Batman: Equilibrium

CHAPTER FIVE

  Alfred's steady hands treated Bruce's wounds as Bruce concentrated on the sound of dripping water that echoed throughout the cave. Bruce was only wearing pants, his hair was a mess, and his face and torso were bruised. As Alfred was finishing with the medical tape, Bruce said, "I have a bad feeling about this. Something here just isn't right. He's been helping criminals and sometimes not even asking for something in return. He's planning something, and I'm afraid I'll be too late."

  "I take it you're still refusing her help?" Alfred asked.

  "That's a good question, Alfred." Said Catwoman as she appeared behind Bruce, placing her hand on his neck. "I don't have much time for this." Bruce replied.

  Alfred took the medical supplies and said, "Well, I'll leave you two now," before walking away.

  "I know stopping him is proving difficult, and you're not in shape to do it. Please, let me help you." Selina continued.

  Bruce's eyes stared into the shadows ahead of him, it seemed like he wasn't listening to Selina, or he just didn't care. He looked up at Selina, and said, "That day, when my parents died, I made a promise. That I wouldn't rest until I rid this city of crime, of the very thing that took my parents away. I've been crushed, beaten, chewed up and spit out. But I stand up again, and go back to this endless cycle of madness. It keeps getting worse and worse, so I adapt. Like I always do. I, alone made that promise, and I, alone will stand over the city when all the crime and terror that inhabits it, is rooted out. Just let me adapt. Please."

  Bruce's eyes were watering, Selina had never seen him like this before. She sat on the table, right next to him. She held his hand, and said, "When I was a kid, I lived in a merciless world. I walked among the dead every day. Growing up was slowly losing every friend I had, to a criminal. I thought that if anything bad happened to you, you had it coming. That only the ones willing to fight for their lives would survive. Every kid that went into an alley alone, would leave it in a body bag. That was just the way the world worked, until you came along. Any kid walking into an alley will come out safely, because of you, Bruce. You're the reason I've risked my life for those that can't fight, and I'm here to fight right beside you. Let's not forget what Bane did to you. I'm not letting that happen again."

  A single tear slid down Bruce's cheek. He looked down, almost as if he was ashamed. "I'm sorry… I didn't know." He said.

  "Let me help you."

  Commissioner Gordon was walking down a corridor of the GCPD with a warm cup of coffee in his hand. He entered his office, closed the door and walked over to his desk to sit at his chair. He put his coffee down and looked down at some files on his desk. "You're not as sneaky as you think, you know?" He said. Batman stepped out of a dark corner in the room.

  "Any word on the suspects?" Batman asked.

  "We interviewed the janitor and one of the engineers. The janitor was asleep at home during the robbery, his wife confirmed it. The engineer was out drinking that night. He didn't come to work because he was hungover. We checked the security cameras on his house to confirm it." Gordon said.

  "And the other engineer?" Batman asked.

  "It seems he made a run for it, or something happened to him. He's not home, doesn't pick up his phone. We can't find his car. You're gonna have to look for him. Anything on Van Cleer?"

  "He's still a suspect, I'll continue investigating him tonight."

  "What are you going to do?" Gordon asked.

  "I'm interrogating his old friend, Margaret Pye." Batman replied.

  The batmobile raced down an old, long road surrounded by a forest. From the passenger seat, Catwoman observed the heavy rain falling on the window. She looked back at Batman, and said, "The last time I saw Magpie, I left a scratch on her arm."