"I am Richard Grayson and I am Batman."

She took in a deep breath, dark irises focused on the footage being broadcasted live from Gotham Tower where finally the real identity of the Batman had been unmasked.

Lavina knew it was bound to happen though there had been times when she suspected whether or not Richard would own up. But seeing the footage then, she was assured that she hadn't been wrong in judging him.

She saw how the GCPD had lowered their weapons upon that revelation and the people surrounding the tower had been shocked into silence. 

It was hardly any different from the time she had revealed her own identity to the Court.

Once again, she was proved right; Richard's true colors were no different from her own.

She had switched off the television, leaning back in her seat as she closed her eyes. She could guess correctly what would follow hence she felt no need to watch the footage further.

The GCPD could arrest him nevertheless but they would not do that because right then Richard had the public's support. He was a common man, just like any other Gothamite around him, and yet he had taken the responsibility to do something good for the city.

Or at least that was what he thought he was doing by becoming the city's protector, Batman.

The only difference in between her and Richard was that of his ignorance. But that didn't mean he was stupid either. He was clever and street smart but he lacked the experience and wisdom she had mustered over the years. 

Perhaps that was why he was easily stirred by his sentiments and that was mainly why he was still struggling.

It hurt her to see him suffer for the people who would hardly give him any credit, who would over time become so dependent on him that he would get buried under the burden of saving them. No one knew better than her that the city of Gotham was not meant to be saved.

And yet he was trying, struggling in fact to prove that he could bring a change.

At times, it felt extremely tragic to her but she knew he was adamant and would never listen to her if she tried to stop him. In fact, she had tried to stop him multiple times both directly and indirectly but to no avail.

Lives had been lost in her attempts to stop him, both innocent and deserving blood had been spilt but it hadn't been enough to dissuade him from his oath to protect the city. 

Unlike her, he couldn't see the black hole he was willingly throwing himself into. And she could no longer stop him if he kept thinking of her as the one trying to ruin his life.

If she really had to help him, she must get him to trust her first. But that was technically impossible after all the moves she had made on her chessboard. Once a move was made, it could not be reversed and too many pawns had been taken down for her to set everything back to how it used to be.

One of those pawns was a very young boy who's chance at life she had so mercilessly robbed, just because he was expendable for her. But to Richard, he had been almost like a brother and his loss had driven him to lash out at her violently.

Her eyes landed on the scar on her palm. The very scar that had formed after she had stopped the dagger he had thrown towards her in his rage.

Even if the scar faded, the pain in her heart would still remind her of that night.

"Miss Vikander, you have a visitor."

She looked up to see the butler standing in the doorway. But before she could ask him who had come to visit her, the man had left which clearly indicated that the visitor was someone she would refuse to meet if he had told her.

Sighing wearily, she rose from her seat and considered whether or not to go down. Reluctantly, she slid her arms into her robe and tied it, deciding she would see from the stairs who was waiting for her and return to her room if it was anyone other than Samantha or Richard.

Though she knew the latter would never come to visit her again and that fact still stung.

When she reached the stairs, she was surprised to see that Bruce Wayne had come for a visit. Despite initially deciding not to meet anyone else, she altered that decision for him.

She hadn't been expecting Bruce would ever come to see her again yet there he was, waiting for her. She felt horribly guilty each time she saw him but right then, she knew if he had come to her it would be something important.

She knew his father had been in a very injured state due to the hazards at Gotham Theater and even though she hadn't heard what had become of him after she had ordered the Talons to drop him off at the city hospital, she felt he would not have survived.

Bruce had turned to face her the second she stepped in and as their eyes met briefly, Lavina saw that glimmer of sadness which confirmed her doubt regarding Thomas Wayne.

"Your father...?"

"He passed away yesterday," he spoke up, voice slightly strained and though his face was set into the usual emotionless expression, his eyes showed exactly how he felt.

"I'm sorry," she retrieved her gaze, feeling awful to see those pale blue eyes so sad at that moment.

Silence lingered between them until Bruce spoke up, "you must be wondering why I am here but the thing is, my parents didn't know about us calling off the engagement. Mother has been asking about you and I don't know if I can tell her at this point..."

She nodded, "I understand. Do you want me to go see her?"

"If you could."

Her eyes flickered as she reached forward, placing her hand on his arm gently, "Bruce, even if we called off the engagement, it doesn't mean that I have stopped thinking about your family as my own. You all were the first to accept me and I can't forget that. Of course I will come with you and try my best to be of any help I can."

His eyes flickered towards her hand briefly, the one that was resting upon his arm yet not adorning the ring he had given her. He seemed a bit tensed as he added, "Mother doesn't know and I would prefer if you don't tell her either..."

"I know. I am not going to tell her anything until the time is right," she reassured him, knowing that he wanted her not to tell Martha that they were no longer together. She retrieved her hand as she spoke, "give me a few minutes. I will just be back."

Bruce waited in the living room while she went up to quickly change out of her casual clothes and wore her overcoat on top. Grabbing her bag and telling the butler that she would let him know when she would be returning, she left for Wayne Manor with Bruce.

The car came to a halt at Wayne Manor but before they were to go inside, Bruce held on to her wrist gently to stop her.

She turned around, raising an eyebrow at him questioningly though she watched him take something out from his pocket.

Her face paled with guilt as she saw the ring he had placed in her palm. Of course she would have to wear it for the time being since Martha wasn't aware of the truth.

And though there had been a time she had treasured that ring, right then it felt terrible to her as she put it back on, knowing full well that ring did not belong on the hand of a murderer like her.

***