Chương 20: This is the story of ...
(3rd Person POV)
Just as Selina was about to approach Bruce, a voice addressed her from the back.
"May I join you miss?"
Selina turned around and saw the charming face of Bruce Wayne standing there with a smile on his face. He looked her in the eyes the entire time and not once did they drop lower. Selina smiled as she was used to when talking to rich men.
"Sure, if you buy me a drink."
"I'd love to. What would you like to drink?", Bruce asked her.
"I'll have whatever you'll have."
"Ah ... well then I guess we shall have that."
Bruce ordered two drinks and then turned back to Selina. He smiled again.
"Would you mind telling me your name?"
"Selina. Selina Kyle."
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Kyle. Bruce Wayne."
"I know that Mr. Wayne. I believe we have already met once."
Selina watched his face very closely. She was a good observer and judge of character. So when his face showed surprise and then embarrassment, she knew that he wasn't the man she thought he was. The embarrassment had to stem from thinking that they had already ... been intimate.
"I believe you're misunderstanding, Mr. Wayne. We haven't met on a gala before."
"Is that so? Well then ... I'm sorry but I don't remember. And I'm sure that I will never forget your face."
"Ah, what a charmer. But you see it was like this ... it was dark and --"
*Bang Bang Bang*
.
Three shots were fired and there was screaming. Everyone looked around and was scared. Then more shots were fired.
*Bang Bang Bang*
"Silence!! I said silence!"
"Freeze! I'm Ma Baker, put your hands in the air and give me all your money!", the old lady in the front said. She had a shotgun in her hands and a small handbag as well.
She was accompanied by three young men. They looked similar to the old woman and were very tall and muscular. But it was pretty obvious that they were a little shy on brains. They had machine guns in their hands and motioned for the people to gather in one place.
"Move it! Go over there and don't talk, that will make it easier for all of us.", one of the men said.
Selina was calm on the outside. But on the inside, she wasn't as calm. The experience where she was almost made a prostitute and forcefully fed drugs, did leave some trauma, but she was a strong woman. She had gotten a chance when she was smaller due to the school program that Bruce had created, but life in Gotham was harsh nonetheless.
So it was unbelievably comforting when Bruce Wayne slowly and unconsciously positioned himself in front of her, to shield her.
.
The old woman looked around and then saw the person she was looking for. And what do you know ... it was Bruce Wayne. The young philanthropist billionaire.
"You must be that rich boi I see on the old TV box. My bois told me about you. You give away money for the poor yes?", she asked him while she was waving her gun around in front of his face.
"W-Well you could put it that way. Haha, but it's a bit more c-"
"Well thas' good. We in need of some o' that money. Give us some now, please and thank you."
"Well ... I mean. I could give you what I have on my person right now, but I'm not sure how much-"
"T'is a start. Come on! Show Ma Baker what you got!", she said and waved the gun around while she was talking.
"Ahhh, sure. Well let's see here.", Bruce said and took out his wallet. As soon as it became visible, Ma Baker grabbed it with her hand and motioned for one of her sons to come.
"Yes, Ma?"
"Here. Take this and tell me how much it is!"
"Well ... t'is is a hundred ... t'is is a hundred ... t'is a hu-"
"Can't you count without saying it out loud?", Ma Baker spat.
"Sorry Maaa ...", the man said and continued to count.
.
Meanwhile, Ma Baker was looking at Bruce Wayne carefully. She had a small knowing smile on her face. As if there was something that she knew that no one else did. And considering her age, she had probably seen a few things already. Or did she?
"May I inquire why you are smiling?", Bruce asked.
"You don' look worried boi. Is there something that you're not tellin' us?"
"Is there something that you would like to know?"
"Now don't go answering a question with another one! Ma has seen it all already. I raised three twits. Now tell me ... is there something that you are hiding?"
"No Ma'am. But if there is something that-"
"No no. Ma Baker would never take something that she doesn't need. I work for ma money honest with my own two hands."
"I ... can see that."
"So ... what's on your mind? There is something you want to say no?"
"Well ... I thought you wouldn't do that anymore Ma. What about the promise you made last time?"
"What about that?! Chicago didn't have what we needed! Ma Bois were hungry and with no money, what's a mother to do?"
"Haaa, Ma the program I created is not meant to be abused this way. If you need money you could-"
"I know!! I know all about it. But we don't have the patience anymore. What do you think happens when -"
.
Suddenly the lights went out. The entire hall was drowned in darkness and the four criminals looked around. They were confused and alert.
Ma Baker however thought that it could only be one person.
"Bruce Wayne!! Did you do this?"
"What? No!"
"Did you do this!"
"No, it wasn't me. I-"
*Crash*
The sound of glass breaking was heard and from the top of the hall, a dark silhouette could be seen standing there. It was only seen thanks to the moon in the sky.
*Bang Bang Bang Bang*
The Baker boys began to fire at the figure. But didn't matter. The figure moved like a wraith and broke incapacitating every one of them. There were flashes of light as guns were fired all over the place.
"You! You won't touch Ma Ba-"
*Crunch*
"Argh"
A crunch was heard as the figure punched Ma Baker in the face. You mess with the bull that is equal rights, you get the horns. No matter the age, Batman's fists were rated E.
.
The entire fiasco didn't take more than three minutes and after that time ... it was quiet again. After a moment of silence, the lights turned back on. Everyone could see the damage done to the area but none of the four Baker family members were conscious anymore. They were all disarmed and incapacitated on one pile.
"ARGH", multiple voices were heard all around the hall as the adrenaline wore off. It seemed like the shooting had also hit some of the people in the crowd. And among those, there was a young billionaire called Bruce Wayne.
"M-Mr. Wayne! Wait let me help you.", Selina said after she got her shit together. She knelt next to him and tried to press her hand on the wound. She knew how to treat a wound with first aid. She was a thief and one in Gotham no less, she knew first aid.
The police were called and they arrested the Baker family. Bruce Wayne and everyone else were checked upon by medics who had arrived with the Police. The pompous gala had turned into a crime scene. And not the usual kind. Someone had taken care of Ma Baker and her sons ... and everyone was thinking the same thing.
.
"Mr Wayne. Good evening Mr. Wayne. My name is Lieutenant Gordon from the GCPD. I was wondering if we could ask you some questions?", Lieutenant Gordon had arrived and approached Bruce Wayne. He was being looked after by a paramedic and next to him stood Selina Kyle. She hadn't left his side after what happened, but she was just about to. Normally she wasn't supposed to be here and now that the Police had arrived ...
"Nice to meet you, Lieutenant. Do you want to speak to me here?", Bruce asked.
"No no, I would like to take you with us to the station."
"I see ... well if it has to be done, then let us get going. Miss Kyle ... oh? Where did she go?", Bruce asked as he looked around.
"She must have left just now ... well then let us go."
Bruce entered the Police car and they left the gala. Gordon drove to the Police station and had Bruce sit down in the interrogation room. Bruce felt like a criminal. But when he talked with Ma Baker, he knew what he was getting himself into. The suspicion would be high and he would have to answer questions.
But that was alright. He was prepared for these questions and it wasn't like he had anything to hide ... oh right ... he forgot for a second.
.
Gordon entered after a few minutes of letting Bruce wait. He had a file in his hands and used basic intimidation and interrogation tactics. He had no idea who was in front of him. That was Bruce Wayne ... he didn't flinch when Ma Baker was aiming a shotgun at his face, so he surely won't do so now.
"Mr Wayne I apologize for the inconvenience of bringing you here. But there were some things that I thought we should discuss.", Gordon started.
"That's alright. I'm not happy but if you make this quick, we can leave it at that."
"... Is that a threat, Mr. Wayne?"
"Does it need to be?"
"... I see. Well, I brought you here because there were witnesses who claimed you were on a very 'friendly' basis with the criminal known as Ma Baker. Can you tell me anything about that?"
"The Wayne Foundation is something I created years ago. I made sure to use the money of my family to help those who can't help themselves. Food, shelter, security ... all those things, if they are missing, usually have humans turn to crime, were to be provided. This means that some want to take advantage of my foundation. But not Ma Baker.
Ma Baker and her boys are a family which were approved to be taken care of. That was a few years ago though. The Wayne Foundation provided them with a home and everything else. And more importantly, the Wayne Foundation helps find families new jobs or opportunities."
"So did Ma Baker find such an opportunity?"
"Indeed. The Wayne Foundation found a very suitable job for her in Chicago where she could take care of her children. And that's where she went."
"Then what happened?"
"I honestly don't know. I assume that the program didn't work out as intended. We don't keep track of everyone who has left the Wayne Foundation's program."
"So we can assume that you don't know anything about this attack and we can also assume that you don't know anything about this ... 'vigilante' who has taken the Baker family out?"
"Indeed. I had nothing to do with that."
"Hmm ... I see."
.
.
(Bruce POV)
I am sitting in front of the Batcomputer and watching the scene unfold. I have an amused smile on my face as I hear the questions and underlying accusations in the interrogation. The door opens and Sebas walks in with hot tea and some snacks.
"You still haven't eaten anything, Master Bruce. I believe it is now tea time.", he said.
"Thank you Sebas."
Sebas put the tray down and then looked at the screen.
{"So we can assume that you don't know anything about this attack and we can also assume that you don't know anything about this ... 'vigilante' who has taken the Baker family out?"
"Indeed. I had nothing to do with that."
"Hmm ... I see."}
"Master Bruce, wasn't your intention to reduce the criminal activity and not increase it?"
"Hehe, it was. But this served multiple purposes."
"You mean apart from it being a big joke that you not only created four criminals but also let them shoot you?"
"Ma Baker ... I thought it was funny. But can't you imagine what would happen if I begin to clean Gotham of its filth?"
"I guess it would become more peaceful?"
"No! That's the problem. It wouldn't ... not yet at least. I can sense a darkness in and around Gotham. I will have to take care of it sooner or later but that's not what I'm talking about. If I remove one crime family, another will take its place. The resulting power vacuum would cause more destruction and death, than the last one, making my efforts mute.
But what would happen if there was a crime family that was not only predictable ... but also under our control...?"
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