Batman: Hero of Gotham

27- A Chat With The Mayor

City Hall, 7:03 PM.

Bruce walked into City Hall with a plan. A plan that will get him answers. On his way to Hill's office, a black lady at a desk stopped him. "Sorry, the Mayor's busy. Do you have an appointment? The mayor's doing debate prep. He really can't be disturbed now."

"You're really telling me that Bruce Wayne needs an appointment?"

"But the mayor--"

"-- will be fine. And if he fires you, just come work for me. Deal?" She smiled and looked away. Bruce opened the doors to the office.

"Bruce Wayne? Finally you've come to see me. Of course only after your name's been dragged through the mud. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad to see you. But, you're a day late and a great many dollars short." Hill said.

"We can be friends, Hill." Bruce said. "I'd like us to put aside out differences."

"It's easy to ask for peace when you've already lost the war. But I won't be the one to deny a fresh start." Hill turned around, revealing his aged face. "Your father and I, we took this city and made it ours. Falcone too, rest his soul. We built everything we have. You were born with it. A soft boy like you wouldn't understand what it takes to rise to the top."

"Oh, I understand. Very well." Bruce dropped the phone with Hill's voice on his desk. He pressed a button that activated the recording.

"Sounds like me."

"It is you."

"So? What's your point? I take it you have one? Or are you just fond of my dulcet tones?"

"Why attack me? Because of Dent and the campaign?"

"I'm in Cobblepot's crosshairs, same as you--"

"But you fed them dirt on me!"

"Only the files I seized from Wayne Manor. Your father, Falcone and I-- we had ways of getting anything we wanted. How do you think your family got the land for Wayne Tower? Cobblepot wants retribution because we took his family's land. Oswald's family signed it over to us. Along with the rest of their assets."

"Even if that is true-- it's no excuse for Cobblepot's crimes."

"I quite agree. It doesn't hurt to understand your enemy's motives. There's so much more I could share-- if only we were friends. I could help you deal with Penguin. Let you in on some family history. But I'm caught in a dogfight with my political career-- and my rival has bottomless pockets. Now, if that rival were to, say, drop out. Or his advertising spend were to dry up...I might have a lot more resources for helping a new friend."

"Fine. If that's what it takes to earn your friendship."

"I knew you'd see the light. It's time we really talked. Power is an old oak-- the trunk stands strong, but it's the roots that hold it up. And the thickest of them lead to Arkham."

"Arkham Asylum?"

"Your father, me, Falcone, we used it to get our enemies out of the way-- drugged and declared them insane. It made it easy to take their things. Thomas was the doctor. I leveraged my political power to ease the transfer of assets."

"My father-- I can't believe he'd be a part of that."

"It doesn't matter if you believe. Penguin does. And he's not happy about it. Gotham was chaos before we took control. At least now there's a semblance of order. Listen, Bruce-- now that we're back on the same side-- your father's last gift to me. They're yours." Hill held out a keychain. "The keys to the city."

"Thank you." Bruce took the gift and stuffed it in his pocket.

"Hamilton. Call me Hamilton. Penguin's gathered quite a few victims to his crusade. But that's a problem for another day." Hill opened the doors to send Bruce out. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have to prep for the debate. My door is always open, Bruce. Next time make an appointment."

"Whatever deal you made with Penguin...he won't honor it."

"Don't worry about me. He's not a first to take a shot at me." Hill said goodbye and Bruce walked out of his office. He called up Alfred once again.

"Alfred-- get a warning to Gordon. Tell him to increase security at the debate. Hill seems to think he's safe, but Penguin's still out there."