Intrepid Readers: I hope you enjoy this. For those of you who are
new to these stories, I recommend you read my first, Brothers Unite. Or at
least the Epilogue. The story will make more sense that way. Plus I don't
think it's a really bad fanfic. Thanks for reading, and please review.
"Yes, I am sorry Lucius, but I am going to need a few weeks," said Bruce the fop. Although that was not quite true, and Lucius, CEO of Wayne Corp. knew it. Ever since Bruce took that day off a few weeks back he had been a little more focused, a little more together. But this, today, there was a harder edge to Bruce Wayne that he had never seen. More focused, more intent, even in comparison to the No Man Land's debacle. Something had awoken the sleeping giant.
"That's fine, Bruce," soothed Lucius. "We won't need your signatures for anything for a few months. If anything does come up, we will defer it for a while. But why do you have to go? And is there anything I can do to help."
Bruce stared at his right-hand man at Wayne Corp., sadly shook his head, and said, "Sorry, Lucius. You can't help. It's a family..."
"....issue" finished Dick Grayson to Amy Rohrback of the Bludhaven Police Department. "I know I am leaving in the lurch, and that I am needed here, but I am needed at home more. I am sorry."
Rohrback stared hard at the face of her Rookie. Dick Grayson was more than a little strange, and more than a little handsome. But he was the best cop on the force, and a credit to the badge. He was right. He was needed here. But those eyes, my god those eyes were ice cold. Rarely had she seen her rookie look so intense. She had never known her rookie to bail unless he has a good reason.
"OK, rookie, I believe you," Rohrback began, sorting through a collection of papers. "But I still don't know why you can't tell me more, and why you won't let me help."
Grayson nodded at the very fair question. "I wish I could tell you but my family is...."
"....extremely private," finished Tim Drake said to his headmaster.
"Fair enough Timothy. Your grades are good enough and your teachers have all agreed that you can audit the rest of the courses and still finish the year with the highest marks. We are sorry to see you go. You have brought a lot to our community, and we look forward to seeing you in the future. When do you have to leave?"
"I go offline as soon as possible," said Barbara Gordon to her friend and teammate Black Canary. "Until I come back, Birds of Prey are suspended. I am sorry Dinah."
Dinah Lance stared hard at her friend and inquired. "What in the heck is causing the all-powerful Oracle from cutting off her friends and family? What mission can be so important? What force has so much power over her?" Drake continued to stare at her friend until finally a light dawned.
"Of course! I don't have to be the world's greatest detective to figure it out!" Gordon flinched at that, and Dinah knew she had her. "I knew it! Only one man can get otherwise sane, sensitive people to act like this. Its...."
"...Batman!" exclaimed Roy Harper, aka Arsenal "This happens every time! He snaps his fingers. And you come running. When are you going to become your own man? Come on Robbie, this is not cool!"
Nightwing visibly tried to calm himself so as not to vivisect the bowman and again addressed the Titans. "Yes, I am going on a mission with Batman, Batgirl, and Robin. Yes, Oracle will be devoting all of her resources to helping us. Yes, Batman is heading up the mission. But this is different than the past. This is personal, this is family, and it is vitally important to all of us. Until I come back, I will be out of contact, so Donna will take leadership of the team. Also, I need you to watch over Bludhaven for me. I don't know how long I will be gone, but I need to know my city is protected. If you could do this for me, I would appreciate it. I am sorry to have to do this to you."
Nightwing turned to walk away, when Donna Troy, otherwise known as Troia grabbed Nightwing by the shoulder and spun him around. "Dick, we are family. You know that. Don't shut us out. We will obviously look after your city, but let us do more than that."
Nightwing shook his head and turned away. "I am sorry, but no. You can't do anything else. This is for the Bat-family alone." And with that, Nightwing left Titans Tower.
Roy Harper threw his glasses on the table and said, "Well this...
"...BITES!!!" finished Superboy. Robin had just exited, telling the group that due to an upcoming mission with the Batman he would be unable to lead, or even be a part of Young Justice. He asked if they could help look after Gotham, although Robin promised they would have help doing this, and then left. The members were less than pleased.
"Yeahsuperboyisrightwhycan'twehelprobin?" queried an excited Impulse in speedster's tongue. "Robinismybestfriendwhycan'twehelphimwhycan'twehelphim?"
Cassie Sandmark, stunned under the burden of having to lead Young Justice again shook her head and began. "Bart, slow down. We have to respect Robin's wishes. We will help look over Gotham, and we will do our job. We are heroes, and that's what we do. As for why we have to do it, and what Robin is doing, I believe that he will tell us in time. Besides, he is going out on the mission with Batman. Its not like Batman is going to put Robin in danger he can't handle. He's Batman.
Kon-el shook his head, and said "Yeah, that may be true, but I am still not.."
"..amused," finished Kal-el. "You come in here, and say you are taking a leave of absence along with Oracle. You do not give us a reason why, you don't say when you will be back, only that it is personal. Further, you ask us to watch over Gotham, which will also be protected by Young Justice. I also received a call from Troia, stating that Nightwing asked the Titans to look over Bludhaven. I need to know, no we need to know, what is so important that all of your associates in your 'Bat-Clan' are deserting their posts. It has to be important if they are all leaving. We are a team, and we help each other. We are a family. A large portion of that extended family is going off on their own. What is going on?"
Batman stared down the Metropolis Marvel, as well as all of the other persons in the group. He sensed J'onn sending out a message, inquiring on his own, but Batman blocked him out. No one could know what was wrong. "We are not a family, Superman. We are a team. My 'associates' and I have some personal business to attend to. If you do not wish to watch over Gotham, that is fine. I will make other arrangements. If you do not like me leaving without more explanation, I can understand that too. If it is a problem, I won't come back, and leave the team. No hard feelings. But I am going."
Superman stared at the other man. His colleagues were uncomfortable. No one would contest how important Batman was. No one wanted stand is way, but they wanted to help him. But if he needed help, he would ask for it. This is how Batman operated, and they had to respect that. Finally, Superman nodded. "We will abide by your wishes. We will stay out of it, and watch over your city. But you need to resolve this quickly. You never know when a situation might arise that needs your talents. Especially considering our recent experience."
Batman stared around the table of the Universe's greatest heroes. In a voice like Death, Batman replied, "I intend to." Then turned and left.
"Yes, I am sorry Lucius, but I am going to need a few weeks," said Bruce the fop. Although that was not quite true, and Lucius, CEO of Wayne Corp. knew it. Ever since Bruce took that day off a few weeks back he had been a little more focused, a little more together. But this, today, there was a harder edge to Bruce Wayne that he had never seen. More focused, more intent, even in comparison to the No Man Land's debacle. Something had awoken the sleeping giant.
"That's fine, Bruce," soothed Lucius. "We won't need your signatures for anything for a few months. If anything does come up, we will defer it for a while. But why do you have to go? And is there anything I can do to help."
Bruce stared at his right-hand man at Wayne Corp., sadly shook his head, and said, "Sorry, Lucius. You can't help. It's a family..."
"....issue" finished Dick Grayson to Amy Rohrback of the Bludhaven Police Department. "I know I am leaving in the lurch, and that I am needed here, but I am needed at home more. I am sorry."
Rohrback stared hard at the face of her Rookie. Dick Grayson was more than a little strange, and more than a little handsome. But he was the best cop on the force, and a credit to the badge. He was right. He was needed here. But those eyes, my god those eyes were ice cold. Rarely had she seen her rookie look so intense. She had never known her rookie to bail unless he has a good reason.
"OK, rookie, I believe you," Rohrback began, sorting through a collection of papers. "But I still don't know why you can't tell me more, and why you won't let me help."
Grayson nodded at the very fair question. "I wish I could tell you but my family is...."
"....extremely private," finished Tim Drake said to his headmaster.
"Fair enough Timothy. Your grades are good enough and your teachers have all agreed that you can audit the rest of the courses and still finish the year with the highest marks. We are sorry to see you go. You have brought a lot to our community, and we look forward to seeing you in the future. When do you have to leave?"
"I go offline as soon as possible," said Barbara Gordon to her friend and teammate Black Canary. "Until I come back, Birds of Prey are suspended. I am sorry Dinah."
Dinah Lance stared hard at her friend and inquired. "What in the heck is causing the all-powerful Oracle from cutting off her friends and family? What mission can be so important? What force has so much power over her?" Drake continued to stare at her friend until finally a light dawned.
"Of course! I don't have to be the world's greatest detective to figure it out!" Gordon flinched at that, and Dinah knew she had her. "I knew it! Only one man can get otherwise sane, sensitive people to act like this. Its...."
"...Batman!" exclaimed Roy Harper, aka Arsenal "This happens every time! He snaps his fingers. And you come running. When are you going to become your own man? Come on Robbie, this is not cool!"
Nightwing visibly tried to calm himself so as not to vivisect the bowman and again addressed the Titans. "Yes, I am going on a mission with Batman, Batgirl, and Robin. Yes, Oracle will be devoting all of her resources to helping us. Yes, Batman is heading up the mission. But this is different than the past. This is personal, this is family, and it is vitally important to all of us. Until I come back, I will be out of contact, so Donna will take leadership of the team. Also, I need you to watch over Bludhaven for me. I don't know how long I will be gone, but I need to know my city is protected. If you could do this for me, I would appreciate it. I am sorry to have to do this to you."
Nightwing turned to walk away, when Donna Troy, otherwise known as Troia grabbed Nightwing by the shoulder and spun him around. "Dick, we are family. You know that. Don't shut us out. We will obviously look after your city, but let us do more than that."
Nightwing shook his head and turned away. "I am sorry, but no. You can't do anything else. This is for the Bat-family alone." And with that, Nightwing left Titans Tower.
Roy Harper threw his glasses on the table and said, "Well this...
"...BITES!!!" finished Superboy. Robin had just exited, telling the group that due to an upcoming mission with the Batman he would be unable to lead, or even be a part of Young Justice. He asked if they could help look after Gotham, although Robin promised they would have help doing this, and then left. The members were less than pleased.
"Yeahsuperboyisrightwhycan'twehelprobin?" queried an excited Impulse in speedster's tongue. "Robinismybestfriendwhycan'twehelphimwhycan'twehelphim?"
Cassie Sandmark, stunned under the burden of having to lead Young Justice again shook her head and began. "Bart, slow down. We have to respect Robin's wishes. We will help look over Gotham, and we will do our job. We are heroes, and that's what we do. As for why we have to do it, and what Robin is doing, I believe that he will tell us in time. Besides, he is going out on the mission with Batman. Its not like Batman is going to put Robin in danger he can't handle. He's Batman.
Kon-el shook his head, and said "Yeah, that may be true, but I am still not.."
"..amused," finished Kal-el. "You come in here, and say you are taking a leave of absence along with Oracle. You do not give us a reason why, you don't say when you will be back, only that it is personal. Further, you ask us to watch over Gotham, which will also be protected by Young Justice. I also received a call from Troia, stating that Nightwing asked the Titans to look over Bludhaven. I need to know, no we need to know, what is so important that all of your associates in your 'Bat-Clan' are deserting their posts. It has to be important if they are all leaving. We are a team, and we help each other. We are a family. A large portion of that extended family is going off on their own. What is going on?"
Batman stared down the Metropolis Marvel, as well as all of the other persons in the group. He sensed J'onn sending out a message, inquiring on his own, but Batman blocked him out. No one could know what was wrong. "We are not a family, Superman. We are a team. My 'associates' and I have some personal business to attend to. If you do not wish to watch over Gotham, that is fine. I will make other arrangements. If you do not like me leaving without more explanation, I can understand that too. If it is a problem, I won't come back, and leave the team. No hard feelings. But I am going."
Superman stared at the other man. His colleagues were uncomfortable. No one would contest how important Batman was. No one wanted stand is way, but they wanted to help him. But if he needed help, he would ask for it. This is how Batman operated, and they had to respect that. Finally, Superman nodded. "We will abide by your wishes. We will stay out of it, and watch over your city. But you need to resolve this quickly. You never know when a situation might arise that needs your talents. Especially considering our recent experience."
Batman stared around the table of the Universe's greatest heroes. In a voice like Death, Batman replied, "I intend to." Then turned and left.