Batman: Genesis

Chapter Sixteen - Wayne Manor

[Bruce]

Bruce stood back and watched his guests arrive. He held events at Wayne Manor about once a month, more or less, and he knew how to entertain. Alfred had set up everything and gotten ready for the event, while Bruce fool-proofed his plan to find out the identity of the Black Mask. Everything would spring into action the moment Roman Sionis arrived at the event. Bruce couldn't confront him directly, of course, since he had no proof to back up the would-be-empty allegations. No, he'd have to prove the suspicions first.

Bruce took part in some light conversations with the guests, but never took his eyes off the doors. Usually he would only personally welcome the first several guests before it got too crowded, but this time he was looking for someone in particular. He would keep his eyes glued to the doors, until Sionis walked through them. He just hoped Sionis would come. There was no guarantee, so Bruce just had to gamble on the fact that Sionis would want to carry out revenge and would see the event at Wayne Manor as the perfect invitation to do so.

Finally, Roman Sionis walked in. Bruce recognized him from the picture on the internet. Bruce caught Alfred's glance and nodded. Then he walked forward toward Roman.

"Bruce Wayne," Sionis said as Bruce approached, shaking his head. "I was surprised to get your invitation."

"Ah, Sionis, is it?" Bruce greeted. "Yes, I invited several of your employees as well."

"Roman Sionis," Sionis said. He looked around the room. "Former employees, I'm sure you mean. Funny, I don't see any of them here."

"It's a large place," Bruce replied. "Anyway, I was just heading out for some fresh air when you walked in. Care to join me?"

"Why not?"

Bruce led Roman out of the front doors of the Manor and then curved around, leading them out toward the back. The back of the Wayne Manor was an empty grass lot, with a singular wooden bench in the center. The bench had been there for as long as Bruce had, and Bruce often sat there to clear his head. He explained this to Sionis as he sat down.

"There's no security cameras facing back here either," he said, "so this is my one private place. I come here quite often."

"Nice place," Sionis commented.

They sat in silence for a few minuted before Roman spoke up again.

"Do you remember me, Bruce?"

"Of course I do," Bruce said. "President of Janus Cosmetics."

"The former president," Roman pointed out again. "Do you really not remember? You're the reason I was fired!"

Bruce frowned. "Yes, I remember quite well. I'm the reason you don't have a job. But you're leaving out a few key details. If it hadn't been for my company, Janus Cosmetics would have drowned in lawsuits."

"We could have dealt with them!"

"There were hundreds of them," Bruce said evenly. "Believe me, I remember. Your latest product wasn't tested enough and turned out hazardous. When the lawsuits flooded in, you accepted a bailout from Wayne Enterprises."

"Yes, with the condition that I resign!" Sionis said.

"Those were the terms," said Bruce. "You accepted them. The only way we could get your company out of this was a leadership change. You brought it upon yourself, Roman. Janus Cosmetics fell once you took ownership of it, and it's risen since you left. Some people just aren't cut out for business."

"It was my business!" Roman exclaimed. "I was forced to accept the terms by the board. But you didn't have to force my resignation. You could have bailed us out just fine without those terms."

"Don't tell me how to run my company, Roman," Bruce warned. "It's obvious that I'm better at it."

Roman looked like he was about to explode, but he managed to rein it in. He stood up and shook his head. "You ruined my life, Bruce Wayne. I just wanted you to know that."

With that, Roman walked back toward the front of the Manor, leaving Bruce still on the bench. Bruce frowned and looked at the ground. Sionis had just left, without making a move against him. Bruce had thought that if they were alone, with no one watching, Sionis would make a move. Especially if properly provoked, which he was. But he had simply told Bruce how he felt and left, without laying a finger on him. That was unexpected.

Bruce eventually resigned to the fact that he had gotten the wrong guy, and had stood up to go back into the Manor when something hard made contact with his skull. Bruce hit the grass and looked up to see a dozen men wearing masks standing over him. Then his vision faded out completely.