or Bane. He hid his face in his hands: he was Bruce’s worse demon. Bruce
trusted him; gave him his body waging a tremendous war with his demons for his
sake; he opened him his heart only for Superman to rip that vulnerable tender
heart in pieces and walk over…
Clark during their intercourse was sucking the softness, the warmth; yet under
that external heat he had sensed what he had caused: the ice. A thick layer of
ice that was unbreakable like granite.
The realization made Clark’s chest clenched: he had turned Bruce’s beautiful
heart into ice… He wanted to scream from despair as his eyes watered. Bruce
once again sacrificed himself to heal him yet Clark would never be able to heal
Bruce again: on the contrary, he had killed the man’s heart.
Clark closed his eyes feeling like abandoning everything and just going back to
Bruce whenever he found the chance. Yet he clenched his fists and jaw.
“I won’t do that: I’ll do what you want me to do, the right thing. I promise
that this time I won’t betray your faith, Bruce.”
 
Lois with Jimmy was watching avidly what was happening. They had taken their
cover in the shadows the alley between two warehouses provided. Police had made
everything under first seen secrecy and that was the reason no other reporter
was around. Yet Lois had a very sensitive nose for these things and Bruce’s
visit and their talking about Superman made her turn on her journalistic
antennas in full capacity.
She was frowned: the police had breached that warehouse but from there came
sounds of real battle: clearly the thugs wouldn’t surrender so easily. Her
information had taken her many times near this same warehouse yet everything
stopped there: no more hint whether that place was indeed the hideout of a
gang.
But now watching all this: the unprecedented police power and the huge
resistance it dawned to Lois: this was about Intergang. The warehouse was
Intergang’s lair and the police was trying to capture the beast. The building
was surrounded by two lines of patrol cars that had their sirens on making the
docks anything but their usual buzzing yet peaceful landscape. Behind the
patrol cars ambulances were positioned ready to take the injured: some officers
were already taken there by their comrades.
What made Lois an impression was that the broader area of the docks was
deserted, like a ghost town; clearly police had evacuated the entire area
afraid of heavy casualties. So Intergang was much more than just another gang…
“Jimmy, keep shooting” she said to her sidekick who now was using a digital
camera shooting video instead of taking photos.
The bangs from the shootings inside the building became a cloud that rapidly
covered the entire area and the two reporters watched intrigued as more police
and SWAT members rushed inside.
An explosion towered the ruckus of the shooting and they saw the wall of the
warehouse collapsing creating a huge whole from where the thugs bursted out
taking cover behind the debris and shooting at the police officers and SWAT
members who chased them; people both from the mobsters and the law enforcers
lay on the terrain hit by the wave of the explosion.
Lois wished that they weren’t dead.
“Keep shooting” she said urgently to Jimmy and pulled of her own phone to shoot
pictures as she saw something that surprised her.
A woman dressed in skin tight black leather stormed at the thugs jumping on
them from the top of a cargo container; on landing, she spread her legs wide
smacking hard two thugs stopping the rainfall of bullets against the law
enforcers. She twirled standing in one leg and used her other leg as a hammer,
her stiletto heel shone in the morning sun as she slashed her opponents.
Lois could discern the cat ears on her head. She narrowed her eyes.
“Catwoman in Metropolis? Fighting along the police? Then this is larger than a
local operation against a gang…”
“Then what is it, Miss Lane?” Jimmy asked intrigued.
Senila grinned satisfied as the thugs grunted taking her heel’s hit on the face
or neck; her twist kick sent five of them flying and Selina somersaulted
towards the next clog of thugs. The law enforcers finding a clean path since
Selina stopped those who fired at them surged the debris as well.
But then more thugs flooded the area shooting with firearms.
“They were hidden in the basement!” a SWAT member shouted.
A second team of SWAT members had gone to the basement but some of the thugs
managed to slip them and now attacked from behind.
“Wonder Woman” a police officer said looking upwards.
 
“Miss Lane, Wonder Woman!” Jimmy said and zoomed his camera to the heroine.
Lois pursed her lips remembering what Bruce told her.
“That can’t be good…” she mumbled.
“She is…strange, Miss Lane” Jimmy said puzzled and Lois took the camera looking
at what he was.
Wonder Woman’s eyes shone gleefully glaring at the law enforcers below; a nasty
smirk grazed her beautiful face as she hit her bracelets together, crossing her
forearms; a blast wave erupted targeting the people of the law.
“No…” Lois whispered scared for the people Diana was aiming at.
 
Darkseid stood on the flat rooftop of the ten acres, shaped like a horizontal Π
Mannheim facilities in the Frozen Basin; he had his real gigantic form and he
gazed at the horizon with a satisfied smirk over his square face. He was
watching the developments at Intergang’s headquarters in Metropolis’ docks and
his smirk became broader seeing Ivy arriving there causing the excited stares
of the police officers below.
He cocked his eyebrows; he could sniff those stupid humans’ exhilaration seeing
their heroine arriving to help them; he could taste their puzzlement seeing her
crushing their lethal bracelets together aiming at them. He readied himself to
suck their despair and their pain when the blast from the bracelets burnt them
alive. And then the rest of humankind was next.
His oversensitive hearing caught the sound of a van; he turned his eyes there
and saw the SWAT letters on it entering the east borders of the basin following
the country road to his premises.
“Foolish people!” he shouted and turned his vision to the hills surrounding the
road.
Parademons were waiting there ready with their eyes watching eagerly; their
teeth visible, shining hungry for human flesh and blood. Granny was there
standing on a flat gray rock overlooking the road and the black shape of the
van. She was waiting for his order to attack, her manic eyes filled with
gleeful anticipation and her gray curly hair dancing around her face with the
icy breeze.
Darkseid yanked his head backwards. He was going to start from there so to have
the pleasure of watching Ivy and Intergangs’ thugs spreading terror in
Metropolis.
He wasn’t going to kill the SWAT team heading towards his facilities. He
preferred to watch his Parademons feasting on them. He would have his time when
he attacked Washington after eliminating them. So he focused his eyes on the
van and the vehicle was toppled ending up to the edge of the road.
He gave Granny the mental order to attack and turned his eyes on Metropolis
ready to devour the massacre.
 
Selina raised her head hearing the sound of the bracelets crashing and then the
blast; her eyes widened: the wave was going to burn the officers and the SWATs
underneath. She couldn’t do anything as she was far from Ivy’s target; yet she
dove because the heat could hurt her kicking and –punching on her way two thugs
that were shooting indiscriminatively.
Ivy began laughing as the blast wave was near the humans. But suddenly she
frowned.
Something shining ripped the air and stood in front of the fire wave sucking
the entire wave. Ivy let out a frustrated scream and followed the shining
thing’s route as it ripped again the air returning to where it had come.
Police officers and SWAT members looked as well, confusion edged on their
features; but thugs were as perplexed as their opponents just goggling at the
sky.
A dazzled red and blue dressed Diana stared in front of her a woman catching
the round gold shield that had absorbed her blast and now returned to its
mistress. The big head of the Medusa on the center of the shield glared at Ivy
as if it was alive; the gold perimeter of the shield flashed on the morning’s
sun blinding the fake Diana.
The humans underneath regarded with awe the newcomer: an imposing 8’ 1’’ woman
of stunning beauty glaring at the scantily dressed woman that claimed her name.
Her brown leather armor covered her sturdy but curvy torso; the pieces of
leather falling down to the middle of her thighs’ length. Her long calves were
dressed in gold cleaves. Her raven hair danced in the morning sea breeze.
“Impossible…” Ivy mumbled shaken.
“Impossible!” Darkseid roared clenching his fist in the air.
Diana whipped her golden lasso in the sky and in a motion that no eye could
catch she caught Ivy’s wrist and twitched her in the air throwing her down to
the rooftop of the warehouse at her right.
“Who is she?” Stitches asked flabbergasted Alistair Bendel who was at his side.
Selina came from behind and smacked their heads together letting them fall down
unconscious. She rolled her eyes.
“She is the real Amazon Princess, you morons!”
The law enforcers cheered and stormed at the thugs shooting at will.
 
“The real Princess?” Jimmy gapped at Lois who had a crooked smile on her face.
“I knew it!” she said.
“And who’s the other?”
“Keep shooting!”
 
Darkseid began rasping; his wrath choking his breath. The real Amazon Princess?
She existed? And how she learnt and came?
His scream of frustration echoed throughout the vast Frozen Basin.
“Be it” he reassured himself “I’ll watch my troops slaughtering those who want
to threat the machine and then I shall destroy her too!”
He focused his vision on the road miles away where the van was laying upturned
on the edge covered from a cloud of dust.
He smirked as his troops with Granny at the head swarmed the hills like ants
ready to finish off the SWAT members. There were two thousand Parademons and
there was no doubt about the outcome so Darkseid snorted satisfied forgetting
for now Metropolis. He yanked his head upwards to enjoy better the spectacle.
 
Jim was reading the papers he had on his lap. The patrol car Montoya drove sped
through Gotham’s roads. The Police Commissionaire didn’t want to stay away when
his officers faced Gotham’s thugs who as expected obeyed to Darkseid’s mental
orders.
Though what was unexpected for Darkseid was that police and SWAT were waiting
them and the assaults on Arkham and Blackgate was thwarted. Law enforcers at
the moment were counterattacking aiming to arrest them which wasn’t easy since
thugs were brainwashed to die killing as many as they could.
“We’re almost at Arkham, Commissionaire” she said. “The police in Metropolis
fights Intergang.”
Jim nodded tapping his finger on his pressed lips.
“What’s so important, Commissionaire?” Montoya asked glancing at the papers:
Jim Gordon always preferred reading on paper than screens. “I thought this was
the top priority?”
He raised his head and looked at her.
“This is as important. Batman found the biggest suspect for the Wayne video.
And our research confirms his findings.”
Montoya frowned.
“Who is it?”
“Dr. Thomas Elliot.”
Her eyes bulged.
“The famous neurosurgeon? The University’s Professor?”
Gordon shrugged one shoulder unimpressed.
“He seems to hold an old grudge to Mr. Wayne?”
Montoya laughed confused.
“But Wayne was just eight years when he ‘died’.”
Jim tilted his head keeping his stoic expression.
“Elliot is clearly disturbed.”
“Sure thing! When all this ends we bust the bastard, right?”
Jim shook his head.
“I’ve already ordered his arrest: the DA gave us the warrant. We can’t risk:
someone with such hatred would want to take advantage of the situation to
escalate the damage he already made.”
Montoya pressed her lips outraged.
“Killing Wayne.”
Jim nodded calmly.
“Exactly. I sent Bullock to arrest him.”
 
The Parademons surrounded the van at an inch’s distance and Granny raised her
arm ready to give them the signal of attack.
But her arm had hardly reached the air that when a loud clap startled her.
The wall of the van that was upwards was crumbled like paper and an enormous
mass jumped out with a creepy roar.
Darkseid’s eyes popped out from their sockets seeing a green giant with ragged
pants falling on his troops smashing them with his enormous hands before even
landing. Hulk! What the Hell?
The green giant began plummeting the green creatures throwing them right and
left knocked out.
“Shoot him!” Granny shrieked her hair becoming dancing antennas from her rage.
The Parademons obeyed but before shooting something shiny reaped them like
wheat plants in the field. Captain America jumped out of the same van storming
at the Parademons punching them with fists and elbows and taking his returning
shield before falling on the frozen soil.
“What?!” Granny spat.
“You don’t like our company, dear?”
Granny turned around but before seeing who had addressed her, a hard kick on
the face made her lose her balance; Natasha Romanov stood before her with
spread legs her hands clenching her waist.
“Ironman is here too, alien freaks!” a shining red and gold android came out of
the van soaring the sky.
Tony saw his friends destroying Parademons with their bodies; the rest of the
aliens fired at them but the Avengers’ attires were reinforced to withstand
their firepower.
“Time to do your show, boy!” he said to himself grinning at Pepper’s snort
inside his helmet since she was monitoring the operations. “I love you, babe!”
he laughed and launched missiles, bullets and beams adjusted to destroy
Parademons. “Wooooooo! Let’s kick some Parademon asses!”
“So much for the seriousness…” Pepper remarked hardly containing her amusement.
Indeed, the Parademons who took Tony’s fire power were blown to pieces; of
course he hit those at a distance from his comrades to not hit Avengers too.
Tony laughed seeing Hulk stretching his enormous body and kitting his chest
with a roar that alone pushed two of his enemies back staggering.
Darkseid would have paled if he wasn’t blue; his eyes were bulged and for a
moment he stayed dumbstruck, shocked by that development.
“Avengers? Here?! They know about the machine and they’re coming to get it!” he
growled. “And they can destroy Parademons: they came prepared! It was a plan
from the beginning!”
His teeth rattled and his entire gigantic body shook from wrath. He sensed the
planet: no plane in the sky; no energy plant working; no people on oil rings;
the Electromagnetic Storm Training Day: a trick so that he had no chance to
harm civilians. So that nothing would stop them from attacking his machine.
“No!” he roared. “Still you don’t know who Darkseid is…” he mentally contacted
his thousands of Parademons at the outskirts of Washington: he had no trouble
changing his plan – Avengers would die first and then the rest of the bastard
kin. “Thor is far” he smirked “you don’t have a chance!”
 
Bruce prepared himself for crushing to the floor yet Bagdana’s arms were
wrapped around his torso; the demon’s upset was such that Bruce realized that
his arms had regained their mobility free from the demon’s spells.
As the floor came near Bruce felt something soft welcoming his body and with
the corner of his eye he saw a black round cloud that resembled a mattress. He
clenched his jaw and jerked his arms to escape the demon’s grip: the awareness
of what Bagdana had in mind filled his guts with disgust. Not again…
But the demon grabbed his wrists and on landing on the mattress stretched
Bruce’s arms above his head, touching his body on the human’s. He took care to
weigh enough to trap Bruce but not harm him.
Bruce writhed like a cornered snake and tried to free his hands yet Bagdana put
more strength in his grip and met Bruce’s angry, blazing stare. The human was
gritting his teeth.
“Stop fighting, Bruce” Bagdana said almost sad. “You’re a brilliant human, an
extraordinary warrior but you have no chance against a demon without your
weapon” the demon’s eyes showed the box at the far end of the room where
Bruce’s diamond and the dagger lay.
Bruce growled and yanked his head upwards smashing it to the demon’s forehead:
he wouldn’t let happen the same thing. With all the training of Ra’s Bruce’s
eyes darkened and he felt his head crack; a warm liquid slithering his
forehead. But he wasn’t going to stop resisting.
Bagdana sprout a new pair of arms and clenched Bruce’s hair at the back of his
head firmly but gently lowering his head on the mattress drowning his
resistance. He saw the crack on Bruce’s forehead and leaned over the skin
blowing gently and healing the wound.
He met Bruce’s defiant stare acknowledging the human’s clenched jaw.
“I love you, Bruce, and I won’t let anyone hurt you, even yourself. The only
reason this filthy world survived till now is for me to meet you; I’m your
destiny, Bruce; you were born for me…”
“There is no destiny!” Bruce growled and tried to free his head to hit again
the demon even if that meant breaking his head.
But Bagdana wasn’t going to allow him that.
“The leaf on your left big toe is the biggest proof of exactly that, Bruce…”
An oval ottoman from black velvet appeared with a tiny toe on it; the skin that
seemed taken care to regain its rosy color and perfect shape after all these
years bared a cute leaf shaped birth mark
Bruce felt his blood running cold; his guts twisted in a knot and his head
began spinning. The cries and the pleadings of a boy no more than eight years
old echoed in his mind’s deepest caves. A cold, gleeful smirk shone in the
shadows exactly like the huge cleaver did and then pain…horrendous, unbearable
pain that Bruce felt right now again on his empty toe. And then yells and cries
and sobs from the little boy who pleaded for his mommy…
Bagdana felt Bruce’s body shivering not from cold but from the memories; he bit
his lip and touched feathery Bruce’s cheek.
“I’ll stop that pain, Bruce…” he said affectionately “I’ll erase all your
memories…You won’t suffer again from the nightmares of your past.”
Bruce set his jaw determined to not let his tears leave his eyes.
“It’s none of your business! My memories is my problem.”
Bagdana shook his head.
“You will be able to be happy again…” he insisted patiently.
But Bruce jerked his torso upwards.
“My memories are filled with the people I love and who love me! The people
you’re now helping to get killed!”
Bagdana’s eyes sparkled.
“I can save everyone you love; I care about you, Bruce; and I’ll do everything
for you to be happy.”
Bruce made to shake his head but Bagdana’s grip on his hair didn’t let him. So
instead he fixed his blazing eyes on Bagdana’s and the demon felt shivers of
excitement.
“Can you save 7 billion humans?” Bruce spat.
Bagdana sighed and closed his eyes.
“Why do you care, Bruce? People always caused you pain; nobody cared about your
suffering; nobody helped you; they sniffed at you.”
Bruce tried to move his arms with no avail.
“There are good people; people in need like I was; people who know how to love
unlike you! Get off me!”
Bagdana brought his face over Bruce’s.
“You know I love you more than anything else…”
Bruce snorted.
“You don’t love me: you love Lilith’s remnants in me. If you knew that by
slashing me in pieces you would take Lilith back you’d have done it without a
second thought!” he growled keeping his still stare in the demon’s eyes.
Bagdana became icy cold hearing that…taking his Lilith back by…Bruce watched
him knowing the storm inside the demon. Bagdana licked his lips and producing a
hand out of nowhere brushed Bruce’s cheek.
“You never feared to look the demon in the eye…”
Whatever power of restraint the demon had evaporated under these eyes’ charm;
Bruce was completely naked under him and that injured body emanated vigor,
defiance and beauty. His head immersed in Bruce’s neck almost on its own
volition; his full lips sucked the vibrating from anger vein throughout the
human’s neck.
Bruce closed his eyes frustrated; he knew what the demon wanted; from the start
he knew where this would end up. He pressed his tired body to resist even
trapped under the mighty demon, who still held his wrists and head immobile. He
couldn’t feel below the waist yet he could hear the sound of Bagdana’s erection
rubbing on his bare skin and that made his heart drum.
The demon absorbed in the mesmerizing numbness that Bruce’s flesh caused him
and intoxicated from his body’s perfume downed his neckline with his lips
continuing with Bruce’s pectorals that bulged from his heart’s frantic beat. He
ordered his clothes disappear to let his thirsty body to suck every feeling.
Bruce fought to master his mind into calming and ordered his legs to move to
kick the demon – anything to stop those lips from kissing his body.
Yet the demon in his excitement sprouted another pair of arms and took gently
Bruce’s kicking legs massaging sensually upwards to the thighs. He spread the
human’s thighs.
Bruce heard the sound and an electric current of dread went through the healthy
part of his spine.
“No!” he shouted and the demon raised reluctantly his fevered eyes to meet the
human’s angry eyes that stabbed him.
“I know, Bruce, I caused you horrific pain in the past. You were a child and I
forgot that thinking I was with Lilith again…I was hard on you, careless; I
made you bleed; I ripped your body in two; I almost killed you…” he gulped.
“I’m sorry: you are right to detest our contact but I can be gentle; I won’t
hurt you again, you see…”
Bruce’s eyes twitched as he felt a soft liquid applied inside his anus
meticulously, carefully relaxing the tight muscle… His face began sweating and
his breath became quicker; the demon had brought his head over his abdominals
kissing reverently his flesh while Bagdana’s hands fondled his torso. He was
trapped; held still by the demon’s numerous pairs of arms but he couldn’t let
that happen…
“Stop!” he snarled with such strength that Bagdana stopped and brought his head
over Bruce’s.
“You didn’t tell the Kryptonian to stop” he complained locking his eyes with
Bruce’s.
Bruce set his jaw.
“He never did anything I didn’t want.”
Bagdana grinned smugly.
“That’s a lie…That night I felt your despair, Bruce; your suffering, your
loathing; your pain…The Kryptonian surpassed even my bolder expectations raping
you that way.”
Bruce’s hair stood on edge.
“He never…You…you were watching?”
Bagdana’s smugness vanished and his stare became affectionate; compassionate.
“I wasn’t watching but we are connected, Bruce; I sensed everything and it
wasn’t difficult to realize what he was doing to you; I wanted to run to your
bedroom and burn him alive!” he shouted taking out the wrath of that night.
“You never told him to stop because you knew that he wouldn’t and you dreaded
that he would become another one of your rapists!” he spat listening to Bruce’s
breath becoming faster. “But deep inside you know – your body knows that he is
one of your defilers!” Bruce’s entire body writhed trying to escape him. “
However here you are… you still searched for him and came to his rescue. Can’t
you see that he doesn’t deserve your love? He doesn’t love you, Bruce.”
Bruce controlled his ragged breath allowing his exhausted body to relax; only
to tense again feeling the demon’s erection on his belly.
“But you say that you love me” Bagdana’s eyes became interested. “If you really
love me then don’t do this…” his eyes nailed the demon’s yellow ones.
Bagdana couldn’t take that powerful stare; his insides were in a fierce battle
after Bruce’s last words. He bit his lips and sighed letting his head fall on
Bruce’s chest defeated; the human’s heart beat fast, faster feeling the demon’s
hot breath caressing his flesh. Bagdana’s body shook from the battle inside
him: doing what Bruce asked or doing what he wanted.
Diana stood before Ivy who was rooted on the middle of the rooftop; the golden
lasso had wrapped around her torso several times. Ivy gritted her teeth
frustrated feeling the heat of the lasso.
The Amazon Princess felt the puzzled human stares. It was the time of the
truth.
“Speak the truth!” she ordered. “Who are you?”
Ivy spat on Diana’s feet glaring at her; Darkseid didn’t want the truth about
her to be revealed before humans became desperate. She should insist on being
the real Diana.
“I am…” yet the lie couldn’t slip from her tongue; her mind felt controlled by
the vibrating energy coming from the lasso’s layers. Her mind was filled only
with the truth. “I’m Poison Ivy” she said.
Selina who were watching like everyone else arched her eyebrows.
“I told you…” she said slyly to the two knocked out thugs on her feet.
Suddenly hundred of footsteps echoed like thunders and the space quickly filled
with more thugs who escaped from the police’s raids to the other Intergang
warehouses and came to help.
The law enforcers took cover behind their cars and shot at their assailants.
Diana let Ivy restraint by the lasso and stormed at the thugs throwing her
sword to stab the jacket of a thug who ran in front of the others. The force of
the sword was such that the man crushed on the warehouse’s wall taking with him
five others who were following him.
“Nice catch!” Selina yelled at her jerking her whip to take the firearm from
the hand of a thug.
“Thanks” Diana nodded and punched a 7 feet thug who had the size of a rugby
player.
The shrieking sound made the Amazon look up: the dispensable part of the crane
was detached from several bullets hitting its hinges. And now it was falling to
crush both lawmen and thugs.
Diana called mentally her lasso and flew to catch it; she whipped it and the
lasso wrapped the edge of the heavy part. Diana clenched her teeth and kept the
object in the air for a second before she led it above the harbor. With her
other hand she pulled her tiara off her hair and threw it like a boomerang to
the metal mass blowing it off into pieces.
Both police officers and thugs cheered united for a second.
But then Diana felt something like rope wrapping her waist; she frowned seeing
a kind of chain thick green stem squeezing her. It was stronger than iron.
She turned her eyes where sniggers came. A woman with rich red hair flooding
her naked back stood midair. Her gorgeous, curvy body was completely naked
apart from leaves covering her private parts. Two sparkling green eyes regarded
the Amazon who felt dizziness as the plant around her waist emanated some blue
smoke.
“Poison Ivy has her own lasso, girl!”
 
Granny twisted around and sent a fire beam at Natasha who ducked it taking
cover behind a rock. But the alien roared and sent consecutive blasts blowing
the rock into thousands of pieces and Natasha hardly made it to avoid the
stones.
The Russian fisted her hands and stormed at Granny tackling her down yet
Darkseid’s lieutenant pushed the human off of her throwing her to crush on the
ground.
Natasha was dazzled for a second and Granny found the chance to aim at her; the
light blue fire from Granny’s hand was on its way to hit Natasha when a silver
shield came and stand before her; the fire bounced off the shield and would
have hit Granny if she hadn’t dodged it.
Granny frowned enraged and raised her head to see a man in a burgundy cape
landing graciously before her. Her face distorted in anger and she raised her
palms ready to launch her lethal fire.
However Dr. Strange made a gentle move with his hand and a crystal red light
struck her instantly square in the chest throwing her to the other end of the
battlefield.
“Thank you” Natasha said to him having approached. “Let’s find the bitch and
kill her” she grounded her teeth.
Yet Dr. Strange’s attention was opposite them where their comrades were
fighting the green creatures that after the first startle were fighting hard.
With Ironman’s coverage from the sky Steve and Hulk had no problem to
neutralize their opponents.
Stephen cocked an eyebrow.
“I think we better turn our attention elsewhere” he said in his deep baritone.
  “Mr. Stark.”
“Yes, Lucius” Tony said keeping firing at the aliens in the spots where they
weren’t extinguished by Steve and Hulk.
“Flash informed me that Darkseid’s forces have left their hideouts around
Washington.”
“So more company then…”
He hardly had finished his phrase when Jarvis collected voice addressed him.
“Sir, you have company.”
His helmet’s indicators showed him what Dr. Strange had sensed already.
Steve threw his shield like a discus to scatter the Parademons that had
surrounded him and narrowed his eyes hearing the sound; even Hulk stopped the
hammering to sniff the air.
The surrounding area lost its gray color of steppe and became green as what
gave the impression of big green ants swarmed the place downing rapidly to
choke them. And then the sound of thousands footsteps was towered from the
flapping of thousand wings; the light of sun was shadowed as the sky filled
with uncountable flying Parademons that fired at them before landing.
Steve took cover under his shield and Hulk slapped the fire coming at him like
annoying mosquitoes. Natasha rushed were the Parademons began landing and Dr.
Strange like Tony flew to confront those that was still flying.
 “You are outnumbered, you fools!” a horrible thunderous voice cracked the
sound of thousands of feet and thousands of wings coming against them.
Darkseid landed with a loud sound on the hill overlooking the battlefield. He
didn’t want to finish it quickly; he wanted those annoyed pests to suffer; and
he knew that the sound of his voice was another way to plant despair.
“This is your end, filths!”
 
 “I’m sorry, Bruce…” Bagdana said after a minute and raised his head to see
Bruce’s face. “I love you but I can’t stop” he continued sad. “It’s been 12
years since I last claimed your body… I can’t take it any longer, Bruce…I am a
demon: I’m not made to oppress my whims. I wish I could…”
Bruce’s eyes flashed angrily but the demon captured his lips gently as his
length slowly slipped inside the human’s opening. Bruce growled in the kiss to
cover his despair and bit hard on the demon’s sucking lips hoping to enrage him
into hit rather than use him.
His mouth filled with a bitter liquid that burnt like acid and a thunder
shuddered Bruce’s body; his eyes darkened and his head began spinning leading
him to nothingness.
Bagdana panicked; he stopped kissing and looked at Bruce’s almost closed eyes:
the human was fading. He touched his mouth to Bruce’s and sucked what was in
the human’s icy cold, black mouth. He sucked and sucked until Bruce’s mouth
found its normal temperature and color; Bruce began breathing again.
“My flesh and blood is still poison for you, Bruce” he whispered and nuzzled
his neck to prevent this happening again; his greedy hands resumed fondling the
body that convulsed under him.
He was inside the body of his beloved after 12 years of hungry waiting…It was
again like then…His body was fueled with energy, joy, pleasure beyond
expectations. His hips began pushing, thrusting his length to get deeper; gain
more warmth, more connection…
Bruce clenched his jaw to push his arms to escape from the demon’s grip; put
strength to move his head yet Bagdana’s many arms were unyielding as the
demon’s thrusts became quicker and deeper. Bruce felt the nausea that was
lurking inside him after the encounter with Clark feeling his entire body
making his head spinning; Bagdana’s lips were sucking his abdomen and a second
tongue was licking his genitals much like then in Ra’s’ basement. He felt
choking and it was almost impossible to stop his breath from becoming
asthmatic.
His teeth rattled trying to withstand the feelings.
“Relax, Bruce” the demon mumbled swimming in the ocean of his pleasure. “Let
yourself free to enjoy the senses…”
“Bastard!” Bruce growled.
But the demon was too much aroused to answer as his thrusts continued.
It seemed eternity for Bruce: a tormenting, unbearable, dragging eternity
drenched in his own icy sweat that mingled with the demon’s sweat and saliva.
Suddenly he felt the demon’s body on him tensing and then the hot liquid of the
demon’s seed filled his insides that much to Bruce’s disgust sucked it.
At least it ended Bruce thought and tried to jail his feelings of dread to the
same dark dungeon of his mind as he was doing all his life. Yet he felt his
body being gently turned on his stomach and the demon’s rough tongue licking
his cold back; Bruce’s breath stopped when a second mouth sucked his ear as
Bagdana’s length still inside him began thrusting again. His hands were held on
the mattress as his head; his body was crashed under the demon’s body even
though the weight he felt was minimal compared to what he expected.
The exhaustion of all this time corroded his every cell; the demon’s hot breath
fast as his thrusts caressed his ear and his wet tongue licked the flesh.
Bruce clenched his jaw and determined engrossed his mind in what was happening
outside this room… Forcing only one thought in his mind to shatter everything
else: Bagdana was unaware of the raging battle.
“Third time of coupling is a bonding charm, Bruce” the demon said
affectionately to his ear, caressing tenderly the human’s wet hair in front of
him. He had just ejaculated inside him for the second time and the demon’s body
was feeling as if he was born again.
 
 
Dr. Strange pursed his lips and turned his head where the voice came.
“Hm…I won’t be so sure!” he said cocking his eyebrows smugly.
Darkseid was ready to fry him with his beams when sounds of thousands new
presences made him frown. They weren’t his. He turned his head to see where the
Avengers cast fleeting glances while they were fighting their enemies.
Valkyries ripped the sky moving their wings furiously to reach the battlefield
faster; Asgardians in their shining silver armors were descending on flying
chariots. In front of them Thor was already waving his Mjolnir throwing
thunders against the Parademons that was firing at Ironman in the air while
Odin threw his sword ripping at once ten Parademons that brandished their
blades at Natasha who were absorbed in beating three Parademons at once.
Granny Goodness had returned to the battle using her gun to kill Hulk only to
be tackled by a Valkyrie.
“Where’s that lousy demon?” she communicated mentally with her master clenching
her jaw.
Thor landed between a cluster of Parademons and used his hammer to plummet them
hitting without stopping; his eyes, his entire face was tightened in fierce
determination.
He didn’t notice a Parademon reaching him from behind – they had realized that
their firearms didn’t do anything to the Avengers so they went for the blades
instead. The Parademon raised his blade arm to cut the God’s head lowering it
fast.
A shriek in his ear startled Thor who turned to see the Parademon with a
shocked expression, still with his blade arm millimeters from Thor’s neck; the
creature collapsed on the ground with a big, round burning of laser on his
chest.
Darkseid’s eyes bulged and his teeth rattled.
“Impossible!” Granny uttered having managed to roll away from the Valkyrie.
Thor looked to the point where the laser must have come and his eyes widened
seeing Superman floating with his red cape waving behind him.
“I owe you an apology, Thor” he said landing in front of the god.
“Your apology must be to someone else but now we have a battle” Thor answered
and Superman nodded bringing his fist on his heart and bowing his head with
respect
“Where’s that demon?!” Darkseid hissed; he could storm the battlefield and
finish the job but he was so startled and flabbergast that his wrath
overwhelmed him so that confronting Bagdana became his priority: he would
return after to end that farse.
 
Bruce had calmed his breath and heartbeat, galvanizing himself into ignoring
his own body’s cries.
“Only when it is lovemaking” he replied dryly and felt Bagdana’s head frowning
immersed in his hair. “You claim that you know about real love” he cocked an
eyebrow “I’d expect that you would know the difference between lovemaking and
rape.”
Bagdana smiled and nibbled Bruce’s shoulders that were covered with cold sweat.
“You’re pissed, Bruce; I understand…But we’ll have an eternity of love making
when you will enjoy it as much as I.”
“That will never happen” Bruce retorted with conviction.
Bagdana sniffed deeply Bruce’s perfume mingled with his sweat.
“It will happen…Darkseid has the knowledge…Life mocked me giving me back my
lost love sharing the same body with my worst enemy but not anymore… Darkseid
will give me the power: I’ll erase the priest’s DNA from you and then nothing
will block you from remember and feel what you should.”
“Then you admit it” Bruce sniggered fixing his eyes on the wall “you don’t love
me.”
There was a rush in the air and Bagdana turned surprised to see Darkseid
materializing facing the side of the cloud that made their bed.
The New God’s face was distorted in anger and shock; his breath fast and
burning even more taking in the scene before him. However the demon noticed the
change in Darkseid’s eyes that regarded Bruce’s naked body.
***** Chapter 88 *****
“After a long – for Gotham’s standards – time of peace it seems that the mob
decided to show again its teeth. Our sources speak about riots in the Narrows
and an outbreak of violence all over the Midtown. But, as you see, from the
footage our reporters send GCPD has already taken measures…”
Alfred was sweeping with a cloth the plates from the breakfast he had just
washed. His face as his entire demeanor was composed as ever. He didn’t have a
TV in the kitchen yet he still could hear from the set the boys had opened in
the living room. Ms. Turner and Todd were upstairs. Bruce wanted them here
because it was known that they were connected with him so someone who would
want to get to him might have gone against them.
His concern won Alfred’s butler manners and threw the cloth on the black
granite countertop walking towards the living room.
“Police officers and SWAT forces facing the thugs all over the Narrows and, as
you see, there are considerable forces guarding Arkham Asylum, Blackgate
Prison, MCU and the City Hall. It seems that police was already informed about
the outburst of the city’s mob…”
“’Course, ya moron!” Jason spat from his spot on the living room’s velvet white
sofa. “Batman had warned the lot.”
Suddenly, the newscaster nodded listening to the control panel; simultaneously,
to the three different images from Gotham’s riots was added a forth showing
docks; the subheading read ‘Metropolis’ Docks – now’. The footage showed a
similar image with Gotham depicting law enforcers fighting with thugs who fired
at them barricaded behind debris that obviously came from the ravaged
warehouse; the difference was that over the riot scene, on the Metropolis’ sky,
floated a presence.
“The Daily Planet reports that a big police operation takes place in
Metropolis’ Docks with Wonder Woman’s involvement… Wait…” the newscaster’s
voice filled with disbelief and surprise “Wonder Woman attacks the people of
the law?”
The explosion from Wonder Woman’s bracelets had almost hit the police officers
when something barely seen stopped the wave; the camera moved fast where the
shield that saved the police officers headed: a woman in ancient warrior attire
grabbed the heavy shield with one hand.
“Who’s that woman?!”
“The real Diana, ya dork!” Jason spat from his spot on the sofa and shook his
head exasperated. “Where they find those people?”
His words were confirmed when Wonder Woman wrapped in the real Lasso of Truth
admitted that she was Poison Ivy.
Jason cackled.
“Like watchin’ movies! Only this is real!”
But Dick wasn’t sharing his thrill; his face was sullen and his brow frowned in
thought.
“Where is Batman? There is no news…” he said to Jason worried and the younger
boy lost his mood.
“I’m sure he is alright, young masters.”
Both boys jerked startled turning to the opening from the kitchen’s side.
Alfred was standing there, his eyes watching the footage on the screen. His
face was calm and composed yet the boys knew better. They exchanged a glance
and nodded.
“’Course he is!” Jason said with conviction.
“Definitely!” Dick agreed; both of them wanting to reassure and comfort Alfred.
Alfred smiled seeing through their attempt.
“There’s no news from the Frozen Bazin because Master Bruce and Master Anthony
considered it best to close the satellites – using the Electromagnetic Training
Day as excuse – because they didn’t want any panic to be spread. Not to mention
the reporters who would swarm there: imagine having to protect them and fight
at the same time. They took care of everything” he shook his head “not only for
the world but also for Gotham: The Haven and the free clinic are heavily
guarded.”
Both boys nodded smiling.
“I’m sure everything will go smoothly, young masters” he was trying to comfort
himself as well the boys who – Alfred knew – now loved and cared about Bruce.
 
Dr. Strange shook Elliot’s hand. He was in his office in Arkham when the
information desk of the institution notified him about the man’s coming.
Training Day or not he had patients to attend to and riots outburst found him
in the Asylum.
“That’s a surprise, Dr. Elliot” He said showing him the armchair in front of
his desk.
Thomas crossed his legs elegantly and cocked an eyebrow.
“I’ve told you about my interest to study Joker’s case and you – very kindly –
agreed to assist my efforts.”
Dr. Strange sat in his high backed antique leather armchair and answered with a
grin.
“Of course but the Asylum is right now at an emergency” he frowned “you know
about the riots, right? As a matter of fact I don’t understand how they did
allow you to get inside.”
Thomas smiled and put his hand in the inner pocket of his expensive, tailored
blue blazer. Dr. Hugo Strange watched and his lamp-like eyes widened.
Thomas pulled out a small, square black handgun and pointed it at him.
“I can be very persuasive, dear Hugo, as you see…” he shook his head. “I don’t
want to kill you but this…emergency…this fuss all over the city is the best
conditions for me to conduct my study.”
“Dr. Elliot…” Hugo Strange said calmly trying to reason with him.
Elliot cocked his eyebrows.
“I’ve already killed an officer: he fell on duty from the bullets of some thug.
Now I want the object of my study.”
Dr. Strange intertwinned his fingers on the desk.
“The security system of Arkham doesn’t allow to anyone to open the cells –
especially during an emergency.”
Elliot leaned back on his armchair laughing.
“It may be so but you are Joker’s therapist so I’m sure you have access…And the
same goes for Dr. Quinzel’s cell too: she is also your patient…”
Hugo Strange brought his hands on his face.
“This is about Bruce Wayne, right? You’re ready to do something foolish…”
But Thomas cut him abruptly jerking from his seat and pointing the gun
aggressively at his face. He grinned.
“The whole mess in Gotham right now gives me the best opportunity and your
patients will be the best assistants.”
Strange shook his head in disapproval.
“Thomas, think it better. You’re an accomplished neurosurgeon; a respectable
member of the society; a brilliant and ingenious man: this is beyond you. You
understand that you can’t destroy everything you accomplished for an old
grudge. Put the gun away and I won’t tell anything to anyone” he met Elliot’s
feverish eyes “I give you my word.”
Elliot rolled his eyes frustrated.
“Nice offer, Doc, but I’m not here for psychoanalysis…I asked you to become my
ally but you refused so I have to adjust to what I can” he smirked “and I won’t
lose anything: a rich bastard was killed during a riot while Joker with his
accomplice were lose – everyone knows Joker’s insane interest for Wayne…well,
the whacko finally cracked and killed the brat. You see? Everything taken
care!”
He stood and gestured with the gun for the psychiatrist to do the same. Hugo
Strange got up; his face cold and expressionless. It was obvious that the
experienced psychiatrist was completely unruffled; unfazed from the barrel’s
sight.
“You can’t trust those two, Thomas.”
Elliot moved towards him and poked him on the back with the gun to walk.
“This is my problem. Now: I’ll have the gun in my pocket – we don’t want to
panic the staff, right? It could lead to most unpleasant situations. You’ll
accompany me to Joker’s cell and like a good doctor you’ll free him as you will
do with Dr. Quinzel.”
Strange nodded with an icy cold stare.
“As you wish…”
They walked through the bright corridors of the Asylum – since Bruce Wayne had
donated a large amount of money for the institution’s renovation he asked for
the sun light to be abundant inside the building: Bruce had been deprived of
the sun light for eighteen years and learnt how precious it was for people.
Thus he believed that if the building’s premises used the natural sun light
then this would be beneficial for the inmates’ wellbeing and even their
recovery.
 Hugo Strange had smiled hearing what the young billionaire had asked and his
reasoning; when the doctor came for the first time to the Asylum he inquired
about the choice of natural light instead of artificial. The staff’s answer
about the young Wayne’s wish made the psychiatrist appreciate more the youth.
Both Joker’s and Quinzel’s cell were at the maximum security ward but in
different sectors; in isolation at least for the first time after their arrest.
Joker having heard the footsteps jumped from his bed and rushed to the small
window of his door intrigued and ready to have his fun with the staff. Seeing
Hugo Strange he cackled.
“Whaaaaaat’s up, doc?” he asked mimicking Bugs Bunny’s voice and then he
scratched his non-dyed, brown hair. “Isn’t it a bit early for our…mmm…session?”
He cocked his eyebrows and his eyes focused on the wall clock opposite his
cell. It wasn’t even afternoon.
“It’s still morning…” he frowned. “Aaaaand I heard a second pair of shoes – not
the light footsteps of that sweet, littl’ nurse that tinkles me with thoooose
needles…Sooooooo, what surprise do you have for me, egg eye?”
Strange didn’t answer and Elliot stepped forward to be seen from the door’s
window.
“It’s time to play” he said dryly and Joker’s eyes shone seeing the gun Elliot
pulled out of his blazer’s pocket.
The jester shook his head.
“Uuuuuuu! I looove people who keep their promises…” he said hoarsely but then
he became serious regarding the gun and the pricy blazer. “You shouldna put the
gun inside that cloth – you might damage it.”
Elliot rolled his eyes and nudged Dr. Strange to open for Joker who was licking
his lips thrilled.
Hugo Strange gave his personal code to the secret panel under the wall and then
he pressed his thumb in the fingerprint recognition socket that emerged. The
door opened with a hiss and Joker slithered outside with his knees on the floor
like a rock star.
“Sooooomebody stooooop meeeee!” he jerked his head upwards.
“Are you finished?” Elliot asked bored.
Joker frowned and pouted tapping his index finger on his bottom lip.
“Chaos in broad daylight?” he asked thoughtful and crooked his mouth.
Elliot gestured to him to stand.
“When someone gives you lemon you make lemonade…” he said. “Gotham’s scum
decided to rebel during daylight and police is occupied with them. So we can do
our work undisturbed.”
Joker looked at the icy calm Dr. Strange and winked showing with his thumb at
Elliot.
“He’s cleeeeever, huh, doc?”
Strange looked at Elliot, cocking an eyebrow.
“No; actually he is an idiot!”
Thomas ground his teeth and pointed the gun at the doctor; his finger tensing
around the trigger.
“I could kill you right now – but I need you to open Quinzel’s cell.”
Joker’s eyes widened thrilled and he clapped.
“Oooooooh! My Harleeeeequin! I missed her…” he rushed at Elliot and gave him a
noisy kiss on the cheek but then his excitement ebbed. “Well, nooooot that
much…I miss Brucey more…”
Elliot lolled his head at him and glared.
“Can you shut up?!”
Joker saluted him military style.
“Yes, siiiiiiiir! Ooooh! I like this guy! Huh, doc?” he wrapped his arm around
Strange’s shoulders and pushed him forward.
Hugo Strange was forced to repeat the same procedure to open Quinzel’s cell;
she walked outside clearly enraged. Joker regarded her scratching his head.
“Ooooorange isn’t your color, Harlequin!”
“Shut the fuck up!” she said and slapped him in the face. “I’m imprisoned here
because of you. And orange isn’t your color too!”
Joker batted his eyelashes cute.
“You were the first thing I asked from this fine gentleman when he freed me,
you see…You are aaaaaalways in my miiiiind…”he sang out of tone.
Harleen looked him smoothened.
“Really?”
“Of course not, my dear” Strange said. “He is trying to manipulate you.”
Harleen gritted her teeth and punched the psychiatrist in the nose sending him
to the wall and then on the floor.
“Don’t you dare slander, Mista J!”
Joker patted her in the back and took her hand kissing the knuckles.
“Haaaarley, you’re myyyyyy girl… Can I call you Harley, huh?”
“Enough with this shit!” Elliot barked impatient. “We have things to do!”
“Rrrrrright!” Joker said but winked to Harley. “What are we going to do with
the egg eyed here?”
Elliot turned the gun on Strange and simply pressed the trigger; the sound was
almost inaudible. The psychiatrist’s body jerked once, bumped on the wall and
dropped again on the floor in an odd angle.
“I like laaaaconic people!” Joker laughed. “It’s shooooow time, babe! But
first” he said serious “Harley, is right: oooorange is not my color” he looked
disgusted at his inmate’s attire “aaaaand a great show needs the fitting suits.
We need to change.”
Elliot gritted his teeth frustrated but Joker nonchalant patted his back.
“You’re new in the business…you’ll understand with time…”
Thomas crooked his mouth disgusted and waved the gun to indicate them to move.
“C’mon, I have many things to do. We’ll take Strange’s car so that we won’t be
stopped at the gate.”
 
The wolf whistle made Lois turn her gaze from the sky and look at Jimmy.
“Nice outfit that Ivy!” he exclaimed thrilled goggling at Ivy’s almost naked
body, forgetting his usual shyness.
Lois rolled her eyes and gave him a small smack in the back of his neck.
“Sweep your drooling and keep shooting…”
“Fascist…” the youth mumbled but smiled when Lois smiled at his comment.
 
Selina frowned seeing Diana’s waist wrapped in a green-silver stem which
sprouted from Ivy’s naval; it was thick like a high voltage cable and seemed so
tough that even the Amazon couldn’t shake it off her. Actually, Selina could
discern that the Princess was dazzled, disoriented so she wasn’t trying to free
herself much to Ivy’s snigger.
That encouraged the thugs to resume their attack to the law enforcers either
with bullets or fists. Selina ducked her head to avoid the stray bullets and
ran to the edge of the docks under the patch of sky where the two women
hovered.
They had discussed with Bruce the possibility of Ivy using her pheromones on
her opponents and he had given her the antidote Jor El had manufactured based
on the analyses he had done to Superman during Ivy’s influence. They both knew
that it might come handy.
She wrapped her whip around the crane’s tower and climbed to the top with the
ease of a cat. Then she straightened her posture, gathered her whip in a roll
and walked lightly on the horizontal jib section, the corner of her eye seeing
the docks from 50m height.
“What is it, dear?” Ivy asked sarcastic seeing Diana’s eyes confused. “You’re
too ancient for the new tricks? You shouldn’t have underestimated me, Amazon!”
she smirked with a gleeful shine in her green eyes
Ivy pulled the stem that was wrapped around Diana’s waist bringing the Amazon
to her; as soon as Diana was close to her, Ivy raised her hand to punch. Ivy’s
punch strong enough to injure Diana since Ivy had the powers Bagdana gave her
was inches from the Amazon’s face. Diana’s eyes were under mist but still she
could see the aggressive movement without however the motivation or the mood to
defend herself or blow her opponent: she was lightheaded and his brain
acknowledged Ivy as a being it shouldn’t be harmed even if she killed her.
Lois narrowed her eyes.
“C’mon, girl! Wake up! Don’t let that bimbo defeat you!”
Ivy screamed as something slashed and wrapped the wrist of her fisted hand;
drops of blood splashed in the air.
“Remember the feeling of my whip, bitch?” Selina asked slyly from the crane’s
top, her flashing eyes regarding Ivy.
Ivy fumed as her eyes glared at Selina.
“Oh, yeah! I owe you…” she said and raised her tied wrist pulling the whip.
Her strength enhanced by the demon’s spells was more than enough to throw
Catwoman off the crane yet Selina smiled and ruined her effort by simply
letting go of the whip causing Ivy to lose her balance and as a result lose her
grip on Diana.
“You didn’t really expect to catch so easily an alley cat, huh?” Selina mocked
her and jolted heading to land on the dock.
Ivy roared and rushed behind her which was what Selina wanted. Taking advantage
of Ivy’s turned back to Diana Catwoman did something Batman-like: she threw a
tiny needle aiming to Diana’s neck. Diana jerked feeling the small stab.
As soon as Catwoman put her feet on the cement Ivy stopped right in front of
her.
“Time to pull off the cat’s nails!” Ivy sneered glaring.
Selina cocked an eyebrow.
“Really?” she retorted and regarded curiously her opponent’s body “What’s out,
sister! You’re going to stumble on your attire…” she remarked snidely and began
somersaulting.
Ivy boiling in her wrath caught her up with her speed.
A stem jumped from Ivy’s waist and twisted around Catwoman’s ankle. Her
momentum stopped abruptly and she fell flat on her back. Ivy minced to her.
“And now, Kitty…” Selina glared at her registering the gold, big leaf she held
that shone in the sun indicating that it was actually a sharp blade.
“Not so fast!” it was the angry roaring of a lioness more than the voice of a
woman.
Ivy made to turn to see what it was that rush of air behind her but the wave
fell on her and tackled her crushing her on a container slapping the blade-leaf
from her hand.
Ivy saw Diana’s face contorted in anger over hers; the real Amazon was holding
her from the neck and was stabbing her with her blazing eyes.
“I heard that you were given super powers” the Amazon said and grinned. “So I
have no hesitation to do that…”
She grimaced and slapped Poison Ivy with all her might.
“That for impersonating me…”
Ivy jerked her leg kicking Diana hard on the groin but the Amazon not even
flinched. Instead she raised her hand again giving her another slap.
“That for disgracing the name of the Amazons…”
Ivy punched the Amazon on the stomach yet Diana gritted her teeth and this time
gave her a blow on the mouth.
“That for debunking me with that ridiculous outfit…” she yanked her head. “And
that…” she head butted Ivy in the forehead knocking her out “for the damage you
made using my name.”
Selina who was watching having approached smiled bitterly. For the pain you
caused to Bruce…she thought and walked to Diana who was binding Ivy with her
lasso.
She pulled out another tiny needle from the case that was built in her suit at
the right thigh. Diana looked at her puzzled.
“Batman gave it to me: it will deprive her of her super powers; it’s a compound
dose so it must be enough until Darkseid is defeated.”
Diana nodded and Selina stabbed the needle in Ivy’s upper arm.
“Thank you” the Amazon said “she did something to me and I was confused, numb…”
Catwoman nodded.
“She was doing something like this to Superman…thankfully today, I had the
antidote. You helped me too so we’re even” she cocked her eyebrows and lolled
her head gesturing towards the battling thugs and law enforcers “we can’t let
them have all the fun, huh?”
Diana smiled.
“Definitely not.”
 
Jim Gordon was giving orders to his officers coordinating them. He was outside
the Blackgate Prison where hundreds of thugs tried to breech the building;
fortunately, police expected them so their attempt was thwarted and now police
and SWAT exchanged fires with them to force them to surrender.
They had the control yet these thugs acted like brainwashed and weren’t willing
to negotiate or stop fighting determined even to die as long as they killed
officers along.
Jim’s face was contorted; he was watching behind barricade listening to the
SWAT head – Montoya at his right. It seemed so absurd to him that this was
happening in daylight: mob and thugs always preferred the coverage of the
darkness which showed that they were indeed manipulated to act like this
exactly as Batman told him.
 Suddenly, his cell rang. It was Bullock.
“Search for him everywhere” he ordered Bullock and ended the dial.
“What is it, Commissionaire?” Montoya asked.
“Bullock didn’t find Elliot; they search his apartment and found a disk with
the video.
 
Ironman was soaring above the battlefield wiping with his adjusted laser the
hoards of Parademons that seemed endless. After the initial shock, the green
creatures began using shields that sprout from their blade arms replacing the
weapon with protection. It was a good thing that Ironman’s weaponry could pass
the shield though more persistence was necessary.
His fellow Avengers underneath battled the alien army supported by the
Asgardians. Tony was grateful to that arrival because till the Valkyries
arrived he had to fight alone the flying Parademons. Even now the flying
motherfuckers were more than the Earth’s defenders and Tony had to dodge and
maneuver to avoid their fires: his armor was adjusted to withstand yet Tony
didn’t want to risk.
Simultaneous to fighting, Tony had his systems scanning constantly the
battlefield which had spread to almost a mile range so he couldn’t rely just to
his vision. He wanted to have the control so to act whenever his comrades
needed help.
Hulk was having fun catapulting with his enormous fists Parademons right and
left as if they were annoying pests; his hide was too harsh for the alien
weapons to harm him.
Captain America and Natasha was fighting with hands and legs but the former
every now and then stopped using his shield for protection and launched to
neutralize his enemies. Dr. Strange was fighting with elegant hand motions as
if he was in his operating room; his gentle gestures conjured either shields to
protect himself from the aliens or light beams that blew the creatures. Odin
and Thor in the middle of the battle were causing major disaster to the aliens.
However what troubled Tony and made him restless was that Darkseid didn’t make
his appearance yet. They had heard him but since then there was no sign of him.
He didn’t have any doubt that the battle had just started and the big boss’
absence wasn’t good. The alien was up to something.
“Sir, Superman is here.”
Tony licked his lips: part of his restlessness had to do with Bruce. He didn’t
know anything about his friend’s whereabouts or condition and he was afraid.
Bruce should have stayed somewhere safe and not running around to save
Superman.
He launched his laser and blew up two Parademons that were fighting with a
Valkyrie and then made a swirl to head where Superman was.
“Sonovabitch!” he exclaimed because he almost bumped on Superman who hovered in
front of him.
The freaking Kryptonian looked very good for someone being imprisoned by
Darkseid for so long. And the fact he was flying and…he just used his laser
vision to blow up ten Parademons in a row showed that Bruce had made it: he
managed – who knows how – to restore Superman to his powers.
Superman stood in front of Ironman: his relationship with Tony Stark was always
bad yet Clark now was ashamed even to look the man in the eyes – the lenses.
“Mr. Stark” he said “I owe you…”
Tony just didn’t have time for that.
“Oh, shut up! You owe me and Bruce too many things but now it’s not the time”
Superman bit his lips and nodded. “Where’s Batman?” he asked not using Bruce’s
name in case someone overheard them.
Superman’s eyes became more shadowed from guilt.
“He locked me in the Tumbler and sent me here…but he stayed there.”
Tony bit his bottom lip and he was happy that Ironman’s helmet hid it from
Superman. Yet it wasn’t so difficult for Clark to understand.
“He told me that we’ll meet here.”
Ironman shook his head.
“But obviously he’s not here!” he spat and span around clearing the area from
Parademons which found the chance to approach.
Superman followed his lead using his laser vision and his punches.
“They seem like sprouting like weeds…” he mumbled. “We are lucky that Thor
brought the Asgardian army.”
Ironman turned slightly his head.
“Batman’s work” he spat and flew away heading where Granny were fighting the
Asgardians killing several of them.
Superman gulped but instantly set his jaw determined: his hatred for Bagdana
and Darkseid but most for himself won his guilt: there would be time for guilt,
now it was time for action. He flew using his entire force to tear apart the
flying Parademons in his way while his laser vision was blasting more of them
that were far.
He knew that it was better for him to fight the flying creatures to stop them
from hitting his comrades from the air yet his agony was that those in the land
were outnumbered and would be easily swallowed by the thousands of enemies.
For the first time, his grim face lit from relief: a red blur ran the road
towards the battlefield ‘uprooting’ the green river of aliens. Flash. Bruce
really took care assembling every force that loved this planet.
 
Montoya’s walkie talkie buzzed and Gordon frowned. The young lieutenant looked
at Jim while listening.
“Dr. Hugo Strange was found in the Arkham Asylum shot in the chest – he is
alive – but he opened Joker’s and Quinzel’s cells. Elliot had gone to visit the
doctor.”
Jim ran to his patrol car before Montoya finished and she followed him jumping
at the driver’s seat.
“Wayne Manor” he said to her.
 
The demon and the human were both completely naked on a black cloud that was
their mattress. Bagdana was lying on his side behind the human massaging with
both hands, no, better fondling, the human’s broad muscle bound back; his lips
were planting soft kisses on the shoulders’ skin that looked velvety smooth.
The demon’s cat-like eyes were filled with affection so abnormal for a demon –
Bagdana had even adjusted his body’s size to match the human’s in order to not
hurt him.
The human was on his belly with his arms loosely placed over his head; his eyes
were blank but determined gazing at the cement wall in front of him.
It was obvious what had taken place. Darkseid wanted his rage to prevail and to
avert his eyes disgusted yet he realized that he couldn’t or…he didn’t want to.
His eyes were fixed on the body before him unwilling to let go. From the day he
met him in his office, Darkseid had found Wayne rather attractive – even if he
didn’t want to admit it. Yet seeing him like this made the impression stronger.
With the expensive clothes on and sat in the wheelchair, Darkseid couldn’t
imagine that this body was chiseled in such perfection; with porcelain, glowing
skin and strong, artistic sculpted muscles. The way he had his arms over his
head made the deltoids bulge pointing every single jointing fiber. Bagdana was
nibbling the human’s shoulder blades and Darkseid couldn’t blame him…
Only a small part of Wayne’s front was visible yet it was delicious enough
letting him see a portion of a pink nipple and harmonic layers of abdominals.
However Darkseid wasn’t sorry he couldn’t see the man’s chest and those juicy
pectorals which could see partially because a cute curve from the waist led to
enticing, protruding round buttocks that the New God could tell that had just
given tremendous pleasure to the demon; they were taut but at the same time
seemed soft and velvety urging his hands to touch to feel…
The perfume this mortal body emanated stunned and intoxicated him blended with
the smell of sex hued sweat.
Humans shouldn’t be so beautiful…So alluring; so charming…More charming when
Wayne’s glimmering beautiful eyes narrowed like a wildcat’s as soon as he saw
Darkseid. Raven silken locks wet framed his hot face and made his eye’s effect
stronger. So intense, beautiful eyes…
The New God thought that the human didn’t know who had before him but still
having a blue giant staring at his naked body after Bagdana having screw him
should have been terrorizing; yet the human didn’t look scared.
Bagdana took in the way Darkseid was goggling at Bruce’s body and fast like air
he stood on the floor, his clothes reappearing to dress his own gigantic body.
The demon placed his body in a way that Darkseid couldn’t see Bruce anymore.
Darkseid smirked: a demon protecting his mate from strange eyes.
“How scurvy you are, demon!”
Bruce’s thought was that Bagdana was a demon so from definition he was scurvy
thus the New God wasn’t saying anything new.
“Being here fucking your human whore!” he roared to the demon wanting to show
that Wayne’s stunning nudity left him indifferent.
Bagdana smiled.
“Isn’t that bad that I took my share before the battle…” he slurred.
Suddenly, Darkseid with the corner of his eyes saw something that struck him
like a thunder: in the middle of the room, on the floor around the central
stone pole, black things were scattered; black things with one of them standing
out: a cowl with pointy ears.
The New God’s eyes widened for the umpteenth time the last hours: when he met
the human in his office, he experienced his defiance, the strength of his
character, his immunity to mind control but he couldn’t imagine... His eyes
stabbed Bagdana’s body struggling to see the man who lay on the mattress.
“He is the Batman!” he roared. “That’s why you asked from me to not kill both
Bruce Wayne and Batman: they are the same person and you couldn’t risk one of
them getting killed! That’s why Batman’s appearances were scarce: he is
disabled!”
Bruce behind the demon’s mass clenched his fists: he didn’t want Darkseid
knowing his secret. He supported himself to his elbow and rose a bit. It wasn’t
a disaster.
Bagdana smiled.
“You figured out, I see…” he cocked an eyebrow.
Darkseid’s lips flared and his fists clenched: the demon was mocking him.
“You didn’t tell me the truth about Wayne!”
Bagdana crossed his column like arms over his enormous chest and shrugged a
shoulder.
“I’m a demon” he said “you didn’t really expect honesty from a demon?” he asked
amused.
On that sarcasm Darkseid let his rage explode: he clenched his jaw making his
teeth emanate sparkles. His hands became fists.
“You shall be punished for your cheating! I’ll have the human first subjected
to my treatment!” his nostrils spat fire.
Bruce rolled his eyes: it was ridiculous.
“You won’t touch him!” Bagdana hissed calmly and his yellow cat like eyes
became flaming red scowling at the bigger god.
Darkseid yanked his head backwards cackling and made a motion forwards to
overcome Bagdana’s obstacle but he was pushed back from a hot wave: the demon’s
body lost its granite texture and became a mountainous body of fire and lava
that reached the ceiling towering Darkseid; the flames coming from the mass
danced frantically around and two coal like eyes stabbed the New God.
Bruce felt something soft covering his body and his eyes just before Bagdana’s
transformation: he saw Bagdana taking the form of his kingdom’s deepest depths
but he didn’t feel the heat that certainly would have burnt him alive. Bagdana
took care to cover him with that protective layer.
Darkseid’s eyes were still and his breath echoed like roaring: it wasn’t the
time to spend his powers and those of the despicable demon. He needed him to
defeat the humans and then he’d teach him a lesson. For the time being however
he loosened his stance and looked him in the black-gold coals that were his
eyes.
He nodded.
“If you want to keep your pet then use your strength against humans.”
The mountain of lave and fire began freezing giving its place to granite that
was chiseled in real time to produce in a second Bagdana’s casual form. The
demon’s thick brows were knitted.
“What are you saying? Your attack is going to be launched in two days. You
changed the attack’s time without telling me?”
Darkseid now was rasping: his wrath for Bagdana’s treachery to hide the truth
about Wayne had made him forget what happened in the Frozen Bazin.
“THEY ATTACKED US, you deplorable serpent!”
Bagdana’s bewilderment was depicted in his yellow cat like eyes.
“That’s…no way…” he said.
Darkseid sniggered but his rage was such that the snigger became a roar.
“The Avengers are at the Frozen Basin; they wanted to search Mannheim’s
facilities…to get my machine.”
Bagdana grimaced.
“You stopped them?”
Darkseid snorted and fisted his hands.
“What do you think?1 Right now they fight with the Parademons I brought from
Washington.”
Bagdana shook his head almost indifferent.
“Fine then…They chose to end their lives sooner.”
Darkseid growled.
“Idiot! They have weapons that can pass the Parademon’s skin and their attires
are durable to Parademon’s weaponry! And…” he stabbed the demon with his eyes
“Thor and Odin came with an army of Asgardians and Valkyries.”
If Bagdana had human skin and not his granite hide then he would have been
pale; his plumb lips that just now were sank in Bruce’s sweetness stayed agape.
Darkseid’s ire subsided a bit for amusement’s shake over the demon’s shock. He
wanted to make the demon suffer for what he did.
“Police and SWAT attacked Intergang in Metropolis.”
Bagdana blinked.
“Ivy can easily smash them.”
Darkseid smirked.
“Not when the real Diana of Themyscirra protects them!”
Bagdana opened his mouth unable to utter ‘impossible’. Darkseid crooked his
mouth in disgust.
“And Superman is free!” he roared leaning to him and moved his hand in the air.
Bagdana saw in the humid air of the room the battle in Frozen Bazin but no
Superman: Darkseid must have been raving.
 “It must be a trick…what you say you saw: some hologram or something stupid.
Superman is in his cell…I just saw him” he said confident.
“Then how you explain this?!”
The demon’s eyes almost popped out from their sockets: Superman was flying,
strong and vivid as if he wasn’t under Kryptonite’s and red sun’s radiation for
days. The Man of Steel was using his laser vision and his extraordinary powers
without a problem exterminating Parademons. The demon shook his head.
“But I did saw him in his cell weak, half dead; I sensed his DNA.”
 
Granny Goodness’ face was deformed in a grimace of rage and hatred. Her plump
body vibrated from boiling anger as she crossed the battlefield in her way
shooting at the Asgardians with the guns she held in both hands. She was
determined to kill everyone in her path winning this battle even herself.
She shrieked satisfied as several Asgardians collapsed on the soil; they might
have had armors that Parademons couldn’t breech yet her weapons could.
Granny smirked and jumped in the air to arrive faster to the spot where
Asgardians were slaughtering Parademons with their long swords. She turned her
weapons on them and pushed the triggers simultaneously ready to savor the
massacre.
But then something stood between her fire and the Asgardians absorbing the
beams. Granny’s eyes bulged and she cried from frustration.
It was Captain America’s shield that after stopping the beams turned downwards
to end up in her master’s hands. Steve’s determined eyes crossed with Granny’s
as she landed before him.
“You don’t know that it’s cowardice to hit someone in the back?” he asked.
Granny cackled.
“I’m face to face with you, pest!” she let a spooky shriek and rushed against
him firing both her guns.
Steve used his shield to protect himself but Granny reached him and threw away
the firearms replacing them with long, broad blades that shone in the sun; she
downed the blades to Steve’s throat and he dodged bringing his shield to block
them.
Granny roared frustrated and pushed more the blades almost bending Steve’s
hand. Captain America clenching his teeth jerked his legs kicking his enemy’s
calves shoving her away from him. He hardly had straightened his body when
Parademons swarmed at him shooting and moving their blades. Steve was moving
his shield both to block hits and attack himself.
Suddenly, three of his enemies were launched to the air and then hit by
bullets.
Steve narrowed his eyes trying to discern through the dust the one who was
helping him. A human body jerked in the air kicking two Parademons and landed
in front of him.
“Two are better than one, right?” Natasha said in her thick accent and Steve
nodded smiling.
They took positions back to back in order to cover more space but they failed
to see Granny turning her firearms at them; her eyes shining maniac.
They heard her shrieking laughter and the sound from her beams; it was too
close for avoiding and Steve had thrown his shield to smash attacking
Parademons. They both fell on the ground aware that the range of her beams was
enough to hit them even down.
But then the beams were deflected by something transparent that made the air
wave and Granny had to jump several feet away to escape her own beams.
Steve gave his hand to Natasha and both stood looking in the air: a laughing
Superman was there blowing over his index fingers which stood like gun barrels.
“Hard times for heroes, huh?” Superman said.
“Are you alright?”
They turned around to the other familiar voice only to see a second Superman
regarding them serious as ever.
 
“Two Supermen?!” Darkseid grunted goggling at the footage from the battlefield.
Bagdana surprised as his ally narrowed his eyes.
 
Clark squinted at… himself; but he let his surprise last only two seconds and
immediately he readied to attack the impostor: after what happened with Poison
Ivy and Darkseid he wasn’t willing to take any risk…especially, when he was in
front of none other than himself!
But a second before he surged at the impostor the second Superman changed
leaving none other than Loki in his place.
Clark had the same startled expression as Natasha and Steve.
“Ugh!” the mischievous god exclaimed. “Muscles and all are overhyped; I prefer
my unique, peculiar beauty…What?” he asked taking in the expressions of the
others; he shook his head and crooked his mouth. “Someone of us has to work,
huh?” he rushed to the other end of the battle sending waves of energy against
the aliens.
 
Thomas Elliot heard only the sound of his expensive leather shoes on the
linoleum floor and the determined beats of his heart. With the corner of his
eyes he acknowledged nurses and doctors dressed in white passing right and left
greeting him and frowning when they didn’t receive any reciprocation.
As he had expected police and Wayne Enterprises’ security had surrounded the
free clinic to prevent any attack from the rioters. However he worked in the
clinic and his ID gave him easy pass.
Leslie was in the middle of the foyer room. Dressed in her white robe,
agitated, looking at her colleagues with her determined deep stare behind her
rectangular glasses she gave instructions. Like every day the foyer was filled
with people: elderly, women and children of the Narrows benefited from the free
clinic.
He smirked inside and walked to her.
“Tommy, it’s not your shift” she greeted him.
Elliot growled inside: suspicious as always,he thought.
“Well, no classes at the University due to the Training Day and I thought to
come here to help” he looked around “aren’t you glad to see me?”
Leslie sensed something odd – odder than usual behind Elliot’s cocked eyebrows
– yet she had too many things on her mind to deal with it now. She walked with
the intention to head at the emergency rooms, her staff already walking towards
the patients’ wards.
“Of course I am, Tommy – it’s a busy day.”
Thomas nodded.
“More than usual…”
“It’s the riots…” Leslie said her eyes on the emergency ward as she walked
hastily, Thomas at her heels.
“Police seems to have the control” he remarked slyly.
Leslie pushed the door’s knob to enter the first room.
“Yes, but people in the Narrows have seen a lot so it is natural to be panicked
and to want to stay in a safe place. Aren’t you going to wear your robe?”
She asked frowned registering his blank eyes.
“No, Leslie” he answered turning abruptly his suddenly glimmering eyes to her.
“We’ll go to visit our Brucie.”
Leslie let the knob and narrowed her eyes.
“What? That’s not the time for this.”
Elliot smirked.
“Oh, yes…I think it is” he pulled out of his pants’ pocket a square handgun.
Leslie pressed her lips and shook her head staying calm: it wasn’t the first
time someone threatened her with a gun.
“Thomas, put that away…you don’t want to do this.”
“Oh, yes, I do. And don’t patronize me, you foolish woman! That brat humiliated
me and now it’s the time he pays!”
Leslie closed her eyes: all this time, Bruce was right about Elliot; on the
other hand she had been too naïve and lenient to him, which gave Thomas the
chance to do this.
He was in a hurry; he grabbed Leslie’s upper arm and holding the gun with the
other he dragged her to the foyer causing shrieks from the citizens and the
nurses who saw the gun.
Leslie gestured to everyone to calm down.
“Thomas, people have nothing to do with your grudge. Why threatening them?”
Elliot clenched her more.
“They’ll help me persuade you to take me to the Manor” he smiled. “I know that
the Manor has the toughest security there is and now with the riots even more
so the only way to get in is with you.”
Leslie set her jaw.
“There’s no way I’ll get you there to harm Bruce!”
Thomas cursed furious and brandished his gun as if he was ready to hit her,
movement that made bystanders, patients and staff, huff scared.
“We’ll see about that!” he said controlling his temper and Leslie frowned.
“Come!”
Everyone looked where Elliot’s head was turned. A blond girl with two ponytails
on her head, dressed in a tiny skirt and white strapped leggings walked to the
foyer swaying her hips accompanied by a nurse who had her back on the people.
The girl whom Leslie recognized as Dr. Quinzel held a machine gun.
Suddenly, the nurse turned and Leslie couldn’t hold her laughter because
amusement overcame for a second her wariness. The nurse was dressed in the
casual white robe; ‘she’ was tall with short, bushy red hair that was a wig;
her face was painted white and her lips were painted ruby red highlighting the
scars that reached her cheeks.
“Hellooooo, people! Nurse Joky is with youuuuuuu to relieve you from your
pain…” he made his voice hoarse. “Permanently!”
He drew out of his skirt a machine gun and aimed it at the people. He pouted.
“Now…I dooooon’t like disobedient patients. Soooooo be good kids and your
beautiful nurse will take care of you.”
Leslie stared at him cocking an eyebrow.
“You found your true inclination?” she asked eyeing his skirt “Those leg hair
though…” she arched her eyebrows. “Dr. Elliot can suggest a good surgeon to
operate you…”
People around gulped afraid that Joker would be mad but the nurse looked at
himself and laughed.
“I like her, Tommy” he said looking at him. “He has a sense of humor.”
Quinzel was crossing the room grinning broadly turning her machine gun to
people who flinched and yelled causing her laughter.
“You’re right, Mr. J. It is exciting!”
Joker stared at her and shrugged.
“Youuuuu should listen to paaaaaapa Joker, Harlequin!”
Elliot rolled his eyes.
“Enough with your nonsense!” he stabbed Leslie with his eyes. “Either you’ll
get me to the Manor or this day will stay in the history as the free clinic
massacre!”
Both Joker and Harley grinned pointing their guns at the people who shrieked.
Leslie bit her lip; she hated that.
Kelly heard the fuss returning from the patient rooms and came curious to see
what had happened; it wasn’t something unusual for the clinic after all. But
upon entering the foyer and seeing Joker with his minion threatening people she
paled. But then she took in Tommy holding Dr. Leslie with a gun clenched in his
hand and she couldn’t stop herself: Thomas couldn’t do this…
She ran to Elliot.
“Tommy, what are you doing?” she asked searching for his eyes.
Thomas huffed exasperated and looked at her.
“I’m so tired of you” he spat and in front of everyone’s goggling eyes he shot
the girl in the chest.
Kelly’s eyes stayed widened in confusion as her lean body fall on the floor
with a bleeding hole in the chest.
Leslie jerked in Elliot’s grip to run to her nurse but he held her back.
“Now, Leslie: do you want me to continue?” he roared.
The kids began crying hiding in their parents’ chests; Leslie bit her lip
realizing those people’s panic and despair: they had come here, to the doctor
who for years protected them, only to be surrendered in a nightmare. Thomas had
definitely gone mental: he just shot Kelly, he wouldn’t hesitate to do it
again.
She shook her head.
“No, I’ll take you there.”
Elliot smirked.
“Wise choice…Ah! Harley will stay here ready to execute your precious patients
in case you try something in the road.”
He pushed her ahead of him and Joker followed.
“We’ll take your car” Elliot said when they entered the underground parking. “I
suppose the Ground’s Gates open automatically for you.”
 
Montoya sped the car crossing fast the bridge to the Palisades casting glances
to her chief who regarded the road impatient.
“Soon we’ll be there, Commissionaire; Palisades don’t have any traffic.”
Jim had already sent signal to the patrol cars that were in the city’s exits to
the Palisades. They would stop Elliot: he hoped that they would arrest him
before getting near the Wayne Estate.
So when his cell phone rang he almost jumped.
Montoya looked at him with the same hope.
“Tell me…” Jim said. “I’m coming!”
“What?” Montoya asked.
“Turn around!”
Montoya obeyed immediately performing a skillful U-turn taking advantage of the
almost empty bridge.
“The officers who guard the free clinic reported gun shots from inside” Montoya
looked at him. “They allowed Elliot to enter: he worked there and had an ID so
they let him.”
“Shit!”
 
As soon as Bagdana saw the second Superman turning into Loki everything dawned
to him. He actually closed his eyes and smiled amused causing Darkseid’s
irritated puzzlement.
Bagdana turned to look at Bruce who was watching the two giants with still,
determined eyes; the layer the demon had put on him to protect him from the
heat covered also his nudity so Bruce felt at ease. But all of a sudden, the
demon stormed at him, forcing him on his back; Bagdana straddled him and
grabbed his wrists stretching his arms over his head.
“You did that!” he said but his voice vibrated more from admiration than wrath.
“I thought that I caught you before managing to free Superman but you not only
had already released him but also you had taken care to cover your trails in
case something went wrong.”
 
The forest covered hill cast its grim shadow over the grotesque gothic building
that stood at his foothills . The dawn was almost there yet the sky was still
dark with clouds hiding the stars and the moon.
Two shadows slipped inside the Mansion from the back door of the kitchen. The
room was at the back side of the enormous rectangular building.
“It’s like Dracula’s castle with these sharp turrets…and so dark with its
gothic shape glaring at you. You’re sure it’s not haunted as well?”
The one shadow immediately headed for the door on the other end of the vast
room but the second, leaner silhouette looked around curious.
“You know your thing, huh, Batman? How did you know that the kitchen would be
empty?”
Truly, the room was equipped with the usual kitchen ware yet it was obvious
from the spider webs and the dust that it wasn’t ever used.
Batman turned to his companion.
“The owner of the Mansion has no interest for food” he growled and the other
nodded. “On the other hand…” he touched the down part of his wrist and the
sketch of the building appeared into the room its lines illuminated in green
neon light.
The face of Batman’s companion was cast under the green light and Loki’s sneaky
eyes sparkled.
“Wow! James Bond style…”
Bruce rolled his eyes behind the lenses. Loki leaned to him.
“Not that I don’t goggle at the high tech thingies but…you sure don’t want me
to transfer us there…” he winked and lolled his head “you know with magic?”
Batman scowled at him giving him the silent treatment and Loki arched his
eyebrows.
“You’re the boss…” he shrugged.
The corridor leading from the kitchen to the Mansion’s interior was dark and
deserted but Bruce knew that this was just for that part of the building since
his blueprint showed where the guards were patrolling.
The fact that Darkseid didn’t even suspect that someone could have figured him
and attempt an invasion to his lair was a major asset. Yet Batman never let
down his guard. Lucius’ tracking system showed Kryptonite radiation at the left
wing of the building where most of the guards were situated.
Loki was staring around as if he was visiting a museum.
“All these grim portraits on the walls don’t seem like old aliens…” he mumbled.
“The Mansion belonged to the true Mannheim family for centuries till Darkseid
possessed the body of Brunno Mannheim.”
The only way to pass the patrols unnoticed was through the old study room that
the building’s old blueprints showed that it had a secret door leading to the
wing where Superman’s cell was. Batman could knock out the Parademon guards but
if someone saw them in that state would immediately realize the intrusion.
That door opened exactly at the corridor with the cell; the odd thing was that
contrary to the rest of the left wing the corridor with Superman’s cell was
unguarded – they didn’t expect intruders and even if some breaking happened it
was expected to be stopped before that corridor.
The corridor was narrow, dimly lit and the floor was covered with a material
similar to tile.
“Tell me something” Loki mumbled. “Does Stark know that you used Bruce to get
in touch with me?”
Batman looked at him.
“Stark doesn’t need to know everything.”
“Right” Loki nodded pursing his lips.
They followed the corridor for several feet when they saw green and red light
in front of them. Bruce’s heart began drumming in his ribs but he controlled
it. They hurried their steps till they reached their destination.
Bruce’s heart lost some beats seeing Clark in that awful state.
However he regained his recollection before Loki suspected. Then he pressed a
button on his forearm blocking the alarm system connected with the cell’s door.
The mischievous god was staring Superman tilting his head.
“Not so super, huh? Poor Supes!” he mumbled.
Batman cast him a glare and the god touched the door which opened with a hiss.
Then Loki did the same stopping the red radiation and Batman opened the
Kryptonite chains supporting Clark who immediately collapse not having the
chains holding him up. Loki hurried to help.
Batman looked at him and his lenses met Loki’s eyes.
“You know what to do.”
It was time for the implementation of the plan: Batman told Loki that he knew
his ability to take whatever form he wanted – of course Bruce remembered
vividly that time Loki was on his bed in Thasos having Superman’s exact
appearance but he couldn’t tell him that because then Loki would connect the
dots since that incident was something that Bruce wouldn’t have told to anyone.
In front of his eyes Loki became an exact replica of the Superman he had on his
hands: weary, thin, pale, weak with disheveled hair and sweaty face. Superman
winked.
“Good enough?”
“Fine” Batman growled and Loki rolled his eyes.
“You won’t harm yourself if you say something more encouraging than ‘fine’!”
Batman let carefully Superman on the floor and pulled out of one of his belt’s
compartments a vial. He opened it and threw the content all over Loki who
frowned.
“Superman’s DNA” Batman answered. “If anyone comes to check, his DNA and your
appearance will do the work.”
Loki stepped inside looking with pouted lips the casket like cell.
“Nice cell…” he said and reactivated the red radiation. “Good think I don’t
have claustrophobia!”
Batman closed the shackles to Loki’s ankles and wrists.
“When I should leave this place?” Loki asked.
Batman lifted Clark from the floor.
“You will know…”
Loki smirked and Batman shut the door of the cell; the god winked sending
Batman and Superman back to the Tumbler.
 
Bagdana saw in the battlefield the second Superman becoming Loki.
“You used Loki’s shape shifting skills to outsmart me!”
Bruce arched his eyebrows and shrugged as much as Bagdana’s grip allowed him.
“You’re not the only one who knows the game of deception…”
Darkseid’s eyes flashed impressed overcoming his arousal from seeing the demon
handling like this the mortal’s nude body. Bagdana pressed his lips remembering
how he had fooled Thor months ago with a reflection of himself.
“You used my trick against me…” he said. “I caught you not on your way to free
Superman but you came to win time for Superman to leave; you didn’t want the
Parademons reach him because then your plan would have been doomed… you wanted
Superman to go to the Frozen Basin” he shook his head and smiled. “You planned
everything so that the attack at Mannheim’s facilities would take place in
daylight because you wanted the sun light to charge Superman’s powers. And the
real Diana…” his eyes were filled with admiration. “You figured out
everything…”
Bruce met his stare.
“You chose the popular version for your Princess to persuade people that she
was real; yet for someone who was raised by a person obsessed with the ancients
this didn’t work…”
Bagdana shook his head.
“Ra’s Al Ghul taught you everything…” he sighed. “So you searched and
discovered Themyscira and the real Princess…this was the reason you were absent
from Gotham…you weren’t looking for Superman: you were weaving your perfect
plan” he laughed. “You knew I was Queen?”
Bruce narrowed his eyes.
“First I figured that Queen was the Arrow…However Queen couldn’t be a skilled
archer: his friend from university had said that he was lousy at archery and
the Arrow as well as the Queen I met was left handed even though he tried to
show the opposite because the real Queen was right handed. And then the Arrow
was the first to find Loki’s palace and threatened to kill him with a golden
arrow…No mere human could discover the magic palace of Loki and the golden
arrow reminded me an ancient drawing I found during my research about you:
Bagdana, the left handed archer who killed gods with his golden arrows.”
Bagdana closed his eyes amused.
“And I thought that I fooled you…”
Darkseid decided to overcome his surprise; till now he was listening silent and
in awe for the human being that lay defenseless in two gods’ presence but in
fact as strong as them. He fixed his angry eyes on Bruce.
“You made the attack at my premises to drive me away from the cities to stop me
from retaliating; the Electromagnetic Storm Training Day was your idea to rob
me from targets with many casualties” Bruce’s gaze turned to the New God
unflinching. “You knew that I wouldn’t risk my facilities being breeched…You
know about the Machine…”
Bruce tilted his head on the side.
“Mannheim’s interest for the strange items found in LexLabs was intriguing…You
attacked me to intimidate me into giving you the items” Bruce pressed his lips.
“Since you wanted them so much I let you take them – of course persuading you
that you stole them from me.”
Darkseid’s eyes gazed at the human impressed.
“You had tracking devices on them…”
Bruce met his gaze.
“Tony Stark is an inventive genius: it was easy for him.”
The New God nodded.
“And you knew where the items were and that Luthor assembled them to build a
machine.”
“You got it.”
Bagdana laughed and Darkseid cast him a sideways glare.
“A giant chessboard” the demon said unfazed by his ally’s irritation “where
deities thought that they could use Bruce Wayne as a pawn” Bruce turned his
sparkling gaze to him and Bagdana smiled. “But you turned the deities into your
pawns!”
Darkseid’s wrath surpassed his admiration; he rushed on Bruce shoving Bagdana
off of him and grabbed him from the throat without managing to make the human’s
stare bend. Bagdana returned in a flash and clutched Darkseid’s forearm to stop
him from choking Bruce.
“Stop!”
Darkseid however was engaged in the staring battle with Bruce.
“You won’t defeat Darkseid, Mr. Wayne: you’re ingenious; a rare specimen and
I’ll experiment with you when I finish with your friends.”
He let go of Bruce’s neck and turned to Bagdana.
“We have a battle to finish!”
Bagdana glared at him.
“You won’t harm Bruce!”
Darkseid smirked.
“I would be a fool to harm such a specimen… Now, follow me!” he roared and
vanished.
Bruce and Bagdana were again alone in the enormous room their eyes connected.
A loud bang broke the silence and the demon without breaking eye contact
smiled. He showed with the corner of his eye the place where the parts of
Batman’s armor lay…now it was stamps of smoking ashes.
“You can’t get out of here since the doors work with DNA recognition but a
demon must be cautious especially after the way you humiliated me…Your armor is
destructed so you are robbed from the device that enables you to stand and move
so do not spend your strength in futile attempts.”
Bruce scowled at him without replying anything and the demon took gently his
chin despite Bruce’s attempt to jerk away.
“I sensed your exhaustion…you’ve been exerting yourself to prepare this. Too
bad all these were in vein…There’s no use or meaning in struggling anymore,
Bruce. Rest. You did everything you could but soon it would be over and we’ll
be free to revive our love.”
“There’s no love in you” Bruce hissed and the demon caressed the human’s cold
cheek with his thumb. “Darkseid will dispose of you as soon as he achieves his
goal.”
Bagdana let go of Bruce’s chin and stretched his posture.
“So you realize that despite your valiant and ingenious efforts your friends
will be extinguished…Don’t worry though: I won’t let Darkseid lay his hands on
you.”
With that the demon vanished and Bruce looked at the wall opposite him from
where the Parademons had left. The door was there. With the corner of his eye
he registered the ancient box where Bagdana had stashed the Black Butterfly and
the Knife of Justice: the demon believed that he couldn’t do anything even with
them.
***** Chapter 89 *****
Lois watched the police officers handcuffing the thugs who were scattered all
over the warehouse’s perimeter. Most of the Intergang members were knocked out;
the rest were either beaten up or wounded so their groaning offered a white
sound to the sirens that howled.
Law enforcers were also wounded so the paramedics had their hands fool with
treating or carrying injured from both sides. Thankfully, the casualties seemed
to be very few.
She glanced at Jimmy who was shooting everything broadcasting to the Planet’s
site.
Catwoman was there all the time helping in the fight but Diana had left when it
was obvious that the outlaws were defeated. Lois supposed that she flew to help
the forces of the law in the other warehouses where Intergang’s smaller lairs
where situated.
Lois saw the head of the police officers walking to Catwoman and shaking hands.
But then the reporter turned her eyes to the sky watching the Amazon returning.
But she detoured to bring to the police the unconscious Ivy: she unwrapped her
glimmering Lasso leaving the law enforcers to handcuff her opponent. She rolled
her Lasso and put it in its place at her left thigh as she headed to Catwoman.
The lieutenant stretched his hand to the Princess as soon as she approached.
Catwoman chuckled.
“She prefers this” she said slyly bringing her fist to hit the place of her
heart. “I know, it hurts but it’s the cultural shock…”
Diana looked at her amused and shook the hand the lieutenant offered her.
“Thank you: we are grateful. Without the help of both of you things would have
been very difficult.”
Catwoman who carried some bruises and scratches to the visible part of her face
nodded.
“Maybe the paramedics should look this?” the officer asked her concerned.
“No, it’s nothing” she waved that off. “Cats have nine lives, you know.”
Diana smiled.
“The people of the law have finished with the other hideouts” the Princess
said.
“Yes” the officer replied “we are in touch with them and they informed us that
your contribution was valuable” he bowed his head with respect.
“They were almost done when I arrived” Diana retorted modestly but firmly.
“We have to leave now” Catwoman whispered to Diana’s ear and the Amazon nodded.
“The city is in your hands now, lieutenant” the Princess said. “You won’t have
a problem with Ivy; she is unconscious and deprived of her powers” and she
followed Catwoman without another word.
Lois watched the two women frowned.
“Where are they going?” Jimmy asked.
“Something is going on…” Lois said and gestured to her sidekick to follow her
as she carefully tailed the two women.
“You’re worried” Diana said to Catwoman.
“Yes…” she answered absent minded thinking about what happened to that alley
with that odd woman and her sudden disappearance that saved her life –
something was off and a nasty gut feeling clenched her insides. “We better go
to the field. I’ll take my bike.”
“Flying with me is way faster” Diana remarked serious.
Catwoman lolled her head thoughtful but then she nodded thinking that there
wasn’t any time to waste.
“Fine” she let her arms down and grabbed Diana’s upper arm. The Amazon took
off.
“We are following them!” Lois said thankful that her car wasn’t far.
But Jimmy running behind her wondered how on Earth someone could follow flying
people.
 
Dr. Strange was blocking Granny’s consequent beams of yellow light with green
balls of energy he conjured moving elegantly his hands.
Around them Asgardians were slaughtering Parademons while all over the sky
Valkyries did the same with the flying aliens backed by Ironman and Thor who
covered flying the battlefield aiding their comrades underneath. A red blur was
launching Parademons in the air and Superman finished them off.
Hulk’s roars as the green giant catapulted enemies all over towered the
consequent bangs of bullets, rockets and beams, the cries and the shouts;
Natasha and Steve at their part of the field were working as a team to
neutralize their opponents: Natasha with two guns and Steve with his shield.
“Things are good for us” Tony said “they are countless but we beat them
easily.”
Thor moved his hammer sending thunders to a clot of flying Parademons that
surrounded two Valkyries.
“But still we have casualties: the plan of the attack here was wise otherwise
we’d have hundreds of dead civilians right now” Ironaman nodded his lenses
launching laser to burn a Parademon in the ground. “Also” Thor grunted
hammering with Mjiolnir two Parademons at once “Darkseid hasn’t shown up yet
and I’m sure he’ll have surprises for us…”
“We are prepared for him…” Tony said and cheered when Dr. Strange managed to
hit Granny who screamed outraged taking cover behind a rock to avoid a new
blow. “Stephen, look out!” Tony yelled seeing a waterfall of blue flames coming
at him.
But before even hearing Tony’s warning, Dr. Strange sensed his cape lifting him
and throwing him away from the lethal danger.
Everyone looked to the spot where the flames had come along with a bang as from
a thousand thunders. A blue giant stood in the middle of the battlefield
smirking at them: standing on two column- like legs, towering at 10 feet, his
enormous arms bound with bulging stone muscles were still glowing from the
energy he just sent to kill. His eyes were two red slits that glared at his
enemies.
Ironman standing in mid air lolled his head towards Thor who clenched his
hammer gritting his teeth.
“Well…you got what you wanted – next time, do ask for something more delicious,
will you?”
Thor didn’t have time to reply anything because he sensed something extremely
hot approaching him; he turned only to see a fireball coming at him. He brought
Mjiolnir to deflect it but something pushed the fireball away from him.
With the corner of his eye he saw Odin grabbing his axe that was returning to
him after pushing away the fireball. They both nodded and saw before them
emerging through a burning cloud Bagdana with a fireball ready in his hand.
He was shorter and leaner than Darkseid but still he was a giant of 9 feet; his
body was a flaming golden red mixed with black, naked but for metal briefs
covering his groin, showing off his perfect long, bulging muscles in arms and
legs. His eyes were the usual cat like slits, shining like rubies on fire and
from his head protruded two long, straight horns that glimmered gold and
emitted waves of flames. In his right hand he was clenching a big, wide sword
that his blade was made from dancing flames.
“Tony” Pepper’s dodged voice filled his helmet “something is happening at
Mannheim’s facilities.”
But Superman had already heard the bangs and turned his long distance vision to
that direction biting his lips.
 
Bruce stood completely naked right next to the mattress: his legs were a bit
shaky despite the mental concentration he focused on them; it was the fatigue
and the pain in his pelvis. He had to hold the mattress for support and
concentrate for a few moments before walking carefully. He couldn’t afford
letting the panic of his body’s exhaustion and the loss of his armor’s
artificial mobility stop him. He had made it again though certainly now was
more difficult.
He simply disregarded that and his nudity walking staggering a bit to the
corner of the room where the box containing his weapons was placed. The box was
small, square with silver engravings on its metallic surface. Odd enough its
dome shaped lid opened as soon as Bruce touched it. He frowned: it was doubtful
that Bagdana would want this to happen.
Bruce wore the pouch with the Black Butterfly around his neck feeling dressed
even though he was entirely naked. Then he grabbed his dagger. Suddenly, a
thought flashed in his mind: the box opened because it sensed Bagdana’s DNA.
Bruce closed his eyes: his body had absorbed the demon’s genetic fluids.
He looked at the door: It worked with DNA recognition…so…
Bruce crooked his mouth and made another step closer. An almost inaudible hiss
and a rectangular part of the wall vanished showing him the way outwards.
From there he knew the way out of the Mansion and he was more than capable to
pass unnoticed from the Parademons guarding.
He had to hurry so he sped which made his body protest however he couldn’t
afford paying attention to that. He crossed the corridors leading to the
kitchen and came out to the day light appreciating the sun that warmed his nude
body.
His face became pink in the thought of someone seeing him like this…he fastened
his steps to the spot where the Tumbler was set to wait for him after taking
Superman to the Frozen Basin.
Bruce thanked himself for having the wisdom to program the Tumbler to wait for
him at the base of the hill and not on the top – its stealth mode was
protecting the vehicle from detection. Ascending the hill was an adversity that
would have been detrimental right now.
The driver’s door rose to welcome him in and Bruce slipped in the seat;
instantly, the car’s engine turned on and the vehicle sped ahead towards the
Basin.
Bruce brushed the control panel initiating a hissing sound in the back of the
car. He turned to see a layer that had emerged from the trunk with the panels
of his spare armor: Alfred taught him when he was child that spare attire is
always useful. He began putting his armor on feeling relief flooding his abused
body; the disgust from what had happened in the Mansion was pushed deeper in
his mind’s depths though its stinging remained as an abstract nuisance.
 
Alfred glanced at the people in the ground floor living room. Master Richard
and Jason sat cross legged on the thick velvet carper with Hero rolling between
them, Ms. Turner and Todd sat on the sofa and watched worried the developments
in Gotham as GCN broadcasted footage from the areas with the riots.
He was sure that the two ladies were relieved that their children were in the
safety of the Manor but still their hearts were to the people in danger. Of
course GCN’s reporter assured that Gotham’s police had the control and his
words were proved by the footage of SWAT members handcuffing thugs.
Alfred laid the tray he was carrying on the table and the boys followed Hero’s
hasty jump to approach the delicious smelling delicacies.
“I suggest caution, young masters: the biscuits are really hot.”
He had brought also tea for the ladies and hot chocolate for the boys wanting
to ease their agony. Since he couldn’t do the same with his own agony…His heart
beat fast wondering where his young master was and in what state.
“Alfred, you should have told me to help you” Ms. Turner said.
Ms. Todd looked at him.
“Yes.”
Alfred smiled.
“You are so kind, my ladies yet it is my pleasure to take care of all of you.”
The door’s bell wasn’t a surprise for Alfred because when he was ready to bring
the tray in the living room he had seen in the rectangular control panel on the
kitchen’s wall that Leslie had just passed the gates. Of course the fact that
she came here this time of the day was a surprise itself.
He walked calm to the door with a faint grin for the boys’ efforts to keep Hero
away from the cinnamon biscuits. The kitten was restless all day from his
human’s absence and he didn’t touch the treats the boys were giving him but now
the cinnamon biscuits reminded him of Bruce so surged to them.
Leslie’s face as he opened the door was grim and Alfred frowned but before he
asked what happened Thomas Elliot came to the fore pointing his gun at Alfred.
“I’m sorry, Alfred…” Leslie said. “They hold my patients hostage…”
“I do understand, Leslie” Alfred replied calm.
“Move inside, Alfred” Elliot said calm but firm, his finger tensing on the
trigger.
Alfred nodded and moved backwards. Bruce was right to be cautious of Dr.
Elliot; his young master had given the police evidence that Elliot was the one
who gave the video to the hacker but it was obvious that he managed to evade
arrest due to the riots. Alfred wasn’t afraid for his life but for the people
inside.
Elliot didn’t close the door and Alfred narrowed his eyes exchanging a quick
glance with Leslie who bit her lip. He had his answer when a bizarre nurse
jumped in.
“Nurse Joker at youuuuuur seeeeeervice” the gruesome nurse said with a Cheshire
smile.
Now Elliot closed the door and along with Joker moved their weapons to urge
them inside.
The people in the living room turned to see the visitor Alfred brought but
gaped at the spectacle of the armed men. The boys made to move but Elliot aimed
at them.
“Easy, brats!”
Hero hissed with his fur standing on edge and Dick hastened to hug him to stop
the kitten before enraging their captors. Joker laughed.
“My faaaaaavorite kitten! Where’s your master, kitty?”
Thomas nodded and stared at Alfred.
“That’s the question of the day, Alfred. Where’s Brucie? It’s time I finish my
matters with him.”
Alfred stared at him nonchalant.
“I don’t regret to inform you, sir, that Master Bruce isn’t here” he answered
in his strict butler way with a dose of sarcasm added.
Elliot gritted his teeth annoyed from the news and Alfred’s attitude.
“Liar!” he said and touched his gun’s barrel to Alfred’s chest. “You say that
to save him! All the time protecting him! But not today! If you don’t tell me
where he is I’ll kill you!”
Joker scratched the red hair of the wing.
“Oooooooouuuu! The new one is gooooood!” he said and threw his wing away
revealing his still non-dyed hair. “Baaaaad quality” he looked at the ladies.
“Dooooon’t buy thiiiiis: Tooooooo itcyyyy” he mumbled as if sharing a secret.
“Leave him alone, ya dork!” Jason hissed to Elliot with clenched teeth and
jerked on his feet; his mother doing the same afraid for her boy.
“Atatatatata…” Joker said waving his firearm warningly at them.
“Alfred says the truth” Dick rose too, holding Hero in his arms. “Bruce isn’t
here.”
Alfred regarded the frustrated, sweaty Elliot perfectly unruffled.
“Master Anthony took Master Bruce to a rehabilitation clinic in California to
have him prepared for the operation.”
Leslie crossed her arms over the chest: she knew already that Bruce was away
but Elliot wouldn’t have believed her even if she had told him.
“Thomas, you see that there’s no meaning to all this” she said calmly. “Make it
stop before more people get hurt.”
Elliot was fuming; his breaths coming out like rasps. His plan was screwed and
that made his hatred more heated.
“No problem then…I might not have the chance to kill the bastard but I’ll send
him to where he belongs.”
Joker looked at him intrigued.
“He haaaaas potential…” he said arching his eyebrows.
Elliot smirked.
“I might not have the chance to kill him but I’ll kill all of you.”
 
Superman saw the half mile long walls of the Mannheim’s facilities’ horizontal
Π collapsing creating an enormous cloud of dust and an huge pile of debris.
Despite the dust Superman’s vision enabled him to see what was surging out of
the building.
His eyes narrowed: more than half a million Parademons, half of them flying and
half of them on foot. But the worst was what was coming behind them: at least
one hundred gigantic statues made from metal that shone in the sun. They were
fast and their hands were actually canons. Their bodies were sculptured in
detail with sharp edges protruding from everywhere; their heads were skeleton-
like but their jaws were covered from metallic long, curvy horns that Superman
could detect that were small canons.
This huge army ran towards the battlefield to swallow Earth’s defenders.
He felt Ironman by his side; he was seeing what Superman did.
“I need take care of Darkseid” Tony said.
Superman nodded.
“I’ll stall them.”
However as soon as he ended his phrase something hot hit him square in the
chest throwing him back; Superman clenched his fists to fight the pain and saw
Bagdana glaring at him brandishing his sword a second before storming at him.
Ironman stopped in midair to help Superman sending his liquid ultra nitrogen to
freeze the flaming demon who roared outraged. The center of Bagdana’s body lost
its red-black color becoming an icy white.
“Someone is paling…” Tony sneered and Superman found the chance to regain his
breath.
Bagdana narrowed his cat like eyes at Tony and jerked his body growling; Tony
watched with widened eyes the progression of the ice stopping and then rapidly
the fire ousting the ice; the demon’s body reinstated in its previous
conditions.
“Ow!” Tony said making a fast manouver to evade the fire wave Bagdana sent at
him and set his systems to prepare everything Ironman had in nitrogen to hit
again.
“Tony, leave!” Superman yelled because Tony had mentioned that he had to do
something concerning Darkseid.
The Man of Steel blew with all his might icy air to hit the demon in the back
the moment he was ready to slash Ironman with his enormous fire sword.
Bagdana jerked and turned to Superman indifferent to Ironman’s departure. His
hatred for Superman made his flaming body glow more from heat. He smirked and
two rows of pearly white teeth spit sparkles.
Clark stood before him glaring at him through narrowed eyes; his suit was
burned in the chest but he didn’t care: that being made him hurt Bruce! He
ruined everything! He blew again, the ice hitting Bagdana’s head, and surged at
him, his eyes turning red.
Bagdana shook his head to shake off the ice and cackled roughly bending his
head to bring his horns to stab the attacking Superman.
Yet Clark managed to grab the horns grunting from the burnings; if he was a
human his hands would have been ashes now but still the pain was considerable.
He put the pain aside and shook the horns trying to uproot them from the
demon’s head.
Bagdana moved his sword to slash Superman’s belly; Clark took in the movement
and raised his leg to kick the sword away still feeling the fire slicing him a
second before the blade shattered.
Both opponents stood catching their breath. Superman’s belly ached but at least
he broke the demon’s sword. As if Bagdana had read his mind a new sword emerged
in his hand; the demon grinned.
“You will die today, Kryptonian. You and every other on this planet! And Bruce
will be mine eternally.”
Superman shook his head.
“That won’t happen” he spat.
Bagdana chuckled and Superman saw in front of him Bruce and Bagdana on the
black cloud-mattress. The demon held Bruce’s wrists over his head, choking his
every attempt to resist with hands sprouting from his body. The demon was
savouring Bruce’s writhing body kissing, licking and fondling every bit while
thrusting deep in him.
Superman’s eyes widened in terror and pain and Bagdana laughed.
“He surrendered to me to buy you time to flee…but I don’t give a damn about
this because what you just saw was our third unification. And the third time is
a binding spell: Bruce is eternally bound to me now.”
“No!” Superman shouted and with his greatest speed he head butted the demon in
the chest unbalancing him.
He began hammering him with his fists careless of the burnings on his skin.
Darkseid minced in the battlefield sending beams with his illuminated hands to
kill Asgardians, his square face carved from a gleeful smirk.
Tony flew towards the blue giant shooting Parademons in his way; he wanted to
reach close enough to have target but also be at a distance so that the alien
wouldn’t kill him.
Suddenly, Loki was in front of him.
Darkseid found himself in front of Thor and Odin who blew at him simultaneously
with their weapons; however the New God deflected their fire with his forearm
and launched white beams from his eyes at them. The Asgardian gods managed to
jump out of harm’s way and Darkseid spat furious. He called Bagdana with his
mind.
The demon had shoved Superman off of him and downed his blade on his head but
the Man of Steel caught it with both his hands putting all his strength to stop
it before severing his head.
Bagdana heard Darkseid’s call in his head and growled frustrated kicking
Superman in the guts before disappearing to reappear to his ally’s side.
“Devastate the planet with earthquakes and volcanoes” Darkseid said. “Add some
tsunamis for the effect.”
Bagdana cocked an eyebrow.
“Gladly.”
“I ordered Parademons to attack the cities: Mr. Wayne might have evacuated
major facilities but the cities are filled with apartment buildings.”
Darkseid smirked and shot his beams to Captain America growling frustrating
when the human rolled on the ground avoiding the lethal force.
Superman stumbled on the air from Bagdana’s blows but fisted his hands and
stopped his falling; he controlled his breath: there were giant robots heading
there.
He flew fast there and began blowing icy air to the first two robots he met
making their legs freeze and break bringing down the enormous things. Yet he
noticed that half of the flying aliens stopped and turned around heading away
from the Frozen Basin.
“Now” Darkseid said to his demon sending laser with his hands to blow
Asgardians “bring earthquakes and lava to humans: let’s give your pet something
to remember and regret that he dared to provoke Darkseid’s wrath!”
Bagdana hesitated for some seconds but then determined ordered the elements of
earth to bring destruction to the major cities.
 
“Odd earthquake activity is reported throughout the globe – it’s remarkable
that the earth is shaking even in areas with no history of earthquakes; but
what is stranger is the simultaneous eruptions of major and minor volcanoes…”
the calm voice of CNN’s newscaster said.
Bruce brushed the turbo speed option on the Tumbler’s control panel casting
glances at the screen with image from CNN. So Bagdana set in action his powers.
“Scientists, however, reassure that the phenomenon is rather smooth with
earthquakes of small size and volcano eruptions that cause no worries. The
authorities are talking about minor damages in buildings and a few citizens
with superficial injuries”
Jor El’s hologram face appeared on the screen.
“Bagdana unleashed the elements – Fortress smoothed the effect.”
Bruce grinned satisfied.
“Thank you, Jor El.”
 
Bagdana knitted his eyebrows and Darkseid clenched his jaw.
“What?!” he barked.
“Something blocks my powers…something protects the earth…”
Darkseid roared.
“Your human did something, you useless demon!”
Bagdana pursed his lips and in his frustration launched more flames against the
Valkyries crossing the battlefield like a golden stream of air.
“Still I can smash them single handed!” Darkseid roared. “They can’t diminish
my strength!”
He clenched his fists.
“My power will eradicate New York even from here – nobody can stop me!”
He turned his eyes to the horizon towards New York.
Loki winked to Ironman.
“Now?”
Ironman armed both canons under his wrists and Loki stretched his arms towards
Darkseid.
“Now!” Ironman said launching the gas that eliminated divine powers.
Loki did the same their combined quantities of compound gas hit the New God who
grunted feeling that his strength wasn’t enough to hit a distant target.
“No!” he yelled and grounding his teeth turned to eradicate those who caused
that to him.
“Time to ruuuuun…” Loki said cocking an eyebrow and grabbed Ironman’s forearm
vanishing both of them a second before Darkseid’s omega beams hit them.
Some bushes were turned into ashes instead and the New God frustrated from his
enemies’ escape roared his anger causing landslides to the surrounding
mountains.
“You will pay for these! Your petty tricks may have stopped me from wiping out
the cities but my powers are enough to kill all of you and then clearing the
human filth!”
“I love the arousal of escaping from the monster’s jaws!” Tony said when Loki
made them reappear in the other edge of the battlefield.
Loki arched his eyebrows.
“Easy, kinky boy…don’t fuck us!”
Tony laughed and rushed where Superman was fighting the robots.
It was the first time in his life that Superman felt overwhelmed. His eyes were
red sending continuously laser to the giant robots: he had figured that they
were sensitive in the spot where their necks met the right shoulder and
targeted there. Truly, once the laser hit there the giants collapsed and then
Superman finished them off with his frozen blow that shattered the strange
alloy they were made of.
Yet new robots kept coming from the premises and the flying Parademons shot at
him taking advantage of his absorption with extinguishing the robots. The sun
was doing a perfect work for him so the fire from Parademons didn’t harm him
yet it was painful along with the wounds Bagdana made him.
 But more painful was the realization that the legions of Parademons were
heading towards his comrades to swallow them. Even some robots managed to pass
him and the horrendous sound of their 5 tons’ mass implemented a creepy hue to
the scenery.
Suddenly, as he was bombarding a robot with his fists, he heard the sound of
metal crushing to the ground. He looked down curious.
Flash met his gaze and gave him the thumbs up grinning broadly. The speedster
was so incredibly fast that made thousands spins around the robot’s feet in a
second hitting the metal that melt causing the robot to collapse. At the same
time Flash knocked out dozens of Parademons.
Superman smiled and launched his lasers against a flying Parademon that surged
at Flash who was already feet away uprooting every Parademon in his path. An
explosion to his right made Superman turn.
Ironman had brought down a robot. Both his shoulder canons still emitted smoke
as he turned them to shoot at another robot.
The good thing was that as the robots fell down they crushed dozens of
Parademons stabbing them to death with their spikes.
“Good job!” Superman yelled at Ironman punching two Parademons at once.
“We were prepared for the robots from Jor El’s logs” Tony said. “But they are
too many…”
Superman saw the battlefield from above: Stark was right. In the wide
battlefield, the powers of Earth were winning yet the aliens kept coming with
Granny having taken the head leading them to charge. Also, Darkseid although
weakened and unable to hit targets miles away, still was lethal in the
battlefield.
 
 
“When he returns and finds all his loved ones slaughtered then his already
cripple mind will collapse…I made already the beginning with that video: I bet
Brucie had a major mental breakdown watching again Falcone giving him what he
deserves…” Thomas Elliot laughed seeing the disgusted expressions of Ms. Turner
and Todd. “And being haunted by the knowledge that everyone watched too…”
Hero hissed and jumped from Dick’s hands to stab his nails in Elliot’s face; he
cursed and writhed to escape from the hissing kitten.
Joker armed his gun warning Alfred and Leslie who were ready to attack Thomas.
Finally, Elliot managed to throw the animal off of him.
“I’ll start with his stupid kitten then” he said and shot while Hero was still
on air.
Dick jumped upwards, somersaulted in the air and caught the kitten dragging him
away from the bullet.
Elliot’s eyes were now flashing with manic hatred shooting at the ‘flying’ boy
but unable to find target. Dick landed outside the room protected from the wall
but Elliot had already turned his attention elsewhere; he aimed at Alfred.
“You then…”
He made to press the trigger but a horrific pain in his wrist made him lose any
control and the gun dropped down. Everyone saw a blade piercing Elliot’s wrist
and the doctor’s eyes bulged more from shock than pain.
“Nooooot soooofast, buddy” Joker said with an ominous frown having thrown his
firearm for two of his beloved blades. “That video was yours?” he asked losing
his stuttering in his icy cold wrath.
“How are we supposed to follow something we don’t see, Miss Lane?”
Jimmy uttered the question that had been bothering him from the beginning. He
was at the passenger seat troubled by the crazy speed Lois was driving her car.
Her eyes were fixed determined forwards.
“They flew towards the west borders of the state but there is no report of an
emergency to the cities near the area: so what happens must be at the borders
of the state.”
Jimmy crooked his mouth in disbelief and Lois cast him a glare.
“I’m an instinct reporter, kid!” she spat. “And you heard on the radio about
the simultaneous earthquakes and volcano eruptions – something major is going
on… Shit!”
She saw a black van that was positioned horizontally in the center of the
street blocking her way. Three people were in front of the van staring at the
approaching car. Lois lowered speed and finally stopped as the people came to
them.
They were two men and a woman. Lois knew very well the one with the eye patch.
“Miss Lane” the Afro-American said.
“Agent Fury” S.H.I.E.L.D.’s presence here confirmed her hunch.
“I have to ask you to turn back.”
The reporter tapped her fingers on the steer wheel.
“Something big is happening” Lois said straight out. “The world must know.”
Fury shook his head.
“Now it’s not the time for exclusives and Pulitzers, Miss Lane. It’s better if
the world doesn’t find out yet.”
Lois rolled her eyes and locked her gaze with Fury’s one eye.
“What if I promise that I won’t broadcast anything till it’s over?”
Fury laughed and Agent Carter stepped forward.
“You don’t expect us to trust a reporter…”
Lois smirked and stepped on the accelerator.
“I don’t need you too!” she said and steered the wheel to avoid the van’s mass
and continued her way.
“Damn!” Fury cursed and ran to the van’s driver seat Maria Hill and Agent
Carter following.
“She is Superman’s reporter” Hill said jumping inside “maybe we can trust her.”
Fury started the engine and instantly stepped on it.
“Lately we couldn’t trust even Superman himself…On the other side, even if we
trust her, we must protect her.”
 
General Morrison was watching the frigate’s instruments avidly. The entire
fleet was in red alert monitoring the entire planet being ready to act. Every
airplane carrier had F-22s, Eurofighters, Rafales and Suckhoi’s with their
engines ignited waiting for the order to act.
“General Morrison, targets are heading to New York, Washington, London, Moscow,
Beijing and Tokyo” Pepper’s calm voice reached him from the control panel.
“We are ready for them, Miss Potts” he answered and his staff in front of the
control panel and around the room began transmitting the news to the forces
around the world. “All forces on them” he ordered as soon as the screen of the
radar showed hostile dots approaching New York who was near them. “Intercept
and destroy before they reach inhabited areas.”
Pepper informed the other military forces and the same order was given
simultaneously from the commanders of the alliance’s warships all around the
globe.
 
“Slaughter them all!” Granny shrieked leading the charging Parademons against
the Earth’s protectors.
Dr. Strange conjured an enormous green shield blocking Bagdana’s wave of fire
from hitting Hulk who was plummeting Parademons roaring and showing his teeth.
Bagdana pressed his lips frustrated and turned his fires on the wizard instead;
Stephen moved his hands clock wise and immediately the shield that protected
Hulk became blue waves that met the fire and quenched it. Then the wizard
raised his hands leading the waves to attack the demon who set his sword’s
blade to block the waves that were absorbed.
Dr. Strange didn’t have time to realize what happened when Bagdana jerked up
his sword launching the wizard in the air to crush on the rocks. The demon send
a fireball to finish the wizard as soon as he would hit the rocks and sure for
his success walked away; he didn’t see Stephen’s cape stretching and drawing
Dr. Strange far from the rocks. However the fireball was made to find and hit
him so he saw the fire inches from his chest…
The Eye of Agamoto twitched and Stephen saw awed the medallion sucking the
fireball.
Dr. Strange landed smoothly on his feet catching his breath for a second before
using his hands to conjure green waves to blast Parademons.
Captain America sent his shield to shatter five Parademons at once while
Natasha was firing at the rest. Suddenly, Steve felt heat and with the corner
of his eye saw Darkseid launching his beams at him; Captain America fell on the
ground to avoid the lethal beams yet Darkseid laughed as his beams adjusted to
Captain’s new position.
Steve clenched his jaw ready to take the lethal blow but then the beams were
deflected to hit elsewhere just burning his shoulder. The pain was horrible yet
Steve was thankful he was alive; he saw a huge, pole like axe in the place
where the beams were stopped.
The axe that seemed ancient changed course midair returning to its owner.
“Fight with someone at your size, Darkseid!” an imposing voice addressed the
New God who glared at Odin.
The father of the Asgardians stood proud with his crystal gold armor shining
blindingly and the horns of his helmet spitting sparkles like the axe he was
holding.
Darkseid laughed.
“Odin! The old Viking God!” he pursed his lips and regarded Odin “You’re not of
my size by the way” he laughed. “You must be ashamed for letting that human
lure you and your people to your deaths. Did you fuck the human or he is only
your son’s whore?” his rough voice was vibrating with scorn.
Odin’s face distorted in a grimace of rage.
“It’ll be my honor to terminate a deplorable being like you!”
Darkseid yanked his head back.
“Have it your way! Today you’ll lose more than your eye!”
The New God stormed against Odin with such speed that only a blur was visible
yet the Asgardian was ready for him and as soon as he reached him his axe
hammered Darkseid throwing him away. Odin charged at him downing his weapon at
his head yet Darkseid blocked the sparkling blade with his crossed forearms and
kicked Odin in the stomach sending him away.
“First I’ll have fun with you and then I’ll finish you!” Darkseid cackled and
surged against Odin who brought his axe at the New God’s upper arm. “It
tinkles” he cackled though a black liquid slithered on his skin.
Odin punched him with the iron crowbar he pulled from his belt and Darkseid
grunted from the pain: he didn’t like to feel pain. He roared and jerked his
forearm to hammer Odin’s head. The Asgardian dodged but Darkseid blew sending
him away wrapped in glowing white chains.
“Time to end this farce” he said and focused his eyes on the tied Asgardian
launching his omega beams.
“Not my father, you bastard!” something deflected slightly the beams to miss
Odin.
Odin turned to the voice and his eyes widened seeing Loki dressed in his green
golden attire; his face had lost every humor in fierce determination that was
highlighted by the golden horned helmet.
“Only I have the right to play with him, you giant, deformed Smurf” Loki spat
and waved the golden spear he held sending silver rays at Darkseid.
The New God looked at him irritated and caught the rays casually with his hand.
“The god-clown! Nice! You’ll die together.”
He turned his deadly eyes to Loki but immediately jerked upwards feeling pain.
“You won’t kill anyone!” Thor roared and his Mjolnir spat blue thunders like
his glaring eyes. “Loki, take father away.”
Darkseid smirked and without a word moved his palm upwards sending a red wave
at Thor who blocked it with Mjolnir though he felt his hammer heating and
vibrating. He grunted from the power he had to sustain but in the end he
managed to raise Mjolnir to send the wave Darkseid sent, back to him.
Darkseid laughed and absorbed the wave with his hand.
“You, Asgardians, are so weak…” he cackled. “So weak and worthless that I won’t
waste more time playing…” his red eyes became flames and the white omega beams
surged at Thor who dodged them firing thunders with Mjolnir.
Darkseid took the s on his forearm and sent them back at Thor who stumbled
which gave Darkseid the chance to launch the omega beams again sure this time
that the god wouldn’t manage to escape them.
Something flashed gold in the air and the beams were scattered at the same time
that a loud bang made the battlefield shake and Darkseid to be shove ten feet
away staggering. He frowned seeing a woman dressed in ancient armor pulling her
sword out of the holster on her right thigh and charging at him with her eyes
flashing.
The force of the bracelets explosion had let Darkseid breathless and now Thor
joined Diana coming at him. The New God narrowed his eyes shaken for the first
time; he was weakened and their weapons could disable him.
Diana’s sword descended rapidly at Darkseid’s neck as Mjiolnir moved to smash
his head. Darkseid goggled ready for the pain.
But then their weapons found only air.
Darkseid looked around him puzzled. Bagdana smirked at him letting go of the
god’s upper arms.
“Diabolus ex machina” he said sarcastic. “Just to see that I’m useful” he added
and raised his sword to stab it in the ground making the entire area to shake
with a nightmarish sound.
 
Elliot grunted.
“Of course, you idiot! It cost me a small fortune to buy it from that pedophile
but it deserved every cent: I spent many nights devouring little Bruce’s cries
and screams; his sobs; his begging for mercy…and then I realized that this
treasure shouldn’t be held secret: everyone should share that qualitative
spectacle and of course, dear Brucie who suddenly forgot who he truly was and
was posing as a prince. I found out that Isaac was a hacker when he hacked the
logs of Metropolis General Hospital exposing the plastic surgery of a
celebrity. I sent him the DVD saying that it would shake Gotham’s upper class
and I bet he didn’t even watch it before broadcasting the content through the
hacked GTV’s signal.”
Joker’s face was rapidly changing listening to Elliot and in the end his green
eyes had become so grim that they seemed black. His teeth were visible as his
mouth had opened like a famished tiger’s looking at his pray.
“Bastard!” he shouted and sent his one of his blades at Elliot’s already
wounded arm; however this time the doctor avoided it. “I’ll reap you in pieces,
you sick motherfucker!” he growled throwing away readying his other blade.
But Elliot grabbed Alfred and put him in front of him as a shield and walked
backwards towards the main exit.
Police sirens filled the Manor immediately as tires’ screeching grazed
everyone’s ears.
“Surrender” Gordon’s calm but firm voice echoed through the megaphone. “The
Manor and Grounds are surrounded.”
But Joker didn’t care; he had followed Elliot staring at him with the
predator’s glee playing his blades between his hands.
“Do you think that the Jeeves will stop me from butchering you?” he tilted his
head on the side. “As if I care whether he dies…”
“Leave Al out of this, ya freaks!”
Elliot and Alfred were startled – Joker so absorbed in his rage that not even
registered the voice or the words. Something fell with force on Elliot who
staggered losing Alfred from his one hand grip. Jason grabbed the butler and
dragged him away from them bringing him down behind the big arch that led to
the interior.
Joker jumped on Elliot with blood on his eyes.
The front door broke open and officers with stretched guns swarmed the foyer.
“Freeze!” several voices ordered.
Joker stranded in his own world of hatred focused on Elliot’s perfect tanned
face; his sarcastic, arrogant eyes made Joker’s head hot picturing that asshole
masturbating watching his Brucie being desecrated. His blades danced in the air
scratching countless times the man’s face. His hands were moving even with
several hands holding them trying to take him off the doctor.
Finally, a hit on the head knocked him out. Elliot was covered in blood yet his
eyes were looking the officers being occupied with handcuffing Joker.
He clenched his jaw and grabbed one of Joker’s blades.
“You won’t catch me” he said and jumped through the door doddering.
Gordon and Montoya were at the landing step with their guns pointing at him but
Elliot’s mania was such that he pushed both of them and jumped from the side of
the stairs.
“Dr. Elliot, let down the blade and raise your hands” Montoya said.
“You need hospital, son” Gordon said trying to reason with him.
Yet Elliot spat at them with his eyes shining crazily.
“Never, you fools!” he got up and rushed at the police cars that swarmed the
place.
Several guns fired at him but he rolled on the ground getting only scratched by
them. However Montoya’s bullet found his left leg; Elliot with mania fueling
his suffering body while still on the ground surged at the legs of the first
officer he saw. He stabbed him several times and got in the car, turning the
engine on and accelerating.
“Follow him!” Gordon ordered his men who immediately began chasing the car.
 
 “The authorities report minor damages in buildings from the earthquakes,
Mister Wayne” Lucius’ voice echoed through the communication system of the
Tumbler. “Darkseid’s troops fly towards big cities around the globe yet the
military sequences transmit that fighters have engaged in air-battle with them
and the situation seems to be under control. However from Mannheim facilities
more forces are heading towards the battlefield and from the traces there are
not only Parademons but entities much bigger.”
Batman nodded.
“Thank you, Lucius; I’m almost there.”
A long pause from the other side.
“Mr. Wayne, are you sure about this? I mean, you have already done too much…”
Batman pressed his lips.
“Lucius, I understand your concern but I can’t stay away.”
Bruce could picture Lucius pursing his lips in defeat.
“Good luck, Mr. Wayne.”
“Thank you, Lucius.”
Even without the Tumbler’s spotting systems he could see from the windshield
the dust and the sparkles of weapons over the location of the battle: flying
spots indicated creatures engaged in fist fighting or duelling.
 
“The finest military aircrafts the globe has to offer are fighting with
unidentified flying objects throughout the planet; the Pentagon announced that
it is included in the scenario of the Training Day. Japan, China, Russia and EU
are making similar announcements.”
Lois smirked at her radio.
“Training scenario, my ass!” she spat casting glances at the mirror to the dust
behind her that signalled Fury’s coming.
Jimmy out of breath looked at her.
“What is it, Miss Lois?”
“Something big” she answered “and we are heading to its routes.”
 
Catwoman landed on her feet in the middle of a cluster of Parademons; as soon
as her feet touched the ground she jerked her leg in a round kick unbalancing
the aliens; they didn’t manage to realize what had happened and Catwoman raked
them with the firearms she held in both hands.
Her wild eyes caught few feet to her right Steve fighting along with Natasha
against far too many enemies. Natasha’s face was dirty and slashed as her
uniformed yet Steve’s right arm was drenched in blood and he hardly moved it
using his shield with the left.
Both of them were tired but kept fighting. Catwoman felt her chest aching and
set her jaw speeding there shooting with both hands on her way to them.
As soon as the Parademons were down Catwoman regarded the two Avengers.
“Captain, maybe it’s better if you left the field.”
“No way” he said and sent his shield like a discus to decapitate two Parademons
at once.
But then the ground shook so much that they staggered fighting to remain up.
Darkseid watched satisfied as the new forces surged the battlefield; they were
fewer than he expected because Superman, Flash and Ironman had intercepted
them. Yet they were still too many.
“No robots though” Bagdana said thoughtful. “And though they are more in
quantity they will manage to eliminate them.”
Darkseid grinned.
“I don’t think so…” he turned his eyes to his facilities.
Superman was hammering a flying Parademon with his fists when he heard the
sound: the facilities were vomiting again…His chest clenched as the area shook
from thousands feet, some of them way heavier than the most. Superman closed
for a second his eyes discouraged: more robots!
 There was a horrific sound of thousand winds scratching the sky as more flying
Parademons bigger this time swarmed the sky shadowing the sun.
His eyes met Ironman’s lenses. The latter had heard the same
“It’s far too many…” Stark mumbled.
 
Elliot knew Palisades like the back of his hand especially the secluded places
where he took refuge whenever he wanted to escape his awful parents; he could
hear the sirens following him and his heart beat like crazy.
He could escape all these fools. This turn of the road would take him to the
rural road: it wasn’t even asphalted covered with branches and bushes and would
lead him away from the cops.
Indeed, as he took the turn for a mile nobody followed him. He smirked
satisfied and looked at the ocean down of the cliff.
Once they were playing: he, Brucie and other boys – he was no more than 10 and
Brucie was 7. He had persuaded Brucie to follow him here – the brat was so
naïve and stupid! Young Thomas had planned perfectly: he would have pushed
Brucie off the cliff and then would have run back to the adults crying saying
that he tried to pull Bruce but he let his hand. He had already scratched his
arms and torn his pants to prove that he tried hard. Brucie stood there
watching the sharp rocks underneath and the wild waves: the raging wind would
make his job easier.
He approached the brat ready to give him just a tiny push: Brucie was short and
lean, so fragile…
But then…
“Bruce, where are you, you brat?!”
Brucie turned around grinning excited and ran to the other side.
“Tony, here!”
He gritted his teeth…his breath was labored and his head light. Yet he had to
be careful because that road was dangerous and he was dizzy... His stabbed hand
gave him hell and he slowly was realizing the wound in his leg...
Suddenly his ears were attacked by sirens! They were again at his tail. The
sweat dripped from his forehead to his eyes; no, it wasn’t sweat. His face
ached as hell…the steer wheel was slipping from his sweaty hand…He turned to
see where the police cars were…They were near…
He stepped on the accelerator and made to maneuver the steer wheel to take the
turn…but then he saw his face on the mirror: a horribly disfigured face covered
by dozens of slashes that reaped his nose and lips…a monster! The steer wheel
slipped from his hand and he tried to move his other hand to catch it…to no
avail…
Elliot felt the car leaving the ground…he felt the void…the waves and the rocks
coming to him…
 
Batman had the central screen on the Tumbler’s control panel showing the
Mannheim’s facilities. He saw the remaining building collapsing leaving only a
central square room made of thick titanium. Robots and Parademons both on the
ground and in the air swarmed the area running to slaughter the heroes.
Apokolips vomited its filth to wipe Earth from the universe.
Batman set his jaw.
“Not in my day, Darkside!”
 He pressed the red button on the top of a tiny stick he held.
 
“You see what I do?” Ironman mumbled to Superman and fired with his palm laser
at a charging Parademon “we’re talking here, dude!” he exclaimed at the alien
encouraged from the spectacle.
His systems enabled him to see what Superman was seeing with his long distance
sight. A hundred explosions at once blew up the giant robots sending their
burning pieces to hit the Parademons both in the air and the ground.
“How?” Superman asked awed.
“Sir” Jarvis’ happy voice said “Batman is here.”
“Batman” Tony said but Superman had already heard the Tumbler and his heart
beat faster with new energy.
Bruce…he thought torn between happiness and fear.
“Attack Hulk!” Granny yelled at her troops that swarm the giant hitting him all
together from different ankles.
The giant roared annoyed and began bombarding his attackers but Granny taking
advantage of his preoccupation turned her firearms at him. Hulk’s hide might
have been durable to Parademon’s bullets yet there were many scratches all over
his skin and Granny knew that her fire power was stronger than that of her
minions.
She was ready to fire when something kicked both her arms shoving away the
firearms. Granny grunted angry and saw the Amazon Princess landing before her
stabbing her with her blue eyes.
“You have done enough” Diana said.
“You’re not the one to tell that” Granny shrieked firing at her with both
firearms raking the Amazon’s entire body.
Diana rolled over the ground using her shield to protect herself and then
jumped upwards holding the shield in front of her and with the other hand
brandished her sword at Granny.
Darkseid’s lieutenant dodged the sword and pulled her own twisted dagger to
stab the Amazon.
Diana stopped the dagger with her sword; but the Granny was strong pushing
Diana’s sword to bend the Amazon’s hand. Their faces were close. Diana yanked
her head and butted Granny’s forehead shoving her enemy off her.
Granny staggered realizing that she had lost her dagger. Without losing her
confidence she grabbed the shoulder of a Parademon who was fighting behind her
and detached his blade arm.
She sniggered at Diana who charged at her lowering her sword to meet the blade.
Granny managed to block the hit and freed her blade lifting it to slash the
Amazon who made a twirl and stopped again the blade with her sword shattering
Granny’s weapon.
Darkseid’s right hand growled and jumped on Diana plunging her teeth on her
neck making blood spurt. Yet Diana grabbed her from the shoulders and kicked
her away; she jumped on her feet but Granny had blended with the Parademons so
Diana decided to focus her efforts elsewhere launching her tiara against the
aliens who fought with Asgardians.
Darkseid towered everyone in the center of the battlefield slaughtering
Asgardians and Valkyries. Bagdana was doing the same to the other side of the
field. The New God knew that his army was enough to swallow the heroes and by
eliminating the Asgardian army he would let them alone to face his wrath. He
had already injured Odin and Captain America and he was aware that the
landslide he and Bagdana’s earthquake caused rocks to fall and disable many
Asgardians.
The Earth’s powers were running thin…But then something echoed throughout the
Basin and Darkseid frowned.
Diana fighting with her sword smiled hearing that sound: the horns of
Themyscirra. Ten thousand Amazons had just emerged from the container that was
stationed in the roots of the mountain and now raided fast to the battle. In
their head was Antiope followed first by the Amazon archers who shot their
arrows riding their proud horses and after them the Amazon hoplites who began
killing Parademons as soon as they reached the battle.
“I always enjoy seeing ladies coming to rescue me but today even more” Tony
said.
Darkseid’s grim stare met Bagdana’s in the other end of the battle. But he
disregarded his ally to do what he knew best: manipulating people by
controlling their minds. He concentrated: if he managed to control them the
battle would end. But he was met with a strong block as a few hours ago…That
strange wizard and Loki must have shielded the fighters’ minds.
Bagdana sensed his upset.
”What?”
”Nothing! My robot giants are coming; they will smash them” but to his utter
shock only Parademons came from his facilities. “Who did that?” he roared
turning his inner sight there to see finding only the parts of his robots
scattered.
Bagdana frowned; he could hear the sound of a familiar vehicle.
“No…” he whispered. “Bruce, you shouldn’t have come…”
Batman used the front and back canons of the Tumbler that usually threw gas or
smoke bombs to shoot with real bullets the aliens.
Thor smiled hearing the roar of the vehicle and downed Mjiolnir on the ground
causing the soil to crack swallowing every alien it met.
 
“I told you that there was something big” Lois said to Jimmy as they watched
the spectacle squatted behind a bundle of rocks at a safe distance. “Shoot!”
She cocked her eyebrows regarding the view: flying strange creatures fought
with what Lois recognized from Mythology books as Valkyries; their wings
slicing the air and hiding the sun’s light. On the ground, what must be
Asgardians were engaged in fight with the creatures. Hulk was doing his usual
devastation and though she couldn’t see them Lois knew that the rest of the
Avengers and Diana with Catwoman were there too. Amazons on horses and on foot
joined the battle howling their war cries.
She gaped seeing two gigantic forms in the two edges of the battle. Lois had
seen a lot yet this spectacle made her chest clench. The one was a blue giant
who fired death with his hands and eyes. The other was a smaller horned giant
with a body of fire brandishing his blazing sword at the defenders of the
Earth: definitely, a demon. Lois grim mood was lightened seeing Ironman
attacking the demon backed from a man in a burgundy cape who made shields and
rays with his hands.
“Superman!” Jimmy exclaimed and Lois looked there finally feeling proud again
for her friend: Bruce was right.
 
Fury and his comrades looked from the van’s windshield the battle in front of
them; he turned at his agents and as if reading each other’s minds they drew
simultaneously their firearms from the back of the van and jumped out.
“Time to join the party!” the rough veteran said and ran to the battle.
 
Darkseid squinted at the black tank like vehicle that crossed the battlefield
spreading death to his minions.
“I don’t know how you did it but I’m sure it was you!” he hissed and stormed
towards the car.
Bagdana saw his ally and made to follow but a clot of Asgardians fighting
Parademons thwarted him; he vanished to avoid them but upon re-materializing a
Valkyrtie shrieking struck him with her spear-like wide blade. The demon might
have not being hurt but he acknowledged the pain; he grunted and grounding his
teeth sent fireballs with his hand to burn the Valkyrie who managed to dodge
the deadly fire that churned the edges of her raven hair.
The demon didn’t have time and didn’t care to finish off the Valkyrie. He
didn’t care for the Parademons that were massacred by Amazons and Asgardians;
and he was sure that right now even Darkseid didn’t care.
Darkseid focused his eyes on the moving Tumbler and raised his hands jerking
them to send blue waves to hit the vehicle.
Bruce saw in the Tumbler’s panel the fire heading against the car and turned
the wheel to avoid.
“You can run but you can’t hide, human!” Darkseid said and his fisted hands
flashed with white energy, stronger this time, ready to strike again.
But as he was ready to launch his fire, a force tackled him.
“Enough already” Superman said angry and punched Darkseid in the face hitting
him simultaneously with his laser vision.
The New God roared annoyed and jerked his arm pushing the Man of Steel off of
him, his heated hand burning Superman’s attire in the back.
It ached yet Superman turned around and blew at Darkseid unbalancing him. He
surged at him, his red eyes firing laser that – to Darkseid’s utter disbelief –
charred his blue chest; and before Darkseid overcame the shock from the burning
Clark began hammering his guts with everything he had.
The New God roared furious and grabbed Superman from the neck, his red eyes
meeting the Kryptonians.
“Time to finish this” he hissed and his eyes became fires ready to throw out
omega beams.
“You’re mad at me not him!” a growl startled Darkseid who frowned and threw
Superman away turning around.
Batman was scowling at him completely unfazed by the God’s gigantic form.
Darkseid’s face shadowed by the nasty surprises of the day was carved by a
broad grin.
“You destroyed my robots; you weaved an ingenious trap around me but you won’t
win. I won’t kill you right now…you will experience the destiny of your
race…because you and your friends might have managed to cause some damage to my
army but I haven’t used my ultimate weapon yet” he shook his head. “My Female
Furies are heading to earth; they would have been here for my attack in two
days but you took me by surprise. Well done, human!” he snorted. “Now you’ll
see Darkseid’s real power!”
Batman glared at him unfazed. Darkseid’s had set an invisible wall around them
keeping everyone out. The New God jerked his head.
“Feel your failure as my machine will suffocate humans!”
A loud bang as if a bomb of hundred megatons had exploded made everyone in the
field freeze awestruck. The heroes looked around ready for the worst: everyone
knew that Darkseid’s machine had been activated. The super powered heroes
looked scared at their human friends…
But to their relief none of the humans was affected in any way. On the
contrary, the Parademons both in the ground and in the air began drying as if
something sucked their existence, shrinking till only ashes filled their spots.
Darkseid’s eyes bulged as he looked around him his entire army being
simultaneously turned to ashes. He could sense that his machine, his pride, was
destroyed and most of all he felt weak.
“What have you done, human?!” he roared.
Batman yanked his head.
“Your Anti Life Machine was programmed to suck the energy of the beings whose
DNA was in its system.”
Darkseid’s brow furrowed.
“You made Luthor assemble its parts so that the human DNA would be in the
Machine’s memory programming it to absorb human energy and qualities. What if I
put in the Machine’s control system the DNA of your people? Of your army?”
 
Batman slipped inside the Mannheim facilities using the ventilation pipes.
Thanks to Tony’s tracking system he knew exactly where the Machine was.
As he crawled through the wide pipes he regarded the premises: he frowned. In
the vast space there were at least one hundred giant robots.
Batman slipped out of the pipe and brushed his armor on the wrist giving
Tumbler the order to analyze these robots. In his wrist watch he saw the result
of the analysis: the robots’ control was in the point where the neck met the
right shoulder; also, their legs were sensitive at the knee joint.
He pressed his lips. This was a delay for his schedule: he intended to finish
with the Machine and then head to Mannheim’s Mansion to free Superman. But now
he couldn’t let this threat like this neither he could destroy them right now
because his plan would be revealed.
Thankfully, his belt was always packed with explosives. It took him an hour but
he planted the bombs to the robots’ vulnerable spots: now when Darkseid would
send them to fight, Batman would have just to press the trigger. He would
inform Lucius and give him instructions to blow them up before they reach the
battle if Batman wouldn’t be able to do it.
He slipped again into the pipe heading to the compartment where the Machine
was. The facilities were heavily guarded outside but inside Darkseid didn’t
want his security people getting a glimpse of what he stashed there.
The Machine was in the middle of the space on a short, square pedestal. It was
like a huge cube reaching the ceiling. The Machine gave the impression of being
alive as it vibrated; its vibrations made the hieroglyphics all over its
surface shine gold in contrast with its black color.
Batman stared at it intrigued but then pulled out of his belt’s compartment the
tablet Lucius gave him with the Parademons’ genetic code as they had extracted
from their remnants after the attack in Thasos. Lucius had explained to him in
detail the structure of the Machine so he knew where to slip in the tablet…
 
Tony’s eyes shone with realization seeing Parademons being exterminated like
this after the Machine’s activation. His mind went back to his discussion with
Bruce in the cave.
Bruce pressed a key and in the central screen images of Darkseid’s parademons
came to the fore.
“They’re called Parademons – thankfully, Jor El has a lot of material for
Darkseid. And we have also samples of his soldiers’ DNA” Bruce said. “When they
attacked me, Ivy took good care to vanish any trace yet during their assault
they had grabbed me so I had some of their DNA on me and also when she blew
them up some of their remains were scattered to the clearing. I gathered them
and gave them to Lucius.”
A wicked smile carved Tony’s features.
“Then those Parademons would not know what hit them…I can make our weapons able
to kill them easily.”
Bruce rubbed his chin and it was clear that an idea had popped in his mind.
Tony narrowed his eyes understanding.
“What are you thinking?”
“I’ll tell you but not now…”
Bruce hadn’t told him: it kept his intention as a surprise, a nice one.
 
Darkseid’s nostrils flared emitting sparkles. Without saying anything he yanked
his head and Batman was tossed to the air crashing on the rocks at the other
end of the battlefield.
Bruce felt his back crying in pain; his head having bumped to the stone was
spinning and his eyes darkened. He made to support himself on his hands but the
fatigue and the pain made him abandon the effort.
Bruce saw a blur coming at him and Darkseid appeared in front of him; he glared
at Batman.
“I won’t let a human brag that he defeated Darkseid” he hissed and his eyes
became fires ready to launch omega beams.
Everyone saw Darkseid hitting Bruce and immediately after relocating them
rushed there. Superman, Thor, Odin, Loki, Diana, Ironman and Flash saw the
omega beams leaving Darkseid’s eyes targeting Bruce; even if they hit the God
the beams were already on their way.
A red waving shield emerged in front of Batman blocking the beams, Dr.
Strange’s emerged suddenly; he had his long fingers opened forming the shield.
As if they were connected Superman launched his laser vision, Diana crushed her
bracelets together, Thor brandished Mjiolnir creating thunders, Odin threw his
axe, Loki jerked his hands firing his power and Ironman set in motion every
weapon he had gritting his teeth. Flash with his ultimate speed ran around the
New God creating energy that unbalanced the fierce being.
Every power they had hit the New God whose face distorted in rage at the
ultimate shock of being defeated; he roared fading taking along Granny
Goodness.
Dr. Strange’s eyes widened seeing his shield cracking; Darkseid at his final
moments put all his remaining power to his omega beams. The doctor’s guts
formed a painful knot seeing the beams shattering the shield rushing at Batman.
“No!” Catwoman cried and jerked to run there but Steve hugged her.
Bruce stared at the white, icy cold beams seconds before they hit him.
Something stopped the beams…Hulk rushed at Darkseid’s fading body and punched
the God wiping him out at once.
In front of Bruce lay a massive body that had collapsed on the ground. Batman
crawled.
A huge burning was all over the being’s chest. Everyone’s eyes were there but
Bruce didn’t feel them: he felt as if he was alone – everything had ceased to
exist. He slipped his hands under Bagdana’s head and raised it slightly. The
demon had taken his granite human-like form; his body’s size wasn’t gigantic
anymore.
The demon smiled to him and something dark slithered from his lips.
“It’s ridiculous for a demon to die like this” he laughed. “For love…but I
would have done it again…for you…”
Bruce felt the lenses hurting his eyes; he deactivated them and Bagdana’s
yellow eyes filled with gratitude.
“These eyes… I want to take with me…”
“You shouldn’t have done this…” Bruce mumbled.
Bagdana shook his head grunting from pain.
“You’re sorry for me?” he narrowed his eyes. “After everything I have done to
you? You’re an angel, indeed; and angels should not be crying for demons…” he
frowned. “Tears for a demon?” he raised his hand and touched with his
fingertips the tears. “In my millions of life I never found purest diamonds
than these…” he grinned “so is there something in your heart even for me?”
Bruce bit his lips.
“You are a demon…yet there is good in you and… love…”
Bagdana gulped trying to breathe.
“No…no, my precious human child…you were right…I don’t know what love is…” he
snorted “even now…I acted from selfishness” he laughed but then he was choked
by his cough and sobered locking eyes with Bruce. “I couldn’t… spend another
eternity reliving the death of my love…grieving…feeling my guts jerking from
pain…cursing myself for not saving you…again…” he closed his eyes, inhaling
with difficulty; his fingertips touched Batman’s exposed jaw grinning happy.
“Maybe in another lifetime, I won’t be a demon and I’ll manage to earn your
heart. Goodbye, my love…” he moved his head and touched his lips to Batman’s
gloved hand.
In front of everyone’s still eyes the demon evaporated from Batman’s arms.
Bruce’s eyes were blank; his arms paralyzed; his entire existence was frozen.
He remained like this for a few moments but then he remembered where he was. He
gathered his quivering stamina and stood.
His body ached and last month’s effort rotted his every cell. His head was
spinning and his eyes were dim. If only he could reach the Tumbler and leave
without his friends realizing his state…
He walked passing the rocks, the others still too shocked to approach; the rock
was tall enough to hide him from them. But then he heard a second pair of feet
behind him.
“You just saved the world, buddy…” Tony said touched and from his voice Bruce
knew that he had deactivated the face plate.
“All of you did that…” he growled without turning to look at him and continued
his way to the Tumbler numb from what just happened.
But then he heard another pair of feet running there; he had to hurry.
Suddenly, his legs stopped moving: neither his armor’s system nor his mind
power could force them. Not that Bruce wanted to make his mind work...he felt
drained without any energy or will to try. His head drummed violently and his
eyes shut abruptly.
And he was falling…
The last thing he heard was Ironman rushing to him.
Catwoman saw Tony grabbing Batman before hitting the ground and immediately
taking off.
 
***** Chapter 90 *****
Chapter Notes
     It was supposed to be one last chapter but when I finished it was too
     lengthy; so I decided to split it. I hope you'll like it.
“You must take me to Batman. That demon might have shielded him getting the
omega beams saving his life but still Batman was subjected to the beams’
radiation range.”
Dr. Stephen Strange walked vividly the corridor of the clinic facilities that
they were situated outside Gotham in a very secluded location and naturally he
had never seen before: every now and then he glanced around which said to him
that this building was brand new – it didn’t have even a sign with its name;
yet it was pristine, built and equipped with the latest medical technology.
There were nurses passing by but no patient sign that the clinic wasn’t yet
opened to the public.
 He was still in his Dr. Strange attire, the burgundy cape, floating behind
him; his face still bore the dirt and scratches of the battle.
At his side, Tony Stark walked heavily dressed in jeans and a T-shirt that
didn’t look his at all. The billionaire didn’t reply continuing his overall
silence that was so unlike him. Ironman had come to the Avengers’ Tower two
hours after the battle ended and asked him to follow without further
explanation. Stark’s face was grim and his usually bright eyes were shadowed.
Stephen huffed: he couldn’t understand Stark’s bad mood – they had won the
battle, Darkseid was no longer a threat for earth and both Peppers and Bruce
was safe: the former coordinating the operation from the Tower and the latter
in a secure place where Stark had taken him before the battle.
“Tony, we have to find Batman…” he insisted “I know the man treasures his
secrets but I think he might be infected by Darkseid’s Anti energy.”
The billionaire stopped in front of a door; Stephen realized that the sector
they were crossing till now was empty except than this room, situated at the
far end. Tony opened the door.
“…and then Dick made some jumps in the air…”
“Somersaults, Jay.”
“Who cares how the hell they’re named. So he made these ‘springsaults’ and
grabbed Hero in the air before the bullet hit ‘im. He was fuckin’ awsome!”
“And Jay…Elliot had dragged Alfred as a shield and Joker was ready to attack
both of them. But Jay jumped on Elliot and took Alfred from him and away.”
Stephen’s eyes widened. In front of him, a hospital bed; in the right side two
boys were leaning eagerly over the bed. In the right, a young woman sat in a
chair and watched pale and silent. A kitten was curled on the chest of the man
on the bed licking his chin and purring loudly. Alfred stood over his head; it
was clear that the butler was tired and spent while his worried eyes searched
avidly his young master’s face.
Bruce’s face had a broad smile on that made his eyes shine looking at the
babbling boys. Yet Dr. Strange could discern exhaustion and pain well hidden in
the depths of those eyes.
“Both of you are so brave” he said. “Thank you for everything.”
He was more than pale, ashen, with black bags under his eyes. A thin tube was
connected to his nose to assist his respiration; his hands were placed on the
mattress looking like forgotten or paralyzed with the IV stuck in the right
arm. The usual gadgets for monitoring his condition were attached to his body
transmitting data to what was definitely a monitor device though he hadn’t seen
something like this ever again.
“Bruce is the Batman…” Stephen uttered the thought that fell like a thunder in
his mind; he looked at Tony who pressed his lips. “I should have figured
out…but…how could he?” he shook his head clenching his forehead, trying to
connect the image of the defiant, radiating power and confidence Batman facing
the blue giant in the frozen basin with the disabled Bruce Wayne. Of course,
Bruce was more than strong in his own way, endowed with willpower Stephen never
met before. But…
Tony nodded as if reading his thoughts.
“No, you couldn’t have figured. Lucius and I manufactured for him a new armor
with advanced exoskeleton technology that allowed him to walk and fight” there
was some regret in his bloodshot eyes.
Bruce’s smiling eyes turned to Dr. Strange and Tony.
“Welcome, Dr. Strange” he said and even though he tried to sound casual the
doctor sensed again the man’s fatigue; Stephen cocked an eyebrow: how it could
be otherwise? A man stuck in a wheelchair doing all these and saving the world…
Tony gestured to him and they approached. Stephen noticed that the young woman
with the long ponytail was holding Bruce’s hand and her eyes were focused on
his face, worry etched in her features. Bruce smiled to her reassuringly trying
valiantly to seem unscathed.
Stephen studied immediately his patient’s vitals on the screen realizing that
everything was too low, hardly at normal levels. Of course, the organism was
over-exerted. It was a miracle he hadn’t collapsed entirely. And his
temperature was too high. He frowned and touched Bruce’s forehead to reaffirm
his suspicion: in contrast with what the indicator said, the man was frozen.
But in the screen was something else that made him an impression: Bruce was
administered morphine. A lot of morphine.
Bruce sensed his doctor’s worry and turned to the boys.
“Dick, Jason, I think that now you should return to Gotham. Your grandmother
and your mother must be waiting eagerly for you.”
It was obvious that he didn’t want the boys to hear what was to follow but the
boys were reluctant.
“We can wait outside for you to finish” Dick said looking at the strange doctor
understanding that they wanted to speak privately. “Right, Jay? We’ll wait and
come whenever your doctor permits us.”
The younger boy nodded.
“’Course, man…” he added hopefully.
Bruce smiled to the boys however his overall weakness shadowed slightly his
eyes. Alfred seeing that cleared his throat.
“I think that you should return to the city, young masters. It was a very
eventful day” he added looking pointedly at the boys.
“I’ll drive the boys back to the Manor.”
Stephen turned and saw Lucius Fox who had been standing in a distance to let
space for Bruce’s loved ones.
“Thank you, Lucius” Bruce said.
“Not mention it, Mr. Wayne” the loyal man grinned but his face was grim.
The boys were still hesitant.
“I’ll be here the next time you’ll come” he reassured them amused and caressed
the kitten on his chest. “You’re a very brave kitten, you know? But you have to
go with Dick and Jason now.”
Dick took the kitten but Hero grabbed Bruce’s robe not wanting to part with his
human. Selina got up and took the kitten softly but determined.
“C’mon, Hero, don’t be afraid: I’ll be with him all the time” she said bringing
the kitten’s nose to her face locking their eyes. “I’ll look after him for
you.”
She kissed the kitten’s nose and gave him to Dick. Stephen noticed how tired
her voice was.
The boys followed Lucius but every now and then turned to look back at Bruce
who smiled. Upon opening the door, they came face to face with Leslie who was
holding her medical board.
“You’re leaving? Good…You need some rest too, young men.”
Jason snorted.
“Not me…”
When the boys were out of the room and the door closed Bruce let his eyelids
cover his eyes and took a deep breath.
“I asked them to stay in the Manor to be safe and they were almost killed…” he
said feeling a sharp pain in his forehead.
Alfred touched his shoulder.
“It wasn’t your fault, Master Bruce. You informed the police but Thomas Elliot
was devious and managed to escape.”
Bruce opened his eyes.
“Was?”
Leslie looked at him behind her rectangular glasses.
“He was injured by the Joker and the officers but he didn’t surrender; he drove
his car in a frenzy state and at some point the bleeding must have blurred his
sight and made him dizzy; he had followed the dangerous rural road over the
cliff to escape the police but eventually he lost control of his car. He fell
off the cliff.”
Bruce frowned.
“They didn’t look for him?”
“They pulled out his car but his body wasn’t there. You know how strong the
streams are there: his corpse must have been carried away in the ocean.”
She registered frowned her patient’s sad look.
“He asked for it, Bruce.”
“Leslie is right, little guy” Tony said sitting in the chair next to the bed.
“Just thinking that I was ready to trust that man with your surgery gets me
nausea…” he shook his head exasperated. “I was so naïve and you were so right!
Look what the asshole did! He injured Dr. Strange” he raised his eyes to
Stephen “not you…: a Gothamite psychiatrist. Killed that cute littl’ nurse:
Kelly, I think” Leslie nodded sad. “He killed an officer and stabbed another.”
Bruce licked his dry, busted lips.
“If I was there he might be alive now” he said dryly.
Tony blinked and cupped his face exasperated.
“You just saved seven billion people instead” Dr. Strange said firmly looking
at him.
But Bruce met his gaze.
“All of you did that” he said with conviction.
“Stephen is right” Leslie spat strictly “now it’s time you finally think about
yourself, young man.”
“Indeed, Master Bruce” Alfred said.
Selina nodded and Tony uncovered his face to stare at his friend. Bruce let his
head roll at the side.
“Speaking of which” Stephen said pointing to the vitals’ screen “Bruce’s
temperature is high but he actually is cold. As if he is burning inside.”
This made everyone except Bruce stare at the doctor. Leslie shook her head.
“Because he is actually burning” she said casually struggling to bury her
despair catching with the corner of her eye Alfred’s distraught eyes.
She walked to Stephen and showed him the board she was holding; Stephen pursed
his lips – it was the first time he was seeing something like this but on the
other hand, when had someone else been ever before exposed to a New God’s omega
beams?
“Are you gonna tell us or what?!” Selina burst out unable to hold her agony
anymore.
Leslie stared at her and nodded. It was admirable that the doctor seemed
untouched by her adventure with Elliot.
“The energy casts that hold the parts of Bruce’s bones together are overheated
and their temperature is increasing with time. Not to mention that Bruce was
also hit directly by Darkseid’s power and crushed to a rock.”
Selina huffed and gulped while Alfred touched his young master’s shoulder.
Tony jerked up from his chair.
“What must be done?” he asked Leslie and Stephen who had crossed his arms over
the chest and was studying the indications on the monitoring screen.
“The only solution is to perform the operation ASAP” Leslie said.
Stephen shook his head and gestured to the screen displaying Bruce’s vitals.
“His organism is utterly exhausted; his vitals aren’t sufficient even for the
most common surgery moreover for a surgery as complex and demanding as this.”
Leslie fixed her eyes on her younger colleague.
“If we don’t perform the surgery then the casts will eventually…” she suddenly
realized the finality of what was going to happen and she was bereft of energy
to continue speaking.
Bruce straightened his head on the pillow and looked at them.
“I’m here, you know; and I’m the one to decide about the surgery” his voice was
the non-nonsense, authoritative voice of Batman.
Both nodded and Bruce eyed them determined though he was sensing weakness
sneakily overcoming his quivering stamina.
“The surgery will be performed” he said. “I’m the only responsible for my
condition; it was my choice to act as I did knowing the consequences and I
don’t regret it. So whatever’s the outcome of that operation, the fault is mine
and nobody is going to be blamed for that.”
He felt his strength abandon him and the pain that till now was controlled to
sufferable levels resurfacing confirming what Leslie had said. He met Selina’s
worried stare; she was holding his hand and Bruce realized that she definitely
knew how he was feeling.
“You’re frozen…” she said.
Alfred jolted upright.
“I’ll bring more blankets.”
Leslie glanced at Stephen in a stare filled with meaning that Bruce didn’t
miss. He didn’t want them to panic; he raised his torso supported in his
forearms.
“Alfred, it’s nothing” he tried to stop his butler who had already reached the
wooden closet on the left “I’m not…”
But all of a sudden his strength evaporated and his elbows couldn’t support his
torso; his heart began beating fast and his breath accelerated which
unfortunately was revealed by the beeping of the monitor. Once again he lost
any mood or power to struggle and collapsed back to the mattress. His head
rolled on the pillow to the side and his body began shivering.
Leslie leaned on him and cupped his face.
“Are you in pain?”
He was but he didn’t want to scare them more; Stephen looked at his vitals on
the monitor.
“It’s nothing, Leslie…” Bruce looked at Alfred who muffled him in a thick
velvet blanket. “I’m tired and…I just want to sleep…”
Leslie nodded.
“Okay, sweetheart; I’ll sedate you so that your sleep is undisturbed.”
She rose and with Stephen decided how many mls of sedation to administer before
Leslie touched the screen choosing the substance, the quantity and sending the
drug directly to Bruce’s IV.
On other occasions Bruce would have refused to be sedated but now he felt
grateful; this exhaustion was tormenting and his eyes ached but most of all,
most bothersome of all, was the feeling of void inside him; the bitterness that
covered everything else. He needed to escape.
“I’ll stay with you” Selina said.
“Me too, buddy” Tony added grasping Bruce’s hand.
He smiled.
“Both of you need to rest” he said “all of you actually” his eyes travelled
from Alfred to Leslie to Stephen “it was a tough day for everyone…” his grin
became broader “not to mention that it is creepy being asleep under someone’s
stare…”
Saying that something crawled in his heart, something like a thorn that
scratched the tender muscle…He remembered feeling two sparkling green eyes
watching him avidly with adoration in the darkness while he was sleeping on the
bed of a suite. He closed his eyes and let fatigue’s weakness and the sedative
lead him to oblivion.
Alfred fixed better the blanket and finishing caressed his master’s hair
letting his affectionate eyes linger on the youth’s face; Leslie touched his
shoulder gesturing to follow them outside.
“You are giving him morphine” Stephen said to Leslie as soon as all of them
entered the conference room at the other end of the corridor.
The room had comfy armchairs but nobody could sit down.
“Exactly. The highest permitted dosage” she said. “Having a burning fire in
your bones is a pain that nobody can endure, moreover in the condition Bruce
is.”
Dr. Strange rubbed his chin thoughtful.
“I doubt if even this quantity of morphine is enough; I wonder how he manages
to not show any sign of pain.”
Selina shook her head and drank water from the bottle Tony gave her.
“Bruce is used to live in pain since he was a little boy. He learnt to bear his
pain without protest, hiding most of it.”
Stephen closed his eyes and nodded: of course. And he was the Batman, a man
fixed on a wheelchair who still managed to defeat Darkseid and save the planet.
“We must prepare for the surgery” Leslie said determined though she was scared
inside. “The casts’ temperature is continuously increasing and in the end will
kill him. We must remove the casts and put the implants performing the
operation that we intended to do to restore his legs’ mobility.”
Tony ran his fingers through his disheveled hair.
“This surgery will need twelve hours…”
“Fourteen” Stephen corrected dryly “in the best case scenario.”
Tony rolled his eyes.
“Even worse! He is exhausted; he had spent the last drain of his stamina and
strength to secure Darkseid’s defeat: how is he going to survive such a testing
procedure so soon?”
Stephen licked his lips.
“We are faced with very grim possibilities and I don’t want to be the surgeon
who killed Batman...” he snorted “or Bruce Wayne.”
Leslie yanked her head, locking eyes with Dr. Strange.
“You can always quit. I’ll understand… Maybe I would have done the same in your
place but I’m not used to quit” she chuckled bitterly and lowered her eyes to
finally look up to meet Alfred’s blank in distress eyes “and this is my Bruce
so I’ll fight with him till the end.”
Stephen stayed silent.
Selina threw the bottle to the wall and yanked her head. Her bloodshot eyes
were burning.
“I know Bruce better than all of you! He could have died any moment in all
these years but he didn’t! Because he is stronger than all of us! He never gave
up even though everything was against him; even when his odds were less than
zero! I can’t hear you talking like this! Bruce will survive this surgery as he
survived all the hardship, the despair, the tortures! He will come out of this
alive because…” her voice quivered “because he loves us…because he knows how
important is to stay with us…with me…”
Alfred walked there and hugged her brushing gently her hair.
Stephen pursed his lips.
“I have never abandoned a patient” he said in his deepest bass voice. “Every
time I gave with them the battle till the end” he shook his head and arched his
eyebrows. “I’ll do the same once again.”
Tony licked his lips nervously.
“Not to mention that you are a strong wizard now…” he registered Stephen’s
mysterious stare and arched his eyebrows “along with being a great
neurosurgeon, of course.”
Stephen gave a crooked smile for Tony’s diplomatic addition.
“Darkseid’s contamination must be cleaned from Bruce’s body.”
They turned to the new voice in the room and saw Thor who had just crossed the
door having opened the door without anyone noticing in their heated discussion.
The god of the Thunders was dressed in his civilian attire and despite the fact
he was a god his face still carried the weariness and hardship of the battle.
“I hope it doesn’t matter that I followed you here” he said approaching Tony.
The billionaire shook his head and waved that off.
“Nah…About this contamination thing…”
Leslie nodded.
“These beams Darkseid sent on him carried his dark energy – and even though
Bagdana took the hit Bruce was still subjected to their radiation.”
Stephen pressed his lips.
“Exactly.”
“Can you do this?” Selina asked the wizard.
“I haven’t done anything like this yet” he replied softly “but I’ll try.”
Thor looked at him.
“Eir, the goddess of healing, can assist you.”
Tony yanked his head and met Alfred’s tired, pained eyes which were a stab to
his twisted guts.
“Everyone who can help is welcome” he said and clenched Thor’s forearm.
“I will do everything for Bruce” the Asgardian replied.
“Then what about performing the operation to Superman’s headquarters?” Stephen
asked but everyone’s grim expressions were more than talkative. “He is free of
the mind control now…” he added defensively.
Alfred cleared his throat.
“Master Bruce is the one to decide this but I have the belief that he won’t
accept that.”
Tony arched his eyebrows.
“I built these premises with the best specifications to ensure that Bruce will
have the perfect conditions for the operation.”
Stephen nodded.
“Very well then” he turned to Thor and knitted his eyebrows realizing what he
had heard “Wait…you knew as well that Bruce is the Batman?”
Thor nodded.
“He saved my life…”
Dr. Strange shrugged a shoulder and smirked.
“It seems that our club is crowded. It’s remarkable that so many beings with
extra ordinary powers owe their lives to a man without any of these powers.”
 
“Lois Lane, the reporter of the Daily Planet, has managed to record exclusive
footage from the battle that took place earlier at the Frozen Basin in the west
borders of New York State.”
Images filled the screen showing the Earth’s heroes fighting Darkseid’s forces
assisted by the Asgardian army and the Amazons.
“It reminds a sci-fi movie or a battle taken out of Tolkin’s books, don’t you
think, Dave?” the female newscaster asked her colleague.
He nodded.
“In a joint press conference, representatives of the UN, EU, US, Russia, Japan
and China along with Pepper Potts for S.H.I.E.L.D. confirmed that an alien
invasion was thwarted. A being called Darkseid” zoom on the battle’s footage
showed the gigantic form of the New God killing with his very eyes launching
white beams “has been planning to conquer the planet. In that end, he had
captured Superman assisted by the so called Wonder Woman which as was revealed
also today, was a murderer from Gotham – the Poison Ivy. She impersonated the
legendary Princess of the Amazons working as a spy for the invaders. The real
Diana of Themyscirra helped the Metropolis law enforcers to wipe out Intergang
– also, a tool in Darkseid’s plans - and arrest Poison Ivy before she joined
the battle in the Frozen Basin contributing to the New God’s extermination” now
the wall screen broadcasted how Darkseid disappeared hit by the assembled power
of every hero the earth had. “The Electromagnetic Storm Training Day was
admitted to be a trick to evacuate possible retaliation targets that the aliens
planned to attack to cause thousands casualties…”
Martha watched from her favorite armchair. She sighed seeing her son fighting
along with the others. Bruce was right and Martha felt relieved that everything
was revealed and now Clark was free back to his old, good self.
She got up feeling her heart beating fast; Clark was here! She ran outside and
caught up with him in the wooden patio. She stormed at him and closed him in a
tight hug kissing his face: Martha still had in her eyes  Clark leaving from
the farm in the evening’s sky to fall in their trap. But now everything was
alright again. She had him back like Bruce had promised.
The smile on Clark’s face was huge brightening his still dusted face and Martha
eyed his torn and burnt attire that let parts of his chest and back uncovered.
Clark felt his eyes watering realizing the pain he had caused to his Ma.
“Ma, I’m sorry” he said. “I’m sorry I caused you so much pain…I was a scum, a…”
Martha raised her teary eyes to look at his face and caressed his cheek.
“You’re here now, Clark; and you’re alright, free of her spells…” she kissed
his cheeks.
“No, Ma, let me apologize; let me beg for your forgiveness… You tried many
times to bring me back to my senses and I only sneered and accused you of
siding with my enemies; I was a brute; an ungrateful brat.”
Martha shook her head not getting enough from her healed son.
“Forget everything, Clark: you did nothing to me…however” she inhaled “there’s
someone who…”
Clark lowered his eyes.
“Bruce…” he said.
Martha pressed her lips.
“He never stopped believing in you; he was supporting me all the time
reassuring me that the good Clark wasn’t lost. I’m sure he persuaded Mr. Stark
to help you.”
Clark’s eyebrow twisted: Mr. Stark, right… His mother didn’t know about Bruce
and he had no right to tell her.
“He suffered too much, Clark.”
“I know…because of me…I’ll ask for his forgiveness too, Ma…but…I caused him so
much pain that I don’t deserve his forgiveness” he said sighing.
Martha cupped his face.
“Nevertheless you must apologize to him, sweetheart.”
He nodded.
“I owe him so much…” he said and his eyes were blank.
Martha looked at him with the old pride she had lost lately.
“I’m sure you will do the right thing…” she pecked his cheek. “Will you eat
with me?”
Clark smiled.
“You have to ask when you have fresh baked apple pie waiting on the kitchen
table? And roast beef?”
Martha hugged with one arm her son’s waist and walked with him inside.
“It was the least I could do: today is a day of celebration. The bitch that was
ruining by boy’s life got revealed, the nasty aliens were defeated and my son
was in the battle with the good guys” Clark smiled recollecting the way he had
ignored the need for help of the people in New York. “Clark, my boy, is back.”
She gestured to him to seat in the chair on the top of the table and moved to
the countertop to prepare the meal.
“I was thinking about that Batman…” she said and Clark tensed relieved that his
mother had her back turned. “Is he alright? That blue giant alien – Darkseid,
right? – hit him very hard.”
“I wonder the same, Ma” he answered absent minded pressing his lips.
He was trying to listen to Bruce’s vitals constantly after the battle to make
sure that he was alright or at least that his life wasn’t in danger. But he
couldn’t hear anything and this, as always, made him sick with worry but there
was one thought that although frustrating still comforted him a bit: Tony Stark
had taken his friend somewhere with lead to stop him from coming there.
At times, Clark’s distress made him regret that he didn’t followed Ironman when
he took Batman away. The rock where Darkseid sent Batman to crush was enormous
and after Bagdana’s death Batman walked behind the rock so the others didn’t
see what happened. Yet Clark used his X-ray vision and saw Batman collapsing
unconscious; he was ready to rush there to catch him but Ironman was there.
His first urge was to tailor Ironman to see where he was going to take Bruce
but then he realized that this was wrong…He had no right to inflict his
presence to them after everything he had done. Concern clenched his insides but
for once he had to think what Bruce would want.
And even now that not knowing was torturing he was aware that his choice after
much time was the correct one.
 
The sedation affected him instantly. He felt a sweet paralysis flooding the
healthy part of his body: well, healthy…not exactly. For a few torturing
seconds, exhaustion and throbbing pain became so strong that his body shook and
he hardly stopped grunts coming out of his mouth: the effort of the last month
hammering his body mercilessly.
But then everything ceased…
He was sleeping but his awareness hadn’t abandoned him. His mind was still
processing the events of the last hours. Relief that the plan worked. The
things he had done the past days crossed his mind like a tornado: Themyscirra,
Central City, Metropolis; Diana, Hippolyta, Flash, the Avengers, Bagdana…
It was hardly 24 hours since he drove the Tumbler to Mannheim’s facilities in
the middle of the Frozen Basin but it seemed so distant as if years had
passed…and then the battle; Darkseid’s enraged face when he saw his army being
devastated by the machine he planned to use for exterminating the human race.
The white beams cracked Dr. Strange’s shield heading right at him; and then the
gigantic body that was till then killing the Earth’s defenders hid the sun and
set him under his shadow; becoming the new shield that stopped death from
reaching him.
His mother held his shoulders gently but determined; she was smiling and her
smile, her eyes, her perfume, her touch was the perfect medicine.
The Frozen Basin had vanished and the moisture darkness of a ponging alley that
made his body shiver again more violently than before.
Because he was scared, he was crying; his foot hurt like Hell reminding him
that that awful man had chopped his big toe a few hours ago. He wanted to go
home, to sleep in his soft, warm bed listening to his mother singing his
favorite lullaby. He knew that the nightmare was over, now that his parents
were there with him.
“Kill the brat!” the horrible voice of the man who reminded him of a Gray Wolf
cracked the space.
The bang echoed in the alley and made his ears ache and he stopped breathing;
he was frozen realizing that the nightmare wasn’t over.
The gentle hand that was caressing his upper hands pushed him away and he could
see only his mother’s back; he saw her jerking with a soft grunt… and then his
mom fell down like a cut flower.
The demon’s body collapsed in front of him with a round burning mark on his
chest…
Chill grabbed Hero and hurled the small animal to crash in the wall…the poor
kitten collapsed on the dirty ground.
His mother’s beautiful eyes stayed open, still, crystallized. Beautiful as ever
but cold as never before…So familiar and so strange at the same time…
Bagdana’s eyes were so different when they met his eyes one last time before
the demon let his eyelashes cover them…
Bruce felt the cold wrapping his body freezing him; the shivers made his teeth
rattle. His insides felt like a tight knot. People die because of him.
It was unfair: people dying for his sake. He didn’t want that.
“I’m tranquil, Bruce…”
He turned around and saw Bagdana exactly as he was when he imprisoned him in
Mannheim’s Mansion. But now his face was softer emanating what he was saying –
the demon was indeed peaceful.
“I thought that making Superman cheat and dump you for another person would
satisfy me because I’d have punished you and make you feel the pain I
suffered.”
Bruce heard the echo of soft footsteps and watched him coming closer. A faint
smile on his lips.
“But then sensing you in so much pain…” he shook his head. “That definitely
wasn’t the satisfaction I expected. There were times I regretted…But then…I
believed that I could stop the pain having my chance to win your heart as
Oliver Queen. It was so beautiful trying to get your affections like a mere
human…like starting my life all over again, from scratch…if only your heart
wasn’t already given to that Kryptonian…” he looked him in the eyes. “You
thwarted me; you were brusque to me trying to discourage my advantages staying
loyal to someone that made you bleed…But I still couldn’t get mad at you…”
Bagdana’s eyes were fixed on his.
“And I finally did what I should, Bruce – the best thing in the countless ages
I’ve lived. Feeling you alive makes me happy. You were the best gift life
offered me and I was so stupid that I hurt you…I abused you; I increased your
suffering. I cared only for satisfying my last…my body’s hunger…” he snorted.
“I am a demon, what did you expect? I should have taken you from your torturers
and raised you like a human child needs to be raised…and then when you would
have become the beautiful man you are, maybe you would love me and give me your
body with your will…Reviving our past love…Lost opportunities…We would have
shared ages together…” he lowered his eyes.
Bruce couldn’t discern anything; they were floating into nothingness; in the
oblivion he so much needed right now.
Bagdana looked back at him.
“But now I have finally seen the right thing to do…Saving what is the most
precious thing to me…you…”
Bruce made the two steps that separated them; his eyes meet Bagdana’s eyes and
Bruce took in the pleasure and relief all over the demon’s face.
“I didn’t want you to die…” he said and raised his hand, his fingertips
touching the other’s cheek.
Bagdana closed his eyes.
“I know…but there are many kinds of death and the worst kind was living all
these centuries after Lilith’s death…When I found you it was like I was born
again; as if the planet had just begun spinning, a new star in the universe.
Stopping Darkseid from killing you wasn’t death, even if my life was the
forfeit: I was happy that I managed to stop him.”
Bruce narrowed his eyes.
“Do not be sad for me, Bruce…for once let me not being the cause of suffering
for you. Feeling you alive will be the biggest happiness for a deplorable demon
like me…and maybe someday, in another world we’ll have our chance, to start
fresh…”
Bruce closed his eyes sorrow weighing on his body…
“Don’t be sad, Bruce…Life is beautiful, please remember that…” the demon
pleaded.
 Bruce couldn’t see anything beautiful in this life and this erosion all over
his body affirmed that loudly…but then he felt something beautiful wrapping his
tired, suffering existence; he opened his eyes.
A new figure he hadn’t seen again approached him: it was a woman; an elderly,
short woman dressed in a white, silver long tunic that sent the brightest light
around. Her wrinkled face though was brighter than her clothes and her waist
length blond hair radiated like pure gold. She smiled affectionately to him and
Bruce’s heart was filled with peace…
 
He opened his eyes reluctantly feeling hands on his body; he was still in a fog
but he could say that this wasn’t a hostile touch.
Bruce blinked several times before shaking sleep off of his eyes and managing
to make the figure over him recognizable.
It was Dr. Strange dressed in a white medical robe so much unlike his usual
burgundy caped- self; however on his chest still hanged his peculiar medallion
and Bruce thought fondly of the Black Butterfly on his own chest that his
friends didn’t take off.
Dr. Strange was examining him, serious as in the battle. He was absorbed but he
turned his eyes to meet Bruce’s stare as soon as he realized that his patient
was awake.
“Did you have a nice sleep?”
“I did” Bruce answered “thanks to morphine and sedation” he added bitterly.
“You don’t like drugs, huh?”
Bruce smiled.
“No, but my life spins around them since I got free from Falcone…”
Stephen reflected the smile.
“I know how you’re feeling…for months after my accident I was on heavy
medication. But they are necessary for someone with your way of life” Bruce
cocked an eyebrow in obvious disagreement and Dr. Strange chuckled with the
man’s stubborness. “Your back got badly bruised when Darkseid shoved you to
that rock and some ribs cracked; the energy casts saved you from the worst but
eventually with the radiation from the omega beams the casts are deteriorating
your organism’s condition.”
“I understand.”
“The surgery is the only solution.”
“I am aware of that and you have my consent; if you want I can sign any
paperwork necessary” Stephen waved that out.
“We were thinking the possibility of asking from Superman…”
Bruce didn’t let him finish his phrase.
“No” he shook his head for emphasis “Superman has nothing to do with any of
this and I don’t want him involved.”
The doctor inhaled.
“But it would increase the odds of success.”
Bruce raised his eyebrows and locked eyes with him.
“No way, Dr. Strange” he said with conviction. “The operation will be performed
here or it won’t be performed at all!” he closed his eyes trying to catch his
breath.
Dr. Strange moved his hands to appease him.
“Please, Bruce, calm down. Everything will happen as you want.”
“Thank you.”
“Bruce, I was thinking about the ‘no magic thing’… The operation will be very
difficult, not to mention Darkseid’s energy’s residual effect – of course, Eir
and I tried to purge you of that but still I would prefer it if there was more
time for you to regain your strength and have a good rest. Given that we don’t
have that luxury, perhaps it would be better if we had magic at our arsenal…”
Bruce shook his head.
“No, Stephen. No magic even if my life depends on this.”
Dr. Strange huffed exasperated.
“Bruce, I understand that you want the operation to be performed under the same
conditions as for every other patient but the nature of your injuries is far
from normal. I can’t imagine that we will come across another patient with your
history and being directly exposed to Darkseid’s dark energy.”
“No magic, Stephen; we won’t violate the laws of nature.”
Stephen smiled.
“But you agreed to that when you asked my people and Jor El to diminish the
earthquakes’ magnitude…” he remarked pointedly.
Bruce tilted his head on the side.
“No; Bagdana and Darkseid violated the natural laws when caused that wave of
earthquakes; I asked from you to just restore the harmony.”
Stephen chuckled admitting his defeat.
“Nobody can’t catch you in anything, right?” he stopped chuckling. “I don’t
want to lose you, Bruce…”
Bruce smiled and shook his head.
“I assure you, Stephen that my agenda is full with things I have to do so dying
can’t be squeezed there…”
“Batman has always his contingencies, huh?”
“He definitely tries to…”
 
Selina was holding his hand so strong that it was on the verge of bruising.
Tony stood there pale, clearly upset while Alfred was tidying up the room
trying to hide his own distress.
The nurses who prepared him for the operation had just left the room and Dr.
Strange’s team had already taken their places in the operation room.
They had managed to procrastinate the surgery for two days trying with every
possible way to stop the energy casts from heating more so that Bruce’s
organism had the time to restore as much strength and stamina as possible. Yet
there was nothing that could stop the casts’ overheating.  So the second day
they decided that the operation couldn’t be delayed anymore otherwise the casts
would kill Bruce anyway.
Bruce stroked Selina’s hair and their eyes met.
“It will help if I promise that I will wake up? We passed so many things
together: we can’t be scared of this…” he looked up to Tony and Alfred. “I’ll
fight this as I did all my life: you don’t believe in me anymore?”
Alfred ran to him and took his other hand.
“Of course, Master Bruce!”
Bruce smiled.
“And you, Tony?”
The billionaire nodded morose and drained.
“I always do, littl’ guy…” he said in a hoarse voice so much unlike his. “But
you have to know that a huge collection of booze is waiting for me…Not to
blackmail you or anything…”
Bruce laughed and Tony hugged him.
 
Clark had returned to the Daily Planet the first day after the battle; his Ma
told him that she had asked a sick leave from Perry on his account. So he
walked in the common space with his colleagues as if nothing had happened.
He was touched being back to his routine; it seemed to him as if years had
passed from the last time he was there and from his last dispute with Lois.
Lois who constantly tried to reason with him.
He looked at her desk and she looked back like in the past before Ivy ruined
his life. Clark had grinned broadly breathing easier, feeling some of the
burden on his chest gone.
Of course, they didn’t act as they would like to not raise suspicions; they had
their chance to speak for everything after the working hours to the café they
used to go.
It was the third day after the battle and he still didn’t have any news from
Bruce; any sign. Also, Tony Stark was nowhere to be seen…
He was writing on his desktop computer about the world’s reactions after
Darkseid’s defeat; the planet was celebrating and Clark was happy to be back in
his humble desk that he thought that he would never see again. Yet his joy
wasn’t whole as his worry about Bruce bit him hard and chewed his mind.
All of a sudden and without any warning, his breath stopped and his heart lost
several beats; it was as if the sun had turned off robbing him from his energy.
 
“Use your damn magic!” Tony yelled at Stephen, his panicked voice towering the
frantic sound of the devices monitoring Bruce’s vitals. “You’re a magician! Do
it! He is dying! We’re losing him!”
The line on the screen was flat; and his heartbeats falling to zero. The
equipped with the latest medical technology blurred for Tony’s panicked eyes.
He was glaring at Strange but the corner of his eye was fixed on Bruce’s opened
back.
Dr. Palmer raised her eyes from their patient and looked at Tony.
“Mr. Stark, you don’t help that way!”
But Tony didn’t let Stephen out of his eyes.
“Use your magic, you useless conjurer!”
Leslie stood in front of him.
“Tony, calm down.”
“No, I won’t calm down, Leslie! I’m losing Bruce and he is refusing to do his
mumbo jumbo to bring him back while he can! He’s killing him!”
Stephen looked him in the eyes pushing his surgical glasses up.
“He made me promise that I won’t use any magic…whatever might happen…”
Tony frowned feeling his own surgical mask suffocating him.
“Wha…What?! That’s…No!” he shook his head. “I don’t care! You’re his surgeon:
it’s your mistake! You’re obligated to save him!”
Dr. Strange gritted his teeth behind the surgical mask.
“You don’t let me!” he hissed and Tony looked at him dumbfounded.
Leslie showed him the door of the operation room.
“Tony, you’re not helping!” he couldn’t see her eyes behind the surgical
glasses but he could sense the sparkles. “Let us do our job…Out!”
Tony’s heart was beating in his ears exactly as the monitor with Bruce’s
vitals; he felt as if he was in a numbing dream…nightmare. Like walking in
jelly…He left the room hearing the echo of Dr. Strange’s calm instructions to
his team and the sound of charging.
As soon as he reached the waiting room he tossed away his glasses and his mask
cursing.
The people waiting outside rushed at him.
“What’s going on?” Selina asked.
Pepper looked Tony in the eyes.
“What happened, Tony?”
Alfred’s eyes met Tony’s.
“His heart…” Tony answered and had to inhale to continue “stopped. He is been
butchered in that fuckin’ room already ten hours! He couldn’t endure it
anymore…” his head dropped. “Littl’ guy…”
Pepper gulped and hugged him bringing his trembling head to her chest hushing
him.
Alfred felt his legs not supporting him anymore; Lucius helped him sat in a
chair.
“At least, the boys are not here…” he mumbled his face getting paler with each
second. His insides were crying with pain but he was so shocked, so devastated
that he couldn’t even let his pain out. “It just can be…” he whispered; after
everything…losing again Master Bruce…
Lucius gulped.
Selina’s eyes stayed still and her breath stopped. She was ready to collapse
but there was no way she would let that happen. The world spun around her.
Steve who was there with him hugged her brushing her back.
“He’ll make it, Sel; Bruce is a winner…”
Selina fixed her wild eyes on him.
“Of course he will! He promised me!” she spat.
 
Clark got up and hurried outside the room without knowing why he was doing
that; maybe because he needed air.
He heard hurried steps; Lois had followed him worried.
“Are you alright?”
“No; something happened; Bruce…”
Lois stared at him confused.
“You located him?”
“No, I can’t hear his vitals.”
“Then how do you know that something happened?”
“Because my insides are frozen…because it feels like the planet has stopped
moving…the sun’s light darkened.”
Lois pressed her lips.
“Elliot attacked the Manor but they said that Bruce wasn’t even there so he
wasn’t hurt.”
Clark gulped. Lois didn’t know the feats Bruce had done; feats that definitely
had their toll.
“They must have tried to operate him” he said seeing again Darkseid throwing
Bruce in the air sending him to crush on a huge rock. And then the omega beams
Bagdana took instead…
 All these had forced them to speed the operation.
“Why they didn’t tell me?” he yelled in despair and anger but Lois gestured to
him to hush in case someone was close. “I would have given them the Fortress to
perform the operation! He would have been safe there! Damn it! Stark, your
hatred is killing him!”
Lois met his distraught, crazy eyes.
“Maybe it was Bruce’s choice…” she said softly and Clark closed his eyes.
She was right. He hid his face in his palms.
“It’s my fault…” he whispered.
 
Leslie watched Stephen’s desperate efforts to revive Bruce. They had turned him
on his back; they were too absorbed in their efforts but her eyes were on her
boy’s pale face. Something shone trapped in his eyelashes…Leslie closed her
eyes realizing it was a teardrop.
She leaned to his ear.
“C’mon, baby…this is not the time to remember the bad things…I know that life
has treated you with painful moments but…there are beautiful moments to
remember too…we are waiting for you, Bruce: all your loved ones…and…and life is
ahead of you promising happiness…you must live, Bruce; you have so many things
to live, to enjoy…Please…”
A girl sat in a wheelchair approached him: she was hardly eleven years old with
blond short hair and light blue eyes. She looked at Bruce shyly.
“I’m Lucy” she said and Bruce smiled.
“Hi, Lucy; I’m…”
“Bruce Wayne” she cut him. “I saw you on TV – I spend many hours with TV all
these months staying on bed.”
Bruce nodded.
“I know how that is, Lucy…”
The girl smiled and nodded, she was hugging a doll from the gifts that Santa
had given them.
“My mother says that some people hurt you so much that you almost died; and
that the wounds they made you…fixed you to a wheelchair like me” she said
shyly, her pale cheeks becoming pink.
Bruce pressed his lips and nodded; the girl stretched her hand to Bruce and he
took it.
“What happened to you, Lucy?” he asked quietly.
“I was crossing the street and a car hit me: it didn’t hurt much because
everything darkened…Mom told me when I woke up that I was sleeping for a
month….”
Bruce closed his eyes.
“You are a very brave girl, Lucy…Your parents must be proud.”
Lucy touched his cheek; her eyes were filled with compassion.
“They tortured you, right? I heard that they were hurting you when you were a
kid…for years…and now other bad people hurt you more…you have suffered so
much…”
Bruce smiled to the girl.
“They did…but thanks to my friends I’m here now – I was saved.”
The girl looked at him conspiratorial.
“You bought the presents, right?”
Bruce looked up at Alfred and then back at the girl pouting.
“Let’s say that I reminded Santa that there’s a children hospital in Gotham; he
has so many things to do that sometimes he needs some reminding. A friend told
me that when I was almost at your age.”
“Doctors say that it’d be too difficult to walk again…and” she licked her lips
lowering her eyes. “I know that I won’t walk ever again but they just try to
encourage me…”
Bruce inhaled carefully to not let the girl know his sadness. But her little
eyes that shone like gems as she looked back at him made his heart melt.
“I know that I won’t dance ever again…”
“You dance, Miss Lucy?” Alfred asked warmly.
She smiled to him.
“I was leaving the ballet school to daddy’s car on the other side of the road
when the car hit me…” she grinned and hugged tighter her new doll. “I know that
I won’t dance but I don’t tell mom and dad because I want them to believe that
I believe them.”
“You are a very brave girl, Lucy…” Bruce said in a throaty voice.
She smiled and touched his cheek with the spontaneity of the children.
“Sometimes I get sad but then I think everything I heard about you; how much
you suffered but you never gave up and…and I feel that everything will be
alright even if I don’t walk again ever …because I have my mommy and daddy with
me and doctors who love me…and…and I’d never be alone while you…you were just a
kid in pain and you were all alone but you never stopped fighting…”
 “You’ll walk again, Lucy: I’ll do everything in my power for you to walk
again” Bruce told her keeping his eyes closed. “I’m not supposed to walk ever
again too but my friends are working hard to find the way to help me walk
again…It’d be hard, Lucy, but I’ll do it because you…your bravery would give me
strength and courage and inspiration to walk again so that you would be the
next. And I promise you that in your first performance I’ll be there in the
theatre to applaud and get your autograph…If you remember me till then among
your countless fans” he chuckled.
The girl’s cheeks were drenched in tears when she looked at Bruce but a wide,
happy smile brightened her round, sweet face.
“I know you’ll make it, Bruce…” she said and leaned to place a kiss to his
cheek.
He had to make it for Lucy’s sake; because Lucy believed in him and she
deserved to have her life back. If he survived the surgery and walked again
then Lucy would walk again; and dance…
 
“Can you feel this?” Dr. Strange’s deep baritone asked.
He couldn’t see the needle piercing lightly his foot and his doctor’s inquiring
eyes but he could feel that tickling: in his legs!
Everyone was looking at him with agony: Selina, Tony, Alfred, Pepper, the boys,
even Hero had stilled his eyes on him.
“I do; a needle stabbing my foot” he said casually as if he hadn’t almost died
during the surgery and it didn’t take a week for him to wake up; as if that
tiny tickle wasn’t what he was dreaming and craving all this time.
His people’s faces brightened but Leslie remained composed.
“Which leg?” she asked firmly locking eyes with him because he wanted to make
sure that her patient wasn’t just trying to satisfy them.
Bruce stared at her and felt everyone’s eyes on him; he inhaled.
“The right.”
“Fuck, yeah!” Jason shouted.
Both he and Dick jumped on him but Hero caught up with them on getting on Bruce
who smiled and patted the boys.
“Careful, boys” Leslie said sternly “you’re going to suffocate him.”
The two boys pulled away sharing embarrassed looks. But then it was Selina’s
and Tony’s turn to hug their friend.
Leslie rolled her eyes and Bruce looked at the boys.
“You see why you were berated? It was a trick!”
Alfred stared touched and happy at his young master and Bruce feeling that
affection met his butler’s eyes grinning.
The Englishman nodded without speaking and Bruce understood that it was the
man’s emotion that robbed him from his usual eloquence. Alfred walked to Dr.
Strange and shook his hand.
“Congratulations, Dr. Strange. I’m grateful to you.”
The man’s face radiated from relief and satisfaction.
“Thank you, Alfred, but it was Bruce’s strength that drove us to the victory –
oh! I sound like speaking about the Frozen Basin battle…”
Alfred chuckled and patted Leslie’s upper arms.
“And congratulations to you too, Leslie.”
She shook her head.
“I didn’t do much…” she answered.
Tony ruffled Bruce’s hair.
“You scared us in there, buddy.”
“Us?” Pepper asked with an eyebrow cocked and a crooked smile on her face.
Tony scratched his head.
“Me” he admitted crooking his mouth.
“He pissed his pants!” Selina said dryly and Tony glared at her.
“You owe someone something, Mr. Stark” Pepper said showing with his eyes Dr.
Strange.
Tony pouted remembering how he had yelled at him in the operating room; he
didn’t speak to the doctor for several days and even till now they exchanged
very few words.
He got up and gave his hand to Stephen.
“I’m sorry for yelling at you like this…I could have yelled at you in another
way, I suppose…”
Stephen laughed.
“You don’t need to apologize, Tony; I understand – I’d have done the same thing
in your place.”
Tony turned his body to address everyone in the room.
“Well, once Bruce is out of here you’re all invited to the biggest party Tony
Stark ever gave! Your entire team too, Dr. Strange.”
Bruce smiled to Tony’s cheerful eyes staring at him yet his insides were
clenched: he had feeling from his legs but he couldn’t move them. He had tried
without anyone noticing.
He comforted himself thinking that perhaps it was the drugs’ effect that
thwarted him.
***** Chapter 91 *****
Chapter Notes
     Well, this chapter was difficult maybe because it was the last for
     this story. I don't know if the chapter is good enough, I hope it is.
     I'd like to thank all of you for reading, leaving kudos or
     commenting. Thank you for being with me throughout this long journey.
     I hope you enjoyed it!
It was the first time Selina left the new rehabilitation clinic Tony had built
after Bruce’s surgery; the entire week till he woke up she stayed there,
unwilling to leave his side. Fortunately, Tony had provided to include a
beautiful, comfy hostel for the patients’ companions. She was afraid to be far
from her friend.
Steve was coming often but he had also work in the Tower where they were still
in vigilance in case the Female Furies that Darkseid mentioned attack the
planet even if their leader was defeated. It seemed though that Darkseid’s
humiliating defeat took them back to Apokolips as well.
They used Steve’s bike to return to the city and after the fatigue of all these
days they chose to stay in Selina’s apartment and eat the pizza they picked on
the way.
However the first thing Selina wanted to do upon entering her apartment was a
bath: not that the hostel’s room didn’t have a bathroom yet nothing is like
home. Especially, when in the bath tub you have the company of a naked Steve
Rogers…
She had the chance to appreciate Steve’s pectorals and abs now that she was
happy that Bruce regained his leg’s feeling. And Steve was really happy that
she was happy since that led to the first lovemaking after long.
But it was definitely worth the waiting…
Selina had already worn her night gown and helped Steve wear his pajama shirt.
“There’s no need for that” he said kissing her lips.
 But Selina instead of buttoning the shirt uncovered his injured shoulder that
was wrapped in gauze. She kissed the spot.
“With Bruce’s surgery, I neglected you.”
He laughed.
“I couldn’t feel that! How about kissing a little upper?”
He lowered his face so that his lips met hers in a soft kiss that swiftly
became passionate, taking away the breath from both of them.
“It was great fighting with Catwoman at my side…” he said playing with a stray
lock from her hair.
Selina cocked her eyebrows and pursed her lips.
“You had Ms. Romanov…”
He cocked an eyebrow.
“Fighting with Natasa is just teamwork between comrades and friends. On the
other hand, when you punch and kick enemies near me and I know that this
gorgeous, lethal body which gives pain to the others, gives pleasure to me…it’s
pure arousal…” his voice had become a sexy whispering and he began nibbling her
neck that she bent to enjoy more contact.
“Soldier, I never expected to hear that kind of language from you…” she shook
her index finger patronizingly. “A good boy like you can’t talk like this to a
lady…”
“Mmm…but this good boy likes to tell always the truth…So do you mind?”
“Of course not! Especially since I felt the same way…” she wrapped her arms
around his torso and threw off of him the shirt she just helped him wear. “Oh!
I love these pectorals – and now with the bruises and scars…” she placed her
lips on his chest sucking the strong flesh.
But then abruptly stopped and tilted her head on the side.
“Ummm…nah…you’re injured: I don’t know if you’d bear it…”
Steve frowned and grabbed her from the waist to hug her torso.
“What do you think?”
She laughed.
“Now without jokes” she said seriously. “How’s your wound?”
“It’s just a scratch: Odin diverted the beams with his axe before they reached
me and the wound was completely superficial despite the fact it pained and
thwarted me to use my arm. However Dr. Strange cleaned it meticulously from any
dark energy. Batman though… He was too close to the beams’ radiation even if
the demon took the blow. I hope Dr. Strange finds and helps him.”
Selina nodded.
“Me, too but now for me the important thing is that Bruce’s surgery succeeded
and he feels again his legs. And my Captain is alright and all aroused from the
battle” she said slyly and frowned “at least I hope so…”
“Do you need me to show you?”
Selina pouted thoughtful.
“But we’re hungry and pizza is waiting…” she said teasingly.
Steve hugged her and brought them both on her bed.
“I’m hungrier for you…besides pizza won’t go anywhere.”
Selina chuckled.
“I love boys with rational thinking!” she said and discarded swiftly her white,
short night gown.
 
“I’m sorry for your people who died at the battle” Bruce said really sad.
He was on his bed in reclined position and Thor sat on the chair next to the
bed; he was in his civilian attire.
“They were noble warriors, ready to die for the right cause” he answered
reverently. “It is a pity Asgard lost them and they are honored and mourned by
all of us but Valkyries have transferred them to Valhala.”
Bruce looked at him.
“We wouldn’t have won without Asgard’s help.”
Thor grinned.
“Believe me, Asgard is proud that participated to Darkseid’s defeat” he met
Bruce’s eyes. “But we owe everything to you: without you we’ll have lost being
attacked by Darkseid without any preparation – Earth would have been doomed.”
Bruce cocked an eyebrow.
“I just saved myself since I’m part of the human race.”
Thor leaned to him.
“How are you, Bruce? Really? Darkseid’s dark energy can contaminate  too close
to his beams.”
Bruce smiled.
“Is this why you asked Eir to treat me?”
The blond god knitted his eyebrows.
“How do you know?”
“In my sleep, I saw an elderly but beautiful woman who shone like a star: she
was saying words in an odd language…and made me feel a lot better.”
Thor nodded.
“She and Dr. Strange fought to remove from your body Darkseid’s contamination.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re alright now – that’s enough for me.”
Bruce pressed his lips.
“You’re too kind, Thor; too good and I feel guilty” the blond narrowed his eyes
and Bruce chuckled. “I feel that I’m taking advantage of you; taking everything
you generously offer without giving anything…”
The god tilted his head and cupped Bruce’s hand on the bed.
“You give me far too much, Bruce, with your friendship. I’m honored and happy
that I’m one of your friends. Besides, you believed in Loki and made him fight
for a noble cause. He saved my father’s life from Darkseid: I love Loki and
thanks to you I can be proud of him.”
Bruce smiled.
“Loki has good in him but…he is…eccentric. He needed a little push to show what
he is really capable of.”
Thor shook his head and his baby blue eyes met Bruce’s.
“I hope that soon you will come again to Asgard for recreational reasons this
time.”
 
Clark Kent stood at the pavement facing the Avengers’ Tower. Two weeks after
the battle of Frozen Basin the imposing skyscraper was still surrounded by
reporters asking questions to every person they saw entering or leaving the
building. Obviously, their aim was to get the chance to catch a big fish, one
of the Avengers but they heroes knew how to avoid the press.
However he wasn’t a common reporter; his super senses helped him recognize the
vitals of his fellow superheroes even if they were disguised. And today he came
to New York looking for one specific Avenger. Not for journalistic purposes but
for something more important.
He walked around the area for hours waiting with his heart drumming in agony
and impatience. It wasn’t sure that he would find him here even if his reporter
sources informed him that he was seen to a rescue in New York.
His body tensed sensing the vitals he waited for hours but he didn’t rush to
him. Because his target didn’t know his human identity and Clark didn’t want to
reveal it. So he followed him keeping a safe distance since his long distance
vision allowed him to see his target from afar and among people.
The Avenger was dressed in jeans and a plain T-shirt which managed to cover a
bit his bulky, imposing body – the brown cap on his head and his long blond
ponytail definitely didn’t let anyone guess who he was. He was heading to the
Batery Park which made Clark’s hair stood on edge as this Park was connected
with his biggest crime of all.
It seems that the park was one of the favorite places for the Avenger. Clark
felt a familiar pang: of course he met Bruce here…He almost slapped himself to
stop these thoughts from poisoning him. Enough evil he had done manipulated
from such stupid thoughts.
The Avenger chose to walk to a really secluded part of the Park where the oak
trees were too thick and shed everything under their shadow. That gave Clark
the chance to change into Superman to approach him.
“Thor…” he greeted the god who turned frowning.
“Superman; to what do I owe the honor?”
The Asgardian had some idea about what brought Superman to him and as a matter
of fact he wasn’t happy about that. Clark wasn’t sure if there was irony in his
voice but even if Thor really scorned him, he deserved that.
“I’m sorry if I bother you.”
Thor waved that off. The change in Superman’s manner was evident.
“Not at all…How can I help?”
Superman approached more.
“It’s about Bruce” he saw Thor instantly tensing and raised his palms
reassuringly. “I won’t ask you to tell me where he is.”
Though it was a temptation since Clark could see in the god’s eyes that he knew
where Bruce was. Actually, that was the reason Clark chose to speak to him: he
was sure that Thor was welcome to Bruce’s inner circle – the Asgardian had
earned that – and also Thor knew about his past relationship with Bruce so
Bruce’s wish to keep it secret wouldn’t be betrayed.
“He doesn’t want me to know so he obviously is somewhere with a lot of lead to
stop me from locating him which I perfectly understand after everything I did
to him.”
Thor yanked his head.
“Then?”
Clark gulped.
“It’s two weeks since they operated Bruce.”
Thor stayed expressionless without confirming or denying that. He wasn’t sure
if he had the right to share that information.
“If you can’t locate him then how can you say that?”
Clark lowered his eyes.
“Because Darkseid hit him badly and then his omega beams emitted radiation that
must have contaminated him. Also, the energy casts that held Bruce’s together
was of Kryptonian technology, made in my Fortress, so when they removed them I
was aware of it. But most important” he locked eyes with the god “at some
point, I felt that he…he was dying: his heart bent under the weight of
exhaustion, hardship and the operation’s trial” he didn’t want to share every
detail of what he experienced.
The Asgardian was impressed by the connection that still existed between Bruce
and Superman; even after everything that happened.
“You said that you can’t hear his vitals…”
“I sensed it…It was like the sun lost his light and warmth; like the earth
stopped spinning” he shook his head. “Anyway…I know that he finally made it…”
he chuckled “Bruce is a mighty fighter.”
Thor gazed the horizon, the harbor cast into the pale pink color of the
advanced sunset. He was feeling Superman’s agony and knew that was real; he
felt for the man imagining how he would have felt if he was deprived of
information about someone he cared about.
“What do you want from me then?” he asked dryly because still he wavered
whether he should share his knowledge.
Clark could understand that Thor was skeptical and hesitant to trust him; the
Asgardian didn’t want to betray and lose Bruce’s trust: who in his right mind
would want that? He didn’t want to press him but without his will his eyes
almost pleaded.
“Lack of oxygen can cause damages to humans…is Bruce…?”
Clark didn’t intend to let his agony hue his voice yet it was two weeks since
then and all these days his agony was accumulating and now became a wave that
broke his barriers.
Thor looked at him with sympathy and nodded.
“Do not worry. He is fine” he didn’t give him details but at least he comforted
his agony.
Superman closed his eyes and breathed relieved.
 
Bruce looked at the steel, horizontal bar in the facilities’ gym; he was there
on his wheelchair ready to start walking again…at least, trying. Why that
thought even crossed his mind? He should have been thrilled to be there, to
finally begin walking again.
Tony, Selina and Dr. Strange with Matt were there too and Bruce could see the
eagerness in their eyes.
However, Bruce’s hands were clenched in fists and his breath was laborious even
if he hid it. He was afraid of that bar… and that made him even more nervous
because this wasn’t logical; this wasn’t like him…
He raised his eyes to see Matt who kneeled to put the exoskeletons to his legs.
They would start slowly with the exoskeletons easing his effort and then
gradually as walking with the exoskeletons would become natural, they would
remove the exoskeletons as well.
Bruce knew what they expected from him and brought his chair close to the bar.
Selina squatted by his chair’s side and cupped his hand on the armrest.
“I know you’d like someone else with you this moment…” she whispered and her
eyes were filled with sympathy.
Bruce met his eyes and smiled.
“I have all the people I want…”
“I’d be extremely happy when I’ll smash that awful chair once you’re standing
on your feet.”
Even the distant echo of that voice made his body shiver and his mind numb… He
saw Clark beaming as he lowered him gently to the astonishingly beautiful
wheelchair he had made for him.
A heavy stone crushed his chest and this damned fatigue washed again his
body…and his brain. He had no mood to even try to walk though he knew that he
should; it felt as if he was completely drained like the remnants of the
Parademons the TV stations showed the government agents gathering from the
battlefield.
But his friends were waiting worried from his delay.
He grabbed the bar and inhaled deeply to suppress every negative thing he had
inside; he shouldn’t let them mess with him especially now.
He clenched his jaw and jerked his body like he was easily doing before the
surgery to move his body from the bed to the wheelchair. Only this time he
would stay up, on his feet.
Everyone was watching avidly.
Bruce managed to balance his body and stay up with his hands clenching the bar
and the exoskeletons helping. Now that he was standing, he  had just to move
his feet into making a small step; it shouldn’t be so hard: he had done more
difficult things with his mind’s power.
“Don’t do what are you thinking, buddy” Tony said warning without revealing the
mind power part because Matt didn’t know.
“The movement must be normal, Bruce” Stephen added.
Bruce inhaled and made to move his foot in front of the other – no mental
power. It must happen normally…Like a baby’s first step…
But the damn leg didn’t move; he tried to galvanize his will into continuing
but he realized that there wasn’t any will to power his determination.
“…the moment you’ll be healed, I swear to Rao that you won’t get out of our
greenhouse for two months!”
His legs began trembling and he was falling.
Two strong arms held him from the armpits and supported him. A flash passed his
mind: two crystal blue eyes filled with love and a smile filling him with
strength and courage… But now there was no strength in him.
His eyes met the carbon eyes of Tony; his friend’s fear written all over.
“I can’t…” Bruce mumbled the only word he never before uttered.
Selina ran to hold him too while Stephen and Matt chose to not intrude.
“I’m sorry” Bruce said to his friends looking at them with guilt “I just…can’t
move my legs…”
Tony gulped.
“It’s alright, buddy…don’t…don’t worry.”
Selina nodded and stroked Bruce’s back and Tony brought him to the chair but
Bruce shook his head determined.
“I’ll try again…” he couldn’t just give up even though his entire existence was
crying to him that he should let go.
Tony looked at Stephen and Matt. They both nodded.
You should make it…Bruce told to himself. You can’t disappoint them…you can’t
give up…
He grabbed again the bar but this time his legs slipped immediately after he
left his chair. Both Selina and Tony caught him before he was hurt and sat him
in the chair.
He was panting; not looking anyone in the eyes. But Selina found his eyes.
“It’s okay, sweetie…It’s only the beginning… don’t be discouraged.”
“It’s far too early” a determined female voice echoed in the enormous gym.
Everyone looked to the entry where Leslie and Alfred had just entered. Alfred
hurried his steps to his young master muffling him in the cardigan he held.
“You should give yourself some time, sir” he said softly but Bruce didn’t even
look at him.
 
He didn’t go again to the gym; Bruce didn’t want to fail again so he wasn’t
willing to try because he wouldn’t make it. He felt it.
He agreed to go the other part of the gym to do only the exercices that was
doing before the operation; at least, he couldn’t fail doing them, could he?
However he bitterly realized that even that it was far more difficult than he
remembered and each time left him utterly exhausted to the point of not wanting
to go there again.
Matt was grinning encouraging to him all the time but Bruce could see the frown
hidden under his physiotherapist’s tranquility. He was realizing too that
something was terribly wrong.
At least, in the interior pool a pleasant surprise was waiting for him. Dick
and Jayson were already inside playing carefree. Hero ran around the pool
following them jerking annoyed whenever the boys sent water to him teasingly;
as soon as the kitten sensed Bruce’s arrival rushed to him climbing on his lap.
He was wearing his robe so he was spared the potential scratching from Hero’s
nails.
Bruce smiled feeling the animal’s paws and caressed him.
“You have grown up, huh, buddy?”
He looked up at Matt and nodded. He let down Hero and slipped from his
wheelchair in the water where the boys waited for him eagerly.
It was something very easy; every time swimming was a pleasure and the boys
swam away to give him space to swim since they knew how good he was in that.
The water felt so wonderful on his legs…he could feel the water’s soft
massaging vibrations on his muscles: how he had missed that feeling. His legs
overcoming the water’s resist.
But then the same exhaustion, the same emptiness washed his body and he was
sinking. He moved his hands but he realized that he couldn’t stay afloat.
“Bruce!” Dick and Jayson yelled together and rushed to hold one arm each
supporting him.
Matt dove immediately and held Bruce the way the lifeguards did. He could feel
that his patient was surrendered and he could hear his breath fainting. Bruce’s
head rolled to his shoulder.
Stephen ran inside; he was passing by and heard the boys and the kitten’s
hysterical meows. He helped Matt grasping Bruce from the armpits and pulling
him out of the water; the physiotherapist jumped outside and supported Bruce
too assisting Stephen to sit Bruce to the chair. The boys got out of the water
as well, shock on their faces and Hero licked Bruce’s trembling hands.
Dick squatted next to him.
“Bruce, are you alright?”
“Man, ya’re so pale…” Jason added.
Bruce looked at the boys; his heart was beating frenzied weakening more his
body. He wanted to sleep.
“I’m sorry for worrying you. I’m fine – I don’t know what happened” he said
trying to control himself to calm the boys.
Matt brushed Bruce’s frozen shoulder and muffled him in his bath robe.
“It was my fault, Bruce; it is too soon, I rushed things.”
Bruce shook his head.
“No, it wasn’t your fault…Swimming was so easy before the operation ” he said
dryly.
Stephen looked him in the eyes.
“Yes, but the surgery you underwent was a major feat, Bruce” he said with
conviction. “Your body is exhausted and needs time to regain its strength and
energy.”
Bruce didn’t answer and looked disheartened at the entrance where Tony was
coming. His friend frowned seeing them like this and ran.
“What happened? Bruce?”
Bruce inhaled and rubbed his aching forehead.
“Nothing…I just failed to swim…”
 
Huge crowds of people had gathered outside the White House where the ceremony
for the Frozen Basin’s battle was taking place. Thousands civilians had
gathered there along with representatives of every country to pay tribute to
the Asgardians and the Amazons.
The UN’s General Secretary spoke first and then several Presidents and Prime
Ministers. And then Captain America spoke representing the earth’s heroes who
were there. Superman was asked to speak too though he felt that he didn’t
deserve that. But since he had the chance, he gazed at the people in the crowd
feeling everyone’s eyes separately on him.
“Like everyone who spoke before me has already done, I want also to express my
gratitude to our allies: the noble, brave warriors of both Asgard and
Themyscirra. They fought at our side bravely shedding their blood and their
lives so that our planet won’t be destroyed by Darkseid. I want to thank
Princess Diana and Queen Hippolyta of Themyscirra; Odin and Thor of Asgard for
chosing to stand at our side during this time of extreme need. The General
Secretary and the representatives of the planet stated their peoples pledge to
forge eternal ties of friendship and alliance. But I, Superman, am
representating only myself so I can express my personal gratitude and loyalty
to the proud people of Asgard and Themyscirra and promise to be always at their
side…”
Bruce watched the ceremony in the built-in the wall 46’’ TV. He felt the same
internal jolt seeing Superman standing in the podium: beautiful, unscathed,
strong so much unlike when he found him in Mannheim’s Mansion. Humble again
with his eyes filled with benevolence as he gazed at the people; At least, this
nightmare was over.
Superman looked at the reporters gathered.
“Now I’d like to speak about someone whose contribution wasn’t enough
appreciated. I refer to Batman…He was the only one who figured Darkseid’s plan
and organized our defence and counterattack so that no civilian lives were
jeopardized; he was the one who discovered Darkseid’s weaknesses that led to
his defeat; he was the one who brought all the heroes together to fight for the
ultimate common cause. He risked his life; he sacrificed more than anyone can
imagine” he inhaled deeply. “He saved my life…”
Bruce clapped his hands frustrated shutting the TV set. He was on his bed, in
his hospital room, sitting with his back on the inclined headboard. He was cold
so he wore his warm nightrobe over the hospital’s gown.Three weeks had passed
since his operation and he hadn’t managed to walk or even reach his physical
condition before the surgery.
His Cosmos vibrated on the nightstand. He answered the call: it was Lucius who
informed him that he had made the necessary procedure so that Ms. Elliot’s
clinic would from now on be paid by Bruce exactly as Bruce had asked; also,
that a wreath was sent to Kelly Robinson’s funeral again as Bruce instructed.
He thanked him and let the Cosmos in its place.
His body felt drained and it drove him crazy. That exhaustion didn’t subside
even a bit nor his mood changed. He pressed his lips: he could imagine Darkseid
in his planet cackling satisfied because his omega beams might have not killed
Batman but definitely contaminated him with Darkseid’s malevolence and all the
darkness he wanted to spread to the world.
He shouldn’t let him win Bruce thought and ran his hands through his hair. Yet
his legs or his body didn’t seem willing to cooperate. He rubbed his thighs: he
could feel perfectly but he couldn’t move.
An idea crossed his mind… He could always use the Immortality Water yet… A sigh
left his mouth. No, that solution was crossed out. No way! He would never
resort to the means Ra’s Al Ghul used. He had to make it himself or rot in this
chair.
The birds’ cheerful song from outside made him realize that the world out of
his window was completely strange to him; thankfully, the curtains that covered
the big window at the right of his bed were thick and didn’t let him see the
landscape.
Polite knocks on the door; certainly, Alfred.
“Come in” he said taking his nonchalant expression.
But Alfred wasn’t persuaded. He immediately noticed the warm night robe and the
thick curtains that stopped spring from entering his master’s world.
He left the tray he was carrying on the night stand; he brought Bruce’s lunch.
Alfred couldn’t let anyone else take care of his young master, especially now
that he sensed the youth so distressed. So he used the facilities kitcen to
cook for Bruce.
“I’m not hungry, Alfred.”
Alfred pressed his lips. All these days he was watching his young master trying
fruitlessly to walk and getting disappointed, disheartened, loosing his
courage. Dr. Strange and Leslie with Master Anthony and Lucius contucted every
kind of tests and analyses to discover what went wrong with the implants and
the procedure; but everything was as it should. The problem resided inside
Master Bruce and had to do with what Darkseid did to him.
After the battle Bruce was always pale and tired so much so that he was forced
to sleep even though his intention was to hide his exhaustion. But the worst
was the youth’s eyes: when other people were around, Bruce managed to make his
eyes seem like before but when he thought that nobody watched him and let his
guard down, his beautiful eyes were blank, lifeless, bereft of their familiar
light. Alfred’s hair stood on edge every time he saw his eyes because they were
like the day he had gone to Dolcetto and found little Bruce cruelly abused.
“This is quite obvious, sir: you have lost weight and you know that this is not
good for your recovery.”
Bruce discerned his butler’s agony and huffed.
“Fine, I’ll have some.”
Alfred grinned and placed the bed table over Bruce’s legs; he placed the tray.
Bruce began eating and Alfred turned to the window to give him some space. He
knew that his young Master was eating only to please him. The bitterness and
sorrow inside him choking everything.
“It’s a wonderful day, sir.”
“I’m sure…” Bruce answered indifferently feeling inside the urge to snap that
he didn’t give a fucking damn. But it wasn’t Alfred’s fault he was feeling like
this.
Alfred turned to look at him.
“Would you like to explore a bit the grounds after you finish your meal, sir?”
he asked avoiding using ‘to take a walk’ that first came to his tongue.
Bruce’s chest ached from Alfred’s effort to lighten his mood yet he didn’t want
to be outside.
“No, Alfred; I prefer to stay here and have a nap” it was true; he was
extremely tired all the time. Sleep was the most desirable thing to do.
“As you wish, sir” Alfred bowed slightly his head. “Are you cold?” he inquired
swallowing his misery: all these years, Master Bruce encouraged himself but now
that the youth’s reserves quivered, he had to do it. “Do you want me to
increase the room’s temperature?”
Bruce shook his head in denial.
“I’m done” he said looking at his food and Alfred took it off his legs.
“Alfred, don’t be sad. I might not be able to walk again but I’m satisfied that
Batman would be capable to do his job” he smiled reassuringly. “And the surgery
was successful even though I didn’t manage to walk so many people will benefit
from that.”
“Sir, if I may, I’m quite sure that you will walk again soon. But you need to
rest and relax. In your very young life you never gave up and always found a
way to prevail despite the opposite odds. So I’m sure that you will make it
this time too… You have learnt better than anyone that patience is necessary
for success and you are the one who knows perfectly to use patience to his
advantage. I implore with you, sir, do not let disappointment stop you.”
Bruce lowered his gaze thoughtful.
Knocks on the door again. Alfred frowned: it wasn’t the time for the doctor’s
visit and they didn’t expect anyone.
“Come in” Bruce said though he would prefer to sleep.
Alfred huffed shocked seeing the visitor; Bruce was also surprised that he came
there but not shocked seeing him.
Oliver Queen walked inside.
“I’m sorry if I’m bothering you. I can leave and come some other time if you
want.”
“No, not at all” Bruce said. “Please have a seat.”
Queen smiled and sat on the chair by Bruce’s bed.
“I spoke to Mr. Stark first and he was kind enough to give me the permission to
come. Of course, he was rather indecisive and I understand that for him as for
you I am probably a surprise rather unpleasant.
Bruce shook his head.
“But I wanted to speak to you, Mr. Wayne.”
Alfred cleared his throat.
“If you’ll excuse me, I must take the tray back to the kitchen” he said and
took the tray; Bruce nodded.
“I want to thank you, Mr. Wayne” Oliver said as soon as they were alone.
“I don’t understand” Bruce feigned ignorance.
Queen leaned to him.
“You persuaded Bagdana to free me…without killing me.”
Bruce rubbed his forehead.
“Mr. Queen, you make a mistake…”
Oliver shook his head.
“The demon freed my body but some things were left behind. Skills and abilities
I didn’t have before…Memories of his discussions with you: your request to him
to let me free” Bruce pressed his lips. “Knowledge” he added pointedly meeting
Bruce’s eyes “of your secret.”
Bruce narrowed his eyes and pretended surprise.
“My…secret? I don’t understand.”
“That you are the Batman…”
Bruce chuckled.
“This isn’t truth; some things must have been comfused in your memories.”
But Queen raised his palms reassuringly.
“Your secret is safe with me, Mr. Wayne. You saved my life and I’m grateful so
the least I can do is honor your secret. And although you are younger from me,
I’d like to ask your help.”
He arched his eyebrows.
“My help?”
“You know that Bagdana was the Arrow. Well, lately I realized that the demon’s
skill in archery remained to my body: I can do things I couldn’t – I’m strong
and skilled with the bow” he pursed his lips “and I want to continue the
Arrow’s action fighting crime. Your guidance will be valuable for me…if of
course you want.”
Bruce turned his focus inside him for a second.
“I don’t know if I can offer you the guidance you ask, Mr. Queen. But it’s
admirable that you want to fight crime and I’m willing to assist you in any way
I can.”
Queen grinned.
“You are my inspiration…” he said “the memories of you that the demon left me
were fascinating.”
Bruce shook his head.
“I’m hardly an ispiration to anyone.”
“You are very modest but the reality is different. I was left with the
knowledge of everything you did to achieve Darkseid’s defeat…” he hesitated to
continue “also, I was left with the strong memory of a great love.”
Bruce felt his spine freezing and Queen moved his hands appeasingly.
“I didn’t want to upset you…I was hoping to continue the business collaboration
you signed with Bagdana and…maybe, we can be friends?”
Bruce nodded thoughtful.
“I guess we could do that…”
Queen smiled.
“Thank you, Mr. Wayne. And I’m sure you will walk again very soon. I know you
will!”
Bruce grinned and took the hand Queen offered him for a cordial handshake.
“I’ll be better going now to let you rest” he said getting up. “I promised Mr.
Stark that I wouldn’t weary you. I hope we’ll talk again soon.”
“I’ll be happy too” Bruce answered and watched with mixed feelings the familiar
silhouette walking towards the door: he was satisfied that the real Oliver
Queen was alive and free but on the other hand he felt a bittersweet sadness
remembering the demon that chose to live as a mere human to approach him.
“Mr. Wayne” Oliver said opening the door “the day is beautiful: you should see
the world you saved in all its beauty” he grinned. “I think that the planet
tries to show to you his gratitude.”
 
It was so easy to sense Alfred’s happiness as he pushed gently the wheelchair
to the beautiful, tiled pathway to the flower field that surrounded the
facilities.
It was so easy to make Alfred happy… Bruce thought. It took only for him to ask
him to accompany him for an...exploration as his butler diplomatically put it
to not remind him his failure.
He wore his casual black jacket because as always after the battle his body was
cold. But the sight of the blooming nature made at least his heart warm. It was
afternoon but the sky was clear and the sun shone so sweet that made the blue
color dazzling. The field around the pathway was filled with various flowers
which various colors created random shapes. The natural perfumes were
intoxicating as they reached his nostrils with the light breeze.
Bees buzzed around and butterflies popped up from the flowers’ petals: despite
everything Ivy believed the nature seemed happy that humans were still there.
Bruce raised his eyes to watch some birds crossing the sky above him chirping
happily.
“It’s like the world is celebrating…” he said.
Alfred leaned to him.
“Thanks to you, Master Bruce.”
He shook his head.
“Please, Alfred, don’t say that. Too many people fought for this and some of
them died” he remembered the Asgardians and the Amazons who fell during the
battle.
Alfred pressed his lips nodding.
“But their sacrifice would have been in vein if you hadn’t planned everything
so perfectly.”
Suddenly, light running footsteps broke the scenery’s peace and Bruce turned to
see Dick and Jason rushing there; but it was Hero the first to reach him. The
kitten climbed on his lap and began licking his jaw making Bruce laugh loud for
the first time after long.
“At last, man! Ya left that depressin’ room” Jason exclaimed standing out of
breath with his hands clenching his waist.
“You need coming out every day, Bruce” Dick said squatting at his side. “I’ll
come every day with you if you want me.”
Jason gave him a light smack at the back.
“Don’t leave me out, ya sneaky dork!” Jason said and Alfred chuckled.
“You both have your school” Bruce answered smiling and Jason grimaced.
“Ugh! That school…Ya need to remin’ me of that every time, dude?”
Dick cackled but then looked seriously at Bruce as if a thought had crossed his
mind.
“You will walk again, Bruce.”
Bruce saw in the boy’s eyes the distress, the guilt, the regret.
“I hope you rot in that chair!”
He had yelled at him when he believed Bruce was his enemy and now Bruce could
see that Dick was haunted by what he had said.
He nodded.
“I will, Dick” he said with conviction to give some comfort to the boy.
The boys played around running, jumping with Hero at their heels and Bruce
watched happy. But after a while he raised his eyes to Alfred.
“Alfred, is it possible to be left alone for a bit?”
His butler’s relaxed expression changed a bit but he bowed his head stoically.
“Of course, Master Bruce.”
The Englishman gestured to the boys.
“Would you be so kind to help me with the dinner, young masters? Since we are
eating all together it should be something special.”
“All together?” Bruce asked.
“Ms. Turner and Todd, Harvey, Rachel and Mr. Petrou, Lucius and of course the
usual suspects: your personal gang.”
Bruce closed his eyes.
“I’m sure it will be wonderful as always.”
“Ya betca!” Jason said. “This hospital needs some brighten an’ since we’re the
only residents we can do whatever we want!”
Dick made to take Hero off from Bruce’s lap where the kitten had climbed again
but he resisted.
“Leave him, Dick” Bruce said caressing the animal.
When their footsteps distanced Bruce inhaled. His love for them dripped from
his heart but it pained him; he wanted to make them happy – their happiness was
his as well. He had to walk again; he had to overcome that exhaustion, that
coldness that numbed his body and his will. He couldn’t let Darkseid win now…
He guided his chair to the waist tall, wooden fence: Tony obviously wanted to
give an idyllic tone to the rehabilitation center that his friend revealed that
it would have the names of Tony’s parents. He let Hero down to chase a bee.
 He inhaled deeply and closed his eyes to concentrate. He grabbed the pole of
the fence and pushed his body up.
He was standing.
“No, mind power” he reminded himself “it must be natural.”
He moved his foot in front of the other and grinned taking in Hero leaving the
bee alone and fixing his eyes on him. Now, he moved carefully his other foot in
front of the other. Slowly…
…two blazing crystal blue eyes were watching him avidly sharing the same senses
through reading his brain waves.
For an instance, he was hesitant: he didn’t want to have his hopes crushed by a
failure…But life flooded his legs and flared his body. So he pressed his lips
determined, clenched his jaw and tightened his grasp to the armrests.
Clark jolted to hold him if he fell but Bruce cast him a sharp glare to stay at
a distance.
He could sense Clark holding his breath…
 Clark jerked in his place but didn’t intervene as Bruce slowly let go of the
armrests…standing…well, not very steady but it was amazing since he wasn’t
using an ounce of his mental power to assist his body.
He concentrated on his body and the shaking eventually stopped; Clark was
rasping now but Bruce didn’t look at him to not lose his focus. He inhaled
deeply and his eyes were sparkling in determination as he ordered his left foot
to move forwards. He felt Clark’s eyes stilling at his foot as if transferring
some of his insane power to the human limb; Superman was so tense that didn’t
smile when the foot settled an inch ahead. Neither did Bruce: he just
controlled his breath and ordered his right foot to go ahead the left.
A small step for a human, a huge step for Bruce… He smiled to himself
encouraged; his brow sleek with sweat; he staggered a bit and stretched his
arms for balance – Clark’s body resembled the body of a lion ready to attack
but not really attack but catch.
He had stability now and breathed: time for a second step. First the left then
the right. A faint smile carved his face and for the first time he turned his
eyes to Clark whose face was still tense with apprehension, a lump evident in
his throat.
Bruce moved again his feet to reach him enjoying how the beautiful body was
coming closer; he was inches from him and Clark was beaming – was right for
Superman to shed tears? Bruce didn’t want to see Clark crying even if it was
from joy…
…The floor left from his feet and Bruce after all this time wasn’t able to
retain his balance…he was falling and it felt awfully…
But then two unbelievably strong but simultaneously gentle arms caught him from
the armpits and suddenly the lack of floor didn’t feel terrifying but
thrilling. He was ascending to the sky – he was flying…
“I got you… I’ll always be the faster to catch you…” Clark’s face was touching
his and Bruce attacked his lips more aggressively, more enthusiastic than ever.
“Yeah, Bruce…” Superman whispered “you made it!”
But suddenly those soft, sweet lips were gone and the beautiful world was
upside down and his body was falling…
A whoosh and two strong arms took him gently from the armpits and set him again
on his feet.
Bruce didn’t need to see to know; he knew the body’s perfume, the breath, the
feeling of those hands, but most of all, his body was shaking, pleasantly
paralyzed. He turned swiftly and stabbed his angry eyes at the Man of Steel;
Bruce could discern his worry but also his joy for seeing him.
“What are you doing?! Don’t touch me!” he roared.
Clark’s eyes widened realizing what his touch must have reminded Bruce; the
same crime that haunted Clark. He grabbed the wheelchair and dragged it there
so that Bruce could sit without his help.
“I’m sorry…” he mumbled uncomfortable and pulled his hands. “I just saw you
falling and I thought that this would be bad for someone that had recently a
surgery so I…” he brushed his mouth. “I guess, I didn’t think it…”
Bruce shook his head and looked at Hero who hissed at Superman.
“It’s alright, Hero.”
Superman nodded.
“He is right to be aggressive; he is afraid for his human… He has grown up; he
thrives with you.”
Bruce could hear the guilt in Clark’s voice; a voice that was sweet and
sympathetic like before.
“What do you want?” he spat and Clark inhaled.
“I know that I’m unwelcomed.”
Bruce cocked his eyebrows and snorted.
“But you still came.”
“I wanted to see you…Tony Stark made the facilities so that I wouldn’t be able
to locate you and he was right…after everything I did to you.”
Bruce stabbed him with his eyes.
“What do you want?” he pointed every word separately.
Superman nodded lowering his eyes.
“To speak to you; to thank you…and as soon as I felt your vitals I…I couldn’t
hold myself. Unfortunately, I couldn’t ever do that to not hurt you…”
Bruce yanked his head.
“There is no need to thank me! Leave now!”
“There is…” he fell on his knees in front of Bruce who narrowed his eyes.
“What are you doing?”
Superman licked his lips.
“I should be on my knees for my entire life to thank you enough for everything
you did for my mother…and me…”
Bruce closed his eyes.
“I repeat: I don’t want your thanks. I did nothing.”
Superman chuckled.
“Oh! Bruce, I feel even more like a worm…I caused you so much suffering, I
insulted you, I treated you despicably, I cheated you and you never stopped
caring for me. Not only working constantly to save me but also supporting my
mother the way I didn’t… Forgive me, Bruce.”
Bruce turned his head to the other side away from him.
“I have nothing to forgive.”
Clark arched his eyebrows.
“There are so many awful, hideous things I did to you that, honestly, you
shouldn’t ever forgive a scum like me.”
Bruce looked at him.
“Stop that nonsense! You did nothing!”
Superman cocked an eyebrow.
“Under Ivy’s effect really I thought that I didn’t do anything wrong…but when
the effect was gone, when my mind cleared I realized what I did. In my cell,
they took care to deprive me from my super powers but my eidetic memory was
intact…” he pressed his lips. “The worst of my tortures was reliving in every
detail what I did to you…”
“Stop it!”
Superman gritted his teeth: he wouldn’t let Bruce’s generosity spare him.
“I hit you, Bruce!” Bruce’s eyes flashed. “I raped you, for Heavens’ sake!”
Superman bit his lips. “While I knew what you suffered all these years, I raped
you.”
Bruce inhaled, his heart stopped beating. All this time that he fought to save
Superman from Poison Ivy’s effect and Darkseid he dreaded this moment…He
dreaded that moment because he was afraid that he would bend…
“You didn’t. It happened with my consent – you must remember that I never asked
you to stop.”
Clark shook his head.
“Because you knew that I wouldn’t have stopped; because you didn’t want me to
become a rapist…but I am one, Bruce. I raped the purest being on the planet… I
want to confess everything to the police so that everyone knows the gravity of
my crimes to you.”
Bruce yanked his head.
“Are you nuts?” he growled.
“I deserve that, Bruce.”
“You want to force me admitting that I enjoyed it?”
Superman frowned.
“No, no, no…Bruce…”
“If you do such madness I’ll say that.”
Clark lowered his head, his guilt weighing over his shoulders.
“I would never do something that will hurt you…again. But I must be punished
and Darkseid’s tortures weren’t enough.”
Bruce narrowed his eyes watching him pulling out of his attire’s hidden pocket
a small box. The Man of Steel opened it, clenching his jaw and grunting as the
green radiation hit him.
It was Kryptonite.
Clark’s eyes met Bruce’s. Some sweat drops had already appeared all over
Clark’s forehead but he pressed his lips placing the green sharp stone on
Bruce’s lap.
“Now…Punch me, Bruce” he said. “Beat me to a pulp like I did to you that
night…kick me…take the stone and stab me countless times. Make me bleed like I
did to you…Bring justice on me!”
Bruce felt his head spinning; he? Causing pain to Clark? His angel? He gulped
and rubbed his forehead. Clark was watching him begging with his beautiful
eyes; craving to be punished, to be redeemed.
But Bruce couldn’t. He closed the box and immediately saw Clark regaining his
healthy color, the sweat drops vanishing. But Superman’s sadness was
overwhelming.
“Why?” he pleaded. “I deserve that…you have every right to do that…”
“You were under a powerful effect, spells and pheromons…it wasn’t your fault.”
Bruce gave him the box, snapped his head to the other side and then after a few
seconds he looked again at him.
“Is there anything else you wanted?” he said cold as ice. “Alfred and the boys
wait for me.”
Clark bit his lips. He could sense the coldness inside Bruce; the ice. He had
done that. He who promised Bruce that would heal the wounds…
“Darkseid didn’t die and he could attack again wanting revenge” he fixed his
eyes on Bruce: he could imagine whom the New God would want to punish. “And
there might be other dangers coming from the planet and outside. So we must be
in constant vigilance.”
Bruce crooked his lips and snorted.
“I thought we were.”
“The Avengers are not enough. My failure to keep my senses showed to me that we
need to cover each other constantly. All in all, I am forming a team with
heroes who fight for justice. The Justice League of America: Diana and Flash
have already joined.”
Bruce wasn’t impressed.
“Congratulations!” he spat. “Are you going to play rugby for charity with the
Avengers once a month?”
Clark sensed the sarcasm but smiled; Bruce was right to be like this with him –
he was making him a favor even allowing him to be in front of him.
“That’s a great idea! But it could work only if Batman is the referee. Are you
interested?”
Bruce inhaled deeply: he wanted this to end.
“Say what you have in mind.”
“Right. The Justice League will be incomplete without Batman.”
Bruce snorted: his disability, the failures of the past days made what Superman
was saying ridiculous.
“No way! I work alone.”
Clark yanked his head.
“You? But you were the one who united twice every hero the planet has…Bruce, we
need you.”
“No. Besides you really don’t need me; all of you the superpowered heroes.”
“We do need you. You’re irreplaceable, Bruce. You were the one who figured out
Darkseid’s plot; you were the one who discovered Themiscirra and the real
Diana; you were the one who organized the perfect plan.”
Bruce remembered Superman’s speech where in front of the planet he revealed
Batman’s role in Darkseid’s defeat.
“You had no right” he said dryly stabbing him with his eyes.
Superman still on his knees shook his head.
“I…” he did a lot of bad things but he didn’t know to what Bruce was referring.
“You had no right to speak in front of everyone about Batman’s role.”
Clark lowered his eyes and then raised them again.
“I have done so many bad things that I felt the need to say for once the truth:
let the world know what an extraordinary being you are.”
Bruce gritted his teeth.
“I’m not!”
Clark raised his hand to touch him but managed to hold his hand just to an
appeasing gesture.
“Bruce, what I revealed to the world was nothing in comparison to what you
actually did. You saved me from Darkseid’s cell and…” he gulped feeling his
body being hot with the memories “despite what I had done you gave me your body
to heal me.”
Bruce laughed.
“I don’t know what you are talking about! They must have had some hallucinogen
along with the radiation in your cell. I did not do anything of the like!”
Clark understood: Bruce didn’t want to admit it.
“There was no other way to regain my powers in time to fight. The artificial
and the real sun light weren’t enough for me to recover so fast and we both
know it. Only your body has such a healing effect on me and you knew it…”
“The artificial light was reinforced” Bruce said dryly “we didn’t do what you
said – you imagined that.”
Superman knew that everything was real, not his imagination but he didn’t
insist; he didn’t want to upset Bruce. He could sense that the man was
exhausted, drained, stressed, cold…
“Still the world had to know who saved them.”
Bruce growled.
“I didn’t!”
His breath was caught in his lungs and Clark got scared.
“Please, Bruce…calm down. I’m sorry… I’m sorry. I am the reason you don’t want
to join Justice League…I understand…but Bruce, you believed in me when nobody
else did so…we could still be allies…maybe in time you can give me a second
chance.”
Bruce yanked his head.
“You have your second chance” he said and Clark’s eyes sparkled with hope. “You
escaped Darkseid; you’re alive; you can make your life; be happy, real happy.
The real Princess is more beautiful than Ivy” Clark frowned disappointed. “She
is charming.”
Clark rubbed the bridge of his nose.
“I talked with Diana.”
Bruce felt his heart sinking a second before he made the annoying muscle shut
up.
“I apologized to her though it was quite awkward trying to apologize to someone
for being in a relationship with someone impersonating her… Eventually, we
talked about Justice League: she will remain to our world as Themyscirra’s
ambassador and protecting hustice. And then” he inhaled – oh, it was like the
old days when they discussed about things! “We talked about Batman…she thinks
very highly of you.”
Bruce understood his attempt to deny the chance.
“And there’s always Lois who loves you. Go make kids; claim the things you
deserve…Be happy.”
Clark locked eyes with Bruce.
“I tasted happiness once…Only with you I can be happy but they ruined it for
us…I failed to fight for your happiness. I failed to protect you for me…I know
that what I did to you is too hard to be healed…But I can’t be happy with
anyone else: and I deserve to be miserable for not having the power to fight
the effect Ivy and Bagdana set on me.”
Bruce pressed his lips.
“You saw that we can’t be happy together; it was an illusion; a big mistake.
And now, you are once again misguided and blinded by your guilt…but soon you
will realize that your happiness isn’t with me.”
“You are right to be disgusted; to kick me away… and you’re too kind to me. But
no, there’s nobody else for me: we, Kryptonians, have only one mate for our
entire life: for me, that mate is you; my lucky Kryptonite. So I’ll wait
forever; I’ll be the Earth to your sun; your satellite…Depending on your wrmth,
your light, your existence to live. I’ll fight all my life to prove that…Oh!
Rao! Why I did those things! I’ll fight to prove that I’m worthy of your
forgiveness and maybe I’ll manage to heal the wounds I made.”
His eyes were locked with Bruce’s but the human kept his eyes cold.
“I don’t want you to do any of these” Bruce said. “I just want you to leave me
alone and never bother me again: can you respect at least that?”
Clark gulped; he nodded.
“I understand; you’re right…I’m sorry. I have no right to be in front of you”
he pulled out of his suit something and gave it to Bruce; it was the case from
black platinum he had made for the Black Butterfly. “It was made for you –
please, take it.”
Bruce shook his head.
“No.”
Clark got up and grinned to Bruce though his eyes were wet.
“You’ll walk again, Bruce” he said. “Please, let your loved ones make you smile
more…I broke your heart and I turned it into ice…I will always hate myself for
this. I wish I was the one who was killed to save you from Darkseid. But you,
Star, you shouldn’t suffer anymore…” he shook his head and huffed remembering
how cruel he was calling Ivy ‘Star’; he was sure that Bruce remembered the same
thing. “There is only one star for me and even if you don’t want to see me
again…your existence in this world will be the sun for me; the star that will
guide me…” he smiled. “Thank you for existing, Star.”
He turned to live but stopped and looked again at Bruce.
“If you ever need something from me do not hesitate” he gulped; it was so hard
to part again from Bruce but he had to respect his Star’s wish. “Goodbye.”
Bruce watched him taking off with blank, emotionless eyes but when the beloved
spot was lost from that patch of sky he lowered his eyes to stare at his
clenched fists: the late afternoon suddenly darkened; the approaching night
seemed like threat. His eyes stung and burnt; his throat felt filled with
thorns but he found out that he couldn’t cry… He shouldn’t cry: he did the
right thing.
Hero looked at him sad and meowed.
“I got the impression that you want to punish yourself, not him.”
Bruce raised his eyes to see Selina walking towards him.
“How long are you here?”
“Enough to see him leaving…He’s got quite the nerve to come here…after
everything he did.”
Bruce licked his lips.
“He came to thank me and apologize.”
She leaned her waist on the fence.
“As if this is enough…” she stared at her friend’s pale face and sighed “but
you still love him and I know that every time you see him leaving your heart
bleeds all over again.”
“No, that’s not truth.”
Selina smiled.
“I’m your Selina, remember? You can’t fool me…This bastard is your first and
only love.”
Bruce yanked his head backwards.
“That kind of love isn’t for me…there is no place in me for that kind of love.”
Selina squatted and looked him in the eyes.
“But you are pure love, sweetie…”
“I’m not, Sel.”
She snorted.
“You love so much that you don’t hesitate to sacrifice yourself.”
Bruce frowned.
“You gave yourself to the demon to save my life” she said “you thought that I
wouldn’t figure out? You did it knowing what the demon would do to you. You
shouldn’t, Bruce!”
He took her hands and she noticed how cold they were; he locked his eyes with
hers.
“Between losing you and having someone use me once again it was a very easy
choice…”
Selina shook her head.
“Don’t say that to me. I know how much you suffered every time…and how dreadful
it is for you each time…each time is like the first…You did it once to save me
in Dolcetto’s storage. You shouldn’t have done it again.”
“I wouldn’t lose you, Sel…I’ve lost enough people…I couldn’t live without you.
What happened with Bagdana passed like the rain over a rock but if I had lost
you…” he closed his eyes unable to continue.
Selina hugged him.
“You deserve to be happy, Bruce.”
“I am. I have all of you around me.”
“I mean the ultimate happy you shared with him…you can punish him and then
begin all over again.”
Bruce pursed his lips.
“I don’t think that I was ever meant for this kind of happiness and letting
myself get into this led to disaster: Clark almost died because I loved him” he
shook his head. “I won’t let myself ever again be carried away from this kind
of love… Besides there are things I have to do and this…I had enough of this
for many lifetimes – I don’t want it anymore.”
Selina caressed her friend’s hair.
“There is always hope, Bruce; you gave hope to all of us…so there is hope for
your happiness too” he kissed his cheek.
“The dinner is ready!” Tony’s voice reached them before he reached them huffing
and puffing from running.
He crouched and patted Bruce’s back while Selina took Hero in her hands.
“She tries to monopolize you, littl’ guy: I feel neglected, I’m officially
jealous - oh! I mentioned that I'm starved? And Alfred had prepared a delicious
dinner that we shouldn't let waiting - those little rascals are going to eat
everything!”
They took the path back to the facilities. Bruce turned his head and gazed at
the sky where Clark had vanished; in his ears echoed that song he had heard in
Thasos about the lover that was left alone...
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