No Man's Land

Chapter 6

"Take a look out there, boys." Harvey Dent grins from the safety of his penthouse at the flaming chaos below. "Everything is up for grabs out there. People will need our protection. And that's when we'll get 'em." Two Face turns away from his windows and slams his hands on his desk, making his followers jump back in fear.

Even the ones who have been with his gang the longest have no clue what will make Harvey snap into his second personality. The burnt remnants of the left half of his face remind them of how gruesome of a person they are following... but better with Two Face than against him.

"People are scared and scrambling for the essentials, the number one thing being protection. We can use this to expand our operation. A family wants protection? They need to provide something for us: food, clothing, shelter, money, and if they can't... well, then they will have to owe me a favor. Remind them that I have the power to get them through this and keep them safe. The Bat is dead."

"H-how do you know that, sir?" One petrified henchman croaks.

"Because he hasn't shown up! That's why!"

The henchman stumbles backwards to hide himself in the crowd.

"Go door to door, gentlemen, and offer our services. Be your charming selves."

The henchmen burst into laughter. They knew better than to not laugh at one of his jokes.

"And if any of Penguin's crew decides to show up, show 'em who runs this town."

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Lois Lane adjusts the microphone that is clipped on her suit jacket. She looks over at her interviewee, and it seems like he is a completely different person. His face is locked in a stern frown as an audio worker helps him with his microphone. His city was just hit by a major earthquake, but still... why does he care now? She will just have to ask him. She smiles as her crew sends him over to their chairs.

"Mister Wayne."

He feigns a smile, "Miss Lane."

"I wish this conversation was under better circumstances."

"As do I..." He stares off at the monitors behind the cameras.

"Bruce." He snaps out of his daze. "Are you alright?"

"I'll manage."

"Look, Bruce if this isn't something you're ready for-"

He looks her dead in the eye, "I need to do this, Lois."

She nods, trying to understand, trying to comfort, until a producer yells, "We're on in ten, people!"

She looks across at Bruce, offering one more word of comfort, "Just remember to breathe."

A slight smile comes to his eyes, but fades as quickly as it came. The light above the camera turns red, signaling Lois that they are now live.

The director focuses on a close up of Lois as she begins to speak, "Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I'm Lois Lane. We all face times in our lives that define us as human beings. Tonight, our guest has gone through unbearable loss to become the man he is today, and loss faces him and his city once again. Our guest needs no introduction except the mention of his name: Bruce Wayne." She looks at Bruce, elegantly tuning out the moving of cameras around them, "Thank you for being here with us tonight, Bruce."