Batman

It had been 12 long years since he was old enough to venture out on his own. He had learned everything from tracking and hunting skills, from Henri Ducard, to various martial arts and assassination techniques, from the league of assassins themselves. Now he was almost there.

"Beginning our final descent to Gotham City. Please return seats and trays to their upright positions…" He looked down upon the city with its lights so bright. From here it's clean shafts of concrete and snowy rooftops, showed the work of men who died generations ago. From here it looked almost like an achievement.

His thoughts led him to picturing himself taking the train to Gotham from Metropolis. It would have made him feel better seeing what his city had turned into since his abandonment of it so many years ago. He doubted it looked any different from the last time, but he was stuck up there with those who didn't want to deal with the harsh realities that Gotham held for those without as many resources as themselves. In all fairness it was no place for a child.

As he was taking his bags from luggage he was immediately bombarded by reporters and their camera crew.

"Mr. Wayne, welcome home. How does it feel to be back home after such a long absence?" He carefully responded, playing the part of the billionaire playboy he knew the media wanted to paint him as.

"Well it feels absolutely invigorating, I can't wait to get home and see what the help has made for dinner. I hope something good, they have had 12 years." And with that they all laughed.

He caught the eye of the reporter who asked the question and he was almost taken aback. She had beautiful blue eyes complimented splendidly with her golden ringlets that fell to her shoulders. Her figure was that resembling a model. Which led to the question of what she was doing being a reporter.

"And may I ask who asked the question?" As if on command she replied; "That would be me, Vicki Vale, reporter for the Gotham Gazette."

"Funny you say that. Don't I own this one or is that the other guy?"

"If I recall correctly, it would be The Daily Bugle. May I ask if you have any plans now that you're here or if the rumors about you and Princesses Caroline are true?"

She was persistent he would have to give her something to satisfy the media's craving for gossip.

"Well as I stated earlier, I look forward to the food I do believe the help has made, but aside from that, no, I do not. And as for my relationship status, well, Vickie let me lay that rumor to rest by cordially inviting you to Wayne Manor." The look on her face was enough for him to know that this would be enough. As he strode away he said his final two words in the airport "8 o'clock."

Flustered and blushing she fumbled to get her sentences out. "Well there you have it Gotham the twenty-five year heir to the Wayne millions has commented on his "plans" after his long awaited return to Gotham and his romantic inclinations. We'll keep you posted on Gotham's richest-and best looking-native son. Tom?"

…

As he exited his car he saw the face of one of the only people he had truly missed since his departure. Alfred was as old as his father would have been. His features were that of jet black hair with sides starting to show the inedible grey, a mustache that only he seemed to be able to pull off, and of course this all went well with his usual choice of black suit that was accompanied with a grey vest top and a black bowtie. "I trust that you have been well Master Bruce."

As his bags were being taken he replied "Yes Alfred I have. Though it seems we won't have much time to catch up as I have a visitor scheduled for 8 o'clock."

"Yes Master Wayne. Should I make any special preparations or will dinner be enough?"

"I think that the dinner should suffice thank you Alfred." As his butler left he was standing alone in the driveway gazing upon Wayne Manor. It was built as a fortress, generations past, to protect a fading line of royalty from an age of equals. Now the house was dying just as the people who made it had.

Taking his gaze from the house he began his walk towards the cemetery that held all former Wayne's. It was a fair distance from the manor, but he decided he would need the time. All twelve years of his training and commutation of knowledge hadn't prepared him for what lay there awaiting him.

He was not expecting to see another person there when he arrived. Yet there she was. The woman standing in front of the tombstone had her amber hair in an intricate braid, and her face was plain but comely. She wore no make-up but was dressed in all black as if still in mourning. Yet she wasn't sad she was having what seemed like a conversation. "And if daddy gets any more protective he's going to build a moat around my bedroom. Its times like these that I wish you were around to….yes?"

Embarrassed to be caught so off guard he only managed a short reply. "Excuse me I didn't mean to interrupt…" that's when he noticed that she was there alone.

"With that look on your face I assume you think me crazy. Well don't worry I was talking to my mother." She pointed to the grave in front of her it read 'Alicia Beaumont.' "Don't worry I was just leaving." With that she placed a rose down and started to walk away.

"Sorry I truly didn't mean to bother you i came here to see my parents."

"It's good to see people come and visit." She looked genuinely sadden by her words. "For the most part this cemetery is empty. You're the only other person I've seen come in over a year. Is it an occasion?"

He hadn't thought on it since he arrived. But in his mind yes it was. He came with the intention to ask his parents for blessing on his future endeavor. "You could say that yes. It's the first time I've been home in twelve years so I thought it only appropriate to come see them first."

"Oh well you better hurry it's almost 8 o'clock." And with that she was off. Leaving Bruce alone in the cemetery. For a short time he just stood there thinking of her final words.

As he made his way to their graves. The feeling he had looking down upon them was something he hadn't felt since the night in the alley. Guilt, shame, regret, and above all else sadness. He struggled almost choking on his words. "I'm sorry mother. I'm sorry father." His vision was beginning to blur as the tears ran down his face. He tried speaking again but this time the words would not come out.

He sat there in silence until he mustered up the will to speak. "It's been too long since last we were together, but I'm home now. I promise to make these visits more frequent." He saw the flowers on their tombstones. "I see at least Alfred's kept you company. Thank you for having him around father, I know you two were close. And he means a lot to me now also." Clearing his head he went back to his original train of thought. "I've decided to do something to help the city." He paused now looking for the right words. "It may be for self-gratifying reasons but I won't allow what happened to us happen to anyone else."

As the last words were said he felt all the better for it. He looked at his watch and saw that it was time he head home. He meant what he said. All of it.