Good Morning Brucie [Bruce Wayne]

[karis]

“I feel so different, so powerful in this suit…” Karis said from behind her mask. Her suit was finally done and Bruce had yet to find out that there was any equipment missing from the basement. She felt horrible for stealing from a really good friend but she could pay him back. She could just copy the things that she would need for her suit and replace the original. Her major at Gotham Uni was engineering. She could make this stuff and more but right now she didn’t have the resources. Ashley her butler, came inside the room looking over her suit. He knew her secret, but her Grandmother had no idea.

She was a psychologist after all, she would deem Karis had lost her mind. “Miss. Cartier, we must be leaving. Your paper is in the car with your coffee and bagel.” He told her. Karis smiled at him before turning to look in the mirror to her left. Thankfully, her estate had a danger room. She kept everything that she needed in there for her “nights out” on the town. She undressed and got into a pants suit and put her hair up in a bun. “Ready, Ashley…” She called from her room, trotting down the stairs excitedly.

Ever since the surgery that allowed her to walk, she had just been so much happier. She could walk! But she would have to keep that a secret for just a little bit longer. If Bruce found out, he would most likely be hurt that she lied but needed to do this. It was the perfect guise for being KopyKat. As she made her way to the bottom of the stairs, she slipped on her plain black heels, she stopped when she got to the door. Right there in front of the door, was her wheelchair, in his sleek black color.

She paused for a second and stared at it, she didn’t want to have to be in that thing all day but what choice did she have? She sighed and pushed it out of her house. “There is no dignified way to get out of the car in a wheelchair. “ She told Ashley as he shot her a scolding look for not being in it. The Cartier estate was on the outskirts of Gotham but still within city limits. She was mostly surrounded by woods and roads no one ever came down.

She slid into the car as her butler closed the door. He packed the wheelchair into the trunk then got in himself, driving into Gotham. The newspaper today had a story on the Cartier museums that her family owned. “Listen to this: Paraplegic Karis Cartier, only heiress to the Cartier museums is now working for Wayne Enterprises as humanitarian Bruce Wayne’s assistant.” Karis read aloud and scoffed. The papers were always trying to pin Bruce and Karis against each other because of their status. Personally, they couldn’t get any closer but people believed what they wanted.

The car pulled up to Wayne Enterprises and Ashley helped Karis into her wheelchair. “Hello Artie…” Karis greeted the doorman as held the door open for her. She thanked god that the wheelchair was motorized or her arms would be sore all the time. She got into the elevator and got out on the usual floor. There was only one office up here. Bruce’s. Which was too big for his own good. After, making grade-A coffee and grabbed the newspaper she went into Bruce’s office.

“Have you seen our numbers this morning? They’re up two points since last week. That’s pretty good.” She told him meaning their stock. “Also, you have a 9:30 with a Ricardo Atlas. He’s been trying to get a hold of you all week and with your sudden disappearances of late, I just scheduled so you’re going to have to make time for it. We’ve been invite to a charity event in Metropolis also.” She told him showing him the invitation. “Don’t worry, I already declined. I’m sure you can think of a good lie when the mayor asks. It was in support of Bill 7, that sin tax bill, I didn’t think you’d approve so I told his assistant you couldn’t make it.” Karis smiled and handed him his coffee.

“Good Morning Brucie” She teased. "Have you heard about this Joker person? He's all over the papers and apparently some winged crusader tried to stop the breakout in Arkham. I think its pretty noble, don't you?"

[bruce]

"Morning." He greeted, giving her his best smile.

"Strictly speaking, this city's been going to new lows every day." Bruce replied. Accepting the offered coffee, taking a deep sip. He had to hand it to her. Karis was proving to be an efficient assistant and she made a killer cup of coffee.

But at her mention of The Joker, Bruce wanted to tense up, fighting the urge to do so. He still felt angry with himself for allowing the madman to escape in the first place.

"This Joker is probably just a child who refused to grow up." He said offhandedly. "Hopefully this winged crusader is arrested quickly. Gotham is dangerous enough without vigilantes running around in the streets taking the law into their hands."

Taking another sip of his coffee, he decided to change to a lighter subject.

"Thanks for canceling, If at all possible let's keep away from Metropolis. Lex Luthor left eight messages on my answering machine and to be honest it's starting to get under my skin. I trust you had a good evening last night?"

[karis]

Karis perked up when he mentioned the Bat guy. “Leave it to Bruce…” She started. “Only you could make someone who is saving lives a criminal. I kind of believe in his efforts. Much like Harvey Dent.” She told him. She grabbed her own coffee off her tray and took a long sip. She was happy to see that Bruce liked his coffee and even happier than he obviously hasn’t had time to read the article about them yet. She wheeled closer to the desk and almost crossed her legs, then remembered that she wasn’t supposed to be able to move his legs.

“It’s no big deal, I know you wouldn’t be into that kind of a party, and it’s not a good look either.” Karis assured him. “That’s one guy I don’t like. Lex Luthor is a complete snob and thinks he can speak to anyone in any kind of way.” Karis stated from their last meeting. There wasn’t too much she could do being a professional woman. “I will have to personally take care of Mr. Luthor calling into Wayne Enterprises and it will be an honor…” Karis said with a smile. He asked her about his evening and she had to think about what exactly she told people.

She wasn’t good at keeping up with lies but she was good at telling them. She certainly couldn’t say ‘I was out in this new cat suit that I made out of the stolen things from the basement that I feel really bad about. I was basically just lounging around the house in it to make sure it was pretty comfortable for when I get ready to fight crime, and you?’ “I…just watched the new episode of Pretty Little Liars…” She lied. “What about your evening?” She asked, clearing her throat.

[bruce]

"Oh...I just hanged around some of Gotham's hotspots." It wasn't technically a lie. "Establishing some potential business contacts, nothing serious.

When in actuality he had been shaking down every two bit criminal from the narrows to Gotham harbor for anything related to The Joker. The madman had been unsteadily quiet since his escape at Arkham.

"Anyhow-" He went on. "I've scheduled an impromptu meeting with Lucius Fox at applied sciences in a few minutes, you're welcome to sit in. Unless, if you've got anything pressing at the moment?

[karis]

When Bruce mentioned his weekend included hanging around Gotham’s hotspots, Karis squinted her eyes accusingly. “mm..hm…” She said before looking down at her paper, checking off a to-do list making sure she got everything. “And what is her name?” he asked before doing one last check mark and looking up at Bruce with suspicious eyes. Bruce Wayne was THE most eligible bachelor and women constantly thought they’d be the one to tie him down. Secretly, Karis felt the same way. She could never really be with Bruce, he was so much like an older brother to her than anything else.

At least that was what she commonly told herself. At the mention of Lucius Fox and the applied science department, Karis perked up. He knows! He knows! I’m so dead! she thought, her heart speeding in her ears. She took a silent breath before making eye contact with Bruce. “Lucius Fox? Why on earth do you need to speak to him?” She asked, trying to deter him from meeting with Fox. Maybe Fox knew but hadn’t ratted her out yet. It wasn’t like she didn’t have the money to pay for it herself, but she didn’t have the tie to make it.

“I think I will stay for this meeting. Although I thought you knew that you had a very important thing scheduled in today.” Karis looked down at her papers, going from page to page. She really would have to calm down before he figured anything out. “Oh wait, that’s tomorrow…” she lied giving him a small smile. “But what are you meeting with Lucius for?” She asked eagerly.

[bruce]

"Lucius and I have been brainstorming ideas for our applied sciences department." Bruce explained. "It should only be about ten, fifteen minutes. Nothing really important."

Bruce studied her profile, it seemed that she suddenly turned a shade paler. He wondered if he had been working her too hard in the past few days. Albeiut she was still new to Wayne Enterprises, he didn't want to give off the impression that he was a cruel taskmaster.

There was still time before Lucius arrived. He cast a glance towards the news paper in her hands.

"So aside from the Joker, and this winged persona. There any good news in there?"

[karis]

“Winged crusader…” Karis corrected, holding up the paper to show him headline. She turned it back around to look at it before turning to a page where they were both mentioned. “It seems that I gave given up on our media-inspired competition, since I’m working for you.” She told him. It was a bit irritating to be pitted against him because of her family name, when he was such a close friend to her. “I think it’s getting a little childish. I’m sure they expect me to return to my…ways but I’m a changed woman…” Bruce would know exactly what he was talking about. Back when she was in her teens, pre-wheelchair era, she called it, she was a bit of a heiress and acted much like one. Different parties every night, spending tons of money on insufficient things, materialistic.

But now she had gotten her life together, why was that so hard to understand and appreciate? She looked from the paper to him and laid it on his desk. “So Brucie…” she began. “I heard your taking someone in now? Some orphan or something?” she asked.

[bruce]

"Oh, you mean Richard Grayson?" Bruce asks. "Yeah, his family had a horrible accident. He'll be staying with me until he's able to get on his feet. I've got people Setting Richard up with a College education and he'll be working here from time to time."

Bruce was still getting used to having a 'ward' of sorts. But what happened to Grayson was tragic and undeserved. In a way Richard had shared a similar fate as Bruce had long ago. He was still training Richard about handling his anger. Being more constructive and saving it for the true enemy: the criminals who preyed upon the innocents of Gotham.

"Anyhow, it's about time to get started. Let's hope today goes as well as yesterday. And don't worry about the papers. Eventually it'll come back to them." He winked in reassurance.