Bruce Wayne stood before a holographic interface, fingers moving rapidly over a projected keyboard. He wasn't hunting anyone tonight—not actively. Tonight was about maintenance, analysis. The kind of work that kept his mind from wandering too far into the dark when there were no criminals to chase.
He was halfway through refining a chemical breakdown from a new narcotic hitting the Narrows when a soft ping echoed from the facial recognition system. His eyes flicked up.
MATCH FOUND: UNKNOWN SUBJECT
POTENTIAL ALIAS: KIERAN EVERLEIGH
ASSOCIATIONS: LEONARD HARROW, MULTIPLE BUSINESS SITES
SOURCE: LOUNGE SECURITY FEED
Bruce raised an eyebrow. He tapped a key, and the footage popped up. There he was. The young man from the interrogation room. From the rooftop fight. Same gait, same build. Same haunted eyes.
But now he was different. Sharper. Confident. Wearing a tailored suit, sipping a drink, exchanging words with Leonard Harrow at a high-end lounge. There was no trace of the frightened fugitive who'd escaped custody. He looked composed, professional.
Bruce narrowed his eyes and pulled up more results.
Kieran Everleigh — Independent Real Estate Consultant
A slew of websites flicked across the screen, each better designed than the last. Articles in fake online publications, staged testimonials, press releases. All the markings of a digital ghost… but done by someone good. Someone very, very good.
He leaned in, studying the HTML code of one site. "Fake," he muttered. "All of it."
"Sir?" Alfred's voice echoed from above, casual as ever.
Bruce didn't look away. "He created an alias. Not just a name—an entire portfolio. And now he's making moves with Harrow."
Alfred stepped closer, peering at the screen. "I take it this is the same young man who embarrassed GCPD and gave you a rather spirited chase?"
Bruce nodded slowly. "The same. And it looks like he's going after Harrow's hotel."
He brought up Leonard Harrow's recent business activity. There it was—one of Harrow's hotels, struggling. Negative reviews, low occupancy, complaints stacking up. Bruce's fingers moved again.
HEALTH INSPECTION PENDING
"Interesting timing," Bruce said. "The hotel's value is dropping, and this alias appears. Like a vulture circling the corpse."
A few more taps and a headline flashed across the screen.
BREAKING: Local Hotel Slammed by Surprise Health Inspection
Photos showed the hotel's staff scrambling. Inspectors pointing out violations. In one image, Harrow was caught mid-gesture, clearly shouting.
Bruce stared at the screen, jaw tightening. "This isn't random. This is planned. Coordinated."
"You think he's sabotaging it?" Alfred asked, brows raised.
Bruce turned back to the lounge footage. The kid—Kieran, or whoever he really was—was smiling over his drink. Harrow looked intrigued. Trusting, even.
"I think," Bruce said quietly, "he's playing a long game. And we've underestimated him." The most update n0vels are published on N(o)vᴇl(F)ire.nᴇt
He turned, walking toward the giant monitor at the center of the cave. The cave dimmed as it synced to his biometric signature.
"Activate a persistent file," Bruce ordered. "Codename: Split."
Alfred gave a soft sigh. "So we're making him official now?"
"Depends on how this conversation goes." Bruce replied while opening the bat suit case
The lounge doors swung open, letting the soft sounds of jazz spill out into the night. Kieran Everleigh stepped out with the same polished charm he'd entered with, the dark fabric of his tailored coat catching the glow of the streetlamps. He laughed—low, easy, natural—as Leonard Harrow followed him out.
"Well, Leonard," Kieran said, adjusting his cufflinks, "always a pleasure. And if this 'miracle property' of yours doesn't send me running for the hills, I just might give you a call."
Harrow grinned, a bit red in the face from the brandy and the ego boost. "You do that. And hey, next time, drinks are on me."
Kieran clapped a hand on Harrow's back with practiced familiarity. "I'll hold you to that."
They stopped beside Harrow's cherry-red sports car, sleek and low against the curb. Kieran helped the man into the driver's seat like a respectful valet. Harrow started the engine, gave a quick salute through the window, and peeled off into the night, tires humming.
Kieran's smile faded as he turned, slipping one hand into his coat pocket, the other running along his jaw. The street was quiet now. He started down the sidewalk, eyes flicking to the reflection in a puddle at his feet—
A dark shape dropped silently behind him.
A beat of stillness. Then he turned slowly.
Batman stood in the mouth of the alley, cape settling like wings behind him. His eyes locked onto Kieran's face with the weight of a storm gathering.
"…Took you long enough," Kieran said, voice cool trying his absolute hardest to not break character . "I was starting to think you'd finally stopped watching me."
'Holy shit this guy is terrifying!'
Batman stepped forward, slow and deliberate. "You've been busy."
Kieran offered a half-smile, tilting his head. "Busy? Me? I've just been sampling Gotham's nightlife. Making friends."
"I've seen your friends. Harrow. The fake identity. The hotel."
Kieran let out a soft laugh. "Wow. You've really been keeping up, huh? Flattering."
"You think this ends with a handshake and a hotel deed?" Batman's voice was low, unblinking. "I'm aware of your little business with the homeless, you are in over your head."
Kieran's gaze narrowed, the veneer cracking just enough to show the steel beneath. "Funny. I could say the same about you. Now last I checked I wasn't a wanted man what are you going to do beat the shit out of a defenseless drunk?"
From deep inside, Nolan's voice stirred. "He's too close. Back off. You're not ready for this fight."
Quentin's voice followed, sharper. "Stay in character. Don't flinch."
Kieran took a step closer. "You know, I thought about running," he said softly. "Hiding, like you expect people like me to do. But then I realized something… Gotham only listens to power. You wear yours like armor."
He smiled again—cooler, more dangerous now.
"I just decided to wear mine with style."
Batman didn't respond. But his presence loomed heavy, the silence pressing down like a vice.
"You're in over your head, you might have been able to erase your criminal history but, you will slip up again. And by the looks of it, it will be sooner rather than later and I will be waiting." Batman said finally.
Kieran dipped his head slightly, stepping backward into the dark.
"Maybe," he said. "But the water's warm, and I've always been a strong swimmer."
And with that, he turned and walked away, leaving Batman standing beneath the flickering streetlight, cape billowing like a shadow refusing to be shaken.
"I wonder what personality I was talking to right then, care to tell me?" Batman called out his voice low and gravely with just the right amount of threat
Kieran froze mid step, "I don't know what your talking about chao!" He waved backwards and kept walking
A/N: at this point Batman can't actually make a move on him, it's like the situation with penguin. He knows he's a criminal but has to catch him in the act. I'm not trying to slow burn you guys just laying a lot of foundation so the big scenes don't seem completely out of character