two days later

"I understand. I really do." Bruce said as he held Francine's hand at the dining table.

"The job in Star is really great. I just can't risk myself or your safety." Francine said, rubbing softly over his hand.

"I'm happy for you. You're stronger than most people, Francine. I'm proud of you." Bruce replied as they both got up and he lead her out of Wayne Manor.

"As am I. I'll never forget what you did, Bruce. You not only saved me, Pamela, those employees, and London..." Francine began, looking deep into Bruce's eyes.

"You saved yourself." she continued, kissing Bruce as she held his face and he held her chin with his fingers.

"Goodbye." Bruce said with a regretful smile as she walked down the steps.

Bruce shut the main door and closed his eyes, relishing the feeling of her kiss on his lips as he heard her car door open. Alfred appeared from the left wing of the mansion. He saw the sadness in Bruce's face and walked up to him.

"I'm glad you made the right decision. I'm proud of you as well." Alfred said with a smile.

"Were you eavesdropping?" Bruce asked with a laugh.

"It's a gift and a curse, Master Wayne." Alfred said dryly as he followed Bruce into the dining room.

Bruce shook his head and gathered his and Francine's plates and taking them to the kitchen.

"You know..." Alfred began as he held the door open for Bruce.

"The study still has a giant hole in the wall. Since the city's calmed down for once... would you like to continue your search of the cave? The upper floor gets awfully cold with the gaping hole just resting there."

Bruce gave him a look and smiled.

three months later

"Are you sure you can bring that big thing down here by yourself?" Bruce yelled up to Alfred as he used a pulley system to lower the master computer to the cave floor.

Bruce started the generator and nodded in satisfaction as the lights set up all around the cave flickered on with a blueish hue.

"Yes, sir! I'll go get the chamber next!" Alfred replied from the Manor above.

Bruce secured the computer and moved it across the expanse of the cave, avoiding the jackhammer and controlled explosives equipment. He sat it down in a temporary spot and looked at the proud work he had done.

This can work. I can really change things. This'll all need work but all I can do right is... prepare.

12:31 a.m. at Wayne Enterprises

"Fox is gone?" the shady man in a dark blue business suit asked the secondary manager of WayneTech.

"Yes he is. He won't know a thing. Shipping errors happen all the time." the manager, Browning Perry replied as he started searching through files for what the man wanted.

"How much supplies are we getting?" the man asked, folding his arms as he waited for Perry to find the right file.

"Enough to blow Cobblepot away. That's for sure." Perry replied, finding the shipment files for the weapons the man wanted.

"Here you are, Mr. Sionis. I'll have your men gather the supplies."

"Thank you, Mr. Perry. You've been a big help. We'll be back next month to check on the details." Mr. Sionis said.

"Alright." Perry said with a nervous smile as Sionis walked out.

"This city's changing, Mr. Perry." Sionis said, stopping for a brief moment in the doorway.

"It's a new age and a new time. Be ready."

Roman Sionis was a scary son-of-a-bitch but he had money to go around. Perry was safe. No one would notice the missing shipments, Fox had bigger problems, and the heir to the company was dumber than a box of rocks. Although he was uneasy of the gang war between Oswald Cobblepot and Roman Sionis, at least he'd have money to bounce if the war hit home.

This city's changing? Ain't that the truth...

* So... that's the end of DARK KNIGHT: FROM THE SHADOWS. If you don't know who Roman Sionis is, I suggest you look him up because he will become a force to be reckoned with. Still expect the second Dark Knight adventure on Christmas Day, 2013.

Thank you all for reading!

MS777