The People vs. Edward Nigma

[Harvey Dent]

A limousine pulls up to the courthouse where the press wait.

Inside the limo are Gotham's DAs. "Let's do this." Harvey says to Rachel before both doors open at the same time. They both step out and are immediately rushed by the press.

What are the odds of you winning this case?

Harvey says without even looking. "Nigma doesn't stand a chance."

Do you have enough evidence to be sure of that?

This time Rachel answered in the same style. "Of course." The questions were coming out from every direction. Finally, Harvey said, "No more questions, please." And the two ran inside the building.

[Batman]

As the reporters and various members of the media stop at the doors of the courthouse, just when Dent and Dawes disappear from sight, another limousine pulls up behind them. They turn, and rush to it, knowing full well who is inside.

Bruce stares at them, through the covered windows of the limo.

"Shall we park further away, Master Bruce?", Alfred asks.

He considers it for a moment. He considers even coming. Rachel would no doubt be here... For him to make this, of all things, their official reunion...

No. He had to. Edward Nigma had to pay for his crimes against humanity. Bruce had to make sure it was done right. Not that he didn't trust Harvey Dent, or Rachel... But there were certain limitations that the justice system brought. Bruce had to attend. There was no question.

"No. This is fine, Alfred.", Bruce finally said.

He had told Parker to come seperately. For Bruce to show up with some photographer kid from New York would generate unessacary and unanswerable questions. They had to maintain both secret identities at all costs.

Opening the door, Bruce put on a pair of sunglasses, masking any discomfort, and stepped out into the mass of media that awaited him.

"Mr. Wayne! Mr. Wayne! Care to comment on your appearance here, today?", One asked.

"Certainly. A hotel of mine was damaged during this... criminal's reign on our fair city. I simply want to make sure he gets what is deserved of his crimes.", Bruce answers, with a smile that only reaches skin deep.

"What about the allegations that Nigma was captured by the mysterious 'Batman'? Care to comment on that? You may owe him a bit of gratitude...", Another asks.

Bruce laughs, a little. Not wholeheartedly, but enough to fool them.

"We must not concern ourselves with tall tales, Ladies and gentlemen. I'm sure the police force were behind the capture. Not some creature from the tabloids.", Bruce responded, acknowledging his... other life.

As they neared the courthouse doors, Bruce waved, before entering, concluding his short lived interview.

This was going to be tough. Not only was he entering a building where, undoubtedly, Rachel Dawes was aswell... But he was facing a mass murderer, still bitter at what Nigma did to his city. He just hoped it would be over soon, and Nigma would finally get a proper sentance...

[The Riddler]

"Its time Nigma." The guard sounded like it was his execution. The broken man had no delusions about the time to come. He did expect a death sentence and welcomed it. He was done. He failed and now the reaper waited for him in hell.

Batman's yarn echoed over and over in his head, and its answer.

"A Riddle."

So simple an answer to topple the Prince of Puzzles. The greatest criminal who ever lived.

"Get up, lets go."

The people Vs. Nigma was about to begin.

[Lex Luthor]

As the door closed behind Bruce Wayne. A white limo pulled up right in front of the reporters. Not allot of socialites of this magnitude in Gotham, so as it was intended, the media types heads' all turned to greet the new guest at the trial.

A short, rather tubby man, after several moments of delay, got out of the driver side. He tux was ill fitting and grabbed him especially across the chest. He wore no tie to keep from strangling his neckless face, no doubt. He waddled quickly, as if he knew that trouble awaited him already, to the door of the occupant.

The door creaked open. A bald head rose over the tined window. The tall man's eyes glared at his driver as he closed the door himself.

The reporters fell over themselves to give over him. They shouted at the top of they lungs as if they're microphones didn't work.

The man, who wore a black suit and tie found the top steps before he heard, "...Conficted Criminal."

He sneered at the fluff female reporter and answered quite pleasantly into her microphone.

"I'll have you know I have been cleared of any and all charges. I'll expect you to write that down too. Why don't you?" He made sure to watch her do it before finishing. "I've moved my residence to Gotham for a more peaceful life and I'll expect you media bugs to stay off my back."

Then someone made a mistake.

"Don't need these wackos. Someone ought to get Superman on him."

"REALLY!? Where is your hero now?! He's a fraud like all your false hopes. You wallow in filth and blame others who happen to be well off and applaud brutes who act for you. You came to love them and emulate them but then you kill each other. Thank you.

He regained his composure and entered the court house with a smug look on his face.

[Spider-Man]

CLICK!!!

"Good morning Brucey!" An annoyingly cheerful voice came after a sudden flash at Bruce Wayne who merely flinched slightly.

"Hello Parker... and what will you be doing today?"

"Jameson wants photos... I'll give him photos." Peter Parker grinned, checking the rolls of film he was placing in his camera.

[Batman]

spiderman said:

CLICK!!!

"Good morning Brucey!" An annoyingly cheerful voice came after a sudden flash at Bruce Wayne who merely flinched slightly.

"Hello Parker... and what will you be doing today?"

"Jameson wants photos... I'll give him photos." Peter Parker grinned, checking the rolls of film he was placing in his camera.

Bruce raised an eyebrow.

"And they actually let you bring that thing in here?", Bruce asked.

Peter simply shrugged. Bruce sighed.

"Of course. Silly me...", Bruce responded, looking around.

In truth, he was looking to catch a glimpse of Rachel. He wanted to see her so bad that it hurt... But at the same time, He didn't want to face her. Not after the last time they had seen eachother...

And that's when Bruce noticed the bald man walking amongst the small crowd of witnesses and viewers to the trial. Bruce recognised him instantly, from the papers. What he was doing here was what puzzled Bruce.

"Who's cueball?", Peter asked, in a whisper that only Bruce could hear.

"Lex Luthor. Another billionaire from Metropolis. He's... a past offender.", Bruce responded. Before Parker could ask, Bruce interrupted him. "Crimes against humanity. It's... complicated."

There was still the question of what he was doing here. Luthor had made his name in Metropolis... He was widely known as the enemy of it's hero, Superman. But when Luthor was to be indeibted, He was released due to the Man Of Steel not showing up for a key part of the trial. Superman has been gone for five years since.

In any case, Bruce didn't trust him at all.

"Stay here. Snap some more pictures. We'll meet back in a few minutes.", He told Parker, before casually walking up to Luthor.

"I don't believe we've had the pleasure.", Bruce said, as the billionaire turned to face him.

[Lex Luthor]

"Ah, but no doubt you've heard of me." He said candid. "I believe my name once appeared very close to yours in a past issue of Fortune."

"And in People's sexiest man alive poll." He said jokingly. "I'm Alexander Luthor. Call me Lex, of course, Mr. Wayne." He said extending his hand.

"It is very good to know you. I'm very pleased to make your acquaintance. How do you do sir." He said politely

[Batman]

lexluthor said:

"Ah, but no doubt you've heard of me." He said candid. "I believe my name once appeared very close to yours in a past issue of Fortune."

"And in People's sexiest man alive poll." He said jokingly. "I'm Alexander Luthor. Call me Lex, of course, Mr. Wayne." He said extending his hand.

"It is very good to know you. I'm very pleased to make your acquaintance. How do you do sir." He said politely

Bruce nodded, shaking his hand in return.

Of course, it was all an act. But if Bruce was to learn his truer intentions...

"I'm very well, thank you. And yes, I have heard of you. Your company invested alot in the past few months on the stock market. You claimed alot of headlines...", Bruce said, speaking of his company's rather... hostile takeover, in regards to the top shares.

Bruce raised an eyebrow.

"Though I must admit, this is the last place I'd expect someone of your calibur to be. What brings you here, Mr. Luthor?", Bruce asked, intriguied.

[Lex Luthor]

"Land, Mr. Wayne." He Said.

"My father once told me, stocks may rise and fall, but..well I don't want to bore you but quite simply Gotham is a dieing city." He said seemly concerned.

"I've struck a deal with the city council to rebuild it and to own 3 quarters of its land. It was cheap, considering the crime rate and our own President's believe that Gotham is doomed. I plan to prove him wrong and bring this city back. I'll be rubbing it his face before 106 weeks dares to go by. Not single handedly of course." He paused to show importance for his next words.

"I had a hunch. With the return of this marvelous Batman, I feel the filth in this city will clean up quick, releasing the stranglehold on Gotham. I'll build homes for the destitute, school systems, all that jazz. Coming to this arch criminal's trial will show my support for The Batman." He laughed

"He is so unlike the other fraudulent "vigilantes". He means business. I know he is nothing more than "tabloid" to you Mr. Wayne."

A rush of people started flooding into the court room. "Well looks like they're getting started. Oh, my Lexcorp building is near competition in that formerly empty lot in Downtown. I'd love for you to come by."

[Batman]

lexluthor said:

"Land, Mr. Wayne." He Said.

"My father once told me, stocks may rise and fall, but..well I don't want to bore you but quite simply Gotham is a dieing city." He said seemly concerned.

"I've struck a deal with the city council to rebuild it and to own 3 quarters of its land. It was cheep, considering the crime rate and our own President's believe that Gotham is doomed. I plan to prove him wrong and bring this city back. I'll be rubbing it his face before 106 weeks dares to go by. Not single handedly of course." He paused to show importance for his next words.

"I had a hunch. With the return of this marvelous Batman, I feel the filth in this city will clean up quick, releasing the stranglehold on Gotham. I'll build homes for the destitute, school systems, all that jazz. Coming to this arch criminal's trial will show my support for The Batman." He laughed

"He is so unlike the other fraudulent "vigilantes". He means business. I know he is nothing more than "tabloid" to you Mr. Wayne."

A rush of people started flooding into the court room. "Well looks like they're getting started. Oh, my Lexcorp building is near competition in that formerly empty lot in Downtown. I'd love for you to come by."

Bruce nodded again.

"I'll keep that in mind.", Bruce responded.

Luthor? A supporter of The Batman? Bruce honestly didn't know how to react. He didn't have many supporters... So in a sense, it was good to know. In the same sense... It was Luthor, who he knew to be a criminal. Or perhaps he wasn't. In any case, Bruce would make sure to keep an eye on him, now that he was in Gotham...

There was also something that bothered him. Luthor was going to try and take a third of Gotham. He didn't trust Gotham in Luthor's hands. Or anyone else's, for that matter. This couldn't be good...

Bruce looked back as Luthor walked with the others to the courtroom, and motioned to Parker.

"You might want to put that away. They wouldn't want a camera flashing during the actual trial.", Bruce said, as Parker came up to him.

[Spider-Man]

"Sure thing." Peter agreed, placing his camera back in the bag he held on his back.

"These are really dull pics anyway. I mean the only good shot I got was of that hot DA over there." Peter nodded in the direction of Miss. Rachel Dawes across the room.

[Batman]

spiderman said:

"Sure thing." Peter agreed, placing his camera back in the bag he held on his back.

"These are really dull pics anyway. I mean the only good shot I got was of that hot DA over there." Peter nodded in the direction of Miss. Rachel Dawes across the room.

Bruce's eyes widened immediately on the spot.

Rachel was standing only a few feet away from him. He hadn't actually planned on being this close to her at all. Especially this early. Bruce looked at Parker, eyeing her.

"...Parker, go ahead inside. There's something I need to do.", Bruce said.

Peter still had his eyes on her. Bruce was a little annoyed at that, but he tried not to let it show.

"But-"

"Now.", Bruce ordered.

Parker, naturally, had no idea of the history the two shared. Or what they meant to eachother, at one point. Which is most likely why he made the comment infront of him. Bruce walked forward, hesitating. What could he say now? As if it wasn't hard before...

Stop it. You can do this. It's just a hello. Nothing more, nothing less. There's no need to feel so damned awkward around her. This isn't highschool.

But Bruce still couldn't shake the feeling. Even as he found himself approaching her.

What now? How to start conversation wasn't one of Bruce's stronger qualities. This was rediculous... He didn't need to be this way around her. They were both respectable, mature adults. So it was time for Bruce to act like one.

Bruce cleared his throat. This was it. Now or never... Or however they put it...

"Um... Hi.", Bruce eventually managed to say.

...

Yeah, that was mature and relaxed.

[Rachel Dawes]

"Um...Hi."

Rachel looked up to met Bruce's eyes. She was taken back at bit at the sudden approach. She knew they were to face each other sooner or later but never thought when it would actually happen. Now there he was, his face express showing confidence but his eyes were what he was truly feeling, uncertainly.

Rachel took a deep breath and felt herself straighten up, "Hello Bruce." She replied in a faint whisper.

[Batman]

racheldawes said:

"Um...hi."

Rachel looked up to met Bruce's eyes. She was taken back at bit at the sudden approach. She knew they were to face each other sooner or later but never thought when it would actually happen. Now there he was, his face express showing confidence but his eyes were what he was truly feeling, uncertainly.

Rachel took a deep breath and felt herself straighten up, "Hello Bruce." She replied in a faint whisper.

Bruce wasn't nessacarily sure how he had managed to even get here, from across the room. Much less blurt out 'Hi'... Which, in itself, was out of stress. That's never what Bruce would've said to her under any other circumstances.

He couldn't tell for sure if she was nervous too. How would that help the situation, if at all, if she was? It didn't matter. He had to regain his composure. Breaking the silence, Bruce managed to breathe in, a little, before continuing.

"It's... been awhile.", He began. ...OF COURSE it's been awhile. Get to the point., His subconcious yelled into his brain. "You look great.", He finally said, with a smile. This one, unlike the others, was geuine. A rarity, with Bruce... Who really had no reason to.

He almost mentioned the evidence he gave, but of course he couldn't. Not here. Not now, of all times...

[Rachel Dawes]

"You look good too." She said awkwardly. You look good too? What is this? Our first date? Rachel cleared her throat, "So, w-what are your thoughts on this trail?"

It would be best to try and avoid any personal problems they were facing at the moment. She needed to keep her mind fresh on the trail and not cloud it with thoughts of Bruce and the status of their relationship.