Murder at Wayne Manor

Chapter 9

Gotham; April 19th, 02:36 EST

Standing on the ledge of a building, I stare down at the street below, my cape whipping in the wind. I managed to stop a drug deal that was going down, stopping Ash from being sold to a couple of teenagers, but it barely makes a dent in the problem that is growing larger and larger with every passing day. It feels like a single glass of water being taken out of the ocean, making little difference to my city that is quickly spiraling further into darkness.

I glance down at the small bag of Ash in my hand, my anger escalating the longer I stare at it. My fingers curl around the bag so tight it makes my hand ache and all I can think about is how badly I want to beat the monsters that are making it.

Diana has been getting the word out with the anti-drug program, getting into schools and teaching kids the dangers of this drug. She scheduled a board meeting for this afternoon, prepared to present some new proposals that she hopes will make a difference. At this point, I'm beginning to wonder if anything ever will.

"You shouldn't be here, Princess," I growl low in warning without turning around.

"How did you know I was here?"

Her voice is soft, almost embarrassed at getting caught, but filled with genuine curiosity. "You've been following me for ten blocks now...ever since 12th and Main."

"But how did you know?" she asks again as she comes to a stand beside me.

"I always know, Princess."

She seems to consider this for a long moment as she folds her arms against her chest, staring down at the street below. "I just thought I'd stop by to see if you—"

"I don't need any help," I icily grind out the words that are punctuated with the raw anger still teeming inside of me.

I can feel her looking at me out of the corner of my eye as if trying to asses my mood and deciding whether to risk further conversation with me. "I know you don't," she finally continues, unruffled by my terseness. "I just got back from an earthquake in Chile and wondered if you wanted to get something to eat. I'm starving."

"I don't have time," I curtly respond, finally taking in her appearance at last.

She's completely covered in dirt and dust, her hair windblown and yet she still somehow manages to look alluring. She turns to look at me and it's all I can do not to smirk in amusement. She has dirt streaked all over her face, a cut on her cheekbone and she's standing there smiling at me as if this is the way that she always looks.

"You want to go get something to eat looking like this?" I can't help but ask her as I look her over from head to toe.

"Yeah...why not?" she says with a shrug. "I could really use a cheeseburger and a milkshake."

I shake my head in amazement as I stare at her. "Who exactly won in this battle with the earthquake?"

"I did...of course."

She glances down at the bag in my hand, her expression growing solemn. "You stopped another deal tonight."

It's more of a statement then a question as she takes the bag from my hand, holding it up to study it. "Stopped two teenagers before they could get their hands on it," I inform her.

"And the drug dealer?"

"He'll be able to talk once he wakes up," I reveal with a measure of satisfaction.