Passing Memories

Bruce was digging in another box, he had found another one of his own things. He picked a picture frame, it was dusty but easily cleanable. Bruce grabbed a rag from the other end of the table, wiping the glass frame. He stared at it for a moment, quickly removing more of the dust. His hands shook lightly, his head moving back over the box. Different items in it, he hadn't told anyone about these things. 'Who would play such a sick... joke?' He questioned in his mind. He couldn't even think straight.

Chloe got back within range to hear Bruce's tail end thought and bit her lip, Bruce....is everything ok? She sent to him worriedly. Wally had left shortly before they had neared the Mansion as he was going to check up on something.

'Peachy.' He grunted out, the box was taunting him. He shut his eyes, counting backwards from 10. He moved to the ground, sitting cross legged on the ground, "Why...?" He whispered out.

Chloe winced, he didn't sound ok she bit her lip and glanced down at her clothes they were still ripped from her fight. She needed to change before she went down to talk to Bruce, she tried not to let any thoughts slip as she entered the Mansion.

Bruce was staring at the picture, speaking his thoughts aloud not wanting Chloe to hear, "Why would this be in here?"

Chloe hurriedly grabbed a new set of clothes and ran into the bathroom to change, oh wow I look like Frankenstein's bride she thought in horror as she grabbed a brush to start working on the mess that was her hair. "Of course I would have to run into some crazy bitch who thinks a good time is breaking a ton of bones in your body and leaving you for dead." She said out loud so that way Bruce wouldn't hear her. She sighed and changed into a different set of clothes, "Well that's better then nothing." She muttered once she looked at herself in the mirror.

Bruce reached over his head pulling the box down and placing it in front of himself, 'I'm still unsure of what or why this would be here? Unless this was meant for me to find.' He mused in his thoughts, a little be upset over it.

Chloe froze when she heard him but didn't say anything or think anything it seemed Bruce wasn't the only one keeping secrets. "One thing is for sure I am going to find the bitch who did this." She said quietly.

Bruce thumb rubbed the glass on the photo, 'Mom.' His mind said weakly, he didn't care if Chloe could hear, he wanted to think without having to speak aloud. People might walk in her wonder what happened to his sanity.

Chloe bit her lip when she heard that one word from Bruce, it sounded so sad and lost it was totally unlike him and that worried her. She wasn't sure what she should do, she wanted to comfort him but she wasn't sure if he would accept that or not.

Bruce held the picture, his eyes still on his mother and father, he knew when this was taken. It hadn't been taken to soon before... Bruce moved the picture again, he felt odd, why was this photo bringing so many... emotions out of him? Hell, not even the stones that they actually died on bothered him as much as the picture did.

Chloe sighed, she decided to go down to the lab she felt like Bruce needed her then, she supersped down and froze when she saw him holding the picture in his hands. "Bruce?" She asked quietly.

Bruce looked up from the floor next to table, his eyes were bloodshot with a bit of blood seeping out of his eyes. He quickly wiping it, 'Yes?' He responded in his head, not trusting his voice.

Chloe approached him slowly, is everything all right? she sent to him, she didn't want to intrude on anything private.

Bruce sighed outwardly, "Some... box. Held... some personal things I haven't... seen in years." Bruce said, lightly. The box in front of him, "I found... a picture... my parents." He said looked backing down, he hated it. He hated how something as stupid as a picture could undone the man he worked so hard to be.

Chloe looked down, "You don't have to be ashamed Bruce.....your parents were good people and so are you." She said honestly as she looked back up.

"That's not the point, not at all." Bruce lightly shoved the box towards it. Inside contained a little boy's suit... with blood stained on it.

Chloe's eyes widened, she recognized that suit....."This is....that's from when your parents were murdered isn't it?" She asked quietly and in shock.

Bruce nodded slowly, "the gun is in there to." He almost choked out.

Chloe put her hand over his and gently squeezed it, "I'm here Bruce." She whispered, she wished she could take away his pain.

Bruce grabbed her hand, pulling her down into his lap. He just wanted something that would die on him, god everyone died on him. He held Chloe tightly, making sure she knew how much she meant to him.

Chloe held him back just as tightly, if this was what Bruce needed then she would allow him this. Somehow words weren't needed to be said....she could just hold him and try and erase his pain.

Bruce placed his head on her shoulder, his breathing finally calming down, "That... I just never thought anyone... had that..." He whispered out, disbelief clearly in his voice.

Chloe nodded and stroked his hair, "I know.....whoever keeps bringing things in from our pasts has a twisted sense of humor." She said disgustedly.

"Name every main enemy I ever had... have." he fixed his statement. It was sick, but... he knew why they did. It really had an affect on his performance.