It's not something he's expected to see. It's been two long years since he's seen home, and if he was being honest, he never thought he'd see it again. Yet, here he is, as he slowly opens his eyes and looks around the room where he is, it's distinctly his --

Mr. Wayne, there's a call for you on line 3!

-- office. The large floor-to-ceiling windows, the cathedral like ceilings, the balcony out overlooking the city. The portrait of his mother, father, and himself in the center as a young boy. The mahogany desk, the large leather chair. Everything in here is something that he thought he'd never see again. Yet, here he is. He rubs at his eyes, pushing himself away from the desk as --

Mr. Wayne? Your meeting at 2 PM just got cancelled, should I reschedule?

-- he remembers his secretary (is it really her though?) and he calls out to her that he's taking the rest of the day off. She replies in kind and he finally gets out of the chair, shoving his hands into the dress pants he's wearing (he doesn't remember falling asleep in these) and walks towards the balcony. He pushes the door open and walks out, and he hears the familiar sounds of Gotham below him. He sees the familiar buildings. He turns, looks up, and sees Wayne Tower printed in large glowing letters on the top of the building. Is he really home? He doesn't want to think he is but it seems clear as day. Home.Gotham.

It's almost as if he's never left. Which, isn't a good sign. He walks back into the office, closing and locking the doors of the balcony behind him, and gathers various items in the office, putting them into a spare suitcase he's always left under his desk, and heads out the front door of his office. As he does, he walks right by his secretary who --

Have a good evening Mr. Wayne! I'll see you tomorrow, bright and early!

-- Seems way too cheerful for anything, and he's not sure why she isn't completely registering as familiar with him. He stops, and turns to look at her, when it hits him. This isn't his assistant, but Brian's. One that Bruce attacked back in November when under the influence of War. She's not his real assistant, she's a mirage. Or worse she's...preparing to attack him, and Bruce's instincts are correct.

Being home isn't exactly as it seems just yet. She lunges for him, and they spar, he disarms her (using a knife used to cut open the mail is a relatively smart move, but since his suspicion was up, he slightly anticipated it) but not before she manages to slice her arm. He manages to knock her out, ties her up, and puts her in the elevator most used by staff, and--

Main connector power lost. Please contact Gotham City Police for assistance.

--damages the power box so it can't move up or down the elevator shaft. Bruce gets into his personal one, and rides it down.

He's expecting trouble when he walks out the elevator but instead he hears nothing. Not one single thing. The only sound is the click of his dress shoes on the tiled floor as he heads outside, where a car is waiting. A prototype he built years ago, a self driving car for when Alfred was busy doing other things (and perhaps, that is most needed now more than ever) and he gets in. He starts to speak, but the car immediately tells him --

Returning 1007 Mountain Drive, Wayne Manor. Estimated driving time, fifteen minutes.

-- exactly where he's going. He pays attention to the streets as they pass by on the way to the Manor. The streets are empty, everything is too quiet, and his phone is quiet as well. Is he the only one back? Is he even back at all? Is this a trick of the mind again? Is he dreaming?

He checks in, he finds out others are in Gotham, but he returns to an empty Manor. Not of the rooms, all of those are there, unlike how it is back in Boston. This is certainly Gotham, but with no idea of how he got back, he's a bit weary of taking it all in. He's a bit concerns that this won't last because he missed --

Are we home? Is this real?

-- being here, but his thoughts are distracted by the sound of high heels on the floor. He turns to see Selina walking towards him, looking as confused as he was when he woke up at Wayne Tower. He's not sure if this is real, so he tells her --

If it is, I don't think it's going to last. It's too quiet here. Something isn't right.

-- the truth, because if there is one thing he's good at these days, it's the truth.

And the truth is, he's become a bigger cynic now, more than ever.