Knowing one's place...

Morning daylight shun over the city when night turned to day, soft rays of sunlight cut through the tall canopy of the world tree that always had the city of New Gotham in its shadow, but it was not a gloomy sight. Years ago, Gotham’s mornings were a murky, lightless affair with heavy cloud cover and polluted air… Now? Songbirds would alert the dawning of the sun, bright sunlight bathed over the skyscrapers and trees allowing the umbral forest to bloom instantly, filling the city with the flowery scents of the forests. For those now living in New Gotham, it was literally a breath of fresh air, with the pollutants cleared and the sky clearer than it had ever been in decades. For Damien, the young man could not bring himself to stand the threads of light cutting through the blinds of his master bedroom.

Getting cleaned up and dressed, Damien stepped out into the living room to find Alfred preparing breakfast for the young man. Smirking back at Damien’s attempt to wear a business suit and checking to make sure his tie was straight as well as his hair.

“Preparing for your meeting with Wayne Enterprises Master Damien?”

“Yes.” Replied Damien curtly, pleased of his current appearance. “If I am to maintain appearances in Gotham, I need to make a public image with my father’s company as its CEO.”

Hearing Alfred chuckle to himself as he stepped up with a tray of tea and biscuits, Damien gave the old butler a look that demanded explanations.

“From what Master Bruce had explained to me last night, he gave control of his company to the public and left it in control of his four closest advisors, it’s a VERY different company then where he left it Master Damien.”

“We shall see, Father has chosen his destiny and now its my turn to embrace mine, I shall arrive at Wayne Enterprises in 2 hours, I hope you are fit to drive me there?”

“As you wish Master Damien, I only ask you not make a fool of yourself when you arrive there.”

“Hmmph…

*

2 hours later…

Stepping through the headquarters of the new Wayne Enterprises, Damien held back a look of disgust at the building chosen as its replacement. Five years ago Wayne Tower was destroyed by Dracula’s castle, reducing it to rubble and with Bruce Wayne’s identity known to all of Gotham as both the former Batman and current wolf king, he was forced to sell off all its properties and make the company public. Today the former Gotham Central Mall was the new Wayne Enterprises, an open concept building where even from his vantage point on the main floor he could see into every board meeting being held on the second floor. Decorative plants both imported and local grew naturally through what were originally designed as gardenscapes of the former mall, now over grown to the point that it looked like the forest had swallowed up the inside of the building as it did the exterior, but a careful eye would have noticed that the overgrowth was both planned and decorative. Everywhere else he could see, there were decorative portraits of Thomas Wayne as his time as a doctor treating patients or Martha Wayne as a public servant helping the community.

Making his way over to the center desk at the heart of the floor, he found a horseshoe shaped desk where a secretary and security guard checked comings and goings through the building. As soon as the woman looked up to find the well-dressed young man, the red-haired secretary smiled and sat up. “Hello, and welcome to Wayne Enterprises, how can I help you?”

“my name is Damien Wayne, your employer, I’d like to meet with the current CEOs so I can set an emergency meeting.”

Trading looks, the two at the desk looked back at Damien and pulled a phone to make a call. Nodding, the one on the phone turned her attention back to Damien and smiled. “They are currently waiting for you on the second floor Mr. Wayne, you can find them in room 2G.”

Looking up to the following floor, Damien made his way up the escalator, looking around the open space to find several groups of well-dressed people chatting or busily at work filing documents. By the time he made it to the assigned room, he found it to be a glass paned off room with a sliding glass door, on the inside there were blinds to create privacy if need be but they were pulled back. Most likely so that the entire company could see what was going to happen. Looking over his shoulder, the entire building was built like a panopticon; no matter where you looked, you had a full view of almost every room and the happenings within them.

His attention fell back to the office room when the glass door slid open and a stunningly beautiful woman with caramel skin with her hair tied back in a stylish braid stood wearing a blue business dress, stepping aside to let him in. “Welcome Mr. Wayne, please take a seat, we were just about to start our meeting, my name is Adelle…”

“Adelle Jefferson, yes, I know…” Stepping through the partition to take his seat at the head of the table, Damien found himself among the others who had overseen Wayne Enterprises during his absence.

Adelle had taken her seat along with Chelsea Bolt, Hitomi Itaki and Jessie Albers who all four sat at the other end of the table. Each one of them thanks to their lycanthropy were in the peak of their physical health and vitality, each of them were beautiful and gave off an air of confidence that already told Damien that giving them the hard news would not go over well.

“So, how was your trip back into Gotham? Pleasant I hope, the national guard tend to be picky about who goes in and out.” Spoke Hitomi, resting her hands in her lap while smiling politely at the man across the table.

Jessie smiled warmly before she leaned forward, gesturing to a bundle of documents on the table. “Would like to go over some of the corporation’s projects so that you are up to speed? I am sure you have some questions about how the company has changed since you…”

“I’ve already taken a look over what you’ve done to my father’s company, MY company.” Answered Damien, leaning back in his chair and giving the four women a sour look. “Apart from the name and the staff, almost all of it is GONE thanks to the four of you!”

“Liquidation and restructuring will do that…” Chirped Chelsea with a wry grin, resting her chin under her palms while the others stifled giggling.

“My family’s company is supposed to stand for strength and leadership in this city, and you four have failed in that spectacularly.”

Slightly taken back by the accusation, the four CEOs of Wayne Enterprises sat patiently, looking to each other and back to Damien. “So, what are you proposing?”

“I’m saying you four are all fired, as of now I will be handling my family’s company hence forth, you are no longer required.”

Looking to each other again, the four women gave a look of shock before breaking out into chaste and restrained laughter, Hitomi even pulled out her purse and handed a crisp $10.00 bill to Adelle, which only angered and confused Damien even further. “Did you not hear what I just said? I demand you pack up your things and vacate immediately.”

“Hmm, well he certainly didn’t get his heart from his daddy, that’s for sure.” Smirked Adelle.

Acting more casually, Jessie smiled back at the confused young man across the table with a toothy grin. “Perhaps someone needs to remind you what ‘public’ means, Mr. Wayne personally sold off the properties so that the city had the funds to rebuild after the war, then he appointed us four to oversee the company in his stead while he handled more… Private matters.”

“Bruce was generous enough to give us some of his personally treasury to purchase enough stock to have a say in how the company should be run, after liquidation we shut down his military contracts.”

“No need for those anymore…”

“Quite right Jessie, we felt the company would flourish better as a company devoted to more humanitarian causes ; medical advancements, renewable energies and resources, we’ve even rebounded some of our costs with the new recycling efforts we’ve made on the city’s rebuilding efforts.”

No longer hiding his anger, Damien stood up from his chair and slammed his palms against the table. "This company is my father's and by extension mine! My family was always meant to be the ruling voice over this city. My father is the king of the werewolves and my mother is the queen of vampires, this company should go to ME!"

"This company was founded by Dr. Thomas Wayne, a physician and caregiver who wanted the best for this city. When he and his wife died, his son did everything in his power to try and live up to that." Answered Jessie, giving the man a stern look that almost looked like she was offended. “We've held to his ideals, have you?"

Silent, Damien glared at the four women in front of him, unable to come up with a retort to that accusation. All four of the women stood up from their seats, gathering their documents and files as they unofficially declared the meeting over.

"He DID however grant you a position on the company at our discretion…” Replied Hitomi. “We WERE going to have you be on as an executive until you worked your way up the ladder, earned your place at the top."

"And now?"

Shared laughter between the four CEOs filled the office again before Adelle answered. "We've been told the boiler needs a good mechanic... And your resume DOES state you have a degree in that, so..."

Storming out of the open office, Damien fumed as he made his way out of the building. Over his shoulder he could hear Jessie calling out over the balcony while the rest of the staff watched on with mild laughter. “IF YOU EVER CHANGE YOUR MIND, YOU’RE SHIFT STARTS NEXT WEEK…”

*

The following night, Damien had gotten dressed and ready for his nightly patrol of the city. Keeping to the top of the roofs, Batman crouched over a gargoyle on an old church overlooking the narrows, looking down at the lycanthropes and pedestrians crossing the streets below. Hugging his arms around himself to bundle his cloak around him, it was both to keep him hidden in the dark AND to keep him warm in the autumn night. Controlling his breathing he even kept his warm breath hidden.

“How dare they… The company is mine by right as is the mantle, they know NOTHING of Ras Al’Ghul’s vision for this world, how could they NOT understand that?”

“OH, they do, they do, your father explained it enough for them over the years that they could.”

Snapping his attention behind his back, Damien found himself no longer alone on the building’s ledge. Crouched in the same pose as him with her head resting in her clawed palms sat a female werecat with midnight black fur and flowing hair, smiling back at him like the proverbial Cheshire cat of Lewis Carole’s stories. "SO! You are the replacement bat?"

Narrowing his eyes, Damien returned his attention to the building across the street, a factory front near the docks. “Go away, I’m on patrol, I warned the others to stay out of my way.”

“Your way is what’s in front of you, I’m behind you, still…” Sniffing the air, the lycanthrope made a ‘grump cat’ face and rolled her eyes. “It’s a bit unsightly, you are his son by blood but not by soul… Please don’t ruin the image he’s crafted for so long.”

Breathing in sharply, Damien turned his attention back to the werecat behind him, her smile never leaving her lips or the amused gleam in her eye. "What do you know about being the Dark Knight?"

"What do YOU know? The problem with being raised by assassins is they only know how to deal with a problem one way... Can you even cook a pot of broth without STABBING the pot?"

His eyes going wide, Damien gave the werecat another look over, curious how she knew this much about him already. Seeing his confusion, she continued.

“What do I know? Everything... And I know that YOU will never be what Bruce Wayne was... You were born because Ras Al’Ghul wanted a Batman he could control; just another weapon, but he NEVER understood WHY Bruce put on the cape and cowl, and neither do you... I know his true son. I saw him... in my dreams. HE bears the mantle... you only wear it.”

“I AM Batman! I am ready! I was BORN ready!” Hissed Damien through clenched teeth, no longer able to keep his temper down in the smug grin of this cat smirking back at him. But this only made her smile grow wider, and her slit eyes thinner.

"Oh? You see a child lost in the alleys crying, calling out to her mother, what do you do?"

"NOTHING! She's a trap! Bait for an attack in the shadows."

Sighing, the werecat shook her head. "And that is why you fail... This is what HE would do!" Reaching out with a single clawed finger, the cat tapped her claw against Damien’s hooded forehead. The moment she did, his eyes went wide, his mind bombarded with images and thoughts of every child his father risked his life for every time he was capable of, even the ones that WERE traps, he risked to save. Pulling back and breathing hard, it was difficult for Damien not to be swept up in the flood of emotions he was exposed to when the werecat stood up and turned to leave.

“Who are you?”

Looking over her shoulder, the cat was no longer smiling. “My name is Bastet, leader of the werecats and Goddess of Egypt, and as of tonight you are not welcome to my sanctuary, you will have to earn that… Just like your father’s company.” Making her way to leave, Bastet paused to turn and face him again, her smile returned. “Oh! But let your butler know that if he wishes to have another drink of tea with me, he need not ask.” Dropped from the ledge, Bastet cart-wheeled and summersaulted off one ledge after the other and disappeared.

Returning to his post, Damien sat, shaken by today’s events.