Batman Family: A Terror Too Close, Book 1, Epilogue: Back to Normal?

by Immortalwildcat

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Later, as the sun set over Gotham City, Bruce Wayne and Silver St. Cloud sat in her downtown penthouse.

“Bruce, I can’t believe it’s been less than twenty-four hours! Even spending most of that time unconscious, those few hours after I woke up seemed like an eternity!”

“It felt like the time stretched forever, waiting for the police and the others to find anything. Do you remember anything that happened after you were taken from the limo?”

“I woke up at one point, and I was lying on a table. There was some strange device over me, something like a tanning bed, but the lights were all different colors. I blacked out again, and when I woke, I was tied to the chair where they found me.” Silver placed her glass on the an end table. “Why, am I being — what’s it called — interrogated by the great detective?”

Bruce smiled and nodded. “Not intentionally, but yes, I’d like to know as much as I can about what happened.”

Silver ran her tongue across her upper lip. “Hmmm, and I always thought interrogations involved being tied down, and torture and such.” She laughed as Bruce’s eyebrows arched upward.

“Well, I wouldn’t go to that extreme, but…” He leaned over to kiss her, taking her wrists in his hands and pinning them over her head on the couch.

***

In a run-down part of Gotham, the door of the Rags ‘n’ Tatters shop opened to allow a cold blast of air to come in. A slightly stooped older woman darted in and closed the door. “Rory? Are you here, Rory?” she called.

“Right here, I’m com — Leslie!” Rory Reagan leaped over the counter and grabbed Leslie Tompkins in a big hug. “I heard you were kidnapped! Are you all right? You shouldn’t be out so soon after something like that!”

“Nonsense! The police took me to Gotham General, and the doctors said I and the others all checked out fine. I figured you would worry, though, so I wanted to stop by.”

Rory smiled as he recalled carrying Leslie out to the police car. As Ragman, he hadn’t dared speak to her for fear of having her recognize his voice. “I’m glad you did. I just put the kettle on. Can I get you a cup of tea?”

“That would be wonderful, Rory. Then you can tell me what you were up to this weekend.”

***

“Yes, Batman, all of your friends are rescued and returned to their normal lives. For a time, yes, for a time. It will take five months for my plans to come to fruition.” A misshapen hand drummed on the arm of a chair. “Then, O Caped Crusader, you shall learn that Hugo Strange was indeed an innocent pawn in this, my grandest game yet!

Continued in Batman Family: A Terror Too Close, Book 2: Taken

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