The Fall Of House Farouk

Chapter 17

I woke up in bed, feeling unfamiliar with the surroundings. Sitting up I allowed my brain fog to clear a little, now recognizing that I have been staying at Uncle Roland's townhouse across the same neighbourhood of 10 Downing Street. After giving the order to sink the vessels in the Caspian Sea I decided to stay somewhere else to calm myself, even though I had authorized the strike. Like my predecessors I agree that decisions like this are hard, as it would either make or break your legacy as president. 

I left the townhouse ten minutes later, preparing to take a morning walk. Last night the weather forecast reported heavy snowfall as today's weather and lo and behold, the front step has already been coated with snow. Stepping out into the snowy walkway dressed in a black long-sleeved shirt, grey pants, and a black winter coat lined with synthetic fur, I opened a navy blue umbrella, beginning my morning walk. London has been thoroughly transformed into a winter wonderland of sorts. I would have guessed it to be Mr Freeze's doing at first, but then again it would have been odd for him even to leave Gotham City. Walking past 10 Downing Street I continued towards London Bridge, while passersby crossed paths with me, ranging from business persons to couples to families. 

I still don't feel ready to reconcile with Richard, as the wounds are still fresh and hurtful. Neither would I fault Alfred, as he promised me that he would never simply reveal to anyone the true story, except Bruce, because he had already known the whole thing and had no interest in letting more people know. I tilted my umbrella backwards, letting the fresh white snow land on my hair and face. The cold winds continued to billow, gently lifting my unbound hair. As I walked I could feel someone following me, but I didn't turn back in order to not alert whoever it was. I continued to walk, passing by important structures such as Westminster Hall, the seat of government here in the UK. I stopped at a crosswalk, and the light turned red before I could cross the road. 

Grumbling internally I had to wait, but I couldn't shake the fact that someone was still following me. I can feel it as the stranger stopped behind me, but instead of attacking the stranger embraced me from behind, nearly causing me to drop the umbrella. The figure leaned in close, and I felt the stranger's warm breath on my neck. "You already knew that someone's been following you." the stranger said. 

"How did you know that I was staying here?" I say. "I didn't mention it in the voicemail I left you."

"Your grandaunt told me that." Bruce said. "She said that you don't want to be disturbed." 

"Yeah, maybe I am." I say. Bruce soon stood next to me, holding my hand in his. "We... managed to plug in the hard drive, which might yield some results."

"You talked to your aunt already?" he asked me. The lights soon turned green, prompting us to cross the road while the cars stopped to a halt. 

"Just last night." I say. "We have to tweak our timing here, as it was morning in Seoul." 

"Oh, the time zone differences." Bruce said. We crossed the road, walking hand in hand as I held the umbrella. "Dick said he came here to reconcile, but I had a feeling that you're not ready." 

"I decided to let him be, Bruce." I say. "My grandfather often says, we ourselves are responsible for the friends we made, rather than having someone to control how we make friends."

"I agree with him, but... are you sure that you wouldn't feel awkward or anything when the two of you meet?" 

"You didn't feel awkward when we went out for some meals even though you are still romancing Selina." I say. 

"Fair enough." Bruce replied. We reached a nearby coffee house and Bruce pushed the glass door open, entering first. He kept the umbrella and held it in his hand while I entered later. 

The scent of hot coffee permeated the air as we sat down for our morning meal, seated at a table far away from the crowd. "What did you find in the hard drive?" Bruce asked, taking a sip from his cup. 

"Stuck at the passcode. The user had a substitution cypher planted instead of hints." I replied. "It was puzzle-solving time, but we think that it might be linked to Suleiman's past, or the country of origin."

"The Republic of Egypt." Bruce said. "That might be the answer." 

"Or the Ottoman Empire." I say, stirring the coffee. "It might be a historical event." 

"And you know where to find it." 

"Probably, but the cypher is scrambled."

"I remember that you said that he was a-"

"Assassin who works for the Soviets, yes." I say. "My grandfather was reluctant to help him defect. It's one of the few regrets he had." 

"Truly. Even I was fooled about Suleiman's past." Bruce said. 

"He killed Rosa's husband." I say. 

"What?" Bruce asked, looking at me in the eye. 

"Suleiman... he wasn't Rosa's first husband." I say. "It was a man called Antonio Ferrera. He is the biological father of Safiya's two children." 

"We shouldn't discuss it here." Bruce said, getting up. 

We left the cafe and walked the same path back home, passing by the construction site at 10 Downing Street, this time he was the one who held the umbrella. The streets surrounding the area remained laden with snow, but snow ploughs were on the way, clearing as much snow as they could. "I remembered passing by here, seeing you sitting alone on the bench there." Bruce said, gesturing at a bench nearby now covered with snow. 

"It's getting cold." I say. Taking out the set of keys I unlocked the door to the townhouse, the door swinging open upon being unlocked. The first rule after entering the home is to drop off our coats at the coat rack. 

"Here." Bruce said, offering to take off my coat. 

"I don't..." I protested, but he had already taken it off from me. We sat down by the television, anchored to the wall above the fireplace, with a fire lit after I woke up. We cuddled for warmth from the fireplace, Bruce holding me close in his arms.