A Philanthropic Appeal

[not_a_wonder]

Vanessa Kapatelis is not a woman to give up easily.

Perhaps that's what the people at the Wayne Foundation were hoping for, when they informed her in no uncertain terms that their donations budget was set and none of them had the authority to increase the amounts. Perhaps that's what the secretaries at Wayne Enterprises were hoping for, as she worked her way up the corporate ladder in an elaborate game of phone tag, looking for someone to speak to regarding the Wayne Foundation and the shortfall that social services would be dealing with this year.

When an Amazon fights, she identifies the best place to strike, and goes for that first. When slaying a monster, you don't hack at its feet -- you aim for the head.

This wasn't a monster or a physical fight, but the principles could still apply. Aim for the head -- that's why Nessie drove out of the city proper on her day off, looking as put together and professional as she could, and headed up to the most exclusive neighborhood still considered part of Gotham. Her destination -- Wayne Manor, ancestral home of the Wayne Family, currently housing (most of) the children of Bruce Wayne. It wasn't very likely that she'd get a chance to speak with the acting head of Wayne Enterprises, but she had a presentation to give, or at least the materials to drop off.



Vanessa spent what remained of her downtime, after all those calls, to put the presentation together. It was a collection of the financial data for her department and information on the ongoing opioid crisis -- she even used the color printer in her own apartment and put it together in a slim, sturdy binder with plastic sleeves for the pages. And if she could make a good impression on whoever she spoke with, it could get passed on to Timothy Drake-Wayne with a good word for the social services department.

(She hadn't forgotten her initial reason for wanting a way into Wayne Manor. But her visit had to look legitimate, and the looming trouble of ongoing fallout from the widespread malpractice of the nineties was definitely real. She had to treat it with all the seriousness it deserved, for its own sake as well as making sure that she appeared to have no ulterior motives for entering the manor.)

Nessie parked her car a short distance from the drive leading up to the manor. It was out of the way enough that she wouldn't block anyone else trying to get in, and shaded by a tree. She picked up her handbag and tucked her presentation binder under one arm, then locked up the car and walked away.

The walk up the drive was pretty long -- the rich enjoy their privacy -- but she'd walked further and in worse conditions while wearing heels before. She was determined. Finally, she made it to the main gate and pushed the button that would alert the house beyond that a visitor had arrived.

The low, grating buzz set her nerves going, and in the silence that followed, Nessie allowed herself a moment to worry about a bad outcome to this visit.

Comments

[soldier_on_undaunted]

"I --"

He stands abruptly.

"I believe you're running low on tea, Miss Kapatelis. Allow me to make some more."

[not_a_wonder]

Nessie can't help her reaction of going 'on alert' when Alfred moves so suddenly. She 'jumps' back in her seat, causing the chair to move back from the table, and she tries to cover the startle response by getting to her feet as well.

"Oh, it's n- not necessary!" She exclaims, hating the way her voice shakes a little. "You've done so much already, Mr. Pennyworth, really..."

[soldier_on_undaunted]

"Nonsense, it -- won't take but a moment --"

Alfred's back is already to her as he all but races towards the kitchen.

[not_a_wonder]

Nessie watches him go, hands braced on the table for support. She shakes her head, trying to clear it, and slowly sinks back into her seat. Something's going wrong. She's not sure what she's said or done, but the conversation wasn't meant to go this way.

Her stomach feels unsettled, so she drains the rest of her teacup. He's coming back with more anyway, and maybe letting him be right will ease some of the tension in the room.

Maybe.

[soldier_on_undaunted]

It takes almost ten minutes before Alfred comes back with more tea, looking somewhat more composed again. He refills Nessie's cup with a forced smile.

"I apologize, but I contacted Master Timothy while I was waiting for the kettle," he says. "It seems he may be some time yet."

[not_a_wonder]

"Ah..." her answering smile is a little more timid, and she ventures, "just one of the charms of living in Gotham City, I suppose. I do hope they're all doing all right? You said that Dick and Damian were with Timothy as well?"

[soldier_on_undaunted]

"Yes, they are," Alfred says.

[not_a_wonder]

"I'm glad to hear they're all right. You never know what costumed criminals will do... they're all so unpredictable." She takes a sip from her refreshed tea cup. "I especially worry about Damian."

Nessie means that she worries about the youngest Wayne son because he's the youngest one -- her own experiences as a teenager thrust into danger left their marks, even before Wonder Woman's various enemies decided to use her. Seeing his family under threat won't do any preteen boy any favors when it comes to feeling safe and secure.

But, even given the high likelihood that Alfred knows the context of Nessie's past -- Timothy would definitely do a background check, at least -- is he going to think of that context right now?

[soldier_on_undaunted]

"Miss Kapatelis," Alfred finally says. "Are you building up to saying something?"

[not_a_wonder]

"....Excuse me?" is all that Nessie can get out, startled by the question.

[soldier_on_undaunted]

Alfred folds his hands.

"You may recall," he says, "That we lost one of Master Bruce's children to one of these 'costumed criminals.' Young Master Jason was killed by... in an attack on a refugee camp by the Joker. Collateral damage in a madman's sick game."

[not_a_wonder]

"I am aware." Vanessa replies. The words probably come out cold, because she has to put her emotions under a tight rein.

Even if she were just the usual social worker, she could hardly be unaware. The doings of the Wayne family are often seen as being the business of the whole city, and prime fodder for all sorts of gossip. The unfortunate life and death of Jason Todd is often a topic of discussion, even obliquely, among her coworkers.

[soldier_on_undaunted]

"The current head of your department," Alfred continues, "suspected that Master Bruce himself had... that he had killed his own son."

"I understand that he came with the best of intentions," Alfred continues. "But you cannot imagine the pain of losing a child who means the world to you to an act of senseless violence, to have your life shattered, and then to have to defend yourself from accusations. To have to relive every moment, every aspect of the loss to another's satisfaction."

"Master Bruce was cleared of any wrongdoing," Alfred says. "And we have done our best to move forward with our lives. But if you are here to tear open this wound again..."

[not_a_wonder]

Nessie's eyes seem to darken with fury, and she starts to retort hotly, "If you think I don't know what it's like to defend myself--" before she cuts herself off, not trusting her own control.

She seethes silently for a moment.

"I'm here, begging for scraps, because people would rather gut the programs meant to care for our most vulnerable than bother trying to get the entitled rich to pay more taxes. Children are abused, elders starve, and the upper crust throws a few charity balls every year to feel better about themselves. So pardon me if I don't feel bad that my boss had the guts to hold someone richer than God to account!"

[soldier_on_undaunted]

"Held to account for what, precisely?" Alfred asks, now also heated. "For leaving his son with his birth mother? For --"

Alfred breaks off.

"I understand," he says, "That Mr. Desidero was doing what he thought was right. I hold no ill will against him. But if you have come here under false pretenses to resurrect false accusations --"

[not_a_wonder]

"People kill their children all the time!" Nessie's voice rises, nearly breaks -- and a picture frame behind Alfred suddenly has a tiny hairline crack in the glass. The breaking sound was small enough that neither is likely to notice. Especially not Nessie, who says angrily, "Don't you dare pretend like anyone is above suspicion for that. We can't let them be!

"But this visit wasn't about any of that! The opioid crisis is real, the way the city is floundering to respond to it is real. I wouldn't lie about such things for the sake of digging up dirt on a case where the parent was already proven to not be at fault!"

[soldier_on_undaunted]

"I do not believe he should have been above suspicion because he was rich! But it should be plain to anyone how much Master Bruce loved Jason!"

[not_a_wonder]

Nessie gets to her feet, handbag over her chest almost like a shield. She retorts, "Loving someone doesn't mean a damn thing when it comes to whether or not you can hurt them!"

[soldier_on_undaunted]

"You -- come with me," Alfred says, storming towards the stairs.

[not_a_wonder]

Vanessa is furious enough at this turn of events -- really, at the accusations being lobbed at her -- to just follow what he says without question. She stomps along after him, still clutching her purse, and doesn't even wonder where they're going.

[soldier_on_undaunted]

Alfred storms through a hallway before finally leading them into a room. The door squeaks as if it hasn't been opened for a little while. Inside is a room that clearly once belonged to a teenager. Green bedsheets, a Poison Idea poster on the wall, magazines about cars and motorcycles, a bookshelf full of dog-eared and well loved books, a dresser full of clothes.

Jason's old room.

[not_a_wonder]

Nessie realizes what the room must be when she gets a good look around. The place is well-kept, but it hasn't been lived in for a while and there's a bit of dust in the air from that.

There's part of her that resents this move -- blatant appeal to the emotions from a caregiver in denial, that cynical part says -- but more than that, her heart lurches at the proof that Jason was so young when he died.

She turns just her head to look at Alfred, but any question of what he's doing or why they are here sticks in her throat.

[soldier_on_undaunted]

Alfred looks down, running a finger over a framed portrait, an expensive frame wrapping a tattered old photo of Jason with his father and step mother.

"He missed his mother acutely," Alfred says, still staring at the picture. "Master Bruce tried to be the best father he could... but it was painfully obvious how much he missed her. Shortly before his death, I would see him when he thought I wasn't looking, staring at this picture and crying."

"When he learned the truth about his birth mother, he was determined to find her. And when he did, Master Bruce was happy for him. After losing his own parents so young, he hoped that Jason would finally have the mother he needed. He left Jason alone with her. He was afraid of intruding. And then..."

"You have no idea how he has second-guessed himself every day ever since. If only he hadn't left Jason alone. If only he had been there."

[not_a_wonder]

Vanessa takes a breath. It would be so easy to point out the mistakes -- even though she knows this story isn't the whole story. Leaving a child with someone who is really no better than a stranger, regardless of blood relation. The fact that Sheila Haywood had walked out of her son's life without a look back, and no effort to keep track of him or reclaim him after his father's death. Sheila's shady past. Bruce and Jason both had been blinded by rose-colored glasses in this case.

"Everything in you wants to rebel against the thought that a child is in danger around their parents. You're told from childhood that your parents will keep you safe, and if you're lucky that's held true for you. And then you have to confront the fact that it's not.

"It's not always the parents themselves, but who they allow into their lives. Who they allow around their children. But it's always the children who end up paying the price, somehow."

[soldier_on_undaunted]

Alfred lowers his head.

"We found out later that the Joker was blackmailing her," he says. "She had been embezzling from the camp. We've never known if..."

He trails off.