Tell me about it - Chap 5

Dec 24th

It was a busy morning for the Justice League. Bizarro was loose on Gotham, along with Copper head, Shade, Cheetah and Star Sapphire. Batman was busy as his other self, with a board meeting. Normally he would've made an impromptu exit, leaving Lucius Fox to cover for him, but this time decided against it. He diverted the distress call to the watch tower. Luckily for him, all the members were available and the odds were 6 against 5.

Bizarro was giving one heck of a time to Superman imitating his attacks, and Superman was busy saving buildings and people from them. Green Lantern made sure he took Star Sapphire to a higher altitude so that they don't wreck the place with their powers. Hawk Girl took on Copper head while Wonder Woman and Flash took turns in fighting Cheetah and Shade. Overall, it looked like the mission plan was not just to bring the villains down but also make sure they don't give any chance for Batman to complain later. It isn't often that he allows others to operate in his city. The fight lasted for about 3 hours, when finally Superman lost his patience and threw Bizarro out of the city limits, so that he could act without restrictions. Green Lantern finally hit the right target, sending Sapphire reeling to the ground. He made sure she didn't hit the road, lest she should break her head or the road, both of which were undesirable. Wonder Woman broke Shade's stick and Flash knocked out Cheetah. They secured them using her lasso. In the mean time, Superman informed that he was done with Bizzaro too. He came back to join the league.



Bruce Wayne stepped out of his office just in time to avoid the media who gathered around the league. Superman was addressing them in his usual style. "Show off", Bruce mumbled as he got to the car. Superman eyed in that direction as if he heard him and Bruce became conscious of it. The media looked in the direction of Superman's eye, and caught Bruce. "Damn it", he thought, there was no escaping anymore. Not willing to risk the media's impression that he was indifferent to league, he walked towards Superman with a pasted smile, as if to shake hands. Alfred got out of the car too, to accompany his master.




And just when they were halfway down, the car exploded!






The media ran hither tither, screaming all the way. The explosion wasn't very violent, but doors at the backseat detached and blasted off in opposite directions. Superman quickly jumped into action, stopping one of the doors from hitting a passer-by couple. The other door headed straight for Alfred, but Bruce was quick enough to push him away.


Unfortunately in the commotion, the door hit him and knocked him over. His coat was on fire and he had lost conscious. Wonder Woman, who was a little late to react to the initial situation, wasted no time in tearing off his coat and rolling him on the ground till the flames were put off. Later, she carefully examined his body for injuries. Hawk Girl and Flash made sure the media and other Wayne Tech employees who had just come out were safely away from the scene. Green Lantern made efforts to put off the fire and Jonn was in search for possible source of explosion, which later he rounded to be a bouquet placed in the back seat.



The fire department arrived and took over the place. The police was next to follow. Sadly, no one had called an ambulance. The others went to Diana to see how Bruce was doing. Despite the best efforts of Alfred and she, he was still unconscious and bleeding through his head. Diana wanted to take him to a hospital, but she did not know the place, so she had to wait for the others to arrive. Superman wasted no further time. He scooped him into his arms and headed for Gotham general. The others followed, Diana carrying Alfred.



The incident disturbed them all, but Superman appeared to be the most shaken. Hawk Girl noticed his shoulders tremble as he carried him through the entrance. He did not wait for a stretcher bed and took him to the emergency ward, straight to Dr. Leslie. Dr. Leslie, who was going to take a coffee break, was taken aback by Superman's sudden entrance, and was shocked to see Bruce's condition. Superman removed the handkerchief he was holding to Bruce's wound till then, revealing a deep cut on the forehead near the eye brow. Had it been a little lower or slightly away, Bruce would've lost his eye, or his life. She immediately ordered for the operation theatre to be prepared just in case and the efforts to be made to stop the bleeding. Superman put him on the bed and joined the others waiting outside the emergency ward. He noticed that the logo on his shirt was blood stained.



"Isn't that Bruce Wayne?" Flash asked.


Superman nodded in agreement and let out a sigh. He took the chair beside Alfred, who had his face in his hands. He had a slight abrasion on his leg as a result of the fall, which was being attended to by a nurse.


"I am sorry, but we cannot allow more than two people per patient to stay here," one of the medical helps said. They looked at each other, to decide who'd stay.


"It's ok, Superman. I am fine. I will take care of Master Bruce. You can leave," Alfred spoke, trying to sound composed.


"That is not a good idea," Wonder woman said, "I think one of us should stay."


"She is right," Flash agreed, "we cannot leave the old butler alone."


Superman considered that he was the best person to stay back, as he knew the surroundings, and especially Bruce. "I think I'll stay," he said,"You people can go inspect the scene of crime for possible clues."


"I think you will be required in the scene, sir," Alfred interjected.


"He's right," GL nodded, "you know the place better than any of us."


"Then I will stay," Diana came forward, "we don't need two of a kind on the scene." She looked at Superman and he understood.


"Ok, then," he said, "keep me informed." He stood up to leave and the others followed him.


The nurses could not stop the bleeding, and Bruce was immediately shifted to the operation theatre. Diana and Alfred followed Dr. Leslie. She marched into the OR without a word. She looked very concerned, and this added to Alfred's fears. He trembled. Diana placed her arm over his shoulder and gently patted it, comforting him. She tried to engage him in a conversation to get his mind off the incident.


"You two must be really close," she said and paused, unsure if she had struck the proper note.


Alfred nodded and kept silent, lost in thought. She decided not to purse that line of conversation further, but to her surprise, Alfred responded after a few seconds.


"I have taken care of Master Bruce ever since he lost his parents when he was eight." His voice choked. Diana held his hand and squeezed it lightly to put him at ease. He continued, "I will never forgive myself for this." He almost cried.


Diana patted his shoulder again and said, "I am sorry if I didn't want to increase your pain." She paused to see his reaction. His expression didn't change, "He's really lucky to have you and I think you meant a lot to him, from the way he acted."


She was beginning to think she was doing no good carrying on that conversation. She hardly knew him and was only making points that were very apparent. She never faced such situation before, even in Themiscyra. They were all warriors and knew how to compose themselves in such situation. But man's world seemed emotionally more tightly bound. Alfred seemed to stop crying and lost in thought again. She decided not to disturb him, and to pursue her own thoughts, about this man, Bruce Wayne.



She had been observing him ever since he came out of the building. When he started walking towards Superman, she noticed he wasn't genuinely interested and his smile was a fake one. She couldn't understand how someone could be so indifferent to Superman, who is practically loved by all. She also couldn't help but wonder at how men were pushed by social obligations into doing things they really don't want to. She thought that the feelings of her home land about the men were justified. But then when the blast occurred, she was amazed by the rapidity in his reaction, realising the speeding door would hit his butler. She thought he could've pulled the butler back rather than pushing him, so that both fell to the ground, thus avoiding being hit. But she realised she was wrong, as it would've bring both of them closer to the car which would make put them in susceptible position lest it blasted again. Bruce did think quickly and efficiently even under crisis. She smiled to herself for the contradictory conclusions she had drawn about Bruce.


Then her thoughts drifted towards Superman's anxiety. "He must know him pretty well too," she thought. She decided to ask Alfred about it, thought it would shift the topic slightly off Bruce too.

"Umm...Mr. -  "she said touching his hand.


"Alfred," he said politely, "Alfred Pennyworth, but just Alfred will do."


"Ok, Alfred, I couldn't help but notice – " she was interrupted by the sound of the OR door opening. Dr. Leslie walked out, seemingly pleased. She came to Alfred and he stood up.


"He is fine now," she said with a smile, "One of his veins was ruptured, so we weren't able to stop the bleeding earlier. I was afraid his skull was damaged, but luckily, he has a very hard head."


Alfred smiled at the last remark. Thomas Wayne used to say the same.


"Can we see him?" Diana inquired.



"Sure!" she said, "once he is shifted to the special ward. But please don't disturb him. He is very weak after all the blood loss. He should rest for at least 24 hours." Saying that she turned to Alfred and smiled, "I will make it 6 for Bruce as it is Christmas tomorrow, but I am not going to let him out of the hospital before that."




Alfred understood her, but Diana looked confused.