Post by Bruce Wayne - The Batman on Jul 7, 2015 6:04:35 GMT
"Buenos días , ¿cómo es tu día ?"
"Gran señor Marty, de vuelta para señor Martymás fresas?"
My new base of operations was El Salvador, sure I was a witness to crime. The local gangs were ruthless, often I was reminded of why I did what I did for Gotham but I knew better than to meddle in international affairs. I made a promise to myself that after I guided the bomb out of Gotham, I would die. When I say "die" I mean it in the sense of who I was because the second I left the city saved, I was reborn. My body was buried at Wayne Manor next to my mother and father, the only two people in the world who knew what had happened was Alfred and Selina, everyone else thought I was dead - as was The Batman.
"Las mejores fresas este lado de la ciudad! Además, sabes cuando el nuevo lote de carne de vacuno está llegando ? He estado queriendo carne recientemente ..."
My usual day was walking into town to attend a farmer's market and stocking up on goods for the week. Here, no-one knew who I was and that was great. Nobody cared that at one point I was one of the richest men in the United States. Bruce Wayne.. to these people, was nothing more than a memoria, a memory from Once Upon a Time when things were under control.
"Ci señor Marty, muy pronto!"
"Gracias."
I spoke Spanish, and I think I spoke it well enough to be respected as someone that fit into the picture of the area rather than some outsider. But with a basket full of strawberries in my hand, I nodded and paid the merchant and went along my way. Despite being far from anywhere remotely related to Gotham, different magazine stands carried a wide variety of reading material, I didn't mean to but I allowed my eyes to fall on the Gotham Gazette, it was my way of making peace with who I was once, and what I did.
"Señor Marty! Señor Marty!"
Just because technically I wasn't Bruce Wayne anymore, didn't mean I gave up my philanthropic ways. Often times I would donate to the cause of the hungry, giving the hungry who would ambush me before I could get back to my residence the same food I bought from the market minutes before. As I looked down at the hungry kids shouting up at me, part of me did feel alive again, that Bruce Wayne part of me, as much as I lied to myself to say I didn't miss Gotham, my city, I knew that I had to stay away because I brought trouble. Ra's? Crane? Joker? Bane? Miranda.. They were there for me, and they almost cost the city it's population. As hard as I tried to protect it, I saw that I was one of it's biggest villains so I needed to remove myself from the situation before something came along that would destroy it to the point where I couldn't save it.
"GRACIAS, GRACIAS!"
The hungry children raided my basket and left me a few strawberries, not too bad. Continuing my path through bushes, I emerged near sand and up ahead in the distance was a small cottage I had bought upon arriving. Florence was nice for the first few months, but I was easily recognized there - Italians had an eye for men like me, and they point my face out in a crowd. I had to disappear a few times, using my old bat-tricks to scatter a crowd who KNEW it was me. It's hard pretending to be dead, not even a beard and longer length hair could pull it off. I don't know if I had one of those 'unmistakable' faces, but that seemed to be the idea in Florence. El Salvador though? Not so much, I was a ghost here and I liked it. I'd overhear some American on vacation talking about how great Metropolis is, and how they had to relocate from Gotham to Central City due to issues with crime and real estate and yeah, I was interested. I'd eavesdrop, but that's where it ended. Wayne Manor was given to the state as an orphanage, the Batcave was entrusted to Officer Blake who, last I heard took on his own identity in Bludhaven and was one of the driving reasons Cobblepot is returning to Gotham. Reaching my front doorstep, I pushed the door in and stepped in.. this was my home now. A one bedroom splice between an apartment and house that looked weird but was.. home. I had some second-hand furniture, a lamp or two.. but what was missing was her touch.. Miranda, I mean Talia or Selina.. Yes, that Selina.
"Bruce.. I- this isn't working.. We're not working..."
"This is what you wanted Selina. You wanted a clean slate.. and you got it. You can't return back to a life that doesn't exist anymore, you asked for this."
"As beautiful as Italy is, I.. I can't be here anymore. There's nothing for me here Bruce, there's no excitement, there's no thrill..."
"I'm.. I'm here Selina, isn't that what you wanted? Aren't I what you wanted?"
There I stood, looking the [supposed] love of my life, a woman who I sacrificed my life for in the eye, and that's when it occurred to me..
".. it was..."
She didn't want this anymore.
".. but it's not what I want, as much as you've done for me Bruce, this life isn't for me. I need the excitement of Gotham, I need to hear the sirens blazing, I want to mix myself up with the scum of society, it makes me feel like myself. I've never been the house-wife type, I'm.. I'm not that."
"If this isn't what you want anymore, then I don't know what'd make you stay. Just know Selina, Gotham.. It's not the same anymore."
"And that my dear.. is what makes it enticing."
I remembered the conversation like it was yesterday, I also remember the last kiss she gave me before walking out of my life, leaving me an empty shell of a man -- no different than when I was The Bat.. no different then when I loss my parents and bounced on different continents with Alfred, looking for something- anything to ground me and keep me sane. Selina, I thought, was my anchor. I should have known that settling down wasn't going to work for her, she was a person of thrill as she said, me? Not so much.. or not that I thought anyway.
"I do love you Bruce, but we've gotta stop this, I can't be here anymore..."
Sensing some hurt from Selina's voice, I reached out and grabbed her right hand all as she stopped in her tracks and looked over at me- without a tear in sight, I wasn't sure if this was an act or if this was legitimate, despite spending so much time with her, I realized I didn't even know who she was."
".. I'm sorry Bruce.."
And like that, she was gone.. she never returned. I was left in a country where I knee very little, and spoke a different tongue but I made it my goal to survive as it's what Waynes did. I remember that one time after I fell into the well, the dark.. the bats.. I was terrified. But the memory quickly shifted to the sight of my father and Alfred coming to my aid and as we moved through Wayne Manor with me in my father's arms- it was this short exchange that kept me on the right path..
"Took quite a fall didn't we Master Bruce?"
I remembered Alfred saying, all as he looked on with a sort of smirk across his face, something I dearly miss.
"And why do we fall, Bruce? So we can learn to pick ourselves up!"
My father had a way with words, there's several other quotes that he threw in my direction but that stuck with me through life. As I dropped my basket down on the circular table, I took a seat on one of the chairs there and buried my face in my hands, all out of sheer frustration. I was two years shy of turning 40, my life with Rachel was supposed to have a storybook ending but that was taken away from me, just like everything else I've ever loved. I was taught early on, from the point of my parents murder that if I wanted anything in life to succeed, I needed to stay away from it- as far as possible. Although I couldn't figure it out, Selina leaving was more likely my fault as well but before I could drown in my own sorrows again, I felt a tap on my shoulder.
"Looking quite down there Master Bruce."
Looking up, I arched a brow and turned enough to gaze over my shoulder.. seeing the one person who I thought had moved on.."
"Alfred...?"
I trailed my sentence off, I don't know if this was a figment of my imagination, it seemed real. The last time I saw him was when Selina and I was having dinner at a little bistro, he spotted me- I saw him and he found solace in the fact that I took his advice and left the cowl to become something.. else. Something that didn't see me come home with bruises and cuts, stitches and staples. Shooting up to my feet, in the most unBruce Wayne moment in my life, Alfred and I shared a hug, but it wasn't an emotional type.
"You act like I died and went to hell, sir!"
"Not you Alfred, but that's where I've been."
"Ah c'mon, it can't be that bad, can it? Selina and yourself enjoying a nice beach house.. eating.."
Alfred looked over into the basket and noticed the little amount of strawberries was left and shrugged.
".. fruit, tis is the life!"
".. how long have you been keeping an eye on me?"
Just from the tone of his voice, I knew he knew that Selina left and that I was miserable.
"Since that evening at the bistro. You don't cover your tracks too well Master Bruce, I've needed to employ Master Blake to detonate a few scramblers to erase Bruce Wayne sightings. All thanks to Mister Fox."
"Master Blake?!"
"You know, Detective Blake? He took up residence in the cave for a few months after you left but noticed how terrible it was getting in Bludhaven and decided to live there full-time."
"What about the suit?"
"That's where it gets interesting. He tried to be The Bat, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. He said he wasn't you, he felt as if he was an imposter, so he crafted his own personality, if you will."
"Oh? Enlighten me."
"Master Blake is referred to as Nightwing now, obviously with no inspiration from The Bat."
"Obviously. Is he good?"
"Quite. I watched him from body-cam as he took down the remainder of Salvatore Maroni's gang, fifteen on one was no challenge, the task was done in under three minutes."
I nodded, impressed with Blake's emergence as this "Nightwing" he had become.
"So what's happened with The Cave in my absence? I hope you didn't forget to dust, I'll be very annoyed to see my computer screen looking like it hasn't been used in three years."
"To be fair Master Bruce, it hasn't."
".. this is why you're here, aren't you Alfred?"
It was clear that whatever was on Alfred's mind brought his great displeasure. His eyes diverted as he moved around me and took a seat directly across from where I was positioned and locked his hands together, all as he sighed. Dressed in a bright green Hawaiian shirt with khakis, I couldn't help but to find humor at how ridiculous he looked, especially with the oversized hat on and the strip of sunblock across his nose.
"It brings me great grief to admit Master Bruce.. But.. Gotham needs you."
"But.. This was.. your idea.."
"It was, I couldn't see you coming home beat up, I was deathly afraid that one of those scraps would be your last. I thought if The Bat vanished, so would the threats, but I was wrong. It's awful back home, Master Bruce. The city is unlike anything we know, not even when you left the first time and Carmine Falcone had his lock on things was it bad. The people are leaving in record numbers, things are getting horrible.. And Gotham needs it's symbol. As great of an endeavor as Master Blake is doing in Bludhaven, he's only one man."
".. tell me Alfried, what symbol would that be?"
"You, Master Bruce. Both as Bruce Wayne.. and.. as The Bat."
Hearing that from the mouth of the man who had persuaded that I give it all up in the first place told me everything I needed to know. Gotham was in shambles, Commissioner Gordon tried but he could only do so much, especially with the level of corruption in GCPD. I took time to think the situation over, all as I brought my hands behind my head and leaned it back.
"I don't know Alfred, I mean.. How could I leave this all behind?"
"Unfortunately Master Bruce, I don't see how this lavish estate could be left."
The jokes between Alfred and I made our relationship dynamic, we shared the same sense of humor. Some found it dry, but Alfred and I were comedians.
"Also, how could I live behind the peace and giant mosquitoes for Gotham and it's criminals?"
"If it's any consolation, there's a green haired clown you duked it out with once in the loose.. sightings of some humanoid-crocodile creature and even a penguin in Gotham."
".. Cobblepot, I saw. What is he returning back for? To try and buy back his lost estate?"
"Speculation is because he's planning on running for Mayor, Master Bruce."
Almost falling out of my chair from that comment, I caught myself and stood up tall, with a deep sigh I nodded.
".. that'll bring me back home."
"Very well sir, I'll prepare the jet."
"What about home? I gave it to the city, where am I supposed to go?"
"Actually Master Bruce... about that. Despite having the memorial set up under your mother and father's name, due to shrinking costs the city was forced to downsize. Another structure was built within the city, some argued that a home as big as the Wayne Estate was a waste of taxpayers dollars."
"So.. My home has been abandoned? That's great."
"I've had it maintained. Interestingly enough, for the few months that it was used as a sanctuary for orphans and at-risk youth, not too much damage was done. I was shocked at how well the interior was preserved, it's as if they respected Bruce Wayne for the sacrifice. Of course you had your graffiti we haven't fixed."
"I'm dead, that should a problem as well."
"Mister Fox also took care of that. See, when Miss Kyle and yourself ran the Clean Slate program, Mister Fox developed a virus to stop the damage. When he also knew you weren't gone sir, he made sure to follow your digital foot-print and has your identity safe. Bruce Wayne is listed as Missing, not dead. Despite the headstone on site, I never signed a death certificate, as the failure I felt when I thought you were gone didn't let me do so."
"It's alright Alfred, I guess it all worked out in the end. But.. we are going to need a cover story for me returning 3 years later, from the grave no less."
"Amnesia?"
"Amnesia it is."
And just like that.. I was going to be returning to Gotham City, both as Bruce Wayne and as the symbol for hope that the people so desperately needed.
"I've gotta catch you up on other things Master Bruce, the Gotham Knights are actually adequate. Arkham Asylum has been renovated, there's a vigilante on the loose but he doesn't look to do things your way sir, he kills the criminals his stalks."
"They all can't have a wholesome heart like me, I guess."
".. also, there's been one.. two- maybe nineteen or even a hundred sightings of Miss Kyle in Gotham."
That caught my attention. I nodded once more, all as I left off a nonchalant shrug.
"I guess we'll be running into each other sooner rather than later."
"That seems to be the case, Master Bruce."
".. things will change, Alfred. Cobblepot? The clown? The city doesn't belong to them, it belongs to the people.. And we're going to take it back for them."
"Also sir.. there's two more bits of information I need to share with you. Two of your childhood friends- Roman Sionis and Thomas Elliot have big roles in the city now."
"Now.. Now, you know Roman and myself never got along- I think being dropped on his head did more damage when he was a newborn than he'd like us to think it did. And Tommy.. I haven't seen Tommy since he left for college and that was what, almost 20 years ago?!"
"Sionis invested the last of his family's estate into Sionis Industries after he ran Janus Cosmetics into the ground. Of course a little digging into Sionis' accounts shows that it's nothing more than a front for money laundering and even murder for hire. He's become quite the mobster, of course this all happens when you're gone and he's released from Blackgate."
"I think Roman and I need to be reacquainted. What about Tommy?"
"The city finally got together with enough funding and built a hospital far grander than Gotham General. The Elliot Family Memorial Hospital, Thomas apparently funded the project and seeked federal and state help. He also should be returning, pending the opening of the hospital."
"Interesting, I wonder how he's been.. But that's to be answered on another day, let me gather up whatever I've got here and.. let's go home."
"Home indeed, Master Bruce, it's been too long. By the way, who is Marty Loden?"
With a chuckle, I shrugged my shoulders and smiled.. one that was contagious and brought a smile across Alfred's face as well.
"An alias, didn't work as well as I hoped but it served it's purpose."
And with that said, I was on my way back to Gotham City, a place I shouldn't have left in the first place. In my absence, individuals I knew from when I was a child decided to step out of line and milk the city for all it's worth, they should have more respect for the same place they call their point of origin. But it was fine, things would change- just like they did when I escaped The League of Shadows and utilized fear as a tool in my war on crime. It didn't matter if it was the clown or Sionis, Gotham would be restored to what it should be.. a place of peace and tranquility. This time, there would be no leaving, the only way I'd be free of Gotham is if I died- no amnesia doesn't count. The symbol for justice was returning, Gotham would be safe again..
Not that I've been counting, but it's been almost three years since navigating the bomb out of Gotham and writing an end to the chapter of The Batman and socialite Bruce Wayne. I traded in the kevlar and technology for a little house near the beach where I would live the remainder of my life at, free from pain, free from crime.. and just.. free.
My new base of operations was El Salvador, sure I was a witness to crime. The local gangs were ruthless, often I was reminded of why I did what I did for Gotham but I knew better than to meddle in international affairs. I made a promise to myself that after I guided the bomb out of Gotham, I would die. When I say "die" I mean it in the sense of who I was because the second I left the city saved, I was reborn. My body was buried at Wayne Manor next to my mother and father, the only two people in the world who knew what had happened was Alfred and Selina, everyone else thought I was dead - as was The Batman.
"Las mejores fresas este lado de la ciudad! Además, sabes cuando el nuevo lote de carne de vacuno está llegando ? He estado queriendo carne recientemente ..."
My usual day was walking into town to attend a farmer's market and stocking up on goods for the week. Here, no-one knew who I was and that was great. Nobody cared that at one point I was one of the richest men in the United States. Bruce Wayne.. to these people, was nothing more than a memoria, a memory from Once Upon a Time when things were under control.
"Ci señor Marty, muy pronto!"
"Gracias."
I spoke Spanish, and I think I spoke it well enough to be respected as someone that fit into the picture of the area rather than some outsider. But with a basket full of strawberries in my hand, I nodded and paid the merchant and went along my way. Despite being far from anywhere remotely related to Gotham, different magazine stands carried a wide variety of reading material, I didn't mean to but I allowed my eyes to fall on the Gotham Gazette, it was my way of making peace with who I was once, and what I did.
"Señor Marty! Señor Marty!"
Just because technically I wasn't Bruce Wayne anymore, didn't mean I gave up my philanthropic ways. Often times I would donate to the cause of the hungry, giving the hungry who would ambush me before I could get back to my residence the same food I bought from the market minutes before. As I looked down at the hungry kids shouting up at me, part of me did feel alive again, that Bruce Wayne part of me, as much as I lied to myself to say I didn't miss Gotham, my city, I knew that I had to stay away because I brought trouble. Ra's? Crane? Joker? Bane? Miranda.. They were there for me, and they almost cost the city it's population. As hard as I tried to protect it, I saw that I was one of it's biggest villains so I needed to remove myself from the situation before something came along that would destroy it to the point where I couldn't save it.
"GRACIAS, GRACIAS!"
The hungry children raided my basket and left me a few strawberries, not too bad. Continuing my path through bushes, I emerged near sand and up ahead in the distance was a small cottage I had bought upon arriving. Florence was nice for the first few months, but I was easily recognized there - Italians had an eye for men like me, and they point my face out in a crowd. I had to disappear a few times, using my old bat-tricks to scatter a crowd who KNEW it was me. It's hard pretending to be dead, not even a beard and longer length hair could pull it off. I don't know if I had one of those 'unmistakable' faces, but that seemed to be the idea in Florence. El Salvador though? Not so much, I was a ghost here and I liked it. I'd overhear some American on vacation talking about how great Metropolis is, and how they had to relocate from Gotham to Central City due to issues with crime and real estate and yeah, I was interested. I'd eavesdrop, but that's where it ended. Wayne Manor was given to the state as an orphanage, the Batcave was entrusted to Officer Blake who, last I heard took on his own identity in Bludhaven and was one of the driving reasons Cobblepot is returning to Gotham. Reaching my front doorstep, I pushed the door in and stepped in.. this was my home now. A one bedroom splice between an apartment and house that looked weird but was.. home. I had some second-hand furniture, a lamp or two.. but what was missing was her touch.. Miranda, I mean Talia or Selina.. Yes, that Selina.
FLASHBACK - Florence, Italy Sometime in 2013
"Bruce.. I- this isn't working.. We're not working..."
"This is what you wanted Selina. You wanted a clean slate.. and you got it. You can't return back to a life that doesn't exist anymore, you asked for this."
"As beautiful as Italy is, I.. I can't be here anymore. There's nothing for me here Bruce, there's no excitement, there's no thrill..."
"I'm.. I'm here Selina, isn't that what you wanted? Aren't I what you wanted?"
There I stood, looking the [supposed] love of my life, a woman who I sacrificed my life for in the eye, and that's when it occurred to me..
".. it was..."
She didn't want this anymore.
".. but it's not what I want, as much as you've done for me Bruce, this life isn't for me. I need the excitement of Gotham, I need to hear the sirens blazing, I want to mix myself up with the scum of society, it makes me feel like myself. I've never been the house-wife type, I'm.. I'm not that."
"If this isn't what you want anymore, then I don't know what'd make you stay. Just know Selina, Gotham.. It's not the same anymore."
"And that my dear.. is what makes it enticing."
I remembered the conversation like it was yesterday, I also remember the last kiss she gave me before walking out of my life, leaving me an empty shell of a man -- no different than when I was The Bat.. no different then when I loss my parents and bounced on different continents with Alfred, looking for something- anything to ground me and keep me sane. Selina, I thought, was my anchor. I should have known that settling down wasn't going to work for her, she was a person of thrill as she said, me? Not so much.. or not that I thought anyway.
"I do love you Bruce, but we've gotta stop this, I can't be here anymore..."
Sensing some hurt from Selina's voice, I reached out and grabbed her right hand all as she stopped in her tracks and looked over at me- without a tear in sight, I wasn't sure if this was an act or if this was legitimate, despite spending so much time with her, I realized I didn't even know who she was."
".. I'm sorry Bruce.."
And like that, she was gone.. she never returned. I was left in a country where I knee very little, and spoke a different tongue but I made it my goal to survive as it's what Waynes did. I remember that one time after I fell into the well, the dark.. the bats.. I was terrified. But the memory quickly shifted to the sight of my father and Alfred coming to my aid and as we moved through Wayne Manor with me in my father's arms- it was this short exchange that kept me on the right path..
"Took quite a fall didn't we Master Bruce?"
I remembered Alfred saying, all as he looked on with a sort of smirk across his face, something I dearly miss.
"And why do we fall, Bruce? So we can learn to pick ourselves up!"
My father had a way with words, there's several other quotes that he threw in my direction but that stuck with me through life. As I dropped my basket down on the circular table, I took a seat on one of the chairs there and buried my face in my hands, all out of sheer frustration. I was two years shy of turning 40, my life with Rachel was supposed to have a storybook ending but that was taken away from me, just like everything else I've ever loved. I was taught early on, from the point of my parents murder that if I wanted anything in life to succeed, I needed to stay away from it- as far as possible. Although I couldn't figure it out, Selina leaving was more likely my fault as well but before I could drown in my own sorrows again, I felt a tap on my shoulder.
"Looking quite down there Master Bruce."
Looking up, I arched a brow and turned enough to gaze over my shoulder.. seeing the one person who I thought had moved on.."
"Alfred...?"
I trailed my sentence off, I don't know if this was a figment of my imagination, it seemed real. The last time I saw him was when Selina and I was having dinner at a little bistro, he spotted me- I saw him and he found solace in the fact that I took his advice and left the cowl to become something.. else. Something that didn't see me come home with bruises and cuts, stitches and staples. Shooting up to my feet, in the most unBruce Wayne moment in my life, Alfred and I shared a hug, but it wasn't an emotional type.
"You act like I died and went to hell, sir!"
"Not you Alfred, but that's where I've been."
"Ah c'mon, it can't be that bad, can it? Selina and yourself enjoying a nice beach house.. eating.."
Alfred looked over into the basket and noticed the little amount of strawberries was left and shrugged.
".. fruit, tis is the life!"
".. how long have you been keeping an eye on me?"
Just from the tone of his voice, I knew he knew that Selina left and that I was miserable.
"Since that evening at the bistro. You don't cover your tracks too well Master Bruce, I've needed to employ Master Blake to detonate a few scramblers to erase Bruce Wayne sightings. All thanks to Mister Fox."
"Master Blake?!"
"You know, Detective Blake? He took up residence in the cave for a few months after you left but noticed how terrible it was getting in Bludhaven and decided to live there full-time."
"What about the suit?"
"That's where it gets interesting. He tried to be The Bat, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. He said he wasn't you, he felt as if he was an imposter, so he crafted his own personality, if you will."
"Oh? Enlighten me."
"Master Blake is referred to as Nightwing now, obviously with no inspiration from The Bat."
"Obviously. Is he good?"
"Quite. I watched him from body-cam as he took down the remainder of Salvatore Maroni's gang, fifteen on one was no challenge, the task was done in under three minutes."
I nodded, impressed with Blake's emergence as this "Nightwing" he had become.
"So what's happened with The Cave in my absence? I hope you didn't forget to dust, I'll be very annoyed to see my computer screen looking like it hasn't been used in three years."
"To be fair Master Bruce, it hasn't."
".. this is why you're here, aren't you Alfred?"
It was clear that whatever was on Alfred's mind brought his great displeasure. His eyes diverted as he moved around me and took a seat directly across from where I was positioned and locked his hands together, all as he sighed. Dressed in a bright green Hawaiian shirt with khakis, I couldn't help but to find humor at how ridiculous he looked, especially with the oversized hat on and the strip of sunblock across his nose.
"It brings me great grief to admit Master Bruce.. But.. Gotham needs you."
"But.. This was.. your idea.."
"It was, I couldn't see you coming home beat up, I was deathly afraid that one of those scraps would be your last. I thought if The Bat vanished, so would the threats, but I was wrong. It's awful back home, Master Bruce. The city is unlike anything we know, not even when you left the first time and Carmine Falcone had his lock on things was it bad. The people are leaving in record numbers, things are getting horrible.. And Gotham needs it's symbol. As great of an endeavor as Master Blake is doing in Bludhaven, he's only one man."
".. tell me Alfried, what symbol would that be?"
"You, Master Bruce. Both as Bruce Wayne.. and.. as The Bat."
Hearing that from the mouth of the man who had persuaded that I give it all up in the first place told me everything I needed to know. Gotham was in shambles, Commissioner Gordon tried but he could only do so much, especially with the level of corruption in GCPD. I took time to think the situation over, all as I brought my hands behind my head and leaned it back.
"I don't know Alfred, I mean.. How could I leave this all behind?"
"Unfortunately Master Bruce, I don't see how this lavish estate could be left."
The jokes between Alfred and I made our relationship dynamic, we shared the same sense of humor. Some found it dry, but Alfred and I were comedians.
"Also, how could I live behind the peace and giant mosquitoes for Gotham and it's criminals?"
"If it's any consolation, there's a green haired clown you duked it out with once in the loose.. sightings of some humanoid-crocodile creature and even a penguin in Gotham."
".. Cobblepot, I saw. What is he returning back for? To try and buy back his lost estate?"
"Speculation is because he's planning on running for Mayor, Master Bruce."
Almost falling out of my chair from that comment, I caught myself and stood up tall, with a deep sigh I nodded.
".. that'll bring me back home."
"Very well sir, I'll prepare the jet."
"What about home? I gave it to the city, where am I supposed to go?"
"Actually Master Bruce... about that. Despite having the memorial set up under your mother and father's name, due to shrinking costs the city was forced to downsize. Another structure was built within the city, some argued that a home as big as the Wayne Estate was a waste of taxpayers dollars."
"So.. My home has been abandoned? That's great."
"I've had it maintained. Interestingly enough, for the few months that it was used as a sanctuary for orphans and at-risk youth, not too much damage was done. I was shocked at how well the interior was preserved, it's as if they respected Bruce Wayne for the sacrifice. Of course you had your graffiti we haven't fixed."
"I'm dead, that should a problem as well."
"Mister Fox also took care of that. See, when Miss Kyle and yourself ran the Clean Slate program, Mister Fox developed a virus to stop the damage. When he also knew you weren't gone sir, he made sure to follow your digital foot-print and has your identity safe. Bruce Wayne is listed as Missing, not dead. Despite the headstone on site, I never signed a death certificate, as the failure I felt when I thought you were gone didn't let me do so."
"It's alright Alfred, I guess it all worked out in the end. But.. we are going to need a cover story for me returning 3 years later, from the grave no less."
"Amnesia?"
"Amnesia it is."
And just like that.. I was going to be returning to Gotham City, both as Bruce Wayne and as the symbol for hope that the people so desperately needed.
"I've gotta catch you up on other things Master Bruce, the Gotham Knights are actually adequate. Arkham Asylum has been renovated, there's a vigilante on the loose but he doesn't look to do things your way sir, he kills the criminals his stalks."
"They all can't have a wholesome heart like me, I guess."
".. also, there's been one.. two- maybe nineteen or even a hundred sightings of Miss Kyle in Gotham."
That caught my attention. I nodded once more, all as I left off a nonchalant shrug.
"I guess we'll be running into each other sooner rather than later."
"That seems to be the case, Master Bruce."
".. things will change, Alfred. Cobblepot? The clown? The city doesn't belong to them, it belongs to the people.. And we're going to take it back for them."
"Also sir.. there's two more bits of information I need to share with you. Two of your childhood friends- Roman Sionis and Thomas Elliot have big roles in the city now."
"Now.. Now, you know Roman and myself never got along- I think being dropped on his head did more damage when he was a newborn than he'd like us to think it did. And Tommy.. I haven't seen Tommy since he left for college and that was what, almost 20 years ago?!"
"Sionis invested the last of his family's estate into Sionis Industries after he ran Janus Cosmetics into the ground. Of course a little digging into Sionis' accounts shows that it's nothing more than a front for money laundering and even murder for hire. He's become quite the mobster, of course this all happens when you're gone and he's released from Blackgate."
"I think Roman and I need to be reacquainted. What about Tommy?"
"The city finally got together with enough funding and built a hospital far grander than Gotham General. The Elliot Family Memorial Hospital, Thomas apparently funded the project and seeked federal and state help. He also should be returning, pending the opening of the hospital."
"Interesting, I wonder how he's been.. But that's to be answered on another day, let me gather up whatever I've got here and.. let's go home."
"Home indeed, Master Bruce, it's been too long. By the way, who is Marty Loden?"
With a chuckle, I shrugged my shoulders and smiled.. one that was contagious and brought a smile across Alfred's face as well.
"An alias, didn't work as well as I hoped but it served it's purpose."
And with that said, I was on my way back to Gotham City, a place I shouldn't have left in the first place. In my absence, individuals I knew from when I was a child decided to step out of line and milk the city for all it's worth, they should have more respect for the same place they call their point of origin. But it was fine, things would change- just like they did when I escaped The League of Shadows and utilized fear as a tool in my war on crime. It didn't matter if it was the clown or Sionis, Gotham would be restored to what it should be.. a place of peace and tranquility. This time, there would be no leaving, the only way I'd be free of Gotham is if I died- no amnesia doesn't count. The symbol for justice was returning, Gotham would be safe again..