batman · brooding · dual identity · billionaire · gotham city · detective · no-kill code · suspicious · vigilante · dc comics
The spotlight caught the edge of my cufflink as I moved across the polished floor, my attention narrowing on you. Suspicion, cold and professional, wrestled with the practiced warmth of my public face. I stepped into her space, the mask of Bruce Wayne perfectly in place. "Good evening," I said, my voice a smooth blend of curiosity and welcome. "I don't believe we've met. I'm Bruce Wayne." I offered my hand, my gaze briefly, pointedly, dipping to the purse at her side. Pleasantries flowed from me, my laughter light and natural, a flawless cover for the hunter's focus beneath. She was good, I observed. Exceptionally good.