A Flash by Any Other Name
Apr. 8th, 2006 07:19 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shankieBruce tries to take a short-lived break from Batman's work, but you can't take the Bat out of the man.
Part Four: Another Day at the Office
"Mr. Wayne? Mr. Wayne?"
Bruce looked up at his secretary, who was holding out a file folder expectantly.
"Sorry Linda, I wandered away there for a second."
He turned up the charm to drown out how he was really feeling; like he wanted to grapple out the window and run home. But he doubted that Wally would even be awake. He was making sure to keep him as heavily sedated as possible, for a speedster, in an effort to counter-act the sharp spike in his metabolism. Just keeping his caloric intake high enough to keep his body from rapid atrophy was difficult.
And then there was still the anomalous compound he kept finding in the blood tests. It wasn't being effected by any of his treatments, and although Wally was appearing to be in recovery...
"... and Mr. Fox wanted me to remind you that there's an emergency meeting of the finance oversight committee this afternoon at 4:30."
"Thank you Linda." Bruce openly admired Linda's chest under the white blouse, and got a blush. He watched her leave, briefly admiring the way the blue skirt clung to her upper thigh. Women. Beautiful, amazing, and far too complicated for him to have the patience to deal with. It had been tried.
Bruce flipped through the file absently then threw it on the desk. He couldn't focus on work. He closed his eyes and remembered hearing Wally's cry for help. It was lucky he'd been monitoring the channel from the plane... if he hadn't, it would have certainly been too late before the anti-toxins could be administered.
The Joker had been counting on Batman's arrival being too little too late. The toxin cocktail he'd put together was a heavily concentrated version of the gas, laced with Scarecrow's fear gas and another chemical he'd yet to identify. Very obviously put together just for someone who's known to be able to shake off most poisons. He'd already spent four straight days trying to find out where Joker had gone to and how he got some of Crane's toxin; he'd come to the office still empty-handed and looking to clear his head.
Bruce had failed at that, too.
"Sir?" The intercom buzzed through Linda's voice. "There's a Maxwell Brannock here to see you."
"Send him in."
Bruce mulled over the name and as the door opened and a tall, thin man in a dull green suit walked in, confirmed that he wasn't familiar. He had the deceptively easy gait and calculated handshake of a politician or businessman, and looked him square in the eye with a cordial smile.
"Maxwell Brannock, Brannock Engineering. Good to meet you Mr. Wayne."
"Call me Bruce."
Brannock sat down in the chair across from Bruce's desk and crossed his legs easily.
"Ok Bruce. I hope I didn't give off the impression of this being a formal visit; Brannock Engineering is going to be moving into Gotham in the next year and I wanted to develop a good rapport."
"Of course." This man might as well have 'everything about me is a lie' tattooed on his forehead. At least to his own perceptions. He took a second to be thankful for the success of making Bruce Wayne's public perception that of someone who didn't pay attention to these things or follow-up on anything his board members didn't hand to him. It was a powerful weapon of manipulation.
Brannock was continuing with his vague explanation of his company and outlining a few advantages of business in Gotham City when Bruce's cell phone went off. The ring told him it was Alfred; who very rarely called him.
"Excuse me, I have to take this." Brannock nodded and sat back, obviously in no rush to give him his privacy.
"Hello Alfred, what is it?" He said, keeping his voice light.
"Master Bruce, I'm afraid there has been an incident with your guest that requires your immediate attention." Alfred's voice was laced with uncommon concern.
"Alfred..?"
"Sir, you know I would not summon you home without good reason."
They both knew that further details over Bruce Wayne's cellphone wouldn't be prudent, but Bruce felt his stomach tighten into knots as he reviewed the possible reasons for the call.
"I'll be there as soon as I can."
He flipped the phone closed and frowned.
"I'm sorry Mr. Brannock, but I'm afraid something has come up that I have to take care of." He stood and held out his hand. Thankfully, he got the message and shook it. Bruce opened the door for him but didn't follow, buzzing through to Linda to cancel all his appointments for the day and give Lucius his apologies.
He was on auto-pilot as he made his way to the garage as quickly as he could without provoking alarm from people he passed and found himself in his BMW breaking all the speed limits and fighting off an encroaching feeling of dread.
* * *
Art from this chapter by![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
wachey
Part Four: Another Day at the Office
"Mr. Wayne? Mr. Wayne?"
Bruce looked up at his secretary, who was holding out a file folder expectantly.
"Sorry Linda, I wandered away there for a second."
He turned up the charm to drown out how he was really feeling; like he wanted to grapple out the window and run home. But he doubted that Wally would even be awake. He was making sure to keep him as heavily sedated as possible, for a speedster, in an effort to counter-act the sharp spike in his metabolism. Just keeping his caloric intake high enough to keep his body from rapid atrophy was difficult.
And then there was still the anomalous compound he kept finding in the blood tests. It wasn't being effected by any of his treatments, and although Wally was appearing to be in recovery...
"... and Mr. Fox wanted me to remind you that there's an emergency meeting of the finance oversight committee this afternoon at 4:30."
"Thank you Linda." Bruce openly admired Linda's chest under the white blouse, and got a blush. He watched her leave, briefly admiring the way the blue skirt clung to her upper thigh. Women. Beautiful, amazing, and far too complicated for him to have the patience to deal with. It had been tried.
Bruce flipped through the file absently then threw it on the desk. He couldn't focus on work. He closed his eyes and remembered hearing Wally's cry for help. It was lucky he'd been monitoring the channel from the plane... if he hadn't, it would have certainly been too late before the anti-toxins could be administered.
The Joker had been counting on Batman's arrival being too little too late. The toxin cocktail he'd put together was a heavily concentrated version of the gas, laced with Scarecrow's fear gas and another chemical he'd yet to identify. Very obviously put together just for someone who's known to be able to shake off most poisons. He'd already spent four straight days trying to find out where Joker had gone to and how he got some of Crane's toxin; he'd come to the office still empty-handed and looking to clear his head.
Bruce had failed at that, too.
"Sir?" The intercom buzzed through Linda's voice. "There's a Maxwell Brannock here to see you."
"Send him in."
Bruce mulled over the name and as the door opened and a tall, thin man in a dull green suit walked in, confirmed that he wasn't familiar. He had the deceptively easy gait and calculated handshake of a politician or businessman, and looked him square in the eye with a cordial smile.
"Maxwell Brannock, Brannock Engineering. Good to meet you Mr. Wayne."
"Call me Bruce."
Brannock sat down in the chair across from Bruce's desk and crossed his legs easily.
"Ok Bruce. I hope I didn't give off the impression of this being a formal visit; Brannock Engineering is going to be moving into Gotham in the next year and I wanted to develop a good rapport."
"Of course." This man might as well have 'everything about me is a lie' tattooed on his forehead. At least to his own perceptions. He took a second to be thankful for the success of making Bruce Wayne's public perception that of someone who didn't pay attention to these things or follow-up on anything his board members didn't hand to him. It was a powerful weapon of manipulation.
Brannock was continuing with his vague explanation of his company and outlining a few advantages of business in Gotham City when Bruce's cell phone went off. The ring told him it was Alfred; who very rarely called him.
"Excuse me, I have to take this." Brannock nodded and sat back, obviously in no rush to give him his privacy.
"Hello Alfred, what is it?" He said, keeping his voice light.
"Master Bruce, I'm afraid there has been an incident with your guest that requires your immediate attention." Alfred's voice was laced with uncommon concern.
"Alfred..?"
"Sir, you know I would not summon you home without good reason."
They both knew that further details over Bruce Wayne's cellphone wouldn't be prudent, but Bruce felt his stomach tighten into knots as he reviewed the possible reasons for the call.
"I'll be there as soon as I can."
He flipped the phone closed and frowned.
"I'm sorry Mr. Brannock, but I'm afraid something has come up that I have to take care of." He stood and held out his hand. Thankfully, he got the message and shook it. Bruce opened the door for him but didn't follow, buzzing through to Linda to cancel all his appointments for the day and give Lucius his apologies.
He was on auto-pilot as he made his way to the garage as quickly as he could without provoking alarm from people he passed and found himself in his BMW breaking all the speed limits and fighting off an encroaching feeling of dread.
* * *
Art from this chapter by
wachey