Memory Chapter 2

“Good Morning. Didn’t think you’d be up so early!” she teased as she stood by his bed.

Bruce squinted as the harsh sunlight hit his eyes. It wasn’t so early in the morning after all. Diana noticed his discomfort and drew the blinds immediately.

“Thank you,” he said.

“Thank you?” she repeated, “Didn’t expect to hear that from you.”

Bruce brought his fingers to either sides of his forehead and massaged in clockwise motion. He had his eyes shut tight and his hands were quivering.

“Here, let me help,” Diana said as she placed both her palms on his head, thumbs meeting on his forehead and applied a gently pressure. Bruce seemed to ease into the touch and breathed heavily. He opened his eyes once Diana eased the pressure. It was then that he realized that he was not in his home, and the lady nursing him was not whom he had expected to see.

“Hello,” he said, his voice quivering a bit.

“Hello?” she repeated, amused. “What’s the matter Bruce?”

“I…am…” he looked around and plucked at the sheets under him.

“You are in my place, yes,” she nodded.

“W…Why?” he mouthed.

She looked amused for a while and then broke into a confused smile.
“You were hurt in the battle. We could not get you back to the watch tower as GL’s ring was out of charge.

“Ohh…ok…ok” he nodded, more to himself.

“Don’t you remember?” she asked. He shook his head slightly.

“Well, no harm done,” she said, after considering him. And then added, “I’m sorry I had to change your clothes.”

He looked at himself, wearing a vest and weird looking pajamas. He considered them for a while and plucked at them.
“Are these…mine?”

“Umm…no actually, not entirely. You had the vest on to begin with, and I had bought a new pair pajamas…off the street.” She said, “I’m sorry.”

Bruce was still considering the pajamas. “This is weird.”

“Sure.” Diana said, suppressing a smile. She could’ve left his bat suit on, she had no obligation to take it off, but she wanted to be sure that he was not injured.

“Hmm…” Bruce pursed his lips.

“Anyways, I am starving,” Diana said, trying to change the topic, “are you up for breakfast?”

“Sure…I guess,” Bruce replied.

“Well why don’t you prepare some?” she said, “I took care of you all night, and I am beat.” She said down by his side and Bruce moved away slightly.

“Umm…ok,” he shrugged and managed a small smile.

“Ok?” Diana raised her eye brows. “Bruce something really is wrong with you.” She teased.

“Well I am honored to serve you, for one,” Bruce said timidly.

Diana considered.
“OK, if you want to play it that way. So, what’s for breakfast?”

Bruce considered the question carefully.
“I…can make scrambled eggs.”

Diana frowned. Bruce backed off.
“I… make really good…scrambled eggs.”

And without warning, she burst into laughter.
“Scrambled eggs! You’ll make scrambled eggs??”

“What’s so funny?” Bruce asked, as he hesitated to join her laughter.

“Bruce! Oh Bruce!” she choked, “Batman says – ‘I can make scrambled eggs…good scrambled eggs!” she was holding her stomach and gasping amidst the laughter. “Wait till I tell this to others.”

And finally Bruce joined the laughter.
“What Batman?”

Diana stopped, as if to check if she had heard him correctly.
“Did you say – ‘What Batman?’”

“Oh, I mean which Batman? Or…umm…whom are you calling Batman?”

Diana frowned and smiled, “You, of course you. I am calling you Batman.”

“Wait, what?” it was Bruce’s turn to laugh now, “Me? I am not Batman.”

Diana’s smile vanished. She looked around instinctively to make sure no one could overhear them or see them.
“Bruce, this place his safe. No one can hear us. You need not pretend.”

Bruce grew solemn
“No, I am not pretending. I, I don’t understand what you’re talking about.”

Diana rose and stood before him, looking him in the eye. Bruce tried to avert the glare after a while.

“Bruce, what are you talking about? Please this is no time to joke. If I am missing something that you are detecting here as a breach, please let me know.”

Bruce took a step back.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I am not Batman. I think you mistook me for someone else.”

“Bruce!” she held him by his shoulders and he winced. “What’s wrong? Don’t you…don’t you remember?” She held her breath for a while and then shook her head. “No, no it is not possible. You are trying to play a practical joke on me. You were caught off guard, admit it.”

“Listen, Wonder Woman,” Bruce said, trying to get off her grip. “I’m sure you are mistaken. I am not who you think I am.”

“So you know who I am, then?” Diana said coldly.

“Of course, we met in Paris. I had asked you for the dance.”

“Really,” Diana said, clenching her teeth, “That is how you know me. Well, ok, I don’t know what your game is, but I’ll play along. Remember the Kasnian princess was attacked when we were there.”

“Yes,” he nodded, “and you saved her.”

“Do you remember what you were doing when I was fighting the kasnians?”

“I was watching,” Bruce shrugged, and then added with a little smile, “I must say I was fascinated.”

“Bruce, you tried to suit up and join the action but decided against it, do you remember?” Diana said earnestly.

“What? No, I did not! Wonder Woman, I have not the slightest idea of what you’re talking about. I tried to run away,” he winced, “but…seeing you take matters into control, I grew confident enough to stay back and watch you fight.”

Diana could take it no longer. She tightened the grip on his shoulder and hurled him towards the opposite wall. He crashed against and fell on his face.

“That was for messing with me,” she said, “now stop this nuisance.”

Bruce whimpered as he lay on the floor, one palm against his face and another hand under his ribs. Diana realized he was hurt and rushed to his aid. He was bleeding through his nose.

“I am sorry,” she said holding him and trying to help him up. “I’ll get some ice for that.”

“Stop it!” Bruce shouted in angst as he pushed her hand away. “I don’t know what you take yourself for, but I was only trying to be nice to you because you say that you saved me and took care of me, and of course because you are the Wonder Woman.”

Diana stood stunned.

Bruce continued, in a gentler tone.
“Listen, I am sorry! I don’t know why you take me to be Batman, but let me assure you that I am not Batman. I am Bruce Wayne, and I live in Gotham. The only time I ever met you was in Paris.”

“Then how do you explain that?” Diana shouted, pointing at the bat-suit which hung from the other wall. “I took it off you when I brought you here to make sure that you were not injured.”

It was Bruce’s turn to stare.
“I…I don’t know. I really don’t know why I was wearing that? I don’t…”

“I did not want to play this card Bruce, but you leave me no choice,” she continued passionately, “Your parents were killed before your eyes when you were 8. And you swore to avenge your parents’ death. You swore that as long as you lived, no other child in Gotham would lose his parents to a maniac with a gun. You became the protector of Gotham. You became the Batman!”

“No…” Bruce screamed. His bleeding was getting worse and his head reeled, but he paid no attention to it. “Yes, my parents were killed when I was 8. Yes, I was furious and wanted to avenge my parents’ death. But no, I did not become…”

And suddenly, everything became blank. The last thing he could hear was a muffled cry ‘Bruce’, and then two gun shots, and finally he could feel his body hit the floor.