BATMAN: Fall Of The Dark Knight #Wattys2016

11: DICK & BRUCE PT. 2

"Hello, Dick."

Bruce stepped into Dick Grayson's office. As he expected, Dick didn't appear to be happy to see him. In fact, he looked distressed as he was pacing back and forth behind his desk. Bruce could tell he hadn't slept.

"I don't have time, Bruce," he told him brusquely. "Barbara and Jane are missing. They went to the store yesterday and haven't been seen since. Her car was found in the parking lot and police have been looking everywhere for her."

"I know."

Dick stopped pacing and glared at him. "How do you know? This hasn't even been reported in the press yet."

"Vicki Vale told me."

He looked shocked. "When?"

"A moment ago. Before I came here."

"Why didn't she come to me and tell me what happened?"

Bruce didn't respond right away, which only seemed to infuriate Dick even more.

"What aren't you telling me, Bruce?"

Bruce let out a heavy sigh before he answered, "Bane has them."

Dick's face registered total shock and horror. "Bane?"

Bruce nodded. "Yes."

"How does Vicki know this?"

"She met with Bane earlier. He gave her a message. For me."

"Message? What message? What did he say in the message? Why did he take my family?" He slammed his fist down on his desk. "Damn it, Bruce, what aren't  you telling me?"

He let out another sigh. "He says he wants to fight me. Fight the Batman."

Dick hung his head down. He was silent for a moment, then he looked back up at Bruce and asked, "Where did he take them?"

"He's holding them at Arkham Asylum. That's where he says he wants to meet."

Dick immediately reached for the phone on his desk.

"What you doing?" Bruce asked him.

"What do you think I'm doing? I'm contacting the police and let them handle this."

"Don't."

"Why not?"

"Because Bane said he would kill both Barbara and Jane if he saw any police."

Dick held the phone up as he glared at Bruce. Then he reluctantly put the phone back down.

"You made the right decision, Dick."

"You haven't left me with much of a choice." He looked directly at his former mentor. "I'm trusting you like I've never trusted you before, Bruce."

Bruce nodded his head solemnly. "I understand."

"Well, understand this: If you get my family hurt in any way, I will come after you myself."

"I understand."

Dick nodded his head firmly. "Good. Just so we're clear." He paused. "Just how are you going to fight him? You're not exactly in your prime."

"Selina Kyle said the same thing to me."

"Well, for once, I agree with her." Bruce didn't answer Dick's question, which told Dick that he had something specific in mind to fight Bane. Dick had been around Bruce long enough to know that sometimes it's best not to ask him too many questions. "When are you going to face him?"

Bruce paused before he said simply, "Soon."

As Bruce began to turn away, Dick said, "I'm giving you an hour, Bruce. If I don't hear from you by then, I'm sending in the cops." Bruce said nothing and kept walking. When Bruce reached the door, Dick added sternly, "I meant what I said, Bruce. If my family gets hurt because of you, Bane will be the least of your worries."

Bruce hesitated and Dick thought he was about to say something, but then he silently opened the door and found himself staring face-to-face with Police Commissioner Harvey Bullock. The two men said nothing to each other as they stared at one another for a moment. Bruce couldn't help but notice Bullock had this strange look on his face like he knew some big secret about him. Harvey then looked over Bruce's shoulder and asked Dick, "Is everything all right in here, Mayor?"

Dick nodded quickly. "Yes, Commissioner Bullock. Everything's fine. Mr. Wayne was just leaving." 

With that, Bruce gave a terse nod of his head and said, "Commissioner."

Harvey touched the brim of his hat and replied, "Wayne."

Bruce walked past him and, although he didn't look back, he could feel Bullock's eyes staring down at him before he stepped inside Mayor Grayson's office . . .