- During his travels he goes under the name 'Jack'. Not as Bruce Wayne, but as a simple American. Just in case he encounters somebody crazy that wouldn't mind kidnapping him for ransom...or worse.
- Any comments about him being a 'filthy American' are meant to be promptly ignored.
- Say that he is searching to learn out of curiousity and desire for knowledge, do not mention his true motives. There is no question that some of the individuals that he will encounter will have criminal connections.
- Do not, under any circumstances, open up his heart to anybody again. Otherwise there will be only ashes left.
"Teach me."
Bruce doesn't know how many times he has repeated these words while sitting outside in the cold, leaning against the stone wall of the temple.
So close yet so far, all he needs is the permission to enter and another checkpoint can be crossed out of his mental To-Do list, and yet... Silence. While the wind weeps and thus reminds him of the upcoming blizzard, his mind unwillingly takes the lack of a reply as a chance to think back on how he has gotten here - the death of his parents in Crime Alley, the years made up of rage and grief, his decision to become the protector of Gotham, the start of his travel around the world as Jack, Minhkhoa...
The orange glow of sunset lights up the world and covers the forest of pinetrees in more shadows than there already are. Bruce hisses as another cold blow hits the air and makes the trees tremble, the snowflakes feel all too unpleasant against the open cut on his cheek and his thick coat isnt helping as much as he hoped it would. That hasnt stopped him until now though, and it wont anytime in the future - he has done and sarificed too much to go back. Gotham will need a new, stronger him.
Bruce goes through his list of musts for what awaits as he usually does:
Just as he was about to roll out his sleeping bag and call it a night, the door of temple slowly creaked open.