chapter twenty-three : Murderer?
Title: Calling a Truce: Murderer? (23/27)
Authors: destinyawakened and mjls
Rating: pg-13
Words: 3555
Pairings/Characters: Tony Stark/Bruce Wayne, Alfred, Dick, Tim, Damian, Jim Gordon
Summary: Bruce is framed for murder. Tony almost buys it.
Warnings: spoilers for Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, and Iron Man
Disclaimer: We don't own or claim to own the characters or settings, the books mentioned or make any money.
Song: Since October -Guilty (you tube for now, sorry)
Parts: One | Two | Three | Four | Five | Six | Seven | Eight | Nine | Ten | Eleven | Twelve | Thirteen | Fourteen| Fifteen| Sixteen| Seventeen | Eighteen| Nineteen | Twenty| Twenty-One | Twenty-Two
Tony had made his way back to Vegas the previous evening, expecting to be greeted by an over zealous Bruce Wayne and followed by a round of amazing sex. To his surprise, and utter disappointment, Bruce was not there at all. Alfred informed him that Bruce was called back for an Bat-emergency and would be back that afternoon to finish out their plans. Which was why Tony was sitting on the balcony of his hotel room, sipping his coffee with his sunglasses on and waiting to hear from Bruce. He could've used his connection with the satellites to see where he was and to even contact him but that was a bit too much trouble for the man who was trying to relax. Besides, he didn't want to seem all too attached to seeing Bruce all the time even if he could.
The door opened to his room, and he turned his head just slightly to see it was Alfred. He had the newspaper under his arm and looked as if he'd seen a ghost. Alfred quickly stepped through the door to the balcony and just stared at Tony for a moment before throwing down the newspaper in front of him. Tony looked Alfred for a moment longer before he turned his attention to the newspaper. The front page was a horrible mug-shot Bruce Wayne. His Bruce Wayne. The Headline above the picture was: "WAYNE ONLY SUSPECT IN MURDER OF VESPER FAIRCHILD".
Tony furrowed his brow as he skimmed the article. Supposedly an emergency call was made from the penthouse the evening before, and the police arrived to find Bruce covered in the woman's blood, as well as the bed and the floor. There was also suspicion that she and Bruce were having an affair and Vesper wanted to let it known and it was why Bruce killed her. Tony growled and glared at the paper before throwing it back on the little table in front of him. Alfred placed a hand on his shoulder as he slumped forward and went with his fingers through his jet-black hair.
"Have you talked to Bruce at all?"
"No sir, I've tried calling him on his cellphone but they must've taken it from him."
"And the affair? Is it true?" Tony gritted his teeth together.
"If it was Master Stark, I did not know about it. Which is something extraordinary. After all, Bruce cannot keep secrets from me and you know this as well as I do," Alfred explained, but it didn't mean anything, not really.
The affair, according to the press, was far too new, with in the last few days and when would Bruce have time to confide in Alfred about it? No, Tony knew he shouldn't actually be thinking this way, shouldn't actually think that Bruce -- his husband -- would actually cheat on him; not after all the painstakingly annoying and sentimental bullshit things Tony went through to convince Bruce he would never do that to him. But there was still that lingering 'what if' hanging above his head.
"I'm packing the boys things as we speak," Alfred said matter-of-factly, folding his hands in front of him. He nodded once at Tony and then left. Tony sighed and then stood up himself, staring at the three boys sitting on the couch. Damian looked at him and glared while Tim was laying between Dick's legs and against his chest in a brotherly cuddle. Tony bit his lip, not knowing what to the say to the boys that clearly needed comforting. They had just read in the newspaper that their father was a murder suspect. Of all things to happen, this was another stroke that Tony hoped his marriage would survive.
Tony just stood there for a few long seconds, looking at the boys and trying to figure out what to say. He didn't have to, Dick was the first to speak; "He didn't do it, you know."
"Hm?" Tony looked up, shaken out of his thoughts by the voices. Apparently while he had been standing there, Damian had trotted off to find Alfred and Tim had fallen asleep in Dick's arms.
"Bruce. He didn't do it. The article said the woman died of multiple gunshot wounds," Dick pointed out quietly, not wanting to wake Tim. "Bruce won't even go near a gun unless its to disarm it."
Tony stared long at Dick, knowing fully well that Bruce never really did use guns but Tony still wasn't sure. He used guns before in a time of dire need, just because Batman doesn't use them doesn't mean Bruce wouldn't in the same situation.
"Uncle Tony," Dick said a little more serious this time, "I know it looks bad, but that isn't Bruce. You should know that."
"I'm more worried on how my security got bested and Bruce got set up," Tony muttered, "if it was a set up. You can't blame me for doubting."
Dick frowned, chewing the inside of his lip in thought. "It's just hard to imagine Bruce.... doing that." As if Tony had a point about the security and now Dick was doubting Bruce, too.
"I know but we got to to get his word first. We can't judge him if we haven't even spoken to him yet," Tony said, even though doubt was clear to see in his eyes. The security, the location, the timing of Bruce being there. It was all pointing towards Bruce and Tony couldn't help but fall in the web of what were probably all lies and started to doubt even his trust in his husband.
----
They took Tony's jet back to Gotham. Alfred settled the boys in at the Manor and Tony didn't even bother to think about stopping, asked Alfred to take his stuff back to the manor and went straight down to MCU where he had learned Bruce was being held by Jim Gordon's orders. He threw open the doors and stormed past the detectives sitting at their desks, demanding to see Jim Gordon, who happened to be standing on the other side of the room, talking in a hushed tone to another officer.
Gordon said something to the man and then approached a rather angry looking Tony Stark. "Can I help you Mister Stark?"
"I demand to see my husband. Now Gordon. Do you understand?" Tony growled as he grabbed Gordon by his vest and looked him straight in the eye.
"I'm afraid that's not going to be possible..." Gordon started to say, pushing Tony's hands away from him. "And if you want to stay out of jail yourself, I suggest you don't try that again."
"I don't care Gordon. I demand to see my husband. I have that right," Tony glared Gordon down, "so you better do as I say and lead me towards him or I will do things to you that I won't regret later."
Gordon simply looked at Tony over the top of his glasses, assessing him. He wasn't by any means as intimidated as Tony wanted him to be. Gordon only nodded a respond and motioned for Tony to follow him towards the back. They walked passed the interrogation room, down another hall and stopped at the holding cells. Gordon gestured an arm towards Bruce, who was sitting in the corner, on a stone bench, head in his hands, hunched over. Tony couldn't help but notice he was wearing dress slacks and button down shirt, both completely covered in blood.
"You have half an hour," Gordon said, unlocking the door, letting Tony enter before locking it back. "And don't try anything, I'm just around the corner."
"Bruce," Tony whispered and was at his level immediately, taking his husband's hands in his own and trying to look into Bruce's eyes, "Bruce? Cupcake? Talk to me."
Bruce didn't look at him though, he still seemed a bit in shock. He merely squeezed Tony's hand in response, shaking his head almost deliriously.
"Wayne," Tony said sternly,"talk to me."
Finally, Bruce looked up and into Tony's eyes; his were blood shot and semi-glazed over in a daze. "Tony... I didn't... I was just..." Bruce sighed, voice choking around the words.
"Tell me everything you can remember," Tony stroke Bruce's cheek, "every single detail."
"I went to the penthouse to catch just a little sleep. I get there and there's Fairchild on my bed... dying.. or dead, I don't know... I thought I could save her... I really believed i could... but...I couldn't..." Bruce looked frantically at Tony. "I didn't do it... I swear I didn't... you have to trust me, Tony..."
"I... Bruce all the evidence is pointing towards you. It's your word against the evidence. I want to believe you, believe me I do."
Bruce visibly swallowed, obviously not the answer he was expecting from his husband. "I know," Bruce said, this time a little more serious as he gathered his own emotions, steadying himself. "Tony, I didn't think about it at the time, but the security pad when I arrived at the penthouse had to reboot before letting me in..."
"Reboot?" Tony frowned, "...that's...peculiar. It only does that after a power outrage of more than a couple of hours. Strange that I wasn't immediately informed by the fail safe program..."
Bruce just looked at Tony at the mention of a power outage; the question would be how to convince anyone that someone else had cut the power without the rest of the hotel being powerless? Bruce could have easily done that as well...
"Tony," Bruce said more softly, "None of it's true, the rumors about Vesper Fairchild. You know that right?"
"Darling, you're as gay as a rainbow," Tony said dryly trying to lighten the mood.
Bruce closed his eyes, that wasn't the answer he wanted either; it wasn't completely obvious if Tony believe him or was merely shrugging it off until he had more time to figure out the situation for himself. "Gordon tells me the gun was registered in my name... I've, I don't own a gun. I'm going to lose this trial, Tony. They are going to send me to Blackgate."
"I won't let that happen cricket. Besides, you're too pretty for jail."
"That's not going to hold up in court, Tony," Bruce replied, darkly. "Look at me, I'm covered in her blood, a gun in my name, I'm the only one with security access that was in town and you were in Malibu, you can't even vouch for me... Tony I'm not going to get out of this easily, if at all."
"Bruce," Tony sighed, "I know it looks bad, even I'm doubting you because of all the evidence but I believe in the fact that you would never attack a woman or kill her. Not even if she was going to tell everyone you were having an affair with her. Even if you weren't."
Bruce straighten, pulling his hand away from Tony's, obviously hurt. "You don't believe I'd attack a woman, but you still think I did it?"
"Bruce...I don't think you would do it but I do know how much emotions can change a person and his actions. I'm sorry for doubting you, I really am but the evidence... Bruce darling I love you dearly and I don't care if you did it or not, because I still love you."
"I see," Bruce said, his mood growing somber and his eyes darkening dangerously. Tony hadn't seen Bruce this shut off in months' hell probably not since their first few meetings, before things had gotten serious between them.
Tony looked long and hard at Bruce, seeing the sadness and guilt in his eyes. Tony had seen his share of killers during his time as a weapons manufacturer. They weren't sad, nor guilty when they were caught. They grinned, they smirked, they proclaimed how they did it in every single detail. Unlike Bruce who was sitting there as a broken man, his hair tousled and his clothes covered in grime, blood and perhaps a fair share of tears that fell upon the fabric. This wasn't a man who just killed someone. This was a man broken and accused of doing something he could never do.
"Bruce. Listen to me. We'll get you out of this. Do you understand me?" Tony grabbed Bruce by his shoulders, "I won't let you go to jail even if everyone believes you belong there. You don't." But no matter how much Tony tried to reassure Bruce, it didn't seem to be helping. Bruce folded his arms over his chest, leaning back into the bars behind him.
"I'll figure this out. Some how, because obviously I'm the only one that believes, well knows, I didn't do it," he growled. He turned his gaze from Tony. "You can go."
"Bruce," Tony reached out for his husband again but Bruce flinched away at the last minute. Tony's eyes reflecting more sadness than before and Tony nodded, leaving the room slowly. As he reached the door, he looked over his shoulder at a brooding Bruce before walking back and taking his husbands hands in his own once again, "Bruce. I know you didn't do it, because you aren't one to kill. These hands? They're not made to kill, they're made to protect, to serve and to love. Do you understand me? Even if I have to spring you out of prison myself, because the evidence sent you there. I will get you out of this mess."
Bruce brought his head back up, a piece of bloodstained hair falling slightly over his eyes. He looked at Tony, expression a little softer. "Tony..." his voice sounded broken, but he couldn't bring himself to say anything else.
"I got to go cupcake," Tony stroked Bruce's cheek and pecked his lips, "I will be back though, Alfred told me he'd come around later too to bring you some fresh clothes."
Bruce only nodded, and Tony walked out of the cell, Gordon closing and locking it behind him. Gordon was following him back to the front of the building, fumbling with his ring of keys as they went. Tony stopped short of the main room with the rest of the officers and turned to see what it was Gordon wanted.
"I don't for a second think he's guilty," Gordon said, "He's got too much to lose to be caught that easily. He hasn't even denied anything to us, but I can tell you by looking at that man in there, he didn't do it. Unfortunately, the evidence is too tight."
Tony didn't say anything, he just stared at Gordon for a long time before he gave him a curt nod and walked out of the building. Tony had to look into this himself, prove that Bruce was innocent before they did decide to throw him into Blackgate, or worse, Arkham. Tony's Bruce did not belong in prison or an asylum; he wouldn't allow it.
----
Bruce was almost angry Gordon didn't put him down in the county jail. Being singled out for his status in the city was only going to make matters worse, not to mention an unsympathetic jury. The people loved him when he was completely air-headed and contrite towards the needs of the citizens and the city itself. The thing that was bothering him the most was the fact that Tony, his own husband, hadn't believed him. In the end, Tony had seemed to change his point of view, which relieved Bruce for only a little part. Trying to convince your own husband that you didn't kill someone or didn't have an affair was probably the last thing you should have to do when you're in prison. Especially if it's true.
Sighing, Bruce ran his fingers through his hair and winced at the blood ending up on his fingers, he certainly hadn't expected this of all things. Even if he was sure he was being set up by someone, he still felt guilty for not being able to foresee it and/or prevent it. He really should have known better, should have seen the signs that pointed to danger, starting with the alarm pad having to reboot. First mistake, Bruce... You should have left and gone back to the manor. Not that it would have mattered, sooner or later he'd have to go back there and woman would've been found.
The outcome of the situation was inevitable and Bruce had no alibi he could really hold up in court. He couldn't just say he was out being Batman, that was... well that was disastrous. Bruce could only really hope that Tony was able to clear his name and find out who exactly had been able to hack into the penthouse. That was if Tony continued to believe Bruce... and really the more Bruce thought about the less he could really blame his husband for not believing him. Everything was pointing against him. Bruce had faith in his husband. If anyone could figure out who messed with his system, it was the creator himself. Tony didn't look all too pleased with the news though and Bruce had a small smile on the mental of Tony sitting at the alarm (now taken apart by his oh so talented fingers) with his goggles on his face and the tip of his tongue slightly escaping from between his lips.
Dick, he was going to help too. He was sure of it, Dick would probably try to trace everyone's steps, placing all the pieces of the puzzle together with Barbara Gordon while Tim went over every inch of digital footage they had. A surge of pride went through Bruce when he realized that his faith couldn't be in safer hands. Tony Stark and his genius sons, together with their genius friends. They would certainly find a way to prove to a jury that he was innocent.
He had faith in Barbara Gordon, a recent self recruited part of his team (even though he down right tried to refuse, but Dick begged). Barbara was Jim Gordon's daughter, quick on her toes as well as one of the smartest college tech kids Bruce had ever met. Even Tony had been mildly impressed with her computer knowledge. With her, Dick, Tony and possibly even his new little computer genius in training, Tim on the case, everything should be fine -- would be fine.
"Bruce," a prim and proper voice said, bringing the billionaire out of his thoughts. He looked up quickly to see Alfred standing at the bars with a canvas bag in hand. Given the circumstances, it only seemed right that Alfred dropped the formalities and replaced it with something more familiar and comfortable -- something more fatherly. Jim Gordon unlocked the door and Alfred stepped in, handing Bruce the bag. "They only allowed me to bring you jeans and a t-shirt. You'll be moved to Blackgate soon, I suspect. I can bring you a fresh suit for the hearing, but there's no saying when that might be. They're still cleaning up the penthouse..."
Bruce rifled through the bag, taking out the jeans and black t-shirt and slowly started to strip down, handing his garments to Gordon on the other side of the bars for evidence as he did. Bruce kept his eyes on Alfred. "I didn't do it."
"I know," Alfred said plainly, taking a seat down on the concrete slab. "The boys are worried. Damian has sheltered himself away in his room. Tim isn't saying a word and Richard is trying his best to keep them together."
Bruce hung his head a little, pulling the shirt over his head; at that moment he couldn't quite bring his eyes to look at Alfred. They both knew that Bruce was innocent, but his decisions and choices were bad and situation wasn't going to be an easy fix. The three boys he'd brought into his home and shown that trust and understanding were the only ways to accomplish anything, were now being forced to believe their father was innocent on charges that definitely pointed at him being guilty. But they did believe him, Bruce could tell from the way Alfred had talked about them. They were just broken and confused.
"Tell them everything will be fine," Bruce said sternly, handing his last piece of clothing to Gordon. The commissioner left and Bruce finally looked at Alfred again. "I'm so stupid."
"No, you are not," the elder gentleman replied, standing. He placed his hands on Bruce's shoulders, forcing the younger man to look him in the eye. "We all make mistakes. You couldn't have known."
"I was careless. I should have known better. I should have taken the precautions I usually do. I should have known something was different..."
"One way or another this would have come back and be pinned on you. We'll deal with this. Your husband is checking into everything as we speak and working with the police to quickly clear your name."
Bruce shook his head; "This won't be quick. Someone was murdered. Supposedly by me: Bruce Wayne."
Alfred didn't say a word, merely picked up the canvas bag in his hands and nodded. There was no arguing just then. Gordon returned and motioned to Alfred that it was time to go. Alfred squeezed Bruce's shoulder and walked out.