The Red Right Hand

Walking On Both Sides

"There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so." --William Shakespeare

It was cold in the boardroom, something Bruce Wayne took notice of. However, he thought it quite fitting for the fact that this was indeed a place of verbal bloodbaths. Especially when his cousin, Adeline Kane Wilson, was leading the charge. What else did he expect from a Kane after all?

She'd entered the room armed, holding a large leather folder. This, he presumed, had everything necessary for the assault, including everything from favors to blackmail. She could be so ruthless, but so could half the people sitting across from him. Bruce may have owned the majority of the company, but he was very well aware that many of his colleges were just waiting to pounce at the first drop of blood. Every last one of them sharks. The only person he truly trusted with the legacy of his family's great company was Lucius Fox—a friend and trusted ally.

Lucius was, in many ways, Bruce's eyes and ears, always looking out for his company's best interest. He was also a man of great brilliance and loyalty, qualities Bruce valued above all else. But there was one thing in particular that Lucius Fox had that many of the board members didn't—a heart.

"Are we ready to call this meeting into session everyone?" Lucius said with a hint of natural grandeur.

Bruce couldn't help but chuckle a little at how official the man sounded, like he were a judge presiding over a court.

"Alright," Lucius began, "today we will be discussing the plan proposed by Mr. Wayne for a potential youth center located on the site of one of Wayne Enterprises currently vacant properties. Now is everyone up to date with the proposed plan, and understands the details in which it was proposed?"

Lucius look up from his notes and noticed everyone nod, both looks of calm and dissatisfaction reflecting back at him.

"Good," he continued, "I will now open the floor to those of you who have concerns. As always, let us try to be respectful and have a thoughtful discussion. Would anyone like start?"

A man in a navy blue suit, sharply dressed, leaned forward and raised his hand stylishly, a flat look upon his alabaster skin. He, like Bruce, came from old Gotham money, but what he did with it was a far cry from the values of a Wayne son.

"Yes Mr. Daggett, the floor is yours."

"Thank you, Lucius," the man said and stood up, buttoning his coat. Unaware of how much Lucius hated when John Daggett addressed him as a friend.

"My fellow members of the board, I think I speak for all of us when I say that this project is, and always will be, a beautiful dream , but a dream is all it is and will ever be."

Bruce couldn't help but roll his eyes as Daggett stood there, addressing the table as if he were addressing congress.

Maybe this really is a courtroom and I missed the memo?

Still, Daggett continued, "I want nothing more than to help ensure the youth of our great city have the tools they need to remain on the straight and narrow, but that's not the reality we live in . Mr. Wayne wants us to believe that this center can make a difference, and bring light to a very dim part of Gotham, and maybe it can? I agree, the children in that neighborhood need a safe place where they can safely partake in productive activities and be enriched. I'm not saying we deny them of that, but with those kids come complications that cannot be avoided. Drugs, gangs, recruiters, and even possibly sex traffickers. Mr. Wayne wants and believes this center will be a beacon of hope, but I know—and—you know—this place will only be a beacon of opportunity to those who only wish to prey on these kids. I for one do not feel the need to chum the waters ."