Chapter Text
The years of never ending luxury events, company parties, regal memorials were all the same: Dull, boring, and even more boring. Food that had no way of filling you up unless you were stationed at the side of the table itself, and even more annoyed by people who will begin talking to you about your intake of food.
These parties were only for snobby rich people who were only looking for ways to line their pockets and either embezzle or run dry the vaults of any of the companies that they whispered promises of prosperity and loyalty for years to come.
The constant sound of fake laughter rang throughout the party halls of the grand estate of the Wayne Manor, it’s just as extravagant inside as the tabloids have stated in the papers. Tonight was no different than any other party that one young girl hadn’t attended in the past. No people her age, just old heads dazzled in their fancy jewels, suits and furs.
16 year old Kehlani Bridges pulled at the collar of her dress, her mother had forced her to wear such an atrocious outfit tonight. It was designed with plaids all over it with a short collar and short sleeves. At least it had pockets so that was a perk. Kehlani could swear she stuck out like a sore thumb that hiding in the corner of the estate was a great idea to keep out of sight of anyone.
Sighing she placed her hands into her pockets and looked at the double glass doors leading outside to the gardens. It was her best option at the moment, this way she would be able to breathe again and to finally get out of the air of luxury and snobbery.
Making her way past the lavish bushes shaped like rabbits, Kehlani looks around the intricate flowers and plants that littered the ground. Each was grazed with details that would make you think you were in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
Kehlani pets the petals of a nearby rose and suddenly jumps when she hears a yell a few feet away from where she stood.
Her pointed shoes were thankfully quiet, as she walked to a bush where she heard the yell and peeked her head over the green shrubbery.
She sees a young boy grab the tie that was around his neck and throw it down on the concrete in frustration. He rubbed his hands through his previously combed back hair and fixed it to where it fell over his face.
“Damn this party!” He curses and wipes his face.
The boy walks over to the bench nearby and sits down with a huff, leaning forward to fold his hands together and head bowed.
Kehlani watches his left leg begin to bounce in place under him and deep breaths leave him. Kehlani felt it best to leave him alone, there was no need to bother him if he was going through something that had nothing to do with her. It was best, right?
Then why did she find herself walking around the bush she was hiding behind and approaching him? She swore she made a decision prior to doing this.
As Kehlani walked closer to the boy she stopped, his shoulders were shaking and his breaths were coming out choppy.
‘Oh man.’ She thought, awkwardly rubbing her arm.
‘Now I really shouldn’t bother him, he’s upset and I don’t know what to do with people who are upset.’ She groaned quietly and that made the boy look up at her with teary blue eyes. Under the moonlight it made his blue eyes shine and Kehlani awed at this.
“Well, aren't you cute? I’m Kehlani.”
The boy turns his head away, wiping away the trail of tears on his face.
“What do you want?”
“I heard someone yell this way and I got nosey, really.” Kehlani shrugged.
“May I?” She points to the empty space on the bench.
“Whatever.” He grumbles and Kehlani sat down anyway without him finishing his sentence.
They sit in silence and Kehlani swings her feet back and forth, humming a bit then returning to silence.
“You know, I don’t really like these kinds of parties. It’s always the same thing over and over. My father meets his business partners, my mom makes new ‘friends’ to add to her social circle and I’m just here because my parents say that it would be good for me. Good for the business.” She rants.
The boy side-eyed her as she talks and starts twisting his fingers in boredom. Kehlani could see that he was at least listening to her, that was a good sign, someone was finally listening to her talk about something else other than business and whatnot. She decided to continue.
“I wish I was playing my new video game, The Sledger, I worked hard the past two months to pay the $80 for it. I had to both babysit and cut a lot of people’s grass for it.” She continued.
“I think it’s funny how my dad-“
“Do you mind? I’m trying to collect my thoughts here.” He cuts her off and Kehlani raises a brow at him.
“I was just talking, at least you stopped crying.” She smiles.
“I wasn’t crying.” He huffs. Kehlani stifled a giggle.
“Well we can just call it ‘waterfalls’ then, okay?”
“Waterfalls? Really?” He raises a brow at her, turning his head to face her finally. Kehlani shrugs.
“That’s all I could think of. Kind of out of my element right now. I’m supposed to be the diligent, sweet, and obedient daughter tonight. I have to be on my best behavior.” She says, sighing.
“You…your folks make you do these events? Like they force you?” He speaks up.
“No, not all the time, usually my older brother and sister are here to represent the next generation of our father’s company but coincidentally they were both not available to come tonight. So, I’m their replacement.” She said,
“Why come?”
“Believe it or not, my parents are very good folks. They were both dirt poor and grew up to become educated and successful. They taught me to be very humble and to work for the things that I wanted, just because I live a luxurious life doesn’t mean I should flaunt it and be selfish to others.” She fixes her Afro pigtails that were sitting on her shoulders and leans forward.
“Huh…” he scoffs in interest and runs a hand through his black hair.
“My…well, I don’t like these parties but, I have to attend because the guy who is hosting is making me. I don’t really like interacting with people so much.” He shrugged. Kehlani hums in understanding.
“You’re talking to me.”
“You’re talking AT me.” He corrects.
“But you’re listening.” She sings.
“I’m not.”
“You are.”
“Whatever!” He says and Kehlani laughs. They sit in silence again and Kehlani sees that he had turned his head away again.
“Soooo…are you going to tell me your name now?”
“Why should I?” He asks.
“I was going to start calling you kid because you looked younger and shorter than me but I can’t do that now can I?”
“Younger? Short? I’m 16!” He is once again looking at her and Kehlani gives a blank face, clearly not believing him.
“I am! And I’m taller than you!” He stands up to show off his height and crosses his arms. Kehlani smirks lazily and stands up as well.
He watches as she stands to her full height and looks up at her, his boost of confidence dialing down in shock at how tall she really is. The girl stood at least two feet taller than him and the boy couldn’t help but feel his cheeks heat up.
‘Is she an Amazon?’ He thought, gulping.
“Yeah, we’re both tall, and? This a competition now? If you really want one then try and beat me at one of my fighting games, then we’ll see who’s really bad.” She brags with her arms folded.
“Now, what’s your name?” She asked.
“Uhhh…my name is Jason. Jason Todd.” He stutters. Kehlani sighs and sits back down on the bench.
“I know, my height pretty much makes me look like a freak. I have to always bend down to take pictures with my friends, clothes look funny on me, and I can’t participate in any sports at school besides cheerleading. Boys don’t believe that I can watch anime, or read comics, or play video games. They think that I’m lying and that I should use my height to be one of their cheerleaders. It’s a curse.” She says.
Jason sits next to her as he listens and purses his lips. He knew what it felt like to be an outcast, and it didn’t help that he was an orphan either.
“I don’t think you’re a freak.”
“Yeah sure.” Kehlani said, not believing him.
“No seriously. I think people who are comfortable with themselves should stay themselves. No need to change for anyone else.” He said and Kehlani looked to see how genuine he was being.
A smile found itself appearing on her face and she felt her left pocket vibrate. Fishing her fans into the pocket she digs around until she finds the vibrating device. Her phone was overloaded with texts from her parents questioning her whereabouts.
Sighing, she texts them back with a promise to return to the party momentarily and smiles apologetic to Jason.
“Parents calling for you?” He deduces and Kehlani nods.
“Yeah, they are saying that they are ready to go home.” She said.
Both getting up, Kehlani holds out her phone to him and Jason raises a brow at her.
“What?” He asked in confusion. Kehlani rolls her eyes.
“I’m giving you my phone to put your number in.” She tells him.
“Oh…I, uh, don’t have a phone yet.” He says sheepishly.
“Oh, okay, then here,” she digs into her pocket again and pulls out a small notepad and pencil nestled in the springs.
“I’ll write down my number and then when you get a phone you can text me.” She says writing down her digits quickly and tearing out the small paper to hand it to him.
Jason looks over the paper for a moment then back at the girl before him. A small smile appears on his face and he nods.
“Sure I’ll text you.” He said. Kehlani winks at him and holds out her hand for him to shake.
“It was nice meeting you Jason Todd.” She says, smiling.
Jason takes a hold of her outstretched hand and shakes it, smiling as well.
“It was nice to meet you too, Kehlani.” He slowly lets go of her hand and Kehlani bashfully looks away.
She takes this time to head back to the manor and finds her parents waiting for her at the double doors.
“Kehlani there you are,” her mother says as she comes close and pulls her daughter into a hug. Kehlani returns her mother’s embrace.
“Did you have a good time baby?” Her father asks next. Kehlani gives him a blank look at his question and he chuckles.
“I don’t even know why I asked. Well, let’s get going, your mother and I have to get to work early tomorrow.” He says and the three begin their walk to the valet area in the front of Wayne Manor.
As Kehlani walks down the steps of the manor, she looks back at the large home, hoping to get a glimpse of her new friend and when she doesn't see him she continues on her way.
Fortunately for her, Jason was watching her leave from the library and smiled.
“I gotta ask for a phone. Bruce!” He calls as he leaves the window and bolts off to find his foster father.
For the next year and a half, Kehlani and Jason grow closer as friends, each alternating to one another’s house to hang out, meeting up at public places and even taking the opportunity to share almost everything about one another.
It was an interesting conversation when Jason accidentally revealed that he was Batman's sidekick, Robin. Kehlani had figured it was him when he and his foster father Bruce Wayne suddenly disappeared together when a bomb went off at one of the events in downtown Gotham and then came back when the heat was finally over.
They found themselves sitting on a random building talking about what happened and Kehlani came right out and asked him if he was the Boy Wonder.
Jason couldn’t find a good enough excuse to deter her suspicions and finally came out and confessed.
“What gave me away?” He asked as he took off his mask. His blue eyes watching her tilt her head at him.
“It wasn’t too hard to tell, Jay. You were still wearing the same hairstyle and cologne that you wore when we were at the event.” Kehlani told him bored. Jason rubbed the back of his neck in embarrassment.
“I thought I had been more discreet.” He says and Kehlani smiles at her best friend.
“And I can assume that Bruce is…?” She uses her fingers to make bat ears above her head. Jason nods.
“Don’t worry,” she placed a hand on his shoulder.
“I won’t tell your secret.” She says and watches as he smiles and puts his mask back on.
“Well, go and save our crappy place we call home. And be careful.” She says gently pushing him.
Jason quickly turns to her and kisses her cheek. Kehlani jumps back in surprise putting a hand on her cheek and watching the Boy Wonder give her a two finger salute and jump off the building.
“You troglodyte!” She yells leaning over the building and watching him grapple away.
Kehlani sits back on her bottom and tries to collect her thoughts as she tries to process what happened. He just kissed her, Kehlani knew she liked Jason but she didn’t want to risk their friendship if feelings were going to be one sided.
Now she had to think about what happens now.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Unfortunately, she wouldn’t be able to have any way of knowing how to talk with Jason after that night. The next day she didn’t get a text from Jason like she usually would around that time and thought that maybe he was going through the same existential crisis as her. Maybe they would talk later.
He never texted her back, and for the next two weeks Kehlani would call and text him, hoping for an answer. Nothing.
Thinking that it was best to go to the Wayne Manor herself, Kehlani needed to know what was going on and that’s where she found herself going up the steps of the manor that Monday morning. Kehlani held a new manga that she hadn’t read yet with her as a way to show she came in peace and maybe it would help bring some unease tension down.
Pressing the doorbell, she heard the familiar jingle that rang out from inside and patiently waited for the door to open.
The mahogany doors creak open and Kehlani is met with Alfred Pennyworth, the ever loyal and faithful servant of the Wayne family who had come to greet her. His usual demeanor was different from the past times that she had come by and it confused Kehlani.
“Hello Miss. Bridges.” She smiles at the older man.
“Hi Alfred, is Jason home? I wanted to show him my new manga I got last week.” She holds up the book to show him.
“I haven’t seen him in a whole 14 days and I’m assuming that he is either sick or busy but-“
“I’m sorry Miss. Kehlani but…Master Todd is currently not here.” Alfred says.
“Oh, then when will he be back?” She asked, her worry started to grow.
“He is currently away right now, in another country with Master Bruce at the moment. I…do not know when they will return.” He explained.
Kehlani eyes downcast dejected at the news and sighs.
“Oh. Thanks for letting me know Alfred. I’ll come back another time.” As she turns to leave, Alfred watches her go with a saddened frown of his own.
Beginning to close the doors he heard footsteps come up to the doors and looked to see Kehlani holding out a piece of paper to the butler; her phone number on it.
“Please Alfred, I know I can’t talk to Mr. Wayne, or Dick but can you please let me know when Jason is home?” Alfred looks down at the paper then the young girl.
“Please Alfred. He’s my best friend and I’m scared something has happened to him.” She begged.
Alfred sighs and grabs the paper from her but Kehlani holds on to the paper for a second as she looks at the man dead in his eyes.
“Promise me you will call me once you know something.” She demands.
“Yes Miss. Kehlani, I will call you. I promise I will.” He says and Kehlani nods, finally leaving.
Alfred looked down at the piece of paper and brought it to his chest, holding it to his heart.
“Oh Master Todd,” Alfred sighs and finally closes the doors.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Another three weeks passed and Kehlani was growing impatient. Her worry was through the roof at this point and it didn’t help the fact that she has yet to hear any updates from Alfred.
She had thoughts that Alfred threw away her number but she knew that he would never do that. Another thought was that Jason didn’t want to talk to her anymore and that’s why Wayne Manor had been radio silent for so long. No that couldn’t be. It wasn’t true.
Kehlani paced back and forth in her room, she was growing more and more anxious throughout the day and her parents were beginning to notice.
A knock at her door goes unanswered as Kehlani continued her mental mantra that Jason was still her friend. Her parents open her door and see that she hadn’t even acknowledged them when they stepped inside.
“Kehlani, you’ve been absent for the past three to four weeks now and every time we’ve come up here to talk with you, you’re going off to Wayne Manor.” Her father says as he sits in a nearby chair.
Kehlani didn’t hear a thing, her mother gently grabs her hand and this stops Kehlani completely breaking her from mental space. Kehlani looks at her parents and fat tears are instantly rolling down her face, as distressed wails leave her lips.
Kehlani’s mother brings her into a tight embrace, and Kehlani held tight onto her mother as she sobbed pathetically into her silk blouse.
“He hates me Mom! I don’t know what happened but he won’t even talk to me, let alone see me!” She weeps. Her parents look at one another, unsure as to what she meant.
“What do you mean he won’t see you?” Her father asks.
“I went over to his house a couple of weeks ago and Alfred told me that he wasn’t there! It’s been weeks and I haven’t heard anything!” She cries and her mother caresses her hair.
The two adults look at one another and based on their daughter’s current reaction something needs to be done.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The next morning, Mr. and Mrs. Bridges were sitting in the sitting room patiently waiting for their host of Wayne Manor to come and speak with them.
Alfred offers them both a cup of coffee and only Mrs. Kehlani had a cup while they continued to wait. Hearing footsteps, the couple looks up to see Dick Grayson come into the sitting room, a strained smile on his lips as he sat down across from them on a plush chair.
“Hello Mr. and Mrs. Bridges, I will be filling in for Bruce today, he is currently out at the moment.” Dick tells them.
“I was hoping that we could talk with Mr. Wayne.” Mr. Bridges says.
“I’m sorry for the short notice but, how can I be of assistance to you?” He questions.
The parents look at one another sadly before explaining their daughter’s current dilemma. Dick nods to their words and each time they would continue their story his frown would grow deeper in pain.
“And we just want to know what has happened to her friend. Jason is a good boy to her and our family and we are worried about him. Kehlani is distraught about his sudden cut of contact with her.“ Mr. Bridges says.
There is a silence that takes up the room and Dick folds his hands together in front of him.
“Jason is currently…he is away.”
“Away? Away where?” Mrs. Bridges asks.
“At an all boy island where they are educated about the arts and culture of the country of Gotham. It’s a very intricate place for orphans like Jason and I where boys can become wards of the state.” Dick fibs.
“Well why didn’t anyone tell my daughter about this? She’s been hysterically crying since Jason had stopped contacting her and now you’re saying he’s at some island? What kind of nonsense is that?” Mrs. Bridges asks in disbelief.
“I’m sorry Mrs. Bridges but that is where Jason is currently and I am unaware of when he will officially return.” He explains.
Picking up their coats, The Bridges stand up from their seats obviously displeased with the answers they were given.
“I don’t know what kind of foolishness you have going on around here but I know one thing, if something happened to that boy we’ll get the proper authorities to investigate all of you.” Mr. Bridges threatens as they leave the manor.
Alfred escorts them out the manor and makes sure that they are safely driving down the road before returning to the house.
Officially a total of six months had passed since Jason’s disappearance and Kehlani decided that she needed some answers and stormed her way to the Wayne Manor.
Enough was enough.
Ringing the doorbell, she waited patiently for the door to be answered by Alfred. For a long time no one answered and Kehlani rang the doorbell again. Again, no answer.
Grabbing the doorknob, Kehlani turned it and lo and behold, it opened and the teen steps inside Wayne Manor.
“Hello? Alfred?” She called out.
The darkness of the foyer was unsettling, it was like a haunted house and Kehlani took the time to look around the house. Every room she had gone into on the first floor was empty and dark, no signs of life had been found. Usually around this point Alfred would be making his rounds by keeping the house clean but Kehlani couldn’t find him anywhere.
She checked all the rooms on the second floor. Still nothing.
Her panic was beginning to rise again as she hurried back down to the first floor. Where was everyone? Kehlani rushes down the hallway to Bruce’s study and knocks, walking inside to see, no sign of life here either.
The large display of both Martha and Thomas Wayne sat on the wall of the study, perhaps the only thing that was an official portrait of the Wayne family and Kehlani always wondered why it was the only picture in here.
She approached the portrait, and even when standing below it, she still needed to stretch her neck to see the portrait. Her eyes then look at the grandfather clock that was sitting below the portrait and look at the time: 6:20.
It was well past noon and Kehlani noticed that the clock’s dial wasn’t even moving either. Opening the glass covering, Kehlani leans in close to hear that it didn’t even have the noise to tick anymore. An antique, she thought but then Kehlani remembers something that Jason had once told her.
Flashback
Jason and Kehlani are at their usual get together on a random apartment building, eating snacks and hanging out.
It was way past both their bedtimes and quite frankly neither cared at the moment.
Kehlani chugs on a soda as Jason eats some chips. It was a quiet evening, Jason didn’t have to do patrol and Gotham was actually calm tonight, a blissful evening to just chill out for the two friends.
“So, is there like some secret lair that you have to go to? Like a hideout?” Kehlani asks also opening a bag of chips. Jason nods as he eats.
“Yeah, Bruce made it under his own house, with secret caves that stretch out all over Gotham. He said it’s to protect himself from anyone trying to figure out his identity.”
“Huh, that’s actually pretty cool.” Kehlani drinks the rest of her soda.
“Yeah but, he’s quite good at being elusive. You know the grandfather clock in the study? It doesn’t work, but that’s one of the many entrances to the Batcave.” Jason whispered. Kehlani raised a brow.
“The Batcave?”
“Yeah, that’s its name, it’s really cool, I’ll have to show you one day when Bruce isn’t around.”
“Nah, if it’s like any other hideout that I’ve seen superheroes have in comics then no thanks.” She lets out a loud burp and sees Jason tilt his head.
“Really? You’re not at all curious as to what’s down there?”
“Nope. I can already imagine what it looks like.”
“But, you have no idea what you’re missing out on! There are things in the hideout that no one else knows about, treasures that people have no idea exist, it’s really cool!” He says.
“No Jason. I’m not interested. It would be too nosey of me to go down there and I would rather not risk getting in trouble with Mr. Wayne again. My dad grounded me for a week the last time I got in trouble.” Kehlani shudders at the memory.
“But it was my fault that you were in trouble in the first place.” Jason tells her, solemnly.
“It wasn’t entirely your fault, I was also to blame for ruining the garden party. I did bring the water balloons.” She laughs and Jason joins her.
“Okay, then how about this if you ever run into any trouble, and you’re at the manor then promise me you’ll go down to the Batcave. It has safety mechanisms that will protect you.” Jason says.
“But Jason I already told you-“
“Promise me, Kehlani.” His expectant look for an answer was strong and Kehlani sighed, defeated.
“I promise.”
End of Flashback
Kehlani looked over the grandfather clock, using both hands to find either a latch or a button to gain access to the hideout.
For a long time, Kehlani found nothing that would help her move forward and hummed in thought. She looks back at the portrait of the Wayne family and puts a finger under her chin.
“Would it be…could it be that night?” She questions and pulls out her phone for a quick search.
“What time were Thomas and Martha Wayne killed?” Her installed search tool pulls up her answer to read: 10:48PM and Kehlani uses that information to properly move the minute and hour hands to the time. A click is heard and Kehlani jumps back in fear as the clock raises upwards and an illuminated elevator is revealed behind it.
Kehlani’s eyes widen at the new mechanism
“Oh my god, I’m smart as hell.” She praises herself.
Carefully stepping into the tube-like elevator, Kehlani watches the grandfather clock come back down and encase her in, then she felt her body jerk downwards as the floor below her opened and she dropped into the slide below her. A scream leaves her lips as she slides down and closes her eyes at the quick air that assaulted her face.
In just a few seconds, she found herself on solid ground and finally opened her eyes to see the infamous Batcave that Jason excitedly explained to her.
“Woah.” She says as she walks down the metal bridge to take the personal tour of the hideout, taking in the many treasures, trophies, and vehicles that littered the cave.
She finds herself in front of the giant supercomputer and sits down in the chair. But before she has the chance to touch anything on the keyboard, the sound of crashing dinnerware makes her jump and look to her right. Alfred is standing there with a look of surprise and is quickly rushing to her side.
“Miss Kehlani! How on earth did you know about this place? You shouldn’t be here!” He scolds her.
“I…I heard about this place and I found it by chance. What’s going on Alfred,” she stands up to the older gentleman who is rendered to pursing his lips.
“I came here to find out what happened to Jason and no one is telling me anything, not you, not Dick, and especially not Bruce. I don’t care that he is Robin and Bruce is the Batman-“
“How did-“
“What is going on Alfred? I have been coming up here almost everyday to get an answer from someone here and every time I come no one knows anything. Why the secrecy, my parents are beginning to get the police involved.”
Alfred visibly swallowed at the mention of law enforcement and sighed.
“I just want to know if Jason is okay, my best friend has been gone for six months and no one can tell me why.” Kehlani puts her hands together, practically begging the butler at this point.
“I’m begging you Alfred please tell me-“
Tires screeching in the distance are heard as the Batmobile comes to a halt in the parking area. The top of the car slides open and Kehlani marches over to the car, knocking on the window hard.
“Bruce I know it’s you in there, you better tell me what the hell is going on with Jason or I’ll tell my parents to get Gotham PD involved-“
Donning his Batman costume, the hero climbs out of his car and wearily walks to the supercomputer. Kehlani is hot on his trail, still asking him questions about Jason.
“Bruce, tell me!”
“Alfred, I found a tape…it’s from Joker.” Bruce says as he sits down at the supercomputer pulling off his cowl.
Alfred and Kehlani eyes widened, the Joker, the maniacal clown freak who is running around Gotham causing hell. Did he have Jason?
“Does he have Jason? Where is he?” Kehlani asks.
Bruce turns to the supercomputer and pulls out the tape from his utility belt, it was covered in Joker’s paraphernalia and a giant red J was written on the back.
Bruce pushes the vhs tape into the supercomputer and presses a button to show the proper input of the tape.
The screen automatically shifts onto the sadistic smile of the Joker himself, waving at the camera. As it began, the torture of Jason Todd had played out for the three, all speechless of what was playing for them.
“Miss. Kehlani I believe it’s best that you don’t watch this-“ Alfred tried to speak up, his own voice wavering as the tape played.
Kehlani watches helplessly as she watches her best friend be physically, mentally, and emotionally tortured, his screams were haunting and every time he would constantly lose consciousness no doubt from the unimaginable pain he was suffering, Kehlani was scared each time that he wouldn’t wake up.
Kehlani felt tears run down her cheeks as she continued watching, she couldn’t help but feel so helpless and didn’t realize that she had fallen to her knees in despair.
“Bruce…? Bruce is that you? Help me!” His cries for his foster father were desperate and helpless and Kehlani looked at the billionaire. Bruce himself was in tears, his hands balled into fists as he shakes, was it anger, horror, or fear? She couldn’t tell.
“Bruce!”
This was all his fault.
“Bruce please!”
“He did this. He brought him into this crime world.
“He’s going to kill me Bruce, please!”
Batman failed him.
“Bruce!”
Bruce Wayne failed him.
“Bruce, please help me! BRUCE!” Jason’s recorded voice continued yelling out for Bruce.
A shot was fired into his chest by the Joker and the maniacal laugh that everyone in Gotham was haunted by was heard and then the tape was cut, a blue screen now showing on the supercomputer.
Kehlani didn’t know what had happened next because all she heard was a snap inside of her ear and found herself on top of Bruce, knocking him out of his chair and throwing haymakers on his face.
“Miss Kehlani!” Alfred yelled out, coming over quickly to help his master.
“You bastard! I’LL KILL YOU!” Kehlani tears at his costume, punching and elbowing him everywhere on his body. Getting one more hit in, Alfred is finally able to pry Kehlani from the older man.
“You son of a bitch, it’s all your fault! I hate you! I hate you!” Kehlani wails as she falls back into the arms of Alfred.
“You brought him into this world of crime! You DID THIS!!” She kicked furiously in her hold.
“He called out for you and you didn’t come, you didn’t find him! I swear once I get out of this hold, I’m back on your ass! I’ll fucking kill you! Just you wait, you bastard!” Kehlani tries to move her arms out of Alfred’s unbelievable strength holding her back.
Bruce slowly gets back up and runs away the blood that had dribbled down the side of his lip.
“Alfred,” Bruce’s hoarse voice brings the butler’s attention back to him.
He could feel his right eye begin to swell up and an ache in the right side ribs.
“Please take Kehlani home, I’m going to stay here and…I don’t know.” He said.
Kehlani was still ranting about as Alfred struggled to carry her out of the Batcave.
Batman pulls himself back into his chair and places his hands over his face, crying into his gloved hands and wailing in despair.
For once in his career, Batman no, Bruce Wayne…was out of options.