BATMAN: Fall Of The Dark Knight #Wattys2016

8: SELINA & BRUCE

After his confrontation with Dick Grayson, Bruce fell into an even deeper depression fueled by his drinking. He had contacted Lucius Fox and informed him shortly after Alfred's death that he was taking an extended leave of absence from Wayne Enterprises and that he was leaving all major decisions involving the company to him. Bruce now spent the bulk of his time holed up in his study mostly drinking and sleeping. Bruce didn't know how he was going to get out of the funk he was in. He wasn't entirely sure he wanted to get out of it, that perhaps Gotham--and the world--would be a better place not only without Batman but without him in it.

Then, just when things seemed their bleakest, someone unexpected reentered his life.

"Hello, Bruce," said the familiar-sounding female voice behind him.

Bruce was slumped in his chair in his study, the very same chair he had been sitting in when Dick confronted him. He turned around in his seat and saw none other than Selina Kyle standing in the doorway to his study much to his surprise.

"S-Selina?" he gasped.

"Yep," she said, stepping inside his study, "it's me."

"W-what are you doing here?"

Selina was gazing about the room like she was casing the place and said, "Actually, it was Barbara Grayson who got in touch with me about checking up on you. She was worried about you, if you can believe it, especially after the run-in you had with Dick."

"Yeah," he admitted, nodding his head. "That didn't go over so well."

"So I heard." 

"How did you get in here?"

She grinned wickedly at him, something she had done to him too many times to count. 

"I'm a former criminal, remember?" Bruce chuckled along with Selina. He couldn't recall the last time he had a good chuckle or when he had anything to chuckle about. "Actually, it wasn't that hard to break into this place. I remember that butler of yours running a tighter ship around here."

"You mean Alfred," Bruce said sharply.

"Yeah, Alfred," Selina responded, realizing she had hit a nerve. "I'm really very sorry for what happened to him. I don't think he ever approved of me very much."

"Yeah," said Bruce. "I don't think he really did either."

They shared another chuckle. Then Selina got serious as she asked him, a concerned expression on her face, "So, Bruce, how have you been? I mean really?"

Bruce grunted. "Isn't it obvious."

She reached down and grabbed one of the many empty beer bottles strewn about the floor. She held it out in front of her. "Since when did you take up drinking? You used to be the biggest teetotaler I'd ever seen." When Bruce didn't answer her right away, she added, "You're stronger than this, Bruce."

"Am I?" he shot back.

She nodded. "Yes, you are. In fact, you're one of the strongest people I know. And I'm not just talking about Batman."

"Times change," he snapped. "People change."

She threw the bottle back down on the floor and sighed. "Look, if this is about you, about Batman, killing that Harley Quinn, you know I myself have killed."

"Yes, I know."

"So I know what you're going through. It's never an easy thing to take another person's life even if you're justified in doing so. I mean, there were plenty of times I felt like killing that annoying little bitch Harley myself."

"Killing is never justified!"

She let out another sigh. "Look, Bruce, I didn't come here to get into a philosophical debate with you about murder."

"Then what did you come here for?"

"I came here to tell you that you need to snap out of it and stop feeling so damned sorry for yourself."

He snorted. "That's easier said than done."

"I know it is. But if there's anyone who can get their life back on track, it's you."

"I'm not so sure what I'm capable of anymore, Selina." Bruce lowered his head as tears began streaming down his face. "I've lost everyone, Selina. Alfred. Jason. Billy. Dick. Barbara. Jim. My parentts. Everyone."

Selina stepped up to him and knelt down in front of him. She cupped his bearded face in her hands and offered him a sympathetic smile. She wiped his tears away with her thumbs.

"You haven't lost me, Bruce."

Selina wrapped her arms around Bruce and hugged him tightly. Bruce laid his head on her shoulder and sobbed. They held each other for a while. When they finally broke away from each other, Selina gazed at Bruce and asked softly, "Do you feel any better, Bruce?"

Bruce managed a grin and said, "Yeah."

"Good," she replied, grinning. "Listen, Bruce, I'll help you get your life back on track if you want me to. But, first," she started to get up, "you really need to take a shower. You stink!"

Bruce chuckled as he got up from his seat to do as she asked, which wasn't the first time for him to do so.

During the next few months, Bruce did indeed get his life back on track with Selina's help. He stopped drinking and he started to get back into shape. Some days were easier than others, of course, but, on those bad days, he had Selina there to help him out of his funk. Selina and Bruce also grew closer during this time as they rekindled their on-again, off-again romance. One thing that Bruce and Selina didn't bring up was either Batman or Catwoman. Bruce didn't have any interest in becoming Batman again anymore than Selina wished to become Catwoman again. They both seemed happier not to be burdened by the baggage of their notorious alter-egos. Also during this time, Barbara Grayson gave birth to a healthy baby named Jane Marie. He found out about the birth on the news like everyone else. He was disappointed Dick chose not to tell him himself of his daughter's birth like he was disappointed Dick chose not to tell him he got married to Barbara. But he wasn't surprised. There was still plenty of bad blood between him and Dick, and, judging from their last heated confrontation, there likely wouldn't be any reconciliation between the two of them anytime soon . . . if ever. Apart from this, things were starting to look up for Bruce with Selina by his side. But, as it seemed to always be the case in Bruce's life, just when things started to appear to be going positively, something happened that threatened to not only derail his newfound happiness but to also force him to don the cape and cowl one last time . . .

I know there's been a lot of talking in this story, but I promise the action REALLY heats up in the following chapters, which, like always, I will get up ASAP. And, like always, please feel free to comment and let me know what you think about the story thus far. Thanks!