Batman/Bruce Wayne (thedarkknight) wrote in dc_heroes,
@ 2010-11-07 10:58:00

Entry tags:

Brother I is watching...
Two days after Batman's meeting with the Justice League, the Dark Knight returns to his headquarters and begins the nightly (or morning, rather) ritual of removing his armor and going over the night's work. The appearance of a new designer drug in Gotham has been his top priority, as well as keeping the family of a visiting diplomat out of harm's reach has taken up most of his attention. Robin has been doing the legwork of watching over the family, but Batman knows he will need to step in soon.

Meanwhile, he finds that the new Wayne Enterprises satellite is working as intended and he notes where Superman, Green Lantern and other members of the new Justice League are as they move about the planet. He couldn't allow this new group to operate unchecked, no matter how much he wanted to believe that Clark and the others would be able keep things in line. Rumors of the Justice League's return were being met overall with triumph, though there was hostility in other places. Across the world, media outlets vocally floated the idea that the time had come for every country to create their own Justice League to keep America from policing them even further.

Batman files away every scrap of information, knowing that it will all be necessary at some point. I

It always is.

Alfred arrives from upstairs, his polished shoes clacking softly against the stone of the steps as he arrives.

"Master Bruce, Princess Diana wishes to speak to you. Shall I send her down?" he asks.

Bruce grunts, and switches to something else on the computer screen.

"Very well. I'll send her down presently." Alfred says, returning the way he came.

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	princess_diana 2010-11-07 06:46 pm UTC (link)
	When given the okay by Alfred, Diana descended the stairs slowly and dressed in plain clothes rather than her costume. It was a conscious decision; Diana was well aware that she was walking into unfriendly territory and showing up dressed offensively would only make it worse. This pained her. "Thank you for permitting me to speak to you, Bruce." (Reply to this)(Thread)

	thedarkknight 2010-11-07 06:50 pm UTC (link)
	"Diana." Bruce says simply. It still bothers him that she was one of the people to side with letting Jordan rejoin the Justice League. He thought she might understand where he was coming from, but that didn't seem to be the case. "What can I do for you?" he asks, trying to at least be civil in honor of their friendship, strained as it was. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	princess_diana 2010-11-07 06:54 pm UTC (link)
	"To start you can simply listen. May I sit down?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	thedarkknight 2010-11-07 06:58 pm UTC (link)
	Bruce is certain he doesn't like where this is going. "If this about the League, Diana, let's not waste our time." he says, standing up to offer her his chair. Bruce goes to a training mat across from Diana and drops to the floor, beginning a set of push-ups. "I'm listening." he says. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

princess_diana
2010-11-07 07:02 pm UTC (link)

"Listening is an act best done when one doesn't put conditions on what is being heard. You taught me that." Taking the offered seat she watches him for a moment, studying how he moves and how what he feels--the things he thinks, says, doesn't say--translate through the movements of his muscles.

"You grossly misunderstood the intent of at least one person in that room when votes were taken, Bruce. You presume that every vote of return was a handwaving of sins past but for once, Batman, you are wrong."

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thedarkknight
2010-11-07 07:36 pm UTC (link)

"That's /exactly/ what it was, Diana." Bruce says between repetitions.

"He. Tried. To. Kill. Us." Bruce says, emphasizing each word. "Why is that so hard for everyone to understand? If he can possessed or influenced or whatever he claims he was and he has the most powerful weapon in the universe on his finger, why would we not demand that he give up the ring and stay off the streets?

It sounds like perfect sense to me, yet everyone in that room gave Jordan a free pass because he's Hal Jordan and they'd all rather be his friend than stand up to him." Bruce says.

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princess_diana
2010-11-07 07:59 pm UTC (link)

"First, we flatter ourselves if we think that we are the beings who decide where the rings go. That job belongs to the Oans...who don't particularly care what our opinions are. But second, if Hal is the bearer of the most powerful weapon in the universe, doesn't it stand to reason that the best place for him to be is where the only people in the world who could take him down are able to? If he is in fact a threat, it makes more sense to keep him close rather than let him go off on his own."

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thedarkknight
2010-11-07 08:06 pm UTC (link)

"But it makes the /most/ sense to make him give up the ring." Bruce says. This argument was circular and not getting them anywhere at all.

"I don't believe that Hal Jordan is on our side and I never will. He broke a code, a trust that we all had between us and I will not allow him to do it again." Batman says.

She had no idea why he held so tightly to his convictions. Perhaps if he told her, then she would understand, but perhaps she'd just think him paranoid, as the others always do. It was easier for them to all believe he was just as crazy as the people he fought than it was to consider that he had a point, despite how hard he'd worked to gain their trust.

They were all-powerful beings and he was just a man. They never seemed to understand that, not even Clark.

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thedarkknight, 2010-11-09 02:35 am UTC

The Following Night

thedarkknight
2010-11-09 02:39 am UTC (link)

Later that night, Alfred will escort Diana down to the cave again, where Bruce is suiting up for the night's work, his cowl hanging from his neck as he injects himself with two different syringes.

There are two fresh, unused syringes on a tray next to him and he looks over to Diana.

"The Scarecrow's fear gas is pretty insidious and it doesn't take a large amount to have a devastating effect. You may want to take the anti-toxin for it and for the drug he's been cooking up. Wouldn't want you to get hurt by that one, either." he says, finishing up.

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	Re: The Following Night princess_diana 2010-11-09 02:50 am UTC (link)
	Diana looked at the syringes and nodded. It was a solid precaution and even though she wasn't human, it couldn't hurt. She picked up the syringes then paused. "I need you to give these to me. I...don't do needles well." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: The Following Night thedarkknight 2010-11-09 03:03 am UTC (link)
	Bruce regards Diana for a moment before realizing she's telling the truth. It just seems strange for Diana to be afraid of something as trivial as needles. "No a problem. Let me know when you're ready." Bruce says, deftly picking up the syringe and loading the injection into it as professionally as any doctor. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: The Following Night princess_diana 2010-11-09 03:09 am UTC (link)
	"Just do it. Wherever it needs done." She closed her eyes and braced herself. It was a little uncomfortable to reveal such a small vulnerability. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

Re: The Following Night

thedarkknight
2010-11-09 03:34 am UTC (link)

Both sticks are done before Diana realizes it and Bruce is covering the areas where he stuck her.

"My father was a doctor. I wasn't fond of needles either, especially when it came to flu shots." he says. "I got over it around the first time I started immunizing myself against spider venom.

Spider bites make needles a non-issue." Bruce says, pulling his cowl into place. As he does, the change occurs.

Batman stands ready to charge out into the Gotham night.

"Let's go." he rasps, all traces of Bruce Wayne discarded like tattered clothing.

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	Re: The Following Night princess_diana 2010-11-09 03:41 am UTC (link)
	It was almost disturbing how seamlessly Bruce Wayne disappeared when Batman was full in place. She'd never actually seen the switch happen before. "Lead the way. This is your city and your villains. Once we get there though, I'm full in." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

Re: The Following Night

thedarkknight
2010-11-09 03:49 am UTC (link)

Batman heads toward the car, motioning for Diana to follow as the platform the vehicle is on rotates to face the entrance to the cave.

"I think the Scarecrow is our best lead. Biochemistry is his field of expertise and I learned from an informant that he's been looking to add to his crew recently." Batman says.

"He's got a lab in a warehouse in the Narrows from the intel I've gathered. Once we get there, let's see if we can get a lead on whoever he's working with before we attack. I want to shut this down at its source." he says.

Once Wonder Woman is in the car, the top closes over the both of them and he accelerates, rocketing them toward Gotham City and the Bat-Signal that lights up the heart of the city.

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Re: The Following Night

princess_diana
2010-11-09 03:49 pm UTC (link)

"Do we know if he's actually been able to add to his crew?" Diana wondered briefly if the increase in carriers in her city were a result of that recruitment drive.

She said very little else on the ride towards the city. She was getting into her zone. Once they arrived at the warehouse, she let her eyes look at the structure, looking for suitable entrance.

"There's a light on the far left," she noted. It was dim, barely visible and clear that the occupants were trying to keep their presence hidden, but she could see the way the shadows played. "Is there a side entrance?"

	Back at the Cave thedarkknight 2010-11-12 03:12 am UTC (link)
	Bruce and Diana return to the cave, where Bruce removes his mask and goes to the computer to record his findings. "Scarecrow will surface again. Ra's on the other hand, has always been difficult to keep track of." he says. "You don't have to involve yourself further, Diana. New York is safe. Gotham, as always, requires protection." he says. (Reply to this)(Thread)

	Re: Back at the Cave princess_diana 2010-11-12 03:16 am UTC (link)
	"I'm not letting you do this alone. You aided me. I'm going to help you. Bruce...don't lock me out." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Back at the Cave thedarkknight 2010-11-12 03:31 am UTC (link)
	Bruce sighs. "Gotham is my responsibility, Diana. First, last and always. I don't need help." he says. "But I do thank you for your help with everything. I couldn't have done it without you." he says. It was a hard admission for him to make. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Back at the Cave princess_diana 2010-11-12 03:32 am UTC (link)
	"They attacked my city as well, Bruce." She moves to stand behind him for a moment. "I want to help. I want to help and I like working with you. We work well, Bruce." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Back at the Cave thedarkknight 2010-11-12 03:39 am UTC (link)
	She had a point. "We shouldn't get used to working together, Diana. You're with the Justice League. I no longer trust the Justice League. That's going to make it difficult for you in the future, especially when Clark and the others have questions." Batman says. He still hasn't turned to face her. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Back at the Cave princess_diana 2010-11-12 03:41 am UTC (link)
	"Bruce." She rests a hand on his shoulder. "I don't answer to Clark and the others. I am my own woman." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Back at the Cave thedarkknight 2010-11-12 03:57 am UTC (link)
	"Eventually, you may have to choose, Diana." Bruce says, affected by the touch of her hand on his shoulder. He couldn't do this, not now, not with her. He couldn't allow this to happen, no matter how much he wanted it to. "I'm sorry, Diana, but whatever you think you want, I can't give it to you." Bruce says. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Back at the Cave princess_diana 2010-11-12 04:05 am UTC (link)
	"If I have to choose, I will make my own choices. I'm a part of the League. The League is not me." Her hand remains on his shoulder. "At least look at me before dismissing me, Bruce." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	thedarkknight 2010-11-13 02:47 am UTC (link)
	-(END)- (Reply to this)